submitted by Terry L. Bowen(Financial Controller @ Kerusso)

 

It was ironic when I was asked to write about “Grace” .  My youngest daughter’s name is Grace; and, Grace is one of the seven things that I pray for every day of my life; Strength, Grace, Faith, Patience, Wisdom, Courage and Salvation. Divine Grace is described as the sovereign favor of God for humankind; irrespective of one’s actions or deeds, earned worth, or proven goodness.  Without God’s Grace, there are certain limitations, weaknesses, flaws, impurities, and faults that humankind cannot overcome.

 

In essence, it is God’s empowering presence in one’s life which enables us to do and be what we were intended to do and be.  Importantly, it is God’s way to give mankind the benefit without the consideration to merit. Grace is that which affords us joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm and loveliness.  Personally, I believe it important to note that God’s Grace does not free mankind from its responsibility to behave rightly.

 

In my own personal way, Grace means to be kind and pleasant to others regardless of the situation.  It means to give due respect and to extend courtesies to those around you whether they deserve it or not.

 

Shouldn’t we strive to exhibit Grace in all that we do?  My prayer is that you can accept God’s Divine Grace as His gift to you and that you can use it to His glory!

submitted by Vito

Often it seems to me in today's world people are isolated unto themselves & by their choice. We don't disturb a persons 'private bubble' space.   We don't know if a person is talking to us, speaking into their bluetooth or singing to their Ipod.  That makes it all the more important that today people know where you are tuned.  I was just reading in the book of Daniel, where it was made law that  if anyone asks a favor of God or man – except from the King –shall be thrown to the lions. This was set up by the enemies of Daniel.  Why?  Because everyone knew, and it was no secret that Daniel worshipped his God, prayed with his windows open. [Daniel 6:10] 

How and when do you pray? Do you shy at being seen or heard praying?  Don't be afraid to let people see your focus.  Let the joy and music, that Jesus puts in your heart, out for the world to see. What do people hear from you?  Psalm 147:1 "We give praise to You, Lord!  For it is good to sing praises to You, our God, Because praise is pleasant and beautiful."

 

Submitted by Lorri Carter / Vice President of Creative Development

In the Creative Department at Kerusso we work on projects that are months away from release  - in Spring of 2007 we started work on products for Women of Faith’s 2008 line. We knew the topic was “Infinite Grace” and had a design guideline and scriptures to include in our design. This year’s scripture is 2nd Corinthians 9:8 - “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

 

We finish projects like this and move on to the next project - so much time elapses that it’s easy to get disconnected from the message. Well several of us got reconnected last weekend as we attended the Infinite Grace Conference in Oklahoma City. It was 2 days of encouragement, fun and refreshment and we all left reminded that we need to find that space of grace and dwell there - whenever you slip into your favorite negative emotion (mine is crankiness) - remember that His Grace is sufficient for you!

 

If you get a chance to attend a Women of Faith Conference - I can promise you that you will have an amazing time and that you will come away from the event with lots of fun memories and profound truths to apply to your everyday life! Check them out at womenoffatih.com.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Thanksgiving season is a wonderful time of the year. It’s a time when the world seems to stop and remember all that is good. It’s a time when people put aside (at least for a day) all the things that bother them and cause them frustration. But as believers we have the opportunity to give thanks every day. Psalm 107:1 says, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. When the thanksgiving meal is done, your football team has won (or lost) and the dirty dishes are put away it’s still a time to ‘give thanks’.

At the top of my ‘thanks list’ for the last 21 years has been the wonderful people who purchase Kerusso products and use them to proclaim the Good News of Jesus around the world. Thank YOU for your support of Kerusso but even more, thank you for being a light to those who see your life every day.


Vic Kennett
President – Kerusso

Change Your Shirt. Change The World!

Praise Report from Kyle Sweatman - Kerusso Sales Representative

Romans 8:28

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

The Lord has kept this verse at the forefront of my mind this week. This verse can change your perspective because if you love God, you know that no matter how bad a situation you are in, that specific hardship is for the good of you. I don’t know about you, but I love the Lord and this verse is very exciting to me. 

I recently took a trip out of state and out of my comfort zone. This last week I flew to Gatlinburg, TN. When I landed the only thing that the rental car company had was a CARGO VAN! As I was driving this HUGE cargo van (that did not have windows on the side) through Gatlinburg, I wondered, how is God going to work this out for good? When I returned the van, the manager that I dropped off the van with apologized and let me know that he was NOT GOING to charge me a dime for my time with the van. PRAISE GOD!

God chose to bless me by reveal to me one way that he worked this situation out for the good in my life. If you believe the Word of God, then please know that even if you do not see the Lord work a situation out for the good, He still is! It is great that the Lord Divinely Intervenes in our life’s for our Good! It is a Divine Intervention.

 

Posted by Vito (Kerusso sales representative)

Indeed, let me tell you, to Pick Jesus is great --- But do you make music with Jesus?  Do you 'perform' together?  Do people hear anything, do they come to listen?

Is it enough to just have a guitar pick?  Do you not need to develop the skills to use that pick?  Do you just carry Jesus in your pocket?    

What good are you to others?  Do you invest, practice, work at skills to improve?  Learn to play – make music.  How often and how hard do you try?  Or do you just expect your 'playing skills' to come naturally or as a gift?  Do musicians do it that way?  When called to the stage to perform, have they not spent countless hours of work practicing alone & concentrated on their guitar?  Will that show?  
   

The more you invest, the better you get – the better music you get – the better music you make. People like and are attracted to music. Get good with God.  He will Bless you and it will show.

A Tee-Devotional from Vito (Kerusso Sales Representative)
 
--What you care about - - Who you love   --  What you are invested in.  

What you spend your time & money on.    If you think, there are signs, and it really is obvious to the looker.

Like eating out --   "Check Please!"  [Reality check for you]  Just what did you order?  Like at a restaurant – but for your life----

What have you bought?  What have you spent your time and money on? Just what have you invested in?  Godly pursuits or worldly ? Where you are invested in makes a Big difference.  Let me tell you.  The banks, real estate, the stock market?? Is alone time with God & His Word – devotions even on the list?  How much of your time spent talking do you spend speaking of God?  

It shows to the world what you are interested in – like a tattoo on your upper arm in a muscle tee. Like with a bank, where you invest, it will grow and be your greatest resource.  If you don't put $ in the bank you will nave none to withdraw!  

Let me tell you from experience-  what you invest in God, here & now, the returns on that are not doubled or tripled but 100 x 100 fold.  That is here on earth – not even counting heaven. I dare you – test this theory.  Invest in God & proudly show it.  See what happens. 

As you prepare to vote take these thoughts with you from Kerusso VP of Creative Development, Lorri Carter.

Can you imagine a time more contentious than the current election cycle? Both sides are convinced that they are in the right - their vision for America is the correct one. But it's nothing compared to the situation that Abraham Lincoln faced as he was sworn into office in 1860. The division in our country was so deep that it would take 4 years of war and the loss of almost 250,000 lives to reunite our union. Articles and letters from the period indicate that both North and South were quick to claim divine authority – absolute certainty that their cause was just and favored by God.

During the war Lincoln attended a scientific convention in Washington - as he exited the building one of the members approached him and asked "Mr.President, we trust during this time of trial in which the nation is engaged, God is on our side and will give us victory." Lincoln's reply was simple and profound, " Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side. My great concern is to be on God's side. For God is always right!"

I have worn the “Whose Side” shirt dozens of times since June, and it never goes unnoticed. I have used it to share the Gospel with grocery clerks, neighbors and strangers on the street – and the reaction is almost always a refreshing one. I don’t have to agree with your politics to share my faith! So “whose side” are you on? Put away your party politics and tackle the big issues! Republican, Democrat, Independent – whatever your affiliation, make sure that you are on God’s side. For God is always right!

Some have called Michael Phelps the greatest Olympian in history – I’m not here to debate that. This week he obtained what no other swimmer or Olympian has ever achieved by winning eight gold medals and in the process setting seven new world records. It was a truly an amazing achievement.

Although Michael is a phenomenal swimmer it still doesn’t cancel his need for a lifeguard to be posted poolside in case an accident occurs. This same principle applies to our life as well. We may be good “swimmers” – we know how to do life, we are good people, we do more good than bad and we try live right but it doesn’t cancel our need for a lifeguard. The Bible says that our good deeds aren’t enough to save us and bring eternal life. Eternal life only comes through Jesus Christ – the TRUE LIFEGUARD.

If you haven’t accepted Christ as your Savior visit our About Jesus page to find out more about Him and how He can come into your life. If you have accepted Christ then share the good news and to help jumpstart your next conversation try a Christian T-shirt like our Lifeguard tee.

We are currently in Orlando, FL at the International Christian Retail Show. Each year we meet with retail stores from around the world to help them grow their business and ministry with our Christian t-shirts, jewelry, gifts and accessories. It's always an exciting time where we get to hear how lives are being impacted for the Kingdom of God through products about Jesus. George W. Bush (impersonator) stopped by our booth earlier in the week to shake hands with one of Kerusso's great sales guys, Nik Kennett, and grab one of our new Pray Vote Pray t-shirts.