Some people say it’s foolish to pray to God and bother Him about our lost or misplaced items. But I’ve always believed God is interested in every detail of our lives, and asking for God’s help is never a bother to Him. Moreover, He’ll always be with us even if He doesn’t respond like we want Him to. My prayer had been consistent, almost hourly, “God, please help me find my ring.”
Having lived in Maryland for only about a year, I wanted our oldest son, who was 5 at the time, to experience his first airshow. The raw power of jets that could fly as fast as the speed of sound would be a sight for his little eyes to behold.
Jesus is God. Jesus is supreme over all creation. Jesus is the resurrected forerunner. Jesus is the main point. IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS!
What do you think of when you hear the phrase, fall from grace? Many people instinctively assume that to fall from grace is to lose your salvation. But the Bible reminds us that once received, salvation can never be lost.
We asked Joe Duke some questions about grace and GraceWorks.
GraceWorks: Maybe we should start with an obvious question: What is grace?
Joe Duke: Grace is God’s favor on us that is undeserved. It’s God’s kindness and attention toward us. One author defines grace as one way love. I like that.
I’m wondering if it’s possible to construct a spiritual barometer, a way to measure the climate of our connection with God—climate influenced by the rising and falling pressures in life. The standard list of important Christian activities includes Bible study, prayer, sharing your faith, and fellowship with other Christians. These activities are necessary for connection with God and growth toward maturity. But as a list, I don’t find them particularly helpful in evaluating how I’m really doing.