Glenna Salsbury on God's Mercy

Glenna Salsbury is a ball of energy and a tremendously insightful speaker who enlightens business and church groups whose autobiographical tale in the very first Chicken Soup for the Soul inspired me. Through the years, Glenna has been a faithful correspondent with me, who has prayed for my family and my undertakings.

Periodically, Glenna sends out an emailed inspiration called Heavenly Treasures. She's given me permission to share the latest one with you here:

HEAVENLY TREASURES

August 21, 2006
The Lord is Merciful
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psalm 103:8

God's grace is often defined as "receiving that which we do not deserve." But God's mercy can be defined as "not receiving what we do deserve." How often our behavior would seem to warrant the Lord's anger or serious discipline in our lives. Yet He again and again extends His mercy to us, knowing that, in our flesh, we are but dust!

King David encourages us to especially praise the Lord for His mercy. He writes that God "has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities." (Psalm 103:10) Oh, what a relief! What a gift -- God's amazing mercy!
David used every possible description to help us see the magnitude of the Lord's mercy to you and to me. "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward us as believers." (Psalm 103:11)

One of the incredible demonstrations of the Lord's mercy is His removing any record of our sins. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12)

How long will He continue to extend His mercy to those of us who know Him? "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting...". (Psalm 103:17)

Another amazing demonstration of God's mercy toward us is His gift of righteousness to those who are His. Not only did He remove all record of our sins, but He gifted us with His perfection, His complete righteousness. We are saved from God's wrath because Christ's life, His righteous life, is His gift to us. (Romans 5:10) We will never receive the wrath we deserve because of His merciful gift.

David tells us that our only worthy response to the Lord's mercy is for us to bless God! It is an awe-inspiring thought to realize that we can bless the Lord; we can give Him joy! David exhorts his own heart and mind to this activity. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." (Psalm 103:1, 2)

How often it seems we focus on our expectations, our desires, our frustrations and our daily wants ... rather than simply focusing on the mercies of God in our life ... past, present and future. Joy actually springs up in us when we delight in His endless mercy in our life, day after day.

He has "redeemed" our lives from destruction. He has "crowned" us with "His lovingkindness and mercy". He "satisfies us with good things" so that our energy is "renewed like the eagles." (Psalm 103:4,5)

Oh, Lord, when we recount all of our own failures, lapses and sins, Your mercy is our only solace. Continue to reveal Your magnificent mercy and may we continually praise You for this precious gift. "Bless the Lord, O my soul." (Psalm 103:22)

If you'd like to receive Glenna's Heavenly Treasures at your email address every week, contact her at ISpeak4U@aol.com. Please provide your first and last name.

To learn more about Glenna as a speaker, check out her web site here.