Laced With Grace

Reagan cracked her ipod touch yesterday.

She was roller-blading and decided to sit for a rest. The only problem was that her tush was not enough cushion between the pavement and the force of her weight, so the ipod in her back pocket looks like a bulls eye that took a bullet. Her first thought was, Dad’s gonna kill me! Her anxiety rising, she yelled at Autumn, her friend, whose only offense was being present. She then rushed home, fleeing the scene, and tearfully sought my comfort. She had shattered her ipod, a friendship, and her Daddy’s trust. This girl was in trouble, and she knew it. But she also knew where to turn to to confess and find comfort.

Israel came to mind because some things never change. They had fled Egypt as fast as Moses could lead them, and they ran right into a dead end. Israel’s dream of freedom and rescue got squeezed between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s approaching army. It shattered their faith.

As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:10-12, NAS)

Do you find it interesting that they cried out to the Lord and then said to Moses…? They took their fear and frustration out on their friend because he was there. He was also a safer target than God. What they said reveals their hearts. They regretted having left at all. They wanted to go back. Israel feared and wanted to run home.

Moses advised them, “Fear not. Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord.” Moses, too, was pressed between two opposing forces: God’s will and Israel’s will. But he did not crack under pressure — he bent to both a little bit. He reassured Israel with, “…[the Lord] will accomplish [salvation] for you today.” The next verse (15) tells us he was crying out to God the whole time. What a great leader Moses is. When the people are in distress, he comforts them, but all the while, pleads their case silently before the Lord.

And just when you think you might have done the heroic thing by standing silent before the Lord in the midst of your fear, God says, “Go forward.” We might be able to muster the strength to stand in the face of our fears, but going forward always takes faith.

Israel took a step into the sea that was sure to be their ruin. That’s when God changed their geography. He cushioned their footfall with a firm foundation that miraculously rose up out of the sea to meet their timid faith.

Even when they regretted their choice, feared their circumstances, and wished to go back. God’s grace rose up anyway, to meet the weight of their next step into the Red Sea until they were safely on the other side.

Intact. Unshattered.

It may not have happened that way for Reagan’s ipod, but it always will when God’s people fall on his grace.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ~2 Corinthians 4:8 (NLT)

Everything.  Every single thing we do should begin with prayer. 

Now, before you think I’m nuts, I am not talking about asking God to help you pick out a pair of socks.  For crying out loud!  He gave us a brain to decide for ourselves….

What I am talking about is giving our day to Him before it begins…  Deciding at the onset of the day that we will use every opportunity to glorify Him and praise in in everything.

  “Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 GWT)

The “whatever happens” is where we all get hung up.

This time in 2008 we found it hard to give thanks in “all things”….but we pressed in, and pressed on, and did it regardless.

What happened when we gave thanks?  When we praised?  Our minds left our problems and focused in on God the Father.  OUR FATHER.  Who is Soveriegn above all–and HIS decisions can be trusted.

I love to drive down the road with Jesus.  We have the MOST amazing times!   I’m not some super-spiritual-woman-of-God…but I am a woman who loves time with her Lord and Savior….so when I get in the car–it is a purposed act to invite Jesus to be part of my day–especially our “time” in driving.

This act of purposed praise and prayer began several years ago when I would leave the house for work too early for me to even think about getting a Bible out for devotion.  I bought a New Testament on CD–which is totally read by women.  It was like having a few girlfriends along sharing the Word!

I would start the drive off by talking to Jesus.  Praising and praying about the day.  Then I would pop a CD in to hear what He had to say.  Sometimes I would just sing and my sister, Aimee would call me and we would share some tidbits from the Word or from a small devotion book we were reading at the time.

Mostly in my driving, I would pray.  Out loud.  That’s just me–I need to hear with my own ears sometimes what I’m saying to my Father.  I had about an hour drive–and I after struggling with that drive for many years without spending needed time in prayer–I discovered the best part of my day was the drive with Him.  Through the times of silent prayer—or out loud prayer–HE WAS THERE.

I found that the more time I spent praying and praising–the better I could handle whatever what thrown my way that day.  If I neglected it…well, you can just imagine how it might have been handled.  Not southern sweet tea style for sure!

Begin with prayer.  In everything.  Every single thing you set out to do–begin with prayer.  You will be amazed at how God will speak to you, through you, and how His very presence will go before you!

What are some things you can change to  give Him MORE?

• Get up a little earlier, even if it’s just 15 minutes. That habit will grow you–and you will soon find you are getting up even 30 minutes earlier. (Use it for time with Him though, not computer, not laundry, etc.)
• Pause before your tasks throughout the day and thank Him for the ability to do what you are about to do.
• Praise Him throughout the day….OUT LOUD.  He loves this!
• Share Him with another.  Give a sister a hug and tell her that Jesus loves her–so much that HE gave HIS ALL.  He expects no less from us.

Pray the day through…then let’s begin it!

© Angie Knight 2012–The Knightly News. All rights reserved.  Used by permission.

You stand at the back of an empty auditorium, seeing rows and rows of chairs soon to be filled with friends just like you. Your big moment is just a couple hours away. Soon you will hear your name being called and walk forward to accept your diploma.

Years of hard work, finished. You did it. Yes!

Yet deep down you feel joy and sadness. What once was will be no more. Goodbyes will be said and tears will fall. Festive foods await you. Family and friends celebrate your success today, but tomorrow will come and you will enter unknown territory.

Questions bounce around in your mind.

Who am I if I’m not a student anymore? What will become of my life? Will I find a job in this economy? Will I make enough money to survive? Will I get married? Have children? What trials are right around the corner? What successes?

Unfortunately, your unanswered questions steal part of your joy on this special day. So you smile and thank everyone for being there. You enjoy the party. You live well for the moment.

But before long you are home again. Alone. In your room. All is quiet and fear comes in like rolling waves, so you cleverly look for ways to ride them. The waves win and you are taken under.You can’t sleep. You ask yourself questions and only silence answers. Eventually you tire and fall asleep.

Only to awake to the same ole questions.

Why am I talking about a graduation moment as a 40-something-year-old mother of two?

Because we ALL mark our lives by moments like these. Those days where we feel valued and seen and accomplished. We cherish times like these. They can be defining and even life-changing. They are big days.

But today I am reminded of a bigger moment. A moment yet to come. A moment when all your questions are answered and all fears are erased. A time when your name will be called and you will rise to accept your reward. A day when you realize your reward isn’t yours after all. It must be passed on. So in holy awe and worship, you bow and lay it down before the throne of God.

A moment when the celebration and praise never end. But this time the moment is not about your success.

It’s about the success of love.

God’s love.

In this moment, you acknowledge love made your entire earthly life worthwhile.

God’s love healed you.

Love changed you.

This is the greatest moment of your life.

And love never ends.

You take a deep breath and think, Yes, this is the life!

(Today I challenge you to look for people to fill those empty chairs. Let’s invite others to celebrate LOVE while we still have breath. After all, God’s LOVE WINS!)

In love with Jesus,

Tiffany @ Tea with Tiffany