Grace Nuggets - Blossoming

The gospel is not a message of postponement; it is not a note of delay. The gospel is the Good News of all that Christ accomplished for us at the cross.  When Jesus cried out ‘It Is Finished!” he meant exactly what He cried, “It Is Finished!”

New life, power, right living, good marriages, healthy children, liberation from poverty, health to our bones, peace in our hearts, a spring in our step and clear skies of freedom are all our inheritance. All these things are available to us, right here, right now, today.

The great news is that Christ is ever present. united within of us; we have inside us now the petals of a beautiful flower that is waiting to open up and flourish in the sunlight of God’s wonderful grace. When He returns we will experience the transforming power in its fullness, we will become the full beautiful flower of creation. Until that final day, we are letting the flower inside slowly thrive and every moment of every day we are blossoming into all that His wonder grace has provided.

Grace Nuggets - Christ Has Perfected Us.

“Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”  - Colossians 1:22

Christ has perfected us in Him with His faith. But, it does not manifest in exactly the same way for all people.  Every individual is unique with a past and influences that plague our minds and the way we think. Each of us in our own way is catching the revelation that we are perfect in Christ. Time does not fix us.  We are not changing; we are not in a time-process of becoming holy.  We are holy; the only process we are in is the process of discovering how holy we’ve become when we were made new.

Paul Oakley writes in his song , “For your power at work in me is changing me.”  But it is not about me changing, because my old man (old self) is dead, and now I am alive in Christ.  I have an exchanged life; I exchanged my old life for a new life in Him.  I am now being transformed by the renewing of my mind into my new life, and even then it is not about me and the time it takes, it is all about Christ and His transformation that has already happened to me.

Seeds

Seeds of tranquility
Crumbs of sand
With milk and honey
and acts of love
In forgiving light
My reflection
Your divine delight
Undeserved grace

Grace Nuggets- Nor His Ox Nor His Ass

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.” – Exodus 20 v 17

We were made to covet, there is something placed in the depths of man that needs to covet. Our hearts have a capacity to long for the unreachable, touch the untouchable, discover the undiscovered. God knew this, He created us this way and the decision that faces us every day, is what will we covet?

Here in the last of the 10 commandments is the catch all, the one put there so that if you by your determination and your effort you could keep the previous 9, this one would sink your self-righteous effort and point you to a savior.

The Old Covenant is a covenant of denial, of works, it tells you want you cannot do and what you have to do. It is a Covenant of judgment, of flesh, of separation, of do not’s and do’s.

 “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” – 1 Corinthians 12 v 31.

The New Covenant is a covenant of acceptance, of union, of joy, of grace, of desire. Everyone who comes into Christ is reconciled to God eternally, once and forever. The finished work of Christ ends all work, and now we are free to desire all that God has for us in Christ. We can now covet the bountiful, wonderful, overflowing gifts and grace of God. Coveting all that God has given and provided for us is to receive and live in the victory of the cross.

Covet all we have in the promised land of the New Covenant and leave the obsolete denial mentality of the Old Covenant far behind in wilderness.

Grace Gems - Light

Whenever Christ enters the heart if man He brings wholesome life and light in place of darkness and corruption. A new pattern of life emerges, free from the enslavement of self and sinful habits, a life that is consciously aware of the good, the true and the beautiful, and which ever aspires to fineness of character.

Edith Banks

Flame

Flame with vehement love

As the day breaks and shadows flee

Your beauty becomes resplendent

In words of counsel

Velvet flakes softly floating

Over the veil of my soul

Between the rafters the sunlight of heaven

Comes streaming in.

Forgotten Heroes - Private John Carroll, V.C.

Private John Carroll, 33rd Battalion, Victoria Cross action at St Yves (battle of Messines).

Jack Carroll was born in Brisbane but grew up in Western Australia and worked around Kalgoorlie and nearby Karrawang. In 1916 he joined the AIF's 44th Battalion, but soon transferred to the 33rd. Messines was the battalion's first big action.

Over the period of 7-10 June, during the battle at St Yves (near Messines), Carroll was outstanding: he rushed an enemy trench and killed four Germans; assisted a soldier in distress and killed another German; attacked a machine-gun team, killing three men and capturing the gun; then extracted comrades buried in a shell hole while under heavy fire. His citation declared: "his magnificent example of gallantry and devotion to duty inspired all ranks in his battalion".

Carroll was a casual and happy-go-lucky man, known by his mates as "the wild Irishman". He was wounded a month later and again, severely this time, on 12 October 1917. Returned to Australia, he resumed work as a labourer and railwayman. In 1927 he had his foot amputated in a work accident.

Carroll was awarded the Victoria Cross, war service medals, and coronation medals for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

Grace Gems - God's Temple

In the Old Testament God used to live in temples built with human hands. During the dedication of the Tabernacle (Ex 4:34) and also of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr 5:11-14) God’s presence filled the building like a cloud and that was where He chose to dwell among His people. The building was not made for people; only the high priest could enter once per year to make sacrifices. The building was for God alone.

In the New Covenant God does not live in buildings anymore –He dwells in people: [1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?].

Now we are His holy priests, given free access into the Holy of Holies: [1 Pet 2:5 Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ] (GNB). The only reason we should have for wanting to meet in a physical building is to prevent the rain from falling on our heads or being scorched by the sun. The building only serves to accommodate the people. So to say that we are “going to church” or that “we attend church” is actually erroneous, since we ARE the church.

Andre van der Merwe

Grace Nuggets - The Fullness of Him

“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” - Ephesians 2 15-22

Christ reigns in the heart of every believer. We are His dwelling place on earth, His image, His ambassadors to a mixed up, confused, unbelieving world. Every one of us has the same faith as Christ, has the same power as Christ, has the same courage as Christ, we have become united into Christ. Each believer is God’s expression of grace, love, mercy and compassion to those lost and in need. We need to recognize Christ in each of us and be beacons of God’s goodness’s and compassion, setting the captive free, healing the sick, calming the storms of life, feeding those that are hungry and refreshing those that thirst.

Encounter

The marble staircase

The breeze slams a door

Books on the table

Crying to the silence

Deliberately turning

The house is far too small

I lift my hands and eyes and brow

I cherish the great encounter.

Listen

Forgotten Heroes - Captain Hugh Quinn

Captain Hugh Quinn, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF).

He is wearing the uniform of the AN&MEF with the cap and cap badge from the Queensland militia Kennedy Regiment. He was a 26 year old public accountant and auditor prior to being appointed a Captain in the 2nd AN&MEF in September 1914.

The force had been raised to capture the then German New Guinea, however, his participation in this action was short-lived, as a mutiny of thecrew of his transport ship Kanowna led to the ship being recalled before he saw any action. After returning to Australia, he was appointed a Captain in the AIF on 28 September 1914 and embarked for overseas with E Company, 15th Battalion from Melbourne on 22 December 1914 aboard HMAT Ceramic.

He landed at Gallipoli late in the afternoon of 25 April 1915 and in subsequent weeks served with the battalion in establishing and defending the ANZAC front line. His abilities in these actions saw his promotion to Major on 1 May 1915.

Major Quinn was killed in action on 29 May 1915 and the place of his death became known as Quinn's Post in recognition of his service. He is buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.

First World War - Smokes For The Soldiers

I cannot imagine this happening today but back in 1914, the Boy Scouts took great pride in collecting cigarettes and tobacco for the troops.

This ‘politically incorrect’ article comes from the Eastbourne Gazette dated 28th October 1914.

SMOKES FOR THE ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT AT THE FRONT

The 4th Eastbourne Scout Troop of Boy Scouts under Scoutmaster Read, have continued their collection of cigarettes and tobacco for our men at the Front with great success. In response to their appeal in the main streets of the town, upwards of 9,000 cigarettes and nearly 200 ounces of tobacco have been contributed by the public. This parcel (which will, no doubt be very welcome to our brave soldiers fighting in Northern France) is being sent direct to the Royal Sussex Regiment which has already done such magnificent service.

The Eastbourne Scouts are very anxious to keep up the supply of the ever welcomed weed to the county regiment. Contributions of tobacco and cigarettes will be most thankfully received and forwarded through the Assistant County Commissioner from the headquarters, Town Hall, Eastbourne.

Grace Gems - Love Wins

Jesus isn't your potential savior. He is your absolute savior. The gospel isn't an invitation, an ultimatum, or a demand, but a proclamation!

Put your trust in him, alone. Don't be duped by religion that mixes grace with your efforts. Jesus + your efforts = fallen from grace.

Jesus + nothing is absolute life & rest in him eternally.

He loves you way more than to leave you wondering if you're going to be saved or not.

Assurance of salvation is as absolute as His existence. So long as he lives, you are saved, being saved, and will be saved!

Love has the final word. Love wins.

You can chill, rest, relax, enjoy his life & love.

When He said, "It is finished" He didn't mean "potentially finished," or "I'm finished, so now you get to work."

No, it is absolutely finished and done. The work now is to believe it and enter into his rest.

Live your whole life depending on your ability to remember sins, confess them, live perfect according to the law, stressing over losing your salvation, trying to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, thinking it is your responsibility to save everyone because Jesus' blood will only touch those who you "minister to.."

OR

Actually believe what He said.

It
Is
Finished

Either He's the lamb of God that took away the sin of the WHOLE WORLD, or He's not. Are you going to believe your theology or what the bible says clear as day?

Or how about this one?

"God was in Christ reconciling the world (cosmos) to himself, NOT COUNTING THEIR SINS AGAINST THEM." ( 2 Cor 5:19)

You ever seen that scripture? Probably not if you've been lodged in evangelicalism.

Or what about this one - the mother of bombs to be dropped:

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, **that one died for all, therefore all died**; (2 Corinthians 5:14 NASB)

Whoa! So...all of creation was in Christ when He was at the cross? All creation was included in his work, died with Him, was buried and united with Him, and rose with him?? Really?!

and through Him to **reconcile all things to Himself**, having made peace **through the blood of His cross**; through Him, I say, **whether things on earth or things in heaven**. (Colossians 1:20 NASB)

Wow..

Just read your bible folks. This gospel (too-good-to-be-true-news) is a WHOOOOLE lot better than any of us could ever dream!

And we're barely scratching the surface!

Be loved, be free, live your holy, righteous life happy & joyful! Your Jesus was mighty to save & did a complete work!

You can bank on that!

Zach Langhamer

From A Park Bench - The Last Verse of 2 Corinthians

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen”. – 2 Corinthians 13:14.

The last verse in 2 Corinthians perfectly encapsulates our position In Christ.

The full unmerited favour of God, all the promises of heaven, all the riches of our inheritance are available to us as a gift in Christ.

The perfect unconditional love of a father God who is infinite and eternal with overflowing love to us.

The close intimate communion of the Holy Spirit, encouraging us, is helping us, declaring Christ righteousness to us, reassuring us of our complete union with Christ.

This prayer is that we may know the wonderful fountain of the grace of Christ, be embraced in the unconditional love of the Father and by whispered and cherished to by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Grace In Us

Bleeding

Living

Rising

Pleading

For us

Displaying

Revealing

Painting

Creating

Christ in us

Troubles removed

Fears subside

Doubts overcome

Sins vanish

Grace in us.

Grace Gems - A New Creation

When you were born again it was because the Holy Spirit convicted you of that unbelief in grace and He circumcised your heart. We don’t have a sinful nature and a righteousness nature! That old nature has been cut away! Under the Old Covenant you had physical circumcision. I am not trying to be crude – but it was a snip on the tip and then they threw the tip away. They didn’t try to stick it back on again with Bos-Stick or glue! So when your old nature is cut away it is thrown away!

So you do not have a sinning nature on the inside of you! You have a new creation nature that wants to believe in the goodness of God! It doesn’t want to run out and do terrible things! Yes you still have appetites in your physical body and memories in your mind. Some of our appetites want to do wrong things and it is not coming from the old nature but memories of the flesh.


Rob Rufus

Soak in the Simplicity - Firewood by Ruth Dallas

stocking firewood

scent

of the old forest.

RUTH DALLAS

Forgotten Heroes - Lance Corporal Charles Grimson. D.C.M.

Lance Corporal Charles Grimson, 1st Light Horse Regiment being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) by the Governor General.

Grimson, a farmer from Cumnock, NSW, with two and a half years service in the Citizens' Military Forces, enlisted on 8 September 1914.

He served at Gallipoli and was awarded the DCM for 'For conspicuous gallantry on the night of the 28th-29th May, 1915, near Gaba Tepe (Dardanelles). Owing to the explosion of a mine which destroyed a portion of our parapet the enemy was able to occupy a portion of our trenches, thus dividing the defending force into two. Lance-Corporal Grimson crawled over the broken ground towards the enemy, capturing successively three Turks. He then with the greatest courage, entered the remaining portion of the trench held by the enemy, about 12 in number, compelling them all to surrender, thus enabling the defending forces to re-unite', quote from the London Gazette on 6 September 1915.

L Cpl Grimson was wounded in action on 27 July 1915 and returned to Australia on 22 November 1915.

Grace Gems - A Changed Identity

For just as the body is clad in clothes, and the flesh in skin, and the bones in flesh, and the heart in the whole, so we, body and soul, clad and enclosed in the goodness of God. Yes, and even more intimately because all these other things will wear out and vanish, but the goodness of God is always whole and close to us without compare.

Elizabeth Obbard