People of a Second Chance

I wear a shirt that says People of a Second Chance. I love the reaction I get when I wear it. I have many people ask me what it means. I tell them that I believe in grace. I believe that becasue Jesus has shown me grace by not only not giving me what I deserve, but giving me much, much more then I dserve or could ever deserve. He died for my sin, He loves me, He accepts me, and He gives me awesome grace gifts.

The problem is I don't always show grace to others. I many times judge others and that is the very opposite of grace. God is teaching me that I don't have to judge others. I don't have to label others. I don't have to be fearful of others. I don't have mold others into who I want them or think they should be.

God is showing me that I can love others even if I don't approve of their actions. I can accept others even if they don't like me or accept me. I am not bound by others actions or reactions, I can be transformed by God's grace so that I treat others and react to others as Jesus does. I can be controlled by His Spirit and not my own natural spirit.

The key for that happening in my life is to allow God to constantly remind me that I am a work in progress. You see, some sins are more visible than others, but we all do it. We all sin. In Romans 3:23 Paul says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We all "miss the mark". That is what the word sin means. And we all truly miss the mark. I have no right to judge anyone, because I am just like them!

God has called me to keep an open heart and an open mind. And to extend grace to others just as Jesus extends grace to me.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
                           Joe

Following Jesus

What does it mean follow Jesus? Well, I think that Jesus that tells us in Luke 18:31-34. It says, "Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, 'We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. On the third day he will raise again.'" The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Following Jesus is not about getting all the stuff we want. It is not just "naming and claiming it."
Following Jesus is not about following religious rituals and traditions.
Following Jesus is not about a list of rules.

Following Jesus is about following a person - Jesus.
Following Jesus is about relaating to a perosn - Jesus.
Following Jesus is about going where  Jesus goes.
Following Jesus is about doing what Jesus does.

In the Luke 18 passage Jesus tells that following Him could mean being:
- Mocked
- Insulted
- Spit On
- Flogged
- Killed

Following Jesus is risky.
Following Jesus is getting out of your comfort zone.
Following Jesus is exciting.
Following Jesus is scary.
Following Jesus is surrendering to the will of God.

Following Jesus is not religion it is relationship.