GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN...IN ME... FRIENDS...

On this last day of 2010, let's consider how we will live by the 4 themes of this blog this year:

Jesus prayed in John 17:17-19, "Sanctify them by the truth; your WORD is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."

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The last verse of 2 Corinthans, in 13:14 includes our other 3 themes:

"May the GRACE of the Lord Jesus Christ,

and the LOVE of God,

and the fellowship of the HOLY Spirit be with you all."

Until we meet again sweet friend, in 2011...

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN... IN ME... TRANSFORMING...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

It was 37 years ago today that I married Steve Sikes. Over the years, I have heard him described by others in many ways:

• ornery
• funny
• athletic
• cowboy
• smart
• storyteller
• gifted
• kind
• good
• compassionate
• wise
• merciful
• generous
• teacher
• spiritual
• Godly
  

A little over a decade ago, while living in York, Nebraska, our Life Group dubbed him:

• sweet
• sweetness

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A few weeks ago, I began to ponder what I might write on this post today. It has been 40 years since our first date... 37 years of wedded bliss (NOT!)... Oh, there have been ups and downs, many potholes along this life journey. On Monday, I spoke of ENDURANCE required in this life. Our journey has not been easy! Yet, there is a word that I believe describes my hubby as I look back over the journey...

• GRACE

Steve Sikes is full of God's Grace! When something gets squeezed, what is on the inside comes out. When Steve Sikes gets squeezed by life and all that it throws at him, out comes GRACE!

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It's been a good match! Patti Sikes, oldest child, responsible, practical, and serious is often motivated by GUILT! It's taken 40 years of knowing this man and living with him for 37 years to begin to understand this GRACE that he lives in, lives with, and lives by!

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Since we've been looking at God's GRACE on this blog for the last 3 months, I couldn't let the following opportunity go by. 37 years of GRACE learning with Steve Sikes... praying for more...

• 37 things that I've come to know about the GRACE of God...

Is it an all inclusive list? By no means! In fact, these only come from a few books in the New Testament: Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians...

I couldn't leave out 2 Corinthians! Steve and I both have a few scriptures that we claim as our "favorites" . Two of those come from 2 Corinthians:

• Steve's: 2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

• Patti's: 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves...

So, here's just a taste of what the Bible says about GOD'S GRACE. I invite you to come back and study this, internalize it, and let it fuel your desire to learn more about HIS AMAZING GRACE! I'll begin with the starter list of 37 and follow it with the scriptures that these concepts came from. Several of the concepts are in multiple scriptures, but I'll only put each one on the list once.

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THE GRACE OF GOD...

1. Comes upon...
2. Fills... along with Truth... and Power...
3. Brings about blessings....
4. Comes through Jesus Christ...
5. Brings gladness...
6. Should be continued in....
7. Is something to be committed to...
8. Saves both Jews and Gentiles...
9. Commends christians who agree to disagree...
10. Brings belief...
11. Is the gospel that we must testify to...
12. Builds up the sanctified....
13. Gives an inheritance to the sanctified....
14. Is received through God and for His Name's sake...
15. Justifies freely through the redemption that comes through Jesus Christ...
16. Guaranteed to those who are of the faith of Abraham...
17. Is gained access to by faith...
18. Is to stand in...
19. Overflows to many...
20. Brings the gift of righteousness...
21. Is God's abundant provision...
22. Increases where sin increases...
23. Reigns through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord...
24. Encourages us not to sin...
25. Chooses us... not our works....
26. Gives us gifts...
27. Overflows in thanksgiving to the glory of God...
28. Builds the foundation of Jesus Christ...
29. Effects who we are and how we work...
30. Conducts itself with holiness, sincerity, and wisdom...
31. Should not be received in vain....
32. Gives generously out of extreme poverty...
33. Can abound in us, in all things... at all times... in every good work...
34. Attracts others prayers and hearts to us....
35. Is an indescribable gift...
36. Is sufficient...
37. Accompanies the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit...
    

Luke 2:40

• And the child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom, and the GRACE of God was upon Him.

John 1:14

• The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of GRACE and truth.

John 1:15-18

• From the fullness of His GRACE we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; GRACE and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known.

Acts 4:32-35

• All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much GRACE was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Acts 6:8

• Now Stephen, a man full of God's GRACE and power...

Acts 7:23-24

• When he arrived and saw what the GRACE of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Acts 13:43

• When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the GRACE of God.

Acts 14:26

• From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the GRACE of God for the work they had now completed.

Acts 15:7-11

• "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Acts 15:39-41

• Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the GRACE of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Acts 18:27-28

• When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by GRACE had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Acts 20:22-24

• "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's GRACE.

Acts 20:32-33

• "Now I commit you to God and to the word of His GRACE, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
  

Romans 1:4-7 5

• Through Him and for His name's sake, we received GRACE and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
  7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
  GRACE and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
  

Romans 3:22-25

• This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by His GRACE through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 4:16-17

• Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by GRACE and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring-not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Romans 5:1-3

• Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this GRACE in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:15-17

• But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's GRACE and the gift that came by the GRACE of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of GRACE and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:20-21

• The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, GRACE increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also GRACE might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:1-4

• What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that GRACE may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:14-15

• For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under GRACE. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under GRACE? By no means!

Romans 11:5-7

• So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by GRACE. 6 And if by GRACE, then it is no longer by works; if it were, GRACE would no longer be GRACE.
  
  

Romans 12:6-8

• We have different gifts, according to the GRACE given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Romans 16:19-20

• Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
  20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The GRACE of our Lord Jesus be with you.

1 Corinthians 1:3-5

• GRACE and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  4 I always thank God for you because of His GRACE given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in h\Him you have been enriched in every way-in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-

1 Corinthians 3:10-11

• By the GRACE God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:10-11

• But by the GRACE of God I am what I am, and His GRACE to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-yet not I, but the GRACE of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

2 Corinthians 1:12

• Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's GRACE.
  

2 Corinthians 4:13-18

• It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the GRACE that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
  16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

• As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's GRACE in vain. 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 8:1-9

• And now, brothers, we want you to know about the GRACE that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of GRACE on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this GRACE of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 9:6-9

• Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all GRACE abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
  "He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."

2 Corinthians 9:12-15

• This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
• Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
• And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing GRACE God has given you.
• Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

• Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My GRACE is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 13:14

• May the GRACE of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN... IN ME... THE WORD...

TRANSFORMED MOMS : MOMS TRANSFORMED is a blog where...

• God's Word touches the hearts of women.
• God's Word was put to memory in 2010.

Join me today for our 2010 scriptures in review. If you don't remember what goes in the blanks, the full scriptures are down towards the bottom of the blog.

2010 JANUARY SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES:
Hebrews 12:1-3

• "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a _______ ________ __ ________, let us throw off ____________ ___ __________ and the ____ that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and ___________ of our faith, who for the joy set before Him _________ the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such _________ from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
  
  

2010 FEBRUARY SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES:
Ephesians 2:4-10

• "But because of His great love for us, God, who is ____ ___ ______, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is ___ GRACE you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and _______ ___ _____ _____ in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages He might show the __________ _______ of His GRACE, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to ___ ______ _____, which God prepared in advance for us to do. "
  

2010 MARCH SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES:
Philippians 2:12-16a

• 12 "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have _______ ________-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to ______ ____ ______ _____ ____________ with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God ____ _______ ___ ___ to will and to act according to His good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or __________, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you _______ ______ ______ in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of LIFE..."
  
  

2010 APRIL SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES:
Mark 12:30-31

• "Love the Lord your God with all your _______ and with all your ______ and with all your ______ and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor ___ __________.' There is no commandment greater than these." . .
  

2010 MAY SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

• 4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your _____ and with all your ______ and with all your strength. . 6 These __________________ that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. . 7 Impress them ___ _______ _______. Talk about them when you ___ at home and when you _____ along the road, when you ____down and when you ____ up. . 8 ____ them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 _______ them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
  
  

2010 JUNE SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 13 4 .

• "Love is patient, love ___ kind. It does not envy, it ____ ____ boast, it is not proud. . 5 It __ ____ rude, it __ ___ self-seeking, it __ ____ easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. . 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with ____ _______. . 7 It always protects, _____ trusts, ______ hopes, _______ perseveres. . 8 Love never fails... . 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is ______. "
  
  

2010 JULY SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES:
Hebrews 4:12-13

• "For the _____ of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged _______, it penetrates even to _________ soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it ________ the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. . Nothing in all of creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and _____ ______ before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account."
  
  

2010 AUGUST SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES:
John 1:1-5 & 14

• "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He ____ _____ God in the beginning. 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was _____, and that life was the light of men. 5 The _______ _______ in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. . . 14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of ____ ____ _____ _____, who came from the Father, full of GRACE and _______. "
  
  

2010 SEPTEMBER SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES:
Ephesians 6:13-18

• "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the ____ ___ _____ comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 ______ _____ then, ...with the belt of truth buckled around _____ ______, with the breastplate of righteousness __ ______, 15 and with your feet fitted with ____ ____________ that comes from the gospel of peace. . 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can _____________ all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the ________of God. . 18 And pray in the Spirit ___ ___ ___________ with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, ___ _______ and always keep on praying for all the saints. "
  

2010 OCTOBER SCRIPTURE MEMORY
John 1:14-18

• "The _______ became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the ____ ____ ______, who came from the Father, full of _______ ____ _______. 15 John testifies concerning Him. He cries out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ____ __________ ___because He was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of His GRACE we have all received one BLESSING ________ ________. 17 For ____ ______ was given through Moses; GRACE and TRUTH came __________JESUS CHRIST. 18 No one has ever seen God, but GOD THE ONE AND ONLY, who is at ___ _________ _____, has made Him known."
  
  

2010 NOVEMBER SCRIPTURE MEMORY
Romans 5:1-8

• "Therefore, since we have been _________ through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have _________ ________ by faith into this GRACE in which we now stand. And we rejoice ___ ____ ______ of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that _____________ ____________ perseverance; 4 perseverance, __________; and character, hope. 5 And hope ______ _____ disappoint us, because God has ________ ____ _____ _______ into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. . 6 You see, at just the right time, when we ____ ______ ________, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a ______ _____ someone might possibly dare to die. . 8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: _______ ____ _____still sinners, Christ died for us." .
  
  

2010 DECEMBER SCRIPTURE MEMORY
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

• "But He said to me, "My GRACE is sufficient for you, for ____ _______ is made perfect in weakness." . Therefore I _____ _______ all the more gladly about my ______________, so that Christ's power may rest on me. . That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in ____________, in persecutions, in difficulties. . For when I am weak, then __ ___ _________."

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN... IN ME... GRATITUDE...

• So thankful for heat... we did not have it in our Sunday morning service.
• So thankful for coats and sweaters and socks... we had them in our Sunday morning service.
• So thankful for the warm hearts who worshipped our LORD together at our Sunday morning service.
• So thankful for these 4 warm and transformed sisters in Christ.... love, love, love that because of the GRACE OF JESUS, we are family!
  

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN...IN ME... ENDURANCE...

MEDITATION MONDAY

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In January of this year, I began adding a theme for every 3 months on this blog - as well as a scripture memory for each month. I asked God to guide my decision making as we went along. What I did not expect was that each Sunday morning either something said in Bible class, the communion talk, song selections, or the sermon would connect with what we were discussing on the blog. It has been wonderful to see God's Spirit at work in that way.
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Yesterday, was no exception! I knew that there would be part of this week that I would spend some time looking back at 2010 on the blog. What I didn't know was that Dan would get us started! Dan's scripture focus for yesterday's sermon was listed on our handouts in this way:

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• Run With Endurance...How?...Text: Hebrews 12:1-3

That was our scripture memory for January 2010! We began the year with these verses on this blog!

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Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded

by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders

and the sin that so easily entangles,

and let us run with perseverance

the race marked out for us.

Let us FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS,

the author and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before Him

endured the cross,

scorning its shame,

and sat down

at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Consider Him who endured

such opposition from sinful men,

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

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Dan's handout had 3 points. Then, on each of those 3 points he gave us an assignment~

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1. Be INSPIRED by those who have GONE BEFORE!

• Write down the name of a faith hero of yours. Who is someone who has inspired you to be faithful in your walk?

2. Be PREPARED for the STRUGGLES!

• Write down a temptation that has overwhelmed you in the last year. Our elders want to pray over you and with you, that that sin will not entangle you again in 2011!

3. Be FOCUSED on JESUS!

• Write down one way that satan tempted you to grow weary and to lose heart in 2010.
  

As is common for me, I had a multiplicity of answers for each! As I've meditated on these 3 concepts, I see GOD'S GRACE all through them. No matter how much I mess up, I can come to Him in repentance and He says

1. God has graced us with a book full of wonderful heroes and heroines of faith! Most of us have some modern day ones, too.
2. God has graced us with the a church family who are designed to give us support, encouragement, and guidance for the journey. What a wonderful plan for each body of believers to have shepherds who are prayer warriors!
3. God has graced us with JESUS! Focusing on the nature of who Jesus is and what He has done for us gives us strength for the journey.

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As you meditate on Jesus and His journey and relate it to your own journey and your endurance, maybe one of the pictures above will encourage you.

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I've also added a few more pics that will help you keep endurance on your mind:

NOTE: When I GOOGLED to find some pictures on endurance, I GOOGLED the words, Jesus Endurance. I was totally shocked when I went to the second page of the images to find the picture of my family as an image for JESUS ENDURANCE. It has certainly given me some time to pause and meditate deeply on that concept. This is Steve and me a little over 20 years ago with our four children. Life has thrown us some very tough curve balls along the way. Understanding that God extends us His GRACE (IN JESUS) TO ENDURE is key!!!

This is the link that was under the GOOGLE IMAGE:

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2010/01/fix-your-eyes-on-jesus-in-christ-alone.html

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GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN...IN ME...

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN

LYRICS by Julia Johnston

1.
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

2.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

3.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

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NOTE: This week we have two theme songs...

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IN ME

As sung by Casting Crowns

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If you asked me to leap

Out of my boat on the crashing waves

If you ask me to go

Preach to a lost world that Jesus saves

I'll go, but I cannot go alone

'Cause I know I'm nothing on my own

But the power of Christ in me makes me strong

Makes me strong'

Cause when I'm weak,

You make me strong

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When I'm blind You shine Your light on me

'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability

How refreshing to know You don't need me

How amazing to find that you want me

So I'll stand on Your Truth,

and I'll fight with Your Strength

Until You bring the victory,

by the power of Christ in me

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If you ask me to run

And carry your light into foreign land

If you ask me to fight

Deliver Your people from satan's hand

I'll go, but I cannot go alone

'Cause I know I'm nothing on my own

But the power of Christ in me makes me strong

Makes me strong

'Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong

.

When I'm blind you shine Your light on me

'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability

How refreshing to know You don't need me

How amazing to find that You want me

So I'll stand on Your Truth,

and I'll fight with Your Strength

Until You bring the victory,

by the power of Christ in me

.

To reach out with Your hands

To learn through Your eyes

To love with the love of the Savior

To feel with Your heart

and to think with Your mind

I'd give my last breath for Your glory

.

'Cause when I'm weak,

You make me strong

When I'm blind

You shine Your light on me

'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability

when I'm weak,

You make me strong

When I'm blind

You shine Your light on me

'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability

.

How refreshing to know You don't need me

How amazing to find that You want me

So I'll stand on Your Truth,

and I'll fight with Your Strength

Until You bring the victory,

by the power of Christ in me

The power of Christ in me

The power of Christ in me

WONDERFUL MERCIFUL SAVIOR... FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH...

The Word became flesh

and made His dwelling

among us.

We have seen His glory,

the glory of the one and only Son,

who came from the Father,

full of

GRACE and TRUTH."

-John 1:14-

WONDERFUL MERCIFUL SAVIOR... BORN TO DIE...

.....F

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

....M

....I

....L

....Y

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FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY

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Acts 4:8-12

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,

said to them,

"Rulers and elders of the people...

if we are on trial today for

let it be known to all of you,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,

whom you crucified,

whom God raised from the dead — ...

... "He is the stone which was rejected by you,

the builders,

but which became the very corner stone.

"And there is salvation in no one else;

for there is no other name under heaven

that has been given among men,

by which we must be saved."

.
.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WONDERFUL MERCIFUL SAVIOR... STRENGTH IN MY WEAKNESS...

This month we have 5 Wednesdays. So, let's finish up memorizing our 2010 DECEMBER SCRIPTURE MEMORY this week. Then, next Wednesday we'll do the year in review of all of our 2010 scriptures.

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2 Corinthians 12:9-10

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"But He said to me, "My GRACE is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

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2010 DECEMBER SCRIPTURE MEMORY
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

• "But He said to me, "_________________,
• for My __________________________."
• Therefore I will boast ________________,
• so that __________________________.
• That is why, __________________,
• I delight in ________________, in
• i_____________________, in
• h_____________________, in
• p_____________________, in
• d_____________________.
• For when ______________________." .
  
  .
  2010 DECEMBER SCRIPTURE MEMORY
  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "But He said to me, "___ __________is sufficient for you, for ___ __________ is made perfect in weakness." . Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that _________ __________ may rest on me. . That is why, for __________ _______, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. . For when I am weak, then ___ ____ _________." .
  
  .
  2010 DECEMBER SCRIPTURE MEMORY... every other word:
  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "But ___said ___ me, "____ GRACE ____ sufficient ____ you, ____ My ______ is _____perfect ____ weakness." . ___________ I _____boast _____ the ______ gladly ________ my _____________, so _______ Christ's _______ may ______ on ____. That ____ why, ___Christ's _____, I ________in ____________, in ___________, in __________, in ___________, in _____________ . For ______ I ____ weak, _____ I ___ strong." .
  
  

WONDERFUL MERCIFUL SAVIOR... THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR LIFE FOR ME...

WONDERFUL MERCIFUL SAVIOR... LOVE...

MEDITATION MONDAY

I love my church family! I love our preachers! I love my LORD and the way He works through all of them!
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A week ago our worship was very balanced - as songs and communion focused on God's GRACE and Dan's sermon centered on the consequences of not being within God's GRACE.
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Yesterday, Steve and Dan "tag teamed their lesson" as Dan began with our HOPE in the Baby who came to this earth to die and the FAITH we must have to finish this life strong! He spoke of his recent trip to the Holy Lands and specifically his visit to Bethlehem.
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Steve continued his part of the tag team by going to 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain: FAITH, HOPE and LOVE. But the greatest of these is LOVE."
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Steve spoke of how Joseph and Mary must have both understood God's kind of LOVE. Reading about Joseph tells us that he was a patient and kind man. Steve quoted scripture, saying, that "kindness makes a man attractive." There is a lot about the 1 Corinthians 13 description of LOVE that describes Mary:

• rejoices with the truth
• bears all things
• believes all things (FAITH)
• HOPES all things
• endures all things

Jesus of Nazareth, the child who they raised, is our walking, living, breathing example of FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE. In fact, in reading the definition of LOVE, we can do it this way:

1. Jesus is patient


2. Jesus is kind


3. Jesus does not envy


4. Jesus does not boast


5. Jesus is not proud


6. Jesus is not rude


7. Jesus is not self-seeking


8. Jesus is not easily angered


9. Jesus keeps no record of wrongs


10. Jesus does not delight in evil


11. Jesus rejoices with the truth


12. Jesus always protects


13. Jesus always trusts


14. Jesus always hopes


15. Jesus always perseveres


16. Jesus never fails

What a man of GRACE! Our theme song this week uses many descriptor words:

• Wonderful


• Merciful


• Saviour


• Precious


• Redeemer


• Friend


• Lamb


• Rescue


• Counselor


• Comforter


• Keeper


• Spirit


• HOPE


• The One


• Healing


• GRACE


• Almighty


• Infinite Father


• FAITHFUL


• LOVING
  

And then, the song connects with our scripture memory:

Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne.
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Toward the end of Steve's part, he put a picture up on the screen of our church family. He spoke of us being Jesus with skin on. In order for that to happen, we have to be a people in LOVE with our LORD... who are being led by His Spirit... Colossians 1:27 ends with,

...Christ in you,

the HOPE of glory.

The Baby from Bethlehem became The Man who knew where His HOPE lie... His FAITH in the Father remained steadfast... His LOVE was perfect:

• John 3:16 "For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
• 1 John 3:16 "This is how we know what LOVE is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
• 2 John 5-6 "I ask that we LOVE one another. 6 And this is LOVE: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in LOVE."

WONDERFUL, MERCIFUL SAVIOR...

Lyrics to Wonderful, Merciful Saviour :

Wonderful, merciful Saviour
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would've thought that a Lamb could
Rescue the souls of men
Oh, You rescue the souls of men

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost our way
Oh, we've hopelessly lost the way

CHORUS

You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and GRACE
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne

repeat CHORUS
Wonderful, merciful Saviour
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would've thought that a Lamb could
Rescue the souls of men
Oh, You rescue the souls of men

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost our way
Oh, we've hopelessly lost the way

CHORUS

You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and GRACE
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne

repeat CHORUS

[

A PLACE CALLED GRACE... HOME...

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

Catch Up and Must Do!

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1. A PLACE CALLED GRACE: Home Is At The Foot of the Cross!

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2. A PLACE CALLED GRACE: The Holy Spirit At Home In A Christian's Heart!!

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3. A PLACE CALLED GRACE: Home is The Family Together At The Cross!

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4. A PLACE CALLED GRACE: At Home - Wherever / Whenever - Digesting Spiritual Food!

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5. A PLACE CALLED GRACE: The Christian Home Where Family Members Honor One Another!

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6. A PLACE CALLED GRACE: Our Temporary Home Where All Creation Testifies!

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7. A PLACE CALLED GRACE: The Eternal Home Of Christians - Now and Forever - The Kingdom Of Heaven!

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8. A PLACE CALLED GRACE: As Sung By Phillips, Craig, and Dean (Please pause the playlist above before playing this video!)

A PLACE CALLED GRACE... SUFFICIENT...

.

Absolutely and without a doubt, wherever THE FAMILY is should be A PLACE CALLED GRACE! Absolutely and without a doubt, TRUTH is foundational, too! Yet, TRUTH and GRACE have to co-habit in order for the family to be what God designed it to be. The TRUTH is that God says, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT, for My power is made perfect in weakness!"

.

God got the attention of the extended Sikes family a little over 10 years ago. Steve and I had just built a house in York, NE and everyone was to arrive after Christmas but before the New Year to celebrate the entrance of the new millinium together. I use the term "everyone" loosely when speaking of Steve's parents, his 12 siblings, their spouses/children/grandchildren. At the time there were multiple Sikes living in York to house whoever would come for the celebration.

.

One of Steve's seven sisters and her family were headed back to York from spending Christmas in Texas. It was nightime on a very busy two lane highway. Cresting a hill, they found themselves in a very tough situation. Someone had hit a deer and cars were pulling off to the side of the road. If Derryl swerved to the left, he would hit a semi-truck head on. He couldn't go straight and if he swerved to the right, he might hit a car. In an instant, he swerved to the far right. Before they knew it, they had hit something and their car was rolling down the hill into a steep ravine.

.

At the bottom of the hill, in a turned over car, they gratefully found that the four of them were unharmed. Yet, the electrical system in their car had jammed and would not let them open their doors. They would have to wait together and be at the mercy of someone finding them there. As they prayed together, in the darkness, a voice spoke, "My GRACE is sufficient, for my power is made perfect in weakness!" They sat eerily in the quiet wondering what had just happened... who had just spoken.

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In the tape deck had been an audio cassette of Richard Rogers of Sunset School of Preaching, Lubbock, Texas speaking. Even though everything else electrical in the car was not working, the tape came on and allowed Richard to speak just this statement and then go off. Profound words! God's words! A captive audience! Lives changed!

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Those of us in York, got the phone call. A girl had been killed in the accident. The Morgan's were at the hospital. Steve headed south to comfort and bring the Morgan's home. God had given them and us words for the moment... words for the journey... words for a lifetime: "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT, for MY POWER is made perfect in weakness!"

.

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A PLACE CALLED GRACE... STEEL MAGNOLIAS... SPIRITUAL... THANKFUL... GENEROUS...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

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Before I die, I would like my family to be able to say that I was a woman of GRACE. For some reason or another it's easier for me to extend GRACE to those I don't know as well than those who are the closest to me. Why is that?
.
Over the years there have been a few women who I have come to know that bring to mind God's GRACE everytime I think of them. Interestingly enough, I also think of the words "STEEL MAGNOLIA" when I think of these women. Their lives have been forged with Jesus through many struggles and hardships, but as they have persevered, they have taken on the very nature of their LORD.
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In the book of 2 Corinthians, where our scripture memory comes from, Paul uses the word GRACE repeatedly - before ever getting to chapter 12. He builds up to our memory verse that says, "My GRACE is sufficient...". Here are a few of those verses for you and I to consider as we ask God to TRANSFORM us more and more into women of GRACE.
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2 Corinthians 1:12
Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's GRACE.

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2 Corinthians 4:13-18
13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the GRACE that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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2 Corinthians 8:6-7

...bring also to completion this act of GRACE on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this GRACE of giving.

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2 Corinthians 8:8-9

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

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2 Corinthians 9:8-11

8 And God is able to make all GRACE abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

"He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever."

10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.