Laced With Grace

Would you like to spend some time with your mom, sister, or girlfriend praising God in a different setting? Meeting up with women who love Christ but are from different denominations? Than our Fall contest is for you. Click on the below button to find out how you can enter. You have until Thanksgiving…

Blessings on your day and as always…

And he said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.’” ~ Luke 11:2 (ESV)

I think in today’s fast-passed world we forget how to communicate well with each other. Even when it comes to prayer. We become discouraged when God doesn’t answer our prayers immediately. Sometimes we don’t give it time to wait on God’s answer. You see, sometimes He answers our prayers right away — with a yes or no. Other times He tells us to wait for His perfect time.

Since my husband and I work both full-time outside the home, we communicate during the work-week via email. Most of the time I will ask my husband about dinner or other things that come to mind. The other day I mentioned that our son wanted a particular dish for dinner. I knew that it was not my husband’s favorite dish, so I was waiting on his answer with a little pit in my stomach. Would he say yes or no? Would he be okay with it? When his answer arrived in my inbox, I knew that he wasn’t thrilled about dinner plans. Not that he said flat out no, just how he said it: “I guess it is okay…”.

Do we sometimes hear God say “I guess it is okay…” but in all reality He is telling us to wait on Him? Luther said once about prayer: ‘ For one dare not forget that prayer has two component parts: talking and listening. How can we expect God to listen to us if we do not listen to Him? As a rule, we think of prayer only when we are in trouble up to our ear.’ I have to admit that most of the time I send up a prayer because of stressful situations but forget to thank Him. And sometimes I even stop praying over a certain situation, because I believe that God is not hearing my prayer and I don’t want to ‘bother’ Him over and over with the same prayer.

Are you praying over a situation right now and do not seem to receive an answer from Him? Don’t give up! He hears your prayer, but maybe His answer is: “Wait”.

Lord of Heaven and Earth. Help us to listen to Your answer. We know You hear our prayers. You answer always comes at the right time. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen

It was a beautiful sunday afternoon.  The weather had finally cooled after an extremely hot, dry summer.  I was peeling and slicing apples for the first apple pie of the season, listening to old hymns on the radio.  I’m not even sure which hymn it was that prompted the idea, but as I was listening I thought how wonderful it will be the day I get to heaven.  In my mind I pictured Jesus there waiting for me.  He extended His hand, and placing my hand in His, I followed Him into Paradise.  “Oh Lord,” I said “how miraculously marvelous that day will be.  I can hardly wait.”

Then I “heard” a gentle whisper.  It doesn’t happen often, but there are times I know in my heart that He has spoken to me.  “My dear child, that is exactly what I am doing for you right now.” 

I knew immediately that, of course, it is true.  The moment I accepted Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior, He extended His strong hand, and I placed my weak and fragile hand in His.  He promised from that moment to never leave me alone.  He promised to lead me in the way that I should go.  My part is to keep holding tightly to His hand.  Of course, we are not in Heaven just yet.  The going here can get rather rough and difficult far more often than I’d like.  But the final destination is Paradise, and He is going to stay with me every step of the way.  The promise is not for some distant time, it is for the here and now – the dailiness of life with all its joys and sorrows.  Jesus will never leave us alone.

                 Just When I Need Him Most         (Rev. Wm. Poole)

Just when I need Him, Jesus is near, Just when I falter, just when I fear.  Ready to help me, ready to cheer.  Just when I need Him most.

Just when I need Him, Jesus is true, never forsaking all wth way thro’; giving for burdens pleasures anew, Just when I need Him most.

Just when I need Him, Jesus is strong, bearing my burdens all the day long; for all my sorrow giving a song  Just when I need Him most.

Just when I need Him, He is my all, answering when upon Him I call; tenderly watching lest I should fall  Just when I need Him most.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you; surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”   Isaiah 41:10 (NAS)

In His Love,

Linda