Laced With Grace

I’m captivated by the Thunderbirds. The rumbling roar over Colorado Springs during football season or on graduation day gets me every time. And I’m not the only one. Cars swerve off the freeway and onto the shoulder, families gather in nearby parking lots, some watch from rooftops-just to look up.

How does this flight crew perform such amazing aerial stunts?

When I watch this air show, I think of words like courage, power, teamwork, training, and freedom. This is our nation, America-and this is our Air Force. These are the heroes of today. I have so much respect for their service to protect our land. (Thank You, servicemen and women.)

So what makes a hero anyway? And what makes a hero of faith?

Is it teaming up with a few others to go on a specific mission for Jesus? Is it laboring behind the scenes through blood-sweat-and-tears-prayer? Is it one being courageous to share freedom in Christ with another? I’m sure there are many definitions of a hero. In Hebrews 11, we find a list of faith-filled heroes.

I’m asking God to help me live like a hero for His namesake in my generation. And believe me, I’ve got a long way to go. I like easy, comfortable and safe more than I like risk, discipline and sacrifice. But because of Christ’s love, I must spread my wings and fly. Others need to discover this life-changing love while there is still time.

And when I am weary from flight, God invites me to rest under His mighty wing.

He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Psalm 91:4 (NIV)

Father God, thank You for the heroes of yesterday and today. Help me become a hero of the faith. By Your Spirit, empower me to soar to new places and share Your love. I want to make a rumbling noise for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Spreading my wings,

Tiffany

Find me at Tea with Tiffany

(pic taken by me)

Do you have interesting stories to tell like this Southern Belle I met last October? Framed photos of generations before you that bring you great joy?

Or are you like me, either don’t know much about your family tree? Or maybe their stories are ones you’d rather not hang on your wall?

Our lives are affected by generations before us. Parents. Grandparents. Great grandparents and beyond. We learn what is important by what they chose to do with their time. We learn what they cared about by what they spoke out about. What silenced them, we took note of, Maybe that doesn’t matter. Then we grow up and often repeat what we agree with and dump what we don’t. Regardless of the good or bad legacy, family touches our lives. The reality is we are here to leave a legacy. It’s overwhelming at times.

I’ve been thinking a lot about legacy this year. Asking myself hard questions. Finding no clean cut, easy answers. Feeling frustrated with my failures and yet feeling hopeful all in the same because I’m still here.

When I think about my future family members, I wonder, “What will they say about me?” “Will remembering my life bring them joy or sorrow?” “Will my photo be hidden or displayed?”

These two verses give me a clue about the whole legacy thing.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:5-6(NIV)

When I read and reread these verses, I see one strong way to affect future generations.

To love God and keep his commandments.

Father God, I need You. Without You, I’m a mess. I need Your life-giving, life-changing Word. I need Your Holy Spirit to guide me daily. Teach me how to love You more each day. I want to keep Your commands. I long to live a legacy of love. Please show Your love to thousands of generations after me. The greatest gift I can leave behind is NOT my picture and my legacy, it’s YOURS! In Jesus name, Amen.

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Tiffany at Tea with Tiffany

On this particular night, I delivered a meal to a family in need. As I sat and talked with this dad, I kept glancing at his two elementary aged kids. They stood on a chair over the kitchen sink. The girl was peeling a cucumber. Afterward, she sliced it and shared it with her younger brother. They ate it along with a couple cherry tomatoes, savoring each bite as if it was candy.

When the mom(a friend of mine) got home, I complimented her for her vegetable eating kids.

She said, “We grow our own tomatoes. My kids love picking the ripe ones every morning.”

What? It’s a month past frost, I thought. My tomatoes are ruined. Frozen first, now mush.

“Are you serious? How?”

She walked me out into her garage and turned on the light. I was stunned. These tomatoes hung upside down and ripened on the vine. Without roots. Without soil. Without water. Without sunlight. For over a month, they hung in the dark and grew anyway. How?

Now if this is normal gardening practice for you, please bear with me. I’d never heard of such a thing. And I love my garden.

Overwhelmed by the beauty, I saw God’s Word come to life.

I remembered John 15.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful,” John 15: 2,3.

“Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine,” John 15:5

Sometimes in life, we feel like we are dying. We are living in a dark season with no hope. No growth. No bright days. We feel forgotten.

Not true.

In the darkness, Your Master Gardener watches over you. Your tears are collected. Your cries heard. Your life carefully monitored day after day. God Almighty feeds you from His vine.

Yes, even in that dark place, fruit ripen.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control fill your life. (Gal. 5:22-23)

The Gardener then uses your fruit to nourish many. Those who are hungry, come and eat and are satisfied.

With a thankful heart, you realize you weren’t forgotten after all. Your life really mattered. That dark season saved your life. Had you been left out in the cold, you would’ve never survived. Broken, you realize the Vine died for you. The Vine willing give up its life, so you could bear fruit. And for the first time ever, you believe the Gardener loved you beyond measure.

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Abiding in Him,

Tiffany at Tea with Tiffany