Laced With Grace

Today’s post is written by Bethany from ‘Raindrops & Rainbows‘. Bethany will join the team on a regular basis starting in October. Welcome Bethany …

Has anyone ever done something for you that you have remembered it your entire life?

Recently my Mom told me she had added a new friend to her Facebook list, Rodney, a guy she’d known since elementary school. He emailed her and told her he remembered her and their time in school together. He also shared a memory he had of her. He said in an email (which he gave me permission to use), “ I remember I had a Birthday party when I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade. I remember inviting the entire class, but only you and Clenard from school came. I was so devastated. That I cried like a baby.  It was my first birthday party as a kid. I remember you gave me a book of life savers candies. That is a very special memory that I will never forget. Thanks!!!!”

I remember when I was growing up my Mom told me about Rodney. Whenever we looked at pictures she would point him out and tell me about going to his birthday party. She remembered that she was the only white person there and she didn’t know why others from her class hadn’t come. She remembered Rodney’s mother walking to the car and hugging her mother, thanking her for letting Mom come to the party. It was something from her childhood that stuck out in her mind, but she never knew that it had been a special memory in Rodney’s mind as well.

As I think of this story and my Mom finding out years later that Rodney remembers her coming to his birthday party, I’m reminded that each day we never know the lives we are touching. Something we do may help someone else, and they will remember it for the rest of their life.

In Matthew 25:34-40 we read:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

What you do or say may feel insignificant in your mind at the time. Maybe it’s just something you do naturally. Maybe you think no one notices what you do. It doesn’t matter who it’s for… whether a classmate, your sister, the homeless man at the corner, the cashier at the grocery store, your coworker, the president of your company…Jesus is watching and is pleased when we give to others and show His love. We’re really doing it for Him.

Have a day of blessings!

I’d love for you to visit me at Raindrops & Rainbows.

Today’s devotion was written by one of our blogroll members, Brandi Silva. You can find out more about Brandi on her personal blog “Brandi’s Blog”…Thank you Brandi for sharing your thoughts with us today.

My 3-year old son, Luke and I were enjoying ourselves recently, hiking in the dry creek bed near our house. Hiking is one of the many outdoor activities my husband and children and I often enjoy together, living in the “woods” of the beautiful Texas Hill Country. What a blessing this place is! In the creek bed, there is one area covered mostly with small, smooth rocks that is easy to navigate over. As the hike progresses, however, the terrain suddenly changes into very large, rough boulders. Once we come to this stretch of the hike, mommy must hold little Luke’s little hand as we climb over them, to avoid him slipping and injuring a knee, an elbow, or even worse, his head!

Luke loves to pick every flower he sees, for me. He thinks they are all beautiful and that his mommy should have all of them. On this particular day, he was cherishing a dandelion he had picked and was holding it tightly in his hand. Upon reaching the rough boulders, I reached down to grab his hand but I could not get a tight grip on it. Luke had his little hand closed, like a ball around this “weed” he called a flower.

I explained to him that in order for mommy to protect him from slipping on the rocks and getting hurt, he must drop the flower and allow me to hold his hand the right way, tightly and securely. So, with some hesitation, he did what I asked and let go of what he thought was important and slipped his small hand into mine. As he watched the flower drop to the ground, in that moment, he realized it was not worth holding onto if it meant risk of injury.

It was also in that moment when the Holy Spirit spoke so clearly to my heart. He said, “This is how it is with you. You try to hold onto things that you think are beautiful and important, but I am saying, let go of those things so that I can grab your hand, tightly and securely. The path of life is full of bumpy rocks and boulders and you must allow me to hold onto you as we cross over them, together. Don’t hold so tightly to the things of this world that can get in the way of what I have for you. They are not worth it. My plan is so much better. Drop those things so you can grab onto me!”

Father knows best, doesn’t He? He is standing there, arms outstretched, in our direction. He wants us to grab on and live our life in Him, safely resting in the palm of His hand.

Psalm 73:23-28
“Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.”

~Brandi Silva
Texas

Here it is the beginning of a new week. Will it be the beginning of a clean slate for you, or a continuation of last week’s routine or challenges?

Sometimes routine can get you down. Other times it’s the challenges along the way that seem like they will break you.

For me, it’s finding balance and white space in my schedule.  Besides teaching at risk teen girls, counseling women, and teaching parenting classes, I still have other hats I must wear like bookkeeper and grant writer for our ministry, not to mention my first responsibility of being a wife.  Life can sometimes seem overwhelming.  I can get cranky and whiney in an instant.  When this happens, I’m operating on my own power rather than relying upon His grace to sustain me.

God’s Word says, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9). Just what does that mean?

It means that when I’m exhausted and think I can’t possibly get everything done—
His grace is sufficient for me.

When I’m having a hard time with the person who gets under my skin—
His grace is sufficient for me.

When I’m tempted to let my frustration loose and speak harshly—
His grace is sufficient for me.

When I’ve given in to my lust for food for the umpteenth time in a day—
His grace is sufficient for me.

When I don’t know which direction to go or how to make a decision—
His grace is sufficient for me.

What do you need God’s grace for?  Raising young children?  Home school?  A wayward child, family member or friend?  A troubled relationship? An aching heart from losing a loved one?  Loneliness?  Hormones going haywire?

Whatever is happening in your life, His grace is sufficient for you. Ask Him for His resources to meet your need and to help you through whatever your challenge may be.

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is perfected in weakness.’

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses,

that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Father, where would I be without Your grace.  Surely I’d lose my way.  Fill me with Your grace today.  Lead and counsel me by Your grace so I may in turn lead and counsel others.  Lord, be with the women who will read this devotional today.  Meet them where their need is.  Father, wash them with Your mercy and fill them with Your grace.  Thank you for being sufficient for all of us. Yes Lord, You are more than enough.  In Jesus Precious Name, Amen.

Your Humbly Grateful Daughter,

© Marsha’s Musings, 2009.