Laced With Grace

Sometimes I can be so blond.

Color me surprised! When we first moved to California, I found myself sharing our home with unwanted critters. I moved from an extremely arid region, translation – Las Vegas, where the only small animals around our home were a few scorpions and tiny ants.

Following our unpacking and a few nights in our brand new home, I was sound asleep enjoying the cooler nights of Southern California. That’s when I heard it, a rustling noise in all places, the walls of our bedroom. EEK! I mean, I sat straight up in bed, freaked. Can I get an Amen here?

The next morning I figured we have rodents roving the interior of our abode. Thus, the Warrior Princess in me arose to do battle (queue: theme song from Rocky)

I trot down to the store, return and strategically place some not nice stuff around the garage for the brazen beaties. Okay, I felt bad about this too but it was either them or me.

That evening I slept in pure bliss, the rodents were silent, the dog was quiet and miracles of miracles my husband’s snoring only reached one decibel on the sound meter instead of two.

All was right with the world.

The week passed and I forgot about the unwanted visitors. Until…..

I stepped out into our garage. Eeeuw! What is that smell? I reason with myself, this is a brand new home. We must have a leak in the gas connection to the water heater. You know where this is going, don’t you?

I call the Gas Company. The technician comes out immediately. He steps out into the garage, sniffs once then slowly circles to face me and says flatly, “Lady, you don’t have a gas leak, you have a dead animal in here somewhere.”

Was my face red?

I discovered that morning just how effective rat poison is and how to add another embarrassing moment to my repretwa. I wonder, however, if we can see something in this story? Is it possible that we could be nibbling on a little poison ourselves?

Human poison is masked in words such as; unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness.

We chew on a little at a time. Convinced the poison is going to hurt the one in which we are harboring resentment. We chew on it and chew on it and the only one who is hurt is ….. us.

So how do we forgive those who have hurt us?

One: Relinquish our right to get even. Romans 12:19
Two: Respond to evil with good. Luke 6:27-28 This is hard medicine but it is necessary to keep resentment from growing.
Three: Repeat these steps as long as it takes. Matthew 18-21-22 until your heart and head catch up.
Four: Rescue others with the news of forgiveness. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. We hold the truth to living free.

Forgiveness releases resentment. Forgive because we are forgiven and Jesus wants us to live in peace and freedom. Colossians 3:13

Let’s make this real: Below is a luggage tag. Print it out. Write the name(s) of those you want forgive. Pray to honestly release your resentment. Or, perhaps you can’t forgive yourself for something in your past. Write your name on this tag.

This piece of luggage now belongs to Jesus. We are shipping our hurts and unforgiveness to Him. Drop your tag in the trash or your Bible. It’s now covered by Christ.

Lord, when we begin to feel those old bitter feelings well up in our chest, remind us of what we did today. We surrendered our feelings and bitterness over this person(s) to you. Don’t let us take it back. I ask in the powerful, life-changing name of Jesus.

Please visit me at…..



*inspired from the teaching of Pastor Chico Goff. Thanks Chico!

A few days ago, I went to see my friend Rose in the hospital. After months of health problems, I heard she’d suffered a seizure and was heavily medicated. I had no idea that she’d be unrecognizable. I went into her room and promptly came out thinking they’d given me the wrong room card. The patient I saw looked like a child-size emaciated refugee from Auschwitz, nothing like the Rose I knew. Three times I came out and three times the nurses assured me that the patient was indeed Rose.

So I went in again and starting talking to Rose. She shifted toward me. I talked some more. Her hand opened and I clasped it in mine. And then she spoke. Not words, just some sounds. But I knew. The voice was unmistakable. Rose’s distinctive husky voice.

I stayed a while, praying and sharing Scripture with her. It soothed both of us.

At first glance (and second and third glance), all I saw was a twisted knobby skeletal frame. But when I heard her voice, I knew that sweet, gentle Rose was inside the thorny brambles.

It’s like that with life sometimes.

I see the briars, the thorns, the brambles. I see a dark complex maze of problems and issues. And then, in the midst of it all, I’ll hear God’s unmistakable voice. I’ll sense Him in the midst of it all. And it soothes me. Then I can see past the mess to the message inside.

I’m so grateful for His presence in ALL things. No matter how difficult things appear, He’s there.

I pray you aren’t going through a thorny time right now. But if you are, be assured. He knows, He cares, and He wants to speak to you in the midst of it all. These are the times that grow our faith, when we can’t see for ourselves and so must trust.  Listen for that gentle voice and let Him lead you through.

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Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Cor. 4:16-18

Much love,

Susan

Ps – I saw my dear Rose today. She’s making some progress. She was able to briefly communicate coherently today and even joked. With a smile and chuckle, she said,“The Lord’s been good to me. I must have done something right.” As you read this or sometime during your day, would you pray for Rose? There are a myriad of issues, health-wise and otherwise, that need divine intervention. Thank you!

Where do you turn for help?  When life gets hard, do you run to tell others?  Or do you keep to yourself as you try to figure out a solution?  Maybe you try to pretend that nothing has changed to keep up appearances.  Or do you get so depressed that you don’t want to leave your home?

I recently watched a movie called The Company Men.  The story followed three men who lost their corporate jobs due to downsizing in the company.  The recession impacted the bottom line and so employees were let go.  It was interesting to see how each man dealt with this loss.

One man continued to leave his house at the usual time carrying his briefcase and returning home as usual so the neighbors wouldn’t realize he had no job.  Another man continued to go to the country club and golf despite the fact that he was unable to pay the monthly fees.  Keeping up appearances seemed to be so important to him.  Another man was so devastated and depressed, he spent time drinking alone in a bar.  Suicide seemed to be the direction he was heading.  Another man took a job that payed much less money and moved into his parent’s home with his wife and children to help make ends meet.

Although this movie was fiction, it resonated with me.  After all, this seems to be happening every day across the U.S.  People lose jobs, homes, loved ones to illness.

I was saddened to read the local news this past week.  A well known radio personality in my city was found dead along with his wife in a hotel.  It turned out that they were dealing with devastating financial and health issues.  They didn’t want to live and so they ended their lives leaving notes for their loved ones.  People were shocked by this news.  But people often take things into their own hands.

Where do you turn for help when you feel desperate?

Psalm 46:1-3 says:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, thought the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

These Scripture verses have so comforted and strengthened me during the past few years.

I experienced several major life changes and issues. I wish I could say I handled everything properly but that wasn’t always the case.  But one thing I always came back to and that was the ONLY ONE who had all the answers; the Lord.

I made the daily choice to pour out my heart to Him.  I prayed and asked for His help.  As I read my Bible, I realized that there was a purpose and plan for my life even in the midst of uncertainty and pain.  I learned many valuable life lessons through the painful trials.  And I’ve come to a point in life where I can truly empathize with others who are going through difficulties.

I encourage you to turn to the Lord when you need help.  He will lead, guide and direct you.  And in the process, He will provide His comfort and strength to get your through no matter how impossible it feels.

And when people ask you how you do it, you can give God all the glory.

Blessings and love,