God vs Lucifer

 Michael, the arch angel, means “Who is like God?”

Lucifer, the fallen angel, means “I will be like the Most High.”

Lucifer tried to overthrow God and heaven so he could become the one everyone worshipped. Michael serves God as his highest ranking angel.

The battle between good and evil is the battle between God and Satan. Satan leads his rebellion against his own creator while God, uniquely divine, works all things for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.

Whenever I yearn to be like God, I need to ask myself: 

Do I want to be like God in character? 

Or

Do I want to be like God in that I want all of creation to worship me?

Lucifer wanted the latter. We should want the former.

What about you? Which do you want?

Let God Influence You Daily

Let God Influence You Daily

The contrast in Psalm 1 is vivid: The wicked vs. the righteous (which includes the Lord). To find God’s blessing, we must rest in his presence and influence soaking in his words, ways, and works so that we may become more like him. Then we’re able to influence others where we live, work, learn, and play. This is a daily rhythm/habit of time with the Lord prayerfully listening to him through his word. Psalm 1:1-2 

Be A Butterfly

My daughter Samantha shared this online the other day:

“ Last week, on my way into one of my patient’s homes, I passed this little guy on their gravel driveway. I couldn’t help but stop for a few moments and take in its beauty. Reminded me that despite all the evil and darkness in this world, there is still beauty in God’s creation. Let’s be that beauty for other people. Let’s shine God’s light to everyone we come in contact with. Love them no matter what they look like or what they have done. Only then will the darkness start to fade away.”

Knowing Your Creator

One of the most profound books I’ve ever read was “Knowing God” by J. I. Packer. That’s probably because there’s nothing more profound than knowing (and being known) by your Creator. Personally. To know your Creator is to know what he is like. It’s to know what kind of character he has; what kind of traits. Packer did the world a great service when he wrote this book.

Of course, the reason I so respect J.I. Packer is because he was wise enough to recognize that any wisdom he shared was a dim reflection of the amazing words written in the Holy Bible. His works simply pointed back to the eternal truths found therein.

I thank God for men and women like J.I. Packer. They are a gift to the Church and to our world.

Peace

This link contains several articles, videos and a free book (among other things) for your enjoyment.

God is Working. Are you paying attention?

God has been at work in and through our people the past ten weeks of COVID-mania.

Here's a list of some of the things happening in the life of Grace the last ten weeks:

• 5 PM Deacon Prayer Calls - we launched this to help us check on our people early and often
• 8 AM Morning Prayer Calls - we launched this back in Dec. to practice more dependency on God
• Pray4SC.com was launched recently by one of our members 
• Groups and Sundays transitioned to online zoom chats
• Neighborhood care packages delivered (Amy & Kate) to Frankie Lane residents (Ladson)
• Memory Verse cards delivered to children and families
• 6 friends of Grace attended Starting Point (Whittington, Wright, Mather, LaDuke)
• 2 weddings of our members
• 3 drive-by parades (Caleb & Shyanne, Spencer & Ana, Lyndsey)
• 2 distant drives to get college students home safely (Jenny & Kara)
• 4 times helping people move (Edwards, Leckie, Mather, Black)
• 3 lost jobs but got new jobs (Byron, Peter C, Tricia C)
• 2 families were assisted in yard work
• 2 babies on the way (Lizzie E & Taylor C)
• 1 COVID-19 case
• Lots of meals shared

I share these things from our small church to help you see that God is at work in and around us all of the time. 

God is working in and around your life too.  

Are you paying attention?

To Hear is to Obey. Sounds cult-like to me.

I was reading a book the other day by Stephen Lawhead (Endless Knot) where the main character said,

"To hear is to obey."

I love that.

That's the way the Hebrew language reads too. (what the Old Testament is written in) It's a language that is so active when you say listen, it implies you mean listen AND do.

That's powerful.

That means I don't just listen to you and then weigh it out. If you're a person with authority, to tell me is for me to hear and then obey.

The same is true with God. After all, he is my ultimate authority in life.

To hear is to obey.

I gladly submit to God.

Am I a cult member? No. But it may look that way.

Here's why I trust and follow God as my ultimate authority. It boils down to this:

1. God is all-good. He only does what is right and good.
2. God is all-powerful. He created me when I didn't exist.

Why wouldn't I want to follow my Creator when I know he's like this?

Why wouldn't you?