Embracing God's Grace
In need of refreshment?
“but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14 NKJV
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalm 42:1-2 NKJV
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25 NIV
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 NKJV
Take a little time to enjoy the view.
Even when we are out on that limb, the Glory of God is still ever present and His mercy endures forever…
Out there.
That’s how I felt when my boss informed me I needed to leave my store and become manager at another location.
This was not something I was seeking.
This isn’t even something I wanted.
I found myself precariously perched, not quite sure of what I was getting into and rather reluctant to leave my “pharmacy phamily” of co-workers I love and patients I’ve established long-lasting relationships with.
“Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do for your own good.”
My eighteen-year-old said that with a smirk during my initial state of “unrest.” I contemplated tapping him not so gently on his smug little head. I’ve said those very words to him more than once this year.
I get so annoyed when he turns my own words on me.
Especially when he is right.
The nest in the photo is actually in my front yard. I noticed it once the leaves fell. I’ve taken various shots of it for a couple of months now, clueless of how it would eventually minister to me.
Initially, it looked like a precarious spot for precious eggs. It is far removed from the trunk of the tree. I was thinking those particular bird parents may not have been that bright.
Then today, I saw that nest in a different light.
We had stormy weather not long ago. Twigs and trash were flung about. I even found a portion of one downspout far in the yard.
Then I looked up to find this nest unmoved. It was secure enough not to have fallen several stories to the ground below.
The limb can support the nest, yet isn’t strong enough to support the weight of neighborhood hawks or curious kitties.
Sometimes we may feel like we’ve been left “out there” but what if “out there” is for our own good?
What if our “limb” supports us but not the weight of things that would weigh us down like fear or doubt?
What if being pulled away from all we know forces us to look up to God instead of giving our attention to things beneath us figuratively and literally such as bad habits or outdated thinking?
Sometimes, if we won’t seek out our best, God will certainly push us into it.
These situations either mature us as we trust God or ignite the worst in us as we struggle to manage on our own.
It is often when we are pushed to the edge, we discover what God can do and what we are capable of with Him.
I learned long ago my comfort is hardly God’s priority. However, fueling my faith and teaching me to trust and obey are.
Maybe I’m not so much out on a limb as being nudged out of my nest.
It may well be the very thing that teaches me to fly.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:25 NIV
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NKJV
Many people are under the notion that when they surrender their lives to God all will be well.
And it is well, but not in the manner most people initially think. Salvation provides no guarantee for a stress free and smooth existence.
In fact, choosing to submit to God often brings us to a point of doing things we don’t want to do for people we don’t even like!
That annoying friction many of us encounter day to day is there to smooth out our “rough edges.”
Sometimes we wonder why what looks like the worst of circumstances has come our way, oblivious that the very situation we despise will make us stronger.
Gold is purified in fire.
We, being more valuable than gold will ultimately find ourselves in hot situations as well.
Pride, idolatry, and selfishness are often burned away when God allows some of our hardships to mold us.
True compassion and patience are often learned after receiving such. We tend to judge less when we have our own personal failings to serve as a reference point for viewing others.
God does not give us problems, but He can surely allow our circumstances to teach us valuable lessons and provide clarity we would never receive otherwise.
Even when we are doing all the “right” things, storms will come.
Our trials and circumstances don’t have to defeat us. In fact, they are often the very stepping stones we need to propel us into our Divine purpose and Glorify God in the process!
God always imparts what we need to get through our situations. He never pushes us into anything He hasn’t prepared us for. Now, some of our “preparation” is often “on the job training,” yet we can rise up to our challenges instead of falling before them.
The apostle Paul is credited with writing a fair share of the New Testament. Persecution, imprisonment, and shipwreck didn’t lessen Paul’s resolve for doing what God called him to do.
Paul even suffered a “thorn” in his side that God refused to remove. I’m sure we can all relate to Paul’s plight. God’s answer to Paul’s plea for relief was “My grace is sufficient.”
And it is sufficient for us as well. When we resolve to stand strong and walk out God’s plan despite the pain, we ultimately fulfill His purpose for our lives.
And in doing this, we are blessed.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4 NKJV
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign to you; You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:12-14
I was recently discussing how this would be the first Christmas in over ten years that we have no pets in our home for the holidays.
We would always debate if our cat “Lucky” had been naughty or nice even as he precariously tried to become one with the Christmas tree within weeks of claiming us as his own.
That same year, my Shetland sheepdog was a Christmas gift from my husband, quickly renamed Noel to suit the occasion. We lost them both this year. I didn’t anticipate how much I would miss them this Christmas season.
Christmas is not a joyful time for many.
The holiday season can accentuate grief, spark depression and bring about a range of emotions, many of which we would rather not deal with.
I lost my father one Christmas.
This Christmas will be a first for those grappling with loss and barely hanging in there just trying to get through the season.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Expecting those who are hurting to be joyful is unrealistic. We can’t always understand someone’s pain, but we can certainly respect it. At the very least, we can extend peace and good will toward them.
Hopefully, the pain eventually wanes. Or perhaps, our tolerance for it becomes greater.
So what does this have to do with roses?
We are experiencing unusually mild weather. This allowed me to clean up the skeletal remains of summer.
And then I saw her.
She was atop the retaining wall as I snapped dead branches from a hydrangea.
“Marie” sat comfortably trying to figure out just what exactly I was doing.
Now, I may be just one cat shy of the crazy cat lady on the corner, (and yes, I live on the corner!) but I haven’t seen any snakes so I figure it’s a fair trade. Regardless, I enjoyed Marie’s company and I suspect she enjoyed mine.
As I finished, I noticed the rose blooming.
We’ve already had one freeze so “technically” it should have stopped blooming by now.
Yet, God will occasionally remind me that He is not moved by any calendar. He provides streams in the desert. Roses in the winter?
Why not?
Marie filled my void today.
God can provide a bit beauty in the bleak. And sometimes when we feel we can’t hold on, God brings a bit of spring to us.
Unexpectedly. And with Love.
If you’re hurting this Christmas season, may spring find you soon…
Peace to you.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NKJV
As many of us gear up for the “holiday” season I think it’s important that we take time and reflect upon all the fuss we find at every turn. We are bombarded with sales ads, incentives to buy more, more, more and media outlets doing their very best to push the notion that if we don’t participate we are indeed missing out.
The Virgin Mary found favor with God yet her Christmas was one without the trappings of luxury and hoopla we find marketed today. Mary even had to endure some things as she was favored by God.
Mary was pregnant before her marriage to Joseph. I’m pretty confident she had to endure the scandal and gossip of her peers in that day. She probably received the same stares and crazed looks anyone in this day would receive if making a claim of Immaculate Conception.
Mary birthed our Savior in less than ideal surroundings. I can’t think of many women, myself included, who would relish the fact of laboring in a stable. Some thought the King of kings would be born in a lavish inn and greeted with fanfare yet it was instead a “silent night.”
Later still, Mary would bear the responsibility of actually mothering the Son of God. Talk about pressure! I can only imagine what that did to her relationship with Joseph and their family dynamics. Not only was she responsible for Jesus the child but she eventually watched Him die an agonizing death. If she was so favored by God shouldn’t her life have been easier?
Favor from God doesn’t always manifest itself as we think it would. The Bible doesn’t promise an easy life of happiness and bliss. In fact, it assures us there will be trials.
We are often looking for a “fix” to our situations and may presume that God isn’t listening or that we have somehow “failed” when things don’t go as expected. Many people believe that if they are doing everything “right” in their lives, as best they can, they will be carefree and have no worries.
Mary endured much even as she was “favored” by God. She was blessed to be the mother of our Savior but that blessing wasn’t necessarily an easy path for her. And like Mary, we too must handle situations we don’t fully understand and possibly never will but God IS with us!
So, as the holiday lights sparkle and dazzle, remember that Christmas began without elaborate decor or grandeur, no widespread celebrations or multitudes of gifts. These things don’t define Christmas.
“Christmas” began in the most humble of places, with two people obedient to God and His presence upon them. Like Mary, that’s all we need.
“And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” Luke 1:28 NKJV
Merry Christmas!
I hate the highway.
Still, I won’t allow my fear of reckless drivers and potential dangers to keep me off the road and away from family. We can sit on the sidelines of life or choose to keep moving in spite of our fears. Then there are other times God doesn’t give us a choice, when we are forced to move forward, clueless as to what the future holds.
My family and I took a pre-Thanksgiving road trip. I sat in the very back of the SUV where I could not see a thing. This is a VERY big deal for me. I could only trust God to get us there safely, pray about it and then I went to sleep. There is only one other time in twenty-three years that I slept while my husband drove. I’m sure he appreciated the absence of “watch out, slow down, and be careful!”
Our relationship with God requires complete trust. It is the only way we can survive all that comes against us and stay sane. We cannot accomplish all the things we are born for through our own abilities. We will never have all the skill, talent or know how to get everything done. What we can have is complete trust that God has “got it,” whatever our particular “it” is at the time.
In the ten hour ride from Maryland, I had to cast off fears, shrug off discomfort and resign myself that I was not in control. I was forced to be still, be patient and trust. Funny how this particular lesson pops up for me time and time again. We must trust God through our trials if we are ever to reap the rewards of our journey. 
I cannot trust God with my everything, and yet attempt to micro-manage every facet of my life.
God will not allow that.
Just like physical endurance, spiritual growth isn’t born from comfort and contentment. It usually arises out of consistent exercise and a bit of unease.
Our trip to visit family had a definitive beginning and end. Other journeys in life aren’t always as clear. We may not see what lies beyond the horizon, but it is faith that keeps us moving. I believe if God revealed everything that lay ahead, we would never have courage enough to take those first steps!
Godspeed in your holiday travels. May they be merry and bright. And if you can’t quite see where you are headed, choose to trust God and enjoy the journey!
Merry Christmas!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
Yesterday I took a walk to not only shake a few pounds but stimulate my brain. As I’m enjoying the fresh air, I am struck by the wide variety of trees and leaves and how beautiful they all are.
It then occurs to me, why can’t we appreciate people the same way?
The woods I walk past are God planted, not man-made. The trees appear randomly placed. There are all kinds, shapes and colors. Some are evergreen magnolias, short scrub oaks, lanky pines and majestic maples. There are even more I can’t even name.
A few of them shed their leaves months ago. Others are in various states and transform daily. Some are unchanging yet provide the backdrop for the dynamic show.
I suspect God planted these different trees together for reason. Not that I will ever know what that is, but it certainly makes for a spectacular show.
We are just as diverse as the trees I walk past. We have various body shapes, skin colors, personalities, and backgrounds. Yet, God has placed us here to share this one earth.
What if the diversity among us is intended to make humanity better as a whole?
Many of us attempt to “convert” others into what we believe is proper. We tend to hang around people who fit our mold. We gravitate toward people like us. Very rarely do most of us dare deliberately talk and mingle with people different from ourselves.
Often if we see someone who dresses unconventionally, acts a bit “odd” or lives a lifestyle we think is “crazy” we will superficially judge them and readily write them off.
I have seen creative or “artistic” people scoffed at and challenged to do something “practical” instead of nurturing the gifts God has given them.
I don’t know that we do them a favor by declaring their gifts aren’t valuable profitable. Is it truly a favor or a disservice when we can’t appreciate the talents of others and attempt to herd them into what we “think” they should be?
Not everyone is hardwired to become an accountant, a lawyer or whatever is deemed “practical” on any given day. I know many “professionals” who are miserable working outside of God’s plans for them.
What if the individual quirks that make each of us distinct are there to serve a purpose?
When we dismiss people different from ourselves we lose opportunities to learn and grow in the process.
It may mean you have to do something different or talk with someone unlike yourself to receive a blessing you don’t even know you need.
As I look around at all the various trees they remind me of the “different” people God placed in my life. They have been of various religions, nationalities, races, economic status, political affiliations and only God knows what else.
Many of them blessed me at some of the hardest times of my life. A few influenced my thinking. One in particular encouraged me to face my challenges head on. Still, others made my daily routine that much easier to bear.
With all of our differences we somehow managed to find more common ground that not.
Through each one of them, so very different from myself, I realize I’ve been blessed.
“Thus saith God, the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:” Isaiah 42:5 KJV
B Is for Blessed! 