We're Moving!!!

Hey y'all! Day In Grace has a new domain! The new website is not completely set up yet, but the old blogs are up, and the new ones will be put there. Here's the link www.dayingrace.com! See y'all over there;)

Walking In Grace,
Abby

He Told Me He Loved Me 311 Times

I walked in, and all of a sudden all I could see was red. And pink. And hearts. And teddy bears. And a couple of guys who were trying to pick out the perfect gift for their girl. I had to run into the grocery store to pick up some stuff, and Valentine's gifts were EVERYWHERE... I'm not gonna lie, I was slightly jealous. I mean think about it: some girl out there is going to wake up on February 14th with the promise of flowers, chocolate, little stuffed animals, and a handwritten love note... you feeling what I'm feeling?!

Well I've got some good news! There actually is Someone who loves us that much and even more. He gives us flowers to admire and bring beauty to the world, and they last longer than ones in a vase; He showers us with blessing after blessing, and not only a few times a year but constantly; and my personal favorite, He has written us one giant love note, in which He told us 311 times that He loves us... it's called the Bible.

One thing that amazes me the most about my God is that He is a pursuing God. I love how one of my role models, Kimberly Wagner, worded God's love toward His own. She said," God pursues... He goes after them... He is relentless in His love for His own." Does that not give you chills?!? I mean think about it, He WANTS me, His love is FOREVER, and He is PURSUING me!

Psalms 59:10a- My God in His steadfast love will meet me;

1 John 4:16a- So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.

John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 4:9- In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

Ephesians 2:4- But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us,

1 John 4:7- Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 5:1- Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him.

John 16:21- for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.

This Valentine's Day, I'm choosing to focus on God's forever love, and the fact that I have a very long love letter to read.

Walking In Grace,
Abby

Paul, Peter, and Apollos

I sat on my bed, with a bag of chocolate chips, a drink, and enough excitement to do a little happy dance. I had gotten the second Ken Ham vs. Bill Nye debate for Christmas, and I was ecstatic! I sat up listening intently to every word that was said, noticing every facial expression, and taking mental notes of anything and everything I possibly could. I was having the time of my life! By the end of the two hour debate, the wheels in my own mind were turning. Questions were popping up, and I was fired up! Some of you already know how much I love apologetics, debate, and theology;)

Some people are against debate and "argumentation", but what I have found in Scripture by my own studying is that Paul, Peter, and Apollos were debaters!  Don't believe me? Let me show you what I've found!

I recently went through the book of Acts, and I quickly fell in love with it! I ended up doing a word search, which basically means that I highlighted every word in Acts that had to do with debate, argumentation, explaining, boldness, and even persuading. I was amazed at how many times Paul, Peter, and Apollos were debating the unbelievers of that day! Paul would go to the synagogues just to debate and persuade the Jewish church leaders. I was enthralled! I had never heard of anyone in the Bible debating, or arguing, or even refuting the Jews in public for the sake of Christ, and I loved it!

Here are several Scripture references that talk about Paul, Peter, and Apollos debating and persuading the unbelievers of their day: (please take into consideration that my Bible is a NAS translation, so the wording may not be the same in other Bibles)

Acts 9:28-29 - Acts 11:4-17 - Acts 13:43-46 - Acts 14:3 - Acts 15:2 - Acts 15:7-11 - Acts 17:2-4 - Acts 17:17 - Acts 18:4 - Acts 18:19 - Acts 18:25-26 - Acts 19:8 - Acts 19:26 - Acts 28:23-24 -

When most of us think of debates, we think of two people trading insults and false information, while getting red in the face and angry, but that's not a debate. The actual definition is much different: (n) debate- a formal discussing on a particular topic in the public meeting or legislative assembly, in which two opposing arguments are put forward.

The way that Paul, Peter, and Apollos debated was not the way we see a debate today. The way that a Christian debates is by using the Ephesians 4:15 ideology,"... speaking truth in love..." Allow me to share John Macarthur's thoughts on this verse:" Evangelism is most effective when the truth is proclaimed in love. This can be accomplished only by the spiritually mature believer who is thoroughly equipped in sound doctrine. Without maturity, the truth can be cold and love little more than sentimentality."

I believe that we have the best role models in Scripture for debate and reasoning with others.  I don't think we should run away from debate, or dissension, or reasoning with others. I know that I will NEVER know everything there is to know about theology and God, but I don't think that is any reason not to engage in conversations or debates on what we do know. I believe that we should always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks. (1 Peter 3:14-15)

My point through this blog post is that debating, reasoning, and persuading are not bad things.  We can learn from our examples in Scripture and be ready to defend our faith.  Being vocal about our beliefs, and taking a stand for truth when we are presented the opportunity is a good thing.   

Walking In Grace,
Abby

Are We Being Good Stewards???

With the unveiling of the new Coverboy, the Target same-sex bathroom disaster, and the Starbucks supporting of gay rights, it's pretty clear that the country is in a downward moral spiral. 

My question at this point is are we as believers still going to support these businesses knowing full well everything these businesses stand for?  We know that Starbucks supports gay marriage.  We know that the Covergirl makeup line now promotes guys wearing makeup, and we also know that Target has made it clear they are fine with allowing men to go into women's bathrooms and dressing rooms.  These businesses openly support God-defying movements, and yet Christians are still supporting them. 

I've always been kind of confused by the amount of Christians that I know support businesses like these. I never understood why a Christian, who is supposed to want to honor God through their actions and decisions, would knowingly support a business that is so proud to voice it's stand against our Bible and our God.

I wonder if these people just haven't thought about the stewardship of their money as they support these businesses, or if they are making these decisions with their eyes wide open?  Maybe their argument would be that withholding their money won't make a difference.  Maybe they think that Christians need to show Christ's love to these God defying businesses and continuing on in their support is one way they feel they are doing that.  I actually think that these businesses are very interested in money.  If Christians across this nation would let their voices be heard by how they steward their money, these businesses would take note, and we might see change across America.

The Bible talks about stewardship and how we will be held accountable. 

Luke 16:2- And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

1 Corinthians 4:2- Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man may be found faithful.
While this verse is talking about stewardship as a pastor, and being trustworthy and faithful, my observation is that we can use this same principle with how we as believers use our money.

Romans 14:12- So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Luke 16:11- If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

What about the issue of causing others to stumble by supporting these businesses?  I know I have stumbled over seeing people that I know love the Lord support businesses like these. 

 1 Corinthians 8:13- Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

To me personally, it seems pretty clear through God's Word that we are to be good stewards of what He has given us; not to mention the fact that we will give an account for everything we have done in life. With that in mind, who wants to stand before God one day and explain that they wanted something so badly that they chose to support businesses that openly defied His ways and His Word to get it?   

 

The fact is that when we support these businesses with our money, we enable and allow them to continue on in funding and promoting these movements that go against God and His Word.  We are to be trustworthy and faithful stewards of what God has given us, and not cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble. To me, that means not supporting businesses that are loud and proud of their God defying decisions and movements.   

I don't want to stand before my Master and say that I supported something that went against Him.
I want to be a good steward... Will you join me?

Walking In Grace,

Abby

Are We Gonna Stand Up And Fight?

This past Friday, I had the amazing opportunity to go to the College of the Ozarks to hear several amazing speakers talk about the faith of our founding fathers and religious liberty. The campus was beautiful, the speakers awesome, and I loved that we were able to go. 

One of my favorites I listened to was Dr. Ben Carson as he urged people to vote, and told us point blank that, "Our rights won't be taken away from us by an outside force, our rights will be taken away from us by us just handing them over."  He also brought out that he hears many people today talking about not voting because they would be voting for the lesser of two evils. As true as that is, he went on to say that we choose between the lesser of two evils everyday because we live in a fallen world where there is no perfect way or choice this side of heaven. He compared it to a paper cut vs. losing both legs.  They are both bad, but when we have to choose, we would obviously choose the paper cut.  The next president will have a huge influence on future generations in regards to our religious freedoms, especially given the fact that he or she will surely be appointing new justices to the Supreme Court.

I also was very interested in Mr. Kelly Shackelford, as he presented a very thought provoking, and somewhat scary thought.  He said, "If we lose religious freedom, we will lose all freedoms." He also very clearly stated that, "If they take away religion;  they can't hire enough police."  He spoke about what the First Liberty Institute does every day in defense of religious freedom and gave examples of how they are fighting hard to ensure that future generations enjoy the freedoms that we do.

Another one of my favorite speakers was Mr. Abraham Hamilton III. He told the crowd that we have the ability to change America, but asked if will we accept the challenge.  He also brought to our attention that we have the amazing opportunity to tell the government what we think. It's by the people, for the people, and that the government works for us.  He also said that, "If the light leaves the scene; there is no other choice but for darkness to take up that space, and invade."

And last, but certainly not least, LTG William Boykin spoke. He was a very challenging speaker, and reminded us that Christians cannot just sit back and say that God's in control as an excuse to do nothing about the state of this nation. He went on to say that a soldier doesn't fight because they hate what's in front of him; he fights because he loves what's behind him. He sent us off by reminding us that it will take courage to stand against the movement that threatens our freedoms.  He said it will take courage.  He said we may get wounded.  He then asked, "Who will take a stand against evil?  If not the church, then who?"

They all challenged us to get up, get out, and stand for what and Who we believe. Like Mr. Boykin said," Its gonna take courage." And like Mr. Hamilton said," We have the ability to change America, but will we accept the challenge?" And like Mr. Shackelford said," If we lose religious freedom, we will lose all freedoms." This is the time for Christians to stand up. To fight for our nation. If God is for us, then who can be against us?!

Walking In Grace,
Abby

P.S. There is a nation-wide call for Christians to come together in worship, hearing the Word, and a question and answer time happening October 18th hosted by Kirk Cameron. The following trailer explains the details.  Please spread the word and join me in praying for this election, and the protection of our religious liberties.

King Of The World

This summer I had the amazing opportunity to go to Life Action Camp to serve. I had expected for God to do something great, but I had no idea how He would blow me away with Himself.

I had been struggling a good part of the summer with not feeling close to God. Like when you pray, and you feel as though your prayers are just hitting the ceiling. It was awful, and I wanted it to be over so so bad. I had been asking God to reveal whatever it was that was keeping me from Him, but I never felt any closer to Him despite my prayers.  The last week at camp I had the opportunity to work what is called "Seek Week". It is when the staff from all 3 branches of Life Action Ministries come together for prayer and teaching.  They had several sessions throughout the week with some amazing speakers, and I was super excited to get to go to a few.  The session that I attended started with worship.  The lyrics in the song grabbed my attention.  "Heaven looked away."  "The Son was laid in darkness."  Then, "The ground began to shake."  "The stone was rolled away!"  "His perfect love could not be overcome!"   "Now death where is your sting?  Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated!"  A video clip of Mary seeing Jesus alive for the first time after the resurrection was playing on the overhead screens.  The awe she must have felt as she saw Him for who He really is was playing out in my own heart as well.  I was reminded of who God really is.  I had unknowingly forgotten how awesome our God is.  I had brought Him down to my level.  I had lost sight of the power and majesty my God possesses. I tried to wrap my mind around a God that made my mind. 

After realizing what I had done,  and asking forgiveness,  I felt a peace in my heart that I had been missing all summer.  I am so thankful that God showed me what I had been doing, and helped me see the true awesomeness of Himself. These Scriptures really capture the incredibleness (if that's even a word) of our God!

1 Chronicles 29:11- Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as head above all.

Jeremiah 10:6- Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; Thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

Psalm 136:4-To Him who alone doeth great wonders: for His mercy endureth forever.

Isaiah 40:26- Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names of greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.

Jeremiah 32:17- Ah Lord God! behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee.

Psalm 108:4- For Thy mercy is great above the heavens: and Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.

Walking In Grace,
Abby

Jesus: Fact or Fiction?

A young college student decided he would do everything he could to disprove the Bible once and for all.  A committed atheist and God-hater; he was adamant about doing whatever it took to prove that God did not exist. Many people have tried to prove the Bible wrong. I've even read that when people set out to accomplish this impossibility, that one of two things happens, they become a Christian or they go mad.

Our Bible is true from beginning to end.  I was watching a documentary not long ago about an archaeologist trying to prove that he had found the remains of an ancient biblical site. This man was not a believer, but he used Scripture for his source time and again when he needed the most trustworthy information.   

When people come against Christianity, one of their arguments is that  "you can't prove it scientifically."   "Scientific fact is based on showing that something is a fact by repeating the event in the presence of the person questioning the fact."- Josh McDowell.  
We cannot repeat history, so we cannot prove history scientifically. One example of this is: We can't prove that George Washington ever lived, but we don't doubt that he did.

Another point they tend to bring up is, "Jesus was just a good moral teacher, He couldn't have been God." Please allow me to share C. S. Lewis' opinion on this.
"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him; 'I'm willing to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic- on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse."

He goes on to say:

"You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us, He did not intend to."

Yet another point they come at Christians with is," Jesus was a liar, He couldn't have been the Son of God." I am going to share another quote on this subject.
"How in the name of logic, common sense, and experience, could an imposter-that is a deceitful, selfish, depraved man- have invented, and consistently maintained from the beginning to end, the purest and noblest character known in history with the most perfect air of truth and reality? How could he have conceived and carried out a plan of unparalleled beneficence, moral magnitude, and sublimity, and sacrifice his own life for it, in the face of the strongest prejudices of his people and age?" -Philip Schaff

My goal through this post is to remind all of us that we do not have a blind faith, but a faith that is based on fact.  People will continue to reject Jesus and who He is, but we can live confidently in the knowledge that He is who He says He is and the Bible is true from beginning to end. 

The young college student I told you about in the beginning... well, he tried to disprove the Bible, and failed, but became a Christian in the process! The proof was too much to not believe. His name is Josh McDowell, and now he is a well known author and speaker who loves the Lord and is a committed believer.  One of his books, More than a Carpenter, is an awesome book that I loved reading because of all of the facts he includes about the evidence proving the Bible to be true.

Go get the book today!!

Walking In Grace,

Abby

Mother's Day

It's the weekend to celebrate moms everywhere.  Now let me just tell you my Mom is amazing. She has taught me what a Proverbs 31 woman is and also how to follow Christ with all my heart. She has always been there when I needed a shoulder to cry on, and also there to bring me back into reality (which I sometimes need).  From the time I was a toddler and shoved her wedding rings in my VCR... to spilling paint on her bedroom carpet.....to finally being taller than she is and curling up in her lap when I've had a hard day, (which is more difficult now than it used to be), her love and patience never cease.  Mothers are incredibly special, and one of my favorite stories in the Bible is one that concerns a very special Mom.

John 19:25-27:
Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour that disciple took her into his own household.

When I started thinking about these verses, I was amazed. If we think about it, Jesus is on the cross dying in the most torturous, humiliating, and painful way while still thinking about His mother. He is telling John, the disciple whom He loved, to take care of His mom, and telling His mom that she will live with John. This obviously shows the deep love and concern that Jesus had for His mother, so shouldn't we strive to show love and care for our own mothers?

My Mom means the world to me, and I don't know what I would do without her. I can't imagine doing life without her, and I am thankful for her everyday. So this weekend, let's show our moms some gratitude and love, and follow Jesus' example for treating our mothers in a loving and caring way.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Walking In Grace,
Abby