A Room Called Grace by Debra Courtney

Amelia Grace Photography

I spent a great amount of time in the “Room of Good Intentions”. I described my sin as guilt and others who sinned against me as hurt. I developed at a very early age of what mask(s) to put on according to the circumstances/manipulations in response to surviving self-preservation.  I’d say the “High Cost of a Two-Faced Life” fit me to a T.          

“Room Called Grace”

In the past I supplied myself a lot of self-effort and a lot of jumping through hoops and juggling manipulation for many, many years. Finally I ran out of strength, ability, and breath, and I said, “God, if anything good is to come out of my life, you will have to do it.  I’ve tried. I can’t. I’m so tired. Please God, you will have to give me the life I am dreaming of.  I can’t keep doing this anymore. Help me. You must make it happen or I’m doomed.”  Then I turned the doorknob and walked into a room where I noticed that trusting God pleased him.  Also, my faith pleases Him, not my tears, but my faith. My faith moves mountains not my pity parties.  Knowing this encouraged me and strengthened me, and lets me know that God is pleased with me.

In Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost For His Highest”, on February 16 in his book says, “God does not give us overcoming life - He gives us life as we overcome.”  God paid a very precious and infinite price by sending His son to this earth on my behalf, to give me a new identity in Him.  I have every blessing that Deuteronomy 28 says I have.  I am who God says I am, and we work on my sin together. God knows my DNA, and he knows that I am in Christ and Christ is in me. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

“I Know the Plans I have for You”

Most of my life I had a plan. Plan A, B, C, and D if I needed it.  Now my plan is, I do the trusting and praying and let God do the worrying.  It’s that simple.  Now I call out to God and say “Hey, you got a problem.”  God's realm of grace resolves my sin issues.  I love this freedom so much because it provides me with truth, acceptance, healing, safety, perspective, and power that I did not know before.  Grace keeps me focused to trust God to handle my sin, sin behavior that’s in unbelievers that I live and work with, circumstances and issues that I deal with daily.

When I trust God, I live by this value: The godly are those who trust God with themselves. I can be exactly who I am, with all my issues and problems and unresolved stuff, and still fully experience grace, love, and acceptance.  This is a great feeling!

He designed me to be all that he has called me to be.  He stirs up my spirit and I love the fact that he handed me my ticket of destiny with my name on it, and smiles, and whispered into my ear, “you have no idea how long I’ve waited to hand this to you. Have a blast! I’ve already seen what you get to do.  It’s better than you could have dreamed.  Now hurry up a whole lot of folks’  waiting for you to walk in your destiny and into their lives.”  I still stumble around, but that’s what the Room of Grace is all about. It’s where I am protected by God grace for me.  For God’s grace is perfected in my imperfection. 

Thank You God for your AMAZING GRACE!

***To hear and learn more about "The Room of Grace," "The Room of Good Intentions," and "The ticket of destiny," please visit www.TrueFaced.com 

Debra’s life goal is to inspire and motivate women globally to become all they have been created and designed to be by using the guiding principles of their Creator’s word in gaining wisdom, understanding their designed-given personality identities & create their purpose! 

You’re An Overcomer! by @clutz40

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NASB)

Dear Ones:

Are you aware that we are all engaged in an unseen battle? Ephesians 6:10-13 says,  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (NASB)

Yes, beloved, we are engaged in a battle with a formidable foe, whether we acknowledge it or not. The Scriptures tell us the devil is continually scheming. They tell us the demons are not flesh and blood, but are forces of darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness.  BUT

 1 John 4:4 brings us such hope (certain expectation!). It states we are from God, and we have overcome them.  (Hallelujah!) When Jesus cried out of the cross, “It is finished,” (John 19:30) He secured our salvation. After His death and resurrection His redeeming work of accomplishing our salvation was completed, and He sat down at the right hand of God. He overcame death and the devil.  Until He returns, though, we must remember we are in a battle. In his book, The Invisible War, Chip Ingram states that “We don’t fight FOR victory, we fight FROM victory.”  But fight we must!

Do not be blindsided by Satan’s attacks, put on your spiritual armor and stand firm.  When the battle rages do not fight in the flesh, as you are not fighting flesh and blood.  Fight with the Word of God and prayer.  Quote Scripture out loud.  Claim your victory in Him.  Turn on worship music and sing His praises.

Never forget: If you belong to Him:

YOU’RE AN OVERCOMER!!

What about you?

Do you find yourself ignoring the fact that you are in a battle?

Do you find yourself fearing Satan more than you trust your victorious Savior?

Have you tried quoting the Word of God and singing God’s praises in order to ward off the attacks of the evil one?

Would you like more information on how to stand firm?

Cheryl Lutz is passionate to teach women how to tear down strongholds and find freedom in Christ. A pastor’s wife for twenty-five years, Cheryl possesses a vibrant love for teaching the Word of God. She is the founder of Securely Held, LLC, where she works as a trained and experienced lay counselor and speaker.

You may contact Cheryl through her blog at: www.securelyheld.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/securelyheld

Twitter: @clutz40

Email: clutz40@gmail.com

What's Your Cinco de Mayo? by: Cheryl Laurenza

Photo by Jenna Martens

Numbers 13, Joshua 1

Today I was reading about the history behind Cinco de Mayo. It was back in the early days of the American Civil war, 1862 I believe, where we see Mexico, against all odds, at the Battle of Puebla, win over the French. I encourage you to read about it.

There are so many parallels we can look at here. Have you ever felt like all the odds were against you? Like there was no way you could prevail against the enemy? Have you looked over your Canaan or at the obstacles and thought " there are giants in the land, we are like grasshoppers in their sight." This causes us to look inward at our own resources and conclude that we do not have what it takes. But God... Look at the story in Numbers of the 9 spies. What made Joshua and Caleb different? They had seen what the others had seen, lived under the leadership of Moses, had all the same resources as the others. I don't believe they were in denial, they saw clearly what the obstacles were. I think they also saw clearly that God was with them and that He had spoken and promised, and they chose to believe despite what they saw. That's faith, your knees may be knocking, but your heart is steadfast and you move forward. So many accounts in scripture of underdogs overcoming.

So what's threatening to defeat you today because you believe you can't prevail? Look at the brave men at the Battle of Puebla, at Joshua and Caleb, or others you may know. You are not somehow less than they are, you have what it takes. Suit up and show up, leave the rest to Him. I stand with you in my own battles confident in the One who leads us into victory, though the battle may be fierce.

In the words of Mandisa, "You're an Overcomer"

Blessings

Cheryl Laurenza, LCMHC, LPC, NCC