Give or take--you decide.

Listen along here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/267f7cf1/give-or-take-y...

He walked in, looked from left to right, took the pulse in the room, and was blown away by the grace of God.1

I am riveted by the statement - even more so, when I think of just how the grace of God really impacts life. Clearly, Barnabas had been changed by the grace of God himself, so he got it. He was exactly the right person to be tapped to go and check out what was happening in Antioch.2

Over the years, I have been tapped to go and supply God's grace in various situations, and extend it to hurting or lost souls. Hence, the name PastorWoman. I was on staff in a non-denominational church in Southern California, when I began getting calls to go to the hospital to pray for folks in need of God's healing. The pastoral staff licensed me as a minister of the gospel, which of course made it easier to access people in ICU wards, surgical units and the like.3

One such time comes to mind just now: I went to visit a friend’s mother who was about to lose her battle with cancer.  After the 40-mile drive, I wound my way to a well-loved old home, with roses lining the front walk.  As I entered the family room, I wondered if there had been some misunderstanding, taking in the small wrinkled man with thinning hair and whiskers in the hospital bed.  A longer look revealed the once beautiful, elegant, petite Patricia, whose body had been ravaged by the dreaded disease.  'Will you pray with her - and maybe find out if she has any relationship with God?' my friend Laura had asked. How do you do that with a complete stranger?

Since I knew ahead of time that she loved roses, I brought a couple of my rose books and showed her pictures. We talked about her favorites and it brought a smile to her face. Eventually, I asked her if I could pray for her.  She said, ‘oh yes, Dear, please.’

Friends, this is a 'give or take' day. Do you need to know how to give grace away?Suppose your neighbor or your father-in-law was the one in the hospital bed and you were asked to pray or comfort them, would you know what to say?

Or perhaps you need to receive a little grace for yourself today. What to do.

Read Scripture--especially the psalms--a powerful, sure-footed way to segue to a holy space.

Right now, imagine that you are praying these words for yourself...

Psalm 23.  New Living Translation

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,

       and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Pray for the individual

Dear Lord,

We ask for your guidance and peace right now.  Please come and comfort my friend, I pray.  Come and do what only you can do.  Guide us, I pray, and grant us your mercy and grace.  Amen.

Discern the person's position with God

This is a question I have posed:  

Say you were to take your last breath tonight, do you know where you will wake up?

(usual reply) 'I’m not sure, but I’ve been a good person, so I hope I’ll be in Heaven.'

"Would you like to know for sure?  You can, you know…"

Jesus said, to those who receive him, they can become his children.4  We do not become children of God by being born, but by choosing to put our trust in him--then we become his children.  It is what Jesus did for us on the cross that allows our entrance into Heaven—nothing else.  

And it is a simple prayer to effectively choose God.

Dear God,

I recognize my need for you in my life.  

Thank you that you gave the greatest thing you could give for me—your son, to die on the cross, so that my sins could be forgiven, so that I might have eternal life with you, rather than eternal separation.  

Please come into my life; I need you now.

Amen.

You have just given

or you have received the magnanimous grace of God.

In times of greatest distress and grief, only the grace of God will do . . .

God’s Word speaks eloquently, and prayer ushers in the powerful grace of God - his comfort and peace.

It is my humble prayer that these thoughts might give you the assurance that you too can give away the grace of God and receive it, too – at times when only grace will do.

What grace sounds like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgyXUhw9Ie8&list=RDFgyXUhw9Ie8&a...

Grace - receive it, give it away...

Christine - PastorWoman.net

Acts, no. 33

1 - Acts 11.23, 'blown away' my words of course

2 - Antioch of Syria; there is more than one Antioch

3 - the name 'Pastorwoman' actually was used by some gang members in Long Beach, CA, when I was ministering to the homeless community there, and it stuck. When I established a 501-C3, it was an apt name as a 'pastor' is a shepherd of those God brings them to lead or influence. The title was never meant to be a feminist or power statement--quite the opposite; a shepherd often has to get her hands dirty, even smelly, rescuing an errant lamb - so have I. That's it. That's all. . . all about obedience.

4 - John 1.12