Laced With Grace

Umm….yeah.

I’m off on Christmas break and haven’t looked in my planner for a few days. Usually (including this time) I have Laced With Grace in my planner the day BEFORE my day to write. But…if you don’t look in the book, you don’t have a clue what is going on….so I’m writing late in the day.

And (as most things in life) the thought took a turn.

Our walk with God is the same way. He has given us His Word, Scripture. If we don’t look in the Book, we don’t have that intimate reading of God’s Word to us. Yes, we can hear it in song, we can hear it preached, we can listen. But I don’t think there is a substitute for sitting down with the Word of God, hiding it in our hearts.

I’ve chosen to read the Bible chronologically (although I didn’t get through in a year). This has been a different experience; as I read through the life of David in the History Books I also read the Psalms that he wrote during his life. Reading it like this has given me a different perspective on both David and on the Psalms that he wrote.

Here is a website that has a wide variety of Bible reading plans (sent to your email box in a variety of languages!)

I encourage you all to make this the year of commitment to Scripture. Choose a plan, choose a day to start.

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. (Psa. 119:11, KJV)

Our children had a great Christmas. They got so many things that they really wanted. They were so very blessed.

My husband and I had a good Christmas–got a few things we needed plus a few fun things and we didn’t go over budget.

In fact, we spent almost nothing from our regular budget on the kid’s presents. This is the first year I didn’t insist on buying this, that, and the other thing and agonize over many gifts. And this is the first year that the Lord not only provided several gifts straight out (like a Gamecube that my bil was no longer using just as we got an LCD tv so our oldest–who has seizures when watching a regular tv, could watch it.) Not only that but other gifts poured in that they had specifically asked for.

What amazes me is that we have had some rough years money wise–10 of them in fact (we will be married 11 years in January.) We have very slowly learned how God wants us to handle our money. It may not be the way He calls others to, but it is how He wants US to, and He is blessing us right and left. It may not look like much to others but to us it is wealth beyond measure because weknow we can rely on Him for sll our needs.

When I start to doubt–He says ,”Trust me.”

When I am unsure–He says, “Trust me.”

When extra costs come –He says, “Trust me.”

He is Jehovah Jireh– God Provider, and provide He does.

Father God, thank you that you do provide, just as you promised.

17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:17-18

Liz Curtis Higgs said, “Wherever you are spiritually whatever you have been through emotionally, you are already wrapped in the Lord’s embrace. Held close by nail-scarred hands.”

While growing up my family did not travel too much. I was fortunate to have family that lived close by. I grew up with all of my extended family around me. But I always had a desire to travel, to “see the world”. When I met manly man, he never lived anywhere more than 2 years because he was from a military family. So with him I saw adventure, excitement; I knew if I married this man I would see the world.

What was not communicated was I wanted to “travel” not move away from everyone. It was God’s plan that I move to the complete opposite side of the US from all my family. When I moved, my relationship with Christ was not that good, he was my SOS God at the time. I had messed things up in my life, manly man and I began our marriage on shaky ground, and now I was moving away from all I knew (everything that brought me comfort). I was also a new mother of a 4 month old baby.

It was at that time, when the Lord took everything away from me, that I began to feel wrapped in the Lord’s embrace. It is true God is a jealous God, if there are people or things you go to first before going to him. Some how God will remove that obstacle so that you will go to Him first. I learned this the hard way. When I got to the point where everything was taken away and everyone, I realized God was all I really needed. He comforted me with a warm winter blanket, soothed my crying, and showed me the right way to go. He became my everything.

I thank God those nail-scarred hands never let me go. As you think about your plans for this up coming New Year, what is standing in the way of God being “your everything?”

Heavenly Father, thank you for seeing me through the difficult times and allowing me to know you and learn more about you. Lord you are my everything, and may that be my goal for next year….whoever comes across my path, may they see only you. Amen.