Laced With Grace

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
(Romans 15:13 ESV)

As I was leaving my favorite coffee shop this morning, my eyes caught the head-line of the NY Times. I was so sad to read that yet another student opened fired on his peers…

As I was driving to work, my mind kept going back to the headline and the image of crying teenagers on the front page. I do not understand why these type of things keep happening. I read a little about the story on NY Times’ website to search for the reason. Reading about the teenage shooter, I understand the reasoning even less. Only one question comes to mind: Is there no hope left in this world?

Sadly, in today’s age of “reasoning”, many have turned away from believing that Christ died for them and their sins. Even thought Jesus was God, He was also human. He completely understood the struggles we face this side of heaven.

Jesus’ human side experienced hunger, disappointments, loneliness. Because of Jesus’ human side, I have hope. A hope that will see me through the day-to-day struggles. Hope that tomorrow will be brighter than today.

Today I asked myself: how can I share the hope I have with those who seem to have no hope left; especially the younger generation? With all the media we have at our fingertips, we have lost the human touch. We have isolated ourselves to live a life behind a computer screen. We don’t share hope longer in person…

“…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…”
(1 Peter 3:15 ESV)

Will you join me today to be intentional about reaching out to someone in your life that seems to have lost all hope? To touch the hopeless with the Good News of Christ’s death and resurrection? Share the Good News of the Giver of Life?

I always like to share Scripture passages on an index card with my Christian co-workers. So why not write out a Scripture passage for someone who does not yet believe? It may get me in trouble with HR, but my action may give someone hope…

Lord of Heaven and Earth; guide us today to reach out with the Good News of Your never ending love. Bring us together with the people that have lost all hope and are searching to find peace. Give us the words to speak of hope and love that can be found at the foot of Your Cross. We are trusting in Your mercy. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

There is a young man who lives around the corner from us. He use to live with his father in his fathers house, but ever since his father passed away, this young man has been living in the house alone and in the dark…

Literally.

Because of choices of a certain lifestyle, this young man spends all of his money on drinking and drugs and chooses to live in the house with no electricity. He has lived like this for years. It is a lifestyle, that quite honestly, I cannot even comprehend. With the climate that we live in here in the south, how can one be without air conditioning in the heat of the summer or be without a working furnace on the brisk cool nights of the winter?

Driving by his house the other day, I wondered to myself, “what would it take to get the lights turned on?” The simple resolve would be for someone to just pay his electricity bill each month, but the logical and most important resolve would be for this young man to leave behind those things that keep him in the dark.

We live in a world not so far fetched from this young man. I am quite certain that most of you reading this post have electricity in your home with plenty of light illuminating and plenty of heat to keep you warm on a cold winters night. But I wonder how many of you go into places that are not so brightly lit, the darkness over-weighs the light and it is difficult to see the power at work at all. I am talking about living in a world that is void of the light and power of Christ!

What a difference a small glimpse of light can make in a darkened room. Late at night when I enter my bedroom, in order to not disturb my sleeping husband, I use the light of my cell phone to lighten my path so I don’t stumble or stub my toe. Its just a small light, but its enough to show me the way. However, if I were to turn on the main light, oh how brightly it would shine, it would not only help me to find my way but it would erase all of the darkness that once was present.

When I go into my world, at my workplace, or at the grocery store or visiting with my unsaved family members, I have to ask myself the same question that I asked about my neighbor…”What would it take to get the lights turned on?” How far would I be willing to go to remove the darkness that so many of these that I rub shoulders with are in?

“Then Jesus spoke again saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” -John 8:12

For many people, it is only a matter of turning the power switch on. But… we have to be willing to share Gods love and light with them. Instead of wondering why they continue to live in the dark, isn’t it time that we reach our hand out and walk them into the light?

There is so much power in His light…our footsteps become more steady, our attitudes change, and our love grows deeply for others. There is someone, maybe a neighbor, maybe a friend, a co-worker or maybe a loved one just waiting to have alittle light illuminated in front of them so they can find their way.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for lighting my world. Because of You, I no longer walk in darkness, help me now to show your light to others so that all can see. In Your name, I pray. AMEN

Now … go and let your Light shine!

Visit my blog for more devotionals… www.womentakingastand.blogspot.com

“They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.”  Romans 1:25 (NLT)

Wherever we go, or whatever we watch, whether TV, movies, the Internet or standing in line at the checkout in the grocery store, we see what the “world” views as “super stars” – people to emulate.   It seems that every day there is some “star”, athlete, or even politician admitting or caught in uncompromising situation.  These are the individuals that the world is trying to get our children as well as ourselves to emulate- even worship.

Even in the Christian realm we must be careful not to put the Christian artist, authors, or even pastors in position of worship over God.  The created is flawed in this sinful world; but the Creator is not flawed, He is Truth.  People tend to believe lies that reinforce their own self-centered personal beliefs.  We need to be careful- even watchful that we do not trade the truth about God for a lie.  Today, more than ever, we need to know what the foundation is for our beliefs.   The influences of TV, music, movies and even the media often presents sinful life-styles and objectionable values  that we often find ourselves bombarded by attitudes and beliefs that are totally contrary to the Bible.  We need to be careful of what influences us to form our opinions.  The Bible is the only standard of truth so we must evaluate all other opinions in light of its teachings.

This world desires us to worship the things that God has created instead of the Creator Himself!  Even though some of the created may seem good, we must be careful of crossing the line from admiration to adoration.  The created can disappoint us, ever fail us, but the Creator will never fail- He is forever faithful and just.   He is our standard of Truth.   Our God, is always worthy of our praise and adoration.  Let us always give honor and glory to One who is worthy of all praise!  Amen!