Tag: grace

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Gift…Ed

Kris Joi

Greetings in Grace Beloved,

I hope this post finds you well spirit, soul, and body. One of my favorite scriptures to pray when I intercede for God’s people(including myself) is 3 John 1:2. It reads, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.” This reminds that His plans for us are complete good, and no matter what we face it’s all working together for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. That’s one of the many benefits of being a Kings kids 👑 .

So this past month i’ve been meditating on the gifts of God and studying the fruit of the spirit Love. The bible says we are to pursue love ❤️ and desire gifts. Since everything we have received is from love(God) then everything we give/do ought to be motivated by the same. Including the sharing of our gifts. My friend i’m learning this isn’t something we can do in our strength it takes His heart & spirit to love like God. It’s a lot easier said than done, especially when it’s not returned or isn’t received. However, God’s love isn’t conditional.

Fruit check ✔️check the ones you could improve on & ask God for grace to): Love is patient ⭕️, kind ⭕️, doesn’t envy ⭕️, boast ⭕️, dishonor ⭕️, keep record of wrongs ⭕️ , isn’t proud ⭕️, self seeking ⭕️, or easily angered ⭕️…How did you do? Not so great? It’s ok let’s just take some time to SELAH(pause) 🛑and ask 🙏🏽 God for more grace.

So I was looking at the scripture that said He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men (psalm 68:18 & Ephesians 4:8). I am so grateful that God didn’t leave us in our own hands, mans hands, or the hand of the enemy. Instead he defeated everything that came to hold us captive and gave us gifts to fight the good fight. For God is not a man/human, he is faithful in ALL HIS WAYS and WORDS! This is why i’m learning how to put my trust in HIM TOTALLY. Because when we trust Him it causes our hearts/minds to receive everything He has for us and our actions/life to align with it.

See the gifts of God are without repentance, meaning He doesn’t take away His love, kindness, or any other gift He gave us. And because we have free will we can use or misuse the gifts according to our desires. Yet, we have to remember whatever we sow/give into we will receive it back. This works good or bad. The word says if we sow into the flesh(our thoughts/ways) we get corruption but if we sow into the spirit we get life. There is a God purpose/plan/ will/way for our life that we can ONLY get access to through giving God our hearts.

Yes it is going to require us to give up some of our human ways to follow Him, BUT IT’S SO WORTH IT!!! There is nothing we will ever give to God that He doesn’t give us better!! One of my constant prayers is God give me eyes that see, and ears that hear what the spirit of the Lord is saying to His church(us), and a heart that receives/trusts & obeys. The more we seek God through building a relationship with Him, the more we are changed into the image of Himself that He shows us in those moments. Now that my friend is #Goals (Think/Sound/Look like… Jesus)!

XOXO, GRACE LOVE ABOUNDING MERCY

encouragment, glam, peace, Purpose

Present in His Presence

Kris Joi

Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Greetings Kings Kids,

Happy New Year To You & Your ❤️ Ones. Hope that the season has been filled with much peace, love, and joy. As always may the Lord continuously keep, bless, and cause His face to shine ✨ upon you. A few highlights for me were cooking for my family, a movie night with my husband, vision boarding with some sisters in Christ, and beginning the first day of the year in service praising & worshiping God! I’m definitely going to start developing/sharing more content connected to those type of things in this new year.

I’m super ecstatic because God has been really stretching me to launch out into the deep. By that I mean just taking everything to another level. From my personal time with Him, to the ministry endeavors He’s impressed upon my ❤️, to my relationships…just everything that pertains to life and godliness. It’s so amazing to me that regardless of what’s going on in the world, God has provided a place of refuge in Him to all those who will receive it. In times of uncertainty we can find surety, stability, and rest in Him/His word. His peace truly surpasses all understanding (bible, Philippians 4:6-7).

I always pray and ask God before I post what does He want me to write about, and a few weeks ago I heard the title for today’s post. He was showing me how vital it is for us to spend time with Him DAILY. God so desires an intimate individual relationship with us all that He sent Jesus to die so that we could have it. On the contrary the world tries to convince us life is about tangible things (what we’ll eat, drink, wear, etc.). Nevertheless, the bible tells us to not set our minds 🧠 ♥️ on these things but on God, and He will take care of our needs. I don’t know about you but personally i’d rather let God take care of me, He’s the ultimate caretaker (bible, Matthew 6:25-30).

In fact the bible says take NO thought about these things. One might say that’s a bit extreme, of course we have thing about these things sometimes. Yet, i’m realizing that many times these things usually/easily become distractions. There are times when ill find my mind wandering to my to do list in the midst of my morning prayer time and I have to cast down those thoughts and refocus my mind. As I continue to saturate my mind with God’s word it becomes easier for me to discipline my thoughts and let Holy Spirit lead/direct my day. Of course we still have to 🫧wash the dishes, 🛁 clean the bathroom, and do or help with 📝 homework, but with less stress. Sometimes welcoming God into the seemingly menial tasks can turn work time into worship time, perspective is everything (bible colossians 3:23).

The word fullness in psalm 16:11 (posted above) is defined as satisfaction, filled, full, to be satisfied, content, to be enough. This tells me that God wants us in a place where His presence becomes ENOUGH. He wants to be the answer to every situation in our life. Because after all is said and done that’s all that will remain once everything else passes away. The bible says it’s with our mind that we serve Him, and that where our treasure 🏆🥇is our heart will be also. Sometimes we have to take a look at what consumes our thoughts to give a clear picture of what we value most. Maybe it’s a relationship, a job/business, a title/position, our life, etc., nevertheless God says he wants it to be Him.

It’s from this place (engulfed in His presence) that we can give the proper value/energy to everything else in our lives. The most valuable resource on 🌍 earth is 💧 water. It’s no wonder Jesus said He would give us living water that we would never thirst again. Just like man can’t live without natural water surely we can’t live without the water of his Spirit that we receive in His presence. My friend let us eat, drink and be merry from the wellspring that never runs dry AND experience the Overflow.

Grace Love And Mercy Completely Hidden In Christ,

XOXOXO K❤️

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Fashion(ed) For Word

Kris Joi

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Ephesians 2:10
YODH. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. Psalm 119:73

Greetings in Grace and Happy Holy Days,

May the Lord bless, keep, and cause His face to shine upon you & your family, during this time where we acknowledge the birth of our beautiful 😍 Lord/Savior and celebrate the New Year 🥳! It’s a special time and season, worthy of celebration 🎉! I know some may say well it’s not for me, due to loss of a ❤️ one, broken family, painful memories, etc. but I encourage you to remember God Loves you through it and has a purposeful plan for your life! Now that’s the Good News 😁🤩! Rise & Shine ✨

The other day the story of the lame man sitting at the pool of Bethesda came to me(John 5). The Bible said he had been in that sickly condition for 38 years until Jesus stepped on the scene. I want to encourage someone who feels like it’s been this way for so long that there’s no hope/way And I can’t continue on. Let Jesus step in! He’s got this, with man (you, me, them, us) it is impossible but with God(HIM, I AM, ABBA, JESUS) ALL things are possible (that’s the word).

The problem is we sometimes give ourselves and everything else way too much credit. When in actuality, it ALL belongs to Him. We just have to learn how/when to get out of God’s way and Let Him be God! The Bible says all things were created by Him, for Him, and He is reconciling all things to Himself. The ultimate soul purpose of man is God. Jesus died/is risen that we could be reconnected to the Father. Even now He sits at the right hand interceding(pleading) for us to be filled with/by His goodness.

The story God has written for us did not start or end with us. The word says He is the author and finisher of our faith. So why do we so often try to narrate the story instead of asking God to lead us and guide us? My friend He wants us to walk with Him so closely and trust Him so deeply that No Thing by any means shall harm us! He’s given us everything we need to successfully complete this journey.

Not to get off topic but if you know me, I really like clothes/ fashion. It’s something about a well put together outfit that really catches my 👁. So one day I didn’t really have plans, but God was like get up & dress up. I didn’t know where I was headed but I looked through my closet and put on a nice skirt, shirt, and boots. Next thing I know I ended up going somewhere really upscale, and along the way finding a gorgeous piece of furniture for my office. At that moment God gave me a glimpse of where I was going. I laughed because I was glad to be dressed for the occasion.

The Bible mentions talks about being clothed in Christ, His righteousness, salvation, humility, the armor of God. It gives a beautiful illustration of a bride being well put together for her husband. The question we must ask ourselves is will we(his church) be dressed for our husband(Jesus)? I know the world considers being fashion forward the ability to keep up with the next big trend. But my friend we aren’t called to be of this world. Let’s Rise to the occasion…. and show up in style!

XOXOXO ❤️ Grace Love and Mercy

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The Wait/Weight for Glory

Kris Joi

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory

https://www.renderhub.com/weeray/balance-scale

Greetings in Grace King’s Kids,

Praying that this post finds you wrapped in God’s abundant grace, love, and mercy. So let me first say forbear with me, my posting has not been as consistent as I know it’s been on my heart to be. In my personal prayer time I had a real transparent (Father-Daughter) talk about my inconsistency in certain areas of my life and as loving Father would He’s been helping me get/stay on track. I really love that we can come to Him about anything and receive the help we need(Him)! He KNOWS what we need before we even ask, even when we don’t know what to ask for. God see’s & knows the good, the bad, and the ugly, yet He says give it ALL to Me and receive Me!!!

This morning in prayer God was dealing with me about light overpowering darkness. When I looked up the Hebrew word for darkness it defines it as the dark, misery, ignorance, sorrow, night. There are seasons in life and areas of our life where darkness may be all around and God’s answer is turn on/up the light. I found myself overwhelmed one day when looking at all the trouble in the world, my growing never-ending to do list, and the many obstacles along the journey to fulfilling destiny. In that very moment I could feel God impressing on me to take a moment breath, quiet my mind, and seek Him for direction.

How many times has God graced us with something or impressed upon us a career, ministry, relationship, gift/talent, etc. and we find ourselves weighed down by that very thing. We run into obstacles, hinderances, disappointments, and difficult sacrifices that require faith and patience to in order to obtain the promise. The word affliction(g2347) above translates anguish, burden, persecution, tribulation, and/or trouble. I’m reminded of the scripture in John 16 where it mentions the tedious painful process leading up to a child’s birth. Nevertheless once the child is born there’s great joy.

To whom much is given much is required. That works the same whether natural, spiritual, good, or bad. All things have a cost, it’s up to us to count them. One day God showed me an image of a scale and on both sides were weights. One side had the weights of sin & cares and the other was the weights of His glory & goodness. In that moment he said daughter choose me daily. My friend the scales are unbalanced. If you happen to read this and have not given your life to Jesus, I admonish you, choose Him daily, you won’t regret it!

How often are our days spent chasing the wind as the bible says? Beauty passes away, riches are deceitful, and life on earth is temporal, but glory is eternal…

XOXO Grace.Love.And.Mercy

encouragment, glam, Purpose

✞✞ Sᴜғғᴇʀ 𝚁𝚒𝚗𝚐 👑💍

Kris Joi

To him that overcometh, I will grant to sit with Me on my Throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne -Rev 3:21.

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us – 2 Timothy 2:12

Greeting in Grace Kings Kids 👑😍,

Glory to God in the highest! He is Good and His mercy endures forever! There is truly nothing that can compare to the completeness given to us in & through Jesus Christ!!! My heart so rejoices in Him, the word says that I would have fainted unless I believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living. With so much going on around us we are in treacherous and trying times, but He is yet faithful and able to save & keep us.

He is working and willing in us to do that which pleases Him and has called us for such a time as this to represent him in the earth. Thankful! With that being said God has been reminding me(us) to take up our cross and follow Jesus. The cross represents the place of exchange, sin & death for grace/truth and eternal life. Jesus paid the ultimate price yet it will cost us something (the old us).

Because we are in difficult time with much pain & suffering going on around us I felt led to deal with suffering again but from another standpoint. There are different forms of suffering, the bible talks about persecution, distress, peril, famine to name a few in Romans 8:35 and goes along further to say we have victory over all this through Christ’s Love. When we look 👀 at the bible heroes and “villians“ of old suffered much, some due to bad decisions, some due to opposition and so on and so forth.

Nevertheless, we always see Gods Love, Grace, and Mercy displayed throughout. God is always aware of whats going on and always provides a way out/over that He reveals if we LET HIM. See the awesome thing about suffering with God is that He brings us over and it’s Never purposeless even when we dont understand. My Apostle always says there is no Glory without Death. How can we share the redemptive love of Christ w/o being redeemed ourselves?

Say I Will Grow through this! God promises us that as we suffer and overcome we become partakers of His Reign. Ever heard the song paid the cost by James Brown 😂😩. There are places of authority/rule we are called to spiritually and naturally, that also impacts the lives of others connected to us, as we press through. What, Who, Where has God called us to affect in our lifetime? And are willing to surrender all for it?

That’s what Jesus did my friend while He walked among us (and even still today). It was His passionate Love for the Father and His Fathers kingdom (Us) that made Him willing to suffer and “Die“ just to be risen again, and release unto us the Power to do the same! He is now seated in heavenly places interceding (mediating) for you and me.

The bible says we go from Glory to Glory as we die to our old ways daily. I end with this In Courage Meant…..Lets Fight the good Fight of the Faith…Hold tightly to eternal life to which we were called and declared before many witnesses. (1 Tim 6:16) And Rule

Grace Love and Mercy ❤️💋👑 XOXO

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Blessed to BE a Blessing

Kris Joi

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
-Author Robert Byrne

Greetings in Grace King’s 👑 Kid’s ,

So lately I’ve been pondering on the gifts of God. He daily Loads us with benefits (psalms 68:18-19)! Each day we wake up is a gift of God whether we realize it or not, God has given us another day to come to Him and receive the blessings of that day. David said bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not His benefits🙌🏽👏🏽, going on to list forgiveness, salvation, love and kindness as a few (psalm 103). God wants us to know and remember all that He is and All that He’s done, so that we can have hope, peace, and joy as we walk with Him. We can rest assured knowing that He is all we need and is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6).

These are all gifts given to us by God to increase us. God has also given each of us various/diverse gifts(treasures) that are hidden within us. The enemy works overtime to convince us otherwise (steal, kill, destroy) so that we don’t function by design and advance. He’ll present us with all kinds of evidence to distract us and take us of course, using things like fear, doubt, and opposition to take us off the path. BUT God inside you is greater, KEEP RUNNING. The bible states my people perish due to a lack of knowledge. It also says to not be ignorant of the enemies devices and to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Since the beginning the enemy’s been telling lies and taking lives(naturally & spiritually).

This is why my friend it’s so important for us to draw near unto God. So that He can reveal Himself to us and give us wisdom to defeat (the already defeated) enemy of our soul and walk in victory. Which takes me back to the gifts! Before we came into the world God already knew everything He was going to put within us. He told Jeremiah in the bible He called him before was even formed. He said we have everything we need to live a good and Godly life. Through the greatest blessing of all, His son Jesus, we are now able to live an ABUNDANT life. Thank God for Jesus!!!

What an Extravagant LOVE ❤️ God has given to us. We Are BLESSED! So many blessings we often overlook from the breath in our lungs to the many treasures hidden within us! I l like what my Pastor once said He hides treasures for us not from us. Life is literally designed to be like one big treasure hunt! Seek and You Will Find! Seek what/who you may ask….GOD! As with any journey we face obstacles but we can and will overcome with His help.

I don’t know if you’re anything like me but I ask a lot of questions (as my husband often says 😂). And one question I’m sure everyone on Earth has wondered is, why am I here? Well I’m glad you asked. You are blessed to be a blessing (*see scripture at top). First and foremost we were created to bless God, and next to be blessed and to bless others. All those gifts we talked about above are for that sole(soul) purpose. The bible says it something like this Love God with EVERYTHING and others as yourself. My friend when we give our life to God and let Him lead us there are no limits!!!!

As I minister to you I am reminded myself to take the limits off of what God can and will do in our lives. And to use the treasure in me to enrich not only my life but others as well! This is our (abundant) portion in this life. I can only imagine what’s to come.

Eternal Blessings…Grace Love And Mercy XOXO 😘

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S̑̈𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 ….. Fᴏʀ Gᴏᴏᴅɴᴇss Sᴀᴋᴇ!😫

Kris Joi
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. ✞ Psalm 34:19 Image via dreamstime © Artist: Vetre Antanaviciute

Greetings, Grace & Glory King’s Kids, 👸🏽🤴🏽👸🏼🤴🏼🤴🏾👸🏾

Happy New Year 🎉, Black History Month🇿🇦, and soon to be L💗Ve Day (3 of my fav’s). I’m learning that no matter what season you may find yourself in there is always a reaSON to rejoice! The Apostle Paul in the bible said it like this; I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:12-13 TPT).

Beginning around the holiday season in November continuing throughout the winter months many people suffer with episodes/bouts of depression. According to the ADAA 40 million adults in the US alone suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. Which although saddening it wasn’t very surprising seeing as how we live in the age and culture of moving fast….can’t be last type mentality. But what i’ve come to find out my friend is that there is a higher way. Praise God (LoL Literally) !!! 🙌🏽

Disclaimer Alert ⚠️ There is no biblical escape clause that grants us a free pass against suffering. In fact there are many scripture that confirm that as a believer (or not) we will suffer but there are also scriptures that tell us how to and why we endure suffering. It’s important that we hold on and press into God so that it produces a greater glory/light in us, instead of running away and doing things that take us out of Gods will/desire for us.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace (who imparts His blessing and favor), who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]

1 Peter 5:10 AMP

The best part about suffering with and/or for God is that it’s not without purpose and He brings us out if we let Him lead us. In my last post I mentioned that when we humble ourselves God grants us grace(devine ❤️ influence and power to be💥) FYI also in 1 Peter 5 (great read)! In order to grow through suffering vs just continuing to go through we need God to give us a grace and wisdom to overcome. These gifts and many more are given free to us because Jesus payed the price, yet being a disciple does have a cost (obedience to His word, will and way). Nevertheless, IT’S WORTH IT (Fruit&Favor vs Sin & Shame)!!

😍 Mentioning Fruit and Favor I Am so excited because starting this month I will be seeking, studying, and sharing on the Fruits of the Spirit found in Galations 5. The Devine 9 😍❣️{side note}

One of my favorite verses is 2 Chronicles 7:14 it’s one of those everyday any situation type scriptures that I like to keep close. If my people who are called by my name would Humble themselves and Pray, Seek my FACE (not hand), turn from their wicked ways 😖 (repent), then He will hear from heaven and heal the land. God took Israel through the wilderness to humble them and its no different today! God delights in brokeness, us yielding ourselves to Him more and more. Sometimes we can be so focused on what we want we forget to consider what Father wants from us. 😔

Each day lets endeavor together to turn to God, seek Him whole heartedly, and yield to His guiding. He has given us all that we need in order to have Life and Godliness. Apart from God we merely exist and go through the motions (up, down, in, out). With God we press onward and grow through our journey with the expectation of the Joy on the other side (on earth & in heaven) as we enter into His presence.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18 NKJV

Grace Love And Mercy Completely Hidden In Christ! Xoxo 🥰

glam

Ｉｆ．．Ｇｏｄ Ｂｅ Ｆｏｒ ＵＳ？

Kris Joi

Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and BE clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-7 *************************************************************************

Greetings Fellow Kings Kids,

What a Blessing, Privilege, and Honor to be called a Son or Daughter! During my time with the Lord this morning He brought me back to a topic and verse I had planned to write about a while ago but never felt like the time was right. Then I came across a song on YouTube called Humility by one of my favorite worship teams UPPERROOM and it blessed my soul. I will post it at the end so that you can check it out, you won’t be disappointed! The song, a series of conversations, and world events confirmed that this was indeed a relevant NOW word for where we are as a whole!

As I was looking at the title of this post and the scripture above certain words stood out as if they jumped off the page. The first one being IF. When I looked up the definition of IF I found; (introducing a conditional clause) on the condition or supposition that; in the event that. We often quote that scripture if God be for us who could be against us when we find ourselves faced with some form of opposition that’s meant to stop us from going forward BUT what if God is the one opposing us? Let me take a moment to clarify that God is and always will be GOOD, JUST, LOVING, and UNCHANGING! HE IS the only constant in an ever changing world. Nevertheless, there are times when God may resist us when we are unwilling to YIELD to HIS word, will, and way.

There are multiple instances in the bible where we see this. When God gives us an instruction it’ s to our benefit and never to hurt or harm us. His plans for us are GREAT! He knows what we need and how every one will come to pass. In His infinite knowledge (knowing everything) He allows us to experience certain things in order to draw us nearer and see HIM clearer. I’m reminded of the disciple turned apostle Peter who rejected Jesus’s words when He told them He was going to die and be brought back (Matthew 16: 21-28). Jesus responded Get Behind me Satan. At that moment Peter was more concerned with his way than God’s.

There are times in life where God will allow us to experience things that bring us to our knees, cause pain, and even suffering for a greater purpose and to BREAK our will. It’s not that He withholds everything from as some form of punishment, but their is just a certain posture that causes us to receive his desires for us. The bible says to not despise Humble beginnings. These moments of humbling keep us from being lifted up in pride which destroys. Our daily time in prayer and the word with God is a form of us humbling and yielding ourselves to our Father. This posture says to the Father I NEED YOU DAILY TO LEAD ME!

God knows our heart, the “good”, bad, and the ugly. Although we would all love to believe we have “good” hearts the word says our hearts are wicked and deceitful, WHO could know it? This is why We need to come before God Daily to create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit. We’re ALL a mess in our flesh (Fearful, Anxious, Proud, Selfish, Jealous, Ungrateful and Sin-FULL) apart from HIM! Even in all that He still loves us so much that He desires to be with us and has provided a way of escape from ourselves IN HIM! PRAISE THE LORD!!!! IF we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Oh Give Thanks unto the Lord For He is Good AND His Mercy Endures Forever! During this time/season where we gather in thanksgiving, let’s remind ourselves that we ought to BE THANKFUL to God! In God’s MERCY He doesn’t give us what we really deserve (unfavorable judgment) and in His GRACE & LOVE He gives us what we don’t (FAVOR, Blessings). And in knowing this lets abandon our will and way to His!

Grace Love And Mercy , XOXOXO

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕗𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥🎀 🎀𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝔾𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘

Kris Joi

✶Receiving the gift of God’s grace to keep giving when you want to give in…✶

image Copyright © Carmi Grau

Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man have received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:9-10

Praying that you & yours overflow with God’s Grace, Love, and Mercy this Holyday season and forevermore! X0X0 💋 K.Joi ❣️

With it being this time of year where we celebrate and give thanks for the many blessings that He has given us, God laid it on my heart to do a post about giving. The bible says that God loves a cheerful giver, but let’s just be honest there are times when giving can be very difficult. There are times when things require more time, resources, and/or energy than we expected, with seemingly no return but in those times we have to remember His Grace is sufficient.

One of my favorite books of the bible is Ecclesiastes, it’s filled with simple life altering wisdom. In the 7th chapter verse 14 it says in the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider. There are days/times/seasons where things flow smoothly, on the contrary there are days quite the opposite. The word consider comes from the hebrew ra’ah meaning to see, look, inspect, to have vision. In unpleasant times perspective is everything. I often ask God to give me eyes to see what He desires me to see beyond my current struggle and the faith to grow through it, and He always does.

One definition of grace is God’s power that influences our hearts to be able to do things we can’t and wouldn’t do in our own strength. The word says that God gives grace to the humble. The more we acknowledge our need for Him and in that need seek after Him, He gives us more grace. When we do this it says God you know more, I let go and give this to you, teach me what’s right. The giving of ourselves to God is the best gift exchange EVER!

“This walk is a day to day thing so we never get to a place where God isn’t growing us. “ We should ever be learning.

Grace also means rewards, gifts, and favor. God blesses us that we would in turn be a blessing to others. When we give it shows that we trust and know God is our source. This is important to keep in our foresight during times of struggle where we feel forgotten or that our labor in love is in vain. And in times where we feel drained we can always go to God for Him to pour out what we need.

We are living during a time where being self focused is often celebrated but God teaches just the opposite. What i’ve come to find is when I make God and service my priority He takes care of me, and it benefits everyone. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. God increases those that make giving a lifestyle. Don’t believe fear and lack that tells us we won’t have enough or that our giving is vain. We can trust obeying God in our giving.

Luke 6:38 Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye give it shall be given to you. If it’s something you feel that you lack, give it. I realized that many times the struggles that I faced give me a greater understanding for those dealing with similar things. Hence the saying your misery is often your ministry. God will give you a grace in that area which will increase you and others.

I want to end with encouragement. Know that God makes ALL things work together for Good for them that love Him and called according to His purpose. You may not see it now but one day you will look back and understand why God took you the way that He did. His ways are Higher! PEACE LOVE JOY ♡