Tag Archives: God's grace

S.A.N.S. Episode 336: God’s Grace

Posted on January 4, 2023 by expressyourself4him

One of my older friends from high school was a former member of the Crips. Like the attached video, this young black man left one of the famous gangs in New York City. However, in my friend’s case, his mother moved abruptly one night, afraid her son would never get out of this gang. Needless to say, no one at my high school ever messed with this dude as if anyone did, he could make a phone call and within 24 hours this person would be history.

For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved ([c]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8.

From a spiritual perspective, it doesn’t matter who you’ve been associated with or where you’ve been in life as God’s grace is the great equalizer. All it takes to get right with God is a spirit of confession and contrition. As various prodigals finally come to their senses, God’s grace is new every morning, Lamentations 3:19-22. Therefore, as a new year begins, may God’s grace be constantly on your mind like the song by Trin-I-Tee 5:7.

by Jay Mankus

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Regaining Your Childhood Gaze

Posted on November 23, 2022 by expressyourself4him

A gaze is to look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought. While it’s hard to remember my own childhood, I do recall faces my own children made when they were young. Certain things caused each of them to be in awe. As an adult, you can get caught up in the rat race called life. When you don’t take the time to have balance, all work and no fun, it’s easy to lose your excitement and joy for life.

For it is impossible [to restore and bring again to repentance] those who have been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and have become sharers of the Holy Spirit, 5 And have felt how good the Word of God is and the mighty powers of the age and world to come, Hebrews 6:4-5.

The author of Hebrews writes about a spiritual gaze. Whenever an individual enters into a personal relationship with Jesus, Romans 10:9-11, there is an enlightenment along with an internal peace within your heart. Unfortunately, just as a child can lose their gaze, any addiction, bad habit or habitual act will cheapen God’s grace. When temptation becomes too great, some Christians pray for God’s forgiveness before indulging in sin all over again. This appears to be the context of the passage above.

If they then deviate from the faith and turn away from their allegiance—[it is impossible] to bring them back to repentance, for (because, while, as long as) they nail upon the cross the Son of God afresh [as far as they are concerned] and are holding [Him] up to contempt and shame and public disgrace, Hebrews 6:6.

I was introduced to Lay Witness Misson Weekends in high school. A visiting team of adults and teenagers come Friday for dinner as a meet and great and leave Sunday afternoon following church. I didn’t know what a spiritual revival was until I attended one. Under the leadership of Ken Horne, building blocks were used to point toward a climax on Saturday night. Over a decade, I was fortunate to attend several of these weekends which helped me regain my childhood gaze. It’s never too late to retreat to a place where you can reconnect with Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

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