Category Archives: God’s Grace & Love

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July 28, 2016

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Attitudes & Behavior, Fruit of the Spirit, God's Grace & Love, Joy, Knowing Him, Peace of God, Today: Make it Count, Trusting God

FILLED WITH JOY

Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right. [Psalm 97:11 (NLT)]

I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. [Psalm 9:2 (NLT)]

CLOWNSWhat makes us happy? Could it be a phone call from a good friend? Is it when we’ve made a profit in the stock market or received a large commission check? Are we pleased when our checkbook balances on the first attempt or when the accountant informs us that a large tax refund will be in the mail? Are we happy when someone sends us flowers or our child brings home a good report card? Does finding the ideal gift for our spouse’s birthday or receiving the perfect gift for ours give us happiness? Would we be happier if we could enjoy two weeks at a luxury resort or had a state-of-the-art home theatre or gourmet kitchen?

Happiness tends to depend on external circumstances. Joy, however, is something we can have regardless of what is occurring around us. We are made happy by something that happens to us. In contrast, we are filled with joy by something that happens in us: God’s love.

We’ve all known people who almost radiate with joy. They seem to light up a room when they enter it. When we analyze their lives, however, we often find situations that would surely bring us unhappiness. Their family might be in debt, the husband may be unemployed, or a child might be developmentally disabled. They may have a chronic illness or be in physical pain. In spite of their troubles, however, these people seem incredibly blessed—they’re so much at peace and so full of joy. Why? Because, true joy is not dependent on circumstances. It comes from a steady relationship with God. Whenever I get to know people who sparkle with joy, I discover that they are radiating the joy that comes from a relationship with God. When our lives are linked with God, they will be filled with joy, no matter what our condition may be.

Our God is so wonderfully good, and lovely, and blessed in every way that the mere fact of belonging to him is enough for an untellable fullness of joy! [Hannah Whitall Smith]

Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! [Nehemiah 8:10b (NLT)]

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July 27, 2016

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Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Knowing Him, Trusting God

GOING UPHILL

No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it. [1 Corinthians 10:13 (NET)]

sign to Rothorn in BrienzFrom today’s verse, you might think I’m going to say that God will never give us more than we can bear. That Christianese sentiment, however, comes from 1 Corinthians 10 and is about temptation, not difficulties and afflictions. The belief that God will never give us any burden or challenge we can’t bear puts the emphasis on us and our strength rather than where it should be—on God and His power! In 2 Corinthians, Paul wrote of being so burdened beyond his strength that he despaired of even living. Clearly, there will be times in our lives when we will be given far more than we can possibly bear by ourselves.

Florida is pretty much flat as a pancake and my husband and I can hike and bike long distances with little or no effort. We thought we were nearly invincible until we returned to the rolling hills of the Midwest and the mountain trails of our beloved Rockies. As I trudged up my first steep hill, I was sure God made it longer and higher in my absence; all I wanted was for someone to carry me!

Although I’ve been working on getting stronger since returning north, God’s spiritual training is quite different from physical training. Unlike a cross-country coach, God doesn’t train us on steeper and steeper hills so we can eventually run up them without needing to stop and catch our breath. He keeps challenging us with uphill climbs so that we learn to trust Him to raise us up. We’re not supposed to be lifting the heavy weight of life’s burdens; that’s God’s job. When we encounter the steep grades, he doesn’t expect us to climb them by ourselves; he wants us to learn to let Him empower us. Our faith isn’t demonstrated by how strong we are but by how readily we recognize that we’re too weak to ascend life’s hills and peaks by ourselves. Our faith is revealed by our willingness to trust God enough to let Him bear our burdens, lift us over the barriers, and get us up the mountains.

Without topographical challenges, I’d overestimated my fitness and strength until my first trek from the lake up to our house (100 paces and every one of them uphill) left me exhausted. When we live in a spiritual flatland with no challenges, we tend to overrate our strength as well. Mistakenly, we think we’re strong enough to conquer life’s trials on our own and stop depending on God’s power. He regularly gives us hills, not to get us powerful enough to climb them alone but to have faith enough to give every uphill climb to Him. We’ll then realize that it is our faith, not our strength, that carries and sustains us.

Thank you, God, for the challenges of life, not because they strengthen us enough to go it alone, but because they strengthen our trust and dependence on you.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again. [2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (NET)]

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July 22, 2016

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Grace & Love, Joy, Miracles, Thanks & Praise, Today: Make it Count

CELEBRATE LIFE

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. [Psalm 118:24 (ESV)]

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! [Psalm 98:4 (ESV)]

fireworksUpon receiving an invitation from a business acquaintance to a “Celebrate Life” picnic, my first response was “Who died?” The words “It is just for fun!” along with the promise of pony rides, moonwalk, magician and games seemed rather odd for a Celebration of Life. That this was the 19th such picnic further confused me. Fortunately, accompanying the invitation was a brief note explaining that nineteen years ago his son had overcome serious health issues and every year since his family has gathered with friends and family to celebrate. Rather than celebrating the life of someone who died, they were celebrating that he lived!

Indeed, their son Jeffrey had a challenging time nineteen years ago when he was diagnosed with leukemia. All hope was lost for the child’s survival until a match was found and he received a bone-marrow transplant. That first picnic was a way for his parents to celebrate their son’s return to life, to thank people for their support and prayers during his illness, and to honor the bone-marrow donor who came north from Texas just for the picnic. The years since then have continued to bring major health challenges to Jeffrey; blessedly, he’s made a miraculous recovery every time. Although the young man continues to have health problems, he and his family regularly celebrate life—not just his but the lives of family, friends and the stranger who gave him life with her stem cells!

We know the prodigal’s father celebrated his son’s return home, but what about the widow of Zarephath? Did she have a party after Elijah’s prayers returned breath to her son? And what of Jairus? Did he throw a party after Jesus brought his daughter back to life? Did the family of Lazarus have an annual celebration after his being raised from the dead? Did these people continue to celebrate, not just their loved ones’ return to this world, but the simple joy of life itself?

This delightful picnic reminded me how important it is to celebrate life every day God has blessed us with breath. It’s not just birthdays, anniversaries or a return from death’s door that justify making a joyful noise to the Lord. Every moment with which we have been blessed, every smile that has graced our face, every embrace we have enjoyed, every moment with those we love—all are worthy of celebration. Our lives need not be perfect to warrant celebration and we don’t have to be in good health to rejoice in what little health we have. Today and every day, let’s be sure to celebrate life!

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. [Eric Hoffer]

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his;  we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. [Psalm 100 (ESV)]

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July 12, 2016

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Bible Stories, Challenges & Difficulty, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Grace & Love, Peace of God, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets, Today: Make it Count

GRAFFITI

David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” [2 Samuel 12:22-23 (TLB)]

 Shari A. will love, love and love Michael, Andy and Steven A. Now, always and forever!! I love you all sooooo much!!! Love always, XO Mom XO
P.S. Always keep love, faith and hope alive in your hearts now and forever … and remember … kindness and forgiveness matter! (2015)

graffiti

Even in state parks, people still want to leave their mark or carve their initials and those of their sweetheart. The message above, however, is a bit of graffiti that causes me pause every time I see it. Written in black marker, it is under a railing, on an upright board, at a remote wildlife viewing platform. I recognize the script because I’ve seen it elsewhere in the park. In the woods, on another trail, is a dead tree marked with a large heart and the words “You are loved!” In a different place, the same woman asks her children to remember a picture they took from that spot.

Perhaps this woman was playing a game with her children and her messages were part of a scavenger hunt. In that case, I can only be annoyed at the way she defaced park property. Her words, however, seem rather melancholy to me so I don’t think they were part of a playful game. Every time I walk out to that viewing platform, I wonder about her heartfelt note. Who is (or was) that woman? Why did she feel the need to write her messages in such out-of-the-way spots? Are there more messages hidden elsewhere in the park? Have her sons ever seen them? Why didn’t she say those words in person? Does she still walk in the park? And, the most disturbing question of all, was that her farewell?

It’s troubling that those words of love to her boys remain on pieces of wood hidden in a park. Parental advice and expressions of love are meant to be said, not written and left in obscure places. I only saw this one when I knelt down to tie my shoe.  Although she tells her children to have faith and hope, I wonder if she has lost them. There seems to be a sense of regret in her messages—regret for things done or left undone, for words spoken or remaining unsaid. Unfortunately, it’s easy to become a prisoner of the past. Nevertheless, the past can’t be changed but the future can! David had plenty to regret when his first child by Bathsheba died; the baby died because of David’s sins. Rather than wallowing in the past, however, after mourning his loss, David chose to embrace his future and move forward with his and Bathsheba’s lives.

When Jesus met the woman at the well, he immediately knew of her troubled history and, when the bleeding woman touched his robe, he knew of her illness. If only it was as easy for us to know what anguish hides in people’s hearts. Have I ever passed by this woman at the park? If so, did I offer a friendly smile and warm “hello” or did I just speed by her? I remember earlier this year when I walked in the bird sanctuary with a troubled woman who needed to talk and then think of the stranger who strolled alongside my husband one day and spilled out the poignant story of his wife’s betrayal. Did they have no one else to hear their stories? Every time I see that woman’s words, I wonder if she had someone with whom to talk. Of course, we know that she had God, but did she know it? When she wrote the words “You are loved!” did she know that God loves her?

Heavenly Father, there are so many troubled souls we pass by daily. Guide us so that we don’t inadvertently add to their sorrow and troubles. Give them hope for the future and help them know they are not alone. Let them experience your love and forgiveness.

And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans. [Romans 8:28 (TL)]

Listen to my pleading, Lord! Be merciful and send the help I need. My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me, O my people.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” [Psalm 27:7-8 (TLB)]

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June 17, 2016

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Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Knowing Him, Thanks & Praise, Trusting God

A PARENT’S LOVE

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. [Psalm 103:8 (NLT)]

swans (mute) - parent's loveweb

Like most parents, there were times my husband and I were exasperated by, disappointed in, displeased with, and ticked off at our children. While we tried to be compassionate and merciful, we weren’t necessarily slow to get angry. In spite of our anger, however, like God, we were always filled with unfailing love. We could be disappointed, distressed, and even hurt by our children yet we persisted in our love for them. Even though they weren’t always loveable—in fact, there were times they were barely likeable—we loved them unconditionally. After all, they were our children—a part of us. Fortunately, they all survived our less than perfect parenting and have grown into wonderful adults and loving parents with children of their own. While we settle into enjoying grandparenthood, they are now experiencing for themselves the challenges of parenting and the tremendous power of parental love.

If mothers and fathers, mere flawed humans, can continue to love their children in spite of wrecked cars, skipped school or broken laws, our perfect God can easily persist in loving His children in spite of their myriad offenses. If mortal parents can still love children that deceive them, treat them with contempt, or disappoint them, think about how much our divine God can continue to love His children regardless of their transgressions. Consider how much more able He is to have unfailing love for His offspring than an ordinary man or woman. I don’t know how He manages it, but He does. He may be angry and disappointed with us, but He continues to love us.

Thank you, Father God, for not losing faith in your children; thank you for your unfailing love and forgiveness.

Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them in the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago. [Micah 7:18-20 (NLT)]

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June 8, 2016

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Grace & Love, Joy, Peace of God, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets, Thanks & Praise, Today: Make it Count

IN THE RAIN

mute swans
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? [Luke 12:25-26 (NIV)]

Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. [Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV)]

In spite of the ominous looking sky, I thought the rain would wait more than an hour before arriving, so I confidently set off through the woods. By the time I was halfway through my walk, however, the clouds were delivering their rain. While meteorology isn’t my strong suit, optimism probably is. As I slowly got soaked, I thought of the quote that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass but rather about learning to dance in the rain. We can choose to be wet and miserable or wet and happy—either way we’ll still be soaked! Although I didn’t dance, I didn’t let the rain dampen my spirits. Knowing I couldn’t get any wetter (and ever hopeful of a Kodak moment), I stopped along the trail and went out to a viewing platform. I was rewarded with my first sighting of the swans this season (who were doing their own version of dancing in the rain).

There are those of us for whom the glass is half full and others for whom is it half empty. For the Buddhist, however, that glass is already broken. The story is told that Achaan Chaa, a Thai Buddhist master, once held up a glass of water for his guests. After telling them how much he admired the way it held water, glistened in the sunlight, and rang when tapped, he added that, for him, the glass was already broken. The sage explained that one day the wind would blow it off the shelf or he’d accidentally knock it from the table and the glass would shatter. Thinking of the glass as already broken, he could delight in it while he had it and wouldn’t mourn its loss when it did break. Chaa wasn’t a pessimist; after all, glasses break! Rather, because he knew every moment with his fragile glass was precious, he was a mindful realist. Of course, his lesson was about far more than a simple glass of water. I suspect that the Buddhist master, fully aware of life’s fragility and truly appreciative of all it has to offer, knew how to dance in the rain.

Christian mindfulness is more than being conscious of what we are feeling, doing, or thinking. It is paying attention to God, focusing on His kingdom, hearing His voice, growing in love, noticing and treasuring His gifts, and thanking Him for them. Christian mindfulness sees God’s hand in all things and doesn’t worry about tomorrow. It lives in the present and trusts God for the future. The Christian, knowing how the story ends, has joy and peace in all circumstances.

Heavenly Father, we know we live in a broken world—a world with disease, disaster, destruction and death. In spite of this brokenness, guide us to be mindful so that we delight in every person, place, thing, circumstance and breath with which we’ve been blessed. Give us the ability to hear your music and dance in the rain!

Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more. [Mother Teresa]

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.  [Psalm 149:3 (NIV)]

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