Emily Acker's Blog

 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.Luke 2:11-14
Let's never forget the hope of Christmas.Let's hold on to the joy of this season.Let's thank God for the gift he has given us.
Merry Christmas!

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

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Living for God. This should be our goal in life. Not to do what people expect or want from us, but to live for God. To be different than the world. To be a light.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Acts 20:24

We can trust God no matter what we face, and we can know that living for him is the right choice, even when things are difficult.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

We need to live for him in all that we do. We need to be strong and courageous and bold for him. We need to make the right decisions to help others, to do good, and to keep spreading God's light and love always.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Every day is a blessing. Every moment is a gift. 

God is good every day. God is with us every day.
                              
We can trust God every day.

We can praise God every day. We should thank him for each day we are given.

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

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By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Stand strong. Even when everyone is against you. Even when you are afraid. Even when doing the right thing goes against what everyone is telling you to do.

Stand strong. Even when the world has gone crazy. Even when you feel lost and confused. Even when you can't see what is to come.

Stand strong. Trust in God. He will not let you down.

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By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:1
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 43:5
God is good.
God is with us.
God loves us.
God will help us through any and all of the challenges we face.
We can trust him.We can praise him.God is good.


By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

What are some of your favorite encouraging songs?


By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

Hasten, O God, to save me;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.
May those who want to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
turn back because of their shame.
But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”
But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.
Psalm 70:1-5 (NIV)

The Psalms are filled with comfort. It is great to read them when you are feeling down, or anytime.

I have many favorite verses in the Psalms. What are some of your favorite verses? What are your favorite Psalms?


By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

God's grace is big enough for you. When you stumble and break promises, God still loves you. He loves sinners and those who have made mistakes. He knows every fault, every bad thing you have done in your life. He knows that you are far from perfect. He doesn't expect perfection from you, but he covers you in his perfect love.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."2 Corinthians 12:9a

God's grace isn't only given to those who "do good" and live righteous lives. Jesus chose to sit with sinners and be friends with those others shunned. He came to earth to die for the unrighteous.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8

You are not too far from God. Nothing can put too great of a distance between you and God.

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.Romans 8:38-39

When you sin, he sees you. He doesn't want you to stray from him. He is hurt by the wrongdoings that you have done. But he offers his grace to cover them if you come to him.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?Romans 6:1-2

It is up to you. You need to be willing to put aside your mistakes and your sins enough to let him in. To ask God to cover them.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.John 14:6

Jesus died on the cross to save you. His love and grace are big enough for you.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9

By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken

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By Bethany Acker, Co-Author of No Longer Broken