Let Grace Speak Louder Than Guilt

Good Morning!

Forgiveness is not something God struggles to give. It is something He delights in giving. He does not measure us by our failures or define us by our past. When we come to Him with honest confession, He responds with mercy, not punishment; grace, not rejection. The moment we repent, God removes our sin so completely that Scripture describes it as far as the east is separated from west. That’s two directions that will never meet again.

Yet often, it isn’t God who keeps us bound. It’s our own guilt. We replay mistakes, rehearse shame, and convince ourselves we are still unworthy. But guilt is a prison God never placed us in. His forgiveness is already settled; it’s our hearts that need to catch up to His grace.

Consider the woman caught in adultery in John 8. The crowd saw her sin. Jesus saw her soul. While others lifted stones, He lifted her head. His words were simple and freeing: “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” She walked away forgiven—not because she earned it, but because He offered it.

Today, release the guilt that God has already removed. Walk in the freedom He has already spoken over you. You are forgiven.

Spiritually Wounded

 

 Good Morning!
A spiritually wounded person often struggles to separate lies from truth. Their vision becomes clouded, their heart becomes heavy, and their spirit becomes vulnerable. In that wounded state, they may blame family, life, and even God for the pain they carry. And tragically, the hurt they feel begins to spill over onto the people who love them most. Spiritual wounds don’t just ache they divide, confuse, and can cause damage that feels impossible to repair.

 

But here is the hope: spiritual wounds can be healed.

 

Jesus invites the weary, the burdened, the broken, and the misunderstood to come to Him. He promises rest, restoration, and renewal. A wounded spirit will cause you to question what is real, what is good, and what is God. It will whisper falsehoods that sound like truth. It will magnify offense and minimize grace. It will convince you that isolation is safer than connection.

 

Yet Christ calls you out of that darkness.

 

Healing begins when you bring your pain into His presence. When you stop rehearsing the hurt and start releasing it. When you allow God to speak louder than the wound. When you choose forgiveness over bitterness, truth over lies, and surrender over self‑protection.

 

Spiritual wounds may slow your growth, but they do not have the power to stop it. God specializes in mending what feels shattered. He restores joy. He rebuilds trust. He renews strength.

 

Today, take one step toward healing. Come to Jesus. Lay down the weight. Let Him tend to the places no one else can see.

 

God is still the Healer, and your spirit can live again. In Jesus name Amen. 

Gone Astray ; going astray does not mean you have to stay lost.

Read: Luke 15:11-32

The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:9

 

Good Morning!

Going astray does not mean you have to stay lost from God. Getting back on course is possible through humility.

The average person has strayed off course at some point in life. Deviation from a diet plan, substance abuse, or alcoholism could be the cause. Whatever caused you to stray, reconciliation is made possible by God's grace and mercy.

 

Today's lesson is based on the well-known parable of a hot-headed son's desire to depart from home and claim his inheritance. The father obliges and gives him his inheritance in advance.

 

 The son quickly realized that life is more challenging when alone. Life could be better if only I stayed within my father's protective confines. Upon the son's return, the father warmly welcomes him back into their home.

 

But what happens if there is a relapse? After a few years of regaining his stride with life, the Prodigal starts to slip back into self-pity, doubt, sin, or the constant reminder of past failures from others. This causes a relapse and the desire to stray once again from the comfort of the father's embrace, plunging back into the abyss. Often, many people stray not just once, twice, or three times, but even thousands of times.

 

Amidst the noise, and chaos of the Prodigal straying once again, the Father's reminder echoes: I am here for you, I'm on your team. Call me if you need help, and I will do what I can. Amidst the struggles, the Father never loses his cool, never berates the Prodigal, but is ever-present, ready and willing to help, with open arms awaiting.

 

The beautiful thing about Our Father in Heaven, He knows we are not perfect. To always call upon him is what He desires for us to do, knowing that we all have our weaknesses, shortcomings, and temptations. Confess our sins to Him and have a repentant spirit like David; He will forgive us. 1 John 1:9 assures us that if we acknowledge and confess our sins, God remains faithful and just. He forgives our sins and purifies us from all unrighteousness. When we deny or hide our transgressions, we hinder our ability to prosper. Conversely, if we confess and strive to obey God, He will show us mercy.

 

Even the best of us can go astray. Don't try to do it alone when that time comes. Repent of your sins and find your way back to the Father, just like the Prodigal Son. The Father will rejoice with open arms as you have now returned home.

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The favor of God

God’s favor can be described as divine kindness. Many correlate material blessings such as cars, homes, and jobs as Favor from God. I see Favor as protection. An undeserving act of kindness which saved one from a calamity. What has God protected you from? The story of Joseph is an example of God’s favor (Gen. 37:18-36). In spite of all of Joseph’s circumstances and encounters; from near death, to being sold as a slave to prisoner, God was with him and rescued him. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. That is favor. I can look back over my life and count many times how God’s favor protected me. I should not be here. Favor toward unworthy men or women is also referred to as God’s “grace” – which means “the unmerited favor of God.” What has God protected you from? Why did God let it happen to you in the first place? God don’t get glory from what don’t happen. His favor allows you to glorify and testify of what God did. If it had not been for the Lord’s favor where would you be? 

Be a testimony for God

God has a way of getting our attention. And when he does the experience can be life changing. A young man I see often in passing told he had been shot five times - three times in the arm and twice in the back. For the young man The ordeal, only a week old and still impressionable, kept thanking God for saving him. For this young man, it took a near fatal encounter to recognize God’s grace and mercy. The young man’s blessing was he lived another day to tell me of how God blessed and saved his life. It should not take a tragic moment before you testify of God’s goodness. Every testimony given becomes a blessing for someone. Go and tell the good news. Allow God to use 

you as a testimony for others. 

You are the apple of God’s eye

God has not dealt with us according to transgressions. Stop and think of all the things you have done. If God would have punished us according to our sins we would not be here. David broke just about every commandment of God. Yet God still thought of David as a man after his heart (1 Sam. 13:14). David’s life’s circumstances we long. His self-inflicting conflicts often pulled him away from God. He tried dealing with the issues his way and not God’s way. Psalms 17:w8 reminds us that despite life’s Turmoils you can always call on God. David prayed asking that he can remain the ‘apple of God’s eye’. That means David realizes he is already the apple of God’s eye. God is watching over him. God knows all and sees all. He is waiting on us to be like David. Go humbly unto God ask for forgiveness. Despite all the sins David committed, he knew how to seek God’s forgiveness. God has not dealt with us according to our iniquities yet he continues to bless us. That’s Grace & Mercy. 

The master of deception

The trickery of Satan will have you on a guilt trip. Focusing on past mistakes and sins. Forgetting God’s promise, when we confess our sins he will forgive and cleanse the unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Though committed, our mistakes and sins have purpose. Sins can become testimonies to help others. God can take all events, good & bad and use for his purpose. Your sin that was intended to destroy can be transformed to good. All things God works for the good For those who love the Lord (Rom. 8:28). Stop letting Satan trick you. 

Be humble

For most people it’s easier to say I’m humble than to implement. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector can be misconstrued if not careful (Lk 18:9-14). We read of the “humble” Pharisee who prays to God thanking him for what he is not- evildoer, robber, adulterer, and not like him 👇🏾, the tax collector. The “humility” of the tax collector appears genuine, he asked for God’s mercy for he is a sinner. So what’s the issue? God wants us to be humble, acknowledge our sins, and pray for his Grace & Mercy. The dilemma is this, Humility is like trying to stand and balance yourself on a ball. If you sway too far either side you will fall into focusing more on you than God. The key to true humility is to focus more of our time and thoughts on almighty God, rather than boasting of not being like Pharisees or tax collectors. 

God has smiled on you

Through storms of dismay

God is still smiling on you

Through heartache,

disappointments and pain

God is still smiling on you

We know not the hour of pain’s relief

But through #prayer #faith and your belief

He will comfort you through your pain

#God is still #smiling on you

Passing God's Performance Test

Today's affirmation: #relationshipgoals #grace

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
(Ephesians 2:8-9)

The Limitations of God

Today's affirmation: #limitations

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. (2 Cor. 12:9)

Good Morning! - Thanksgiving Grace

Good Morning! - In Due Season

Good Morning! - God's Deep Love

Good Morning! ~ The What if Game Robs God

Good Morning! ~ Grace; Not Deserved

Good Morning! ~ His Mercies Never Cease

Good Morning! ~ Wrapped up in God's Arms

Good Morning ~ Imagine Life without God

Imagine Life without God

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Just imagine life without God, where would you be?  Life would be like a branch without a vine to supply daily nutrients – the branch would die. So why do we tend to handle everything ourselves?  Life without God means we could not wake up on our own. It was not the alarm clock that got your attention this morning it was God!

Life with God begins with a relationship. Just as the branch needs a vine to survive we need Christ. No matter where you are in life go to God just as you are. It all begins with a simple conversation, speaking straight from the heart.  Let God know how you feel. The communication is a daily activity. And when you abide in him He will provide all the fruits of life needed. 

God desires a relationship with you. Begin talking and praying without ceasing so life with God will be a reality and not just your imagination.

Jamie-Grace: A Pink boot, guitar playing, Christian artist singing with the Doves

Jamie-Grace
2012 Dove Awards

Images by: Tigner J.

 Every so often the music industry is graced with a unique voice, sound, personality and image which captures all; “she has this style that can’t be put into a typical label box,” says Gotee Record’s TobyMac. Not to mention, a seasoned Christian singer-songwriter who happened to be the youngest (19 years) songwriting nominee at the GRAMMY ® Awards this year, earning a nod for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song for “Hold Me.”  The list of accolades continues to grow, from blowing up Billboard charts, radio play, concert dates and not to leave out four GMA Dove Award nominations; “Song of the Year,” “New Artist of the Year,” “Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year” and “Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.” Jamie-Grace is that girl.  I think that’s called the WOW factor! 

Jamie-Grace & Eli Smith
WYZE Gospel Radio

To be perfectly honest, Jamie-Grace slipped under my ‘keen ear for music radar”.  Where have I been to miss this fresh new talent, under a rock or just not paying attention?  Well, during the GMA artist announcement all the buzz and great anticipation was all about Jamie-Grace. My ignorance of not knowing was disguised by perusing the crowd and eavesdropping on conversations, who is Jamie-Grace? Thanks to my friend Eli Smith, Gospel Radio WYZE 1480am radio personality, for filling the gaps and bringing me up to speed. There was obvious excitement in the room when Ms. Jamie-Grace entered wearing her famous pink cowboy boots along with Pastor Montell Jordan and A.J. Styles.  Yes I said Montell Jordan “This is how we do it.”  After the announcement of the 2012 Dove Award nominees, for our listening pleasure Ms. Grace performed a few of her songs.  

Jamie-Grace’s strong yet pleasurable effect on Christian music fans was not an overnight success it begins at a very young age, learning to play guitar, along with five other instruments. “As a PK (Preacher’s Kid) I grew up singing in church.”  Her journey also came with a few obstacles which have not slowed her down.  It was around the age of eight; Jamie-Grace noticed involuntary movements and sounds most commonly associated with Tourette’s. From multiple tests it has determined that she was not only suffering from Tourette’s but also Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Echolalia. It’s safe to assume this news was hard to bear as well as a list of questions to God.   Over the next several years Jamie-Grace grew up and “realized not to be bitter about my situation but enjoy life.”  Jamie-Grace took pains and seemingly incurable problems and turned them into the one thing she loved – singing by sharing life’s struggle through music and song, thus the birth of her debut album One Song at a Time.  Now that her focus is on praising God through music and song Jamie-Grace also feels it befitting to advise others. A few words of wisdom to aspiring artist “know why you do it [your calling] and once you know you’re calling make sure to have fun doing it.”  No matter if performing for twenty or two hundred thousand people, know you are doing it for the Lord.”

Jamie-Grace's Pink boots

 The crescendo of this year’s Dove Awards is only days away, April 19, 2012, Atlanta’s Fabulous Fox Theatre and Ms. Grace still don’t believe it’s true her song has been nominated as song of the year, she states “If I don’t win I wouldn’t become disappointed.”  My prediction on the star-studded night, don’t be surprised to see Jamie-Grace walk across the stage with her ‘pink boots ‘accepting the famous Dove Award. In summing up this Gala Night, I have to take a few verses from her song:  “I’m so grateful and thankful for all you have done Wish I could tell you in a short story or poem but, all I have is my voice and this guitar And You have my heart.”

Tigner James