Fifty Shades of Grace: Devotions Celebrating God's Unlimited Gift

by Freeman-Smith

Overview

The phenomenal success of the Fifty Shades series has caught the publishing world and reading public by storm. The Christian community has found the book to be nothing short of written word pornography. Freeman-Smith Publishing uses the similarity of a title to show that God's Grace is not only a better read but comes in a variety of circumstances and experiences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781605874616
Publisher:	Worthy
Publication date:	10/01/2012
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	964 KB

Read an Excerpt

Fifty Shades of Grace

Devotions Celebrating God's Unlimited Gift

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By Freeman-Smith

Worthy Media, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Freeman-Smith
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-60587-461-6

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CHAPTER 1

Shades of Grace

For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus....

Romans 3:23-24 NKJV

We human beings are similar in many ways, but each of us is unique. Each of us possesses a unique array of talents and opportunities gifted from the Father above. Because of our uniqueness, we all experience God's grace in somewhat different ways—we experience different shades of grace depending upon our own circumstances, our own temperaments, and our own personal histories. For example, the fidgety sixteen-year-old runaway who accepts Christ may experience a different collection of emotions than the mature 80-year-old grandmother who has spent the last seven decades in the service of her Heavenly Father. But even though we mortals experience God's grace in different ways, nothing can alter the fact that God is unchanging, and so, for that matter, are His promises.

Romans 3:23 reminds us that all of us fall short of the glory of God. Yet despite our imperfections and despite our shortcomings, God sent His Son so that we might be redeemed from our sins. In doing so, our Heavenly Father demonstrated His infinite mercy and His infinite love.

Christ sacrificed His life on the cross so that we might have eternal life. This gift, freely given from God's only begotten Son, is the priceless possession of everyone who accepts Him as Lord and Savior. We return our Savior's love by welcoming Him into our hearts and sharing His message and His love. When we do so, we are blessed here on earth and throughout all eternity.

God is the giver, and we are the receivers. And His richest gifts are bestowed not upon those who do the greatest things, but upon those who accept His abundance and His grace.

Hannah Whitall Smith

God's grace and power seem to reach their peak when we are at our weakest point.

Anne Graham Lotz

We will never cease to need our Father—His wisdom, direction, help, and support. We will never outgrow Him. We will always need His grace.

Kay Arthur

A prayerful heart and an obedient heart will learn, very slowly and not without sorrow, to stake everything on God Himself.

Elisabeth Elliot

The Lord's chief desire is to reveal Himself to you and, in order for Him to do that, He gives you abundant grace. The Lord gives you the experience of enjoying His presence. He touches you, and His touch is so delightful that, more than ever, you are drawn inwardly to Him.

Madame Jeanne Guyon

There is no secret that can separate you from God's love; there is no secret that can separate you from His blessings; there is no secret that is worth keeping from His grace.

Serita Ann Jakes

More from God's Word

But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved!

Ephesians 2:4-5 HCSB

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 HCSB

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe.

Hebrews 12:28 HCSB

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. The Lord is good to everyone; His compassion [rests] on all He has made.

Psalm 145:8-9 HCSB

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100:5 NKJV

A Prayer for Today

Dear Lord, You have offered Your grace freely through Christ Jesus. I praise You for that priceless gift. Let me share the good news of Your Son with a world that desperately needs His peace, His abundance, His love, and His salvation. Amen

CHAPTER 2

Experiencing Christ's Love

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 NKJV

How much does Christ love us? More than we, as mere mortals, can comprehend. His love is perfect and steadfast. Even though we are fallible and wayward, the Good Shepherd cares for us still. Even though we have fallen far short of the Father's commandments, Christ loves us with a power and depth that are beyond our understanding. The sacrifice that Jesus made upon the cross was made for each of us, and His love endures to the edge of eternity and beyond.

Christ is the ultimate Savior of mankind and the personal Savior of those who believe in Him. As His servants, we should place Him at the very center of our lives. And, every day that God gives us breath,we should share Christ's love and His message with a world that needs both.

Christ's love changes everything. When you accept His gift of grace, you are transformed, not only for today, but also for all eternity. If you haven't already done so, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. He's waiting patiently for you to invite Him into your heart. Please don't make Him wait a single minute longer.

It is when we come to the Lord in our nothingness, our powerlessness and our helplessness that He then enables us to love in a way which, without Him, would be absolutely impossible.

Elisabeth Elliot

The love of Christ is a fierce thing. It can take the picture you have of yourself and burn it in the fire of His loving eyes, replacing it with a true masterpiece.

Sheila Walsh

Live your lives in love, the same sort of love which Christ gives us, and which He perfectly expressed when He gave Himself as a sacrifice to God.

Corrie ten Boom

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Fanny Crosby

Christ is with us, and the warmth is contagious.

Joni Eareckson Tada

To a world that was spiritually dry and populated with parched lives scorched by sin, Jesus was the Living Water who would quench the thirsty soul, saving it from "bondage" and filling it with satisfaction and joy and purpose and meaning.

Anne Graham Lotz

When we are in a situation where Jesus is all we have, we soon discover He is all we really need.

Gigi Graham Tchividjian

More from God's Word

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:11 HCSB

But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!

Romans 5:8 HCSB

No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13 HCSB

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.

Romans 8:35,37 HCSB

Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you. Remain in My love.

John 15:9 HCSB

If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.

John 7:37 NKJV

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 NIV

A Prayer for Today

Dear Jesus, I praise You for Your Love, a love that never ends. Today, I will return Your love and I will share it with the world. Amen

CHAPTER 3

Praise Him and Thank Him

Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. We can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you!

Colossians 1:3 MSG

Sometimes, life can be complicated, demanding, and busy. When the demands of life leave us rushing from place to place with scarcely a moment to spare, we may fail to pause and say a word of thanks for all the good things we've received. But when we fail to count our blessings, we rob ourselves of the happiness, the peace, and the gratitude that should rightfully be ours.

Today, even if you're busily engaged in life, slow down long enough to start counting your blessings. You most certainly will not be able to count them all, but take a few moments to jot down as many blessings as you can. Then, give thanks to the Giver of all good things: God. His love for you is eternal, as are His gifts. And it's never too soon—or too late—to offer Him thanks.

The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.

Mother Teresa

The act of thanksgiving is a demonstration of the fact that you are going to trust and believe God.

Kay Arthur

The game was to just find something about everything to be glad about—no matter what it was. You see, when you're hunting for the glad things, you sort of forget the other kind.

Eleanor H. Porter

God is worthy of our praise and is pleased when we come before Him with thanksgiving.

Shirley Dobson

God has promised that if we harvest well with the tools of thanksgiving, there will be seeds for planting in the spring.

Gloria Gaither

More from God's Word

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15 HCSB

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7 HCSB

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5 NKJV

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:17 HCSB

I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2 NLT

And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord.

James 5:13 NLT

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, Your gifts are greater than I can imagine. May I live each day with thanksgiving in my heart and praise on my lips. Thank You for the gift of Your Son and for the promise of eternal life. Let me share the joyous news of Jesus Christ, and let my life be a testimony to His love and His grace. Amen

CHAPTER 4

Serve Him

We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments.

1 John 5:2 NLT

The teachings of Jesus are clear: We achieve greatness through service to others. But, as weak human beings, we sometimes fall short as we seek to puff ourselves up and glorify our own accomplishments. Jesus commands otherwise. He teaches us that the most esteemed men and women are not the self-congratulatory leaders of society but are instead the humblest of servants.

Today, you may feel the temptation to build yourself up in the eyes of your neighbors. Resist that temptation. Instead, serve your neighbors quietly and without fanfare. Find a need and fill it ... humbly. Lend a helping hand and share a word of kindness ... anonymously, for this is God's way.

As a humble servant, you will glorify yourself not before men, but before God, and that's what God intends. After all, earthly glory is fleeting: here today and all too soon gone. But, heavenly glory endures throughout eternity. So, the choice is yours: Either you can lift yourself up here on earth and be humbled in heaven, or vice versa. Choose vice versa.

If you want to discover your spiritual gifts, start obeying God. As you serve Him, you will find that He has given you the gifts that are necessary to follow through in obedience.

Anne Graham Lotz

We can love Jesus in the hungry, the naked, and the destitute who are dying ... If you love, you will be willing to serve. And you will find Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor.

Mother Teresa

Doing something positive toward another person is a practical approach to feeling good about yourself.

Barbara Johnson

God wants us to serve Him with a willing spirit, one that would choose no other way.

Beth Moore

In the very place where God has put us, whatever its limitations, whatever kind of work it may be, we may indeed serve the Lord Christ.

Elisabeth Elliot

I am more and more persuaded that all that is required of us is faithful seed- sowing. The harvest is bound to follow.

Annie Armstrong

More from God's Word

Worship the Lord your God and ... serve Him only.

Matthew 4:10 HCSB

A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God's mysteries. In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 HCSB

If they serve Him obediently, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.

Job 36:11 HCSB

We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.

John 9:4 HCSB

Serve the Lord with gladness.

Psalm 100:2 HCSB

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:11-12 NIV

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Romans 12:11 NIV

A Prayer for Today

Dear Lord, in weak moments, I seek to build myself up by placing myself ahead of others. But Your commandment, Father, is that I become a humble servant to those who need my encouragement, my help, and my love. Create in me a servant's heart. And, let me be a woman who follows in the footsteps of Your Son Jesus who taught us by example that to be great in Your eyes, Lord, is to serve others humbly, faithfully, and lovingly. Amen

CHAPTER 5

Finding Genuine Peace

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace.

Ephesians 2:13-14 NKJV

On many occasions, our outer struggles are simply manifestations of the inner conflicts that we feel when we stray from God's path. What's needed is a refresher course in God's promise of peace. The beautiful words of John 14:27 remind us that Jesus offers peace, not as the world gives, but as He alone gives: "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful" (HCSB).

As believers, our challenge is straightforward: we should welcome Christ's peace into our hearts and then, as best we can, share His peace with others.

Today, as a gift to yourself, to your family, and to your friends, invite Christ to preside over every aspect of your life. It's the best way to live and the surest path to peace ... today and forever.

To know God as He really is—in His essential nature and character—is to arrive at a citadel of peace that circumstances may storm, but can never capture.

Catherine Marshall

In the center of a hurricane there is absolute quiet and peace. There is no safer place than in the center of the will of God.

Corrie ten Boom

I believe that in every time and place it is within our power to acquiesce in the will of God—and what peace it brings to do so!

Elisabeth Elliot

I want first of all ... to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life.... I want, in fact—to borrow from the language of the saints—to live "in grace" as much of the time as possible.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Fifty Shades of Grace by Freeman-Smith. Copyright © 2012 Freeman-Smith. Excerpted by permission of Worthy Media, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction,
Day 1: Shades of Grace,
Day 2: Experiencing Christ's Love,
Day 3: Praise Him and Thank Him,
Day 4: Serve Him,
Day 5: Finding Genuine Peace,
Day 6: His Grace Is Sufficient for Difficult Days,
Day 7: Dreaming Big Dreams,
Day 8: Praise Him for Your Talents,
Day 9: Trusting Your Conscience,
Day 10: Finding Contentment,
Day 11: Trust His Promises,
Day 12: Spiritual Growth,
Day 13: Strength for Today,
Day 14: Making the Right Decisions,
Day 15: Beyond Discouragement,
Day 16: Your Own Worst Critic?,
Day 17: Praising God for His Abundance,
Day 18: The Need for Silence,
Day 19: Making Time for God,
Day 20: Trust His Perfect Plan,
Day 21: Finding Comfort,
Day 22: Acceptance Today,
Day 23: Listening to God,
Day 24: He Gives Us Hope,
Day 25: Making Peace with the Past,
Day 26: Trusting God's Will,
Day 27: His Grace Is Sufficient,
Day 28: Beyond Worry,
Day 29: The Cornerstone,
Day 30: He Forgives Us,
Day 31: The Power of Purpose,
Day 32: The Power of Obedience,
Day 33: The Power of Optimism,
Day 34: Worship Him,
Day 35: Ask Him,
Day 36: God's Calling,
Day 37: Trusting God's Wisdom,
Day 38: Beyond the Frustrations,
Day 39: He Is Your Rock,
Day 40: Focusing on God, Not Fear,
Day 41: Your Reasons to Rejoice,
Day 42: The Power of Perseverance,
Day 43: The Light of the World,
Day 44: His Truth,
Day 45: The Power of Patience,
Day 46: Following Christ,
Day 47: Praising Him for This Day,
Day 48: Trust Him,
Day 49: The Priceless Gift of Eternal Life,
Day 50: Putting God First,