Category: Community

Theme:

We are not defined by our past, our performance, or our perfection—but by the grace of God that calls, shapes, and sustains us.

Key Scripture Passage:

1 Corinthians 15:10

Reflection:

Dr. Don Keathley’s quote “By the Grace of God, I am what I am;” beautifully mirrors Paul’s declaration in 1 Corinthians. It is a statement of radical humility and deep confidence—not in self, but in the transformative power of grace.

Paul, once a persecutor of the church, became one of its greatest apostles. He did not hide his past nor did he boast in his achievements. Instead, he pointed to grace as the reason for everything: his calling, his labor, his identity. “By the grace of God, I am what I am.”

This is the essence of Grace Theology: God’s unmerited favor defines us. We are not the sum of our failures or the measure of our successes. We are beloved, chosen, and empowered—not because we earned it, but because God gave it.

Grace does not just forgive—it transforms. It reshapes how we perceive ourselves and how we live. It removes the pressure to perform and replaces it with the freedom to grow. It silences shame and awakens purpose.

Application:

* Embrace Your Identity in Grace: Let go of labels that shame or limit you. You are who you are by God’s grace—loved, accepted, and called.

* Let Grace Have Its Effect: Like Paul, allow grace to move you into action—not out of obligation, but out of gratitude.

* Live Free from Comparison: Grace Levels the Ground

Grace serves as a foundation, eliminating the need for self-comparison. Remember that your worth is not earned but bestowed upon you by God. Be a source of affirmation and hope by reminding those around you that their worth is inherent.

Prayer:

Dear Father of Grace, I express my gratitude for your love and for shaping me into the individual I am becoming. By Your grace, I am not defined by my past or confined by my weaknesses. Allow Your grace to fully manifest within me, transforming my heart, guiding my steps, and inspiring my life.

Help me to cultivate humility, walk with confidence, and extend grace to others as freely as You have bestowed upon me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Hey friend, today’s challenge is to read Mark 9:7 and take some time to think about some things you’ve talked about with God. After you’re done, listen for His voice. 💕✌️🙏

How do you foster self-compassion in your growth journey? 💕✌️🙏

Dear Spirit of Mercy and Wisdom, in the face of unfolding truths and quiet courage, we come to you today with reverence and longing. We carry the weight of conflict, uncertainty, and a glimmer of hope.

We lift up those affected by rising prices, as inflation persists while tariffs ripple through daily life. May economic decisions be guided by compassion, ensuring that no family is left behind in the pursuit of policy.

We pray for the cities now under scrutiny, as federal attention shifts to communities beyond Washington, D.C. May justice be pursued through partnership, not force. Let safety be rooted in trust, and may every neighborhood be treated with dignity.

We remember those in the path of Hurricane Erin, strengthening in the Atlantic Ocean, its course still uncertain. May preparation meet mercy, and communities rise to care for one another in the face of nature’s power.

We hold in prayer the patients and families affected by unsafe practices in pharmaceutical production. As oversight falters and promises are broken, may healing be protected, and every medicine be a vessel of care, not risk.

We reflect on the summit in Alaska, once a Russian colony, now a gathering place for peace. May history guide humility, and leaders seek reconciliation, not conquest.

We lift up the medical community as AI tools begin to shape diagnosis and care. May technology serve truth, and every error be met with vigilance and accountability. Let wisdom lead innovation, and no life be endangered by haste.

For all beings—the grieving and the rejoicing, the powerful and the powerless, the seen and the unseen—may peace prevail, love lead, and hope endure. Amen

Hey friend, today’s challenge is to read Proverbs 4:23. Then, ask God to show you people or places that might be messing with your work and helping you set healthier boundaries in your life. Pay attention to what He says and what He has in mind for you. 💕✌️🙏

Dear Spirit of Peace and Presence, we address you today with reverence and a profound sense of concern, bearing witness to the challenges and struggles that beset our world.

In the midst of conflict, upheaval, and a lingering hope for a better future, we extend our prayers to the people of Washington, D.C., as the National Guard is deployed and the city’s police placed under federal control. May peace be pursued through wisdom and not force, justice be rooted in truth and not fear, and every resident feel safe, seen, and heard.

We also pray for the courts as a trial commences over the use of the National Guard in California. May the law serve as a shield for the vulnerable, and power be held accountable with integrity.

Remembering those in the path of Tropical Storm Erin, forming in the Atlantic and gathering strength, we seek mercy for the storm’s passage and hope that communities will prepare with care and compassion. May neighbors become lifelines, and shelter be provided for all in need.

We hold in prayer the pursuit of truth, as a judge denies the release of Ghislaine Maxwell’s grand jury transcripts. May justice not be obscured by secrecy, and healing come to those whose stories remain hidden.

We lift up the workers and families affected by the explosion in Pennsylvania, where a steel factory became a site of rescue and fear. May the injured be restored, the grieving be comforted, and safety be renewed in every workplace.

We grieve the escalation in Eastern Europe, as Ukraine seizes land it hoped to trade, only to lose it again. May diplomacy rise above destruction, and leaders seek peace not through conquest but through compassion.

For all beings—the grieving and the rejoicing, the powerful and the powerless, the seen and the unseen—may peace prevail, love lead, and hope endure. Amen

What roles or identities do you take on in different areas of your life (e.g., work, family)? 💕✌️🙏

Hey friend, let’s take a moment to read Proverbs 4:23. It’s all about guarding our hearts. After you read it, think about what you can do to protect your heart. Then, make a commitment to God and let’s pray about it together. 💕✌️🙏

How do you embrace your flaws while still striving for self-improvement? 💕✌️🙏

Dear Spirit of Compassion and Truth, you reside in every courtroom and every kitchen,

In the dust of Gaza and the potholes of South Texas,

In the courage of the deported and the conscience of the lone lawmaker—

We come to You today with hearts open and trembling,

Carrying the weight of injustice, the ache of division,

And the quiet hope that peace might still prevail.

We lift up Jaime Galvan Sanchez and his family,

Wrongfully deported, then returned with an ankle monitor and uncertainty.

May their home be a sanctuary, not a prison.

May their courage be met with justice,

And may every family navigating shifting immigration policies Find strength, dignity, and protection.

We pray for the guardians of transparency,

As the appeals court rules against efforts to conceal federal spending data.

Let truth be upheld,

And may the balance of power remain rooted in accountability, not secrecy.

We hold in prayer the Texas Democrats who fled the state,

And the one who stayed behind—Rep. Richard Peña Raymond—

Speaking truth in quiet halls, building bridges where others built walls.

May conscience be honored,

And may democracy be defended not just in protest, but in presence.

We remember the cities bracing for a shaky economy,

Where fewer trash pickups and more potholes mark the strain of budget cuts.

May leaders find wisdom to serve the whole,

And may communities rise to care for one another amid scarcity.

For all beings—the grieving and the rejoicing,

The powerful and the powerless,

The seen and the unseen—

May peace prevail.

May love lead.

May hope endure. Amen