Liminal Spaces

White peony flower background. White beautiful peony flower background3/31/2021

3/31/2021

John 16:13 "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."

Being caught in a liminal space is difficult. It requires waiting and change. It is the in-between time of life, where you feel like you are walking through a haze with no direction and no answers. I have been in this place many times, and I am here again. There is no way around these periods of life. They are not usually times of high emotion or drama, at least not in my experience, but rather times that are dull. It is considered a time of being on a threshold, where you are neither in nor out. 

That is how I have been feeling lately, like I am stuck between two worlds. One of them I currently have to be in, and one of them I want to be in. The first one drains me, and the other energizes. One is practical, and one is on a road less traveled. One benefits those around me, the other fills my soul. This middle place, this time of static life, needs much prayer. If I keep going vertical and focus on my relationship with God, He will show me the way to move and finally be free from this nebulous world I am currently in. He alone has my answer.

Finding Purpose

3/30/2021

Psalm 57:2 " I cry our to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me."

This morning I had a crisis of purpose. This happens to me quite frequently when I feel like I am not doing all that God would have me do. I know, ultimately, that I am called to share the Gospel with others, but what form this takes always seems to allude me. I am so burdened for this world that I have gone from a  personal outreach mission to wanting to literally shout the Good News from the rooftop. People need the mercy, peace, and love of Jesus. 

I truly feel that we, as believers, need to stop being complacent and largely silent during this dark time in our world. We will be persecuted for our faith in Christ, the Bible is clear on this point, so why do we hide? It is not that we should strive for boldness in our faith and not waver. Sharing the Gospel is the single most important thing any of us can ever do for another person. No amount of money, worldly success, fame, or possessions will ever truly be fulfilling, for all those things will pass away, but one soul coming to know Jesus is worth more that anything this earth can ever provide. We are called to be aliens in this world, knowing we will be misunderstood and may even be perceived as dangerous. The unknown can be frightening, but a life of faith is truly the only path to peace. 

It is time to share the Gospel without reservation, love boldly, and  proclaim the reality of saving grace through Christ. 

Whisper

  

3/20/2021

1 Kings 19:11-13 "The LORD said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here Elijah?'

Elijah waits to hear from God on the mountain. A powerful wind comes, an earthquake, and a fire but the LORD did not pass by in any of those. Then a gentle whisper comes by and Elijah heard the LORD. God does not come to us through a show of His might, even though He certainly could. He comes to us in that still small voice. He comes to us in a whisper. When I think about the times I have heard God leading me it is in the quiet stillness of prayer or an solitary moment of inspired vision. 

When life gets loud and the storms rage around me I have a harder time hearing God, even though I am holding onto Him with all of my might. He is always there carrying me through the storms, but it is not until I am quiet and still that I can hear Him. Psalm 46:10 "He says, 'Be still and know that I am God.' "

God speaks to us in a whisper. 

Keeping My Word

3/28/2021

Matthew 5:37 "Let what you say be simply 'Yes" or 'No' all else comes from the evil one."

Confession time. A few months ago I agreed to help someone with a project. It is something very important and personal to them, so I was honored to be included in the small group of people providing feedback. I was initially excited and started strong, and then I began letting the things of every day life get in the way of my commitment. She, I reasoned, had a few other people that would be involved so my procrastination would not be too big a deal. Then I heard that many of these people also let their commitment to her project slide in their own lives. She had become discouraged and started wondering if she should even continue. I felt so awful that I had let her down. I apologized and renewed my commitment to her, telling her that I would carve out some time in my day to focus on the project. She was very grateful. 

As a believer I need to be more careful with taking on things that may be a bit too time consuming, but I also need to keep my word when I do make a promise. I know that I have certainly been disappointed when others have not kept their word to me. As a believer and follower of Jesus, I am called to always be a person of integrity in word and deed. Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

Fully Committed

3/27/2021

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Recently, we watched another episode of Inexplicable. It is series about the spread of Christianity around the world, and the men and women who boldly preached the gospel. There is a theme among these devout Disciples of Christ, and that is how they were fully committed to Him. They did not give excuses for not wanting to act when given the opportunity, nor did they let anything get in their way. They all walked in complete faith, even unto being martyred. Oftentimes these people not only gave up temporal comforts, but were also trailblazers who would go to the ends of the earth to tell others about Jesus. Hearing these stories is encouraging, challenging, and terrifying to me. I have to ask myself: if I was led by God to give up everything and share the gospel in a foreign land, could I do it? Could I even boldly cross the street in my own neighborhood to do so?

As I have stated before, I believe sharing the Good News of God’s Word is both a common and most critical purpose of every believer. We are commanded to do so. If I had my mind set on eternity even 50% of the time, I would be compelled to share this truth with everyone I came in contact with. I would ask God to keep me mindful of this in all the tasks of my everyday life. Alas, I become distracted and focused on the external instead of the internal. I am concerned with the temporal instead of the eternal. I feel ill-equipped and uncomfortable. I do not want to offend anyone. (Pause…) Glancing over this paragraph, it is clear the reason why being bold about Jesus seems to be a problem for me: The word “I” is in this paragraph 10 times alone. Obviously, yours truly has an “I” problem. Philippians 2:21 “For they seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

Dying to self is an ongoing process for sure. Me decreasing and Christ increasing is the only way for me to see His plan for my life, and gain strength for the journey through His power. Time for me to make an extended daily appointment with the only one Who can heal me from my “I’ problem. My prayer is to one day be fully committed.

I am as always, a work in progress. 

A Treacherous Journey

3/26/2021

Psalm 121:8 "The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."

Tonight my family and I watched a documentary about the search for Noah's Ark. It followed a group of researchers and scientists to the summit of Mt. Ararat. It is very difficult to get permission from the Turkish government to even attempt such a climb. If you are granted clearance, then the really hard part begins. The team needs to hike the mountain on foot, carrying gear and following Kurdish guides. Then they need to make camp at different elevations to acclimate to the thinner air as they ascend. The climb itself is treacherous enough without the wind, cold, snow, hail, and soupy mist. As I was watching, I was grateful that I was sitting on a comfy couch in my warm house. 

The one thing that stood out to me about the men who were part of this expedition was their steadfast belief that the Ark is indeed under the deep ice of Ararat. Their motivations may have been different, as some went because of a scientific pursuit, some went for spiritual reasons, and some went for both. They worked together, encouraged each other when things got rough, and rejoiced together when they reached the summit. Very few people in history have even attempted such an endeavor, so they realized that this time in their lives was unique and special. 

They dug and drilled though thirty-plus feet of ice to try recovering some evidence of the Ark for several days with complete hope and faith. Alas, like many before them, they did not find anything conclusive to prove the existence of that huge vessel from the Bible which saved Noah and his family, as well as every creature that roamed the earth. Were they disappointed? Absolutely. The commonality at the end of their journey was that the search will never be over, and if it is God's will, the Ark will be found one day.

What struck me about the entire movie was not that the trek (which in many people's minds would seem pointless) may have been arduous and disappointing, but it was largely a journey of faith. A few of the men shared, with tears in their eyes, that on the mountain they had an experience with God. They also had formed lasting bonds with one another. I feel it is reflective of the journey that we are all on as believers. We hold a deep faith in a God that we know is there, even if we cannot see Him. We hold tightly to that belief, even when others do not understand. We also form deep bonds with other believers over shared experiences. Yes, our walk with Jesus is a winding journey, filled with unknown twists and turns, but we can be sure footed because we know He is leading us every step of the way. 

Lost But Not Forgotten

3/25/2021

2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

It is heartbreaking when someone turns so far away from faith in Jesus that they take every opportunity to beat down Christianity. I have experienced this recently and with someone in my life. My husband and I have done ministry work with kids of all ages, from nursery aged to young adults. We facilitated a college and career group in New Hampshire before moving to a different state. This group usually had 10 to 15 participants, most of them regular attendees. We would open our house up every Sunday night to study and discuss the Bible, pray, play board games, watch movies, share meals, have parties, and often talk to a few of them until the wee hours of the morning. We also were "on call" whenever any of them were having a hard time and needed council. We did our very best to be open and available in every way. 

We both have learned over many years that our mission as disciples of Jesus is to plant a seed, and that God works in the heart and soul. It is difficult not to know if you have had a lasting impact on someone's life, and we would often think of the children, teens, or young adults that have passed through our lives for a season praying that they all yielded to the Lord and were following Him. Then came social media. Now to be honest, neither of us had been on any platform until about four years ago. Yup, we were really late to that party. As we have connected with more and more people from our past, we sadly have noticed that some of the young people we ministered to, either through our church family or one of the groups we facilitated, are no longer walking with the Lord. Even more heartbreaking is that one of them is actively aggressive when it comes to the Christian faith. This person posts the most awful things about believers, and it truly hurts my heart to see. The pain does not come from the negativity, for we know that persecution is part of walking with Jesus. No, the pain comes from knowing that this person has hardened their heart to Jesus. 

I know people will "unfriend" or "ghost" someone that get them riled up on social media, but I feel led to use my page as a way to edify others and honor Jesus. I used to get, as my son calls it, baited into never-ending debates trying to defend Christianity to those who are still blind to the saving grace of Jesus. I would try to redirect them from focusing on their disappointment with imperfect believers, of which I am one, to focusing on Jesus. Alas, no amount of loving words seemed to matter in the heat of the debate. So, I did a full stop. Now I post articles, encouraging faith memes, and prayers about the love of Christ and the healing that can only from Him. My prayer is that this dear lost soul, and those like her, will continue to see these posts, and one day yield their lives to the Savior once again. 

Still Learning

 

3/24/2021

Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

I am still learning. I often do not take the right road, say the right thing, or do the right thing. You see, I am an emotional fixer; when I see someone struggling, I try to help them out of where they are. Actually, sometimes the best, most helpful thing I could actually do is just let them feel how they feel. That is often the best course in the moment, but not my go-to. I am working on checking in with people and then just letting them be. Often, any high emotion eventually settles, and the person may want to talk afterward. I am also working on just listening without trying to offer solutions. Being asked for advice first is always a good idea before heading into those potentially choppy waters.

The unfortunate thing for me, personally, is that God is usually trying to pull me out of my crazy cycle of fixing before I even attempt to do so. I hear that still small voice or feel a Holy Spirit tug, but I still feel compelled to jump right in head first. Like I said, I am still learning. I really am trying to get myself out of the way and seek God’s wisdom, but self is difficult to conquer.

I also have a long history of habitually taking this leap into other people’s troubles. It is difficult for me to determine if this is a learned/expected behavior, or just a part of my nature. I cannot remember a time in my life that I did not willingly walk into the fire of someone else’s difficult situation. I’m not gonna lie, y’all, doing this under my own steam is exhausting. When I follow the Lord’s leading, however, these times of support for another feel anointed and blessed, and I do not get weary. You would think I would not approach support any other way. Like I said, I’m still learning after all this time.

God wants us to be there for others, and He will give us the wisdom and strength to do so, if we just seek Him first. John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

I am, as always, a work in progress. I am just so humbled that God never gives up on me. 

Grief and Love

 3/23/2021

Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

It is difficult to see someone you love in pain and not be able to really do much to help them. Right now I am watching my son go through the five stages grief and it is so heartbreaking to witness. Grief takes time, and I do not think we really ever fully heal from losing someone. It is like a wound that can open up at any moment no matter how much time has passed. I know this is true for me. I lost my father while I was in high school, and the smallest reminder can trigger a very emotional reaction that can bring me right back to that time almost four decades ago. I think I feel a deep empathy for any person experiencing loss because of the impact losing him had on my life. My sister-in-law reminded me of the saying that grief is just love with nowhere to go. This is so very true and beautifully puts simple words to a difficult and complex process. 

The only thing any of us can really do for those around us who have experienced loss is be there for the person grieving and pray for them. We are to bear each other's burdens, but only God can bring the peace that passes all understanding. Another action we can take is to live our lives to the fullest, and never miss an opportunity to say I love you. Recently, for me, I also do not want to miss a chance to tell others that God loves them even more. His love is the most important love of all.

 

Choices

 3/22/2021

Isaiah 30:21 “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

Decisions. How are we supposed to go about making a major choice in life? Every decision has at least two ways to go, and some have a multitude of directions. Often times, people go about making a determination by creating a pros and cons list. I know my husband and I have done this exercise ourselves in the past. Seeking council from people you trust is also a way to come to an answer. Many people roll the theoretical dice and take a chance with an action. So, how are we, as believers supposed to approach which fork in the road to take?

We, of course, are taught to turn to God in all things. Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Start by acknowledging God and being thankful that He has shown you grace and mercy. Know that all the things of this earth are temporary, but the kingdom of God is eternal. When we begin with eternal focus, we gain perspective. The single most important decision anyone of us will ever make is to yield to Jesus, and accept Him as our Savior. This is the only eternal decision any of us will ever make, all else is temporal.

Next comes trust. Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” I know that when I make decisions outside of seeking God’s wisdom, or if I force my own desire or will into a situation, it does not go well. When I take time to pray and lift important decisions to the Lord, the Holy Spirit guides me. I may get a clear sign or an obviously open door, or I may just get a feeling of immense peace.

When we turn to God as our Great Councilor and, after wrapping a situation in prayer, take time to be still and listen, sometimes He will come to us as that still small voice inside and there will be a knowing. We are never out of His sight or out of His care. Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

My Quandary

 

3/21/2021

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

I must apologize to you, dear reader, as I have been struggling with my writing this past week, and it definitely shows. I was wondering when – or if – I was going to reach this point. The looming question has recently been: would I become weary, saturated, or just blank in continuing my blogging journey? Today marks blog number 466 in a row. Even though I have gotten loving encouragement about possibly slowing down, as my goal was never to continue past a year, I have still felt led to continue.

Last week was difficult on many levels, and although the world is very slowly getting back to some normalcy, my world has several big changes happening again. One of these changes could be very positive, one of them is extremely daunting, and one of them just brings me sorrow. I have been pouring my mental and spiritual energy into these and other areas, so much so that my writing has lost its way. I am feeling so weary, y’all. Constant change is hard.

I know God is on the throne, and He is in every one of these changing areas of my life. I see His hand and deeply feel His presence. I also know that, if I continue to be willing, He will give me strength and use me to reach out to others. Maybe the next part of the journey will not be through the written word, or maybe it will be. Whatever lies ahead, He will certainly be leading me down the narrow road.

So, I will be back tomorrow in some form. If God inspires me and gives me the words, I will continue as I have been. I certainly want to persevere, but if my emotions are still getting in the way I may have to take a bit if a break. If I am open to God’s guidance at our anointed time it will show in what is written. Either way, I will let you know.  My only desire is to serve my Savior. 

In Every Season

3/20/2021

Hosea 10:12 "Sow for yourselves; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you." 

It is the first day of spring and actually was nice in the northeast. This is VERY unusual for those of us that live up in the frozen tundra. It is an amazing and welcome blessing after this long and difficult year of pandemic living. I know this kind of weather is giving me hope for an extended time of having tea on our front porch and working in our gardens. To say that I am anxiously anticipating working in the fresh air and feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin would be an understatement. It is healing for the soul to be in the glory, majesty, and beauty of God's creation. Every flower that blooms, tree that buds, and birds song that is sung brings with it hope, and hope is certainly something we could all use right now. 

Spring brings with it renewal and hope, but, as a believer, I know that true hope and new life is found in Jesus. He bring mercy, grace, and new life to all those that yield to Him. God brings healing and peace to broken souls and showers love upon His children. This is the truth of the Gospel in the warmth of spring, heat of summer, chill of fall, and bitter cold of winter. God is always waiting for all of us with open arms and eternal love.

A Lesson

3/19/2021

Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will council you with my loving eye on you,"

Sometimes God gives us clarity through a situation that we never expected. As long as we are willing to  stay sensitive to the lessons that God is trying to teach us, we will learn what is intended. For me, this week, a lesson came after loss. The loss was immensely difficult and the lesson buried under my grief. It took me days of tears and struggle to see the truth. The truth of my weak faith and my devotion to fear became crystal clear. I learned the truth about the lie of fear stealing my life and all that I could be doing for others, especially my loved ones. I learned that the evil one wants me to stay trapped in a perpetual state of worry even when I am battling it with all of my strength. I learned that I cannot battle it alone, I never have been able to. I need to release this area of my life fully to my Savior every day or it will continue to consume me. 

I am, as always, a work in progress. 

A Little Kindness

 3/18/2021

Colossians 3:12 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Today was my first day back to work after the sudden loss of our puppy. I know it may seem odd to take a few days off for a pet, but she was truly family, and the shock and grief are intense. What I did not anticipate was how her loss would bring up all the loss of this past year, making it bubble over within me. The emotional release has been cathartic. I am blessed that I work at an organization with lovely people who are very understanding, and who put no pressure on me to return. I was able to share my emotional state with them in an email yesterday, and tell them about how many things this year were right under the surface. I think a lot of people have this same thing going on in our world right now.

I was very moved today when I walked into work and saw a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a card from one of my co-workers and her husband. When I saw them, I smiled through tears, and as I am always the first one there, I was able to take a moment. This co-worker lost her pup a little over a year ago, and she is still feeling that pain. She truly knows, like many of us, how much a beloved member of the family our pups are. I think, because of this understanding, she was motivated to do an act of kindness for me. I cannot tell you how this was a balm to my soul, and helped get me through my workday. 

This evening, I am thinking about how a small gesture of kindness and love can speak for us when we have no words. It is an action, and makes us feel like we can do maybe a little something to ease the pain or sorrow of another. It is, I feel, a pure form of showing someone support and love, and helps us to show the love of Jesus. I know that I could certainly be better at these kind gestures for others. It is now another area of my walk that I can focus on and implement with God's help. 

Living and Active

3/17/2021

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

One of the books I am currently reading is The Challenge: Sermons from Madison Square Garden, by Billy Graham. I have read several of his books and would recommend any of them. This book is a compilation of the 10 sermons he preached in New York throughout 1969. The really staggering thing to me as I read each one is that the entire book (barring certain historical references which were current events at the time) could have been written today. He speaks of turmoil in higher education. He speaks of racial inequality. He speaks of hopelessness. He speaks of how people are searching for meaning and purpose. He speaks of all the ills and positive attributes of society in these sermons. He also very clearly speaks of Who every human needs to yield his or her life to in order to find truth, purpose, forgiveness, peace, strength, and hope, and that is the Savior of the world Jesus. He proclaims the Gospel unapologetically and boldly to a packed Madison Square Garden every night. (They were also broadcast in 21 cities along the east coast, and three of them were shown in prime time on more than 300 stations in the US and 60 station abroad.) There is no prosperity preaching here, nor any new age content mixed in; there is only the truth of the Word of God. Sadly, since his death, we have been lacking this kind of visible Christian servant in our country and our world, and we certainly could use one.

The other thing about Graham’s book is that it, once again, shows that the Bible is and always will be both timeless and timely. It has been around for thousands of years, yet it is still as relevant today as it ever was in history, and is the best-selling book of all time. Even though we, as a culture, have leaned into mediation, self-help books, and programs to try to replace it, the Bible is truly the only book anyone will ever need as a blueprint for this life. Every flaw, failure, and sorrow of the human condition is addressed within, as well as the answer to joy, peace, forgiveness, purpose, and everlasting life. It was, is, and always will be the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God.

I encourage you, if you have not yet made it a practice of your life, to begin interacting with God’s Word. As the verse above states clearly, it is living and active and will change your life forever. It has certainly changed mine.

Basic

Instructions

Before

Leaving

Earth

Better With God

3/16/2021

Matthew 11:28-30 " Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

What do we do when things are going great and then...BAM... you hit a roadblock? Well, a gifted young man that I love bunches had this recently happen to him, and the last few days have been particularly rough. So what did he do today? He went to church. Yes, this big, strong, passionate, tenderhearted young man went to spend time with God. Oh my heart. Even though he had sought council from his parents, who are both wise and loving and would do anything for their children, he still needed to have some quiet time with God and seek answers from Him. This afternoon, when I checked in to see how he was doing, his mother shared with me that after he went to church, he felt a better. I was so encouraged and blessed. This very intelligent, capable, hardworking man of character, when faced with disappointment and a difficult decision, turned to his Heavenly Father for guidance and comfort. I had to smile at the beautiful picture in my mind's eye, as I too always feel better after quiet time with God. 

Sure it would be nice if God gave us a clearly marked road map for our life's journey, with all the turns we need to take and places we need to stop for a spell. Alas, this is not the way of life. We do, however, have God's Holy Word as a guide and prayer as a connection to Him. For in is only in our Savior we will find true peace and rest for our weary souls. 

A Sad Day

3/15/2021

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit."

 It has been a very difficult day. I know that so many people are grieving right now.  There has been a lot of loss over this past year, and it is palpable every day. Today, my family experienced a very personal loss as our almost 15 year old puppy unexpectedly passed away. (I wrote a post featuring her with her picture on March 5th.) One moment she was fine and the next moment she wasn't. When anyone you love leaves you so suddenly immediate shock occurs, and that certainly happened with my family today. 

Pets are family. I know that people who have not experienced the profound blessing of an animals unconditional love may not understand this truth. My family has been blessed three times over, and we have felt loss deeply when each one left us. One grace that we have received from God is that, with all three, we have not had to make the decision to put them to sleep. This is usually not true for most families, and we, even in our grief, are grateful. We are not just grateful this mercy, but we are grateful to have known love so pure in this often ugly and difficult world. Dogs certainly are a peak at heaven. 

It strikes me as I am writing this that my son was a model of God's love to our little girl, who was honestly his. He held her when she was frightened, for he was the only one who could bring her true comfort. He forgave all her iniquities without question. He took care of her every need no matter what they were. He knew her better than anyone else, because he gave her his time and energy. He showed her immeasurable kindness. He sacrificed his comfort for hers. He always put her first, always. There wasn't anything that he would not do for her. He loved her unconditionally with all he had, and she in turn, loved him in equal measure. His model of love for her humbles me to my core and makes grateful that I was able to be a witness to it all. His example is spurring me on to do better, be better, myself. 

Lastly this evening, to our sweet quirky little girl, I want to thank you for making us laugh, for your companionship, for your protection, and for your love, We will miss you and love you forever. 

The Power of God

3/14/2021

In these turbulent times, even believers get weary. When this happens, I have to check where my focus lies. Is it on the world and the circumstances that surround me, or is it on Jesus? Is my focus an eternal one or a temporal one? I have access, through the Bible and prayer, to the Creator of the Universe. I think I sometimes lose sight of this truth. The following are just a few verses that will help us to remember that God is the victor no matter the battle. 

1 Chronicles 16:11 "Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually." (ESV)

Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (NIV)

Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' " (NIV)

1 Chronicles 29:11 "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." (NIV)

1 Corinthians 6;14 "By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also." (NIV)

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exalt over you with loud singing." (ESV)

1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (NIV)

May the Word of God and prayer be our focus and where we seek our strength.  

Next Step

3/13/2021

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

I struggle with a fear-based mind; that is the essence of having OCD. I have written about it many times on this blog. I have also written how the pandemic has been the perfect storm for my illness, and I know I am not alone. There are many people who are now operating in fear that really never have before. Not all people are, mind you, but the illness, death, lockdowns, unrest, and loss in every area of life has been a mental and emotional tsunami for many. It has been so very exhausting, and this one year has felt like an eternity, though certainly not a heavenly one.

This afternoon, my family was having a discussion about the world slowly getting back to normal. More and more people are getting vaccinated, the infection and death numbers are decreasing—thank you Lord—and spring is approaching. Most of the medical professional are still encouraging mask wearing for the foreseeable future, but there have already been a few states that have relaxed that mandate. As we chatted, I started to wonder what it will be like for me to be back out in the world. Other than going to work – which I am only around two other people and we each have a lot of space – I have not gone anywhere in months, save for one doctor’s appointment. Even my husband only goes out grocery shopping once a week, and to work where he also has his own space. We have not been to church—except virtually— or gotten together with family or friends—except virtually as well—and we have certainly not gone out shopping for anything but necessities—Amazon has become our go-to for everything. Sigh.

I have to say, my family has been very supportive and sensitive about how I have “felt” I need to maneuver during this odd time. I can tell they are really ready to bust out and get back to life. I can feel their anticipation and excitement. I, however, do not share this eagerness to get back out there. I had to push myself to get back into the world one other time after an extended period of self-quarantine, and it was nothing less than excruciating. How then, will I do this second time around, when I have mostly felt so safe within the confines of my own home?

I will trust God fully and completely, just as I did during my last reentry. I will lean on His strength when I cannot find my own. I will let Him carry me when I cannot stand, and hold my hand when I can finally amble out on shaky legs. I will stay in His Word, as I have done daily for so long now, and pray fervently. I will read my life verses in Philippians Chapter 4, and seek out the other 365 verses which tell me not to fear. I will ask others for intercessory prayer. I will be honest when I am struggling and when I am victorious. Will it be easy? No, but God never promised my road would be. He promises to be faithful, love me, and show me mercy. He is my truth and where I will put my trust.

A Privilege

3/12/2021

1 Timothy 2:1 "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, and intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people."

Never wonder if your prayers are powerful or matter. Praying for another person is the most dynamic action we can take on their behalf. Being able to come before Almighty God in intersession with a grateful and humble spirit is a miracle in itself. When we see evidence that our prayers are being answered, it is truly amazing. Sometimes God answers prayers directly, and sometimes He answers them in ways we never even thought to ask Him. Either way, experiencing His mercy and grace in the lives of others is so moving and wondrous. 

This evening, I had someone I dearly love thank me and my husband, completely out of the blue, for praying for her and her family. She shared with me that she always had strong women of faith in her family who were prayer warriors, and that she always felt covered by their faithful intercession for her. She had not felt that in a while, as these dear ones have gone on to receive their heavenly reward. I was moved and so touched that she once again feels that her family is covered in faithful prayer. I was also able to share with her that I feel equally covered by her as she lifts our family up to Jesus. It was an exchange that will always remain precious to me. 

As I thought about this beautiful exchange, it struck me that we both have this assurance, because we are free with each other about asking for prayers and offering them for one another. We also let each other know we are holding one another up. It is such a blessing to hear those words, and I hear them from several sisters in faith. I often say to these dear ones that my prayer list just keeps growing and growing, and they echo this for their own lives. What a beautiful privilege it is to come before our precious Savior on behalf of others. It is also a privilege to be able to say to another soul that you are holding them up in prayer, and a blessing to hear that as well. To God be the glory. 

For Granted

3/11/2021

Luke 17:5 "The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!'"

Yesterday's blog was about faith. I shared a chair analogy that my husband came up with during our morning devotional. Yesterday the focus was on how we do not recognize the chair that is strong and reliable; we don't have to think about the chair holding us up when we sit, we just have faith that it will. We put faith in many things every day. We believe that water will come out of the faucet for morning showers, we believe our heat will work and our cars will start, we believe our homes will still be there at the end of our day, and our ovens will work when we go to prepare dinner. We believe these things without much thought or gratitude until we have an issue with one of them. Most of the things we put our faith in, we almost always take for granted. We even do this with people in our lives. 

On this day last year, the CDC declared Covid-19 a pandemic, and the everyday things we put our faith in being constant disappeared. It is true that our kitchen chairs still may have held us up, but everything else became topsy-turvy. Most of us could not leave our homes to go to work. We were not able to go to church, shop, or gather with family and friends. Our cars stayed parked most of the time, and we could not (in the beginning) even leave our yards. We began to notice every small things that we took for granted, and longed for the lock-down to slow the spread and finally be over. This, as you all know, did not happen quickly. It actually has not happened yet, although it is true that more and more people are getting vaccinated and there is a light at the end of this very long tunnel. The absolute worst thing about this time is the amount of loss that has happened, not just in our country, but around the world. It is just too much to comprehend.

So, I return to faith and the chair. This morning, my husband had a little different take on it. He told me that although we do not recognize the chair or show it gratitude for its reliability, we have faith in it because we can trust it to be there and be strong. Your faith in it is so strong that you don't have to question weather it will hold you or not. This, he said, is a lot like our faith in God. We should have such strong faith that He is always there that we don't even have to think about it; for this just becomes our internal, unshakable truth. I know that this often unuttered faith is what has kept us going during this long and difficult year. 

Desperate Faith

 3/10/2021

Colossians 4:2 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

What if we, as believers, had as much faith in good times as we do in bad? When the trials of life hit, we tend to hold on for dear life to our Savior and our faith in Him; at least this is true for me. I get to a point of desperate faith as I call out to Jesus for His help, healing, peace, comfort, and direction.

This past summer, my husband lost his job (this was true for many people in the year 2020), and I was working a part time job that did not pay much. We had some savings that we calculated would augment unemployment for a certain amount of time. As the months wore on, we dove into our Bibles and into prayer. We were putting our faith in God providing for us, and we walked daily in a profound level of trust. The months passed, and although my husband had many interviews that seemed like they were the answer, he was never the final hire. This was difficult for him on so many levels, yet he kept praying and trusting. After the first few months, we were astonished that we had not yet touched our savings. Then a few more months passed and that number stayed constant. We were able to pay every bill and still eat. The gratitude we had (and still have) for God’s care was overwhelming, and we shared this miraculous blessing with as many people as we could. We still are amazed by God’s provision.

This was a time, like other times of hardship in our lives, when we turned to God with focus and full faith. However, this morning during our devotional time, we started talking about where our faith has been during times of comfort. Are we walking in constant dedicated faith when life is good? We both, sadly, answered no. Then we drilled down to the why, and asked how we can change. My husband gave a wonderful analogy of a simple chair. A chair that you sit upon daily that holds you and is reliable; you sit in with unconscious faith. None of us sit down to dinner and pray for the chair that we are about to sit on holds us up and protects us from falling. The reflexive trust we have in that chair is because of reliability. Now, if we notice a crack in the wood or a bent leg on that chair, we are more aware and thoughtful when we sit, probably testing out its stability before sitting. It is only then that our faith becomes evident and purposeful.

So we discussed how we keep our faith in focus throughout our daily comings and goings, work and leisure, when we are alone or with others. How do we grow in our intentionality towards God? How do we grow our trust and faith in Him? Just like that reliable chair, we know His love, mercy, protection, and grace are always there. We thought that being in a state of deliberate and purposeful gratefulness when life is in a state of blessing would help our focus on faith. Can we have the same desperate faith in times of plenty, safety, health, and prosperity? Shouldn’t we, as often as we cry out during trial, lift praises to our King when blessings flow? Why should we have anything less than desperate faith always?

Love Covers

 3/9/2021

1 Peter 4:8  “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 

This verse is truth. I remember when I was in a day program at a local hospital during my illness, I met a teenaged girl who was being released from the psyche ward. She had tried to kill herself and almost succeeded. I met her on my first day there, and I was drawn to her immediately. I listened to her story during the group sessions, and we talked during breaks from the program. She had told me that she had broken her father’s heart by coming out to him. Before this conversation they were very close; it was clear that she loved him dearly. After she told him, he said that he could not accept this news and threatened to disown her. She then tried to kill herself. I know that there are a lot of statistics about this exact situation, but I had met an actual person, and it was gut-wrenching.

By just looking at her, I could see that she was tormented and profoundly hurt, and that is saying a lot in a room full of people receiving CBT instruction to combat mental illness. My first day was her fourth of the five day program. I listened and empathized with her, having lost my own father in an accident at her age, and knowing how traumatic it is to lose someone you dearly love. No matter what causes a person to disappear from our lives, we grieve. She kept focusing on the profound loss she was feeling, and how he would never be able to forgive or love her. He had not been to visit her the entire time she was hospitalized. The stories she told of their relationship clearly expressed a deep connection and love between them. I kept trying to pour hope into her, saying that his love for her would trump everything else. She just could not believe that could ever be possible. I was so confident about this that I spoke with a conviction I probably shouldn’t have. I knew that my earthy father would always love me no matter what, and my Heavenly Father even more so. I just wanted her to give her hope in a room full of hopelessness, including my own. Clearly, God was still working through me even though, in my illness, I had lost sight of Him. 

After a full eight hours of being in this young woman’s company, I left for the day and she went back to her room. I began questioning everything I said to her. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe her father would forever turn his back on her. Maybe I should not have tried to give her hope. (This was 100% against the program protocols, by the way.) I had a restless night as I prayed for this tortured young woman. The following morning, as I struggled myself to walk into the room full of strangers yet again, I saw the young girl sitting in the corner and she appeared lighter as she smiled chatting with the others already there. I said good morning as I took the seat next to her. (The clinician had not yet entered the room so we were free to talk.) Her smile widened as she told me that her father had come the evening before to visit her, and that he was going to pick her up at the end of the day when she was released. She told me they talked and cried, and he told her he wanted her to come home. She knew they had a long road ahead, but love had conquered all. As I sat there, tears streaming down my face, I quietly thanked God, for I once again experienced that love truly did cover a multitude of sins. Their deep love for one another covered them both.

Spotlight

3/8/2021

Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

Last night, I had a good cry. I don’t mean a pretty teary cry, I mean a snot running out your nose deep sobbing, and it went on for quite a while. The “why” is complicated, but suffice it to say a lot of it is based around the year of Covid-19. For this girl, it has been the perfect storm that keeps me in a daily exhausting battle. I try to not let others see how weary I am, or how hard it is for my OCD mind; I even try keeping as much as I can from my “bubble” people, although I am pretty sure it shows sometimes. Last night I just hit a wall of exhaustion and max capacity/inundation. I am, however, glad we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as more and more people get vaccinated.

The compulsion part of my OCD is handwashing. Of course, that has been a nonstop talking point this entire year, along with masking and social distancing. At my workplace there are signs hanging up everywhere about washing your hands in many different languages. It has been a constant earworm from the media, and a visual assault at work as well. (I do not blame this on the organization I work for at all; it is just the way of things at most companies right now.) So to fight being a compulsive hand washer is difficult enough, but to fight the obsessive thoughts that spur on that need to wash is an entirely different beast, one from which I am never truly free.

As I have shared before, God saved me from falling into the pit of this horrible illness almost ten years ago, and I am eternally grateful. He has also been in the battle with me every day since, especially during this Covid nightmare. I have leaned into Him harder and prayed in full faith. Trusting Jesus is my mantra, and often my minute-to-minute prayer. Sometimes, like last night, I take my eyes off of my Savior for just a moment and I being to sink, just as Peter did. When the boat that he and the other disciples were on was out from shore and being buffeted by waves, Jesus walked on the water out to them and they were afraid He was a ghost. Matthew 14: 27-33 “But Jesus said to them. ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord if it is you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’”

Peter started sinking because he took his eyes off of Jesus and put them on the storm, and that is exactly what happens to me. As soon as I take my eyes off of Jesus, even for a moment, fear of the storm starts to pull me under. However, when I am focused on Jesus’ outstretched arms, and keep Him firmly in my sight, I gain strength even in the middle of the fiercest storm. Fellow believers, let us all strive to keep our eyes and our minds focused upon Jesus and put our full faith in Him, for He has overcome all that this world can throw at us. Even in the dark times of life, a heavenly spotlight shines from Him so we can see.

Work for God

 3/1/2021          

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

Today, I saw an interview with LeVar Burton on CBS Sunday Morning. He has been a favorite of mine since my son and I watched Reading Rainbow together many years ago. His gentle nature and enthusiasm for promoting literacy (which is another passion of mine) drew us both into his world. In the interview, he shared that Mr. Rogers was actually his mentor. He taught LeVar that the medium of television could be used as a ministry. Mr. Rogers was an ordained minister, and Mr. Burton studied to become a priest when he was younger. This commonality between them is plainly evident in both their approach and gentle nature. They both had decades-long ministries that reached millions of children. It reminded me that no matter where we are employed or what we are called to do, we can approach anything as a ministry.

I recently said to my boss during a conversation at work, “This is my job, but I work for God.” I am blessed to be able to voice that truth at my place of employment. The organization that I am a part of was started by strong women of faith, and that truth is baked right in to everything that happens there. As I peer up at the picture of the two amazing founders near my desk, I cannot help but feel their presence, and I want to honor their legacy. Our small staff continues to serve people’s needs with care, kindness, understanding, and compassion.

I endeavor to approach my job like I approach my life, and strive to do all I do for God. My pastor asked this morning during his message, “How much of your time every day is spent devoted to God?” This made me sit back and honestly assess the time I spend on myself and the time I spend devoted to God. It is a difficult question to answer, and unfortunately, it depends on the day. I came up with an answer of 60-40, and that is on my very best days of working for God. (Honestly, that number is probably a generous one.) It definitely helps me to stay focused on God when I begin my day in His Holy Word and in prayer. This sets the course for the rest of the day, and draws me in to being more sensitive to those Holy Spirit nudges. It also has helped me with my boldness in sharing the love and grace of God with others. I still have a long way to go, but thankfully, God’s mercy is new every morning.

I am, as always, a work in progress.

 

Slippery Slope

 3/6/2021

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Our world is getting more messy and chaotic by the second. Cancel culture is quickly taking away people’s freedom to make choices, and even their ability to make a living. This is a slippery slope, my friends. I remember while working in a public school library, we would feature banned books as a way to speak against censorship. These tomes usually had content that some people would find offensive, but the important thing was to uphold freedom of speech. This is a foundational tenant of the United States Constitution, and it allows me to do what I am doing here. How much longer, I wonder, will I be able to write about the mercy, grace, and love of my Savior?

This past week, six books by Dr. Seuss were deemed too offensive for print by Dr. Seuss Enterprises. They took this action, according to the AP, because they are being sensitive to the changing racial climate. The six books pulled from publication have stereotypical images of people. Now, I am by no means saying that these images do not offend some people, because I am sure they do. Being a person of faith who believes in the inerrant Word of God, I do not want anyone to be hurt or discriminated against, for this is not of God.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.”

Leviticus 19:33-34 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as a native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”

My concern around this “cancel culture” we are experiencing is that it will be a slow boiling pot of losing our history and the truth around it. We cannot blot out the sins of the past, we can only learn from them, and use them as talking points to teach our children. Right now, we, as adults, are erasing things out of their lives and making that decision for all. Just like me choosing not to watch mature or R rated programs or movies, we can trust others to choose whether to expose their children to these classics or not. When my husband read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to our son when he was younger, he used it as a tool to teach him about race and history. He did not sanitize the story (although he did feel uncomfortable reading some of the language), instead choosing to introduce certain words and actions to him, and carefully explain that they are abusive and unfair to others. He also used it to show our son that people of different races can and should love one another. When we ban or cancel any art form, we lose our ability to teach and learn. We lose our ability to learn from history.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana

I am not, by any stretch of the word, stating that history does not repeat itself over and over again. We are a sinful, selfish human race, and that is why there continues to be hatred, greed, war, and power hungry people. It is because of the sinful nature in this unbelieving world that repetition of the past occurs. This is the common thread between all races and cultures, and this is the root cause of all we suffer from. Thankfully, God has sent a Savior for all people.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. But God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

 

A Dog's Life

And now for something a little different. 

Psalm 145:9 “The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made.”

When my son was little, we watched the movie All Dogs Go to Heaven many times. If you have ever had a dog enter your heart and become part of your family, you just can’t help but think this must be true. We have had three wonderful but extremely different fur babies, and I would not have traded a second with any of them. There is a famous quote (but I could not find its source) that says, “Dogs are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

This morning, I was watching pup number three and contemplating her life, as I believe it is a charmed one indeed. She is a quirky rescue with a rough start to life. She is so 100% herself all the time, no matter how others feel about her; she makes no apologies for her sensitivity. She is very smart, almost too smart, and very empathetic. She barks when she senses danger, hears noises, and wants to eat or go out. She loves being outside. She love naps. She sometimes wants attention and sometimes wants to be alone. She is ALWAYS happy to see any of her pack when we walk in the door. She is extremely choosy with the people she lets into her life. She has one person, my son, who is her safe place and in whom she puts her total trust. Most of all, like all dogs, she loves her family unconditionally. She lives an uncomplicated and comfortable life where she is well taken care of and loved.

I started thinking about how I admire these things about her life, and wondering how her enviable life compares to my own. Well, the first one is easy because I am already quirky. Unfortunately, I am not always 100% myself with others, and am often overly apologetic for my sensitivity. I do not consider myself super intelligent, although I would like to believe I am empathetic. I am not much of a barker, and I’m okay with that. I love naps and being outside, so I’m aligned with that. I like my solitude, but like attention from those closest to me as well. I am always happy to see those I love. My life may not be uncomplicated, but it is blessed. I am still working on loving others unconditionally. I, too, have someone I trust above all others and who is my safe place, and that is Jesus.

It is because of my relationship with my Savior that I can work on these areas of weakness. Unlike my dog, who pretty much came hard-wired, I am able to change and grow with the help of Jesus. It is through the Holy Spirit that I can be bold with others about my faith and accept who God made me. Even though I am a private person, as long as I yield to God’s leading, He will provide opportunity for me to share the Gospel with others. When my life gets complicated or storms arise, I can find comfort and peace through prayer and in the Bible. I have been blessed with shelter, food, love, and – most of all – the saving grace of Jesus.

I am as always a work in progress, whereas my doggie is simply just a piece of work. 

 

Doing the Work

3/4/2021

Ephesians 3:17-19 ‘So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” (ESV)

I would, if I could, save everyone. I would do whatever it took to save a relative, a friend, a neighbor, or a stranger. If I could pray “repent and yield to Jesus” for everyone, I know I would. That would probably be easier than actually ministering or witnessing to them. I so badly want others to know the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus. I want them to know the peace that passes all understanding when life gets hard. My desire, like most believers, is for all people to know that they are children of the Most High, and thus find their value in Him. Seeing the pain of this world and of the separation from God is difficult to bear.

So I pray.

Sadly, in the same way I cannot save others, I cannot do the work of growing in faith for them either. I can pray for Jesus to work in those areas of someone’s life that do not honor Him. Those same sensitive or weak areas in life where the evil one can enter and manipulate is where we need to do the most as spiritual warriors. There is no conquering evil outside of God, and no stronger weapons to use than Holy Armor and the Sword of the Spirit. 2 Peter 3:17-18: “Therefor, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever! Amen.”

There was a time, back before my illness reared its ugly head, when I was still in my Christian infancy. I had walked with God in some form all of my life, but I had not grown in my relationship with Him. I went to church, was involved in ministry, and prayed in a lukewarm way, but when my faith was tested, I failed. Instead of releasing all to God and trusting Him fully, I just kept asking “why?” over and over. I felt unworthy and unloved. My faith had not matured enough to withstand the storms of life, and I was experiencing a category 5 hurricane. I duped myself into thinking I was in control, until it was clear that I was not. I had to totally get to the end of myself before I could submit fully to Jesus and release all to Him. This was a painful process, but no one else could do it for me. I had to do the work myself, acting in full faith that my Savior was there with His arms open wide, waiting for me to come. I had to get into my Bible and absorb its truth and wisdom in a different way. I had to learn how to pray without ceasing, be grateful through the pain, and rejoice in the Lord. I had to decrease and have Christ increase in me. This process will never be finished while I am on the earth, but I will keep vigilantly growing in my relationship with Jesus; for He is my way, my truth, and my life.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Diverted

 3/3/2021

Diverted

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles at just one point is breaking all of it.”

If you know me at all, you know that I can get easily diverted. I don't do this in a hyperactive kind of way, but more in a depth-of-thought kind of way. (Okay, maybe I am giving myself too much credit with that last statement.) Let me explain. Whether in conversation or in my writing, when I am moved to a response or a line of thinking, I can jump around a bit. This is what I have done on this blog ever since I proclaimed I was going to dive into the Book of James, and I asked you all to dive in with me. Diverted!

So, I am going to refocus this evening and take another plunge. I was drawn to the very difficult verse above. This verse…ugh! Just when I think I am doing pretty well on my faith journey, I read a truth bomb like this one. Hey kid, you break one, you have broken them all. How can this be? My sin is not as bad as someone else’s, and I am trying really hard, God! Plus, You know I am a fragile imperfect human, and – although forgiven – I still am a sinner. These words seem so harsh. Sigh, and kick the dirt.

Ah, and then we move on to verses 12 & 13, and clarity comes. “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.” So, verse 10 is to have me remember that I, too, will be judged, but God will do so mercifully. If I think I am not as bad a sinner as someone else, and I get all high and mighty, I am much more apt to judge others. Boom. I am not called to judge at all, although I am called to help a fellow believer if they have fallen away from God. I should always remember, however, that I must do so with compassion, prayer, grace and love. When doing so, I should always turn to the Word of God for direction and wisdom, and never come at anyone with harsh rebuking. I must always remember “Mercy triumphs over judgement.” 

The Blessing of Grace

 3/2/2021

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

This evening, I am drawn to thinking and writing about grace. I recently read a powerful illustrated book about this topic that hit me right between the eyes. It caused me to question how I am at extending grace to others. Do I operate more in judgement, or in understanding and forgiveness? How do I maneuver this increasingly evil world as a believer? It is clearly getting worse, and I am concerned. I am called to stand up for Biblical principles boldly, but how do I do that and still extend grace to those whose ideals, principles, and values are not aligned with the Word of God?

The only reason I can even extend grace is because Jesus extended it to me on the Cross at Calvary. He died for my sin, and your sin, and everyone’s sin. Salvation through grace requires repentance and coming to Jesus in submission, contrition, and faith. This is something for all people without exception.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God—Not by works, so that no man can boast.”

Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Now then, what am I called to do as a disciple of Jesus? In the darkness of this age, with the evil one clearly being firmly entrenched in our world, it is more critical than ever for believers to share the Good News of the Gospel with others. However, we must do this boldly in faith, speaking truth wrapped in love, mercy, and grace. Fear and judgement make us no different than those who do not believe; it actually makes us worse, because we are ambassadors of our Savior. Is this extension of grace easy in this divided and evil world? No it is not, but this is what we are commanded to do. Thankfully, we are not alone in this action, because we have Holy Spirit power and strength. We just cannot let fear and selfishness get in the way of God’s leading, but instead pray for His grace and love to work through us.

1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”