My God is a God of Second Chances

My God is a God of Second Chances. If I didn't believe that, then there would be no point in life. I mess up. I make mistakes. I'm human. If God didn't give me a second, third, fourth, hundredth chance, I would have no hope.

My God is a God of Grace. He sent his son to die for my sins and doesn't expect anything in return. Nothing we could do would be good enough for him. We don't deserve his grace. That's the point of grace.

My God is a God of Justice. There is such a place as Hell. It is real. Because sin is real. And when anyone chooses to ignore their sin, to ignore God's great gift of life, there are consequences. Hell is real, but so is Heaven.

My God is a God of Mercy. He sees us and knows us. He knows our flaws. He knows how messed up our lives are. He knows it, and yet he chooses to forgive us. He could easily turn us away. He could say that one mistake was too many. He could give up on us because we will never be good enough for him. But he doesn't. If we choose to come to him, then he will show us his mercy.

My God is a Good Shepherd. A good shepherd looks after his sheep. He makes sure that they are cared for and protected. God loves us. He wants what is best for us. He will be with us always. He will take care of us always.

My God is a God of Love. It is never too late to turn to him. He loves us, his creation. He tells us over and over again in the Bible that he loves us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17

Never doubt the power, the love, the mercy, and grace, of our God. He is a God of second chances. He is a Good Shepherd. He is an Amazing God.


By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

What Does The Bible Say About Thankfulness?

With Thanksgiving coming up this week I thought I would explore this subject a bit.

Giving thanks: what does the Bible have to say about it?

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

The Bible tells us to give thanks in all circumstances. It shouldn't just be at Thanksgiving that we are thankful, but every day. In every situation.

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1

God has given us so much. We should praise him and thank him for all that he has done.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

God's love endures forever. He is amazing. He is wonderful. And we should thank him at all times, during Thanksgiving and this time of year and otherwise.

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving and remember to be thankful for all that you have this week and always!

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

What Should Love Look Like? Answers From Scripture

God instructs us to love one another. But what is love, really? What does it mean to truly, wholeheartedly love someone? We can find answers in the scripture, such as the verse below.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16

To lay down our lives. To give everything that we have. That is love.

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
1 John 4:21

To love is a command. He doesn't just suggest that we love others, but he commands us to love everyone.

We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19

God is the perfect example of love.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

He has shown us perfect love in dying for us while we were sinners. When there was no reason to love us he loved us. He cared for us. He died for us.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

God gave his own son for us. He loved us so much that he sacrificed for us.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is not always easy. But love is always essential.

God loved us so much that he died for us. He gave the perfect example of love, and when we follow his example we cannot go wrong.


By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Just A Closer Walk With Thee

Just a closer walk with thee.

That should be our goal always. To walk closer with God. No matter the circumstances. No matter our stress over our everyday lives. No matter what is going on in the world. It should be our goal to walk closer to God.

The reality is that this isn't always on our mind. There are times when we are so focused on this life that we forget the next. That we forget that these earthly struggles will not matter forever.

There is so much joy in life. There is so much good to come in heaven. And this earth can be that much better if we walk close to God.

God wants us to give him our all. To love him and do what is right with our lives always.

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

1 Thessalonians 5:10

Jesus died so that we could have life eternal. And that is something that we should keep with us always. When we remember what is to come the worries of this life won't be so great. And we will feel closer to God because of that.

Come near to God and he will come near to you.
James 4:8a

What does it mean to be near to him? In James chapter two we are told that true religion is to look after orphans and widows. It is to be selfless and kind. To follow the example that Jesus gave us while he walked on earth. To trust in God more and to let him lead us.

Just a closer walk with thee.

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken