Richness Is An Option

I am writing in the first person today so my blog can be more personal.  One  of  the subtitles of my book, "I've Always Been Rich" is Experiencing the Richness of God's Grace.  I have not always experienced abundant wealth, I have not always been debt free nor have I always been able to spend extravagantly.  Still the dictionary defines richness as abundance, affluence, bounty, lavishness and plenty.  Those words certainly define richness in the eyes of the world. My definition starts with a different mindset.  My mind sees richness as having  food on the table, having adequate housing, having friends and, above all, having a family and church who love and nourish my soul.   And I go even further in the book, richness is having a God who loves, protects, guides and calls each one of us to challenges and opportunities which further the work of His kingdom.  Yesterday I heard a quote by Dallas Willard  which said, "We must pray that we don't have so much success that we hinder our character".And that is  the crux of everything that we do. We are not here to elevate ourselves but to glorify God.   My book attempts to give a chronological narrative of God's callings in my life and how I did or didn't follow thru on them.  God's plan!
Anyone who attempts to narrative their life finds hints and obvious facts which show how God worked in their life even though they did not know it.  God calls us to a certain task and we follow.  Little do we know that that step will be left behind but the next step builds on it.  For instance, going to college  later in life was a big and tough decision.  Then being pregnant at the time of graduation seemed like a definite change of direction,  However, the college step calling ended but what developed because I had college was much more than I could have imagined or had planned. And so goes my life, even now, as God unfolds it in His time.
I have reached a lot of people thru this blog.  That is a perk I did not anticipate.  So why am I still amazed about how God works in ways I do not expect?  I would like to hear from more of you personally, especially how the book has influenced you in any way.  As faith based people, we need to build bridges of support in this world which is so full of hate and anger.  The cross is the only way we can do that.  I have many crosses displayed in our house.  And my crosses are all empty crosses,  I do not worship a god who is still on the cross, my Savior died to pay the penalty for my and your sin but he paid the price by His death.  He did this once and for all, no need to hang on the cross any more.  Than He arose from the grave to show that He also conquered death. We, too, shall rise and be with Him eternally in

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glory.  And out of gratefulness we want to accept His love and forgiveness and show our love by living for Him each and every day.  I would encourage you to read my book and then glean from it how God has or will work in your life.  The walk with Him will fill you with richness. You all have a story.  Marilyn Rensink  mjrevmom6@aol.com . Buy books at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com or your local Christian bookstore.