"But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."--(Isaiah 53:5)

-Peace with God Through Christ ~~

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

Peace with God. What a happy consequence of faith! Not just peace between countries, peace between neighbors, or peace at home; salvation brings peace with God.

Once a monk and his apprentice traveled from the abbey to a nearby village. The two parted at the city gates, agreeing to meet the next morning after completing their tasks. According to plan, they met and began the long walk back to the abbey. The monk noticed that the younger man was unusually quiet. He asked him if anything was wrong. "What business is it of yours?" came the terse response.

Now the monk was sure his brother was troubled, but he said nothing. The distance between the two began to increase. The apprentice walked slowly, as if to separate himself from his teacher. When the abbey came in sight, the monk stopped at the gate and waited on the student. "Tell me, my son. What troubles your soul?"

The boy started to react again, but when he saw the warmth in his master's eyes, his heart began to melt. "I have sinned greatly," he sobbed. "Last night I slept with a woman and abandoned my vows. I am not worthy to enter the abbey at your side."

The teacher put his arm around the student and said, "We will enter the abbey together. And we will enter the Cathedral together. And together we will confess your sin. No one but God will know which of the two of us fell."

Doesn't that describe what God has done for us? When we kept our sin silent, we withdrew from Him. We saw Him as an enemy. We took steps to avoid His presence. But our confession of faults alters our perception. God is no longer a foe but a friend. We are at peace with Him. He did more than the monk did, much more. More than share in our sin, Jesus was "bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed(Isaiah 53:5) "He accepted the shame" (Hebrews 12:2 NCV).
He leads us into the presence of God.
(From: In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado)

Question: What sin do you need to bring into God's presence today and confess?

--Max Lucado

--Present Help in Time of Trouble~~
--Psalm 91

--"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ( Matthew 11:28)~~ Jesus +
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-AS I prepared myself to write this, I thought about the Scriptures, and I realize that despite the heavy burdens of incarceration, divorce, and loss of loved ones, I can rest in Christ. I know how blessed I am regardless of my present situation.

I have five brothers, all of them born healthy and without any physical illness. I have five daughters who were also born healthy. And now my daughters, by God's grace, have blessed me with seven healthy grandchildren. My youngest daughter became pregnant with my eighth grandchild, and I was over-joyed about it because I just had a feeling that this baby was going to be something special. It seemed to be something I could feel in my heart.

Constantly, I praised God about this little one, even wanting to name him Jedidiah, meaning "love of God." However, six months into my daughter's pregnancy, the baby died. I wept bitterly. Yet in no way did I question God. He is indeed sovereign over the affairs of His Creation; all we have to do is rest in and trust in the Lord. "Does not the God of all the earth do right?"
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---Written by: Norman Gonzalez
-Serving 14 years in Danville Center
--Serving time for drug possession. ~~

--A Child of the King!

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” - Ephesians 3:8

-Have you been complaining about your poverty? Listen, you may not have much money in the bank, but you are immensely wealthy. You’re in the King’s family!
“For the Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” Romans 8:16-17.

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9. “In everything ye are enriched by Him.” 1 Corinthians 1:5.

-I want you to remember that you’re a prince, a royal blueblood, if you’re 'born again' (John 3:3-8). No matter how poor you may be in this world’s eyes, in Jesus Christ, you are rich. You are a child of the King!

--Adrian Rogers~~

--Zig Ziglar / Motivational Speaker ~ (Christian/ and proud of it!==[1926-2012]
--TRUE PERFORMANCE SHOWS THROUGH IN OUR FAITH~~
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