Laced With Grace

I saw God.

Let me explain. Lately I have discovered that my spiritual eyes have opened just a little bit wider. I’ve witnessed glimpses of God around me.

Most recently, I heard God. It was early Easter morning. You can read about that story on my Facebook page (look for the post on Sunday, April 8, 2012.)

But the story I feel compelled to tell is this one:

Several years ago, I found myself in what I would describe a very real spiritual battle. I had been praying for my unsaved husband and the spiritual warfare over him was intense.

At that time I began to pray for angels to be dispatched from the Lord’s throne to my home. To stand guard at every window and door, with their swords drawn ready to fight for me, my husband and our family.

God listened and Wow, what a battle it was. You can read that story (here). I am utterly convinced God dispatched those angels and they have been standing over this home ever since.

But, one of the amazing little miracles that came from that period of time was the doves.

DOVES

In God’s Word we learn that after the flood the Lord sent a rainbow as a promise He would never again destroy the world by flood.

Genesis 9:13-15 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

Now this might seem a little strange but in the same way God has sent a promise to me through the doves.

Ever since that time of battle, I have noticed that doves are all around. In the late afternoon two doves arrive to sit outside of my kitchen window on the fence. I see them on the back fence from time-to-time as well.

One recent morning while on my jog and praise, I spotted a dove sitting on the streetlight above the sidewalk where I was jogging. And as I finished my jog and was walking toward home during my cool-down, there it was…. the small dove flew down from the streetlight and started hoping down the sidewalk in front of me.

If you could have seen me, I burst into the broadest smile and started praising God and thanking Him for the angels that He sent to protect and care for me and my family. (yep, the neighbors think I’m strange)

I can’t help but praise the Lord …. out loud…. in the street because He is so very good to me.

Psalm 91:9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

How amazing and awesome is that passage? It’s true.

What I’m discovering is that for many, many years I really didn’t understand the God truly delights to make Himself visible. As my grandma would say, “It tickles His heart.”

But it took a long time for me to discern these glimpses. What I want for you is to learn how to see God in and around you in your daily living and to enjoy His love now and not wait years in the way that I did.

So, I’m wondering, have you seen God? Do you know how to open your Spiritual Eyes? Would you be interested to know more about how our God reveals Himself to mere humans?

Leave me a note in the comments when you caught a glimpse of God or/and give me your thoughts about the questions above.

Be blessed, Lynn

Please visit me at…..

The fireplace is glowing. The turkey is roasting. The pies are cooling. And the guests will soon be arriving.

This sets the scene for so many of us today, as we gather with our loved ones around a table of plenty and offer up our thanks for the blessings that we have all received. It is a wonderful day to celebrate the goodness of our Father and share in love and memories with our loved ones. It is a day to rejoice. To celebrate. And to remember.

The writing team here at LACED WITH GRACE will be sitting down to our own feast sometime today. Each of us live in a different town, even different states, but we all share a kindred spirit with one another and a special appreciation for each of you, our readers! We would like to take this time to just say THANK YOU to all of you who so faithfully tune in Monday thru Friday to share with us as we write from our hearts. We also give honor and praise to the One Who inspires us and spurs us on…Jesus Christ, Who is the reason we are able to give thanks.

So from our Thanksgiving table to yours, all of us here at LWG wish you and yours a very blessed THANKSGIVING!

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FROM NORTH CAROLINA… “This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for becoming keenly aware of God’s presence by searching for God in the moment. Sometimes the moments have full of joy. Sometimes the moments have difficult to accept. They’ve both come from His hand so I can experience the truth that He is enough.” -MARSHA

FROM SOUTH CAROLINA…‘This Thanksgiving,I am savoring the fact that my children are still all under one roof (only one more year probably). I’m thankful for that roof, the family God has made us, and that cooking and eating together carves an all-five-senses memory deep into our lives. Happy Thanksgiving, all.” - DAWN

FROM FLORIDA… “What a tremendous joy it is to be living in a day with such awesome opportunities to share the love of Jesus Christ with the world! I used to have a Mary Englebreit t-shirt that read: ‘Life is just so daily’. I thought it was cute–but as I reflect on those words in a spiritual context, I change it up:  ‘His benefits and blessings are SO daily!’ (Psalms 68:19) Thank you faithful readers for joining us on this journey of daily benefits and discovery of the truths that God would have us know!” - ANGIE

“This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the sweet times God has graciously given my family and I to spend together on camping adventures. With the unexpected death of my mother in law earlier this year, we have learned to savor and cherish these moments away were we can simply relax, connect and have lots of fun.” - DANA

FROM IOWA… “I am thankful for a wonderful husband and 5 beautiful children. I am most thankful for a God who loves me, forgives me, encourages me, and challenges me to be more like Him everyday. I am thankful for a network of beautiful women on the internet who so honestly share their hearts and experiences all for the glory of God. Have a blessed and joyous thanksgiving.” Much love – TRACY

FROM ARIZONA… “Happy Thanksgiving to all! I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness. He has provided me with what I needed through a very challenging season in my life. I have a wonderful family, many blogging friends, a job that involves children, an opportunity to write and share Christ and His peace. He is sufficient for all my needs!” -DEBBIE

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”(John 8:31-32 NKJV)

The word “abide” means “to live” or “to dwell.” So, to abide in Christ, means to live in Christ together as one person. Jesus Christ and the Word of God are one in the same. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. “ (John 1:14 NKJV). So, if we will abide in Christ, then we abide in the Word.

Abiding in God’s Word is extremely vital in becoming a follower of Christ; it results in knowing the truth, which sets us free from the bondage of sin. (See: Ephesians. 4:17-24 NKJV)

If we will abide in the Word, the Word will instruct us and teach us in the way we should go. (See Psalm 32:8 KJV).

 Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5 KJV)

In the Parable of the Vine in John 15:1-17; we find an illustration that Christ gave His disciples on how their relationship with Him should be. Everyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ and confesses Christ as their Savior receives a new position in life. Each new believer goes from being dead in his sins “in Adam” to being alive to God “in Christ.”

In Jesus’ illustration in John 15, God is the gardener, Christ is the true vine, His disciples are the branches held in place by the vine, and the Holy Spirit is the sap that flows from the vine to the branches, giving them the vine’s life and power. The branches cannot bear fruit unless they remain (abide) in the vine at all times. The gardener “grafts” the branches into the vine, and as the branches remain (abide) in this new position, they become “one wood” with the vine.

Christ used this example from nature to help His disciples understand how essential daily intimacy and connection with Him would be in their lives in order for them to bear fruit for God’s glory—which is the purpose for which He saves us. God’s vision for each of his children is that we know and become like Jesus. The only way to know and become like Christ is to abide in Him. We abide by surrendering our lives to Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to control us instead of being controlled by our sinful desires.

To abide in Christ, it is imperative that we abide is the Word of God. In John 15:3, Jesus told His disciples that it was His Words of Truth that had made them clean. In Verse 7, Jesus tells His disciples how vital it is to know His Word in order to have an effective prayer life. His Word is so essential if we are going to abide in the Vine and bear fruit that glorifies God. In order to abide in Christ, we must communicate with Him. As in any good relationship, this includes both talking to Him, and listening to Him. The Word of God is His voice in our lives. His Spirit assists us in understanding what God is saying through His Word. As we spend time abiding in His Word, the more we know Christ and begin to understand His heart, His plans, and His purpose. As we know Him more, we will trust Him more. As we trust Him more, we will surrender to Him more. As we surrender to Him more, we will bear more fruit.

It is imperative to understand that abiding is the only way that our lives will glorify God because when we abide, we bear the fruit that the vine produces (See Gal. 5:22-24 and 2 Peter 1:5-8).

God’s will for us is not just that we have an intimate relationship with Christ through abiding. His will is that we have an intimate relationship with Christ so that we will bear fruit for His glory.

If we abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit flows from the Vine through us- the branches- bringing to us the life and the power of the Vine.  To abide means daily surrendering our lives to God, allowing Him to work in us and through us.

Dear gracious heavenly Father, Thank you for providing Your Son so we can know You intimately through Him and Your Word. May we daily abide in Your Word of Truth, and in so doing may we produce much fruit for Your glory. In Jesus name, amen.