Laced With Grace

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends… These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” ~ John 15: 12-13, 17
(ESV emphasis mine)

Making photography one of your hobbies (passion) in Arizona is not easy. You see, running around in 110F degrees taking photos is not pleasant; you sweat a lot (that is an understatement).

You are wondering why I would run around in that kind of heat? No, I am not insane; I love. Let me explain: after our son moved out last year, we were looking for a hobby my beloved and I would both enjoy. Since we both like photography from a very young age, we both got ‘grown-up’ cameras this past spring. What fun would it be to have to wait until the weather would be cool enough to take photos?

Sure, some days I would have rather stayed home in the comfort of A/C, read a book, blog, or work on some digital LO’s. I didn’t because I wanted to spend as much of my available free time with my beloved. Since my beloved wanted to take photos I endured the heat. I laid down my life (desires) because of the love I have for my husband.

The days I really didn’t feel like going out, I remembered the sacrifice my Savior endured for me. I know that Jesus sweated blood when praying to our Heavenly Father (Luke 22:44). He asked that the cup to be removed if it were God’s will. Maybe even at one point Jesus ‘didn’t feel like’ traveling the bloody road to Calvary for me…

Jesus commanded us to love others as He has loved us. So my little sacrifice of enduring heat during the summer months is very small compared to my Lord’s sacrifice. I have to admit that the sweating, drinking water instead of soda, did me good. Not only did I learn more about photography, spent time with my beloved, I also lost some extra pounds…

How can you put your love in action today? Even if it means to lay down your own desires, it is well worth it. If it is hard for you, just remember the words of our Lord in John – or the sacrifice He made for you at Calvary…

“Lord of Heaven and Earth. You have commanded us to love others as You have loved us. It is hard at times to lay down our own desires to follow Your command. Lord, keep us mindful of Your sacrifice; any ‘sacrifices’ we make to put our love in action pales in comparison. Lord, thank You for Your wondrous love that saved us! Lord, help us to love the way You love. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen.”

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters; the floods engulf me. Psalm 69:1-2

Here David is feeling the overwhelming feeling of depression. In his depression he cries out to the Lord. I know personally how David felt, I too struggle with depression. It does not necessarily take an “event” to bring on the depression either. Sometimes it blind sides me, other times I can feel it coming on. It is a thorn I think the Lord has given me to keep me on my knees to him.

Many people can bounce back from life’s disappointments. Others who deal with depression have the sadness that persists and you feel everyday mundane things become too difficult to accomplish. First I want to say if you deal with depression and have not talked to your doctor, please do so. Even if you don’t want to deal with medication, there are natural ways to deal with depression that can help. But my point today is that even if people around you can not understand your mood or why things are so difficult, God understands. First admit you are depressed bring it to God and cry out to him. Even the word…HELP does wonders.

From my personal experience if I feel it coming on I make sure I am feeding my ears, my heart and my mind with things of God. I am reading scripture, reading devotionals, or listening to Christian music. It may not take the depression away but I have found it can help lessen the impact. When I am blind sided I have to tell myself (over and over) I can not rely on my feelings, but on what I know to be truth. It is during these times that your feelings will betray you.

There is nothing to be ashamed of, depression is not a sign of weakness and God will never leave you alone. Do not think depression is a sin, what is a sin is not turning to God for help in your time of desperate need. First if you need help please get it, secondly as a Christian if you know this is something you battle with provide yourself with the tools to help you through those dark times. My struggle with depression is something I don’t think will go away, but seeking doctor’s advice and providing myself with the tools I need when I feel depressed, has helped me tremendously. These things do not take it away, but make it survivable.

I am in no way an expert on depression I am only speaking from my experience, but for some reason God laid this on my heart to share.

Heavenly Father if there is anyone reading this today who struggles with depression I pray you will lead them to the resources they need to get help. Father I know some things in our life you have said you will not remove, we may not know the reason but we do know that we can turn everything around and use to your Glory. Father even when I feel the darkness…you are there. Even when I can not get out of bed…you are there. In Isaiah 40:29 you said you will give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. Father please give us strength in our times of great weakness. Amen.

During our family devotions this week my husband taught on serving. A subject I needed because I’m not the greatest servant at home. My expectations stop me from going the extra mile. I’m selfish. I expect my two kids to help around the house. After all, if I did everything for them, what would they learn?

We discussed this question: Why is it so hard to serve others? Our mutual answer: selfishness, thinking “What’s in it for me?”  We ended with a challenge to look for small ways to serve others throughout our week.

This weekend God gave us a bonus opportunity. Our youth group at church just so happened to have planned an afternoon to feed the homeless. At a park downtown, my family along with a dozen others assembled brown bag lunches, filling them with a juice box, chips, a sandwich, and a cookie.

Instantly we had hungry people standing nearby. Every person who accepted a bag said thank you. One guy wouldn’t take our food instead he dug through trashcans throughout the park. Some were toothless. Some were old. It hurt to see young children reach inside their bags for something to eat.

My teenage son and his buddy ended up under a bridge talking with three homeless people. They listened to their stories and gave them meals. The homeless asked, “Why are you being so nice to us?” I guess not many people stop and take notice.

Later, I asked my kids how they felt serving the homeless.

“It made me feel good because we gave to people that don’t have anything.” (my eleven-year-old)

“Made me feel good because they felt good.” (my fifteen year old)

I loved focusing on intentionally serving others this week. Wouldn’t it be great to develop a lifelong heart of service? That’s my goal. But I have a long way to go. Even as I wrote this, I had to talk myself into pausing to help my daughter find paints for her school project. I grumbled as I passed my laptop to my son so he could finish his homework. Then I snapped at my husband as I typed espn.com to look up a football score for him. Yes, I served my family when they needed me to, but I did it with a bad attitude. Not a servant’s heart.

.Jesus, you are the greatest example of serving others. Please help me develop a heart like yours. Forgive me for choosing to serve myself over serving others. Teach me to gladly accept interruptions as opportunities. Let me see beyond the face in my mirror and into the eyes of others. In your name I pray, Amen.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 NIV

  In His Grip, Tiffany