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
I was speaking with my oldest son about making good choices and telling him not to make the same mistakes I had. In his teenage wisdom, this kid told me to “get over it.”
If one of my kids tells me to “get over it,” there is a huge problem. My first instinct was to look behind me and see exactly who he was talking to!
God spoke to me through my child. It is hardly the first time He has done that.
I suspect most of us have an “it” that holds the potential to keep us from God’s very best. Sometimes a painful reminder, or being tired and cranky allows our “it” to rear its ugly head.
Regret can morph into resentment and erode any forgiveness we “think” we have given.
When we don’t “get over it” once and for all our “it” will surely find its way back to us.
We are taught to forgive others as God forgives us.
Yet, often the hardest person to forgive is our self.
We may readily forgive others yet still cling to our own mistakes wondering about what could have been instead of what can be.
Abraham was instructed to leave his family and go forth into a new place God had for him. Still, Abraham took his nephew Lot with him. Eventually, that didn’t go very well and Lot received the best of the land that was divided between them.
Abraham got over it.
Abraham knew that whatever he had with God was far more than anything Lot could take away from him.
We would all do well to remember this very thing.
Whatever we lose, or mistake we make is insignificant compared to God’s best.
In our weakness, He is strong.
Bury the past in an unmarked grave and concentrate on new opportunities God can provide this year.
Get over it and get moving.
God is waiting on you!
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.”
Philippians 3:13-15 NKJV
*** If you have lost your resolve and your resolutions fell by the wayside, simply pick them up.
Each day is a new opportunity to begin again…
Great light is crucial for most photographers. As an amateur, I regularly seek proper lighting. Photographers lust after and chase after just the right light well aware of the role it plays for noteworthy images.
God’s Light is no different. It is crucial for us. We may not readily recognize it but God’s illumination and revelation are what we crave to reach our full potential.
This year, I decided I want to do more than chase light.
I want to create it.
So, I enrolled in an annual photography class that meets next week. It is the same class I’ve considered the past two years but never dared rearranged my schedule to attend.
One of my best friends posted New Year’s Day, “Nothing changes when nothing changes.”
I will talk less and listen more. I will allow God to lead me instead going my own way. I will rearrange my priorities.
These are a few things I’m doing differently to avail myself to more of God’s Light this year.
Some would say my goals are unnecessary.
And they are, for salvation.
Still, what I have to gain far exceeds my efforts, just as the work required to create an image doesn’t feel like “work” when the desired photograph is successfully captured.
I want to develop into all God wants of me.
Nothing changes when nothing changes.
Choose to change.
Circumstances may appear unchangeable, yet, altering our attitudes, expectations and actions often allows miracles to find us.
Start small and keep going.
And should you stop, choose to begin again.
May we all see good God’s Light in 2016.
Happy New Year!
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27: 1 NKJV
Living here in the “Bible Belt” I read many a church sign. Some of them are witty and others are down right weird.
I did come across one that I did like. It read “A GRATEFUL MIND IS A GREAT MIND.”
As I reflected on that particular sign I thought about my various “states of mind” on any given day.
Some days I am focused.
On other’s not so much.
On occasion I can keep a very clear train of thought and accomplish much in record time. Then there are days I’m left looking around having nothing substantial to show for my efforts.
Yet, when I focus on counting my blessings, I gain clarity that at other times alludes me.
When I am grateful it puts into perspective all the minor and petty things that don’t really matter. Annoyances, headaches and temporary trials don’t compare to God’s great grace, mercy and favor.
If I did not continually count my blessings, I would get bogged down in the nonsense of the day, other people’s drama and become mired down in things that aren’t any of my business!
We must renew our minds daily as not to magnify our problems instead of God!
When we make a habit to appreciate how good God is to us, we are compelled to offer mercy, compassion and kindness as we have received it. The realization that we are not worthy but God loves us anyway should move us to love our neighbor/brother enough to not just pray for them but actually “do” for them.
Allowing our gratitude to move us into action produces great deeds and great love, the kind Jesus would have us show toward one another.
In this season of thanks, don’t merely settle for being grateful, act grateful. Allow your gratitude to move you to do something for someone else. What you may consider a small gesture can make a world of difference for someone else!
Allow gratitude to adjust your attitude.
Be grateful and B Blessed!
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 1 Chronicles 16:8 NKJV
Apples and pears have never been my favorites. I eat them because they are good for me. They are hardly as sweet as my summertime berries, yet they fill me up and keep those hunger pains at bay. Fall fruits also last longer, aren’t nearly as fragile and help scrape out the yuck in our gut!
There comes a time to push aside those sweet things that are tasty for those heartier things that will sustain.
I love devotionals and encouraging words but we must diligently seek God and study His Word. We need all of it and not just those verses we pick and choose. It is comforting to know better days lie ahead but we must prepare as best we can to stand strong against dark days and disappointments as well.
Spiritual fruit takes time to grow and develop. Many people are led to Christ in a moment. Yet, it often takes years to transform us from who we are into who we can become.
Love, joy and peace are sweet fruits for me.
Long suffering? Not so tasty.
Faithfulness and gentleness require a bit more from me as well. It is often our trying experiences that cultivate the characteristics we lack and allow us to produce good fruit.
If we are to mature and fulfill our purpose, we must partake of some things that aren’t so sweet.
Forgiveness. Obedience. Submission.
We grow when we choose to partake of things that are good for us and not merely those things that taste good.
What are you hungry for?
“For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil,” Hebrews 5:13-14 NKJV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
I do have a few neurotic and irrational fears but spiders are not one of them. Thanks to E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web I’ve only viewed spiders as helpful…as long as they don’t crawl on me.
There are lots of spider webs in my garden these days. Makes me wonder if they are moving toward their eventual demise as “fair season” is underway here in Georgia. One of the great things about Charlotte was that she simply used what she had to make a difference.
Charlotte was smart.
She was also eager.
She could have simply felt bad for Wilbur and watched him go off to slaughter. Instead, she used what she had, her smarts and “web design” to save him. She didn’t do so seeking accolades for herself, her goal was simply to help someone in need.
How many times do we do “good deeds” expecting nothing in return?
Sure, it’s great when someone appreciates our efforts, but if they don’t we should not allow their indifference to dampen our joy of giving.
Wilbur was grateful for Charlotte’s efforts but people in our lives won’t always have that same affection for us when we do things that help them.
As I photographed my own “Charlotte,” I thought of what a great testimony this spider is.
My spider has done all it can to help itself by spinning a huge web. Now it simply waits patiently for breakfast to come to it. It is not crawling around stalking other bugs in my yard. The spider waits confidently knowing that what it needs will eventually find it.
How many of us are this confident in our faith?
We often sweat and toil trying to make things happen. We often struggle to keep our faith all the while playing out various scenarios in our mind. Very few of us wait as patiently and assuredly as this spider as we wait for God to deliver what we need.
Instead of waiting, many of us construct our webs without Divine guidance. We may waste time, energy and end up frustrated as we attempt to concoct our successes instead of “being still” and allowing God to work on our behalf.
Often, we strive to “do something” when all God really wants in a situation is for us to “be still and know Him.”
It takes maturity to wait patiently. Young children lack this trait. Some of us “older kids” take a bit longer to learn it as well. Yet, at some point we must mature from mere infants into mighty believers in regards to our faith.
I am waiting on a few things in my life to bear fruit even as I’ve made my share of mistakes while I wait. Despite my shortcomings, God proves Himself faithful again and again. I just need to remember God’s faithfulness the next time a crisis comes knocking on my door.
Patience and Expectancy. If God can speak through a donkey, surely I can learn a thing or two from a spider…
There are four things which are little on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
The ants are a people not strong,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;
The rock badgers are a feeble folk,
Yet they make their homes in the crags;
The locusts have no king,
Yet they all advance in ranks;
The spider skillfully grasps with its hands,
And it is in kings’ palaces. Proverbs 30:24-28 NKJV
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:11-12 NKJV
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJV
We all have days, stuck in our fears
Sometimes, those days turn into years
I’ve had some times, not one or two
To lean on God to get me through
Years later here, in such a way
God favored me, this awe filled day!
I stood my ground, I kept my joy
Chaos that loomed, was just a ploy
Today in peace, I would not stress
No fear today, I passed a test
When God answers us, with mighty roar
Our minds can’t see, what’s yet in store
God hears our whispers, feels our tears
His mighty hand to stem our fears
I see a “sign,” I stop and stare
Confirmed by things, only we two share
Out of the problem, God can form
His rare solutions, quiet my storm
Then bam, bam, bam; burdens off my back
Releasing blessings that strangle lack
God had a plan, from start to end
Transforms the broken, I’m on the mend
God heard my prayers, He hears yours too
Just don’t give up, He’ll get you through!
And years may pass, and that’s okay
Our Lord above, a better way….
To answered prayers
You’ve long forgot
Cast off, forgotten
Is not our lot
His joy above
Will find you too
Wait on the Lord
His Word is true
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14 NKJV
But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Proverbs 4:18 NKJV
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11 NKJV
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matthew 13:43 NKJV
“Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.” Psalms 16:9 NKJV
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;” Psalms 37:37 NKJV
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God [did] from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:9-11
“That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked.” Psalms 94:13 NKJV 
“Come to Me, all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 NKJV
B Is for Blessed! 