“Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:2-6

In the above passage, Paul is explaining to the Ephesians that the separation between Jews and Gentiles was over. Ephesians 4:4-6 supports this truth: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Every Christ follower is a member of one body, one group of diverse people, united by Christ to serve Him, and to be interdependent upon one another.

That truth was not fully clear to the people who lived before Jesus came to earth, and taught His people about the unifying work He would perform on the cross.

Though people could have proselytized into the Jewish religion according to the Mosaic Law, there was still the mystery of the eradication of the division between Jew and Gentile [Exodus 12:48-49 indicates that those not of Jewish descent could practice with the Jewish people as they worshiped God, however, they were not united as one with them until the work of Christ.]. Converting to Judaism in the Old Testament did not bring with it the same unifying work that Christ’s Spirit does since Jesus came and ascended to His Father.

The amazing truth of the grace of God that joins all people groups together should cause His people to rejoice. Galatians 3:28 supports this truth: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

What advantage is there to all of us being united in Christ?

As a united group of people, referred to by Paul as the “body of Christ”, we can assist each other in fulfilling the purposes Christ has prepared for us as individuals, and also as a corporate body of His followers.

Paul explains in the following passage truths about Christ’s believers:

“There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts.” 

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

As you continue reading in 1 Corinthians 12:15-26, Paul explains the significance of each part of the body, using the analogy of the workings of our human body. When we consider the truth of the need for interdependence of the human body, we can better understand what Paul wants to convey regarding Christ’s followers.

“Suppose the foot says, “I am not a hand. So I don’t belong to the body.” By saying this, it cannot stop being part of the body.” [Imagine what it would be like if your foot and hand were not synchronized???] 

“And suppose the ear says, “I am not an eye. So I don’t belong to the body.” By saying this, it cannot stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell?” [Consider this thought regarding the eye and ears. We know people who are deaf and blind, and the challenges they experience, but when others come alongside of them, they can be equipped to function well in this world.]

“God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body? As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body.” [Who are we to disregard what God has created and organized?]

“The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without. The parts that we think are less important we treat with special honor. The private parts aren’t shown. But they are treated with special care. The parts that can be shown don’t need special care.” [When we accept and work within these parameters, God blesses people – individually and corporately as His body of followers. This will leave a mark on people so that they may begin to be interested in what we have as God’s people.]

“But God has put together all the parts of the body. And he has given more honor to the parts that didn’t have any. In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of one another. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy. You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.” [You may think that you can neglect your responsibilities to the body of Christ, and your local group of fellow believers, but when you do, everyone suffers. This is because God designed us to be interconnected, in the same manner as the parts of our human body need each other to function well.]

We are gifts from God to and for each other.

A gift is something that is given, without expectation of receiving something in return. Do we see one another as gifts from God?

Life is a gift from God, and He has the right to guide and direct each of us according to His desires.

When we cooperate with our Creator, we are able to experience His presence, but God will allow us to resist Him, and thus experience the consequences that come with rejecting and disobeying Him.

What sins get in the way of our being united in Christ?

Pride begins the rebellion, and is carried along in selfish desires, selfish motives, competition, fear, greed, covetousness, etc. 

Repentance of our sins turns us around, as God leads us in His holy ways [1 John 1:9].

We need the body, sometimes, to urge us back to a right place with God. It is one of the ways we support one another as we walk with Jesus. How might God want you to support other Christ followers in their love relationship with Jesus?

Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com to talk about being a supportive member of the body of Christ.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Have you ever realized how many sayings we have today that originated with a truth from the Bible?

Acts 2:42-47 states: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

What we understand from this passage is that the new followers of Jesus were bonding in a new manner. They were applying what Jesus taught them, and the impact in people’s lives was profound for God’s kingdom. 

Instead of greed and covetousness [Though there was some of that – see the account of Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5:1-11.], the people were sharing the resources that God provided for the benefit of God’s people.

Perhaps the saying: “What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.” originated with these events? Shakespeare, in Measure for Measure, Act 5, Scene 1 used this phrase. He may have been the first to state it this way, but I still believe that its basis is from God’s Word.

It certainly makes sense that God’s people should live with the mindset that we should regularly utilize the resources God has provided for us for His people, and not think that He has provided them solely for our own purposes.

What do you think the Christian community would be like if we lived according to the principles described in the above Acts passage? How willing are you to live this way?

The last verse of that passage indicates that God added new believers to His kingdom each day. It appears that this is directly connected with what might be referred to as “body life”, Christ’s body, living in such a way that others would want to be one of God’s people. 

When we live selflessly, as these followers of Jesus did, people take notice.

When people take notice, we have opportunities to experience God at work, and to join Him in whatever work He is doing to build His kingdom. The book of Acts, in the New Testament of the Bible, provides us with many true accounts of God at work in bringing people to Himself. 

What part is God opening for you to join Him in His work spreading the Gospel, and facilitating the discipleship of God’s people? What might God be asking you to do with the resources He has provided for you, so that your generosity is a testimony to His power and glory?

Please remember, every follower of Jesus is called by Him for His purposes: 

Matthew 28:20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Whether it is sharing our resources, or sharing the Gospel, or discipling Christ’s followers, it is all accomplished by the power of Christ in us – His Holy Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit makes the difference between our failures and/or our successes for His kingdom.

Everything God asks us to do, even living by the saying: “What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine.” can only be successfully accomplished when we have an abiding and growing relationship with Jesus.

Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com to talk about living for Jesus in this selfless manner. 

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Ephesians 1:3-8 helps Christ’s followers to know our place in His kingdom:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding.”

According to the above passage:

*We are blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

*We are chosen in Jesus before the creation of the world.

*We are predestined for adoption to sonship through Jesus.

*We are recipients of His glorious grace, freely given because of Jesus.

*We are redeemed because of Jesus’ blood.

*We are fully forgiven for our sins because of the riches of God’s grace.

Please pause and consider who we are, and the position God has granted us because of Jesus.

It is absolutely remarkable to consider the position we have in God’s kingdom because of the awesome sacrifice Jesus willingly made by coming to earth, living in a human skin, going through the gruesome process of crucifixion, and experiencing the separation from and the wrath of His Father to pay the debt for our sins.

Christ’s followers need to seriously consider our position in God’s kingdom. There is nothing comparable to the gift of being His child, and being given the riches of His grace.

I think that too often we fail to remember that we are the children of THE KING of kings! Our Father is the awesome Creator of our world. We [Christ’s followers] have the ability to boldly access Him. Hebrews 4:16 states this truth: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

It is scandalous when the child of an earthly king fails to live up to his or her position as a child of the king – when that child runs amuck in sinful choices.

How much greater the loss when God’s children fail to live up to our position as His beloved children.

God wants His children to become in practice what we already are in position!

He wants us to live our earthly lives in such a manner that people will know we are His children.

How should we as God’s children behave because of our position in Christ?

We should honor our God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in word and deed.

   Deuteronomy 6:4-9: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

We should honor others, since we are all created in His image.

   Romans 12:9-10: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

We should extend mercy and grace to others because He extends copious amounts of both to us.

   Luke 6:26: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

We should have the same standard for ourselves as we have for others.

   Galatians 6:4: “But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.”

We should live with our focus on Him, and the hope of Jesus’ return.

   Matthew 24:44: “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

We should be excited to share the Gospel – it is the greatest news we can share with others.

   Mark 16:15: “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

We should be the first to forgive others, because of the magnitude of Christ’s forgiveness to us.

   Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

We should be generous, because our God is overly generous to us.

   2 Corinthians 9:7: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

These are a few thoughts on how a Christian should live now based upon their position in Christ.

How can we, as Christ’s followers, rejoice together as we live for Him, as His redeemed people?

If you do not yet know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please reach out to me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com. I would count it a privilege to talk with you about Jesus. I want you to share in Christ’s riches!

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

When life gets hard, sometimes it is a real challenge to see that anything positive can come of what we are enduring.

But God changes that for those who are His true followers!  

God did this for Paul, and countless others whose lives are detailed in Scripture, because they obeyed and served Him. 

Once Adam and Eve disobeyed God [sinned], the path would never be easy. 

Jesus warned us it wouldn’t be an easy path: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. 

But Jesus tells us to “take heart”!  Why can we do this? We can do this because He, by His amazing power, beat Satan. God raised Him from the grave. All three persons of the Trinity were involved in this amazing plan and victory! [See John 2:19, Galatians 1:1, and 1 Peter 3:18.]

Jesus’ victory provides His people with the ability to endure hardship, without being defeated.

Jesus’ gift of eternal life, described in the Gospel message, is truly Good News!  When we acknowledge our sinfulness, and confess to God our need for Jesus as our Savior, He becomes our Lord. He is our GOOD Lord! He only wants to help us. He never wants to crush us. He wants to break our sinful tendencies, because they hurt us, but He will always keep His promise stated in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Is Jesus truly your Savior? Have you submitted to His Lordship over your life? If so, you are completely secure in Him, and He has removed the destructive power behind any troubles you experience. It is done! Jesus accomplished it at the cross for all who come to Him.

Our responsibility is to walk through the struggles, the hardships, abiding in Jesus [See John 15].

There have been challenges in my life that made me feel as if they were going to crush me. But God kept His promises we find in His word. He victoriously comforted me and carried me through the trials, and into victory over struggles. 

What matters is what you believe about God.

Do you believe these promises I’ve quoted in this writing? Do you believe God’s entire word of 66 letters/scrolls that are compiled into one book are all true?  

What you believe about God matters when you feel as though life’s hardships are going to destroy you.

What hardship(s) are you currently enduring?

Perhaps your spouse just told you your marriage is over. No conversation required. Done. 

It could be that you are finding yourself enduring multiple physical challenges – macular degeneration, cancer, back problems so bad you can hardly walk. 

Your struggle could be financially based. You may be looking for work, or have the need for a second job. 

Whatever your hardship, God is working for your benefit, as His child, even if you do not “see” evidence of His involvement in your situation. 

Satan tosses these challenges our way because He wants God’s people to feel defeated. But God wants to walk with us through the hardships, and He is able to remove the destructive power, the havoc, the enemy of our souls wants to reap in our lives.

Luke 22:31 states: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.”  Satan wanted to destroy Peter. But Jesus gave Peter encouragement in Luke 22:32: “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 

As the events unfolded, Peter did fall prey to Satan’s schemes, but God removed the destructive power behind them.  God restored Peter, and utilized him in amazing ways to spread the Gospel. 

You can read Peter’s call by Jesus in John 21:15: “When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.”  [Additionally, you can read more about Peter in Acts, 1 Peter and 2 Peter.]

Peter’s denial of Jesus could have devastated him. But God used it to build his character!  God knows how to turn what appears to be something that will destroy us into something that builds our character, so we are more like Jesus!

Please remember that Jesus, in John 17:20-21 prayed for all of us: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

One of God’s purposes in our hardships is to display His amazing power on our behalf. As we experience God’s power in and through our trials, and testify to others about His involvement, others will come to know Him personally.  If my suffering can lead to someone else’s eternal salvation, then it is worth it! After all, it was worth it to Jesus to suffer to save us.

If I can help you as you are enduring hardship, please contact me at :  ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

When we have a relationship with God, through His one and only Son, Jesus, we have eternal security!

Eternal security is the Biblical truth that guarantees we are going to be with God forever. 

Romans 8:38-39 states that truth this way:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Please take time to consider the implications of being eternally secure in God.  What is God speaking about to your heart?

When we begin to grasp this truth, and its intended meaning for our lives, we will view everything that takes place differently.

For instance, since we cannot be separated from God as one of His followers, should we end up in a coma, we will still be connected to Him. I believe that His Spirit can still interact with our spirit.

Whenever anything in this world threatens to shake you to your core, you can remember this truth, and endure in His power, knowing that the things of this world will pass away, and you will be eternally with Jesus in the New Heaven and the New Earth, when your name is in His book of life: 

Revelation 21:7 states this truth: “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

The promise of eternal security is NOT for those who fail to accept Jesus during this lifetime. We have only the days of this earthly life to accept Christ’s gift of forgiveness for our sins. Once we die, that opportunity is no longer available: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

Since we never know when God will appoint our last breath, please don’t let today pass without taking this opportunity to acknowledge your sinful state, and your need for Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.

Once you make this connection with God, He will, through His Holy Spirit, provide your righteousness because of Jesus’ gift of redemption and justification. You and I can never attain this on our own. He will mark you with His Holy Spirit, and you will have His gift of eternal life. Ephesians 1:13: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

Praise God for this amazing gift of love and sacrifice on His part!

When we find ourselves in situations that look overwhelming, as God’s people, we can find comfort and the ability to endure when we remember that because of God’s gift of eternal security, everything will work out for our benefit: Romans 8:28, Amplified Version: “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”

Consider this promise made by Jesus in Revelation 3:10: “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.”

Since Jesus wants us to patiently endure, He will enable those who abide in Him to do so. How well are you enduring? What does this indicate about how well you are abiding in Jesus?

If you are weak in this area, what might you do to strengthen your relationship with the Lord so that you are abiding more deeply?

Knowing that you are eternally secure in your relationship with the Lord should lead you to want to abide in Him more intentionally.

Eternal security is a gift not to be taken lightly. It came at great cost to God. Praise Him for His mercy and grace!

The Apostle Paul endured, knowing He was secure in Christ: “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:16–18

I am encouraged by Paul’s endurance and encouragement in his eternal security. To whom might God want us to share this wonderful message, so they are also encouraged?

Do you have confidence that you are eternally secure in Christ? You can have this absolute assurance.  

Please contact me at :  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to have a conversation about enduring because of being secure in Jesus.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Have you ever wondered how God wants you to live life, what His will is?

The Bible gives us vast amounts of information on the subject of God’s will.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 provides us with an answer to that question:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Please consider the three points made in the above verses.

First, we are to rejoice always. Always? Even when I’m diagnosed with cancer? Even when I lost my job? Even when my spouse left me? Even when my child made a horrific choice? Even when….?  Yes, even when! 

This is not something we can manage to do on our own. It is a work of God’s Holy Spirit in the lives of those who have committed themselves to Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

Why do you think God wants us to rejoice ALWAYS? 

I have found that when I turn my heart to the Lord during really tough times [Well, at any time!], praising Him, and rejoicing in His presence in my life, something inside me is released so that my heart is not downcast. Instead, my outlook changes so that in spite of the situation, I don’t feel hopeless or terrified or whatever negative emotions want to grip me. God moves in me. Hope arises because of Jesus!

Pray continually follows rejoicing in God’s instructions to us through Paul.

Prayer brings an intimate connection with Jesus. It is in that intimacy that God works through His Spirit to renew our mind. He works to settle our uneasiness that arises in this life, using God’s Word to facilitate His work. Prayer provides God’s people with His perspective on life and our challenges. Prayer shows God that we are dependent upon Him, and that is the best place to be. Continual prayer helps us to abide in Christ [John15]. There is no better place to be in this life than abiding in Jesus!

The last part of the above verse instructs us to give thanks in all circumstances. It doesn’t say in the circumstances we like, but in ALL circumstances. That means we are supposed to give thanks when someone crashes into our vehicle. It means giving thanks when our health declines. It means giving thanks whether we feel like it or not. 

Giving thanks, no matter where we find ourselves, is healing. It is similar to rejoicing. Consider Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” 

God knows what is beneficial for us. He will never ask us, or involve us in something, that will, in His sovereign power, be detrimental to our well-being.

God always wants what is best for everyone. That is why Jesus’ work on the cross was for all people – even those who refuse to acknowledge and accept His work on their own behalf.

Therefore, when God instructs us to rejoice and be thankful, there is a benefit for us in obeying these instructions.

Further verses that help us identify God’s will for us are:

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” 1 Peter 2:15

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3

We don’t have to figure out God’s will on our own. His Word and His Holy Spirit facilitate and provide us with all we need to know God’s will: 

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

Doing God’s will takes our minds off of ourselves and places our thoughts on Him. When we do this, we can rejoice always because we are praying continuously, and giving thanks in all things to our great God who created us for this purpose.

Do you struggle with rejoicing ALWAYS, praying continuously, and giving thanks in all things? If so, please reach out to me, or another Christ follower, to help you walk through this so that your relationship with God is strengthened.

If you do not have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus, I would like to talk with you about knowing Him in this way.

You can contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Billy Graham made this statement: “When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.”

As I consider knowing God along with Billy Graham’s statement, I think about Joseph, whose account is told in the book of Genesis. I also think about Ruth, whose biography is written in the book of Ruth. I am also mindful of the apostles Peter and Paul, whose accounts are in the New Testament of the Bible.

Each of these people came to a saving and intimate love relationship with the Lord. But God first brought them to the end of themselves.

What does it mean to “come to the end of ourselves”? 

I define that as the point in which I realize that I cannot do this life on my own, that I need the Lord Jesus to save me from my sins, and set my value. At that point for me, I realized that operating life outside of the parameters of God and His Word was a waste of time. Especially when I compare this with what the Bible teaches about what God can do when our lives are operated under His auspices. 

It means that I no longer try to hide who I am behind a smokescreen, but I allow God to work His power in me to change me so that I am becoming holy (Holy also means to be made whole.).

I want to be whole! I don’t like being broken, and that is what I was before accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

The world cannot offer this to me, but God does!

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Amplified Bible

For many years I chased after the ways of this world, believing they were the answer to my longings. But God revealed to me that was a lie. He pulled me out of the muck and mire of my sin. 

He opened my heart to my need for Jesus as Lord and Savior.

He reveals Himself to me through His Word every day.

He shows His faithfulness to me in the ways He works in my life each day.

He works His power in and through me for His good pleasure, and I am blessed.

But first I had to come to the end of myself so that I could wholeheartedly embrace Him.

Now, I would never want to turn back to the ways of the world. They are cheap lies, a counterfeit that is valueless, often an imitation of what God offers, that only lets us down.

For instance, living together outside of marriage. It’s an imitation of God’s plan for people.

I don’t belong to myself! I belong to God: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Consider what God said regarding the Israelites in Jeremiah 2:13: “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Those same truths apply to all people. We are all created by God, and made in His image. We have all forsaken God [“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23], who offers “living water” [see John 4]. We are all like broken cisterns, that are worthless.

Since we are all created by God, we need to live according to His ways, because, as our Creator, He knows what is best for us.

But God sees what He can do in and through us when we give up fighting Him, and allow Him to direct EVERY step of our lives.

Consider the Amplified Bible’s version of Philippians 2:13: “For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.”

For me, coming to the end of myself comes when I use my mind, my intellect, to seek God [who is infinite in knowledge, wisdom and power], and listen as He directs me according to His plans – His plans for His purposes.  That is why He created me – for His purposes.  The alternative is using my mind to conjure up what I, in my finite wisdom and knowledge, can determine to do with my life.

When I compare the two ways I have lived my life – without God at the center or with God at the center – I see the ridiculousness of living life without God. I am very grateful that God grabbed hold of me 37 years ago, and radically changed my life. 

The old person I was is gone, and I am now alive in Christ! It is exactly what God tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” The realization of the new life in Christ takes time. Every person grows in this new life at a different pace.

How quickly do you want to know God more intimately? The more you get to know God, the more His Spirit brings growth in the relationship.

This is what it takes to know God – a living and active love relationship established through the Lord Jesus. 

A relationship that is motivated by love. [Mark 12:30]

A relationship that is submissive to the Lord. [James 4:7]

A relationship based in faith in Christ, not in sight. [Hebrews 11:1 and Hebrews 11:6]

A relationship marked by confession of sin and repentance. [1 John 1:9]

A relationship built by the power of God. [Ephesians 3:16-19]

There is so much more to our relationship with God, but we must come to the end of ourselves, regularly, so that our relationship grows steadily.

I often think of the song, “I Surrender All”. The truth for me is that I want to surrender all, but I’m only surrendering some at a time, but as I look back, I realize that God has brought me a long way in surrendering my life to His oversight.

To God be the glory that He doesn’t give up on me! He keeps working in me, to produce His holiness, His wholeness, and one day it will all be fully realized when this life is over, and I am with Jesus forever!!

You can have that same experience and hope in God! 

I would enjoy talking with you about coming to the end of ourselves, so that we can know God personally and intimately.  You can contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

The following quote made me stop and think:

“May the gospel keep me humble and patient…. I don’t want to waste one 

more self-absorbed moment rehearsing things that hurt me and relishing 

personal revenge.”


I am brought up short, as the saying goes, by the content of the above quote. I am sad to admit that I waste too much time on the wrong things. I may not think I relish personal revenge, but then I realize that at times I look forward to the day God deals with those who have wronged me. I’m ashamed by that. 

But God shows me how to handle myself when I’m wronged, and what His role is in those situations: 

1 Peter 3:16: “keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 

I want to be like Jesus. I want to deal with those who wrong me in a humble manner, and be able to say what He said in Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” 

Jesus was never self-absorbed. Jesus was always humble.

I don’t want to rehearse anything negative that comes my way. I want to be a grateful and appreciative follower of Jesus Christ.

I want to “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, as Paul encouraged the Thessalonians.

Thanking God moves my mind from self-absorption to humility. I need to do this far more often each day.

No matter what the situation, I can always thank God for saving me, and giving me the hope of eternity with Him! That’s a fact for every true follower of Christ.

Philippians 4:11 provides me with further insight into myself: “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” When I am off rehearsing hurts or looking for God to make me look good, I realize those feelings come from discontentment. How can I be discontented with anything when I have the greatest gift – eternal life??? Shame on me!

How should I deal with those thoughts, those feelings? I need to immediately take them to Jesus so He can correct my thinking, so that I will honor Him.

I imagine it is like a child, wanting to make her parent proud. I want my heavenly Father to shine, because, with His Spirit’s help, I am more prone to focus on what is commanded in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].” Amplified Version

God’s commands are good. 

God’s commands are for my edification.

God’s commands are for my protection.

God’s commands relieve stress, and bring peace and calmness when obeyed.

God’s word provides everything I need for life – now and for all eternity!

How about joining me in taking up the challenge in the statement I opened with: 

“May the gospel keep me humble and patient…. I don’t want to waste one 

more self-absorbed moment rehearsing things that hurt me and relishing 

personal revenge.”


I look forward to God working more of Jesus’ character into me, therefore, my being able to love others as God loves me.

Do you have a personal love relationship with Jesus? If you do not, it would be my pleasure to speak with you about the difference Christ has made in me. If you are already in a love relationship with Jesus, I’d be excited to talk with you about your experiences with Him.

Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to talk.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 3:10 wrote the following: 

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” [I have made myself cards with this verse so that I see one when I wake up, and the second is in the bathroom I use all day. I want that same determination Paul had. Jesus will work that into me!]

I am convicted by Paul’s determination to know Jesus. 

I don’t wake up every morning thinking that my goal is to know Christ better. I want to experience His power, the power that resurrected Him from the dead. I want to be willing to participate in His kingdom such that I am sharing in His sufferings, so that I am becoming more and more like Him, when He willingly chose to take upon Himself the wrath of God to pay the penalty for my sins. He was sinless. I am guilty. He was innocent. He became the guilty party, and I became the innocent party. 

I want that determination to be what motivates me to get out of bed each day. I want this to be woven deeply into my character so that others can see Jesus, not me, and want to share in His kingdom also.

Having an experience with God is very different than having head knowledge of who He is. I want more than information about my Lord and Savior. I want to experience His presence in my daily life. I want to experience His love. I want a rich love relationship with Him.

His love is true love. It is love that is active on our behalf. It is love that is unconditional, and so much more than I can grasp, but I want to know as much of His love as I can before I meet Jesus in person.

We need knowledge from the Bible that will lead us into a loving, living relationship with God. But Godcatapults the knowledge we gain from studying His word, into experiences of His love, goodness, discipline, comfort, compassion, and so much more.

Paul learned, as he states in Philippians 3:7, that earthly gains are meaningless when compared to the richness of having an intimate and personal relationship with the living God! 

Philippians 3:7-9 states: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Paul had a lot of worldly advantages – he had a strong religious position [He was a high standing Pharisee.], he was an upwardly mobile young man, but God touched his life, and turned all of that into something of eternal value. None of what Paul had before his conversion to Christ had eternal significance. 

So many people today put value on all the wrong achievements. Money, fame, high position and any other earthly status symbols are insignificant when compared to knowing God personally.

What motivates you to get up each morning? What is the deepest desire of your heart? If it is not knowing and serving Jesus, I recommend that you get alone with the Holy Bible, and ask God to help you know what truly matters in life. Because it not only matters for this life, but has eternal significance.

Consider Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

It was not frightening to Paul to lose his life for Christ, it was what fulfilled him. It is what will fulfill you, as well. It is what fulfills me.

Prior to God opening my heart to be His child through Christ, I looked for fulfillment in all the wrong places. I was a sinful wanderer, lacking the moral compass of Christ, but didn’t realize it was Jesus I needed. But God, in His great mercy and compassion, opened my heart and mind to know Him personally. I have the pleasure of experiencing Him each day as I traverse the challenges of this life. 

Prior to my relationship with Christ, I managed life. I found ways to cope with its challenges. But Godchanged all that. Now I don’t have to cope or manage my life, I seek God, His kingdom, and He takes care of all the rest.

Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I don’t sit on my couch eating bonbons all day. Following the Lord is often a rigorous path. But God doesn’t leave me alone, He carries me through the challenges. I experience His presence every day through His Holy Spirit who permanently indwells me.

He is my comfort. I experience Him in my life when I am distraught. His presence, through His Holy Spirit is as real as if He were here in the flesh.

He is my source of provision so I can live in this world. I experience God personally in the many ways He provides for us financially. He provides me with emotional stability.

He is the source for my spiritual strength.

He is my Protector. That doesn’t mean He stops all hardships, but He protects me in and through them. I experience His peace and calm in the midst of rejection, unkindness, and so much more. 

He is so much more….and you can discover that truth when you dig into the Bible. 

Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to discuss how to dig into God’s word, and have a living and vibrant relationship with Jesus so you can know Him with the same exuberance as the Apostle Paul.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Last week I began writing about knowing the Bible well.

When we have a greater depth of understanding of God’s word, He will produce in us a deeper understanding of who He is.

Why is it necessary to know God and His character? Why is it necessary to have that understanding be accurate? 

Knowing God accurately deepens our relationship with Him. A relationship with God is the absolute greatest gift we can ever have. Everything in this life will one day be gone. As the saying goes, “we can’t take it with us”, so everything of this world is valueless when we compare it with a personal, living, vibrant relationship with God, through Jesus.

Additionally, I find that knowing God, based upon the Bible, produces discernment of truth for me as I traverse this life. 

I know people who believe that God is only out to judge us and is mean. People, wrongly, attempt to extrapolate that view from their limited knowledge of God’s actions in the Old Testament. However, when you take time to do a serious study of the Old Testament, you find that God is loving, kind, merciful, and gracious to those who love Him. His judgment is there. It is necessary. We will see that wrath again in the final days of this world. 

But God cares about people. He created us for fellowship. He created us to have a relationship with Him. He loves us. He demonstrated that through sending His only Son Jesus to this earth to be a living sacrifice for our sins. Jesus paid our penalty. These truths are embedded from Genesis to Revelation, but you need to spend time digging into and studying the Bible in order to understand these truths.

God is not against us, He is for us!!!

Jesus never puts His people down, but always desires to build us up. When we are feeling as if God is condemning us, betraying us, or not doing what we expect, knowledge of His character, from the Bible, helps us to center our thoughts on what is good, pure and true.  We can approach the lies with truth.

Consider this verse: Jeremiah 29:11-12: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” This is a wonderful promise from God. It was initially directed to the Israelites, but it expresses the heart of God for those who love Him. How do we know we love Him? This verse gives us insight – God’s people will call upon Him, communicate with Him, and obey Him. 

How about these common thoughts:

God helps those who help themselves. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot sanctify [become more like Jesus] ourselves, and we cannot even provide our own strength for what we need to do for the Lord, He provides it. God wants us to depend upon Him, He doesn’t want us to figure out our lives. He has it all worked out. We simply need to seek Him.  Psalm 29:11: “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 91:14-15: “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”

Money is the root of all evil. That is a misquote of 1 Timothy 6:6-10: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. This leads us to believe that our outward appearance is what matters most to God. That is a lie. Consider 1 Samuel 16:7: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Many common thoughts are extrapolated from the Bible, the problem is that many are inaccurate. We must always depend upon what the Bible actually says. 

Acts 17:11 points us to people who responsibly handled what they heard: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

As I have been doing the “Experiencing God” study by Henry Blackaby, I came across these points as to why it is critical that we know God accurately:

“God reveals Himself to increase faith that leads to action.” “What He shows you will be critical when you come to a crisis of belief.” Page 99 of the 12 lesson study workbook. [If you have never participated in this study, I highly recommend taking the time to participate with a few others. It will strengthen your relationship with the Lord.]

Blackaby goes on to give us several points on why we need to know the God of the Bible accurately. Each point relates to our relationship with Him. 

Every day we are confronted with lies about God. Often they are subtle, and they are insidious. The only way to discern them from God’s word, is by knowing what the Bible says. I challenge you to be a committed and serious student of the Bible, to make this your lifelong daily endeavor. You will never regret it! Jeremiah 29:13 states: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Please contact me at:  ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want to discuss what it is to know Jesus.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.