Laced With Grace

I know we’re technically already into the New Year, but it’s still January, and I’m still in the process of “moving on.”

The last year has been one of the bumpiest my family and I have ever experienced. Going from what seemed to be the average complications of life to discovering our daughter had a malignant brain tumor had major impact on all our lives, to say the least.

During a year of surgeries, treatments, and a recovery more fraught with emotional issues than I expected, God turned my thinking—and praying—upside down. Instead of asking him to make things better, I’ve learned to ask that he equip me for whatever’s next. And I can’t help but look back and be amazed at the ground covered and appreciate the progress made, yet I have no desire to go through it again.

But I know I will.

Because that’s the world we live in. And that’s the journey God has put us on. Our trials and challenges are unique to who we are and are uniquely designed to challenge and try us. God has made sure of that. His Word even says it. (Romans 5:3-5))

And he’s also equipped us for each trial and each trial also equips us for the next. We can look back over our lives and see the difficulties, but if we stop there, we miss the strength and the good that comes out of it. (Romans 8:28)

Our human nature pushes us toward the easy way, the less treacherous paths. But then we find ourselves left in the trenches without a view of the sun breaking a dark horizon. We miss the revelation of God’s faithfulness and hope and find our world limited to the muck surrounding us.

However, our spirit desires to take the rough terrain upward because it instinctively knows the promise waiting to be discovered over the next ridge. It knows without a doubt that God’s there waiting to welcome us into deeper intimacy with him.

One of my goals for last year was to stop looking at life as a problem to be solved and accept it as a journey to be enjoyed, to learn from it and to grow. Looking back I can see he’s still answering that prayer and showing me the beauty present in all ashes. He’s teaching me not to be afraid to get my hands dirty in order to sift those ashes to find the jewel waiting to be discovered. He’s nudging me on to climb the treacherous mountain so I can see the sun peeking over a horizon filled with promise. He wants me to know that I will find his presence even in the darkest of places.

And he’s teaching me joy in the midst of trial, the ability to still laugh and appreciate special moments despite very imperfect conditions, and that I’m not responsible for the results. He is.

This is the beauty of God’s faithfulness. He knows who we were, who we are, and who we can be. He sees our potential despite our brokenness because he designed each of us for a special purpose. And he gives us everything we need in this life to accomplish it, then leaves it up to us to decide whether or not we’re willing to do the hard stuff to get the greater reward.

And that reward is worth all of the struggles and hassles, because it’s God himself. He is our portion and our great reward. You can’t find better treasure than that.

Praying and believing,
Dineen

Don’t you just hate when someone cuts in front of you in line?  I mean, there you are, politely waiting for your turn, when someone ignores the line and cuts to the front.  Doesn’t that drive you CRAZY?

How do you react?

Sigh loudly?  Roll your eyes?

Politely tell the culprit to get to the BACK?

Complain and criticize with everyone else around you?  OR….

Smile sweetly and strike up a conversation with the person?

We were waiting in a (short) line at the movie theater recently.  It was a “bank style” line where there are ropes herding one long line up to the ticket window.  At the window, there were two cashiers.  As we all waited for our turn to walk up to the next available cashier, a woman walked in from outside and avoided the end by heading directly to the window from the side.  HOW RUDE!

Now, what made me especially mad was that she didn’t “butt” in front of the person ahead of me, but waited for that person to go to the window.  But, when the next available cashier was ready, she didn’t yield to me, but jumped ahead and took MY SPOT!  HOW  RUDE!!

My reaction?

To loudly proclaim to my husband waiting on the sidelines, “How rude!” while giving the lady an “indifferent” look when she glanced my way.

But, when I was alone in the ladies’ restroom, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart.

“Why are you so offended Tracy?  Are you reacting the way I would have you act?  Are you being gracious?  Loving?  Forgiving?”

OUCH.

I then proceeded to take my seat in the darkened theater, call my voice mail, and leave myself a message of how incredibly RUDE I had just been! 

You see, if I look to Jesus, I know how I should treat those “irritating” people.  Jesus tells me to love my enemies.  Well, if I am supposed to love my ENEMIES, then surely, I should show a little kindness to a “line-jumper” at the movie theater!  Jesus tells me in Matthew 5 that “if someone wants my tunic, let him have my cloak as well.  If someone forces me to go one mile, go with him two miles.” I see that I need to have an attitude of graciousness, forgiveness, and mercy.  I am not supposed to “get even.”  I need to extend grace to others (as I have been so freely given), forgiving them when they make mistakes.  I need to be loving to those who IRRITATE me, and I need to remember that I often make mistakes as well! 

I believe God orchestrates these little “pop quizzes” in our lives.  He wants to teach us to really shine the Light of Christ, and how to be Salt and Light in a dark world.  He calls us to be His sweet aroma in a world that  has a terrible stench of nastiness.

“Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” -Ephesians 4:1-2

Father God, forgive me for the times I embarrass YOU!  Forgive me for having a selfish attitude and not looking to the needs of others.  Help me to be kind, loving, gentle, and patient with others, even when they “don’t deserve it.”  Remind me, Lord, that we ALL are in need of Your grace.  Help me to extend that grace freely to others.  Let me always be a reflection of Your Light.  Remind me that I am Your ambassador.  Thank You, Jesus!  In Your precious Name we pray.  Amen.

I would love if you stopped by my personal blog.  And, if I ever accidentally butt in front of you at the movies, (or cut you off in traffic…or am walking too slowly in front of you….) thanks for your graciousness!  Blessings!

“Suppose you had only 4 months to live”.

This was the conversation my baby sister, Aimee and I had one morning recently while driving to work.  “What would you do?”  Was her next question to me.

Aimee had had a dream the night before.  Woke her up with such a start, and then she set in to ponder the matter.  Suppose, just suppose that were true.

We tossed ideas back and forth, “Well, I suppose I’d continue on with what I’m doing”, was my first impulse.  “No, wait, I’d quit my job”.

“Do you think you’d travel to exotic places, or do something really daring?” She queried.

“No, I don’t think so.  I mean, unless the travel was for a memory for Jeff, I think I would stay home, get some things done for my family, write letters to loved ones, friends and some that I know need to know about Jesus.    But wait.  I would take a small trip.  I’d fly to California, Arizona, Colorado and the Bahamas.  See, I have some friends that I would REALLY love to see here on earth—that way, I’ll easily recognize  them in heaven.”

I’m smiling as I imagine this part, because 3 of these precious friends, I’ve already met, hugged and we have plans to shake the world for Jesus!  Well, maybe not shake the actual world, but at least our part of it.

Aimee said, “Well, that’s because you are  a writer–and I’m a talker.  I think I’d tell all my friends and family about Jesus.  I’d want them to hear it from me”.

“Right, I understand, but I would “tell” them as well.  But the written word, stands a long, long time.  It will serve as a reminder of our conversation.  Something they can refer back to.”  I paused at this point, remembering the prayer journal of Wanda’s that I held so dear.  Her thoughts and prayers to God.  A reminder of her steadfast love and faith.  That’s what I want to pass on.

Light dawned in Aimee’s mind as she realized I was right in writing the details of my love for them and my desire to see them either, come to know Christ, or grow in Christ.

A lot of plans are made these days for a future that seems so uncertain.  Colleges mapped out, the 5 step plan to matrimony, etc., but there is so much more.  What would you do?

The “Big Things”that we are destined for are beyond our wildest imagination. (Psalm 139:16-17)  Our dreams cannot possibly hold what is to come!  The Bible says we are to “set our affection on things above, not on the things of the earth.” (Colossians 3:2) 

Where are your affections?  The main things I contemplate on a regular basis are doing more for Christ.  (No, I’m not some Super Christian, I don’t have a red and blue suit with a dramatic cape–and I certainly don’t fly through the air, the flying part comes later.)  But His plans for me are pretty much on my mind all the time.  I’m usually thinking thoughts like, “okay, Lord, what next? Or, Okay Lord, When?

When Aimee asked me if I would travel to exotic places or do something daring like “sky diving”, I gave the exotic places some thought (not the sky diving though).  But as quickly as I thought about it, the realization hit me that once the New Heavens and New Earth are set in place-we will be able to travel anywhere we desire (should heaven be our homeland and not “the other place”)  Why spend the time seeing it now—IF we truly had so little time to spare—when we can see it with JESUS by our side, and the view not be tainted in the least with worldliness?  (Please understand, I am all for taking trips and seeing great things!)

But you know, right now,  we were destined for more than the mundane existence we call life.  We were called to walk in Christ (Colossians 2:6).  That means in all the fullness of grace, power and love. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

What is the “big thing” or the “more” in your life that you are seeking? 

Take some time today and write out a list of what you feel God tugging on your heart about.  A dream, even if you think it’s beyond your grasp.  It’s not beyond His.  Remember that the next time you feel a tug to do something for Him, and the enemy taunts you with your “inabilities”.  Friend, there is no such thing as an inability when you give your all to Christ Jesus.  Remember, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Let’s make 2010 a year to do more for Christ.  The year we give Him our absolute all!

© The Knightly News 2009.  Used by permission.