I could feel my heart grow heavier with each prayer request shared. This is what “bearing one another’s burdens feels like, I thought. We call them “burdens” for a reason – they are heavy. Prayer requests are not to be taken lightly. (pun intended) Burdens by definition are heavy – they weigh on us, they weigh us down and they wear us out. Unimaginable – the things people I know and love are going through on a daily basis. We are broken people living in a broken world. No wonder the journey is so hard. But there is hope for each and everyone of us. And as preposterously unlikely as it may sound, there is also joy in this journey. It just depends on who is journeying with you. Jesus said,

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

A light burden. Now that’s an oxymoron if ever there was one. Nevertheless, that’s what Jesus promised us when we come to Him with our burdens. We are invited to exchange the yoke of this world, which is heavy, harmful, confining, suffocating, disabling and deceiving and take His yoke instead, which Jesus said is “easy” and His burden “light.” Seems too good to be true but Jesus promised rest for our souls. That’s the kind of rest that this world just cannot give us. The world gives us chaos and conflict. Jesus offers us peace and the promise of His presence with us while we are experiencing trials.

Jesus was with His disciples in the boat during the storm. He was with Daniel’s three friends while they were in the king’s overheated furnace. He was with the Israelites during their desert wanderings. And Jesus is with you and me too, through each and every trial and trouble that we face. He is with us and He’s helping us carry our heavy loads.

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalm 68:19)

Maybe that’s why Jesus said “My burden is light” – He’s the One doing the heavy lifting for me! And the pain and pressure He does allow into my life, He uses to accomplish His good purposes for me. Paul says –

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

I am reminded of diamonds and pearls. Both are considered valuable and beautiful. But both of them are created out of intense pressure, pain and in the case of diamonds, intense heat. Difficult circumstances produce in us an eternal glory, conforming us more closely to the image of Christ. God uses the pains and pressures of this life to perfect us into the people He created us to be in the first place – people of infinite value and beauty – just like the diamonds and pearls He created from atoms of carbon and grains of sand.

Only God makes diamonds from carbon atoms and pearls from grains of sand. Beauty from ashes. Beauty from pain, pressure and intense heat. Beauty from bearing life’s burdens. These are God’s good and miraculous gifts.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

The journey from carbon to diamond or sand to pearl is a painful, slow-paced process, but in the end God brings forth something of beauty and value – diamonds and pearls – you and me! Job, the poster child for suffering, understood this truth of pain producing in us something both beautiful and valuable. Job said,

“But He (God) knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

Job trusted God to eventually, in His perfect timing, bring beauty from the ashes that were all that was left of Job’s former life. You and I, dear readers, can trust God to do the same for us. God is turning each one of us into diamonds, pearls and gold as we follow after Him day after day, one day at a time.

“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. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)

sincerely, Grace Day

I sit at the desk, surveying the classroom full of students doing everything but their assignment for the day. Phones, friends and food are apparently too distracting for teenagers to be able to concentrate. But today my concentration isn’t that much better than that of the students. My mind wanders to a pleasant place, a place of warm weather, wonderful vistas of the ocean and fabulous food everywhere you go, including key lime pie on a stick dipped in chocolate. Who knew such a perfect dessert even existed? But it does in paradise. Unfortunately, I am no longer in paradise. I have recently reentered reality.

Today in body, I am in a high school classroom. In my mind though, I am paddle boarding on an ocean bay, hanging out on a sandbar while time stands still as peaceful hues of blue sky and blue water merge all around me. Seems like only yesterday I was biking around paradise, taking in all the sights and sounds that paradise has to offer. (probably because it was only yesterday, give or take a day or two) Since then, I have left paradise, but paradise has not left me. I carry it with me in memory. As long as I can remember it, paradise is not lost.

Now I know the title of this post is also the title of Milton’s epic poem published in 1667, but it seems the most appropriate title I could think of for today’s post. It’s fitting since I have just recently returned from paradise and find myself once again immersed in the mundane of day to day life that is lived in a place other than paradise. To be more accurate though, I didn’t actually lose paradise, I left paradise behind. I know right where paradise resides. So I guess paradise isn’t lost, it is still right where it has always been, it’s just that I am no longer in it. I wonder if paradise notices my absence? Does it miss me? I miss it.

I hope to return to this earthly paradise someday. And in a happy spoiler alert, brought to me courtesy of truth, I find that an actual eternal paradise is awaiting my arrival and that Someone in paradise is already preparing a place for me there. Jesus said,

“In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)

This is a sure thing, a reservation in paradise that will not be lost or cancelled. Peter says this –

“In His (Jesus’s) great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” (1 Peter 1:3-6)

Paradise is not lost – I have a reservation, actually an inheritance there, that is being kept secure in heaven where it will not “perish, spoil or fade” – it is waiting for me. I can rejoice now even though I may be suffering at this present time. Paradise is not lost – it is waiting for me. My place in it is waiting for me. What will it be like? 1 Corinthians 2:9 tells me,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

but Revelation does give me a sneak peak saying –

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. . . . To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My son.” (Revelation 21:3-7)

A further description of paradise continues saying –

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. . . . On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. . . . Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:23-27)

take heart! dear ones – paradise is not lost. Paradise stands ready to receive us when we finish the race we are running. When we run with perseverance this race marked out for us – we will find paradise awaiting our arrival. It was never lost, after all.

sincerely, Grace Day

You would think that would be a good thing. But I am trying to leave paradise in order to return home to my mundane life in a much colder climate. Never thought I would be eager to leave paradise, however I am in an airport attempting to do just that for the second day in a row. Now this airport may be in paradise, but an airport is an airport is an airport – it is NOT paradise inside this airport or any other airport for that matter. No palm trees, no warm sand between my toes, no soft sea breezes, no pelicans taking flight, no roosters incessantly crowing – that’s right, I said roosters. Who knew roosters freely roam the streets, the sidewalks, the outdoor cafes and all other places in paradise? I didn’t know this – but fun fact – roosters rule! But I digress.

How is day two of my attempted return to reality from paradise going? Well, it began with promise – the promise of an early morning flight that would get me to my connection and a final flight home. I showed up early, the flight was “on time” as listed on the board at the airport. Those are always welcome words for a traveler to behold – “flight #### to ? on time”. I beheld those words this morning at the airport right before the board switched and began displaying a traveler’s second most dreaded words “flight delayed.” (the most dreaded words are “flight cancelled”)

So my travel day is starting with a one-hour delay showing on the board (making many of those around me nervous about making connecting flights) when rumblings of mechanical problems and a possible flight cancelation are bandied about in the air around me. At this point I pondered the possibility of not being able to get a flight out again today even as I heard passengers around me and the lady behind the desk use the word “rebooking.” Then miraculously, the board changed again, now saying this flight (my flight) was going to take off after all, even though delayed.

So with hope restored that I might make it home today, I board my first flight of the day and leave paradise behind, taking with me memories, photos and of course a souvenir shirt. Arriving safely (and gratefully) at my interim destination, I immediately check the flight board for info on my connecting flight – the one that will take me home. And there, for the second time today, I am greeted with the second most dreaded words which are clearly displayed for all to see – “flight delayed.” (which explains why I am writing to you now, dear readers)

So here I am, having left paradise behind me, with home ahead of me – I am currently in limbo – a traveler on a journey – a journey with unexpected, unforeseen setbacks, twists and turns – not unlike the journey that is life itself. At present, I am surrounded by hordes of fellow travelers just as intent upon reaching their desired destinations as I am in reaching mine. Some are carrying more luggage than others are, but all seem focused on finding the concourse, gate or plane that will take them to the place they are pursuing so passionately. Sitting here at the gate that leads to my plane, the plane that will take me home, I am watching a non-stop parade of people heading purposefully in all directions, coming and going. I can’t tell which is which, all seem to be in a hurry, all seem to be focused on whatever it is that they are headed toward – all seem oblivious to their surroundings.

What is so hard about my journey from paradise to home these last two days? For me, it is the uncertainty, the not knowing what is going to happen next and having no control over the outcome of events. I make a good travel plan and then it gets changed by circumstances without my knowledge or consent. I plan my journey, but it doesn’t turn out as I had hoped or envisioned that it would. Sometimes harder, sometimes better – but always my journey is surprising. I think it’s like this Proverb says,

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) or –

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)

As I write this, I am sitting in a crowded airport, awaiting with hope my “delayed” flight home. (as long as it is only delayed, there is still hope) I am hoping this “delayed” doesn’t turn into the dreaded “cancelled.” But there are no guarantees in this life, only faith, hope, trust, courage, perseverance, acts of kindness along the journey’s way (don’t wait for the destination to practice kindness and compassion, by then you will have forgotten how) My journey is filled with uncertainty as I’m sure yours is too, dear readers. And this can fill us with fear and anxiety because we don’t know from one minute to the next, what our futures hold. But there is One who does know the end from the beginning, and I trust Him.

” . . . I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

I will experience many more “delays” and “cancellations” as I continue my journey. But I do not need to travel in fear, filled with anxiety because I know that God is able to keep me safe until I reach my destination, which in a fun plot twist is both home and paradise at the same time! That’s heaven – our eternal home in paradise with Jesus. I will no longer be suspended between the two.

sincerely, Grace Day

Three unrelated yet intrinsically connected things – Christmas, Communion and a golden calf. The connection, however, may not be readily apparent. A closer look is needed to discover what connects Christmas, Communion and a golden calf. As it turns out, the answer is “memory” or the lack thereof, that is the connection among the three. Now Christmas and Communion are both rituals of remembrance. The first remembers and celebrates Jesus’s birth, the latter remembers and celebrates Jesus’s death on the cross and subsequent resurrection three days later. Celebrating Christmas and observing Communion help me to remember Jesus’s birth, life and death every time I participate in said celebrations.

But why is this important? Why is it so important for me and for you to remember what God has done? Because if I don’t remember, I will forget. Now this seems all too obvious and begs the question “what’s so bad about forgetting?” After all, we all forget things from time to time, don’t we? Well, I submit to you, dear readers that the danger in forgetting what God has done is that when I forget, bad things happen. When I forget, I am in danger of ending up dancing in the desert while worshiping a golden calf.

Sound impossible? It’s not that far-fetched. This is exactly what happened to the Israelites shortly after God rescued them from the Egyptians by parting the Red Sea, allowing them to cross on dry ground as they fled from the Egyptian army. And then for good measure, God released the sea and it flowed back together, drowning the Egyptians caught in its waters as they pursued the Israelites. God saved the Israelites from their enemies and certain death with this miracle of momentous proportions – something never before seen or experienced. Yet just a short time later, these same people seem to have forgotten God altogether, turned away from Him and were now worshiping a golden calf that they had made from the very gold that God had moved the Egyptians to give to them. They had turned God’s gift to them into an idol.

They were worshiping the gift instead of the Giver of the gift. They gave their God given inheritance up to be made into an idol, rather than used for God’s glory. Just as Esau sold his birthright for mere food, the Israelites forfeited their inheritance in order to make a golden calf. They had forgotten all God had done for them in such a short time, with disastrous results.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’ ‘ ” (Exodus 32:7-8)

Wow! They were receiving manna every morning, being led by a pillar of cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night to give light in the darkness of the desert, and water from a rock – all gifts of sustaining provision from Almighty God – and they would rather bow down to an inanimate golden calf statue?

Am I any different than the Israelites in the desert? How soon do I forget God’s goodness to me, His faithfulness, His never ending mercy, His constant watch care and provision? And when I forget all God has done, when I forget all His good gifts to me – then I forget to be grateful. I no longer count my blessings and give God the thanks due to Him alone. When I am no longer grateful, I become discontent, dissatisfied, doubting God’s goodness and desiring (like Eve) something other than what He has given me. When I forget God’s goodness, I forget to be grateful – I become envious, resentful, bitter. I complain to God instead of thanking Him.

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy.” (Psalm 107:21-22)

If I forget all God has done in the past, my faith falters, doubt enters in and takes root where once faith flourished. With doubt, comes its companion, fear. Fear and doubt separate me from my Creator, whereas the memories of all He has done for me in the past bind me closer to Him. But when I forget God’s goodness to me, I become disconnected, adrift, directionless, searching for something or someone to take His place. It proves to be a fruitless pursuit, because no one can fill God’s place in my life, not even a golden calf. Idols are poor substitutes for the Living God. I think the Israelites found that out the hard way.

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.” (Psalm 107:13-16)

Yes, they cried out and God delivered the Israelites from their enemies time and time again. But each time, they forgot. They forgot what God had done – how He had rescued and restored them. Then they forgot to be grateful. Then they became dissatisfied with God and ended up worshiping inanimate idols. That’s what happens when we forget. That’s why it’s so important to remember.

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” (Psalm 103:2-6)

“Forget not all His benefits” – meaning God’s good gifts. That’s good advice considering God’s gifts are priceless. The prophet Micah said this about God –

“Who is a God like You who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” (Micah 7:18)

When I remember God’s faithfulness and all His promises to me, I am filled with hope, a hope that sustains me through every circumstance, no matter how difficult, no matter how desperate.

” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11)

When I forget God’s promises and His faithfulness, I lose hope and gain despair. (not really a good trade)

When I forget who God is – I forget who I am. I forget I am His child, created in His image. I lose my identity.

When I forget God’s truth – I believe satan’s lies.

When I forget God’s character and my history with Him – I lose my trust, my direction, my purpose, my courage –

When I forget that God loves me, forgives me and accepts me – I fail to love, forgive and accept others

Christmas and Communion remind me of the extraordinary lengths to which God went to redeem me and to redeem you. Just how far did God go? He left heaven and came to earth, taking on our human form, even being born as a helpless baby. Philippians describes it this way saying that Jesus –

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:6-7)

To what lengths did Jesus go for you and for me?

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient in death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8)

Jesus traveled through eternity to step into our world. He went to the manger and He went to the cross. I need to remember both His miraculous birth and His sacrificial death. Because when I forget, I become separated from God and nothing good happens then. I might even end up dancing in the desert worshiping a golden calf. God has a much better plan for me than that. I just have to remember – remember what He’s already done. That’s what Christmas and Communion do – they help me remember to what extraordinary lengths He went in order to save me.

“be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (Deuteronomy 6:12)

God set me free, too. And that is not something I want to forget. He came to set the captives free and He did just that.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

sincerely, Grace Day

“Do you see what I see? Said the night wind to the little lamb” in the song usually sung at Christmas time. I’m guessing the wind had an advantage over the lamb in that the wind had a better, wider, higher, larger view of things than did the little lamb who couldn’t leave the ground and could only see what was near him. His view was probably blocked by any trees or boulders or even small hills that surrounded him. And if he were in a cave or a thicket for shelter, the little lamb’s view wouldn’t take in very much at all. The wind on the other hand, being untethered from the ground, was free to soar far and wide, rising to great heights from which to survey many things.

I envy the wind’s wider, higher view of things. Reminds me of those rare mountain top moments, those fleeting, glorious glimpses from the summit, full of clarity and wonder, visions of things not seen from lesser heights and darker pathways. Memories of the mountain top view fade as I walk the valley, hemmed in on all sides, limiting my view and my vision of my true circumstances. I can’t see what’s around the next bend or over the next hill. I don’t have the big picture, I only see what’s right in front of me. I trust that the One I am following knows the way and sees those things that I cannot see. My Heavenly Father says this,

“I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (Isaiah 46:9-10)

That should reassure me. God sees what I don’t see with my limited earthly vision. Situations often look pretty desperate to me. I don’t see a way out. I don’t see any hope for resolution or restoration, any hope that good will win out over evil. I feel overwhelmed by circumstances based on what I can see. But I need to remember that my vision is limited. My view is only a partial view of the total picture. There are things I can’t or don’t see. I am reminded of the story of Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings.

“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh, my lord, what shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ The the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:15-17)

God’s protection and provision had been there surrounding them all along, the servant just hadn’t been able to see it. And because he couldn’t see it with his eyes (prior to Elisha’s prayer) he didn’t realize or trust that it was there. The battle was won, but based on what the servant saw with his natural eyes, he would not have believed this to be true. I am like the servant in this story. Based on my limited vision, I become filled with fear and I forget that I am to walk by faith and not by sight.

“We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

That’s good advice, since my view from life’s valleys is so limited. But my Heavenly Father’s sight is unlimited and perfect. I can trust Him to lead me safely through dark times and over treacherous terrain.

“Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. . . . God understands the way to it and He alone knows where it dwells, for He views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.” (Job 28:20-24)

“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)

“From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth -” (Psalm 33:13-14)

My Heavenly Father sees it all, the pitfalls and the perils that surround me or lie ahead – but He sees beyond all that to the place that He is leading me – that place of promise, just like He asked Abraham to follow Him to “the land I will show you.” Abraham didn’t know the way, but God did. God knows the end from the beginning. I am stuck in the middle, so I will trust His vision rather than my own to lead me out of the valley and onto the mountain top. I will remember His promises.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“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.” (Psalm 23:4-5)

Protection and provision in the presence of my enemies! That’s quite a promise! David experienced this and you and I can, too. God sees me. He has not lost track of me, even if I am lost in the valley or fallen into a pit. I can say like Job did about God –

“But He (God) knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

My view from the valley is so limited that if I rely solely on what I can see, I will be filled with fear and lose hope. I will give up. But like the servant of Elisha, I want to remember that “those who are with me are more than those who are with the enemy of my soul.” I want to remember –

“This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’ ” (2 Chronicles 20:15)

There are things I do not see, but God sees all and I follow Him by faith, relying on His perfect vision for my life and for the world He created. God never misses a beat. Not even the falling of a sparrow. Nothing gets by Him because He’s on watch twenty-four/seven. And sometimes, if I look up from my valley, I am granted that mountain top vista of God’s glory and the protection and provision He is providing daily for me – for those who are with me are more than those who are against me. I see that the tribulations of these times will not prevail, when God grants a glimpse of all He is doing in the heavenly realms. I just have to look up.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let my foot slip – He who watches over me will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:3-8)

“Now we see through a glass darkly, but then we shall see face to face.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

in the meantime, I walk by faith –

sincerely, Grace Day