Someone

We just need Someone to love us.

"He cares for you."

1 Peter 5:7

It seems what we want most is just to know we are loved by someone - thought of, cared about, noticed, cherished..And there is Someone who loves us like we've always wanted - our Father God! He is that Someone who thinks of us, values us, believes in us, thinks we're wonderful...that Someone who is committed to us, will be there for us, won't let us down..that Someone who assures us that we matter, we're important, we're precious...that Someone who understands us , accepts us, likes us, wants us, enjoys having us around, couldn't be without us!

A Prayer: Thank You, Papa, for loving us infinitely, for Your love is like a great, deep ocean that we can't even fathom..May everyone sense Your love for them today!

The Moment of Awakening

Hearing the good news is like waking up from a bad dream and finding yourself safe at home!

"I will behold Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."

Psalm 17:9

Wonderful! When we awaken to His finished work, see that it's already done and we are standing face to face with Him, with no spot or flaw, just standing before Him covered over with His love, an amazing thing happens..faith happens!

Faith, as I see it now, is just relief and confidence that comes from perceiving reality - "I really am loved, I really am accepted, I really am included, I really am delivered, I really am pure, I really am innocent, I really am embraced, I really am in right and perfect relationship with Him, He really has forgiven me, He really has taken away my sin, He really has brought me home, He really has perfected me, He really has put me in contact with Him, He really is here with me right now, He really won't leave me or reject me..I'm home!"

And out of this awareness, we start having a real relationship with the One who has always loved us, and we are fused with Him and bonded with Him in such a way that we can never be separated from one another...the miraculous new creation that was birthed at the resurrection is now our living experience, and Jesus lives His life in and through us! His very Spirit fills us and overflows from us in Pure Love and rivers of Living Water! We've awakened to Love and we'll never be the same!

A Thought: HIs love awakens me to who I am in Him!

Innocent Children

We were created perfectly innocent, and innocence is our true nature.

"Your flawless innocence radiates.."

Philippians 2:15 (MWB)

Isn't it wonderful to know that we are truly innocent before Him, even in the midst of our 'hands in the cookie jar' moments, that our hearts are truly innocent and pure deep down, that there is NO shame, blame, guilting, condemning or punishment coming to us from our Daddy at all, ever!    He always sees and knows and relates to you just as you are - innocent, pure and sweet like a little tiny child!  Pure, untainted, unmarred, with only innocent thoughts and motives and intentions.  

He sees the deepest part of yourself and only sees His own image there!  We are made in the image of Love, Pure Love, vast and open and free, so how could we ever be anything else BUT that pure love?  We couldn't!  The source and wellspring of our very life is God, is a Pure Source, like sweet crystal clear water, a fountain of Perfect Love springing up from within giving us life, BEING our Life..and if the Source (God) is pure, the water springing from it (humanity) is pure! 

A Thought: I dance and play like an innocent child, made in the image of Love Himself!

A Place of Innocence

Before time began, God held me as a baby in His arms and adored me, His innocent child!

"Before I formed you in your mother's womb, I knew you."

Jeremiah 1:5

Before we were even born, He knew us. Before we were formed, before our life began, He already loved us. We already existed in the thoughts of God, in a place of complete beauty and innocence outside of time.   God had already wrapped us in love, given us kindness and love, and set us apart for Him. We were chosen and cared about, known and cherished, found in Christ before time began. That is the innocence we started from, the purity that we were created in.  And that is the innocence that we are eternally preserved in by being in Christ.  He has kept us in Him from the foundation of the world, and we have always been in Him in that wonderful place of simplicity and wonder, cherished as a little child in His arms.  We always have been and always will be His innocent ones!

A Thought: I have always been in a place of innocence and wonder with God!

Reflecting God's Nature

 We are reflections of God.

"God created human beings; He created them godlike, reflecting God's nature."

Genesis 1:27 (MSG)

It is truly awe-inspiring and almost unbelievable that we are in the image and likeness of God!  We give God so much joy just to look at us! He created us with delight, created humans as beings He could find likeness and relationship with. We are the image of God - His reflection, a mirror of Him. We are the likeness of God - like Him, therefore godlike. We are not God but we are His offspring, made like Him, with a similar nature to Him. What is the nature of God? It is love. That's what our true nature is! It is simply our nature to love, just like our Father God!

A Thought: The loving nature of God is radiating from me, His child!

Only Good

He only leads us into goodness, truth, joy and peace.

"Without exception God's gifts are only good; its perfection cannot be improved upon."

James 1:17 (MWB)

God is only good, and He only gives good gifts! He ONLY has peace and good will towards us. He will ONLY lead us into green pastures and beside still waters, He will ONLY give comfort and rest to our soul! The good news is ONLY good, the wisdom from above is ONLY peaceable and yielding good fruit, and the kingdom is ONLY righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit! We can be like little children and let Him lead us by the hand into all the beauty, love, acceptance, joy and peace He is to us.

A Thought: Only good is coming to us from God!

Child of Love

"The sunshine of Love and Truth penetrates our self-hatred and we 'see' what He has always seen, a child of love, just like Him."

Colin Lagerwall

"We are in Him, invented and defined in Him."

Ephesians 1:11 (MIRROR)

Let's testify: "I am a child of love - that love is at my core, and is at the core of every person. To be made in His image and likeness means to be made in His image and likeness of Love, for God is Love, and since I am His child, His offspring, I can even say that I am Love, as well. And that I am just like Him - compatible with Him, fitting in with Him perfectly, having His characteristics taking after my Daddy in His character of love. He is proud to call me His own child, and He sees the family likeness in me. Yet He doesn't just love me because He sees His traits in me; He loves me for me, for the unique individual He created. I have always been that, He has always seen me that way, for He had me in His mind before time began and I existed in His heart and mind way back then, and He has held onto that true me and never let that go, and that has always been His reference for who I am."

A Thought: I have always been His child of love.

Basic Goodness

There is a basic goodness and decency about every person God made.

"God made men and women true and upright."

Ecclesiastes 7:29

People are made by God in His own image and likeness. We inherently have the traits God our Father has, like righteousness, kindness and goodness. Our design is not faulty; we have been made with a good and true nature. There is an innate goodness about us; we are upright at the core, created this way. There is nothing wrong with the way we were made! Yes, we haven't always lived true to ourselves, or in accord with our true and good nature. But people are basically good. There is no need to put ourselves down or think of ourselves as dirty, inherently bad, sinful or unworthy. We may do dirty, bad, sinful or unworthy things, but that doesn't change how God made us - as beautiful, good-natured ones in His own image and likeness, and therefore good at the core!

A Thought: I was created innocent and good by God!

 

The End from the Beginning

"From the beginning all was well; we just needed reminding."

Andrew Weissel

"His works were finished from the foundation of the world."

Hebrews 4:3 (ESV)

God has always had the whole cosmos in His hand. He has had the end completed from the beginning. Nothing has been a surprise to Him, and He had taken care of the solution before there was a problem. We were chosen, graced, and loved before there was time. The Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world, before there was any sin for the Lamb to even take away. We see things in time. But God is eternal in the heavens, apart from time. So in God's economy, we were never even lost. In God's economy, we never even left home. In God's economy, we have always been at rest in Him! That is how secure our salvation is! It was always "done" and "finished" from the founding of the world!

A Thought: I have always been safe in His arms!

Inside Us

 "Utterly at home, He lives in us forever."

Julian of Norwich

"God, I love living with You."

Psalm 26:8

Because He is in us, our friendship with God is an inside job! He is right here inside our skin, walking through life with us. We can talk to Him right here inside our heart, and He's always talking to us and smiling at us, laughing at our jokes, feeling what we feel, enjoying life through our eyes. Our life is a story of the greatest friendship ever - the union relationship of God and man, happening right here inside us at every moment!

A Thought: God, You are My best Friend!

Unfailing Friend

"He says, 'I keep you most securely.'"

Julian of Norwich

"You'll never let me down."

Psalm 31:5 (MSG)

People can let us down. We can even let ourselves down. But He will never let us down or fail us! He is with us to the end of the road. We can always count on Him and lean on Him. We're so safe with this Perfect and Loyal Friend. He keeps us so securely, holds us so lovingly, and He will never let go!

A Thought: Jesus, You are the Friend I need.

Relax and Smile

"Good morning, little sunbeam, I am your source...I will be handling all your problems today. I won't be needing your help; just relax, shine, and have a great day!"

Francois Lange

"Lord, You do everything for me."

Psalm 138:8 (ICB)

There are so many challenges in life, so many things that can make us anxious or upset.  Yet He is the light inside us, no matter what dark times we face. God is our source, the source of all that is needed for every situation.  We shine like sunbeams but we don't have to worry about generating anything, because He is our source. All the light and strength we need comes from Him. And His light keeps shining no matter what. We can relax and smile because He is handling everything for us, and His light has already conquered all darkness.

A Thought: I relax in His love and care.

The Safe Place

There is a wall of protection around us.

"The Lord is my life's fortress."

Psalm 27:1 (GW)

We are in Christ. That is where we are securely, constantly, reassuringly. His presence is a wall of protection around us, a fortress for our life. Calamity and trouble cannot get in. Anxiety and fear are not allowed entrance. Struggle and disease are barred from this wonderful safe place - His presence! His presence is all around us. He is enveloping us. He is keeping out any turmoil or evil that would hurt or upset us. In His presence we are perfectly safe! And this is where we always are, because we are always IN Christ!

A Thought: Fear and worry, danger and trouble cannot have me because I am in the fortress of Christ!

Our Protector

We are covered in His blanket of protection.

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Psalm 91:1

We are not out there in the wild winds and storms of life, vulnerable and all alone. We are in Christ. We are in the shelter of the Most High. Right now He is covering us, blanketing us with His presence. That blanket of His loving presence protects us. No harm shall come to us. We are safe. He brings us to see this, and we rest. We relax. We snuggle down in His arms and fall asleep because He only makes us dwell in safety.

A Thought: It's so warm and cozy here in His arms.

Radically Good

 It's radically good news to have such a radically good God!

"For the Lord is good and His love endures forever."

Psalm 100:5 (NIV)

The goodness and kindness of God is really mind-blowing and radical. We have a God who is our dear Father and we His beloved little children. This Papa God never gets angry, never judges, always loves and forgives, takes responsibility for and repairs our faults instead of blaming us for them, always embraces us, is never disappointed or embarrassed with us, gives without expecting anything in return, loves us at our worst, always sees the innocence He created in us! He is one with us, He hurts and dies with us, He wins over death for us, He lives in heaven with us. He always heals, always protects, always stays. He is ever gentle, humble, tender, sweet and vulnerable. He loves all, saves all, embraces all.  Heaven keeps breaking through on earth through Him and He keeps spreading goodness all around.. Darkness disappears in the light of His love, joy and peace. He will provide the ultimate happy ending for us all and all will be well forever!  

A Thought: Thank You for being so radically good, dear Papa!

Better Than We Could Imagine

God is better than we could ever imagine.

"Christ's love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love."

Ephesians 3:19 (NCV)

He is better and more loving than we can even imagine! We can imagine the kindest, most wonderful and tender, gentlest and sweetest person we have known, and we can realize that God is infinitely more loving! He is never angry. He always sees and believes the best in us. He never fails us or leaves us alone. He accepts us no matter what. He gives with no thought of getting anything in return. He always looks on us with compassion and tenderness. He is only good. He endlessly pours love and kindness on us. He is a safe place to be because He is always for us and always protects us. We are wrapped in His love at all times, and we will never come to the end of this wonderful love.

A Thought: To experience God is to experience love beyond our wildest imaginings!

The Truth

Truth naturally produces faith.

"So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ."

Romans 10:17 (NLT)

When we hear the good news about Christ, faith naturally rises up in us and our spirit resonates with God's Spirit on hearing the truth! That means we don't have to worry about 'trying' to have faith. We just need to hear the truth, the good news of Christ! And what is this wonderful good news that naturally produces trust? It is the news that Christ is in us and we can look forward to being with Him forever in His glory. And what has Christ accomplished for us? He has gone into the depths of our pain and hurt from sin and has died for us, overcoming death for us and bringing us with Him to heaven. And what is Christ doing in us right now? He's loving us, smiling at us, healing us, sustaining us, taking care of us, protecting us, holding us, carrying us, being our Best Friend.  This is the wonder of the good news of Christ in us, and when we hear it something inside us just knows that it is truer than true!

A Thought: Faith is rising up in me as I hear the truth of Christ in me!

His Life in Us

 His life in us is more than sufficient.

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."

John 1:4

It's not that we need to work up faith, try to be grateful, seek to be more loving, try to be strong. We just need to look to our Source, Jesus. He is all those things and He is in us. Full of the fullness of God, we are full of His faith, His gratefulness, His lovingkindness, His strength. His trust in the Father is rising in us, His strength is towering over all our situations, He love is radiating from us like rays of light.  All that He is is all that we need.  His life is the light of our lives! This is how we were meant to live - just resting in union with Him as He rises up within us to be the wonderful Person He always is, manifested through us!

A Thought: I love Your life in me!

Positive Thoughts

 God always has positive thoughts about you!

"For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

God never had a bad thought about you! He has always had good thoughts towards us, His beloveds. When He thinks of us, He smiles because we are His pride and joy. He is envisioning a beautiful future for us where we'll be enjoying His love all the time. He can't think of one negative thing about us. ALL His thoughts toward us are good and peaceful. God is totally at peace with us and only wants to build us up with positive words and encouragement. 

A Thought: God only thinks well of me and only speaks kindly to me!

Everything We Need

 He is all we need.

"Lord, You alone are everything I need. You make my life secure."

Psalm 16:5 (NIRV)

We never lack because we have Him. When a situation comes up - a difficulty, a worry, a fear - we just look to Him.  He's right here inside us, one with us, going through life with us, always available. And He gives us just what we need - the wisdom, the peace, the strength, the hope, the faith, the victory, the answer.  All we need for any situation is found in Him, because in giving us all these good gifts, He is really giving Himself, to be there and handle anything that comes our way!

A Thought: No matter what the problem or question, He always has the answer!

The Mystery

 There is a mystery in you!

"This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message."

Colossians 1:26-28 (MSG)

There is a great mystery, a great secret, and it's Christ - Christ revealed, not out in the world somewhere, but inside human beings. We look at each person and Christ is there within them.  He has been with us all along. We have never been alone. He is the source of our life, the core of our being, the breath of life within us. Christ is in us, smiling at us, saying He loves being here with us on our journey, showing us that only glory awaits!

A Thought: We never have to try to get Him to come in us because He is already there!

Our Healer

He heals us by grace.

"And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all."

Matthew 12:15 (KJV)

Our loving Lord is our healer.  He heals broken hearts, broken relationships, broken minds, broken bodies, and broken hearts. He is always healing and He gives healing love freely to all.  His very presence in us is healing.  He fills us with the life and light that make weakness and darkness flee.  Every single one of us is qualified and worthy to be healed, no matter what our struggle, addiction, sorrow, illness or trauma.  He is here to end our suffering with His tender love!

A Thought: He is healing us all by His grace and love and life.

Strengthened by Love and Grace

The Father's love makes us strong.

"Gaining inner strength from God's kindness is good for us."

Hebrews 13:9 (GW)

So many things can wear us down - mentally, spiritually and physically. We can get tired and run down by all the stresses and cares of our lives. We can get discouraged by our struggles or failures. We can start to lose hope and joy and peace. But one look at God, just spending a moment to be present before Him and hear His words of love and peace to us, just letting Him love on us - it invigorates us! HIs love washes over us and just clears away the cobwebs, reminding us that we're in His arms and He is taking care of it all, reminding us how precious we are to Him and that we can do no wrong in His eyes - it just brings such clarity and power to our lives!

A Thought: The love God has for me is the most powerful thing in the world!

God's Job

 He will take care of it all.

"Just stand where you are and watch and you will see the wonderful way the Lord will rescue you today."

Exodus 14:13

We don't need to try. We don't need to worry and struggle and strive to solve all our issues and problems and concerns. It's not our job to fix things. It's not up to us to overcome things. It's up to God! God is going to work. It's God's job to save and deliver and work, not ours. We are to stand still, right where we are, just as we are, with all our concerns, worries and fears. And God is going to work. He is going to move. He is going to save, and heal, and transform.  It's His job to live and work through us and take care of us, and He will do it!

A Thought: God is responsible for handling my problems today, and He never fails!

The Right to Be Loved

Every one of us is God's favorite child.

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me but the One who sent Me."

Mark 9:37 (NIV)

All of us are little children in His eyes. And we are precious, valuable, important children. Each one of us has an equal right to be loved, cherished and held by the Father. We are all equally worthy of His love and attention and affection. We are all equally worthy of having Him attend to our needs and hear and answer our cries for help. For we are all equally His beloved creations, His offspring, His little children. Jesus said receiving a little one, a child, was just like receiving Him and even like receiving the Father Himself. He gives us that high of a value in His eyes! Each of us is truly His favorite person, His infinitely adored child.

A Thought: I have just as much right to be loved by God and helped by God as any other person!

In His Lap

 We are all just little children in our Father's embrace.

"Then He had a child come and stand among them. He wrapped the child in His arms.."

Mark 9:36 (Passion Translation)

Where are we right now? We are in the arms of God. He has us on His lap and is hugging us snugly in HIs arms. We are safe. We are known. We are loved. We are so precious to Him!  He kisses our cheek. He wipes our tears. He holds us so close we can hear His heartbeat of love for us. He will never let us go.  And He looks at us and smiles a big and happy smile! 

A Thought: I am held in the arms that won't let go!

Light Bringers

 We are Light-Bringers.

"You are the light of the world."

Matthew 5:14 (NKJV)

Instead of thinking we have nothing to share with this world, we can realize that we have everything to offer, because we have the most beautiful and powerful thing in the world to share: God's presence and love. We have a Light shining forth from inside us, and it is the Light of God's own life, radiating out. Wherever we are, we are light-bringers. We bring healing and love and joy and peace and kindness everywhere we go. When we reach out and touch another life, the hand of God touches them and the Light of God shines on them! We are always bringing light and hope and freedom to people. This dark world needs more light, and simply by showing up, we spread the Light of the world that dispels all darkness!

You are a bright and shining light to all around you!

His Good Plan

 God is in control.

"He works out everything to fit His plan and purpose."

Ephesians 1:11 (NIRV)

So many times things can seem chaotic, random, or out of control. But God is behind the scenes working.  He is always doing something good.  He is using everything, fitting all the pieces together into His plan for good.  He only wants to do us good, and He is always doing good in all our circumstances.  He can only do good!  Things are all falling into place and we will one day see that.  Circumstances aren't in control, other people aren't in control, and evil isn't in control; God is!  So our lives aren't out of control at all.  They are always safe in God's hand. And everything will ultimately turn out right!

A Thought: Nothing can stop His good plan working in my life.

Our Daily Grace: Delightful

"Even with all our blindness, God looks at us and rejoices."

Julian of Norwich

The Lord delights in you.

Isaiah 62:4

In our blindness and confusion as frail human beings, we can get so messed up, so broken down. We can have big failures and little failures.  We can get angry, judgmental and selfish. We can cause everyone around us frustration. We can hit rock bottom over and over. But no matter what, God looks at us and rejoices! That means He is happy with us, delighted in us, just as we are. He is in love with us! He sees not any sins but only beauty and sweetness. This world may look at us and see a broken, messed up person; God looks at us and sees His beloved little innocent child.

A Thought: I have never been a failure to God, but only His delightful child!

Our Daily Grace: Shining Light

"You are a miracle worker for those around you. You have the power to heal, to love, to laugh, to forgive. You are created as a unique being with the ability to spread your light. Let it shine."

Aaron Murphy

"Your lives light up the world."

Matthew 5:14

There is a glorious light shining in us. It's the light of love, and truth, and beauty, and good. It's the light of God. We naturally shine with this light. We are carrying miracles of life, hope and healing to this world. Every bit of light and love that comes from us, every act of kindness no matter how small, is lighting up others' lives and changing the world. You have something special in you that makes this world a better place to be, and God is naturally shining out in rays of love through you every day. You make a difference just by being you.

A Thought: I bring miracles of light and love to those around me!

Our Daily Grace: Liked the Way You Are

"You've made this day special just by your being you. There's no person in the whole world like you, and I like you, just the way you are."

Fred Rogers

"Therefore, accept each other in the same way that Christ accepted you. He did this to bring glory to God."

Romans 15:7 (NOG)

You are special and adored, just as you are right now. If you never changed a thing about you, God would still call you perfect. Your heavenly Dad thinks you're beautiful, thinks you're wonderful, thinks you're awesome. Feel free to look in the mirror and say, "Hey, you are pretty special and I love you!"

A Thought: You are wonderful as you are; don't change a thing!

Our Daily Grace: Little and Weak

"It's okay to be weak."

Susannah St. John

"Turn all your troubles over to Him, because He cares for you and is watching over you."

1 Peter 5:7 (WE)

It's okay to be weak and need help. We're God's little children, and little children need lots of help. They need their parents to take care of them; they expect it. We can know that our heavenly Dad is always taking care of our needs. He knows we are little and needy, and He knows we can get scared, upset, confused and hurt. He understands. All our feelings are okay with Him. So we can tell Him all our worries, fears, troubles and cares. It's okay to be weak. God our Father is strong for us. He is carrying the weight of all our cares and concerns, so we don't have to try to carry them.

A Thought: I will tell my Father all my troubles - He will take care of me!

Our Daily Grace: Fortress

"Love is a fortress where everyone feels protected."

Francois du Toit

"He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me."

Psalm 62:7 (NLT)

We are safe in the fortress of His love, safe in the shelter of His care. We are not facing life alone. Even when we feel scared, or anxious, or troubled, we are always in the strongest fortress of all, God's loving presence.  A fortress is a place that is unaffected by any outside disturbance, and that is where we are right now. We are safe in our heavenly Papa's lap, protected and loved and secure no matter what storms blow outside. His loving arms are stronger than anything that comes our way.

A Thought: Papa holds me safely.

Our Daily Grace: Bedrock

"When you fall down to the bottom, you fall on solid ground, the Great Foundation, the bedrock of God."

Richard Rohr

"God is bedrock under my feet."

2 Samuel 22:2 (MSG)

Sometimes we can fear that we have failed too much and fallen too far to still have God with us. But no matter how far we fall, we never can fall out of His presence. He is the bedrock of our whole existence, the foundation of our whole lives. His loving presence holds us together at every moment. He is solid ground under us, the rock we can count on to always support us, strong and stable and secure. His love  and presence are solid and unfailing, even when we fail. Even when we hit rock bottom, God is still holding us up, so we are truly safe. We cannot fall away from God.

A Thought: When I fall, I simply land in His arms!

Our Daily Grace: His Eye on the Sparrow

"You have God's undivided attention!"

Francois du Toit

"You can buy two sparrows for only a copper coin, yet not even one sparrow falls from its nest without the knowledge of your Father. Aren't you worth much more to God than many sparrows? So don't worry. For your Father cares deeply about even the smallest detail of your life."

Matthew 10:29-31

God cares for every single creature in this world, down to the most common little sparrow.  We don't have to work to get His notice.  He is always watching, loving and caring for everything He made, especially humans! He knows more about us than we ourselves know, and He is concerned about every single detail in our lives. It is as the old song says: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."  He is crazy about us, His kids! We are always on His mind and in His heart. We cannot overestimate our value to Him!

A thought: I am never out of my Father's thoughts.

Our Daily Grace: The End of Judgment

"Noone can be judged again for what Jesus already died for. We have all been declared blamelessly innocent."

Mike Parsons

"In dying our death He cancelled the detailed record which testified against us. Every stain on our conscience, reminding of the sense of failure and guilt, was thus fully blotted out. In Him dying mankind's death, He defused every possible claim of accusation against the human race."

Colossians 2:14-15 

Christ took away all our sins on the cross. He also took away all the guilt, condemnation, shame and punishment that the law said we deserved. He died our death and we were completely cleansed. The verdict of the cross is that we are innocent, clean and righteous.  Any other judgment about us, whether from the law, society, other people or even ourselves, is completely cancelled. We are innocent!

A Thought: There is no judgment on me.

Our Daily Grace: God's Justice

"Our Father, may we come to know what Your justice really looks like. May we understand that You judge in righteousness and not in condemnation. May we realize that true justice is rooted in mercy and forgiveness."

David Adams

"But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before Him."

Colossians 1:22

The world's way of justice is payment due for crimes committed. It is the way of retribution and punishment. But God's beautiful way of justice is forgiveness given for all sins. It is the way of restoration and reconciliation. God doesn't count our sins against us - that is forgiveness. He brings the whole world to Himself - that is reconciliation. And He presents all humanity before Him holy, blameless and without reproach - that is restoration! God's way of justice is not about punishing people for sins with death; it is about healing people from sin and death. And the amazing thing is that God performed these acts of justice, of "making everything all right" between us and Him, on the cross of Christ before we even believed it, knew about it, or were even born!

AThought: God's justice means that He restored me to Himself without my help.

Our Daily Grace: Rescue Mission

"He shared our darkness so He could bring us into the light."

David Adams

"He rescued us from the power of darkness, and re-established us in the kingdom of His beloved Son, that is, in the kingdom of light."

Colossians 1:13

It is like we were children of a king in a beautiful bright kingdom but were kidnapped while young, taken from the palace, and enslaved in a foreign land. We were told that we were nothing but filthy, worthless slaves, and we forgot our true parentage and began to think we were from that dark place. But our older brother the Prince came to the land of darkness and rescued us from captivity, and when we saw His face we could see the family resemblance and knew that we belonged with Him. He brought us back to the light kingdom and to the palace, our rightful home, and reintroduced us to our true Father. That's what Jesus did!

A Thought: I never belonged to the darkness; I always belonged to the light!

Our Daily Grace: Good Humanity

"Each of us as humans has been made in God's image. We are declared to be good - complete - as we should be. This is the assessed value given to us by God Himself."

Ryan Harbridge

"And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good."

Genesis 1:31

God called us very good when He created us.  The Hebrew word for good is 'tov,' which means good, lovely, complete, and as it should be. That is how God made us. No failure on our part can change our basic design or the value God gave us, which is 'very good.' Christ was not ashamed to take on human form, showing us there is nothing wrong with our humanity. Every single person on this planet has equally high value before God. Our human life is precious, beautiful,  and very good!

A Thought: I am good and complete before God, and just as I should be.

Our Daily Grace: His Deserving Children

"We all deserve to heal. We all deserve to be loved unconditionally. We all deserve the very best God has for us."

Gina Leake

"How precious is Your constant love, O God! All humanity takes refuge in the shadow of Your wings."

Psalm 36:7

The whole human race, all of us, are God's offspring, His own children.  We are like baby birds sheltered under their mother's wings. As God's children, we belong with Him, are cherished and sheltered by Him, and we deserve all the love and care He has to give us.  That is our birthright. We don't have to beg for Him to notice, accept, love or help us. We have all of His love, care and undivided attention right now. Everyone has equal value and deserves love, healing and help, and we can be sure our heavenly Dad is hugging, loving and helping us in every moment. We can also be sure that anytime we spread love and kindness, we bring God's healing love to those who need and deserve it!

A Thought: You deserve God's very best just by being yourself - His beloved child!