Laced With Grace

“ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
  And do not return there,
  But water the earth,
  And make it bring forth and bud,
  That it may give seed to the sower
  And bread to the eater,
  So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
  It shall not return to Me void,
  But it shall accomplish what I please,
  And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”  (Isaiah 55:10-11 NKJV)

A common practice in coaching, which would also be beneficial in day-to-day living, is to ask someone what they’ve tried before in solving a particular problem, before offering solutions.  If we offer a solution that has already been tried without success, we are really offering no solution at all.  We could be contributing to insanity, as I’ve heard someone say “Insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”   

How are you about trying something new to achieve the results you desire?  Sometimes it is difficult to try something new.  But what if that new “something” would be the solution to your problem?  A fellow Christian I know is having difficulty in a relationship but refuses to try the one thing guaranteed to help–spending daily devotional time in God’s Word.   As little as 15 minutes a day could make a huge impact on this person’s life circumstance. 

God’s word is powerful and life changing.  I know from personal experience.  It deeply saddens me to see how many people forsake the Bible’s life changing power in order to continue doing things their own way.  Just as the water from heaven brings life to earth, the Living Water of God’s Word will bring life to your life.  All we’ve got to do is drink it regularly.  Try God’s Word.  You’ll be glad you did.   

To ponder:

1) What is really holding you back from a deeper devotional time with God through His word?

2) How would your life be different if you could use God’s power to make changes?

And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as the frost on the ground.  So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?”  For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.”- Exodus 16:14-15 NKJV

Ah, they did not know that the small round substance on the ground was to be their food for the next 40 years!  God had heard the Israelites complaints for food in the wilderness, and once again provided for His people, this time in the form of bread from heaven.   However, they did not recognize their blessing for what it was.  Moses had to explain it to them.

Once again there are several principles packed into this passage.  Let’s examine them, shall we?

1. Blessings can be tests.  God will use blessings to test our hearts in order to determine our level of obedience to him.
2. Blessings can be disguised. Gifts from God aren’t always immediately recognized as the blessings that they are.  Manna means “What?” The people didn’t know what to make of this new foreign substance at first glance.  Once it was explained to them by an objective source, Moses, who wasn’t complaining to God, they understood what they had.
3. Blessings can be squandered.  We need to use the blessings God gives us as he intends them to be used.  Notice the specific instructions given to the Israelites in Exodus 16 for handling their blessing. (v20-21) Following God’s instructions will keep our blessings alive.

Is there a blessing hanging around in your life that you have failed to recognize?  Are you using the ones you’ve received and recognized for God’s glory?  We are blessed to be a blessing to others.  What will you do with yours?

And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” – Joshua 3:5 NKJV

I was driving home the other day from bible study when a song playing from my iPod brought back a vivid memory that I will never forget.  The memory itself isn’t important to this post, but the person and relative timing of when this particular memory took place surely is.   Two years ago, I had a brief conversation with this person – then an acquaintance, now a close friend – which sparked a chain of events that changed the course of my life.  Never underestimate the power of suggestion.  I can’t remember the exact words she said but they included something like “You should share your story.”    I didn’t even think I had a “story” worth sharing to individuals, let alone worth sharing to groups of people with a microphone in my hand.  The funny thing is that people seem to be encouraged by it.  God does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t he? 

I wonder what biblical history would have looked like had Joshua not been bold enough to inspire the people of Israel to cross the massive overflowing Jordan river (Josh 3:15) into the promised land.  Keep in mind that this was no dribbling stream and there was no bridge present to cross over.  This was a roaring river and to cross it required a leap of faith and literal miracle of God.  I love this story.  Joshua listened to God, conveyed God’s message to the people and then took part in a miracle.

Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan. (Josh 3:17 NKJV)

This was the start of something big.  A turning point in the history of the nation of Israel.  Have you ever really thought about the impact of your words on those around you?  One sentence could alter the course of another’s life forever.  That can be an exciting thought.  That’s why we must continually seek God’s direction in our lives and try to be the people He wants us to be.  We must make every moment count and be aware of opportunities to both speak for and listen to God wherever we find ourselves.   Remember, never underestimate the power of suggestion.  Live for impact.

For further thought:

1) What opportunities lie in your life where you can make a difference? 

2) How can you impact your today for tomorrow? 

3) What action will you take today to make a difference in someone else’s life?  Who has made a difference in yours?  Do they know it?  If they don’t, let them know.