The PROCESS of becoming all I can be for GOD has a lot more to do with HIS work of GRACE in me than it does MY work on me or for Him
Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: A.S.V.
On the Other Side of the biggest step you have ever taken, you will recognize the innumerable number of BabySteps you took to get you to the place that the biggest step was even in the realm of possibility.
In fact, it may very well be that the biggest step was in actuality just another BabyStep in a long line of BabySteps.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matt 6:34
“…while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion…; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
Luke 15:20 NIV
http://bible.com/111/luk.15.20.niv
SEASONS Come. SEASONS Go. But they don’t come BACK, they come AGAIN. Each season comes for it’s own Purpose. Strive to learn / fulfill the Purpose in its Season. Don’t long too much for the end of this season in hopes for a better one to come. Sun. Rain. Wind. Snow. ALL Things work together for good. If one yearns in Winter for the coming Spring, Angels in the Snow may never appear.
Are you in a WINTER season? Take time to rest, heal and recuperate, asking God to reveal His Handiwork in You
Are you in a Spring Season? Take time to Sow the Best Seeds
Are you in Summer? Let Him continue the Work He started in you
Are you experiencing a Harvest? Be sure to share out of the abundance!
Understand, God’s Seasons are not, like nature’s, specific lengths and times. The Seasons in my life have usually been recognized as such only in hindsight. Some weeks I seem to be in a different season every day. But I have learned it’s possible to TRUST HIM to know BEST!
On the dark days of my life, I will follow the path I learn to take when The Son is shining bright!
photo by
God’s been writing this Love Letter to me for almost 10 years. It’s changed how I view Him. I’ve shared parts of it on this blog. This video portrays my journey.
This is not ‘my’ video, but I LuvIt!
“There is a war between guilt and GRACE!”
The other day, as I walked into our bedroom, I noticed these words written on the notepad next to the dual recliner where my WW sits. They come from the song by Matthew West, “GRACE WINS“
Lately, I’ve been pondering the effects of GRACE in my life. I’m beginning to realize that I have greatly undervalued what GRACE DID, what GRACE does, what God wants GRACE to do in, for and through me.
Matthew West continues his song with these words; “GRACE WINS!! Every Time!! For the woman at the well, GRACE WINS!! For the beggar on the street, GRACE WINS!! For the prodigal son, GRACE WINS!!“
This morning’s “Daily Verse” from “YouVersion” was Psalms 139:23,24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” NLT
This morning, I’m saddened to think how many times I’ve prayed that from a place of guilt and shame, standing (or kneeling, as the case may be) before God but seeing him as my Judge. It makes me want to run away. Sometimes I do.
This is not the prayer of a guilty man waiting to hear sentence passed for his guilt and shame. It’s the Q posed by the prodigal son to his Faithful Father at the breakfast table the morning after the party as they enjoy steaks leftover from the fattened calf and eggs the servants gathered that morning from the free-range hens in the yard. (Luke 15:11-32)
It’s the Q from the heart of a recovering, wandering son who has once again been embraced by “Abba-Daddy”
Let me see if I can put this in my own words as I picture myself sitting at that table:
“Dad, I came back yesterday because I knew you are a man of compassion. All my life I’ve seen how you treat your servants. You’ve always treated the men and women who work for you better than most of my friends were treated by their fathers.
Last month, I remembered that about you. Someday, maybe I’ll tell you where I was and what I was doing when I remembered, but I think I’d rather just forget about it. But let me simply say that I woke up in the blackest, darkest hole of my life.
Then I remembered!
YOU!
Dad, I came back to be your servant. I came back to sweep the dung out of your stables. I came back to clean the hen house on my hands and knees. I came back to…
YOU!!
NEVER in my wildest thoughts did I think I would come back and be your son!! I fully expected to grovel. I fully expected to spend the rest of my days trying to pay penance for the way I hurt you. But you… You!!! Dad, You put the family robe around my shoulders. You embraced me!! You put your ring on my finger. You brought out the finest wine, and Oh! Wow!! This steak…!!!
Dad, (by the way, it feels strange to call you ‘Dad’)… Let me take this moment to ask you, from the depth my heart, with all the gratitude I can manage; “Teach me. This morning, Dad, search my heart; test me and show me my hurtful ways. Daddy, I want to spend the rest my life letting you teach me how to be your son.”
THAT is the war between guilt and GRACE. The battle in my life between guilt and GRACE is fought at the gateway to the homestead. Because of my guilt, I hesitate to respond when He calls. The Father beckons me forward. I hesitate. The Father says: “Come, my son, all is ready. For you. I’ve been waiting. For you. Too often, I’ve turned away. In shame. “I’ve been watching every day. For you. But… I’ve done all can can do. For you. Unless you come home. The Choice is yours. I chose you, but I cannot make that choice FOR you.”
BECAUSE OF MY GRACE, THE DOOR IS WIDE OPEN FOR YOU, MY SON! COME HOME!!
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https://itreallyisjustthatsimple.com/50shadesofgrace
I grew up singing: “I surrender, I surrender all!” We were encouraged to completely commit the rest of our lives to Him – NOW! Today!!
That may have been just my perception, but that’s what I kept trying to do.
Tried, couldn’t do it. Wanted to. Kept falling down. Didn’t know what to do with my failure. Wanted to quit trying. Did…, for awhile.
Now I know. Now I (am beginning to) understand – Better!
PROCESS!!
BABY STEPS!!
God takes what we can give to Him TODAY and waits patiently until tomorrow becomes today and we get to do it again. And… again, the next day! And…
In the meantime, He asks us to just take a walk.
With Him. With His Son. Jesus. His Holy Spirit goes too.
“There is now therefore NO CONDEMNATION, (Anger, Impatience, Rejection) toward us – from Him.”
I once read someplace:
“When U’re listening to someone share a deep secret, take off Ur shoes. U’re on Holy Ground.”
I’ve literally done this. I’ve actually said: “Wait, my friend…” and reached down and slipped my shoes off. After I explained, he felt even safer to share. Other times I just slip them off (I wear shoes without laces) physically or mentally. It’s a reminder of the importance of the moment and the absolute necessity of confidentiality.
We ALL need a safe place where we can discover the real me. Miracles happen in that place. We ALL need to learn to sit on both sides of the table.
It can feel like the scariest place on the planet, but it’s a place as important to the soul as the dinner table is to the body.
“A secret. A burden. A fault. Yes, even a sin… shared with a safe person in a safe place becomes less than half as heavy.”
“Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”
“Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”
James 5:16 AMP
It Really IS Just That Simple 