slow down – turn around

Posted on by Grace Day

Have I mentioned I’m currently doing a Bible study on “hurry” with some other women? Well, I am. Not that I’ve put into practice what we’re learning or slowed down any yet – but there’s always tomorrow, right? However, a song has been running through my head lately, a really random, really old song – don’t know how I even know it, but the words keep coming to my mind.

The song? – “Turn Around Look at Me” by the Vogues. Although when I looked it up, the Letterman and some other groups sang this song also. It’s a love song, words sung from a man to a woman I’m guessing, even though it could just as easily be from a woman to a man. The message of the song is clear. The one who loves wants the person whom they love to notice them, to see them, to hear them and to realize that they are loved by this “someone” and they don’t even know it!

It seems to me this song could very well be one of the songs my Creator is singing to me. After all, God is singing to me continuously. Just because I’m not listening, doesn’t mean my Creator isn’t singing as He watches over me. His word tells me that He is indeed singing.

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

The message of the song is simple – “There is someone walking behind you – Turn around, look at me.” I can believe this is what God is saying to me as I hurry through my days. He just wants me to stop, turn and see that He is right there, so close to me. King David was aware of God’s presence with him when he wrote these words about God –

“You hem me in – behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” (Psalm 139:5-6)

The song continues “There is someone watching your footsteps – turn around, look at me.” These words remind me that my Heavenly Father is watching over me even when I am not paying any attention to Him. The psalmist expressed it this way –

“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 121:7-8)

Watching my coming and my going, my footsteps – my Heavenly Father is not a creepy stalker but a benevolent protector who loves me and watches over me. Who wouldn’t want someone who always has their back? who always has their best interests at heart? The song continues with the only line that would not ring true if my Creator were singing it – “There is someone who really needs you – here is my heart in my hand.”

That’s not true BUT – the reverse is. God doesn’t need me, but I desperately need Him. God cares for me, “He loves me with an everlasting love”, “He has compassion on all He has made”, He gave His one and only Son for me – but He doesn’t need me. I need Him. However, the rest is true – my Heavenly Father has given me His heart and His hand –

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“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)

The song continues – “Turn around, look at me. Understand, understand that there’s someone who’ll stand beside you, turn around, look at me”

Are you sensing a theme here? If only I would slow down, cease my endless running from who knows what to who knows what – if only I would pause long enough to turn around and see the One who is pursuing me, the One who loves me, the One who is watching over me, singing over me – my Heavenly Father – the One who is my Creator, my Redeemer, my Savior, my provider and my protector. If only I would stop running from God and instead run to Him – He is waiting for me to do just that, like the song says – “turn around, look at me.”

The song continues – “And there’s someone to love and guide you, turn around, look at me”. My Heavenly Father has promised in His word that He will do this for me, if I will allow Him to –

“Lean not unto your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:4-5)

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:2-3)

This is definitely a song my Heavenly Father is singing consistently, patiently to my soul. As I hurry through my days, He is calling to me – “turn around, look at Me!” Will I stop and turn to see that He is with me and has been all along, or am I too busy, in too big a hurry to acknowledge His presence? Even if I keep running rather than turn around, God doesn’t give up on me or on you either, dear readers. King David knew this to be true. Must be why he wrote these words –

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make My bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:7-10)

It is so comforting to know that there is indeed “Someone” walking behind me, beside me, holding my hand, guiding me. That “Someone” is none other than my Creator, my Heavenly Father, God. Which brings us to the last line of the lyrics to this song – words God is definitely singing to me and to you, even as I write them.

“O I’ve waited, but I’ll wait forever – For you to come to me – Look at someone Who really loves you – Turn around, look at me – Turn around, look at me.”

Someone who really loves you and me – that’s God!

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

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

Someone who will never give up on me or on you, Someone who will wait forever –

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ” (Hebrews 13:5)

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

“Turn around, look at me” – a song about human love, but nevertheless, a song that reflects the divine love our Creator has for each one of us as those He created in His image. As the song continues to play in my head, I will pause from my “hurry”, turn around and look at my Heavenly Father – truly look at Him, truly know Him, truly spend time in His presence.

“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

sincerely, Grace Day

pondering the pithy

Posted on by Grace Day

My neighbors are traveling – again. They have recently returned from one adventure only to embark on yet another travel adventure. I must admit – I am positively green with envy. This brings to mind the rolling stone – you know the one – the one that gathers no moss, right? Well, in this scenario, my neighbors are the rolling stones and I am the opposite of a rolling stone. I am the stationary stone. This would explain my envious green hue. Unlike my friends, the rolling stones, I have gathered plenty of moss. I am, in fact, covered in thick, green moss.

Although, if truth be told, there are plenty of times and seasons in my life, where I too, am a rolling stone. It is during these times of “rolling” that I lose my accumulated moss in the process of being no longer still, but in perpetual motion.

Still, I have to ponder the deeper question here. Is the implication of this often quoted, pithy saying that moss is a good thing or a bad thing? If the implication is that moss is a good thing, a desirable thing, then a rolling stone by virtue of its constant movement, is missing out on acquiring this valuable asset of moss. Moss does provide a warm and comforting layer of protection and adornment for the stone. So moss can be considered something good. This is one interpretation.

Or – is moss considered a burden – extra, unnecessary weight that slows the stone’s roll? Is the moss making the stone more beautiful or hiding the stone’s bare beauty? All these queries are a part of my pithy ponder.

It appears to me that to this point in my life, I have more often played the part of the stationary stone rather than the rolling stone. (must be why I have acquired so much moss) Neighbors have come and gone, friends have moved here and there, while I have been at the same address for many years. And I have the “moss” to verify my lack of “rolling” – a basement and a garage and closets full of the “moss” that accumulates with the passage of time. Are these “mossy” things that fill my home treasure or trash? That is open to interpretation.

But, fun fact. Time does have a way of turning trash into treasure. Ordinary objects become valuable antiques, sought after by collectors, when enough time has passed to turn them into rare and historical treasures. Ironically, moss is a sign that the “stone” has put down roots (so to speak) by virtue of staying in one place, even though moss itself has no roots. (moss has something called rhizoids which enable it to attach to a variety of surfaces)

Moss is a beautiful, velvety soft covering – a vibrantly colored plant that lives on every continent. That’s right. Moss grows in Antarctica and in the desert. Very versatile. So why would a stone want to cease its rolling and gather some moss? Maybe for the comfort a covering of moss provides? Perhaps for the protection or for the adornment of mosses’ emerald hues? Or could it be that the stone desires the moss that grows and flourishes with the connections that are formed, the community that arises, only when the stone stops its rolling?

But it’s hard to stop “rolling” in today’s culture. We are busy and we value busyness. So I too often keep on rolling and then wonder why I have no moss – no protective, comforting, decorative cloak and cover to keep me company. (who knew moss is a good companion?) This must be why God’s word says –

“Be still; and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

I don’t need to keep running – whether from something or in search of something. My Heavenly Father says I need only to be still. (and maybe gather some moss) He will meet me where I am. In fact, He says this –

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

And He says –

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15)

I guess that’s right. I too often resist being still in favor of that fever pitch at which we all seem to be living life. I’m afraid to slow down and cease my incessant rolling. Why? I blame FOMO. (fear of missing out) It’s a malady of our current day culture. BUT – my Heavenly Father has something else in mind for me (and for you) –

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7)

“Do not fret”? Why? Because God’s got a better plan for me and for you too, dear readers. God gives us a wonderful invitation, if we dare to accept it and follow where He leads –

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:2)

Doesn’t that sound inviting? A chance to stop rolling long enough to lie down and rest. I’m pretty sure there’s moss in those green pastures and moss on the stones beside those quiet waters. It is in this place of stillness that my Heavenly Father restores my soul, I receive much needed rest, and moss has a chance to grow a comforting, protective, decorative covering over my once rolling stony self.

This is an open invitation from my Heavenly Father, an invitation that I want to accept often. I never regret the time I spend in His green pastures, beside quiet waters, being still, being restored by the life-giving Presence of my Creator. I will “be still and know that He is God.” I will gladly cease my rolling and gather some moss until my Heavenly Father calls me to “roll” again, to follow Him to some new adventure.

sincerely, Grace Day

the gum giver

Posted on by Grace Day

No, that is not a job description, but it does describe a work colleague of mine. He is a substitute teacher at the large, inner city public high school where I also work as a sub. This can be a tough job, a thankless job, a position the students don’t take seriously but they do take advantage of those in this role. My colleague, however, has found a solution or at least a gimmick to enhance his standing with the students even though he’s only a substitute teacher like me. His idea? He is the giver of gum goodness.

That’s right. My colleague has discovered that giving out free chewing gum to the students is indeed a very good gimmick – a gimmick full of goodwill fueled by the goodness of gum! Who knew? It’s a simple gesture but it works wonders. I’ve seen it work. He stands in the halls during passing periods and hands out gum to anyone who asks. Even the most rude and rebellious of students will approach him politely, hand outstretched, and usually remember to say thank you at the conclusion of the gum transaction.

The teenage years are turbulent times by definition. Many students walk around angry, anxious, or on edge, just waiting for their next explosive encounter. Enter the gum giver. Instead of telling students they are in violation of dress code, to take off their hat or to get to class (that’s someone else’s job anyway, someone way above our pay grade) he offers them a choice of gum flavors – a small gift, an act of kindness and goodwill inserted into an often contentious environment.

This giving of gum changes things for the better – one stick of gum at a time – one positive interaction at a time – his gimmick of giving gum goodness reaps a harvest of goodwill. And goodwill is a scarce and valuable commodity among the teenage population, let me tell you. (maybe among the population in general now that I think about it) The gum giver is building bridges between himself and the students, slowly, steadily – each gesture of kindness, each stick of gum, another piece of the bridge he is building every day. (although I’m sure some days the chasm seems too wide to be bridged by mere sticks of gum, no matter how many he gives away)

This is not something new for him. The gum giver has been doing this for years. Students seek him out during the school day – they go out of their way to find him. Of course, they are getting free gum, but they are also getting something more – a smile, a kind word – it’s possibly the most positive interaction of their day. I think my colleague is onto something wise and profound. Although, it’s also a good survival tactic. Teenagers can be formidable adversaries. I think the gum giver is smart to put into practice this strategy –

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:20)

He is making a big difference with a seemingly small gesture – the giving of a single stick of gum. Living in a culture that is producing anxious, agitated, often angry individuals, what he does may seem insignificant and insufficient against such odds. BUT – we are told in Romans –

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

In this case, the goodness of gum is the method and I think it is working. As I said previously, he has been doing this gum giveaway thing for some years, which brings to mind these words in Galatians –

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

I wonder if the gum giver ever grows weary? Perhaps, BUT – I have never seen the gum giver give up. And he never runs out of gum either! That’s a minor miracle considering every school day he hands out hundreds of sticks of gum, one at a time, all day long. (many students are repeat receivers of his gift of gum goodness in the same day) I hope his consistent kindness and generosity are contagious. We could each take a page from the gum giver’s play book and practice some small form of “gum giving” every day.

Whether it’s the giving of a smile (there are those who find that too costly or too much trouble) or the giving of a kind word or a listening ear – I am inspired by the gum giver to try and make a difference for good in the lives of those I come in contact with every day. (maybe candy bars?) Whatever it is, dear readers, we each have our own unique contribution for good that only we can make to the world. So let’s do whatever it is, one step at a time, one day at a time, one stick of gum at a time.

And the world will be the better for it – “overcome evil with good.”

sincerely, Grace Day

fun fact – the gum giver is also the person in the post – “moment of glory”

the never ending project

Posted on by Grace Day

Ever have one of those – a project that never seems to end? – one where there is always more to do, something else that is needed. That’s my house and come to think of it, my life also. Is that true for you as well? The plumber was here this week to do a big project that needed doing but that I had put off for far too long. When I scheduled the appointment, I felt a huge sense of relief and accomplishment, simply because I finally made a decision, took action and committed to having the work done. Finally, something I could cross off my long standing “to-do” list!

Well, the plumber came and completed said tasks BUT (that’s right, there’s always a “but”) he noticed some other things that need to be taken care of, such as a battery backup for the pump in the basement. (those things aren’t cheap) So, my list actually grew longer – cross off one thing, add three more. I won’t bore you with further plumbing details, but let me just mention that my list contains many other things as well. Currently, my car’s engine light is on, my fence is falling down, my garage needs to be cleared out and the list goes on and on. My list truly is a reflection of my life, a life comprised of never-ending projects. No wonder I’m exhausted! Maybe your lists are long and you are tired too, dear readers.

Perhaps this is fitting since you and I live in a culture dedicated to never ending projects – particularly home improvement projects and self improvement projects. These types of projects have no end point. There is always more to do, more that needs to be done and more that we are told should be done if we are to achieve ultimate perfection. Could it be we are chasing the impossible dream – whether that be our dream house or our dream body? Either way it’s exhausting because the pursuit is never ending. There is always one more project. One more thing to do.

BUT – what if I wasn’t the one who was doing the work? What if I could hire the perfect contractor or the perfect personal trainer or nutritionist or life coach? BUT – is there anyone out there that I would actually trust with the never ending projects that fill my life? No one comes to mind. Trusting others is hard for me, (often based on past experiences) but at some point I have to trust some car mechanic, plumber, doctor, nutritionist, exercise guru etc. to help me take care of my house and of my body.

The phrase “a work in progress” definitely sums up me and my house, too. It is a popular phrase which accurately describes me and my life experience. Things are constantly changing – myself, my circumstances, the world around me. I need to be able to adapt in order to survive. We call that learning and growing and it’s a life long process. For my house, I can find and hire a contractor with a good reputation that I trust to oversee the needed repairs, renovations and restoration.

But what about the repairs, renovations, and the restoration that I need done in my personal life? Who better to entrust that job to than the original builder, my Heavenly Father, my Creator? I am so tired of trying to “improve” my own life. I am sure He will do a much better job if I would just allow Him free reign in my life. After all, if I can’t trust the One who made me, who can I trust? I know what it says in Philippians –

“for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)

That’s reassuring. God’s purposes are always good. I can trust Him. I have God’s promise –

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

And the great thing is – it’s ok that I’m exhausted from all the trying to self-improve with all the never ending projects. Because it’s not my strength that is needed to get the job done. I don’t have the strength or the ability to complete any of the projects on my never ending list. But my Heavenly Father does. I just need to trust Him and to surrender control to Him. Let Him do the work in me that I can never seem to get done on my own. Now these words make perfect sense –

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

I am a work in progress BUT – I can have confidence that the work will get done in time because I’m not the one doing the work – my Creator is! What a relief! My Redeemer started this restoration project which is the mess of my life and He is transforming it into something wonderful and beautiful. I don’t need my lists. His plan is perfect.

My Creator, my Heavenly Father God, will not give up on me even though I often give up on myself when I fail at all my self-imposed self-improvement plans. God, who began the good work in me, will see it through. It will have an end, a happy ending – when His work is complete.

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2)

When you and I, dear readers, are fully conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, His work in us truly will be complete – until then, this side of heaven, I remain a work in progress – a never ending project of love in my Heavenly Father’s hands.

sincerely, Grace Day

the paraplegic

Posted on by Grace Day

My friends and I were praying over the prayer requests from people in our church, which they have submitted online. We do this once a week as a group. The requests are many, often anonymous, always heartfelt, often overwhelming, usually filled with a mixture of pain, despair, uncertainty and hope – perhaps hope in this desperate, last-ditch effort of sharing their deep need online with strangers.

Ours is such a large church and so many of the requests are anonymous, that I don’t know if I have ever known any of the people we are praying for each week. But of course, that’s the beauty of this thing called prayer – I don’t have to know. God knows everyone perfectly. He knows every situation and every need. How can I be sure of this? Well, the prophet Isaiah describes God in this way –

“He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (Isaiah 40:26)

Do you know how many stars there are? Google tells me there are one septillion stars. I can’t really get my mind around that number. Just our own galaxy alone, the Milky Way, has over 100 billion stars, including our sun. So I guess if God knows the names of all those stars, He also knows the names of all the people who have submitted prayer requests, anonymous or not. And then there’s this –

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)

If God knows the number of hairs on my head and on your heads, dear readers, then I can be assured that He knows the names and the situations of all those I am praying for, even though I don’t know those things. The NLT translation says, “But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”

God knows. I don’t need to know in order to pray. I don’t need to know because God knows it all, sees it all and watches over it all. Nothing escapes His notice. He is omniscient. The author of Hebrews confirms this, saying –

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13)

So, this week there was a request for prayer for someone’s son who is now a paraplegic. No names or details were given. I found myself wondering how old is this son, how long has he been a paraplegic and what caused his condition – accident, illness, sports injury – what happened to him? What is his story? BUT – curious as I am, I don’t need to know all this in order to pray for him. God knows this person’s story and is continuing to write it even now.

I couldn’t help but think of the story of the paralytic told in Mark and in Luke. He was carried by his friends on a mat – this was before wheelchairs – to a place where his friends thought he might receive healing. His friends had heard the rumors of someone called Jesus who was healing people. They were willing to help their friend by transporting him to where Jesus was preaching and teaching. Here’s what happened –

“One day as He was teaching . . . Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’ ” (Luke 5:17-20)

Not exactly the response they were looking for – they sought a physical healing for their friend. That was their priority – that their friend would once again walk. Instead Jesus told him his sins were forgiven. Some in the crowd, namely the Pharisees, took issue with this response saying – “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Our story continues –

“Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ‘ He said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.” (Luke 5:22-25)

So how did I pray in response to this mother’s request for prayer for her paraplegic son? Before me was the desire for a physical healing. But her son needs more than this temporary fix. We all do. You and I and this paraplegic son, like the paralytic on the mat in front of Jesus, need a spiritual healing much more than we need any physical healing. A spiritual healing, which begins with forgiveness of sin, lasts for eternity. Any physical healing we experience in this life is temporary at best, as our bodies will eventually wear out. Even Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, did eventually die a physical death.

The paralytic asked too little of Jesus. He desired a temporary healing. Jesus wanted to give him an eternal healing of his soul, which is why Jesus forgave him of his sins. How could I best pray for this paraplegic? I thought of God’s promise to me, to you, to this beloved son –

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

Currently, her son is suffering from depression due to this change in his circumstances. BUT – God wants to give him hope and a future irregardless of his physical circumstances. God didn’t take away the apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (whatever that was) BUT it didn’t change the call of God on Paul’s life. Paul’s life was full of meaning and purpose as he lived out God’s purposes for him rather than his own.

I prayed that God’s truth would set this paraplegic free to live out God’s good and eternal purposes for his life. I prayed he would find his identity, purpose, place and calling through knowing Jesus, his Savior and ultimate healer. God wants to give him “hope and a future” – that’s a direct quote and a promise. I pray that he will receive all that God wants to give him, starting with forgiveness and eternal life and all the good gifts God’s presence brings to us each day – His peace, comfort, wisdom, provision, protection, hope, joy – it’s a long list.

Joni Erickson Tada has lived a life full of meaning, purpose, accomplishment and service to so many people around the world – author, artist, activist for those who are disabled – her list of accomplishments is long. And she has done it all from a wheelchair! I pray this for the paraplegic son on today’s prayer list – a life full and overflowing with all his Creator wants to give him. I pray he know the truth – that God’s love for him is unwavering and that God’s call upon his life remains intact despite any physical disability. God’s answer to this paraplegic son is perhaps the same as His response to Paul –

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul’s response?

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

I pray this son, this child of God, experiences God’s limitless power in his life, a life that is truly made perfect and strong because of, not in spite of, his newly weakened state.

sincerely, Grace Day

walking weighted

Posted on by Grace Day

My prayer walking partner does this. She walks weighted. Every time we walk and pray, she wears a weighted vest. I wasn’t aware of this for a long time, actually until last spring when the weather turned warm and her weighty vest was no longer concealed by her heavy coat. I could then see the extra burden she bore as we walked and prayed. Of course, the obvious query is why? Why would anyone willingly choose to carry more weight with them than they absolutely had to. Doesn’t the extra weight make her journey slower, harder, longer than it would otherwise be?

Ironic, isn’t it? My last post was about lightening our loads and now I’m talking about increasing what we carry with us? It would seem I can’t make up my mind these days. However, in my defense, I’ve been thinking about these words in Galatians which give me a very specific instruction –

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Seriously? I already feel the weight of the world on my shoulders more days than I care to admit, and now I’m supposed to add to my load and offer to help someone else carry their burden? their baggage? Impossible right? Well, no because “with God all things are possible.” My Heavenly Father will enable me to do whatever it is that He asks of me. Still, it sounds unduly difficult to me and a bit unreasonable of God to ask such a thing of me, don’t you agree?

I always thought the goal was to travel light through this life, both literally and figuratively. However, if I pay closer attention to what God’s instructions are, I realize that although He does tell me to throw off some things, He also asks me to pick up or to put on some other things. My Heavenly Father tells me to throw off “the sin that so easily entangles” – anything that hinders me and holds me back. My instructions also include this directive –

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” (1 Peter 2:1)

Well, that should certainly lighten my load! Those things are heavy burdens, never intended to be carried with me everywhere I go. But God also asks me to put on plenty of weighty things – namely, God asks me to “put on His full armor”, He asks me to “take up my cross and follow Him” and He invites me to “bear other people’s burdens.”

Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? Is this really in my best interest, this walking weighted down with armor and my cross and my life’s burdens and now other people’s burdens, too? I guess armor was the original weighted vest. That breastplate of righteousness must have weighed quite a bit, (still does – character building is like weight training for our souls instead of our muscles) not to mention the shield of faith would be weighty to wield as one walked along.

BUT – it turns out, walking while weighted is good for us. That’s why my friend wears the weighted vest. There are benefits to carrying this extra weight around with us. Apparently, it builds and maintains our muscles and our bones, making them strong and keeping them strong. And as it turns out, weight bearing is good cardio, too – meaning it’s good for our hearts. So when Jesus told His disciples “take up your cross and follow Me” He knew carrying this extra weight would produce necessary and desirable results in their lives. Today, Jesus invites you and I, dear readers, into this same weight bearing journey of following Him.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Did you catch that? I am to “deny” or throw off some things while simultaneously “taking up” other things. Knowing what to leave behind and what to carry with me on this journey makes all the difference. Fortunately, God’s word gives me some pretty clear guidelines about what to leave behind and what to carry with me, even listing out all the pieces of the armor in Ephesians chapter six. (ie. the helmet, shoes, belt, breastplate, shield and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word)

Some things, like bitterness, unforgiveness, hate, anger, anxiety – these are burdens that destroy me, burdens that weaken me, hold me hostage and keep me paralyzed. However, other weighty things I carry, such as the cross of Christ or the burdens I bear for others, these make me stronger instead of weaker. I become strong in compassion, empathy, unselfishness, helping others. These are vitally important muscles which need to be used in order to be made strong. If I don’t use them, I lose them. (we all recognize that mantra from the gym, right?)

Carrying my cross daily builds my character and my trust in my Heavenly Father. Crosses were notoriously heavy. We know from the account of Jesus’s crucifixion, how He and the one who carried His cross for Him struggled under its weight. But we are told the weight we bear for Jesus and for others is weight we carry with a purpose, for a reason, for a very good reason.

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

Yes, you and I are growing stronger as we carry our crosses and sometimes shoulder the weight of the crosses of our loved ones as well. (or those of our enemies) As we do this, we are building necessary spiritual muscle and bone. We are strengthening our faith as we walk with our weighted vests (or breastplates and shields etc.) while following Christ. You and I have the privilege of carrying with us something very weighty and very special. God’s word says this about us –

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ ” (Isaiah 52:7)

That’s you and I, dear readers – and that’s another thing we carry with us – the most important thing – God’s Good News. My prayer walk partner and I carry so much more than the weight of her weighted vest with us when we walk – we carry God’s proclamation of peace, salvation, and the assurance and knowledge that our God is alive and well, sovereign and loving. We carry God’s message of redemption and hope, all while wearing His shoes, the shoes of the gospel of peace.

I am definitely walking weighted through this world BUT – if I am carrying the proper weights that God has given me to carry, I will be increasing in strength and stamina as I continue on in my faith journey. In fact, I have this promise as I walk bearing the weight of armor, cross, burdens and the Gospel (God’s Good News is quite weighty in the best sense of the word, having the substance (weight) of truth that stands the test of time for eternity, the power to save lives, to redeem, restore and set free each one who hears and receives God’s message) –

“Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; 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 40:30-31)

you and I will soar, dear readers, all while wearing our weighted vests!

sincerely, Grace Day

lightening the load

Posted on by Grace Day

Sounds like something I need to do, lighten the load that is, and maybe that’s something you need to do too? It is easy to get bogged down with life’s cares, worries, demands, trials, hardships, challenges – it seems there is no shortage of things that cause us pain, give us pause or just outright stop us in our tracks and maybe bring us to our knees.

I have just been reading about Paul’s final voyage by sea to Rome. It was not an easy trip due to the fierce storms that arose threatening the ship and the lives of all those on board. One of their solutions was to lighten the load on the ship, hoping this would help the ship to fare better in the storm. This is part of the account of that journey by sea –

“Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the ‘northeaster,’ swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. . . . We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.” (Acts 27:14-19)

This seems pretty drastic to me. Didn’t they need the things they were throwing overboard into that stormy sea? Or was their choice between their possessions and their lives? By giving up some of their “things” they were hoping to save their lives. Seems like a reasonable trade off to me. After all, I read these words in Luke –

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:25)

Those on the ship sailing with Paul were definitely willing to part with some things if it meant keeping their ship afloat and therefore themselves alive in the middle of the storm. But the storm continued. They had more choices to make. I read what they did next –

“When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.” (Acts 27:38)

So they continued to lighten the load by throwing overboard whatever was still weighing the ship down. In this case it was food! Now food seems pretty important but if they drowned in the sea, I guess they wouldn’t need the food anyway. Gives new meaning to the phrase “traveling light” doesn’t it?

Which is a goal of mine whenever I travel – to travel light – to travel with as little as possible, just the necessities, so I don’t have a lot of unnecessary stuff weighing me down. So just how much stuff do I need to take with me when I travel anyway? For me, the length of the journey often determines how much I think I will need to carry with me. However, there is also the inevitable “accumulation factor” which I always forget to include in my calculations, meaning I am going to accumulate additional things along the way, whether by my intentional shopping for souvenirs etc. or simply because I will automatically, unintentionally acquire things as I move through life. These will consist of physical things of course, but also of relationships, memories, emotional, mental and spiritual additions that will be added as I continue on my life’s journey.

But what about my life’s journey? It certainly consists of more than just travel by ship as the apostle Paul was doing, or by “planes, trains and automobiles” (a favorite movie title). My life’s journey, as is yours too dear reader, is one that is impossible to adequately pack for due to the fact that I don’t know what lies ahead. (only God does) I can’t possibly know, but it is sure to include all kinds of weather – storms, adversity, mountains, valleys, feast and famine, drought and flood, scarcity and times of plenty. How can I possibly pack for all contingencies that my entire life’s journey will most certainly include?

I think Abraham faced this very same situation. However, he didn’t let worries or indecision over what to pack for his life’s journey stop him from answering God’s call. He just packed it all! I don’t think this is a good example of traveling light but who am I to criticize Abraham? I read this account of Abraham’s response to God’s invitation –

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;’ . . . So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. . . . He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.” (Genesis 12:1-5)

Abraham definitely did NOT pack light! He took ALL his possessions. He even packed people! Besides his wife and nephew, he took “the people he had acquired in Haran” meaning, his servants. Of course, there were no grocery stores along the way, so the fact that Abraham took all his flocks and herds of animals with him on this trip was necessary if they were going to have food to eat as they traveled and food when they arrived at their destination.

Lot also was not traveling light. He had his family, his flocks and herds and his servants with him as well. Because of this, the two men did eventually part ways, going in opposite directions so each of them could have enough land to support their animals and their possessions. I know Abraham had a lot to carry with him because I read this about him-

“Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.” (Genesis 13:2)

But that was then. Today we have grocery stores and I have a credit card. Surely, I don’t need to carry everything with me as I journey through this life? If I run out of toothpaste, I can find a place to buy some more, right? After all, when Jesus sent His disciples out, He gave them these instructions –

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.’ So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.” (Luke 9:1-6)

Wow! Now that is truly traveling light! No change of clothes, no credit card, no snack for the road – this required his disciples to completely trust Him and then to obey Him. And they did. So, what travel instructions has my Heavenly Father given me? Well, I read this –

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Ok, so there are things I don’t need to carry with me because they are hindering and entangling me – things such as sin and whatever things burden and therefore hinder me in this race I am running, such as fear, anxiety, bitterness, jealousy, selfishness, greed, grief, unforgiveness – the list is long. BUT – these are all burdens I can choose not to carry with me. I don’t have to carry them. There is One who will carry them for me.

“Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

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

I am told what to leave behind and I am told what to put on for the journey. Remember going to summer camp and getting a packing list of exactly what to bring? It was always very specific ie bug repellant, flashlight, (batteries) rain poncho, hiking boots, sun screen, hat, canteen, (today’s water bottle) and so on. Nothing extraneous – just essential stuff. So what is essential for me today and every day on my life’s journey? Well, my Heavenly Father has given me the list, and He also provides me with what He asks me to put on and to carry with me for the trip –

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13-17)

Throw off everything that hinders and entangles, put on the full armor – ok, I got it! If I follow these directions, I can be confident as I travel through this life toward my eternal destination that –

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

I already have all that I need! Unlike Abraham, I don’t have to carry it all with me. I can truly travel light. And I can even lighten my load further, by giving my heaviest burdens to my Savior, who has already borne the heaviest burden of all for me, that of my sin. Jesus took that one to the cross for me, so that I am set free to run this life race for Him burden free.

And I will do just that. I will continue to lighten my load as I travel, casting my cares on my Heavenly Father, confessing my sin, forgiving others, generously sharing instead of accumulating – trusting God that I have all that I need in Him.

it is in the lightening of the load that I am set free!

sincerely, Grace Day

paralyzed by the whys

Posted on by Grace Day

I don’t know about you, but I want things in my life and in this world to make sense, to be predictable, to be foreseeable, to be understandable, to be controllable. I guess I want to feel that I have some power over the events that surround and affect me on a daily basis. I can even be lulled into temporary complacency, thinking I will always have tomorrow to do or to take care of whatever it is that I am putting off doing at the moment. And then the unexpected evil strikes and I am reminded that I should be redeeming the time.

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)

It certainly does seem as though these days are filled with evil events that surprise us and shock us out of any complacency that might have characterized our days. I find myself feeling overwhelmed, discouraged and defeated when such evil acts occur. I often feel paralyzed, wondering what I can do, if anything, that will make a difference against such seemingly overwhelming evil. Then I remember these words from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome –

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

Ok, I am to be doing good in this world. But what does that “good” look like? Well, as it turns out, in Romans I find some pretty good (pun intended) suggestions of good things I can do, suggestions on how I can live my life in a way that just might make a difference for good, that just might make this world more like the place I wish that it were and desperately want it to be. These are the directions –

“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. . . . Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. . . . Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 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. . . . On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” (Romans 12:9-20)

These words are good advice but a constant challenge for me to actually live out. However, when I do follow God’s leading and obey His commands, through the power of His Holy Spirit, I discover that I am able to make a difference for good in this world. I need not be paralyzed with fear and despair when horrible things happen, things that break my heart and cause me to question who is winning this war – good or evil? I don’t have to remain paralyzed. God calls me to action – the action of loving Him and of loving my neighbor. Action is the antidote to paralysis just as love is the antidote to hate and peace the antidote to violence.

It is all too easy for me to become burdened with the “whys” when terrible things happen – BUT these words of Jesus give me hope –

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

I don’t have to lose hope when circumstances seem to suggest that evil is winning the day. After all, God allowed Joseph to be sold by his own brothers into slavery in Egypt. Looked like a win for evil. BUT – There Joseph worked his way up into a pretty sweet gig, being in charge of Potiphar’s household. That didn’t last however, and Joseph ended up in prison after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. BUT – in prison Joseph found favor and made friends with Pharoah’s cupbearer. This lead to Joseph eventually becoming Pharoah’s second in command. Why did God let the bad things happen to Joseph? Joseph himself answered this question when he said this to his brothers –

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

In this case it was the literal saving of the physical lives of Abraham’s descendants, Jacob and his sons and their children. There was a famine in their land so they traveled to Egypt to get food to sustain them. Egypt had plentiful stores of grain because of Joseph’s wise leadership, so Joseph was able to offer them lifesaving rations. But Joseph did better than that, he invited them to come to Egypt to live, all of them and their flocks and herds of animals which would otherwise have died during the famine. The saving of many lives was accomplished.

Today, God is still bringing good out of evil events. Evil never has the last word. In John, I read these words of Jesus –

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24)

How true. The buried seed becomes a plant or a tree which grows and produces a thousand- fold more seeds, which will in their turn be buried, allowing them to produce an even greater crop of plants and trees and exponentially more seeds. Today, even as I grieve, I will not be paralyzed by the “whys.” Instead, I will trust in the goodness of my Sovereign Heavenly Father and His eternally good plan for His beloved, those He created in His very own image – us – you and me, dear readers – we are His and He has good plans for each one of us.

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

If only you and I would choose His way instead of our own ways. When I choose to trust my Sovereign Creator God, I am no longer paralyzed by the “whys” of evil events or by the fear and despair that can result from evil acts apart from the grace, forgiveness and hope that are found in God’s ways. Today, and every day, I choose to trust in God, even in the face of evil.

” ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’ ” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

sincerely, Grace Day

counting the cost

Posted on by Grace Day

Faith is costly. At least mine is. And I bet that’s true of your faith also, dear readers. But why must my faith come with such a cost or at such a high price? Well, I read in one of Peter’s letters this-

“. . . 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.” (1 Peter 6-7)

So, my faith, your faith, is valuable – so valuable that it is “of greater worth than gold.” This makes sense when I realize that quite a high price was paid to rescue me, to redeem me, to purchase my eternal salvation. How high the price that brings me eternal life? The highest price possible – the life of God’s only Son, Jesus. Revelation reminds me of the price paid, saying this about Jesus –

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)

God purchased you and me for Himself with the very blood of His Son, Jesus. Probably why Paul wrote these words in his letter to the church at Corinth –

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

When Paul told the Corinthians that they were “bought at a price”, he was referring to Jesus’s sacrificial death and shed blood on the cross on their behalf. I, too, was bought at this price, this very high price. No wonder my faith is costly. Look what my rescue and redemption cost God – the shedding of the blood of His own Son.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Centuries before God provided Jesus to pay our sin price, God provided Abraham with the sacrifice that he needed at a very critical time.

“Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’ ‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied. ‘The fire and wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ Abraham answered, ‘God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together. . . . Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.” (Genesis 22:7-8 & 13-14)

My redemption is costly. So should my faith be also. King David said as much in this exchange –

“Araunah said to David, ‘Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. . . .O king, Araunah gives all this to the king.’ . . . But the king replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’ ” (2 Samuel 24:22-24)

Faith comes with a cost. Jesus was honest and up front about this.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)

Yes, there is a cost to following after Jesus in faith. And you and I must count that cost and make our decisions accordingly. Jesus gave just such advice when He said –

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:28-33)

I have a choice to make every day – my way or my Savior’s way. The choice is always mine to make. No one said it would be easy – not even Jesus, Himself. In fact, Jesus said –

“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)

Jesus wasn’t promising a cushy, comfortable lifestyle to anyone. In fact, Jesus also gave this warning –

“No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20)

For some, they count the cost of following Jesus, and it is simply too high. It is a price they are not willing to pay. Such was the case for one man who sought out Jesus but then decided the cost was too high. The encounter unfolded in this way –

“As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ . . . Jesus answered, You know the commandments: . . . ‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.’ Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ He said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.’ At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Mark 10:17-22)

I guess, for this man, the cost was just too high. Then there was a woman who was ridiculed, even shamed for offering to Jesus something that was quite costly. (kind of like King David who would not give something that didn’t cost him anything) Her story is this –

“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’s feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. . . . ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of My burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me.’ ” (John 12:3-8)

A year’s wages! And Mary poured it on the feet of Jesus! She counted the cost and made her sacrifice of love.

The disciples saw the cost of their salvation and redemption as they watched Jesus’s sufferings as He hung on that cross. After Jesus’s resurrection, they had a choice to make. Would they carry His gospel message of God’s love, forgiveness and redemption to all people, including the Gentiles? It would not be easy. Spreading the gospel, speaking truth, would be downright dangerous. They already knew this because they witnessed what those in power did to Jesus. They knew their fate would be no different.

And yet, they counted the cost of their faith in Jesus and then they set out to do exactly what Jesus asked of them.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ ” (Matthew 28:18-20)

They were all killed for sharing their faith – each one paid the ultimate price. Faith was costly then and faith in God continues to be costly today. The events of this past week reminded me once again, just how costly faith is. May I be willing to count the cost, to follow Jesus without fear and even to pay the price of faith, since God’s word says my faith is “of greater worth than gold.”

sincerely, Grace Day

necessary nutrients

Posted on by Grace Day

“Come for breakfast tomorrow morning at our church,” my friend invited the stranger we encountered on our morning prayer walk. “It’s free and really good. You’re also welcome to stay for church afterward, if you like.” Then she added, “You’ll get food for your body and food for your soul.” Her words took me by surprise, but how true they were, I thought, as we walked on together. Jesus, Himself, said as much when He replied to the tempter –

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4)

Today our culture seems very focused on food, at least with the physical food that we put in our bodies. Those that are especially dedicated to the pursuit of enjoying good food even have a name- foodies. We have celebrity chefs, abundant cooking shows, as well as many who make their living as nutritionists, diet guru’s and fitness advisors. Our culture tells us to be very concerned about what kinds of foods we consume.

Only problem is, the “experts” all have different ideas about what is the best food or foods for our bodies. We are bombarded incessantly with all kinds of different diet advice. Some fad diets come and go, while others continue to have some influence over people’s food choices. And they all sound so scientific! There is the keto diet, the paleo diet, the vegan diet, the carnivore diet, the low-fat diet, low-carb diet, the intermittent fasting diet, the Atkins diet, a Macrobiotic diet, there is even a cookie diet. (now that sounds appealing rather than scientific, but kind of counter intuitive if you ask me, although no one did) This revelation leaves me wondering why no ice-cream diet? I could definitely get behind that. But I digress.

Some diets seem to be named for a location such as South Beach diet, Hollywood diet, Nordic diet, Cambridge diet, Blue Zones diet or the Mediterranean diet. Point is, we put a lot of thought, time and effort into what we feed our bodies. The food, nutrition and diet industries are big business in today’s culture. BUT – I have to wonder – are we as concerned about and consumed with what we feed our minds and our souls as we are with what we feed our bodies?

After all, Jesus said we don’t live by bread alone. Now even so, Jesus was aware that we need both physical and spiritual food. He demonstrated this when He was teaching large crowds of people who had gathered on a mountainside in Galilee to hear Him preach and teach about the kingdom of God. The people gathered there received food for their souls that day, but Jesus didn’t send them away to journey home with empty stomachs. Jesus also provided food for their bodies that day, namely plenty of fish and bread.

In Deuteronomy, I read just how important the food of God’s Word is to my well-being and to my survival. Moses told the people of Israel –

“Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you – they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)

Jesus told His disciples this –

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63)

Peter says this to Jesus –

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)

Here I see confirmed what Jesus said about God’s word, that I am to live on “every word that comes from the mouth of God.” God’s word is what feeds, nourishes and sustains my mind and my soul. (certainly gives a new meaning to the words “soul food”, doesn’t it?) And here’s some really good news. Unlike with physical food, where there are so many opinions about which foods are beneficial and which foods are harmful, which foods are good for certain ailments or conditions and which foods should be avoided or which foods will help you have more energy or lose weight or . . . the advice about food is contradictory and endless.

BUT – with our spiritual food, God’s Word, we are told this –

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

There it is – ALL SCRIPTURE – all of God’s Word is good for me. Every word of God’s is life to me! I don’t have to avoid certain books of the Bible or restrict my intake of God’s Living Word. It is all good. Every word is life giving, life sustaining, life redeeming! And God’s word even tells me the kinds of things that will feed my mind and my soul well. This is nutrition that will enable me to live the life God calls me to live for Him. Here is God’s prescription for me and for you –

“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.” (Philippians 4:8)

Just as God gave the Israelites manna every morning in the desert, food for their bodies, He gives you and me, dear readers, food for our minds and our souls every day – His Living Word. A daily diet of God’s Living Word provides all the necessary nutrition I need each day. And as an added bonus, God’s Word is totally heart healthy!

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.” (Psalm 19:7-8)

lifegiving, brain food and heart food – thank You, Heavenly Father, for such perfect food, Your Living Word, which provides me with all the necessary nutrients I could ever need –

sincerely, Grace Day