I am feeling a bit like Ebenezer Scrooge lately. Remember him? Being visited by ghosts as he was and all? Of course those were Christmas ghosts. Not my ghosts. My ghosts are holiday appropriate ghosts, as ghosts more correctly belong to the Halloween holiday. And my ghosts are most assuredly Halloween ghosts.

Now I confess – my alleged ghosts are in truth, memories of Halloweens past. Memories that have been keeping me company today – this beautiful fall day, a day full of vibrant color against the blue of an October sky. I look at the pumpkin sitting on my kitchen table and memories fill the house.

They come unsolicited, these flashbacks, but they are welcome here, nonetheless. These ghosts are little ghosts. They are memories of power rangers and of princesses engaged in a quest for candy – oh the candy! Plastic pumpkins full of glorious candy!

Costumed figures ringing doorbells, running purposefully from house to house, slipping silently through the fall night air, stifled laughter breaking out, revealing the whereabouts of superheroes and cartoon characters running freely, collecting candy in the allotted hours till the Halloween moon should retire for the night and little trick or treaters should cease from the labors of their candy quest, again becoming ordinary girls and boys.

These ghosts of sweet memory keep me company on these fresh fall days, that I might not grieve the absence of my costumed candy seekers, now conventionally dressed vegetarians, seeking treasures other than candy from this world.

Memories, fleeting ghost-like, of three jack-o-lanterns, fully flaming candles inside, light up the front porch, beacons of welcome to all the would-be candy collectors that run rampant through the night – float through my mind. Too soon departed, I wonder where they’ve gone to and when they will return.

For now, three tiny pumpkins on my kitchen windowsill stand watch with me as I entertain ghosts of Halloweens past, memories the years outlast.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells me, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:”

that could include a time to remember and a time to forget . . .

today I will spend some time with memories held close and dear . . .

sincerely, Grace Day

What was the very first question posed to mankind? I think it was the one the serpent posed to Eve in the garden when he asked her, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ ” (Genesis 3:1) That question planted a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind, which took root and produced her eventual action of disobedience to God’s instruction not to eat the fruit of one tree in the middle of the garden.

A decision based on doubt with dire consequences for all of mankind. It started with a question, the answer to which would determine a course of action whose consequences we still deal with today. Ultimately, I have to answer the same question the serpent put to Eve for myself, “Did God really say . . .?”

In that moment Eve doubted God’s judgement, she doubted His wisdom, she doubted His love for her, she doubted His goodness. In that moment Eve no longer believed that God had her best interests at heart. Eve thought God was holding out on her. She now believed God was withholding something good and beneficial from her. This caused Eve to doubt God’s goodness, to doubt God’s intentions towards her. Eve no longer trusted God completely and so she disobeyed His instruction to her and she ate the forbidden fruit.

Today, each one of us is still wrestling with this very first question. I confess – I am. I have to decide daily, do I trust God or not? Because if I don’t trust Him, there is no reason for me to obey Him. Eve was in a perfect world, no pain, no lack of anything, she had all she could want and still she doubted God – the very God who had created the beautiful, perfect, peaceful, abundant garden in which she and Adam lived. God had given them this garden as their home. One of His many good gifts.

My view of the world today is vastly different from Eve’s view of the world seen from the safety of her garden all those years ago. I am not living in a perfect world. I am living in a world of danger and of pain and loss and heartache and struggle and violence and injustice and illness and oppression and uncertainty and on and on. Why would I trust God? What has He ever done for me?

Isaiah 53 tells me a lot about what God has done for me. I read these words in verses 4-12, “Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, . . . 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. . . . the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. . . . He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

That’s more than I can take in, right there in those words. Someone poured out his life for me? Someone has born my sin and makes intercession to God for me? Someone is offering me peace with God, reconciliation and healing? Yes! The “He” Isaiah is talking about is Jesus. And all that Isaiah spoke of has now been accomplished. Actually accomplished two-thousand twenty years ago to be exact.

So it is a promise that has already been fulfilled. I don’t have to wonder if God will make good on His word. He already has. Yet still I doubt and wonder just what exactly has my Creator ever done for me? Philippians 2:6-8 gives me a clue what God did in sending Jesus to us, explaining it in this way,

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

So that’s what God has done for me. Jesus left His position, gave up His power, His comfort, His glory, His ease and painfree existence to come here to earth. Jesus chose to submit His limitless form to our earthly form with all its limits. He subjected himself to gravity, pain, hunger, thirst, fatigue, time, sadness, loss (He cried when Lazarus died) – the complete human experience. All for my sake? Yes, all for my sake.

Infinite in Being, Jesus took on finite form. Timeless in existence, Jesus entered into our earthly history, taking on our time frame – our hours and our days, our sleepless nights and special moments. He endured our ordinary hours of seemingly identical days, knowing and showing us that these days are full of encounters with eternity tucked among the mundane moments and minutes of each and every day.

Jesus never missed a one. I don’t want to either. Jesus showed us what a gift life is. In fact He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) Jesus took it all upon Himself – the physical limitations and losses and the spiritual as well. He was separated from the Father (why He prayed often). Jesus experienced loss, loneliness, being misunderstood, being treated unjustly, being lied about, blasphemed and betrayed by those He trusted. There is nothing I have experienced or will experience that Jesus did not experience during His days here on earth.

Perhaps that is why He is my greatest advocate. Jesus gets me. This concept of Jesus understanding me was addressed in Hebrews 4:15 which tells me, “we (I) do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our (my) weaknesses, but we (I) have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are (I am) – yet was without sin.”

Those words let me know that Jesus has walked a mile in my shoes so to speak. Only difference, Jesus being fully God and fully man was able to do what I am not capable of, which is to live a sinless life. Jesus knows I am not able to do that, which is why He is at the right hand of the Father making intercession for me twenty-four/seven.

“Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (me).” (Romans 8:34)

“but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them (me).” (Hebrews 7:24-25)

So Jesus is praying for me. He is pleading my case before God. I have an advocate in the heavenly court!

What has God done for me through Jesus? His actions towards me are both past and present. as they are ongoing in my present circumstances. He has rescued me and He continues to rescue me daily. He has redeemed me and He continues to redeem my life on a daily basis. He has restored me and He is still in the process of that restoration. He has forgiven me and He continues to forgive me as often as I ask it of Him.

What has Jesus done for me? Actually He is still actively accomplishing these things in my life today. He feeds me, (that daily manna, new every morning) He leads me, He provides for me, protects me and comforts me. The twenty-third Psalm expresses it this way,

“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. (there’s that ongoing restoration) 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.” (His Presence is comfort, provision, protection and peace).

My God’s good gifts are too numerous to enumerate in their entirety but I will mention just a few more. He clothes me, He carries what weighs me down and He saves me from death. Consider the words of Isaiah 61:10 and of Psalm 68:19,

“my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,”

“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.”

What has Jesus done for me? He took my place on that cross so long ago. He died in my stead. He paid my debt to God with His own life. He purchased my forgiveness with His own blood.

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

Jesus did that for me. He did that for each one of you, too, dear readers. That act of love and self-sacrifice should leave no doubt about His goodness and His intentions towards me. (and towards you)

sincerely, Grace Day

Today I had an unexpected encounter on my morning walk and I confess now to you, dear readers, I was not prepared for this particular encounter. I was enjoying the still life beauty of this fall morning when I came across the fallen frame of one of my adversaries, lying there at the side of the road. The sight of my fallen, furry foe was a gruesome one and took me by surprise.

Now by fallen fury foe I do indeed mean what you may already be suspecting that I am referring to – which is, yes, the body of a dead squirrel. Now furthermore, you may be thinking, given my status as an active target of the squirrel population’s bad acorn hurling behavior this autumn, that this discovery today would have brought me some measure of joy or glee or perhaps satisfaction.

You would be wrong. I was surprised to find, myself, that I felt only pity and a sadness at seeing this startling sight so up close and personal. No escaping or unseeing the lifeless form of my former foe. Of course, I don’t mean to say that this particular squirrel participated in any of the acorn attacks, ambushes or avalanches that I have experienced in recent days. (see post “C.C. an acorn ambush #94” & “C.C. true confessions fyi #98”, for further explanation) I simply don’t know and can’t know for sure.

Was this deceased squirrel one of the ringleaders in this fury forest creature practice of trying to take out unsuspecting pedestrians and innocent cyclists? Or maybe he/she was just a compliant pawn in carrying out the governing squirrels’ vendetta against humans? Was he/she one of the inciters or instigators in these squirrel ambushes? or maybe an instructor, training squirrels in the latest acorn hurling techniques? or maybe he/she was just following orders?

whatever the truth is, I feel no elation at my enemy’s demise. That defies explanation except for these words of Jesus in Luke 6:27-29 which instruct me to,

“Love your (my) enemies, do good to those who hate you (me), bless those who curse you (me), pray for those who mistreat you (me). If someone strikes you (me) on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your (my) cloak, do not stop him from taking your (my) tunic.”

I find that putting the personal pronouns in there of “me” and “my” forces me to take Jesus’s instructions more personally, not allowing me to pretend they are words meant for someone else to follow. I am to follow what Jesus tells me to do. Jesus even asked in Luke 6:46,

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

my answer? probably because it is hard, it goes against my naturally sinful nature and it requires that I learn humility, obedience and trust. These are not easy attributes to come by. A high price is paid for the acquiring of these three which begin with an attitude but ultimately manifest in an action. (actually in a lifetime of many actions)

The actions of humility, obedience and trust are the proof that any person does indeed possess these costly attributes. Still the instructions don’t make sense. Why would I do good to those who hate me? These squirrels have been targeting me, tormenting me, taking away my sense of safety and peace on my daily walks and bike rides.

Still I don’t return fire, throwing their acorns right back at them. And I don’t demand that all the trees be cut down. Then they would have no place to live and to play and would have no source of food. I think the squirrels and I could co-exist in peace, if they would just stop their surprise acorn attacks.

I don’t wish squirrels ill or want them dead. I just wish squirrels would find a new hobby or a new sport to replace their current game of acorn ambush or how many humans can you hit? I’m thinking a good replacement game would be hide and seek with all those acorns. Isn’t that something squirrels do naturally anyway, hide nuts and then try to find them again? So it would be a win/win situation for all of us!

This is certainly what God wants for us as His image bearers – to live in peace with each other. But I have to take the first step. I can’t wait for the squirrels or the other person to make the first move. In fact in Romans 12:16-21 I read these clear commands regarding my part in bringing about peace –

“Live in harmony with one another. . . . Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, . . . Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Furthermore 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells me something about love (remember I am told to “love my enemies”) and this is what that looks like when put into action,

“Love is . . . not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (I wonder if the squirrels have been keeping score – I confess, I have) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

That is why I can take no delight in a fallen foe, fury or otherwise. Even if my fallen, fury frienemy was the organizer of the ongoing acorn assaults that targeted me personally after my posts came out that exposed their bad behavior and their heretofore hidden agenda, even if it were that very squirrel – there is no cause for celebration.

No the celebration comes when, as I read in Luke 15:7 & 10,

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. . . . In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

I guess that’s why I am told to “pray for those who mistreat me” and to “overcome evil with good.” If I engage in the actions of love from 1 Corinthians 13, always protecting, trusting, hoping, persevering – perhaps foes will be turned into friends and there will be celebrating in heaven over each one.

sincerely, Grace Day

Cancel culture may be a relatively recent term when it comes to our daily discourse, public or private, but the concept cancel culture calls out has been with us for centuries. How do I know this? I read about cancel culture all the time in the Bible. Jesus dealt with it during His time here on earth. And since human nature hasn’t changed, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that a cancel culture mindset is still something we are all struggling with and attempting to survive today.

Peter, one of Jesus’s disciples, asked Jesus a question one day which revealed that Peter was struggling with this desire to “cancel” those who offended or wronged him. This would be a good time for me to confess – I too, have asked this question on more than one occasion. Here’s how the conversation between Peter and Jesus unfolded –

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’ ” (or seventy times seven) (Matthew 18:21-22)

Now, fyi dear readers, seventy times seven or seventy-seven times, both are symbolic of infinity. In other words, Jesus was telling Peter there was no limit on the number of times he should forgive an offense against him. Not exactly what Peter wanted to hear. He probably thought there should be a reasonable limit to what one should have to put up with and after that, one had no more obligation to overlook an offense.

Peter was definitely virtue signaling when he suggested seven times as a possible answer to the question he was asking of Jesus, probably thinking seven times was quite generous in nature. But we see by Jesus’s answer, (seventy times seven) to Peter’s question, that Jesus had an entirely different perspective on the matter. We read in Colossians 3:13 these words,

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

So I am to forgive because I, myself, have been forgiven. God has not given up on me. I should not give up on other people. Fortunately for me, my Heavenly Father has never cancelled me, never defriended me, nor refused to hear my desperate prayers. This, in spite of all my continued offenses against Him.

Peter would experience this unmerited, miraculous acceptance and forgiveness of Jesus. And it would come after Peter’s most grievous offense yet against Jesus. Peter denied that he even knew Jesus – not once but three separate times. Peter committed these acts of betrayal at a time when Jesus most needed him, at a time when everyone else had deserted Jesus, at the time, at the hour when Jesus was on trial for His very life! Peter bailed on Jesus in Jesus’s hour of need. And yet . . .

The story does not end there. Peter was not cancelled. He was not de-friended nor de-discipled. Peter was forgiven, restored and reinstated by Jesus. We see this play out after Jesus’s resurrection, when He joined His disciples one morning on the beach after they had spent the night fishing. Jesus charges Peter with the responsibility to “Feed My Lambs”, to “Take care of My sheep.”

People are not disposable to Jesus. We are redeemable and remarkable because He made us and He made us in His image. Remember what Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18, before Peter’s huge failure of denouncement and defection when times got tough? Jesus told Peter,

“I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Peter was still used by God, despite his mistakes. God’s forgiveness is much greater than all our offenses. I love what Micah 7:18-19 says about this,

“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. You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

Yes, Jesus lived in a cancel culture not so different from the one we find ourselves in today. The Pharisees were the self appointed thought police of Jesus’s day. However, their method of cancelling you would be to see you stoned or crucified if possible. Remember the woman caught in adultery? They were going to have her stoned until Jesus intervened on her behalf. Jesus thought she was worth saving in spite of her questionable behavior at the time.

I guess losing a few friends or followers kind of pales in comparison to being stoned to death? Still our current cancel culture can feel kind of dangerous. One misstep, one misspoken word and you are history, you are toast, you are thrown away as irredeemable. And I thought baseball was brutal with its three strikes and you are out! Those three strikes are looking pretty magnanimous right about now.

I know I long for second chances times infinity. Don’t we all? Don’t we all want another opportunity to succeed, to right the wrong, to repair the damage, to do better, to do different? to pick ourselves up and try again? Our country’s history has been one of people doing just those things for years. Learning from our failures and doing better. We are a country that gives second chances to anyone who wants one. (at least we did in the past) We were founded on a belief in a Creator God who gives second chances to anyone who asks Him, without partiality.

Cancel culture is robbing us all of the opportunities we all counted on to continually learn and grow without being sentenced to a life of silence and irrelevance, irrevocably by who? Who determines who gets cancelled? Perhaps we should start by not being so quick to cancel each other. Psalm 130:3-4 says,

“If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.”

Heavenly Father, I’m so glad you don’t keep a record of my wrongdoing and hold it against me. Help me to follow Your example, and not hold others’ offenses against them. My load will certainly be lighter the less I hold onto grudges and gripes.

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19:11)

sincerely, Grace Day

 

There before me, good and evil, standing side by side on the same site. It is such an incongruous sight that I have to look again even though everything in me wants to deny what I am seeing. I feel overwhelming grief as I stare at the large “Black Lives Matter” sign in the yard of the old downtown church.

Don’t they know? Then I realize there are only three possible explanations for what I see before me now. Agreement, acquiescence or ignorance. Agreement is too terrible to contemplate so I pray fervently that one of the latter explains the presence of the sign.

But first I must confess – I have put off writing this post for far too long. I further confess – that even though I write often about having courage, I myself have behaved as if I have none. I have acted cowardly rather than courageously. I encourage others not to remain silent, not to turn a blind eye and then I myself have remained silent. Until now.

But not today. As our cities continue to burn in the name of – of what? of justice? People are losing their livelihoods, our communities are war zones, lives are being lost and no one’s life is made better by any of this destruction, intimidation, vandalism and violence.

Black Lives Matter signs, banners, painted letters on our streets and spray painted graffiti on our churches, public buildings, monuments and places of business are everywhere. What does this mean? Black lives continue to be lost to murder, abortion, crime etc. everyday – we don’t see any outrage from BLM about that, just as we don’t see any lives being saved or living conditions being made better with the burning down of black owned and minority businesses and neighborhoods. So what is the desired outcome of the protests/riots?

I was having trouble connecting the obvious meaning of the name BLM with the obvious outcomes of their very public actions. Something is not making sense. Black lives are not being uplifted. Why not? Isn’t that BLM’s purpose?

Well, according to their website their agenda is something else entirely. It is to destroy our country and all those who look to her for freedom and protection and opportunity to live their lives in safety, peace and prosperity. They use words like disrupt and dismantle rather than destroy. I guess that sounds a little less threatening? But the intent is still clear.

What does BLM want to disrupt, dismantle, and destroy? The nuclear family, capitalism, democracy, freedom – pretty much our way of life. Why? BLM is Marxist in ideology. This is important to know because Marxism is atheistic at its core which is the opposite of the United States founding belief that we each have value because we have been “endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.”

Core beliefs have real world consequences. We have been witness to these consequences as we have watched the fires and the fallout, the demonstrations and the demolition taking place in cities across our country. With businesses boarded up and police presence decreased due to calls for defunding, with crime and murder rates rising, our streets continue to be filled with BLM demonstrators.

Why? Why are there BLM signs in store windows? Why are corporations giving BLM such large sums of money? Why is the NFL (and other sports organizations also) making sure to openly support BLM financially and with their public actions? Is it agreement? acquiescence? or ignorance?

Acquiescence is certainly rampant right now. We have all witnessed first hand what happens to those who don’t publicly support BLM. In this cancel culture it is to any business’s or to any individual’s detriment to not support BLM by signs, t-shirts, word of mouth and money. So I feel fear must be the dominant factor contributing to acquiescence. If a BLM sign can protect your business from bricks, bombs, burning and looting, who wouldn’t want to avail themselves of this simple solution? It beats the alternative. Unfortunately, tyrants are rarely placated for long. Tomorrow they will demand more.

Does fear account for all the support we are witnessing? I have to believe ignorance also plays a large part in what we witness in our streets and in the daily dialogue of our nation. People have not looked beyond the name of the organization. They have not gone to the website to learn about the origin of the organization or to see where their monetary donations might be going.

It is curious that the very churches which support BLM will not exist when events reach their logical conclusion. Under a Marxist regime there is no freedom of religion. There is no religion. After all, it was Karl Marx who called religion “the opiate of the masses” or “the opium of the people.” How ironic. So many churches are currently supporting an atheistic ideology. I wonder if ignorance is an acceptable excuse?

I have been especially surprised to watch the entire NFL, team by team, to take a knee, so to speak, to BLM. I have to believe it is the result of ignorance on their part. Here’s why. All those players are well paid athletes who have prospered as a result of the opportunities available to them in this country. Capitalism makes their salaries and their lifestyles possible. Free people with jobs, spend their hard earned money on game tickets and sports paraphernalia, (jerseys, hats etc.) and keep the NFL in business. How do the players think those big stadiums, arenas and other sports venues get built?

The answer would be capitalism. The same capitalism which BLM has vowed as a part of their platform to abolish. (players, were you never told – “don’t bite the hand that feeds you”?) I would think these players and the NFL organization would want to stand up for the country that allows them the freedom to conduct business and to pursue their personal, individual dreams. I would think the players would want to stand up for the hard working fans who wear their jerseys proudly, who have supported them in the past and are now being forced into silence and acquiescence while their businesses and their cities burn down around them.

But you, NFL players, are not standing up for your fans nor for your country. You are all taking a knee. Cowards. What are you afraid of? Cancel culture? A negative Facebook post? Do you really think there will be professional sports of any kind when our economy collapses? (have you looked at Venezuela lately?) Then I guess you all will be out of a job just like the rest of us regular, non-essential people.

I expected cowardice from the big corporations who felt they had to protect their images at any cost. And what a cost it is! That cost is selling out to an anti-capitalist organization. This makes no sense. So is this ignorance or acquiescence? It certainly could not be agreement because the ideology of BLM when implemented will mean the death of capitalism, which will mean the extinction of these corporations. So they are giving huge donations to an organization which is openly working to destroy them.

Which means it must be ignorance. Who helps their enemy bring them down? And so I must ask myself, what is my part? I love this country and do not want to see the freedoms we have enjoyed and perhaps taken for granted, disappear while I stand silently by. I am not in agreement and I am not ignorant, but has fear of offending kept me silent too long while I have waited for others to speak up? I was waiting for just one organization, just one NFL team, just one player to stand up and to speak out and to refuse to pay the protection bribe, to refuse to pledge allegiance to the bully terrorizing us in our own backyards.

But there has been only silence. We have such a history of courage as a country and as individuals. When did we become a nation of cowards? Corporations, churches, sports franchises are all actively supporting the very movement that desires to tear them down, to tear down our country and to replace our private property with community property and state control of every aspect of our lives. (that’s what Marxism is) Getting us to hate our country is just a means to their end. When patriotism is popular and we are united, those that would destroy us from within don’t stand a chance.

The choice is ours with BLM. We can agree, we can acquiesce, we can remain ignorant by turning a blind eye and a deaf ear or we can speak out for the nation who has provided us protection and freedom, even with all her flaws, far above what others experience around the globe.

We are not the nation who invented slavery but we are the nation who abolished it. And we did so at a very high cost of human life. (the Civil War) So many have given their lives that this nation might live. They would not want us to give up on her, to go down in silence, without a fight. America is worth fighting for. Somehow, so many seem to have forgotten that fact. Instead, we prefer to fight each other.

I am reminded of the story of the young boy and the rattlesnake. Maybe you know it too? The rattlesnake asks the boy to carry him up the mountain so he can enjoy the sun but the boy is afraid of being bitten and of dying as a result. The snake assures the boy this will not happen, giving the boy his promise. So the boy picks up the rattlesnake and they journey together up the mountain and then back to the snake’s home. The boy keeps the snake safe and protected the entire time. As the boy sets the snake down, the snake bites him. Surprised, the boy cries out, “why did you do that?” The snake’s reply? “You knew what I was when you picked me up.”

Hindsight is always so perfectly clear. But it always comes too late. Will we claim ignorance as a nation? as a people? say we had no idea? say we did not know? we did not know who they were, those who tore our country down right before our eyes, while proclaiming justice, equality and freedom – even as they unjustly desecrated our cities, took lives and our liberties, suppressing any voices of dissent, as we, with our silence gave consent – to freedoms fought for in long ago years, to now be surrendered without a tear, without a whimper of regret, believing this the only path to peace? with this oppression will the violence cease?

Tonight my prayer would be these words from the Gettysburg Address, ” . . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

this legacy of freedom and democracy is ours to preserve and to pass on or ours to loose . . .

let us pray for that new birth of freedom

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

sincerely, Grace Day

Out of the mouths of babes, so to speak, comes today’s universally asked question. It is a question all of us ask, if not out loud then to ourselves silently, as we suffer while wondering what is the answer to our question? I confess – it is a question I ask often enough myself. But hearing this question that we all grapple with, asked by a six year old, in the words of a six year old, gave it a clarity that highlighted just how universally asked this question is and has been down through the centuries of human existence.

“When will it stop hurting?”, this young child asked his Grammi. Isn’t that what we all want to know? When will the pain go away? When will it stop hurting for me? Sometimes our physical pain does go away, it does stop. But for many, chronic physical pain is part of daily life. It does not stop. It does not go away.

Then there is the even more prevalent emotional pain that afflicts us all. This pain is as unrelenting as physical pain, but for some reason its impact on our lives and on our overall well being is much greater than mere physical pain. Emotional pain, those deep hurts, wounds, rejections, fears, anxieties, depressions, loneliness, words and deeds of others that have hurt our hearts and caused us grief unspeakable – these are the burdens emotional pain bestows on us and leaves us to carry on our own.

And so I find myself asking along with my young friend, “When will it stop hurting?” I want to believe that it will and I want a date to put on my calendar, so that I can mark off the days until the day when there will be no more pain arrives. That is a day worth waiting for – but I need to believe that it is coming. I need to believe that life without pain is possible.

I don’t think I am alone in this longing to be released from pain. Look at what Romans 8:19-23 tells me,

“The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

So all of creation is asking this same question right along with me, “When will it stop hurting?” or “How much longer do we have to suffer?” Creation is groaning as it waits to be liberated from its bondage to decay just as you and I groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies. (after all, we too, are a part of creation)

When will the pain stop? In John 16:33, Jesus tells us “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Ok, that sounds like not any time soon will the hurt be disappearing from my daily life or any of our daily lives. Not in this world anyway. 1 Peter 1:6-7 sheds some light on why this is so.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

So my grief in all kinds of trials is only for a little while? Just how long is a little while anyway? Time is definitely in the eye of the beholder. 1 Peter 3:8 tells me,

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

So how do I hang on, waiting for it to stop hurting, in the meantime? 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 encourages me with these words,

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

There’s a reason it hasn’t stopped hurting yet. I am being renewed and prepared for an eternal glory that I can’t even imagine nor understand. I just have to take my Heavenly Father at His word. It’s called trust and trust requires faith. Then I read in James 1:2-4 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.”

I guess with me it’s taking a little longer to develop in me perseverance and to bring me to the mature and complete stage. I am a work in progress and it is a painful process! But my Heavenly Father does promise me this in 1 Peter 5:10,

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

There’s that a little while again, but there is definitely something to look forward to – a time when the hurt, the pain will stop for me and for you, too. Revelation 21:1-4 describes what is coming, what we are looking forward to in these words,

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, . . . And I heard a loud voice from the throne 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.’ ”

When will it stop hurting? When God comes to dwell with us and wipes away all our tears and abolishes all pain and death. When He who is seated on the throne says, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5) That’s when!

Until then I have His promise from Psalm 121:5-8,

“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.”

sincerely, Grace Day

Now there’s a term I haven’t heard in awhile (maybe it’s considered hate speech now?) but I confess – I identify as falling into that category of people often. Truthfully, most of us find ourselves scatterbrained at one time or another in our daily lives. So many thoughts in my head, all swirling around, vying for attention and top billing in my mind. I find it hard to focus on any one thought, with so many competing thoughts crowding together in my brain.

Where do I land? On which thoughts do I settle my mind? (I think we call that settling of the mind, focus, which is what we scatterbrained people lack) My brain needs a full time bouncer to throw some of these thoughts out! Particularly the thoughts that are causing me trouble, making me anxious or fearful or depressed or angry or confused. In fact, a good bouncer would never have let those thoughts into my brain in the first place!

I guess it is time to hire a new bouncer for my brain. Better known as a filter, a good one could do wonders for my disposition, I’m sure. Why are my thoughts important? Scatterbrained or not, why do my thoughts even matter? Well Proverbs 23:7 tells me exactly why my thoughts matter.

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

My thoughts are going to determine who I am? I guess I should really pay more attention to what my thoughts are and to which thoughts I give precedence. I need to be wise in choosing which thoughts I allow to have my attention and my focus. Philippians 4:8-9 gives me some advice in this area, saying –

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. . . . And the God of peace will be with you.”

Taking control of my thoughts will bring order and peace to my mind, replacing the chaos and fear that untamed thoughts running wild will produce in me. That must be why I am told in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to –

“take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Taking my thoughts captive so to speak, ordering them, testing them, determining which ones get banished and which ones get to stay – determines the course and quality of my life. Romans 12:2 gives me clear instruction saying –

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

I can be transformed by thoughts which renew my mind! Those are the thoughts I want in my brain – thoughts that have the power to renew my mind! Those thoughts are God’s thoughts and I can find them in God’s Word. No big secret. God’s life giving, life transforming words and thoughts are there for me to read any time I want, just by opening up my Bible. David sought after God’s thoughts, too. He said in Psalm 139:17-18,

“How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.”

I am so glad I don’t have that many thoughts to keep track of, running around in my head, spinning out of control, refusing to let me take them captive. But then I am not the infinite Creator of the universe, just a finite, mortal being – yet still I have more thoughts than I can deal with on a daily basis. (the average person has more than thirty thousand thoughts per day – no wonder I can’t take all of them captive. My brain bouncer needs to keep more of them out)

Thoughts matter, they have value. Hence the expression, “a penny for your thoughts” which is what you say when you want to know what someone is thinking. Today the going rate per thought is substantially more than a penny, I’m sure. Nevertheless, not all thoughts are of equal value. I need to learn to recognize the harmful from the helpful, the toxic from the transforming, the deadly from the lifegiving, the lies from the truth – in all my thoughts.

There is Someone who helps me to do this. John 15:26 & 16:13 explain,

“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me. . . . when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.”

So I will do as instructed in Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds (my mind) on things above, not on earthly things.”

There’s that directing of my mind, that taking control of where my thoughts are focused. And when I make that choice to focus on God, He has promised me that He will – well you can read it for yourself, dear readers, and God will do the same for you and your thoughts – He is faithful to His promises –

“You will keep in perfect peace, him whose mind is (thoughts are) stayed upon You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3)

My Heavenly Father will take all my wild scatterbrained thoughts under His control, sort them out, expel the dangerous, deadly ones, leaving the lifegiving, renewing ones to do their redemptive work as His living and active words always do.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

sincerely, Grace Day

A friend posed a question to me recently that does not have an easy answer, if indeed it has an answer at all. But it is a question we all struggle with daily, even if we do so unconsciously. For sometimes the answers we seek are to questions we are not able to fully articulate, we mortals being often unable to find the words to express our deepest longings or to ask the questions whose answers would satisfy our souls. If only we would ask the questions.

At this point I must confess – I did not have a ready answer to my friend’s question, only the all too real realization that her question was also my question, her struggle also my struggle.

Her question? The simple version – when should we give up? (give up praying, hoping, believing) The less simple version, containing all the questions that go into the makeup of the original question – should we just assume . . . God what? doesn’t hear us, isn’t going to act or intervene, doesn’t care about our pain, wants us to stop bothering Him with our requests? In order to be at peace do we stop praying for certain seemingly impossible things?

Is giving up hope our pathway to peace? Is it resignation that resolves our constant conflict between what is and what we wish to be? At what price peace? Is the loss of hope the price we must pay for peace?

Which I think leads into the ultimate question that we may be asking ourselves everyday. How do I live in this broken world with my broken heart and still have hope and peace and joy in living each day?

Jesus had something to say about these questions of ours. In Matthew 18 we read, “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” So I guess the answer to the question is, we are not to give up. But that means we may be constantly upset, sad, worried etc. over whatever situations and people we are praying about, so we will have no peace.

Or will we? Look at what Philippians 4:6-7 tells us. “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.”

This is incredible news! I don’t have to be anxious. I can continue in prayer, continually petitioning God if need be and even if my requests aren’t granted now or ever, I receive a gift every time I pray. That gift is the peace of God. And that is one priceless gift.

God’s peace is a peace that doesn’t make sense to others or even to me, as its recipient, because the peace that my Heavenly Father gives me, doesn’t depend on my current circumstances. (and it doesn’t come and go as my circumstances change either) It is a constant peace, a powerful, protective peace, a gift from God that guards my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.  

This must be why it is called the “peace that passes understanding.” It is a peace beyond the limits of my human wisdom. And it is an active peace, a peace powerfully protecting my heart and my mind from the enemy’s attacks of doubt and fear. As I pour out my heart to God, asking for oh so many things, I may receive none of them, but I always receive His gift of peace because it is promised to me in Philippians 4:7. And God always keeps His promises.

So we are instructed to “pray without ceasing;” (1Thessalonians 5:17), and to ” . . . pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)

We are also told, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) There’s that hope we have, we are promised a harvest, if we don’t quit during our tough times.

But living with a broken heart is hard. Although a broken heart lets God’s love in and it allows other people’s pain in, which gives me the ability to share in another’s suffering. We are supposed to do that, to bear one anothers’ burdens.

But why is it life seems to be moments of joy and hours of pain? I need to notice those moments of unexpected joy so that I can hang onto them. I need to store them up as solace against the hurts and wounds and inevitable losses that accumulate until they seem too much to carry.

Psalm 84:10 says, “Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere;”. One compared to a thousand seems obviously lopsided. And yet the one day is more valuable than the thousand apart from God. (I guess location really is everything)

Joy, hope and peace are possible for those who live each day with a broken heart. I know this to be true. We can be both broken hearted and joyful simultaneously. Only with God is this possible. As I pour out my heart to Him in prayer, broken over my own sin, broken over the lives of the loved ones I am praying for, something miraculous happens.

My circumstances may not be changed, my loved ones may not be changed or healed, but I am changed again and again, each time. Forgiven, comforted, encouraged, empowered, equipped, strengthened, sustained, shown new things, reminded of old truths, given new eyes to see, humbled and filled with hope, protected by His peace, fed by His new mercies – I can walk another day in this broken world, full of broken hearted people, with my own heart broken and still find joy in whatever lies along the path He directs me to that day.

When should we give up? Never! God doesn’t give up on me, may I never lose hope or give up on anyone, but persist in prayer as God enables each of us to do. And it is while I am in the act of praying that I receive God’s gift of His perfect peace that passes understanding and actively protects my heart and my mind.

Though my day may be full of trouble, it will contain moments full of joy, so full of joy that it cannot be adequately contained nor expressed. They are fleeting moments of deep knowing, glimpses of the certainty that awaits us. Eternity contained in a moment that is gone before it can be fully experienced. It is those moments which outweigh and outshine all our hours of pain. Eternity present in each and every moment of joy.

“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

sincerely, Grace Day

It occurs to me there is something ya’ll should know about me, just fyi so to speak, so I hereby confess it to you now – I am a target and I am under attack. How did this come about? Well let me tell you how it all started innocently enough, on a day not all that long ago.

You see, I believe there is a natural law stating something like the following, “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” That could explain what has been happening to me recently. I do not feel safe on my morning walks anymore nor on my daily bike rides. Again today I found myself peddling furiously in order to dodge the barrage of acorns falling around my head while at the same time trying not to wipe out as these same acorns crunched under my bike tires, threatening to send me into a skid.

I trace this back to the day I wrote the post entitled “C.C. an acorn ambush #94.” This post must have upset the squirrel population, leading them to seek revenge. I am now a target because I exposed what they are doing on a daily basis. Squirrels had everyone believing it is gravity that is responsible for all the falling acorns. But I pointed out it is actually the squirrels, hurling acorns at unsuspecting passersby, simply for sport. (there are a lot of bored or otherwise disgruntled squirrels out there)

Little did I know squirrels had such an organized network. My post must have gone viral in squirrel world. Because I was riding at least two neighborhoods away today when out of the blue an acorn ambush let loose all around me. Luckily I was able to peddle out of the falling acorn zone to safety. But today I realized just how upset the squirrels are about being called out in my recent post, for their acorn throwing behavior.

The truth isn’t always pretty and I guess the squirrels don’t want their image as fun, furry little forest creatures tarnished by my portrayal of them as vicious, persecutors of pedestrians or any people who dare to pass under their precious oak tree abodes. These squirrels have plenty of ammunition at their disposal (acorns) and they are not afraid to use it!

Fall is my favorite time of year to be outdoors, so I spend as much time as possible out walking or biking. However, since my post exposing bad squirrel behavior, I am constantly on guard and find myself endeavoring to avoid areas with oak trees if at all possible. This substantially limits where I can walk or bike at the moment. (there are a lot of oak trees around here)

I am feeling targeted and persecuted by the squirrel population every time I leave home. I suppose I can take some comfort in these words from Matthew 5:10,

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Was it right of me to write the truth, to expose the squirrels’ deeds and warn other unsuspecting pedestrians? 1 Peter 3:13-14 says,

“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.”

I may have to suffer for doing what is right? Yes, it looks that way. But that is no reason to keep silent if I know the truth about something. 1 Peter 4:15-16 makes it clear that if I suffer because of my own wrongdoing, there is no honor in that. I should suffer for doing wrong. But when I suffer for pursuing what is right, it should not deter me from continuing to do and to say what is true and right.

“If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

I may face continued acorn ambushes, even acorn avalanches in my daily walk with my Heavenly Father, for as long as I am in this world. But I have these assurances, these promises, from His word –

“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1 Peter 4:19)

“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 confess – dating can be daunting all by itself. Add in the era of COVID and one could ask, is dating even possible? I mean, a date by definition is usually when two people go out somewhere together. A traditional date might be pizza and a movie or dinner and a show or attending a sporting event or a concert together.

But during this time of COVID, there have been no movies or shows nor have there been restaurants open. So what does a date even look like? Plus how would you even meet anyone during those days when everyone was quarantined in their homes, sick or not? Well, I guess the obvious answer is – online – that’s where you could meet someone. Remember – our whole lives moved online into cyberspace overnight as it were.

People no longer worked together (physically that is) nor worshiped together nor ate out together nor played together nor exercised together . . . well you get the idea and you remember how it was. (or still is for some of us)

So did COVID kill dating? Is dating among the COVID casualties? (why do we call them casualties when there is nothing casual about death?) Nonetheless, COVID rules and restrictions must be every parent of teenagers dream come true.

Imagine it if you will. The would be daters have to stay at least six feet apart, no holding hands, hugging or kissing – and they are masked! Remember masks are mandatory. This sets up a socially safe scenario for the daters, which would put any parent’s mind at ease. Of course even with all the restrictions dating would only be possible if there were events to attend or restaurants open for business.

I wasn’t really dating pre-COVID, so imagine my uncertainty when faced with the prospect of going on a date now. Did I say uncertainty? Okay, substitute fear or terror and you have a more accurate description of my mind set. First dates can be awkward enough, you’re not really sure how they will turn out.

Now add to this first encounter, COVID protocols, a new way of behaving, and this could get really uncomfortable fast. Do I maintain six feet of distance at all times? Do I panic if the six foot barrier is breached? Do I leave my mask on or take it off at some point? Is my date smiling or not? Sometimes it’s hard to hear each other. Are these masks sound proof as well as germ proof? (are they germ proof or only COVID proof?)

Oh the agony of the first date, now magnified exponentially by COVID! By now dear readers, you may be wondering about the particulars of the event that allowed this date to take place. Well, it was a movie, but a drive-in movie, so outdoors and possible with proper spacing. (it was an old movie, of course. I don’t think they are making any new ones right now)

Food was prepackaged, catered to our car individually. (it was good) Conversation was great and once fears and phobias were faced down and forced out, it could have been a normal, pre-COVID, first date. And it was. Well except for the masks and other constant reminders that we are living in a COVID dominated time. But one can pretend for an hour or two, can’t one?

And so, dear readers, I have survived my first date in the time of COVID. Definitely preferable to a cyberspace date. Because there is no substitute for the real thing. (post C.C. True Confessions – the real thing #83)

Personal interaction is one of God’s good gifts. He is a very personal God and He created us in His image, made for a personal relationship with Him and for in person, personal relationships with each other. That’s why COVID quarantine and resulting isolation have taken a toll more egregious than we can realize. They take from us God’s good gift of fellowship with each other.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

sincerely, Grace Day