you know what I’m talking about – like one of those makeovers on Good Morning America.  They pick women from the crowd outside watching their show and totally transform them – well new hair color and cut, new make up and new clothes and shoes.  It’s fun and the results are dramatic.  Those women are totally transformed before our eyes.  I celebrate with them as I watch from my living room.

But how long will it last I wonder?  Thing is, this makeover transforms the outside while leaving the inside untouched and unchanged.  I’ve often thought a makeover would be fun.  (Who doesn’t love new shoes and somebody else doing your hair?)  But a makeover doesn’t satisfy my need or my longing for a total transformation from the inside out.

Paul had one of those, a total transformation, and it was pretty dramatic.  So dramatic in fact, that it required a name change to go along with it.  He was Saul, then he became Paul.  Saul was a persecutor of Christians.  Paul became the one persecuted because he was a Christian.  Saul put people in prison for their faith. Paul was put in prison by people such as he had been, for that same faith.

From the persecutor to the persecuted – total transformation does that to a person.

Maybe that’s why Paul wrote so much about rejoicing in all his hardships and suffering, he was glad to do it for the Jesus he loved so much – who had loved him so much first.

So much so in fact, that Jesus had sought Saul out while Saul was busy causing harm to those who followed Jesus.  He went so far as to make Saul blind so that he could see the light and realize who Jesus really was – the Messiah that Saul had been waiting for and watching for all of his life – and this Messiah had come and gone and Saul had missed Him – until that day on the road to Damascus where Saul met his Maker and received his makeover.

Saul’s total transformation began with him being made blind for three days.  He had been blind to Jesus’ true identity and this physical blindness would be the way in which Saul would gain his spiritual sight.  “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say  to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’  ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.  ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ ”  (Acts 9:4-5)

Thus began Saul’s total transformation.  A blinding light, a personal encounter with Jesus and Saul was now Paul.  All his energy and enthusiasm, all his dedication and desire, which Saul had used to persecute the followers of Christ – Paul used to serve the Jesus he now knew and loved.

God had a purpose and a plan for Paul – which necessitated a total transformation of this man before he could be used by God for His good purposes.  “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go!  This man (Saul/Paul) is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.’ ”  (Acts 9:15-16)

I would like a dramatic, totally transforming makeover of myself.  I could be the new me, whatever that would look like – just like the ladies on Good Morning America – quick, miraculous, painless transformation.  They just had to show up, to present themselves as available, to trust those in charge of hair, make up, wardrobe etc. and then to let those professionals do their jobs and work their miracle.

There is a transformation coming for me that will be quick and painless like that one.  “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”  (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

This is a total transformation that lasts forever!  I will be clothed with the imperishable!  Now that’s a wardrobe that not only lasts but never goes out of style!  I love that it takes place “in the twinkling of an eye”.    Nothing like I am experiencing now in my daily life amid the mundane as it were.

You see, I am being transformed even now.  It’s just not one of those blinding light, twinkling of an eye kind of transformations.  It’s a long, slow, painful process yielding results not always readily recognizable.  This transformation is so gradual that it is mostly imperceptible while in progress.  Results are not always visible except maybe in hindsight. This is true for the climber who labors one small step at a time ever upward, putting one foot in front of the other, not realizing how far he has come, until he looks down and sees that he has indeed made progress.

Like water wearing away at rock – rounding, smoothing, perfecting, beautifying, bringing out all the hidden layers, patterns, designs and colors in the rock – not seen immediately, but revealed over time – this is the transformation that takes a lifetime- this is what my Creator is accomplishing in me as He works in me slowly, patiently, gently but persistently – until His work in me is finished.

God is continually pouring over me – “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”  (Philippians 2:13)  His good purpose of a total transformation in me from the inside out, making me more like Christ, a little at a time – chipping, chiseling, wearing and washing away everything in me that does not belong there, everything that does not bring glory and honor to Him as my Creator –  so that all that is left is the beauty He created in me which will one day be revealed, like the beauty hidden in the rocks – (no instant gratification or quick fixes on this transformation plan)

But like the ladies getting their morning makeover, I do have to make myself available, to present myself, to give myself up into my Heavenly Father’s hands and to trust Him to do the work of transformation that He wants to do in me.

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   (Philippians 1:6)

sincerely,       Grace Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I’m reading these words, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its’ work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  (James 1:2-4)  and I’m pondering the apparent contradictions contained in them.  Contradictions which nonetheless, real life experience proves true.

First of all, the words joy and trial don’t seem to belong together in the same sentence.  And yet there they are.  But what stood out to me even more was the promise that these trials, this “testing of my faith” was going to leave me “mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  How can this be?  I thought hardships and trials were meant to tear me down and to leave me weaker but God says trials are to build me up and to make me stronger – not to take something from me but to give me something?

James says, “not lacking anything” –  am I to understand that God’s purposes in my trials are accomplished not in taking something away from me but in giving me something – something of so great a value that I could not gain it in any other way? He wants to give me “all things” so that I will be “lacking nothing.”

“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”  (Romans 8:32)

Maybe before my Heavenly Father can give me “all things”, the things that He knows I need, the things He wants me to have – maybe first He has to take from me what weighs me down, what keeps me from my purpose here, what keeps me from my destination – so that He can replace what He takes with what He knows I will need for where I am going, where He is leading me.

Trials are like the tides, washing away the trash, leaving behind treasure in the wake of waves retreating – taking from me what God knows I must let go of and bestowing on me treasures I did not know to ask for – how could I?  I did not know such things existed.  Such gifts His presence bestows – nameless, priceless, all sustaining – His peace that passes understanding, wrapping the untold treasures of my trials together – waiting for me to unwrap them, to uncover and discover the gifts He’s given while I persevered unaware  . . .  ( even perseverance being God’s gift – the gift the testing of my faith bestows)

Who would have thought – my trials are enriching me, not depleting me.  “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”  (2 Corinthians 4:17)  My trials, disappointments and heartaches are not keeping me from my destination, my destiny – they are the true path to my destination.  I will not arrive there in spite of them but because of them.

God wants me to be “mature and complete, not lacking anything” and by His grace that is how I will one day arrive.  My trials and troubles in this life are being used by my Heavenly Father to accomplish His good purposes in me. What my culture tells me is bad for me, God actually turns to good because my Heavenly Father cares for me and “works all things together for good for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.”   (Romans 8:28)

For now I am “confident of this, that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 1:6)

I will continue to experience more testing and more trials – “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”  (Job 23:10)  and in the end I will be lacking nothing  . . . my Heavenly Father will make sure of that . .

sincerely,      Grace Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sometimes I feel like a small child on a road trip.  I am continually asking my Heavenly Father questions such as “how much longer?” or “are we there yet?”  or “is this it?”, only to be disappointed each time as the trip continues with no end in sight and no definitive or satisfying answers to my questions.  I am left to wait and to wonder as I continue my journey of faith by following the path He leads me on each day.  I can’t see or know what lies ahead for me, which causes me worry and anxiety.  It’s the not knowing that is so unsettling for me.

These words are ever present in my mind, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  (Ephesians 2:10)  WOW!  I have been created for a purpose (destiny) and God has already prepared things for me to do in advance!  Now you can begin to understand why I have these questions about my life’s journey.  I’m not just starting out in life like a child is.  So why am I still asking these childlike questions?

Sometimes I feel like I haven’t arrived at my destiny yet, the purpose for which I was created.  I am still searching for it.  Do I even know what it is?  What it will look like?  Do I not recognize it?    So I continually ask my Heavenly Father as we travel together, “is this it?, is it this?” – as I try different ways of making a difference in this world.  I feel like I’m on hold much of the time, still waiting to see many of my prayers fulfilled.  As I wait, I find myself continually questioning – “how much longer?”, just like the child in the back seat of the car on the road trip.

Like the child on the family road trip, I don’t want to miss out on anything and I’m in a hurry to get there.  (wherever there is)  Likewise, I don’t want to miss out on anything God has prepared for me to do and I don’t want to miss anything along the way that He might want to show me or to teach me.  I don’t want to be so focused on searching for my purpose or my destiny that I miss out on the beauty and the joy of my journey.

Still, I find myself asking God, “am I there yet?” and “I didn’t miss it, did I?”. (whatever it is)  Did my disobedience or blindness or hardheartedness or selfish busyness cause me to miss what You prepared all along for me to do?  I am very much the child on this road trip that is my life, traveling with my Heavenly Father in the driver’s seat. And that revelation alone should put all my anxious questions to rest.  God is sovereign. He is driving.  He’s got this!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

He knows the way – He is the Way!

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 1:6)

God will make sure I arrive at my destination -the destination He prepared for me.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  (2 Corinthians 9:8)

those good works that God prepared in advance for me to do – (Ephesians 2:10)

This road trip I’m on has had and will continue to have twists and turns and molehills and mountains (and potholes) and rivers and deserts but with the Lord as my driver, as my shepherd, He leads me   . . .

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”    (Psalm 23)

sincerely,       Grace Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually, it is not PayPal that turned out to be my enemy, it was my enemy pretending to be PayPal that turned out to be what they already were – my enemy. I did not recognize my enemy because they were in disguise, of course.  Deception is the only way they can succeed.  They must deceive in order to gain access to me or to whatever it is that they want.

In this case, some nameless, faceless criminal wanted access to my personal information so that they could use it to steal from me.  So like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, they sent me an email, pretending to be PayPal.  They were a hacker in PayPal’s clothing.  And I believed them.  The subject line of their email to me, “unusual activities” got my attention and put me in a panic immediately.  With all the daily news about identity theft and how it ruins people’s lives, I immediately assumed that this “unusual activity” on my PayPal account meant that my identity had been stolen and someone was already up to no good using my account.

What to do?  Well, this email from my “pal” PayPal told me exactly what to do. Except that it wasn’t PayPal at all, but a thief pretending to be my protector from theft.  How ironic is that anyway?  The one who intends me harm is the one posing as my protector.  This isn’t the wolf disguised as a sheep, this is the wolf disguised as the shepherd.  Even more insidious.

So insidious that I didn’t recognize this wolf in shepherd’s clothing.  I trusted and responded by following the instructions in the fraudulent email.  I realize now this is just an impersonal version of a similar crime scenario that used to take place (and still does) before the internet, when criminals had to commit their crimes in person.  They used a variety of disguises to gain entrance into homes such as repairmen, servicemen, gas company employees, cable company etc.  They would even wear some sort of uniform and have ID of some kind.  Hard for the unsuspecting homeowner to discern the difference between an impostor and a person with legitimate business to conduct.

Discernment makes all the difference and discernment is what I lacked the day I got the email from PayPal, the email that wasn’t really from PayPal.  But it looked like PayPal, same logo in same colors – well, no, not really.  Upon closer inspection one could see it was similar to but not the same as.  There’s a big difference between similar and same.  A difference that makes all the difference in the world. My job is to discern that difference.

But this time I didn’t do that.  I was more focused on the urgent message than the identity of the messenger because I thought I knew the identity of the messenger. I didn’t stop to check his identification or his credentials.  Had I done so, there were obvious clues I could clearly see had I taken the time to question and to examine more closely this email before I took the action of blindly following the impostor’s instructions.

This whole experience with my cyber thief has got me to thinking and asking myself, just how easily fooled into following another person am I?  Jesus had something to say about this in John 10 when He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; (don’t I know that!) I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep.  So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.  Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.”

So how do I know the good shepherd?  Jesus said He was the good shepherd and He said, “the sheep listen to his voice.  He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.   . . .  His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.  . . .  My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.”

I also take to heart the advice of 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test everything.  Hold on to the good.  Avoid every kind of evil.”  and I like Paul’s advice to the Philippians in 1:9-10 when he said, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,”.

God wants me to be discerning.  He does not want me to be fooled by false voices, false promises, false instructions, false teachings that will cause me harm.  God will give me wisdom and discernment if I ask Him for it instead of relying on my own limited judgement.  I have His promise on that.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”  (James 1:5)

I know to run from a wolf.  We all do.  It’s when the wolf is wearing sheep’s clothing or worse yet, when the wolf is wearing shepherd’s clothing, that he has the opportunity to get close enough to me to do me harm before I can recognize that there’s a wolf under the disguise.

Evil is the same way.  I can recognize evil.  It’s when evil masquerades as something else, calls itself something else, something non-threatening, familiar and seductive that I can be caught unaware and defenseless, if I don’t test everything and exercise discernment in all things.

I will certainly examine my emails more closely from now on in order to discern the true identity of the sender before I respond.  Because the identity of the sender makes all the difference in how I view the email.  Likewise, I will be careful to know whose voice it is that I am listening to and responding to before I follow.  My life may depend on it.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”  (Proverbs 16:25)

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”   (Psalm 23:1-3)

sincerely,       Grace Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this is the sequel to the “if you give a car a tire” post written a year ago.  The reason for the sequel?  The tire drama continues.  My tire pressure light continues to come on at random and inconvenient times.  (well any time is an inconvenient time, I mean when is a good time for a flat tire?)  so most recently, my tire pressure light came on and I ignored it for awhile.  I didn’t have time to take the car in and the tires looked fine to me.  I mean perception is reality – right?

So the standoff continued.  Would I believe what I could see with my eyes or would I believe the glowing, bright orange tire pressure light on my car’s dashboard?   I didn’t want to think that anything was wrong.  That would require time and expense on my part to find and to fix the problem.  (assuming there really was a problem)

Who was right?  Turns out the tire light was right all along.  There was a nail in one of my tires and I needed to get a new one.  Which apparently makes my car very happy.  She seems to want new tires just like women love to get new shoes. Which is why I personally think her tire light comes on so often – she is hoping to get new tires, but there are times when I take her in and it is a false alarm.  I’m sure she was just thinking that her tires were so last year and that she needed to update her look.  She thinks using her tire pressure light is the surest way to get me to buy her new tires.

Well, on this particular day I gave my car a tire, but as usual that wasn’t enough for her.  She was feeling tired and wanted to be renewed, recharged so to speak. She thought this service station visit was a spa day for her.  (I’m thinking I am the one who could use a spa day right about now)  So, she didn’t just get her battery recharged  . . .  she got a brand new battery!  Her energy had been low and this was the new lease on life that she was craving.  We celebrated her newly rejuvenated self with a trip to the car wash, sparing no expense, getting her the Works Wash!

Hopefully, this will keep her happy.  But for how long?  Past experience has taught me that it is only a matter of time before her tire pressure warning light again lights up her dashboard.  So I will give my car a tire  . . .  but it won’t end there – it never does  . . .

I feel like I need to remind my car that “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.”  (or from having brand new, fancy tires)  (1 Peter 3:3)

And I need to remind myself not to ignore the warning light when it comes on.  It is there to protect me, to give me a heads up that something is not right, so that I can fix what is wrong before things get worse – before I continue further down the path without correcting the problem.  I drove for too many days with the warning light on in my car.

My conscience is the warning light my Heavenly Father has given me, to protect me and to guide me.  I need to learn not to ignore the warnings of my conscience telling me that something is not right.  Like the tire light, God’s gentle but clear warning will come before I can actually see that there is a problem.  Everything seems fine.  I have no idea what danger awaits me.  Just as I had no idea that there was a slow leak in one of my tires caused by a nail.

God knows before I do, before I can see it.  I just need to believe His warning and not my current circumstances.  Good advice.  “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”  (Hebrews 3:15)

Heavenly Father, I ignored my car’s tire light for far too long.  May I never ignore Your voice and the leading of Your Holy Spirit.

sincerely,      Grace Day

 

 

 

See the crystal snow tears, tears of all the years tears,

tiny crystal snow tears falling on the world.

See the crystal snow tears, wash the world with white tears,

cover pain with beauty tears, falling on the world.

Crystal snow tears for man’s sorrows, snow tears for man’s woes –

white, the color of eternal joy, tears God’s love bestows.

Tears to give beauty to our pain, tears to renew our souls,

tears to cover the scars of earth, tears to make us whole.

Perfect snow tears, just like mankind – each one God’s own creation.

Perfect snow tears fall to earth, God’s sign of celebration.

For unto us a child is born, the hope of every nation;

as on that night crystal snow tears fell in joyous expectation.

Yes, God’s tears, crystal snow tears, fell freely to the earth –

a sign of eternal joy to come, on the night of Jesus’ birth.

I watch the crystal snow tears fall and feel their celebration,

snow tears are my own soul’s weeping, my plea for re-creation.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

sincerely,      Grace Day

 

thistles, thorns and thunderous things, like waterfalls and angel wings –

hints of heaven everywhere, we wait in wonder, not despair.

earthquakes quaking, volcanoes shaking,  wild geese gliding, formation breaking –

above the lake so deep, so wide, I cannot see the other side –

hurricanes howl – roaring lions prowl – while jungles full of feathered foul –

keep watch over secrets dark and deep, like where the crocodile goes to sleep –

mountains towering, flowers flowering –

song birds singing, cicadas ringing –

waves in rhythm ebbing and flowing – with the seasons’ coming and going –

stars twinkling, geysers gushing – dusk is coming, the whole world hushing

till owls and bats and bullfrogs rise –  while luna moths and fireflys – with magical mystery fill the skies –

crickets chirping, bullfrogs burping –

raccoons racing, salamanders slurping –

beavers building, foxes hunting –

there is food for all, no one goes wanting.

snow flakes flurrying, field mice scurrying, sand crabs burrowing –

hoot owls hoot, and screech owls screech,  sea gulls cry from every beach, while butterflies fly just out of reach –

bees buzzing, hummingbirds humming –

keeping time with creation’s drumming –

rain falling, rivers running –

eagles soaring, a sight so stunning –

even prairie dogs down below, pause to watch the eagles flow

across the sky and out of sight –

the elephant envies the birds their flight

and wonders what the view from there –

nothing beneath their wings but air.

oh world too wonderful for words –

from flying fish to swimming birds –

full of thistles, thorns and thunderous things, like waterfalls and angel wings

how fair then must heaven be?  I will just have to wait and see!

“How many are Your works, O Lord!  In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.”   (Psalm 104:24)

“Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.”   (John 1:3)

sincerely,       Grace Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

oh world – how I long to wrap my arms around you and hold you tight!  You are so full of beauty and so full of pain.  Neither can be contained in mortal minds nor hearts nor souls. Beauty so far beyond comprehension, the eye cannot fully register its wonder.  Pain, pouring out of every person – the cries of the wounded drowned out only by the cries of those whose precious ones have been taken from them – while the cries of the dead echo louder still . . .

I hear the cries of the mourners, loud and strident, rising and falling like the tides – from every continent, from every country, from every city,  the language of love and of loss sounds the same – the silent anguish deafening across the globe –

tears falling fast and furious, are not able to wash away the pain,  it is our tears that fill your oceans, oh world –  it is our pain that builds the walls that make a place for our pain to put down roots and take up residence – to grow unseen, protected, out of sight behind the walls – until the walls can no longer contain what has grown within – and they give way . . .

pain spilling out into the world, destroying everyone in its path, leaving again the mourners crying out –

oh world, I would comfort you and hold you tight and take your pain so far away, that memory could never find it, though she searched for infinite years.  I would sing over you a lullaby and write all your names upon My palms.  I will remember your sins no more but I will remember you forever.

I would shelter you under My wings even as I am preparing a place for you.  I would give My life for you, indeed I did – and I will come again to get you.  oh world – at once so beautiful and so sad  . . .  I hear the unceasing wailing of your mourners, I know the pain piercing every heart  . . .  I am collecting all your tears

“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)

“Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,”  (Isaiah 53:4)

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.  Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.”  (Psalm 68:19-20)

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”  (1 Peter 5:10)

sincerely,       Grace Day

 

 

 

 

Lord, today I come to You empty – needing to be filled.  Tomorrow I may come to You full – needing to be emptied.

how often I come empty handed into Your presence, offering nothing up to You – not even gratitude for Your good gifts, nor praise to You, which is Your due because of who You are . . .  I should come full of both  . . .

how often I come to You full, full of requests I want You to grant, full of my plans for myself that I want You to bless and cause to come to pass  . . .  I come to You so full I have no room for what You want to give me  . . .

so I come to You in need of both,  of both Your emptying and Your filling  . . .

Right now, I am empty, I need to be filled with Your peace, Your comfort, Your wisdom, Your forgiveness, Your joy, Your compassion, Your love for others – that I might share all Your gifts generously with anyone and everyone You send my way  . . .

my condition changes constantly, but You don’t change, Lord – there is no shadow of turning with You – I can count on You to receive me – in whatever condition I am when I come to You – I can come to You as I am  . . .

Next time I come to You I may be full, full of self and sin – needing to be emptied out so that You can fill me with good things once again – so that I can be of use to You once again  . . .

sometimes I come to You with a sick, sin-stained heart – needing Your healing, cleansing restoration of my heart

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”  (Psalm 51:10)

sometimes I come to You burdened by the weight of my sin – needing Your forgiveness

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  (1 John 1:9)

sometimes I come to You discouraged and weary – needing encouragement and renewal

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles;”   (Isaiah 40:31)

sometimes I come to You full of grief and sadness – needing comfort and hope

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  (Psalm 34:18)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, . . . ”  (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

Lord, I can come to You, just as I am – empty or full, bruised or broken and bleeding – no matter what my condition I can come to You as I am, in whatever way, I can come to You as I am  . . .

sometimes it is with a limp that I make my way slowly towards You, at other times crawling, other times I am climbing upward towards You, climbing out of the pit life has put me in, other times I am stumbling, straining just to stand, or I am walking weary but resolute in pursuit of You, other times I run in a full sprint towards You,  – but this I know – no matter how I come to You – in whatever condition – in whatever way – You will receive me!

You will receive me, You will take care of my needs, You will fill me up or You will empty me out – You will convict me and You will comfort me, You will forgive me and You will purify my heart – whatever it is that You know I need, that is what You will do  . . .  but You will always receive me  . . .

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ ”  (Matthew 19:14)

Jesus received them, He receives me every time . . .

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away.”  (John 6:37)

“Just as I am, without one plea  . . . Just as I am, You will receive, will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,  Because You promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”  (hymn)

sincerely,          Grace Day