Discover the essence of grace and its incredible ability to transform lives in a way that words alone cannot express. This week, we open our hearts to the stories of Joni Eareckson Tada and Corrie ten Boom, whose experiences embody the strength and purpose that grace brings even in the darkest trials. As we navigate through biblical narratives and contemporary testimonies, we uncover the depth of God's unmerited favor and its profound influence on how we live, forgive, and foster patience within our relationships. The teachings of Ephesians and Colossians serve as our guide, reminding us that grace is not earned but given freely, shaping our actions and perspectives in the most unexpected ways.
Join me, JM, as we explore the personal transformation that grace ignites, taking practical steps to integrate this divine gift into our everyday experiences. We'll reflect on how offering gratitude, supporting others, and maintaining a spirit of forgiveness can all be acts anchored in grace. You'll see how faith communities play a pivotal role in this journey, offering spaces where grace is not just taught, but actively practiced and witnessed. This episode is more than just a conversation; it's an invitation to witness the transformative power of grace in action and to share your own insights within our growing podcast community.
This episode of "The Cross and Cup Podcast" includes references to additional resources and readings available on our blog at www.thecrossroadscollective.org For listeners looking to deepen their engagement with the topics discussed, visit our website or check out our devotionals and poetry on Amazon, with all proceeds supporting The New York School of The Bible at Calvary Baptist Church. Stay connected and enriched on your spiritual path with us!
Discover the essence of grace and its incredible ability to transform lives in a way that words alone cannot express. This week, we open our hearts to the stories of Joni Eareckson Tada and Corrie ten Boom, whose experiences embody the strength and purpose that grace brings even in the darkest trials. As we navigate through biblical narratives and contemporary testimonies, we uncover the depth of God's unmerited favor and its profound influence on how we live, forgive, and foster patience within our relationships. The teachings of Ephesians and Colossians serve as our guide, reminding us that grace is not earned but given freely, shaping our actions and perspectives in the most unexpected ways.
Join me, JM, as we explore the personal transformation that grace ignites, taking practical steps to integrate this divine gift into our everyday experiences. We'll reflect on how offering gratitude, supporting others, and maintaining a spirit of forgiveness can all be acts anchored in grace. You'll see how faith communities play a pivotal role in this journey, offering spaces where grace is not just taught, but actively practiced and witnessed. This episode is more than just a conversation; it's an invitation to witness the transformative power of grace in action and to share your own insights within our growing podcast community.
This episode of "The Cross and Cup Podcast" includes references to additional resources and readings available on our blog at www.thecrossroadscollective.org For listeners looking to deepen their engagement with the topics discussed, visit our website or check out our devotionals and poetry on Amazon, with all proceeds supporting The New York School of The Bible at Calvary Baptist Church. Stay connected and enriched on your spiritual path with us!
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Cup Podcast, where faith meets everyday life. I'm JM, your host, and I'm thrilled to have you join us for another insightful and inspiring episode. In this podcast, we dive deep into the intersection of faith and the real world, exploring how the timeless truths of Christianity impact our daily lives. Whether you're seeking encouragement, guidance or simply a fresh perspective on your faith journey, you've come to the right place. Each week, we'll tackle a range of topics, from navigating life's challenges with grace to deepening our understanding of scripture and everything in between. Our goal is to equip and empower you to live out your faith in meaningful and practical ways. But we're not just here to talk. We want to hear from you too. Your questions, insights and stories are an integral part of this podcast community, so don't hesitate to reach out and share. So grab your favorite beverage, settle in and get ready to explore the richness of Christian life with us. Thank you for tuning into the Cross and Cup podcast. Let's journey together toward deeper and more vibrant faith. Hello everyone, and welcome to the Cross and Cup podcast, where we dive deep into the heart of Christian faith and explore how the teachings of Jesus Christ transform our lives.
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I'm your host, jm JM, and today we're talking about something truly profound and life-changing God's gift of grace. Now, grace, you ask. It's a word we often hear, but its depth it sometimes loses its familiarity. Today, let's rediscover what grace really means, why it's such a pivotal aspect of our faith and how it could transform every corner of our lives really means why it's such a pivotal aspect of our faith and how it could transform every corner of our lives. So you ask what is grace? Simply put, it's the free and honored favor of God, a gift we receive despite our imperfections and failures. In Ephesians 2, 8 through 9, tell us for it is by grace. You have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves. It is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast. It's not something we can work on or earn. It's given freely by God's love for us. Now, throughout the Bible, we see countless examples of grace at work, from Noah finding favor in the eyes of the Lord in Genesis 6-8, to the profound teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. One parable that always strikes me is the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18, where Jesus teaches us about the importance of forgiving others, just as God is forgiving us out of grace, and it's not just a concept from the past. It's sometimes we see and can practice every day.
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You know how Joni Eareckson-Tada, despite her paralysis, speaks about experiencing God's grace in her suffering, turning what could be a story of despair into one of hope and inspiration. Her books talk remind us of how grace can bring strength and purpose out of our deepest trials. Grace also shows up in how we interact with each other. It's a forgiveness we extend to friends, the patients we show a family member and the help we offer a stranger. It reflects Colossians 3.13, where Paul encourages us bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you have a grievance against someone, forgive, as the Lord forgave you.
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Now let's talk about how grace transforms us personally. When we truly grasp the grace we've received, it changes not just our actions but our entire perspective. Corrie ten Boom, in her book the Hiding Place, illustrates this beautifully. After surviving the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp, she was able to forgive her persecutors through the grace of God. It's really a truly transformative power that alters the hearts of mine.
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So you ask how can we cultivate the grace in our lives? It starts with small steps Offering a word of thanks, a gesture of help keeping our spirit of forgiveness, and in times of hardship, grace can be our anchor, just like Paul and Silas singing hymns in prison and told in Acts 16, their faith and grace were profound witnesses to God's power, even in the darkest places. Faith communities are vital in nurturing this grace. They are spaces where we can learn about practice and see grace in action. In these communities we find that support and we learn to live in the teachings of Christ together. So I recommend find a church, find a group, a life group, something that will strengthen your life and just be a support in your travels and in your faith journey.
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So today, as we wrap up today's episode, I invite you to reflect on grace in your own life. Think about the moments when you felt God's unmerited favor, the other times where you know he's shown his grace, and how you can show your grace, how you can continue to pass this incredible gift along. Thank you again for joining me in this journey today. If you've been inspired, touched or want to share your own stories of grace, this incredible gift along. Thank you again for joining me in this journey today. If you've been inspired, touched or want to share your own stories of grace. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me and remember you can always find more resources and join our community or get further involved by visiting our website at wwwthecrossroadscollectiveorg, and the link will be in the show descriptions. Again, thank you for joining me.
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This is JM. I'm signing off from the cross and cup podcast. May you walk in grace and experience the boundless love of God every day. Blessings to you all. Until next time, be blessed.
Speaker 1:
Thank you so much for tuning into another episode of the cross and cup podcast. We sincerely appreciate each and every one of you took the time to listen. If you found value in today's episode, we kindly ask you to consider subscribing to our podcast, sharing it with your friends and family and leaving a comment or review. Your feedback means the world to us and it helps us improve and grow.
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If you're looking for resources to deepen your Christian faith or walk, we encourage you to visit our main page at wwwthecrossroadscollectiveorg. There you'll find a treasure trove of content designed to nourish your faith and strengthen your relationship with God, from articles and podcasts to recommended readings and study guides. We've got you covered. It's important to note that all proceeds generated from our website go directly to the New York School of the Bible, a vital institution affiliated with our home church, calvary Baptist Church in New York City. By supporting us, you're not only enriching your own spiritual journey, but also contributing to the education and growth of others in our community. Once again, thank you for being part of the Cross and Cup Podcast family. We're excited to continue this journey with you and we can't wait to hear from you Until next time. May God bless you abundantly and may his grace and peace be with you always.