Laced With Grace

I did not want to go out today. I did not want to go out today. I did not want to go out today.

I had to go. There was something I needed to do but I kept putting it off, longer and longer.

My husband said, “Go ahead. I will take care of the kids. Go, take your laptop with you and get some writing done.”

Free writing time but I still put it off. I just couldn’t bear to go. Then, all of a sudden, I wanted to go, got ready, and went.

On the way I prayed, Lord, You know all that is on my mind tonight. You are going to have to make a plan for what I should write, I have no idea.

I put on the only Christmas tape I could find. “Blech, electronic Christmas music, sounds just like what my keyboard auto-plays.” I tried to call a friend (yes, while driving which is not illegal here, though I admit rather foolish.) She didn’t answer and my phone told me it was dying. I hung up and plugged it in.

I stop in at the thrift store to look for a sweater–it’s getting colder now. A lady there compliments me on my black beret–a Christmas present from my husband and my favorite hat. I chat with the lady at the counter who knows myself and my kids pretty well. Head to the library to pay off a huge library fine, because I finally found the book–a month overdue. The lady at the counter knows us and asks about the kids. We chat about all that has gone on in the last month, she is shocked that such a thing had happened. I leave and head to the coffee shop to return some things I used last night and then spend some time writing.

I get there, grab my coffee, and sit down to write.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I comment on some blogs, write some emails, do some basic maintenance stuff. Lord, I thought You wanted me to write?

Nothing.

A couple sits down right in my field of vision but I try to stay out of their business and keep my mind on writing.

Nothing.

My friend, the owner of the shop, comes over and starts talking to this couple. Eventually he introduces me to them. I spend the next hour and a half chatting with this lovely woman and her husband, who have three children–all with Bible names and all six and under. We barely touch on spiritual things other than when the husband asked what I was working on which meant I had to explain what a blog was and what mine was about.

When I left I realized that this was what He wanted. This was why I couldn’t get out of the house this morning. This was why I put it off all day. This was His plan. I don’t know why. Maybe I will met them again, it is possible because they spend as much time as I do at the coffee shop. Maybe that conversation was all that was needed. They are younger, with younger children.   They needed encouragement. I am praying that whatever His plans are for them and I feel that He has some, that He works them out and that they be teachable.

Only He knows why. However, I know that this was it. This was why I was there, why my husband offered to keep the kids, why it all worked out the way it did. It is so wonderful know that He has a plan and that my ways are not His ways. It is awesome when He shows us that something really was His plan and we just know. We don’t need to know why, just that it was.

Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God of Wonders and Author of Peace, today we ask your blessing. Lord, you have promised good to those who love You. Lord, You know our hearts. You know what is best. Lord, today we place all our plans in Your hands. Work them out for good. Change what needs to be changed, adapt what needs to be adapted, remove what needs to be removed. We want to be in Your will. Get us where you would have us.

What plans have you made recently that were not His? What ways has he worked things out that were very unlike what you expected? We worship the God Creator, Author of Peace, the Great Physician, and Lord of Lords. Trust him with your plans today.

Lace with Grace!, hmm. Grace. Grace. What is this “Grace” thing we speak of?
According to the dictionary:Grace:

8.Theology.

According to Jan Silvious, grace is all that God is in the face of all that we are not.
But what does that MEAN?!?

To me, grace is what God gives us when we think we have nothing left. Grace is His goodness when our lives are inundated with the “bad”. Grace is God’s love when there seems to be only emptiness.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Grace is God’s favor when we find ourselves in an impossible situation. Grace is being given a second chance when we think we have run out of chances. Grace is God’s gift of hope when the world around us seems hopeless.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them. Yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV

Grace is that which God gives us when we think there is nothing left to find. Grace is God’s last gift to us when we think we have opened all our presents.Like so many of God’s gifts, grace is a mystery and a miracle. Grace is what God offers us when we think there is nothing left to accept.

And yet, how do we acquire grace? It’s rather simple, really. You ask for it.

Lord, please help us to do what we feel we are incapable of doing on our own. Grant us the grace of a second chance, a final pardon and an eternal hope. Let us, once again, be amazed at your endless gift of love to us, your children.

This we ask in Jesus’ name, amen.

When was the last time you experienced God’s grace? When was the last time you graced someone else?

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

(Lord give us ears to hear their proclamation)

2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

(God- let us see their display)

3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard. ^[a]

(Lord- teach us to understand their words)

4 Their voice ^[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

(Oh God, how incredible are the works of your hands)

5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

(Lord thank you for another sunrise- and for all the ones I haven’t thanked you for..)

6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

(As is nothing is hidden from you , Lord)

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

(God revive us with your law, make us wise with your statutes)

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

(Lord- give us joy in your precepts, light our eyes with your commands)

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

(God, let us never forget to have holy fear and reverence for you, let us remember your ordinances are righteous)

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

(God- help us to value your word, to taste and see that it is sweet)

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

(Lord- help us heed your warnings, only you living in and through us can help us to keep them, dwell in us- and help us keep them)

12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

(Lord- I am filled with sin, things I don’t even understand, or see- Please God- forgive my hidden faults)

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

(Lord, keep me from willful sin, rule in my life- so that I won’t be ruled by my sins..)

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

I love- that God has included David’s prayers, in His word. I often find myself feeling the things that David describes. Sometimes- as part of my devotional time, I personalize David’s prayers and make them my own…will you join me?

How would you personalize this psalm? Can you share it in the comments?

In what ways do you see God’s creation proclaiming His glory?