Yes, I hit the jackpot – struck it rich – won the lottery, so to speak. Well the Lipton Green Tea Citrus lottery, that is. As you know, I have been in search of this green tea for awhile now. But each new store I visit has empty shelves where their Lipton Tea products have previously been. I continued to widen my search radius each day, but to no avail. Until now. Yesterday I had headed north and east, so today I headed south and west. How far would I have to go, I wondered? Or had this product vanished from the face of the earth forever?

Not one to lose hope or to give up easily, I continued my search. When I felt I had gone far enough west, I pulled into the parking lot of a large grocery store. As I had been doing, I grabbed a cart even though my recent failures informed me that I would not need this cart unless of course I intended to purchase something else so that I wouldn’t appear foolish. These stores are so large that if I did in fact find green tea when I arrived at the area where it should be, I did not want to have to go all the way back to the store’s entrance to retrieve a cart. So as a gesture of hope, I always grabbed a cart even though I didn’t know if I would find my Lipton Green Tea Citrus in stock or not. Up to this point, I had not needed a cart. But being the eternal optimist, I persisted in pushing an empty cart through the store. After all, you never know. Maybe this time will be different.

This time there was an actual “Pepsi guy” stocking the shelves. I had learned that Pepsi was also the distributor of Lipton products, so here was my chance to gather some first hand intel about the situation. He informed me that this situation affected a tri-state area. (much bigger than I had previously thought) So simply crossing state lines wasn’t going to guarantee that my product would be in stock. He had no idea how long the situation would continue. I was about to leave, resigning myself to the inevitable, when he suggested I check at the far end of the aisle for some alternative tea beverages.

And there at the end of that very long aisle, I hit the jackpot! There was my Lipton Green Tea Citrus sitting on fully stocked shelves. I could hardly believe my eyes! I had almost turned around and walked out empty handed after my conversation with the Pepsi man. Had he not stocked these shelves also? or had he not understood which product I was searching for? At any rate, I had now gone from scarcity to abundance in the time it took to walk the length of the aisle. It was on sale and I was ready to procure not a stash, but a stockpile of my favorite beverage.

My search had come to an end, so I was no longer faced with the question of how far I would go, as my previous post by that title asked. At this point I have to confess – now I find myself feeling much like the rich man in Luke chapter 12. He was a stockpiler, too. (although I’ve never thought of myself as a stockpiler before) This man had a good crop, so good he decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones in order to store all his grain and goods. Here’s his story in his own words,

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:18-21)

I really don’t want this guy to be my role model. Jesus gave a clear instruction in Matthew 6:19-21 when He said,

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I must say, I don’t feel any added sense of peace or of security now that I have a stockpile of my green tea beverage. I guess it’s true what they say, ‘green tea citrus can’t buy happiness’ or peace or purpose or fulfillment or anything else for that matter. I have hit the green tea jackpot and I am still a poor sinner in need of a Savior. It’s true what Jesus said in Mark 8:36-37,

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

not all the tea in China, that’s for sure . . .

sincerely, Grace Day

I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, tried to avoid it if possible, wished for intervention to do her thing and step in to save the day – but she did not show up and no such last minute change of fortune has occurred. Which is why today I find myself drinking the last remaining Lipton Green Tea Citrus that I have on hand, even as I ponder the prospect of not being able to purchase any more of this product. Why?, you ask. Well, I have been noticing empty shelves in the store where this product is normally found for the last several weeks. Meanwhile, my supply of Lipton Green Tea Citrus at home has been diminishing. (I usually buy on sale, so typically have a reserve supply – a stash but not a stockpile – I never anticipated this shortage or disappearance)

You see, some years ago I gave up my diet Coke habit. After trying many different replacement beverages, I discovered Lipton Green Tea Citrus and this became my new drink of choice, my “treat” each day, just as diet Coke had been for years. The Lipton Teas come in many varieties and flavors, but this is the one I always come back to after trying something new. So you can imagine my growing concern as my home supply has been growing less and less while the Lipton shelf in my store continues to remain empty.

Which brings me to today, drinking my last bottle of Lipton Green Tea Citrus and pondering my next move. How far will I go in search of this vanished beverage? Or will I simply find a replacement? Today I am wishing that this last bottle I am drinking would turn out to be like the widow’s jugs of oil and flour, which although almost empty, didn’t run out, but gave her just enough for each day. That would certainly solve my problem.

I confess – in the last couple of days I have ventured out to other nearby stores. But their shelves are also absent of bottled Lipton products. So now I am concerned but also curios. What is going on? A whole product line has mysteriously disappeared from stores. How widespread is this? Finally, at one store, someone told me that a warehouse had been damaged in a storm, disrupting distribution of these products. When this issue will be fixed and Lipton products will again be available in stores is unknown at this time.

So I am wondering now, if I drove far enough away, would I find Lipton products in stores in other distribution areas? The question is though, how far? out of town? out of county? out of state? And just how far am I willing to drive in search of my desired Lipton Green Tea Citrus? (especially considering the current price of gas, not to mention the time commitment) This has the potential to become an all out quest. Or will I simply go into withdrawal tomorrow as I face my first day without Lipton Green Tea Citrus?

Time will tell. Perhaps it is time for a road trip. If only I knew which direction to head and how far I need to go to be in a new distribution area. I don’t live close to the state line so that is not the easiest option. Maybe I should just find a suitable substitute beverage? – something that is already accessible at my regular store. After all, do I really want to be driving all over, farther and farther, in search of something I am not guaranteed to obtain? I’m not sure my Lipton Green Tea Citrus is worth all that time and trouble. There’s a limit to how far I’m willing to go to get some green tea and bring it back home.

I’m glad there’s no limit to what my Heavenly Father would do for me or on how far He would go to rescue me, make me His own and take me home with Him. It’s like this story in Matthew 18:12-14,

“If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”

God would go to any lengths and indeed He did when He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth. There was no limit to how far He would go, to how far He actually did go on our behalf, on my behalf and on your behalf, dear readers.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Jesus traveled across time and space to spend time with us here on earth. He left everything when He came for us. Philippians 2:6-8 tells me this about what Jesus did,

“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. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”

That’s how far God would go – even unto death – and He did just that!

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

” . . . and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.” (Isaiah 63:9)

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

from heaven to earth, to the cross, to the grave, back to life again, and back to heaven – sitting at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for me and for you even now – that’s how far Jesus went – and I’m so thankful that He did! (how far will I go to find green tea? remains to be seen – day one without starts tomorrow . . . )

sincerely, Grace Day

Is reaching the end of the line the same thing as being at the end of your proverbial rope? Out of options. Out of rope. Out of hope. I think the end of the line originally referred to train travel which was much more prevalent back in the day. When there were no more train tracks ahead, you had arrived at the end of the line. For awhile now I have believed that I am the last in a long but now virtually extinct line. This would be the line of land line owners, which began its demise with the advent of the cell phone. So at this point, I confess – I still have a land line in my home. There, I have admitted to it out loud! My secret is revealed.

So you can imagine my surprise and delight when this morning I discovered, quite by chance, that I am not the sole surviving land line owner! I am not the last of the line. There is at least one other possessor of a land line out there and she is none other than my intrepid friend, the all-weather walker! Who knew? And perhaps there are others of you out there as well? If so, together we are the last of the line in a previously long line of land line owners.

Now, full disclosure – I do have a cell phone. But I have not yet been willing to part with my land line. So this morning’s discovery was unexpected and exciting. It comforts me to know that I am not the sole land line owner in a cell phone world. In addition to my intrepid friend, there may also be others out there still in possession of a land line. Perhaps we should ban together and form a society for the protection of land lines, much as endangered animal species each have their own societies protecting them, lest they become extinct and vanish from the face of the earth. I don’t want my land line to become extinct. I do not want this to be the end of the line for land lines.

Someone, somewhere said, “all good things must come to an end.” But I’m hoping this isn’t the case where my land line is concerned. When cell service isn’t working for whatever reason, I’ll still have my land line. Although, at this moment it occurs to me, that I will have no one to talk to via phone except my lone land line possessing friend and any of you out there who are undercover land line owners and operators. Still, I consider my land line, my life line to the outside world should cell service go down or my cell phone be lost or dead because I forgot to charge it.

This got me to thinking, though. In times of trouble or crisis what is my true life line? My land line? Hardly. It is that connection to my Heavenly Father through prayer. Thankfully, I am never out of range for this connection or out of battery. It is never after hours and service never goes down. When I come to the end of the line, or to the end of my rope, or to the end of myself, I can cry out and my Heavenly Father is there waiting for me, waiting at the end of the line – when all else has failed, when there is no where else to go – precisely because it is – the end of the line.

And He is always at the other end of the line, patiently waiting to hear my pleas and petitions. When I come to the end of the line, I can know that my Heavenly Father waits on the other end of the line to take my call, allowing me to cast all my cares upon Him.

“He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you 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)

“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

“but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!” (Psalm 66:19-20)

sincerely, Grace Day

I feel His voice calling me to come away, time on my knees to start this day –

the clock is ticking, time is slipping, pulling, telling me no time to stay, no time to pray –

what keeps me from my knees just now? the fear that if my knees should bow – not soon would I rise again, how could I leave once I began?

confessions spilling, long overdue – followed by pleas for grace from You –

the people are many, their needs are so great – the pain so deep, it cannot wait –

intercession will not wait till an hour that never comes, now on bended knees till it is done –

no end I see to my heart’s cries, I want Your wisdom, not worldly wise –

what keeps me from our time of prayer? fear I should never rise once there –

for who would choose to leave Your throne room? an audience with the King? to return to earthly tasks and cares, like Moses leaving the mountain top – I’m sure he’d rather have stayed with You – but You had work for him to do –

just giving You thanks would take all day, gladly on my knees I’d stay – Your praises never ending I would declare, while I remained in Your presence there –

many are the petitions I would plead, for myself and others in so much need – You are the answer to every request, to all You have made You bestow what is best

oh precious the time on bended knees with You! it never truly ends, as prayers are never through

I only ask when I leave this sacred place, Your Presence go with me, fill me with Your grace.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer!” (old hymn)

sincerely, Grace Day

I’ve been very busy lately. I’ve been busy bungee jumping, busy making mountains out of molehills, busy trying to move those mountains that I made because now they’re in my way. But mostly I’ve been busy searching for the burning bush. Why the burning bush, you ask? After all, there are plenty of things on fire these days. Does it have to be a bush? Will any bush do? And what could I possibly want with a burned out bush? These are things I am sure you must be thinking right about now.

I am looking for a burning bush because that’s where God is, where God speaks, where His voice is heard. At least that’s where Moses met God and heard His voice – at the burning bush. So naturally, I’m on the lookout for a burning bush. I want to hear from God like Moses did. I want some clear direction, some reassurance that I’m on the right path. Ok, I know we’re supposed to walk by faith and not by sight, but is it so wrong to want the burning bush experience?

So my search for a burning bush continues. Moses was tending flocks when he had his encounter. It went down like this. “Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.’ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’ . . . Then He (God) said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:2-6)

It was during this burning bush encounter that Moses received his marching orders from God, so to speak. God wanted Moses to go to Egypt and free the enslaved Israelites. No small task to be sure, but God promised His presence would be with Moses at all times. This would be the first of many conversations between God and Moses and God did indeed go with him. During Moses’ and the Israelites’ days in the desert, God’s presence was in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, both displaying His visible presence abiding with them, leading, guiding and protecting His people every step of the way. God’s presence does all those things and more. Who wouldn’t want His presence in the burning bush experience?

Now there are plenty of fires burning all around me nowadays. But these fires are burning things up, unlike the bush that Moses saw burning and yet not burned up. This is what got Moses’ attention in the first place. I’m sure it would get my attention too. But am I looking in all the wrong places? Elijah wanted a word with God, he was alone and in danger and didn’t know what to do. He didn’t get a burning bush conversation, however. This is what happened to him –

“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, . . . The Lord said to him,” (1 Kings 19:11-15)

Interesting isn’t it, this time God wasn’t in the fire. His voice was in the gentle whisper that came after wind, earthquake and fire. It was then Elijah heard God’s voice and received His instructions about what to do next. “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. . . . ” (1 Kings 19:15) Maybe I don’t need a burning bush in order to hear a word from God. (actually I have a book full of words from God, which Moses didn’t have at the time of his burning bush meeting)

Even now, I confess – a song is running through my head and it seems particularly relevant to right now. “This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair; In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.” (old hymn) God is speaking – I just need to be still and to listen! He will speak to me anywhere and everywhere. In fact Psalm 19:1-4 tells me that God is doing just that, speaking to me non-stop –

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

burning bushes abound – speak Lord, for your servant is listening –

sincerely, Grace Day

hold on, hold on to hope – though nothing else remains – though no signs point the way

keep your heart from harm, and believe the light will come – don’t give in to despair

all is gone but hope, hold on – nothing else remains, hope alone sustains

the dream, the promise, real only in your heart –

hold on, don’t let go – when God will act, we do not know

hold on to hope, be ready the promise to receive

hold on to hope, when there’s no reason to believe

hold on to hope, God’s promise to receive

the silence loud, the darkness deep, now’s when hope your heart must keep – from breaking, burdened with the pain – let instead His Presence reign

hold on to hope, never ceasing prayers – hold fast to hope, letting go all cares

Let His perfect love cast out all fears – hold on to hope across the years

hold on to hope, your Deliverer will come – to take you home with Him when everything is done.

hold on to hope, there will be music once again – with joy and laughter, light and love – signaling sorrow’s end

hold on to hope, let hope fill sorrow’s space – hold on to hope, for soon you will see His face.

“You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.” (Psalm 30:11-12)

“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.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

holding onto hope, sincerely, Grace Day

What do You want with me, Jesus of Nazareth? I’m just a broken vessel, the pieces of my life lie scattered over the ground.

What do You see in me, Jesus of Nazareth? a broken vessel is of no value in this world.

Why did You die for me, Jesus of Nazareth? Only miracles make broken vessels whole again.

I have nothing to offer You, just broken pieces if You want them. But I must warn You, I have tried to mend myself. I made me the biggest and the best and the most beautiful I could be. I wanted rivers of life to be poured from me. But there were cracks in my vessel and the precious water drained away. I’ve put my pieces back together so many times, Lord, that I’m weary of even trying yet again. And always, there are holes.

Can You really make me into a vessel that You can use to pour out Your love? Then do it, Lord! For I want to be whole! Make me Your most beautiful and important vessel for all to behold. And then I shall fill myself with all the wonderful things I desire.

What’s that Lord? You can’t use my vessel? There isn’t room for You? Sure there is! Oh, You want it all? No thanks, I’m happy being the biggest and the best and the most important . . .

Lord, my vessel’s cracked again, under the weight of worldly joys. Maybe I filled it just a little too full? Maybe those joys turned out to be a heavier burden than I bargained for. Can You mend my vessel?

Only if I give it to You? Then I would be Your vessel. Would You make me big and glorious? Trust You? Ok, Lord, but no more cracks, please.

I’m Your vessel now, Lord, waiting to be filled. Give me rivers of life . . .

But Lord, this is only a cup of water – I don’t understand – I want to water the world . . .

A cup at a time? Your water doesn’t leak out now but what if I run dry? Couldn’t You give me more?

A cup at a time?

Maybe I shouldn’t give it away? What’s that You say, Lord?

Your vessels never run dry? Because You are the River of Life? Because You are the Living Water?

Then fill me, Lord, just a cup at a time and I will pour it out on Your lost, thirsty people, one cup at a time.

I am just a small, unadorned, earthen vessel. That’s how You made me. You are the Potter who fashioned me for Your good purposes.

You are the One who heals all my broken cracks or uses me just as I am, in my broken state, cracks and all. After all, Your living water can pour through my many holes and cracks easily, wherever You send me, to water Your world – one cup at a time . . .

So fill me, Lord, from the river of Your living water – fill me a cup at a time, and I will be faithful to pour it out, one cup at a time.

“Jesus answered, ‘ . . . whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ ” (John 4:14)

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

“But this precious treasure – this light and power that now shine within us – is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own.” (2 Corinthians 4:7/Living Bible)

receiving and pouring out living water, one cup at a time –

sincerely, Grace Day

Happy Birthday U.S.A.! we celebrate your birth today – you’ve come such a long, long way, it’s fitting that we pause to pay, honor to you on this day.

A bloody birth, as all births are, from painful pangs new life emerged – a nation “conceived in liberty” came to be, a home for those who would live free.

A people no longer serving a king, now free to serve God – let freedom ring!

You are quite young, as nations go – still you have faced many a foe, in your short two-hundred forty-five years, you’ve overcome many enemies, persevering through tears –

the world watches with wonder at the gifts you give your citizens, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” you have purchased at great price for all those who call you home –

Oh, America – you shelter us from the storms of oppression and tyranny, you stand guard, that city on a hill, casting freedom’s glow for others to follow in your footsteps – if only they dared –

to pay the price of Freedom’s cost, many lives have been lost – given up for Freedom’s cause, today we celebrate and pause –

to give God thanks for His mercies overflowing, one nation under God all-knowing, blessed under His almighty hand, allowed the test of time to stand,

another birthday to commemorate, all that makes our country great! so let flags fly while fireworks fill a summer night’s sky, and let us tell our children why –

people travel across the sea, seeking life and liberty – wanting to call our country home, love her as if she were their own –

yes, let flags fly and parades pass by, and drum beats drum while choruses sing, the Star Spangled Banner is heard to ring –

across the country from every city and town, while flags are flying, fireworks falling down –

in wild arcs of color lighting up the sky, celebrating another year gone by.

remember the ride of Paul Revere, warning that danger was drawing near? – his call was heeded, the patriots prevailed – still today, as a hero he is hailed.

many more have followed in his path, protecting our nation against an enemy’s wrath. to keep this a land of the free, so many have been brave, fighting countless battles, our country they did save.

today the flags are flying over this land of the free, reminding us how precious is the gift of liberty. may I be like Nathan Hale, willing my life to spend, brave in the face of danger, willing Freedom to defend.

America, may your dream remain, the hope of so many to attain. Let all be free who enter here, may Freedom flourish another year! Let every voice be heard without fear – all equal in God’s sight, it is God who gives us our unalienable rights.

today let flags fly in celebration, like the flag at Iwo Jima, let them fly in commemoration – of tragedies and triumphs along our history’s bumpy road – always may Freedom’s story with clarity be told –

today, let the flags fly, let our banners wave – may God grant this land remain home of the free and the brave.

today, let the flags fly, let Freedom’s light burn bright – let patriotic chorus echo long into the night.

Happy Birthday U.S.A., may we celebrate and cherish you well – may we never forget your birthday, nor the story your birthday tells.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12)

sincerely, Grace Day

Water was washing over the sides of the boat as the waves rocked it every which way. The people in the boat were scared, panicked really. This storm had come upon them so suddenly, the sea had been calm only moments before. But now they were all afraid for their very lives. Except for the one who was asleep in the stern. The storm didn’t seem to bother him. Had the rocking of the boat rocked him to sleep? No matter, if the storm didn’t wake him, the others in the sinking boat would. And so they cried out to him, “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?”

His response? “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” (Mark 4:39) The reaction from the other passengers in the boat? “They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!’ ” (Mark 4:41)

Seems like they didn’t know their sleeping passenger as well as they thought they did, since they were now questioning His identity. And well they should question who he was. After all, each one of them had just recently left everything to follow Jesus and become His disciple. They had heard Him teach. They had watched Him heal a man with leprosy and a paralytic who got up and walked after Jesus forgave his sins. Then there was the man in the synagogue with a shriveled hand, whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath. This had created quite the controversy among the current religious leaders, really rocked the boat, so to speak.

And now they found themselves in a literally rocking boat with Jesus. Why would the wind and the waves obey this man? Because He created them! “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3)

The disciples did not fully realize who Jesus was at this time or they wouldn’t have asked the “who is this man?” question. But they did and Jesus’s response to His disciples was, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Maybe it is easier to have faith when the sea is calm and no one rocks the boat. But when the storms of life come, as they inevitably do, our faith is tested. The disciples had witnessed Jesus doing miraculous things. He had rocked their world and nothing would ever be the same again. But as their boat filled with water, their faith seemed to blow away with the winds of the storm that rocked their boat. Still, they had what mattered most – Jesus presence with them.

Jesus was with them in that storm, He was right there with them in their boat. They were not alone! I need to remember that when times grow dark for me and I know I am in the middle of a storm, tossed about – my boat, my world, rocked every which way. But – I am not alone. I have my Heavenly Father’s promise of His presence which says,

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

The disciples were not alone that day in the boat in the storm, but they felt like they were. They felt like Jesus didn’t know about or care about their imminent predicament. He was sleeping through their time of need! Or so it appeared. I confess – I guess I sometimes feel that way, too. In the middle of my storm, when it looks like the waves are winning and my rocking boat will capsize, I call out to Jesus like the disciples did, wondering – don’t You see what’s happening to me, Jesus? don’t You care? I think I know how the disciples felt in those moments of overwhelming terror. Remember, they asked much the same thing of Jesus, saying –

“Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38) The answer is a resounding, reassuring, yes, God cares. He cares about me and about you, dear reader. And He’s on duty twenty-four/seven.

“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you 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 121:2-8)

When circumstances cause choppy seas to rock my boat, I can know that Jesus is in the boat with me, just as He was in the boat with the disciples and just as He was in the furnace with Daniel’s three friends. My boat will be rocked often in this life. I thank God for His presence through it all.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

“God is our (my) refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

sincerely, Grace Day

We all have them – scars both visible and invisible. These are the scars we accumulate as we go through life. They are inevitable. They are irrevocable. They remind us of things that perhaps we would rather forget. But our scars tell our stories for better or for worse. Scars are good storytellers because they always tell the truth. Scars don’t lie.

I confess – I have my fair share of scars. Everyone does. I feel like my invisible scars far outnumber my visible ones, however. I’m guessing most people feel this way. The wounds we carry within ourselves, the scars on our hearts and minds and souls cut deep and cause much pain. We humans are the “walking wounded” for sure.

Those who have served our country in the military certainly live with many scars, both external and internal. We see their sacrifice on our behalf when we behold their missing arms or legs or see them in wheelchairs. But the deeper battle scars they carry inside themselves, in their hearts and minds and souls, are not known to others because they are hidden from view. Being invisible, however, doesn’t diminish the damage the enemy did, leaving a scar in his wake as a permanent reminder of the battle.

So we are each walking through this life battle scarred and battle weary. No wonder the words, “be kind, everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle you know nothing about”, are such good advice. Each one of us is fighting many battles, battles against enemies both visible and invisible. (I wrote last about fighting “the invisible enemy”) The invisible enemy of our souls leaves the most deadly, albeit invisible, scars. We have such a hard time understanding each other. It doesn’t help that we can’t see each others’ scars. We all long for someone to understand our scars, to understand us. And there is such a person! Hebrews 4:14-16 tells me this,

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Jesus understands and accepts you and me, with all of our scars. Turns out, Jesus accumulated plenty of scars Himself during His time here on earth. Isaiah 53:4-6 tells us about His scars, saying about Jesus,

“Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Our scars tell our stories. Jesus’s scars tell the greatest story ever told. It is a love story, a story of the best kind of love – true, eternal and self-sacrificing. It is a story of rebellion, redemption, rescue, reconciliation, forgiveness and everlasting life. We call this story the Gospel or the Good news. A story foretold from the beginning of time, this Gospel story continues to be told and retold century after century. Jesus’s nail scarred hands and feet, His thorn scarred brow and His whip lashed back will continue to tell His story eloquently for eternity.

What about you and me and our scars? Philippians 3:20-21 tells me that –

“our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.”

The words of a favorite hymn say it best – “Crown Him the Lord of love; behold His hands and side, those wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified.”

Those scars that Jesus bears from His crucifixion, will still be telling their true story of forgiveness, redemption, salvation and eternal life when we meet Him face to face. We will recognize Him by His scars and Jesus will know us by ours, because He already knows your story and my story, complete with every scar we carry. Jesus’s sword pierced side and nail pierced hands and feet are His battle scars. These are the scars by which you and I are healed.

Oh, dear readers, we will carry our battle scars with us into heaven because they tell our true stories. In Jesus’s presence, our scars will be made beautiful. They will no longer be sources of pain and sorrow, but reminders and evidences of God’s protection and deliverance during every battle we ever fought against our enemies, both visible and invisible.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)

sincerely, Grace Day