Laced With Grace

The ABC’s of God:

I have no deep thoughts to share with you. I have no important words of wisdom or extra special stories. Today, I just want to take it back to the basics! God is good!

A is for the angels you will find along your path, sent by God to guide you and lend you a hand in your time of trouble.

B is for blessings God brings to us through every encounter we have during the course of our lives.

C is for the children he entrusts us to raise in His likeness.

D is for the devotion He expects us to give to Him.

E is for the encouragement He gives us and asks us to pass on to others.

F is for forgiveness, both to others and ourselves.

G is for the generosity He expects us to extend to those around us.

H is for the endless hope He offers to us every moment of our days.

I is for integrity.

J is for the joy Chris has brought into our lives.

K is for the kindness He brings our way, and asks us to sent towards others in need.

L is for the leadership He calls upon us to deliver.

M is for mercy, as only He can provide.

N is for the new life He offers to us.

O is for the orphan, welcomed into His arms.

P is for the peace He wants us to achieve.

Q is for quaint, the way He wills us to live.

R is for the rebellion He leads us away from.

S is for the sacrifice He made in our names.

T is for the teachings He brings into our lives.

U is for the unbelief He asks us to overcome.

V is for the victory we will claim in His name.

W is for the wisdom He brings into our hearts.

X is for the x-ray vision He has to see within our hearts.

Y is for the youth He gives us to grow and learn.

Z is for the zeal of life He brings into our souls.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.
1 Corinthians 5:7 TMB

Lord,

Help us keep you at the first and foremost part of our hearts, souls and days. Just like a child must learn to recite the ABC’s before he or she can read, remind us how all important You are to our learning process. You are in everything we do, in every word we speak, in every prayer we send up to You. Remind us that our lives are Yours to guide and lead, just as we guide and lead our children, under Your direction. Remind us to turn to You for all our lessons in life, no matter how primary they may be.

This we ask in Jesus’ name!

There is always a learning curve where our faith and religion are concerned. When was the last time you went “Oh wow!” over something God revealed to you??

The sun beats down, I should be wearing sunblock, in truth, I’m not. I want to soak in the sun like a sponge until I drip, sunshine. The sand is hot, through my towel, I feel it mold around my body like a spa treatment. I smell water, trees and grass. I hear gulls. (I check the snack bag….I don’t want my oasis turned into a scene from a Hitchcock movie” No worries-It’s all neatly tucked away. Children laugh. A dog barks and chases a stick into the water.

Above all this; I hear the womb like “whoosh, whoosh, whoosh” of waves crashing ashore. I’m in my happy place. On the beach. In Michigan, we’re never far from a lake, and I like to go often. Sand, sun, beach and waves. I love to sit by the water, Ipod on, Bible open, drinking in the creation and the creator. Being at the beach relaxes my body and refreshes my soul.

Usually.

I remember another day, when the waves weren’t so relaxing. We were staying at a favorite spot, when a black storm rolled in off the bay. Lightning danced across the water. The bay looked as if it would roll over the shore- it rose against the sea wall. It kept rising. My two oldest sons were 7 and 5, they hid their faces (in their gameboys) in fear. Fear of the storm and fear of the waves. Storm warning’s sounded. We “took cover.” (Well, as best as you can, in glass front a hotel on the water.)

The waves kept coming. They grew. My ears rang from the sound. Then, suddenly-there was calm.

The storm was over. The clouds rolled away. The sun broke through the late afternoon clouds like a second sunrise.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.” The waves continued to roll in, but now, they were our friends again. We took our places again, on the beach.

Like waves, troubles sometimes roll in one after another. Maybe it’s just the crush of waves of everyday life. The carpool, the laundry, the grocer’s. The bills. Work. Repetitive, even boring. But heavy, crushing when rolling in one after and on top of one another. “Whoosh, whoosh, Whoosh” . Other times, it’s huge, violent waves that threaten with a promise of the destructive power they possess. Cancer. Illness. Death. Loss of a job, loss of relationships. Change. “Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. “

Different kinds of waves. But they keep rolling in.

I had that kind of week last week. The kind of week, where one thing after another crashes around me. Small waves: broken things, doggy messes and inconveniences. Medium waves- Strep infections for my youngest and middle sons. Work stress for my husband. Then there were big things, commitments unfulfilled, tragedy in the lives of people I care about.

“Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.” The waves crash.

If there is water. There are waves. If there is life- there is trouble. The waves roll in…. then out. The storm rolls in, then, it is gone. There may be damage and debris, the shoreline may be changed. We or our lives may be different. But the storm is over. And it’s once again- time to take our place, on the beach.

I Peter 1 6-9
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. “

“Lord I pray that all who come by here- would bask in your Son…..that they’d be filled with your light and pour it out like lamps to the world around them. Even more than a Michigander in March craves sunshine- I pray that we’d crave you. I pray for those in times of storm and crashing waves right now- that you’d give them peace in the storm, or calm the storm. I pray that faith ou rfaith would be refined by every firey storm. I love you Lord- amen. “

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” ~ John 14:27 (ESV)

Do you ever feel totally exhausted like I do? What a question–of course you do. We run all week, don’t usually get a break on the weekend either. We run errands, wash the laundry, drive the kids where ever they need to go.

Things just went all out of hand this past week. I didn’t even remember what day it was. It was all just a blur. So guess what I did on Saturday. NOTHING! I was in my PJ’s until noonish (or after). After that my Sweetheart showed me how to use a new photo software. And you know what? It felt SO good.

Since December I never had a real break. Always on the run. But this changed this past week. Our son no longer needs a ride to the bank on Saturday morning. He switched also his work schedule. No more driving him to and from work on Sundays…Ah, freedom!

You know what came to mind when I didn’t do anything on Saturday? I wondered if Jesus ever felt totally exhausted. All I know is that He traveled from city to city–town to town to preach the kingdom of God. He never had a break – for 3 years! Oh my, and I complain if I don’t get a break for three months.

One thing Jesus did though. When He got weary, He met with His Father. He got up early in the morning to a solitary place to pray…After He got rejuvenated by spending time with His Father, He continued to preach about God’s kingdom:

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.” ~ Mark 1:35-39 (ESV)

Next time when I am exhausted and weary, I will just snatch my keys and go for a walk to meet with my Heavenly Father for a talk. After He rejuvenates me, I can continue with my crazy schedule–refreshed…

Lord of Heaven and Earth. I thank You the reminder that I don’t need to get weary, I just need to meet with You for a talk. You are the One who refreshes me on a daily basis. Lord, may I remember to come to You when I am exhausted. In the precious name of Jesus I pray ~ Amen.