A Note from the Pastor’s wife,

We know that people are not perfect, and at times they hurt us. Likewise, we hurt others, intentionally or unintentionally, sometimes out of our own pain and hurt. Never realizing that we have not dealt with something in our lives. This “something” is usually sin; nonetheless. This is where grace comes in. I will use parenting as an example. A family is raised one way, and the child leaves and lives or raises his/her family in a similar way or quite possibly in a totally different way because they think most everything was wrong with how their parents did it.  Becoming a parent or an adult, for that matter, is always new. Meaning you have never done it before. Since no one is perfect, you, too, will make mistakes in whatever endeavor you undertake for yourself, your marriage, raising your children, etc. This is where grace comes in. 

At the time, it seems like we are doing it right, it is perfect! As time passes and we look back, we see circumstances that could have been handled differently. This is where grace comes in. You cannot change the past, but you can do better in the future. It is a learning process. Remember, God’s word is the measure we live by. Love God, seek His direction, and He will guide you. Love yourself, love your neighbor, and in raising children, it is 100% love, not perfection. However, don’t confuse love with happiness and leniency, which only leads to complacency. 

Your pains and hurts may be different from those I presented, but God’s word still applies. The ODB devotion I read a few weeks ago puts it in a different light. The children were asked to define “memory”. One child answered, “Memory is that thing that helps me to forget.” We must choose to forgive, then learn to remember the better things. Stop dwelling on what cannot be changed and put your eyes on Jesus. This is where grace comes in. He loves you if no one else does! Truly, that would be a stretch - that no one in the entire world loves you? However, Jesus is enough!

And I often remind myself that, upon my salvation (when I believed that Jesus died for me and took my place), I made a covenant with God! Psalm 119:57-You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words.

The following are a few scriptures I like to refer to in my life. 

Lamentations Ch. 3: 24-25 – 

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore, I hope in Him!”

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,

 To the soul who seeks Him.

Romans 2:9-For there is no partiality with God.

Acts 10:34-Then Peter opened his mouth and said, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.”

James 2:1-13 …._vs8-9-If you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  James 3:17-But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 

In Christ Love,

Bridget