Laced With Grace

I am in charge of lunch duty for our Pre-K 3 class.  With little hands and fingers, much help is needed.  Parents pack the children’s lunch but it still needs to be opened and straws inserted into juice boxes.  I hear choruses of Miss Debbie from the whole group of children at once.  Each one needs help and …they want that help NOW!

I’ve had to stop at times and ask them “How many Miss Debbie’s are there?”.  They laugh and shout ONE Miss Debbie!  So I ask them to raise a quiet hand.  I tell them they need to learn to be patient.  I will help each one of them as soon as possible.  But patience is not something 3 and 4 year old children typically demonstrate.

Noah is a kindergarten child and he happened to be passing through one day when he heard my dilemma.  He quietly told me that patience means to ‘wait without complaining’.  I thought that was quite wise from the mouth of a five year old.  His parents must have shared that definition with him.  And after Noah shared that with me, our whole class can now recite the definition of patience; waiting without complaining.

But I have to ask myself that question.  How patient am I?  How patient are you?

Consider the following questions:

• Do you become impatient with people who don’t get to the point and ramble on?
• Do you use your cell phone when you’re in line to check out at a store?
• Do you text while your child is trying to get your attention?
• Do you lean on your horn when a driver misses the green turn signal?
• Do you pray for something and then give up when you don’t see an answer quickly?

There are times when I can identify with a few of these examples.  It actually saddens me to see how many parents do not give their full attention to their child when they pick them up from school.  We’ve become a society that does several things at once and has become quite impatient.

Galatians 5:22-23 says:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

When I surrender and allow the Holy Spirit to be in control of my life, I am more patient.

When I allow my emotions and self to be in charge, I’m impatient.

So we have a choice.

I know I’d rather be Spirit controlled and patient.  People notice and I can give God the glory.  And in a world of impatient people, that stands out.

Blessings and love,

Photo Credit: Birds of Paradise Wallpaper

I am a nester.  No matter where I live, I always strive to create an environment that reflects who I am.  I use fabrics, furniture, paintings, photographs and mementos to make it special.

I’ve often told my husband that for me our nest is a safe place where we can let down and be comfortable.  We go out into this world but we can always return home to a place of love.

Lately, my home has been changing.  I thought I’d continue to live in the home I worked so hard to design according to my specifications.

But two years ago we moved to a temporary home.

• Gone were the furnishings I loved.
• Gone were the gorgeous views.
• Gone were the trappings of success.

We moved into a simple house with a few pieces of furniture and lots of boxes in the garage.

Now we are in the midst of yet another move.  Our new nest is a one story condo that is quite small.  However, it is closer to work, family and the places I used to frequent.

Moving is something I’m not fond of.  And yet it got me thinking.

Where is my true home?

I woke up several times during the night with a song in my head.

It was the chorus to a song called “Where I Belong” by Building 429.

All I know is I’m not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong.

This song reminded me that this is not my permanent home.

Yes, I live in this world now.  But the Spirit of Jesus lives in me.  He makes His home within me.

John 14:23

²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

The physical structure doesn’t really matter after all.  He is my dwelling place and I depend on His Word and His Spirit.

Blessings and love,

Live a life of love.

I just finished a study of the Book of Ephesians.  Paul wrote this letter from prison to encourage the Christians living in Ephesus.

Can you imagine that?  Paul was able to encourage others while he was in prison.

Paul knew what grace was all about.  After all, he was formerly Saul of Tarsus who had been persecuting believers.  But Saul had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Acts 22:6-9 describes the encounter.  Saul did not initiate this encounter.  He was pursued and chosen by God for a specific purpose.  He is an example of God’s grace.  He did nothing to deserve it.  He did nothing to earn it.  In fact, he was acting against God’s ways at the time.

As a result, Saul became Paul and fulfilled God’s purpose for his life.  His assignment was to preach the Good News to the Gentiles.

How thankful I am for God’s grace.

He was so patient with me.  He forgave my sins.  I have peace with God.

So, what do I do as a result of this new life?

Live a life of love.

When you truly understand what God did for you and who you are in Christ, how can you not be overjoyed?

Yes, I still have my challenges and trials in this life.  But I have hope.

When I rest in Him and trust Him, His love overflows from me to others.  I have to admit my flesh can get in the way at times.  But each day is new and I remember that His mercies are new every morning.

How about you?

Are you allowing His love to fill you?

Are you walking in love?

Are you fulfilling His purpose for your life?

Blessings and love,