Rosa

Q1. (1 Peter 5:10) How does grace (Greek charis) differ from earning wages? From earning favor by being good? What is a helpful working definition of Biblical grace? In what way does grace characterize “the God of all grace”? Grace is resting in God's Arms as a small child, accepting His free gift of salvation and adoption. It's finally realising that in God is our safe place where we find full acceptance of who we are warts and all. There is no pretence, no earning love, no not being good enough. It is complete freedom from legalism and trying to earn God's favour and grace by being good enough, attending enough Bible studies and Sundays and all the rules Christians lay on each other. Ps 131 has the perfect definition - Like a weaned child, I will rest in You Psalm 131 Jubilee Bible 2000 A Song of degrees of David. 1 ¶ LORD, my heart has not become haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither have I walked in grandeur, nor in wonderful things above and beyond that which pertains to me. 2 Rather I have quieted myself and caused my soul to become silent, that I might be as a child that is weaned of his mother, as one who is weaned from my own life. 3 Let Israel wait for the LORD from now on and for ever.

Joshua will only be given the land he walks in. It's active not passive. If he waits for God to give it to Him, nothing will happen. God has always said "Come, go, follow" It is in the active, we meet the Holy Spirit, are trained and disciplined by Him, grow in relationship with Him.... God has asked me to stand with Him for Mid Wales and the LGBTQZ trans community.

To meditate is to slow read Scripture, allowing it to soak in and giving Ruach Hadekosh space to teach us. Taize and Lectio Divina are important parts of my meditation, it's how I meet Father as Holy God

Q3. (Joshua 1:6-8) What kinds of things might Joshua be tempted to fear if he were to allow himself to dwell on his anxieties? What does it mean to “be strong and very courageous”? What is the distinction between weakness and strength in Joshua’s situation? What is the relationship between fear and faith? Can you be courageous and still be fearful? Imagine taking over from Moses and returning to the Promised Land where no one followed you the first time? Imagine the fear and doubt of "will this work? " Imagine finding yourself responsible for nearly a million people? Imagine seeing God's miracles and knowing He is on your side? I am blessed to be in my Safest Place yet, resting in God, waiting on Him. I know Bye has never let me down and never will

Rosa, I am your God, the Lord God Almighty, and I am with you always in My Spirit who lives in you. We will never leave you or abandon you. Do not lean on your own understanding, but lean on Our Promise to you. We will NEVER forsake you, abandon you, or leave you. Just too big for words

This is personal, but God gave me this Promise when I moved to Wales in 2015. I don't think I have claimed this Promise or my Promised Land. It's a time of reflection and repentance for me. The Spirit cannot work unless I give Him something to work with. God is God not a cosmic vending machine. Its partnership working