Dear Redeeming Grace, As I've been thinking about this Advent season, the word I keep reflecting on is "anticipation." If you've ever taken a big trip somewhere, you'll recognize all the signs of what it means to anticipate something. You choose the place, the time, the activities, and begin to dreamily look forward. It becomes so much more than a date on the calendar. A...
Keep ReadingDear Redeeming Grace,It's amazing that we're now less than a week away from Thanksgiving! Over the years I've grown to enjoy these annual rhythms. This coming week is an opportunity to reflect on God's grace and goodness to you. Perhaps the pace slows just enough for us to lift our eyes from the usual routines and consider all we have to be thankful for.But let's not let i...
Keep ReadingDear Redeeming Grace, In Jason's message on Christian influence we saw how our lives can leave an impact on others, even stirring their desire to know Jesus more. By Paul's example we saw how life can be consecrated to God, compassionate toward others, courageous for the advance of the gospel and confident in God's promises. Each of these areas could be explored for a li...
Keep ReadingDear Redeeming Grace, Last week Dave encouraged us with the great truth that we can have confidence that God is using us and working through us. As I've thought about that truth this week, the Lord reminded me of this verse in Paul's letter to the Philippians: "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13 ESV) In the conte...
Keep ReadingDear Redeeming Grace, Last week Jason reminded us from our Acts series of the importance of the basics in the Christian life. There are practices we can often overlook. One of those is prayer. Prayer is such a vital part of our relationship with the Lord. In prayer we confess our limitations and learn not to lean on our own ideas and strength. We ask for help. We acknowl...
Keep ReadingDear Redeeming Grace, Organizations often have a mission statement. If you've been around Redeeming Grace even a short time, you've likely heard ours - We exist to exalt, enjoy and extend the grace of God in Christ. Last week Dave reminded us of the mission Jesus gave to his disciples and to us. While his followers were preoccupied with kingdom restoration, Jesus packed ...
Keep ReadingDear Redeeming Grace, Over the last few months we've looked at the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in our series "Building Toward a Better Future". We've highlighted many aspects of pressing into the Lord as we seek to build our own lives into Jesus. And we've considered what that means for us as a church as well. Along the way we've reflected on God's faithfulness to us and ...
Keep ReadingDear Redeeming Grace, Because we are all naturally great worshippers, Jason reminded us so helpfully last week that what matters most is WHO we worship. In worship, we are ascribing worth as a response to what we value most. A passage that always challenges me in this aspect is Jeremiah 9:23-24. "Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the...
Keep ReadingDear Redeeming Grace, In Dave's message from Nehemiah last week we were encouraged to forsake the ways of the world and give ourselves fully to the things of God. These two patterns of living reminded me of Paul's commitment in Philippians. He says this: "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal f...
Keep ReadingDear Redeeming Grace, Psalm 9 calls us to a grateful remembrance with these words: "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds." (Psalm 9:1 ESV) As we began our Family Meeting last Sunday morning, we were reminded of God's faithfulness, recounting the wonderful deeds of how the Lord has been building and strengthening ...
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