Author: cindygrasso

Cindy Grasso is an author, speaker and the Discipleship Pastor at Cape Christian in Cape Coral, Florida.

Resentment

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“My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”

Psalm 25:15 NIV

Holding onto resentment is like walking around with a chain around your ankle.

It starts as a small cord and develops into a strong chain that you drag around.

Sometimes a small cord of fear becomes a snare that holds you back.

Sometimes a resilient string of hurt traps you from moving forward.

Maybe a trap of bitterness has wrapped itself around your ankle.

And if you don’t acknowledge it, it will become crippling.

Look to the Lord to release you from a snare of resentment that is holding you back today.

He is the only one who can heal your heart.

Who are you looking to heal your heart today?

If it is anyone else but Jesus, you will be disappointed and frustrated.

What Forgiveness Is

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“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  

Colossians 3:13 NIV

Forgiveness breaks the power of the past.

It is a choice to let God have it, hold it, and be responsible for it- whatever it is. 

Forgiveness is taking the power away from someone else and giving it back to God. 

You don’t have to trust someone to forgive them.

They don’t have to know you forgive them.

They don’t have to be sorry in order for you to forgive them.

Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is a choice.

Forgiveness is not about restoring trust in them, it is about trusting God with them. 

What you do have to do is make the choice to give them to God.

And then every day after, make the choice to give them to God.

Keep doing that until the feelings lines up with the decision.

Forgiveness is about freedom – yours.

Who do you need to forgive today?

Knowing Who You Are and Who You Are Not

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“A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’”‭‭ John‬ ‭3:27-28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When God lays a burden on your heart, it will always be bigger than you and it will be something only He can do through you.

Knowing who you are (and who you are not) is vital in carrying out your own God-given assignment.

John the Baptist knew who he was and he knew who he wasn’t.

Faith in Jesus sets you free to do what He has called you to do without looking to others in envy or for acceptance.

Fear traps you in perpetual anxiety about all the things you can’t do and about all the gifts you don’t have.

You are called to faithfully fulfill the assignment God has given you without trying to be someone you are not or function in gifts God has not given you.

Live your call.

Use your gifts.

Leave the rest to God.

Glorious Riches

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The glorious riches of God have not been used up.

His resources have not been depleted.

His kingdom does not work the way the earth’s kingdom does.

It does not go bankrupt, it does not come with sanctions.

God’s measure of giving doesn’t mirror man’s way of giving.

He does not give according to your goodness but according to His own.

All of it is accessed through Jesus Christ.

He is the bridge between you and God.

He is the payment for your sin.

He is the redeemer of what has been stolen.

He is the restorer of what has been lost.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NIV

God is able to meet your need today.

What do you need?

Jesus is able. 

Too Much To Do?

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“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:41‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The amazing thing about grace is that it immediately lifts the burden of “everything that should be done” and replaces it with the “one thing that needs to be done.” 

What is that “one thing”? 

It is sitting at the feet of Jesus? 

Begin there.

Drop your to-do list, close your eyes and take some time to sit with Jesus today.

When you sit at the feet of Jesus, time stops and eternity enters.

Let eternity in. 

Then tackle your lists.

Let All That I Am

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“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”    Psalm 62:5 NLT

All that I am…

Daughter, wife, mother, friend, dreamer, detailer, realist, writer, speaker, cook, cleaner, pastor, inspirer, frail, my own worst critic, stubborn, strong, passionate, fearful, faithful, wonder-full, beauty-full, worry-full, redeemed, restored.

Rest…

Hush anxious thoughts. Put down the to-do list. Quiet fear. Close the door. Rest in abandon. Embrace peace. Breathe silence. Cease to think, worry, or wonder. Just be.

Before God…

Not before bills. Not before responsibilities. Not before failures and faults nor achievements or success. Before God the Creator, Provider, Peace Maker, Redeemer, Savior, Lord, Father. Sovereign, Merciful, Strong, and Gentle. Powerful, Passionate, and Purposeful.

For my hope…

Tender expectations of possibility. Easily bruised. Unrealistic. Fantastic. Wonderful. Amazing. Hope.

Is in Him…

Wrapped in the arms of grace surrounding the soul. Hope not in temporal things but in the eternal One God in three expressions- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Hope not in temporal circumstances but in the embodiment of LOVE itself.  

In the Middle of the Mess

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Real life is filled with broken people, challenging circumstances, and difficult decisions.

It’s different than you thought it would be.

It’s harder than you expected.

Real life is messy.

And real life is where Jesus meets you.

He does not ask you to deny reality, He asks you to embrace it as He embraces you.

 “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.”

1 Peter 4:12-13 MSG

Stop striving to live a “perfect” life to please God. What pleases God the most is when you allow Him to work His grace and love into the middle of your very messy real life.

May you be empowered today to face the reality of your life and walk confidently in His unique, personal, powerful expression of grace and love for you in it.

Face the Giant

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David believed that God could use a small thing to conquer a big enemy.

“Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead.”

1 Samuel 17:49 NIV

It is not the size of what you are facing but the size of your faith in God.

God has chosen you.  

He walks with you.

You can fearlessly face the giant before you because the Almighty God is within you.

You already have what you need.

You don’t have to change who you are.

Use the small thing you have in your hand to do the big thing God is asking of you.

What small thing has God placed in your hand? 

What is God asking you to do with it?

It Won’t Be Easy

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You will have to face difficulties, impossible situations, and fierce battles as you pursue God’s call on your life.

Through each one, Jesus will lead you to rest in the security of His love.

To pursue the power of His peace.

To find and capture the truth that is the freedom He died for you to live in.

God doesn’t say, “it will be easy” nor does He say, “there will be no battles.”

He says:

“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

No matter what is happening around you, you are not alone to deal with it – the Spirit of God is within you.

God’s promise is that His rest is yours. His peace is yours. His freedom is yours. 

You don’t have to earn it, you simply have to receive it.

Today, put your trust in His love, power, grace, peace, knowledge, goodness, and faithfulness.

Then take a deep breath and rest. 

Don’t Give Up

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Life in Christ means that you are being called upon to be a pioneer.

You may to be the first in your family to break the cycle of unhealthy habits or to break the cycle of emotional or physical abuse. 

Maybe He is asking you to create a home life unlike the one you grew up in.

Maybe God is calling you to start a new business to help people in a way the world has yet to see.

“But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion. It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy. But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:32-39‬ ‭MSG‬‬

God is asking you to be a change-maker and to be stubborn about it.

Be stubborn about God’s goals but flexible about your methods.

Jesus never did a miracle the same way.

Each one was different and unique.

Change worth having is worth fighting for.

Go ahead – be stubborn, grab some new courage and don’t give up.