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
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Friday, February 3, 2017
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
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
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
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
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
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