BoldGrace

In a recent comment Bruce said:

It wasn’t until I found this group of friends at boldgrace that I finally found true community. Even with the great distances between us, there is more love, friendship, compassion, and community than I’ve ever seen in any traditional church. The reason? We have no leaders, and have no need for any leaders. We’re simply a bunch of friends on a journey together, enjoying God’s peace and grace. No agendas, no power struggles, no funds to collect, no building to pay for, no need to build community (because it just “happened”). It’s not to say we’re without our challenges and pains, but they seem to be rare. This is probably the only true community of which I’ve ever been a part.

I feel the same exact way and I know Geo, Steve, and Mindy would also agree.  As I thought about what Bruce wrote it made me realize the reality of his last statement in my life also.  He said:  "This is probably the only true community of which I’ve ever been a part."  

So, what is it that makes our friendship so special?  I can only answer for myself but I believe that the very root of the answer is found in NOTHING.  By that I mean each of us came to this understanding of God’s very BOLD grace by ourselves as individuals and when we came together as a "COMMUNITY" here at boldgrace.com we did not bring anything else with it.  Bold Grace by its self plus nothing is our secret and I believe it is the great secret that makes the Gospel good news indeed.

Does that mean that we don’t share ideas that can improve our lives in the here and now?  Of course not.  We often share and talk about different books we are reading and how new things we are learning help us understand this life more clearly.  We also love hearing all the different comments that encourage us to keep this site open.  As Bruce said, we have No agendas, no power struggles, no funds to collect, no building to pay for, no need to build community (because it just “happened”).  We are only here to share this unbelievable peace that is a direct result of realizing this BOLD GRACE. 

Some may wonder why we so strongly reject adding anything to it and the reason is simple.  It is God himself who gives us the answer:

2 Cor 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Grace has taught me to accept myself the way God accepts me.  Grace has taught me to accept Bruce, Geo, Steve, Mindy, and everyone else exactly the way they are because it is GOD who takes our weaknesses and shows us His PERFECT POWER in spite of them.

Yes, we do believe we are perfect because we believe His Grace really does have POWER.  He doesn’t need us to do something or believe something for His Grace to Work.  Who ever comes to our site will not be asked to change anything in their life.  We will tell them they have always been loved, are loved now, and will always be loved by a God who truly loves without conditions. 

The amazing thing is that when people really get this message of Bold Grace it does have a powerful effect on their lives.  The security of an indestructible love has more power than all of man’s greatest wisdom.  Just knowing that God will never leave you, never forsake you, never abandon you, and that He will be standing by you even in your weakest of moments is a knowledge that is our greatest resource here on earth.  This LOVE from God comes without judgment or criticism.  This LOVE comes with freedom to choose our own way.  We can choose a painful life of striving to be good enough or we can choose a peaceful life by believing in this Bold Grace, but either way God will STAND with us.

Bold Grace plus nothing is the secret to true community.  God made us all in His image and I am so glad that my eyes can see the beauty of that image in myself and in the world around me. 

Rom 8:38-39 I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us.  We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.

The following verses tell us that God has taken complete responsibility for what we need to learn while on this earth.  Maybe that’s why He tells us to quit judging each other.

Heb 8:10-13 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

  

Heb 10:16-18  "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

    

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

 

1 Thess 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

 

    

Matt 7:1-4 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

  

1 Cor 4:3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.

Isn’t it a peaceful feeling that we do not have to rely on anyone to teach us what is most important?

And isn’t it a peaceful feeling to know it is not my job to judge others?

Wow, if the church quit teaching and judging, what would be left?  I guess they didn’t get that memo from God.

Gen 2:15-17 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.  And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

What is IT?
Answer: IT Is

How do I get IT?
Answer: IT can be gotten, but is had by ALL

How do I keep IT?
Answer: It can’t be kept, but is kept by ALL

How can I know I have IT?
Answer: If you need to know how to have it then you don’t have IT.

Can I teach others how to get IT?
Answer: IT can’t be taught to others, but others are taught by IT.

Can IT be seen?
Answer: It can’t be seen but is visible to ALL

Can IT see?
Answer: IT cannot see but sees ALL

Can IT be touched?
Answer: IT can’t be touched but IT touches ALL.

To be continued……………….

Peace

Geo

This video is for my fellow travelers who think there is no way out. Speak up and use your voice. You will find some who don’t care at all, some who care a little, and some who care a great deal. Maybe we can’t solve all your problems but at least you will find someone who cares here at BoldGrace. 

Matt 10:29-31"Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission. Every hair on your head has been counted. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows.

 We won’t judge you.  We won’t condemn you.  We won’t point out all your weaknesses.  And the reason we won’t is because we know your value.  There is a God of Perfect Love that you can trust.  He leaves none of us behind.  He will never forsake anyone.  He has a plan for you that is perfect.  We hope you choose to awaken to the LOVE that surrounds you, but either way His LOVE will wrap you up and hold you safe at all times.

Peace Geo

I was sitting here reading comments, and started thinking about all the wonderful people I’ve met through the Internet, and more specifically, through blogging. And I find myself wondering… "how’s everybody doing"? Are you doing OK? Health good? Are you happy? Are your needs being met? Do you have enough to eat… clothes to wear? Don’t be shy, this is a safe place. Or, if you are more comfortable sharing privately, please write any of the BoldGrace team (on the contact page). I invite you to share your life with us all… catch us up… let us know how you’re doing.

To all my cherished old friends, and to all our beloved new friends, and to all the visitors who stop by to read, but haven’t yet spoken… let us hear from you! We are so thankful for you, and look forward to knowing you better.

Love to all.

It has been said that the Internet, with its open exchange of information and ideas, caused the demise of the Soviet Union. When a people, closed off to the outside world, living in unrealized bondage to a system (a system they thought brought them security), are able to escape for a moment (even if just electronically), they might begin to glimpse a freedom to which they have had no access previously, and start to yearn for more. The contrast between "what is", and "what could be", ignites a passion that becomes an unstoppable force. And that force has the power to change the world.

I wonder if the Internet will also become the demise of organized religion?

Ben Franklin said, "Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security."

It use to be really hard searching for myself and then accepting myself. Actually, it had been exhausting. I felt like I was constantly peeling away layers of myself only to find that there was another layer to work through.

You see, I was raised in religion. I was taught by a few different organized religions to ask for forgiveness and that in order to be accepted by Jesus I had to accept him by getting baptized or get saved. I was taught to accept the people in Church and be fearful of everyone else. I was taught that it was inappropriate to dance in Church. I was taught to only sing accapella. I was taught that it was wrong to get up and sing accapella with my sisters in front of the congregation. I was taught that as a woman I had no voice amongst men. I was taught that God is good, but that I was just a sinner and didn’t deserve God’s unconditional love. I was taught fear and as a child these teachings are and were very devastating.

So, like many of you I have to peel away layer after layer in order to find the person that God meant for me to be. I am still peeling away layers, BUT NOW instead of feeling guilty and exhausted over peeling away layers or searching for myself and my truths I am flying. I am soaring high. I am stronger. Now each time I peel away a layer I realize that I have the tools. I have what it takes to understand each layer. No one else has to understand them.

I don’t get so panicked about my experiences or what and who I might find along my journey. I am not concerned as much about this world or my life. My earthly burdens are just that…earthly, but they are mine. I will have tribulations and joy but those tribulations and joys are just more opportunities for me to fly. I don’t have to even talk to God to be close to him. He is in me. I hear him when my daughter laughs. I hear him when I kiss my husband.

Now, I praise and worship the sun without fear of persecution. I praise the blue skies. I praise the wind and the rain. My eyes are more open then they have ever been and my mind isn’t closed anymore. I see the real illusions now. I see people who are clueless to the beauty and perfection behind “mistakes” or “sins”. I see opportunity for growth in what others considered mistakes. I see ME! I see a 33 year old “little girl” dancing under a disco ball. Her hands are up high and she is swaying back and forth looking up at the beautiful colors then gently closing her eyes so that she can absorb all of the wonderful feelings and then she sings with the band like there is no tomorrow.

I can’t wait to peel away another layer.