Laced With Grace

This summer I have taken up running. Well “running” may be a loose definition of what I do; I would rather call it run-gasp-for-air-walk then repeat. Whatever it is called,  it has taught me a lot about myself and possibly my Christian walk.

When I start out in the morning I begin strong, I am determined to run the farthest today but after some time my body begins to become weary and I find myself trying to suck air into my lungs anyway I can, then finally I slow down to a walk.

Here are things I observed:

1. When it is cool enough outside and no one else is out exercising I find it a time of renewal and strength. I like the easy road.

2. When there are people out, more than let’s say two, I become cranky wondering why they are out exercising at the same time and on MY road no less. They get in my way.

3. But on the other hand, when I am at the point of gasping for air, ready to quit, I walk past someone and they keep me going. I do not want to be seen as a quitter. Or “gasp” a person impersonating a runner.

When we are on our journey as a Christian many times we start out strong, determined to become the best Christian God has ever had. The road begins smooth, there is a cool breeze in life….ahh life is good. While we are “on fire for God” and blazing the Christian road, God brings people on the same road we are traveling. Often times we just run right past them, because “hey I am doing important things for God today, get out of my way!” Finally after all that running and the lack of refreshment from God, we are left gasping for air. But suddenly at just the right moment God places another person on your path and it spurs you to not give up, to push forward that extra few minutes until you have completed your run for the day.

Our walk with God is a journey, he does want us to be excited to follow him, but too often we burn out and end up quitting. We stop our daily devotions or we are left standing in a room gasping for air wondering where God went. I have been there.

There is good news:

[28] Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
[29] He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
(Isaiah 40:28-29 ESV)

God never becomes weary, God gives power to those who feel like quitting, and not only does he give you power but he increases your strength. We all like to run our Christian walk on easy street—a street with no obstacles and a cool breeze—but it is not until we are left gasping for air that we find God’s power and renewed strength. Once we have run the road of difficulty we find HE IS FAITHFUL and God never meant for us to run it alone!

Heavenly Father please give refreshment to whoever read this today.  Amen

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It’s hard to believe it has been a year since Jim and I heeded to the Lord’s leading to leave Arizona after 20 years of ministry in three churches, the last being 12 years in Phoenix, Arizona.

When Jim and left Arizona in our old RV May of 2009 for a six weeks’ vacation to visit my mother in Pennsylvania; we both were looking forward to a time of renewal, refreshment, and revival of our bodies and spirits. Little did we know that in just a few short weeks our lives would never be the same.

For some reason beyond my comprehension, the Lord has led us on various journeys over the years most people find ridiculous and foolish. This past year being right on the top of the list of foolishness too! When we share our journey with others, for the most part we hear, “You did what?!” “You’re crazy!” “Better you than me!” Why would people say these things concerning our latest journey? The next several “Journey” posts will explain. I will share how God has provided for us this past year, as well as assist us in our adjustment to our “Journey of Change”.

Let us see what Webster’s Dictionary has to say concerning the meaning of change:
: to make different in some particular way
: to make radically different
: to give a different position, course, or direction to
: to replace with another
: to make a shift from one to another
: to undergo a modification of
: to pass from one phase to another

I love the second definition for change; “to make radically different.” I can certainly say that our lives have been made radically different this past year!

The number one remark or question we have received concerning our “journey of change” this past year has been: “How do you know it was the Lord’s will or leading?”

Psalm 37:7 tells us; “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” (NLT)

For several years prior to our vacation and move, Jim and I waited patiently in the Lord’s presence for Him to show us what He desires for us to do next in our ministry and lives. Each year we received the same answer – “Be still”. During our vacation Jim and I agreed that we would not watch TV or pass our time away with “busyness”; that whenever we were not with mom we would spend our time “being still” in His presence waiting patiently for Him to act. We took this time to pray, read His Word, talk and share our hearts with one another. It was during this time that the Lord revealed His will for our lives and the “changes” that would come about in full fruition the coming years.

It was during our vacation last year that we realized that God was working in our hearts and lives the past few years for such a time as this. We were not prepared the preceding years for what the Lord desires us to do… to give up…to relinquish our wills as well as worldly possessions in our lives. We had to ask ourselves the question; “Are we ready for what the Lord requires from us now?” “Are we ready for the next step in “Our Journey of Change”?

Stay tuned as I continue to share “Our Journey” on my blog.

A few weeks ago I shared about my father’s passing. The following is a post I did at Spiritually Unequal Marriage about what I’ve learned through his death. I so appreciated sharing about him here at Laced with Grace and wanted to share this post with you as well.

And thank you for all your prayers. This is the first time I’ve lost someone close to me, so it’s been a huge learning experience as well. Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

God prepares us for our trials.
As scary and difficult as it was to go through my daughter’s cancer diagnosis and recovery, this time prepared and strengthened me to handle my father’s death. I can even look back to other times in my life and see how they also strengthened me. This has shown me another facet of God’s complete provision.

God is with us in our grief.
During the last week of my father’s life, he was resident at a hospice house. This turned out to be a huge blessing in more ways than one. Just a couple days after he was admitted, I received a private email from a reader, asking for prayer for her marriage. Through our communications, she shared she was a hospice nurse. Though this dear woman had contacted me for prayer, she wound up praying for and encouraging me in my time of need. I know that was God’s provision as well, sending a precious and understanding heart to give me support at a critical time.

God desires us to live without fear.
The strangest realization has emerged in this time of reflection, loss, and grief. Having never lost someone close to me, I’ve feared this kind of loss. As the days progressed before my father’s passing, I experienced God’s constant comfort and reassurance. I realized that I didn’t need to fear the pain of loss or disappointment because God was with me. He will always be there to walk the journey with me. I also realized that in protecting myself from this potential pain, I also handicapped my ability to experience elation. In other words, I will now to dare to dream and not fear disappointment. If I believe God is with me in my trials, grief and loss, then I choose also to believe that God is there working in my dreams and aspirations. I trust he’s the one in control of all that and placed those desires there to begin with. I will dare to dream of the possibilities, and rest in the promise that God will bring all things to pass as he wills in his timing. And it will be good.

My earthly father taught me much on this earth, and in his death, I’ve learned even more, thanks to the provision of our heavenly Father. No matter what we experience in life, we can trust that God will be with us, and we can know that God will bring purpose from our pain and struggles.

In our lives we can persevere, hope, and dream. And we can trust that God is in control of it all, working for our good.

Praying and believing,
Dineen

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