Our family celebrated the birth of Christ in Lapland this year. We boarded an overnight train in rain. And the following morning we arrived to the Arctic Circle and it was all white! Snow everywhere! After a dark and rainy fall snow felt like grace! I was reminded of “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18, CEB). Right then and there I was wrapped in grace. The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: one died for the sake of all; therefore, all died. He died for the sake of all so that those who are alive should live not for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised. (2. Cor. 5: 14-15, CEB)

Christ died for us and God raised him from death on the third day. That’s why our sins are forgiven by grace through faith in Jesus.

God’s love is at work in us and changes us so we would not be selfish and live only for ourselves.
God’s grace embraces us and empowers us to follow Christ.
God’ Spirit dwells in us and creates new things in us and through us.

So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived! (2 Cor. 5: 17, CEB)

If anyone is in Christ, he or she experiences all things new. Then the old person is gone, the new creation has come. If you yearn for this refreshing grace, just surrender your life to God. Your sins might be like scarlet, but they will be white as snow. The past might be dreadful, but God creates all new things in Christ!

It’s all grace! Thanks be to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

 

Gracious God,
Be praised forever more!
Thank you for working in us,
through us, and for us.
Forgive our sins.
Pour out your grace!
Give us a fresh start!
Create in us a new heart!
Make all things new
according to your will.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How is God active in your life?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you are made new by God’s grace.

Giving thanks today for
#1 the New Year
#2 second chances
#3 being embraced by grace
#4 God’s action in our lives
#5 God’s powerful yet gentle love
#6 wild grace
#7 God’s guidance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sixth WINNER of the Common English Bible softcover edition is Dawn!

Do you want to win a copy of the Common English Bible softcover edition? Just leave a comment on any blog post this week (or any week during the blog tour). The winner will be announced again on Monday!

All these CEB give aways are possible because I am participating in the Common English Bible Blog tour. During the next two months I will mostly be using the Common English Bible (CEB) on my blog posts. Let’s check out this fresh new Bible translation!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Image courtesy of Michael McFatridge.
Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty &