Join us on Facebook: Connect PCA Women's Ministry
enCourage - Gospel-Centered Hope for Fulfilling your God-Given Purpose
SUBSCRIBE

Menu
Skip to content
  • Posts
  • Podcast
  • Remember Resources
  • Authors
  • About
  • CDM Home

Tag Archives: God’s grace

Nov252019Oct 14 2019

Now to Him Who is Able

by Christina Fox, in category Sanctification

KRISTEN HATTON|CONTRIBUTOR

Everything in me wanted to attack. After how I had been mistreated—by a friend no less—no way did I want to absorb the pain. Quite the opposite; in my sinfulness, what I really wanted was for her to hurt too. I wanted her to pay for how she had wronged me.

On the other hand, in my anger and hurt, I really did not want to sin. I wanted to be careful not to say or do anything that would be un-Christ like. I wanted to be forbearing, gracious, and forgiving. But I was afraid that because of how hurt and angry I felt, my contrary nature would win out.

An Ongoing Struggle

This internal conflict is the reality of being in the Spirit, and also living in a broken and fallen world. Through faith in Christ’s redeeming work for us at the cross, we’ve been set free from the power of sin, yet the presence of sin still remains. This means we will continue to deal with these dueling natures within us until we are glorified. Too often though, it seems there is no battle; the flesh just wins out. Like Paul in Romans 7, I identify with the desire to do what is right, but then going on to do what I don’t want to do instead.

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (Romans 7:18-20)

Sep262019Sep 28 2019

I’m a Mess-terpiece

by Christina Fox, in category Encouragement

That was my conclusion the other day when I mentally reviewed footage of my most moronic moments. Once I was hosting a meal after a funeral, and in trying to light candles, I set the tablecloth on fire. Another time I was having a wonderful conversation in our living room with an honored guest, until the pet chinchilla got out, and the dog got in. One of us did not survive the chaos.

I was going to bring punch to your anniversary party, but I took the wrong highway exit and got there 45 minutes late. Here’s that book I borrowed—it was as thrilling as you had said! But I did have a tiny incident with the grape jelly while I was reading it. Youth group is arriving to meet at our house, and so are the plumber and the electrician….

Time does not permit to tell of my doomed drive to the next county to deliver an important document (it never got there), or of why I nearly threw up on a nun in an airplane. No, nor of how I closed a conversation with someone I wanted to impress by saying, “Thank you please!”  And there was the time—I’m sorry, times— when I fell down in front of a hundred people.The only suave thing about me is that I don’t blush, though my self-esteem is curdling like the carton of milk I left in the trunk of the car.

Why don’t I just hide under the covers to avoid doing some real damage? Sometimes that has seemed a good option. I’ve always found it hard to feel forgiveness for doing something stupid that is not a sin. Oh, wretched woman that I am, who will rescue me from this body of sin and death and fender benders and lost house keys? How can I repent of stupidity? I can take my sins to the foot of the cross, but I can only shudder when I remember how things ended after letting my nephew try to walk in his new leg cast.

Is there grace for innocent blunders? If so, why do they cause me to sit up in bed at 2 AM and clap my hand to my forehead, whereas my memories of being angry or feeling lust allow me to sleep like a baby?

Dec62018Nov 12 2018

Finding Rest in Christmas

by Christina Fox, in category Christmas
ELIZABETH TURNAGE|CONTRIBUTOR Broken Shalom The Christmas story begins in a season of unrest. Shalom, the Hebrew concept of wholehearted rest that comes from peace and harmony with God, was first disrupted in the garden with Adam and Eve’s sin. The Israelites had an on again off again relationship with their faithful God. When the New… Read More
Sep172018Aug 13 2018

Grace Opens the Door: A Story of God’s Grace in Ministry

by Christina Fox, in category Prayer
LEAH FARISH|GUEST There I was in a bustling Middle Eastern city, and I had somewhere I needed to go. I was busy—or, as my Syrian friends say, “buzzy.” Maybe even a little bossy. I was getting ready for a conference for women who are leaders in their churches in Syria. Our American team was gathering… Read More
Aug282017Aug 30 2017

Cruising Through the Christian Life

by Christina Fox, in category Faith

STEPHANIE HUBACH|CONTRIBUTOR Should you ever get invited on a grand vacation trip with my husband Fred and me, you may want to seriously reconsider the offer. That is, unless you like wearing the same set of clothes for days on end! Let’s just say that we’ve had several particularly challenging “lost luggage experiences.” It’s been… Read More

May42017Apr 20 2017

Because We Are Forgetful: 4 Things to Tell Your Worries

by Christina Fox, in category Worry

CHRISTINA FOX|EDITOR Consider your response to these unexpected life events: *Your spouse loses their job and there’s a baby on the way. *Your child has been diagnosed with a chronic illness, requiring expensive medication, and vigilant awareness of symptoms. *The ministry you have worked for years trying to build has yet to get off its… Read More

Nov212016Nov 3 2016

One Ring to Rule Them All?

by Christina Fox, in category Encouragement

RENEE MATHIS|GUEST While not as heartbreakingly tragic as The Pearl or as deceptively tempting as “The Necklace,” or even as fraught with good and evil as The Lord of the Rings, my tale of jewelry is one that has caused more than a few tears. Despite what all the bridal magazines said he “should” spend… Read More

Jul182016Jun 28 2016

One Year Down: Reflections after a Kidney Donation

by Christina Fox, in category Encouragement

HAYDEN JOHNSON|GUEST It’s trusting in the Father, looking to the future, and being thankful for the miracle. It’s not all get-well texts and cards. It’s more blood tests than you can remember. It’s crying yourself to sleep on the regular because you are in so much pain. It’s not being able to sit up on… Read More

CONNECT:

FB-1

TW-1

EM-1

cdmtile3

Recent Posts

  • How to Navigate Church Conflicts
  • E-133 Remember Why You Do What You Do with Carrie Mills
  • Jesus Mercifully Listens to Us
  • The Joy of Not Being Needed
  • E-132 Remember to be a Word-based Woman with Pam Benton
  • Five Ways to Love Stateside Missionaries

Archives

  • April 2021 (7)
  • March 2021 (14)
  • February 2021 (12)
  • January 2021 (11)
  • December 2020 (12)
  • November 2020 (13)
  • October 2020 (13)
  • September 2020 (13)
  • August 2020 (9)
  • July 2020 (9)
  • June 2020 (9)
  • May 2020 (11)
  • April 2020 (13)
  • March 2020 (14)
  • February 2020 (12)
  • January 2020 (12)
  • December 2019 (12)
  • November 2019 (12)
  • October 2019 (14)
  • September 2019 (13)
  • August 2019 (11)
  • July 2019 (9)
  • June 2019 (8)
  • May 2019 (13)
  • April 2019 (14)
  • March 2019 (12)
  • February 2019 (12)
  • January 2019 (12)
  • December 2018 (12)
  • November 2018 (13)
  • October 2018 (16)
  • September 2018 (16)
  • August 2018 (15)
  • July 2018 (17)
  • June 2018 (14)
  • May 2018 (19)
  • April 2018 (17)
  • March 2018 (16)
  • February 2018 (16)
  • January 2018 (14)
  • December 2017 (8)
  • November 2017 (9)
  • October 2017 (9)
  • September 2017 (6)
  • August 2017 (8)
  • July 2017 (9)
  • June 2017 (8)
  • May 2017 (9)
  • April 2017 (8)
  • March 2017 (9)
  • February 2017 (8)
  • January 2017 (8)
  • December 2016 (8)
  • November 2016 (7)
  • October 2016 (9)
  • September 2016 (8)
  • August 2016 (8)
  • July 2016 (7)
  • June 2016 (8)
  • May 2016 (9)
  • April 2016 (6)
  • March 2016 (4)
  • February 2016 (2)
flower tile
flowertile3

Recent Posts

  • How to Navigate Church Conflicts
  • E-133 Remember Why You Do What You Do with Carrie Mills
  • Jesus Mercifully Listens to Us
  • The Joy of Not Being Needed
  • E-132 Remember to be a Word-based Woman with Pam Benton
  • Five Ways to Love Stateside Missionaries

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Site made with ♥ by Angie Makes
Angie Makes Feminine WordPress Themes