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Divine Appointment with Grace

Do you know this verse?  “For by Grace, we are saved through faith, not of ourselves, it is the gift of God” -definition of Grace…it’s a gift, we could never pay it, ever! what a wonderful gift!

A few weeks ago, the temps went to 70 degrees, and it was awesome after a very cold winter.  My friend had a tradgey in her family, so my plans were canceled. Deciding quickly to get out in this gorgeous day! Took my son with me (after bribing him with a Slushie). We headed to the river for a quiet and relaxing afternoon. The weather turned very windy, so we decided to go to a location we never go to along the river, that would be out of the wind.

We had the whole place to ourself! Sunshine! Melted river! What a blessing!  Soon after we arrived, an old man riding a bike equally as old, came through…and decided to sit right next to us.  Finding this rather odd…I paid attention.

He started to witness to me. And we talked some deep things that I studied a few years ago, and I was surprised it was still in the memory bank.  Then we got to the Grace factor.  Ahhhh, this gentleman was Jehovah witness.  My grandpa was also a Jehovah witness, so I am familiar.  Our talk changed…He tried very hard to convince me that works are how we get to heaven, and nothing special about it, we will just be glad we made it.  (insert huge eyes here )

No doubt, God orchestrated that afternoon.  We had a divine appointment.  The gentleman left and very sweetly thanked me for the conversation,  asked if I would visit his church sometime. I told him no, I love the church I am at, and maybe he should visit me.  He spent his whole life seeking for truth. And I prayed as he left…”please let him find the Truth”.  Grace, a foreign word to a man who knew his scriptures so well, some what out of context, but knew scripture none the less.  He could not fathom, Grace.

Romans 4:4-8 (NLT)

When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:

“oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.”

All of this, and I was still standing at my wall, and this was the beginning of breakthrough, I realized, I do believe, and I still care about a world that is misled. This appointment was not only for him, it was also for me.

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Reflections…

There are times when quiet relection seems to be all that one can do, especially if you are a person who feels the need to do something. I am that type of person.

Lately a whole new level with the LORD has begun to open up, and following HIM is the only true option.  Awareness has become a strong sense to me, and equally hard to describe.  Looking in the the mirror, or a window, or water…the person who is reflected back to me, is new to me.  My past seems to be seperated from me, and who i once was is a stranger to me.  Healing? maybe…

Moving on with HIM, where ever this takes me.  At times just surrending, lifting my arms to HIM and saying, “even if i resist, just take me”.  Do you ever find yourself resisting?  Wish i could say that i don’t, but too many times i do.

Its time to get on with this thing called Faith and believing, its time to blindly allow HIM to lead, and trusting that HE is good (not necessarily safe).  In this time of reflection, HE reminds me over and over…”Believe me here, I do not fail you”…

This morning he woke me to a song that HE woke me with many years ago…and it touched my heart so deeply.  The memories of that time flooded my heart, a time when HE was new to me, a time when things seemed very uncertain, and i time when i knew without a doubt that HIS arms and love flowed over me.

HE is the same God, yesterday, today, and forever, never changing…the God of my yesterday, today and forever…HE’s been there all along, and yes i do know HIM, and yes HE is believeable and trustworthy..

How long has it been that you have allowed silence into your home, nothing but the Word, nothing but Praise music?  I promise you, its worth the effort, and a time of relecting always follows.

if you are interested this is the song that HE has waken me to…

Prodigal Princess

The Princess spent her days walking in the glorious sunshine. Such joy! such a blessed life! She fell asleep without warning…she didn’t know how long she slept, but when awakening…such darkness!  Ahhhhh Where was her King? Her Daddy that she loves..who loves her as well. She sets out to look for Him. She can’t find Him.  How could this happen? Her sadness grew, her desperation more intense.  Life is not good without her King..He showers her with the love and hope that makes her world turn….

Princess:  (remembering that He can always hear her, and see her even when she cannot)  My Lord! why have you left me here? I can not do this with out you…Please come and rescue me…Please do not leave me in the darkness…There is no darkness in you.

King: (speaking ever so quietly, ever so gently) I promised to never leave you, and I have kept my promise.  But I will not force you to stay by my side where the light shines on your face and warms your heart. The world entices, and you must stay in my Word as it feeds your soul and keeps you from hungering for things that are not me.

Princess:  I remember how we danced, i remember how much love filled my heart…oh how i adored you! still not sure how the world can pull me away from the only One who really matters. Please. Please fill my heart again with the hunger I need to pursue you. I am lost, I thought I could handle some things on my own. Now the darkness is suffocating. I can not save my self. Forgive, according to your loving kindness, because I belong to you. Restore. There is no life away from you.

King: (extending His hand into the darkness) Princess, take hold and never let go.  The darkness will always be close while you walk this earth, but I am your safe place, no one else or nothing else can fill that void. Come to me. I will restore, Read my Words to you daily, keep me first in your thoughts, Know with all your heart that my love for you moves heaven and earth, Nothing can seperate you from me. The darkness lies to you, and you must put up your shield of faith, believe…

Princess: How could i just walk away from you? What kind of child leaves the most perfect Father without thinking about it? How or Why would you want to help me now?…nothing makes sense..

King: (cleaning her up, wiping her tears, dressing her in His love) I will brush you off, and you will take my hand, and we will continue on this journey..I have so much I want to show you, so many things that will delight your heart. Oh the plans I have! and when we rest…I will sing over you, watch over you as you sleep.

(looking over His shoulder speaking firmly to the darkness now far behind) This is my Princess..you can not have her…and I will protect her, and keep her close…I delight in her…

Booksneeze~Review~Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World, by Dr. David Jeremiah

Once again Dr. Jeremiah writes eloquently.  Easy to read, Easy to understand, and yet meaty enough to keep my attention. He addresses the world we live in, not excluding any of its chaotic state, or the destruction path we are on. Everything is factual as I checked them out myself.

Dr. David Jeremiah shows scripturally how this is prophesied in Revelation, and how we are to cling to the words of Christ for our comfort. Keeping our eyes on our LORD in order to rise up like on wings of eagles. His reminder through out the book of a cursed/broken world is timely. As believers we need to remember that first, and then the blessing we live under.

I loved this book, although the truth that is spelled our here is hard to swallow at times. Jesus did not promise us a life with out trials, or chaos. HE did promise us to never leave us, to guide us, to comfort us, and to give us peace.

This is a must read. Todays world, todays news can not just steal our confidence but will tear us down.  Thank you Dr. Jeremiah for the truth you have given to us in this book, no doubt a reminder from God.

Abundant Grace Day 5~Deception

(fell behind last week, later today i will post for today, and back on track! noticed i have a few stalking w/o commenting, please comment, your thoughts are safe here, no condemnation)

Philippians 2:3

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Genesis 25:29-34 /Genesis 27:1-10

Jacob was named the “Deceiver”, remember grasping his brothers heel at birth.  This family had some issues!  Parents you favored one more then the other, a son who would sell his future for a bowl of food, the other who would gladly take it all, and a mother who keep the secret, and send her son away to protect him from the other.

WOW! Still God’s plan.  HE knew they would choose these things, and HIS greater glory would still shine through them.  I am always amazed when looking at this family line, and the fact that God had every bit of it written down for us to know and see, HIS mercy and grace, His plan that can not be stopped.  Faithfulness.

Which of these  family members gets your attention? Are you amazed at how God makes a plan that would not look anything like the plan we would make?  Thoughts?