![\"Joy's](\"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Joys-Doll-House-043mmm1.jpg\")
<\/a>Then of course, the details of the entire project were overwhelming. The directions. The number of pieces. The step-by-step process to take all of these pieces and create one doll house from them all. It was pretty amazing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the thing. If we hadn\u2019t paid attention to the details, it would not have turned out the way it was supposed to. It would not have looked like a house. Or at least not a pleasant-looking house.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s the same with our spiritual lives. If we haven\u2019t taken care of the details of our faith, it\u2019s hard to say what the outcome might be. But if we follow God\u2019s plan and pay attention to the details, the results will be exactly what God intended us to be.<\/p>\n
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God planned that we would be \u201cHis chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.\u201d <\/i>(1 Peter 2:9 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n
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So how do we get to this point? What steps (details) do we need to take to become exactly what God intended us to be?<\/p>\n
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We must believe<\/b><\/p>\n
There is a lot that we simply must have faith in. We must believe that God\u2019s Word is living and active and that God breathed life into each verse. (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16)<\/p>\n
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We must believe that Jesus is God\u2019s Son, sent to be the Messiah, the Savior of mankind. (John 3:15-16; 1 John 5:1; 5:5; Romans 3:22)<\/p>\n
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We must believe that Jesus was crucified for the forgiveness of our sins and rose to life to prove victory over death. (Luke 24:46-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:14)<\/p>\n
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We must repent<\/b><\/p>\n
Repentance means to turn completely around. To go the opposite direction of our original path. So for a believer, we must put to death the sinful nature in order for the spiritual nature to be visible. (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19)<\/p>\n
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We must confess<\/b><\/p>\n
You\u2019ve heard it before, Peter\u2019s great confession of our Lord. \u201cYou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.\u201d <\/i>(Matthew 16:16 \u2013 NIV) Yes, we must proclaim it as well. (Matthew 16:16; 2 Timothy 2:19)<\/p>\n
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We must be baptized<\/b><\/p>\n
Jesus teaches that baptism is part of the salvation plan and was Himself baptized. Peter preached it on the day of Pentecost. Paul also was baptized and preached baptism. (Matthew 3:13; 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 9:18; Galatians 3:27)<\/p>\n
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We must live<\/b><\/p>\n
Live lives that bring honor, glory and praise to God who has freely lavished grace upon us. There are plenty of passages that lead us in this direction, but I\u2019m just listing two here. (Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 2:10)<\/p>\n
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We must tell<\/b><\/p>\n
If in fact we have the greatest news mankind has ever heard, why do we keep silent? Why isn\u2019t His message on the tip of our tongues constantly? I don\u2019t know the answer to that question, but I know that Scriptures tell me to share the Gospel. (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:47)<\/p>\n
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These are the \u201cdetails\u201d of our spiritual lives. They each fit perfectly with the next, like a plan, and exactly as God intended. By paying attention to each of these details, we ensure that our salvation will be complete.<\/p>\n
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Oh, I know that we\u2019ll mess up along the way. I know that a detail will be missed or we\u2019ll botch it up. But please know that God can take all those mishaps, those imperfections, and turn them into a thing of beauty. That\u2019s an added bonus of loving God. Grace.<\/p>\n
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If you have a question about these \u201cdetails,\u201d I\u2019d be happy to chat with you. I do know that there is nothing like being in God\u2019s grace.<\/p>\n
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I\u2019d also love to hear your story of grace. How your faith has been built through the years. What God\u2019s grace means to you. Would you be willing to share?<\/p>\n
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In the end, the pieces of the dollhouse went together pretty well. There were a few pieces that didn\u2019t quite fit, but a little sand paper and caulk covered a lot of mistakes. Please don\u2019t look too closely at the dollhouse. You just might find those mistakes.<\/p>\n
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Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/p>\n
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Donna<\/p>\n
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