grace Archives – Sonshine's Journal

January 28, 2025January 28, 2025

Genesis 47 God’s Grace

racInterestingly as we follow God’s leading, we see His hand on His people to bless them. Joseph was faithful and God blessed him in many ways. God never wastes our trials but uses them to bring prosperity to us and others around us just as He did with Pharaoh through Joseph.

Years before Abraham went to Egypt in a time of famine but it was there that he lied and was escorted from there ..in haste. Now God uses another famine to bring blessing to Pharaoh and his court because Joseph was faithful. Jacob now can receive this blessing because of his son’s faithfulness even though it had been years and years! Jacob, for once, has been truthful about his life. It is almost as if he has finally recognized that his sin of deceit has been revealed and he is humbled.

How often does God reveal to us our sin so we can be a recipient of His grace? Lesson, keep your account short before God. Humble yourself before God and He will bring His blessing to you.

May 10, 2023May 10, 2023

Responding with grace

2Sam 10, 1Chron 19, Ps 20 Some people are “hard headed.” When someone does something that is gracious, they don’t respond with peace but with an arrogance that is unbecoming. That is the picture of Hanun. King David sent a delegation to comfort Hanun in the loss of his parent, but his gift was not received well. Hanun listened to unwise counselors and maligned the gift and the giver. The bottom line was his pride ruled over grace.

How do you respond to another’s gifts? Do you always think there is an underlying reason they are doing this, or do you respond with grace? Precious reader, some people are never gracious no matter what you or God has done, and when the truth is revealed, their pride keeps them from apologizing.

You can’t change a stubborn heart; only God can do that. You be gracious and let God take care of them.

March 2, 2023March 2, 2023

The Proper Response

Numbers 16 Envy, resentful longing for what you don’t have, is one of the ‘dark’ sins, one of the “deadly d’s.” It is like an infection. If not treated, it spreads from one person to another, and Peter warns us about it. [1Pet 2:1] It begins with a thought, and then the idea is enlarged by adding other innuendos. Such is the plan of our arch-enemy, whose whole purpose is to seek, kill and destroy. [Jn 10:10]

As a Levite, Korah was privileged to assist in the Tabernacle service with Aaron as the High Priest. He had seen the power of God over and over, but an envious thought began in his mind. Why does this person think he should be the leader? I am just as important. Envy is a deadly sin, and it begins like one germ but multiplies by gaining affirmation from others. Never underestimate the power of envy. As it increases, so do our thoughts and ideas, and sadly, we often include others in our path of infection. Moses was aghast when Korah confronted him. Yet, rather than responding angrily, Moses fell face down and pleaded with God for Korah’s forgiveness. Is this our response?

How do you face this type of sin from others? Do you vent and seek a following like Korah, OR do you ask God for their forgiveness like Moses?

January 2, 2023January 2, 2023

Blessings, Blameshifting, and Consequences

Gen 4-7 Three curses are mentioned in these chapters. First, the serpent would be cursed to crawl on its belly and eat the dust of the earth because it deceived Eve in the Garden. Secondly, the ground would be cursed because Adam and Eve blamed the serpent for their disobedience rather than confessing their sin to God. Third, Adam and Eve’s firstborn son, Cain, would be cursed by God for his murder and lie about Abel. Yet, in each, we see God’s grace.

There is a principle here: God wants us to confess our sin, not blame another or our circumstances. He is full of mercy, grace and patiently waits for us to repent of our sin. The Hebrews author wrote: “Let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.” [Heb 4:16] Neither the serpent, Adam, nor Cain took advantage of that. How about us?

Later, God graciously gave Adam and Eve a new son to replace Abel. Seth honored God, and unlike the line of Cain, his descendants began to call upon the name of the Lord. Out of his line came Enoch and Noah, who walked with God and were blessed by God.

God gave us these pictures to show us the effects of sin and the blessings of obedience.

December 9, 2022December 9, 2022

The Law vs. God’s Grace

1Timothy 1-3 Satan says we are not good enough for God to save us, and he is right. Paul knew that his life was a sham. He was just as he described it to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith. He knew the Law perfectly, and it revealed how far he was from God’s righteous and perfect standard because the Law is for lawless and rebellious people, the ungodly and sinners. He would later say he was the chief of sinners! People today look at the Law and see precisely what Paul saw. He was and would never be righteous enough, but God’s grace was then and is today greater than all our sin.

Paul relates his testimony: I was a blasphemer and a persecutor. Read the book of Acts to see that. Yet, he says, “I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.” [1Tim 1:13] Like many today, they see themselves just as Paul. Yet that is why God saved him for the ministry of sharing this testimony with the unrighteous. In Paul’s words: “so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.” [1Tim 1:16]

Do you know of someone today who has believed the words of Satan? Yes, we are never “good enough,” but that is why Christ came. God’s grace is greater than all of our sins.

December 11, 2019

Let Your Light Shine!

2tim 1 to 4 let light shine2a

Advent Series: 2Tim 1 Gifts!

The world is blind to the truth both visually and orally. We know that the enemy has blinded them so that they may not see the glorious Christ. They will turn away from the truth and turn to myths yet of all seasons, Christmas offers opportunities that open hearts. People are more open to the gospel message because it paints a picture of the many and beautiful gifts that God has promised to those who believe in him. Christmas gives us an opportunity for the three gifts that the Father has bestowed upon us of Grace, Mercy, and Peace to shine forth! We have them in abundance because we know that every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In addition, God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control—which by the way is a Fruit of the Spirit!

It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. God wants us to be open to the opportunities that he places in our grasp. We must be ready in season and out of season with the message and be ready whether it is convenient or not!

Pray that God uses your gifts this season to proclaim the truth of the gospel just as Jesus said: let your light shine before people so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven. [Matt 5].

October 15, 2016

Contentment is a Learned Exercise

contentment2 I have struggled with what Paul wrote to the Philippians when he wrote: “I have learned to be content in any circumstance…I have learned the secret of contentment.” How does one “learn” contentment?

I think I found the clue here in 2Corinthians 12. The background: Some spiritually proud “super apostles” sought to lead the Corinthians astray. Paul knew what they were saying behind his back; he is not becoming in appearance and he isn’t eloquent. What they had not known, and up to this time Paul had not shared, was that 14 years prior to this he had (for lack of better words) an “out of body” experience. Consider this; these so-called super apostles often boasted about their so-called revelations, but, Paul did not. In fact it was not until he had heard enough that he shared what had transpired to keep him humble.

Paul is saying “fast forward” now 14 yrs later. Let me share with you what happened ‘after’ my experience. I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to keep me from spiritual pride; unlike these who had infiltrated the church. It was real; it was painful. I sought at least 3 times to have it removed but Christ said emphatically “no;” I have given you my grace of supernatural enablement.

And now Paul explains the secret of his contentment. He learned that a no answer is not the end but the beginning. A no answer meant that Christ would be his sufficiency in times he would need it most. It meant that the grace he had received was not ‘just enough’ but ‘more than enough.’ It is like the miracle of the loaves and fish. When in need, Christ provided not just enough but abundantly and that is what Christ did for Paul. And that is what Christ will do for you and for me.

The lesson for me, and perhaps you, is that Christ will provide just what I need at just the right time. Contentment is not a one time exercise but an on-going step by step, daily exercise. His grace is truly sufficient.

May 28, 2016

Psalm 51 “Sin, Forgiveness and Grace”

psalm 51 forgiveness2 Had King David remembered: “sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must master it” he would not have experienced an adulterous affair with Bathsheba nor committed murder to cover it up. Yet David concealed his sin and why God sent Nathan the prophet to him. As David realized this, a profound thought came to him as he confessed before a Holy God. “Against You, You only, I have sinned.”

No matter who the persons are involved, the sin is in reality against God and Christ who saved us and washed us from our sin. Like David, we think our sin is concealed or it does not impact anyone other than ourselves but this is a lie out of the pit of hell. Galatians reminds us that God will not be mocked and we reap what we sow. God told David, “ Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.[ 2Sa 12:10]

When David repented he heard Nathan the prophet say, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.” Reflecting on this, David entered the house of the Lord and experienced God’s greatest gift and mystery called forgiveness. All we have to do is to ask God to “Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin!” Open hearts are ready to receive God’s grace and lovingkindness and understand more clearly God’s grace.

How do we know that transaction of forgiveness has taken place? Like David, we will experience peace and joy even as we face the consequences that follow.

August 22, 2015

What is Your Standard?

Have you ever tried to talk to a non-believer about sin? We might say “they just don’t get it” and part of the problem is that an unbeliever’s standards are others but the believer’s standard is Christ. As Paul noted he too “would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means to desire something belonging to someone else if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” And that Beloved is the starting point for all of us. The Law revealed that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The master of sin, Satan, “ has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God” [2Co 4] and the consequence is spiritual death. But, Beloved, when the Holy Spirit revealed to us our depravity we fell upon our knees and sought God’s forgiveness which was freely given to us and then we embraced His grace like a man dying of thirst who finds an oasis.

Do we still struggle? As Paul noted the struggle will continue until we go home to eternity or Christ returns for us. One saving grace is this: “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.” [1Jn 1]

Photo: Trudywilkerson | Dreamstime.com

April 27, 2015

Treasures…Here Today, Gone Tomorrow…OR???

In the last days blatant scoffers will come into our midst proclaiming that which is contrary to the Word of God. They say time marches on just as it always has from creation but choose to deny the effects of sin upon this earth and mankind. They heap unto themselves treasures of silver and clothes which moths and decay will turn to dust or to be given to charity for another. [Job 27]. Yet, we who believe in the power of the risen Christ are commanded to be heaping treasures which will last for eternity. In reality Peter is telling us what we really already know but need reminding: the only things we can carry into eternity are holiness and godliness for riches are uncertain but good deeds, generosity to others and sharing of the truth of the gospel are untouched by the taint of this world.

In addition the scoffers of this world fail to see the mercy and grace of God’s patience in waiting for them to repent and turn to Him. Sadly one day they will stand before God and will hear “depart from me, I never knew you.” May we yearn instead to hear “well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”

Beloved, where your heart is are your treasures. Are you sending your treasures on ahead to eternity or heaping them up here in a world of rust and decay?