Laced With Grace

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

What is grace? It is commonly defined as God’s unmerited favor. To me it has been God’s Refuge Against Crushing Experiences.

I’ve found grace to be the thing that keeps you from going over the edge. What about when you go over the edge? Well, then it’s what keeps you from a crash landing when you do go over the edge. What about when you have a crash landing? Then, it’s the thing that enables you to get up, be mended and keep moving forward. Let me put it like this, grace is what keeps you from being crushed by the many trials and tribulations you will experience or have experienced throughout your life.

We can learn a vital lesson from Paul, the writer of the scripture referenced above. He recognized that at his weakest point, he was the strongest. For at his weakest point, the power of Christ rested upon him and that is grace - the power of Christ upon you during your crushing experiences. It seems difficult when you are in those situations to glory in His presence, but that is the only way you can find comfort in His refuge. We must learn to completely, totally and unrestrictedly trust in God to be our strength. His strength is made perfect, comes to fruition, in our weakness. I pray that God will enable, equip and encourage you today to face whatever life brings your way, not in your strength alone, but in His strength.

D’Lorah is a licensed minister at Calvary Christian Center in Ormond Beach, Florida and an instructor in the IMPACT School of Ministry. She is also is an HR professional in the education industry. She has just completed and self-published a 30 day devotional entitled “G.R.A.C.E.”. You can visit D’Lorah over at her personal blog: Joy Cometh in the Morning.

Dawn is our guest writer today. You can find her penning her thoughts over at http://www.everydayordinarydawnings.blogspot.com/. Today, she shared the following devo with us:

Forty-eight hours of non-stop catching up make for a weary woman. There’s checkbook balancing at 11:00 pm, an application and a portfolio for a daughter’s art audition to a summer arts consortium, and nothing defrosted for supper when it’s 5:45. My son’s book bag zipper is broken for yet another day of school, and the stacked mail on the counter reveals the need for a follow-up mammogram – another phone call, another appointment, and another concern. It’s a race to keep up with life’s unfolding, and the clock ticks like a bomb.

On the way to the dog groomers, I notice it. Just noticing is a beautiful thing because I don’t have time right now for noticing. After all, right now there are half packed bags for a youth retreat in the hallway upstairs, last night’s dishes in my sink, and a cold, forgotten-but-longed-for cup of coffee in my microwave.

But there it was, at my favorite little red barn on the corner of my daily comings and goings: a postcard from God. And I noticed.

On this cold winter morning that wasn’t grey for a change, two horses, the pony, and the donkey — all the co-habitants together — were sun-bathing. They were stark still in the small sliver of barnyard that didn’t fall in dawn’s shadow. They weren’t huddled, but they each had carefully crowded in to stand in the sun.

My Dear Child, Today

When a family’s agenda crowds a life, when to do lists grow tails, when a life’s grown cold, just stop and stand in the warmth. Position yourself to feel My presence and take it in, slow and still. No need to fret, the world will spin without your help. The sun always rises.

With My hugs and kisses, barnyard animals and sunrise,

Abba Father

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6:33-34 (NASB)

You can find more of Dawn’s writings by checking out her blog:

http://www.everydayordinarydawnings.blogspot.com/

Laced with Grace extends a warm welcome to special guest Mary Beth! You can find Mary Beth sharing deep from her heart over at THE BACK FORTY!

I love Christmas and everything about it! One of the first things our family does to get in the Christmas mood is put up our tree. The busyness of the Holiday season can be overwhelming so I put my tree up the first week of November. That’s the excuse I use anyway.

My husband bought me our first artificial tree when our son, who is now 22 was 3. SO, 19 years ago. I was so excited….It was huge and I could leave it up for three months if I wanted… no watering or picking up needles required!

That first year I decorated my tree it took me days, rearranging ornaments, moving ribbons, adding baby’s breath…until I thought it looked perfect!

Then that first Sunday of December, my boy child came home from church with a Baby Jesus in a manger that he had colored in his class at church. He showed it to me and I oohed and ahhed over it like a good mom, and then he proceeded to walk over to my tree and place that baby Jesus smack dab in the middle of my PERFECT tree… Front and center!

I asked with as much love & fake sweetness I could muster, “Son…what are you doing?”

Son: “Putting baby Jesus on the tree Mommy.”

Me: “Ohhhh. You know, there is a big bare spot right over here on the side towards the back where Jesus would fit PERFECTLY!”

Son: “OH NO MOMMY… Christmas is because of Jesus so we need him right here in the middle on the front so EVERYONE can see him and know why we have Christmas!”

Well, how could a proclaimed Jesus loving mom argue with that? Fortunately for me my 3 ½ year old was very gifted at coloring.

But oh…that was only the beginning of those ornaments only mom can love on my ‘perfect’ tree…

We have the Egg carton bell.

And the pipe cleaner candy cane.

I bet no one else has one of THESE: The smashed pop can Santa Claus.
Need I say more?

AND we have to have the RED & Green paper chain…never mind that my tree was BURGANDY not RED and it didn’t match….

When he was older and didn’t care if his creations were on the front of tree, I thought… Finally…I can get back to my Perfect Tree.

Then came girl child, and low and behold if it wasn’t round two of ornamental additions.

We have the Angel who she INSISTED be the tree topper.

Another Candy cane but this one with tissue paper and 5x as large! Never thought I’d long for more pipe cleaner candy canes.

And yes another egg carton ornament. A tulip. Yes. How festive. Maybe if you live in Holland.

And let us not forget the ever-present Red & green Paper chain. However because my daughter is so crafty it is TWICE as long. Oh, and YES my tree is STILL burgundy.

I would just like to pause and say from Mother’s around the world,“BLESS ALL of you Pre-School, Sunday School and Elementary School teachers.”

For those of you with 4, 5, or 10 children. Just think, you will never ever have to buy another ornament as long. as. you. live. (Lest you think I have not one sentimental bone in my body, I cannot have my tree up without putting these ornaments somewhere on the tree… even in only visible to my eyes.)

A couple of years ago as girl child (who is now 15) and I were decorating the tree she started pulling out the old hand made ornaments and she would hold one up and say,
“I think this needs go on the back of the tree!!!!! What do you think Mom?”

I shouted, “HALLELUJAH!!!!!” and did a little elfin dance around the tree.

But do you know what still is front and center of our tree….Baby Jesus!

It helps us keep our focus on the PROMISE of Christmas.

Matthew 1:20-22 (CEV) tell us:
‘An angel from the Lord came to him (Joseph) in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said.’

PRAISE GOD the PROMISE of HIS SON…JESUS…was fulfilled.

JESUS came….was born of an immaculate conception…lived a sinless life…and died on the cross for us…so we could be redeemed…saved from sin and death…then rose again on the third day…alive. He desires to live in you & me… to be the LORD of our lives.

So I ask you today..

• what is at the center of your tree this Christmas season?
• WHO is at the center of your heart as we celebrate the birth of our Savior?
  

We are all human and get a little off balance. Ask the Lord to help you be intentional in the weeks to come to place Him front and center of all you are and everything you do so, as my 3 year old said, “So everyone can see Him and know why we have Christmas.”

Please visit Mary Beth over at http://marybethsbackforty.blogspot.com/