roots and remnants

Posted on by Grace Day

I am currently in a Bible study called “Rooted” which has led me to ponder the concept of being rooted in something or someone or some belief or some substance that can anchor my roots, thereby keeping me grounded, so I don’t lose my sense of direction and subsequently lose my way. I hear people talk about putting down roots or returning to their roots or even searching for their roots. I guess in order to understand who we are, we want to first know where we came from.

This could be a physical place or it could refer to our parents, who may have moved from the place of our birth, but they are our true roots, even if they have not put down any themselves. This “parents as roots” viewpoint explains the words in Isaiah 11:1-

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him -”

These words are talking about Jesus, whose human roots traced back to Jesse, who was the father of King David, from whose descendants Joseph came, who was Jesus’s earthly father. Most of David’s descendants had been killed in wars with Israel’s enemies and the rest had been carried off to Babylon, exiled from their homeland. But God preserved a remnant. A root remained. And from the root, a shoot – and from the shoot a branch to bear fruit in God’s appointed time.

God preserves a remnant. God preserves a root. Actually, I’m thinking that the “fruit” of that branch, Jesus, became the Vine – the one and only, life giving Vine that I read about in John chapter 15, where Jesus told His disciples –

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. . . . No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. . . . If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Roots are underground. Because they are not visible, I may think there is no life here, all is dead. I may think there is no hope. I wonder if that’s how God’s people felt during the four hundred years of God’s silence before Jesus was born? No more prophets sent from God. They had rejected them all. And now they waited for the promised Messiah in silence. There was no sign of life. But there was a root and there was a remnant, both waiting to be revealed when the time was right.

“But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” (Galatians 4:4)

Jesus, the Root, was revealed and the remnant rejoiced. Remnants, by definition are small. And so it was that only the shepherds in the fields and a few wise men and a few others, like Simeon and Anna, the prophetess, and later, John the Baptist and those who became disciples, worshiped and celebrated, while the world at large was oblivious to the appearing of the long awaited Savior, who sprang forth from the long forgotten root of Jesse.

Today, in this time of upheaval and uncertainty, many are looking for a place to put down roots but wondering where is a place or a person in whom I trust enough to do this. I know enough not to plant in sand. Sand cannot hold roots, mine or anyone else’s. (probably where we get the expression “like shifting sands”) I need something more stable than sand. Colossians 2:6-7 answers my question –

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

I need to be rooted in Jesus. Jeremiah 17:7-8 paints a beautiful picture of what happens when my roots are in Christ –

“But blessed is the man/woman who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He/she will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Wow! Pandemic, post-pandemic – we are definitely in difficult seasons with predictions of disaster surrounding us on every side. And yet, where my roots are will make all the difference in my life. I will “have no worries in a year of drought.” I may be cut down, but my root will remain underground – alive and waiting to be called again to appear above the surface. Makes me think of the underground church in places like China. A remnant not currently visible, that will be revealed one day, alive and thriving as they await Christ’s return.

Roots are underground. Remnants are small. But both are ready to be revealed when Jesus returns. In Luke 18:8, Jesus asks this question –

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Matthew 7:13-14 gives me a clue as to the remnant saying –

“For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Then I read in Romans 9:27 –

“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.”

It occurs to me that the remnant are those whose roots are in Christ Jesus. To be rooted in the Rock may be an oxymoron, may seem an impossibility, but my faith is anchored and rooted in Jesus, who is the Rock of my salvation.

“He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:2)

I find in Jesus, a place to put down roots – a place where they will have room to grow down deep. This was the apostle Paul’s prayer for us, dear readers, – a prayer as relevant today as it was centuries ago when Paul first prayed it.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, (the remnant) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

God’s love is infinitely wide and long and high and deep, – plenty of room for me and for you to put down our roots, plenty of room for our roots to grow ever deeper – holding us fast in our place as His faithful remnant – anchored and rooted in Him –

sincerely, Grace Day

in closing, an ode to open

Posted on by Grace Day

the open road, the open mind, the open heart is always kind –

an open door, an open book – one bids enter, the other says look! –

open curtains let in the light, open eyes give us our sight –

God opened the waters of the Red Sea, making a way for His people to flee –

Then He opened Heaven and rained down bread, every morning His people were fed.

“Yet He gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; He rained down manna for the people to eat, He gave them the grain of heaven.” (Psalm 78:23)

“You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:16)

“And He (Jesus) opened His mouth, and taught them, saying,” (Matthew 5:2)

“Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45)

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.” (Psalm 119:18)

God opened His mouth – a universe of infinite beauty was born. But when sin closed the Garden’s gate, a new way opened up, through a holy curtain from top to bottom torn.

God has opened up a way for me to come home to Him. I am no longer held captive by this broken world. He has set me free!

“I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” (Isaiah 45:2)

“Open wide, you gates. Open up, you age-old doors. Then the King of glory will come in.” (Psalm 24:7)

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

My Heavenly Father has thrown the doors of my prison wide open. Now it is to me to open my heart and let Him in. He has promised to abide with me if I will but open the door. This, then, is my ode to open.

sincerely, Grace Day

shopping, shortages and empty shelves

Posted on by Grace Day

I stared at the empty shelves in disbelief. Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a shopper quite as effectively as the sight of empty store shelves. Immediately, I began experiencing flashbacks. (maybe it was PTSS – post traumatic shopping syndrome) Afterall, it wasn’t that long ago that we all went through the infamous toilet paper shortage of 2020. We have currently been experiencing a baby formula shortage among others, which is attributed to the closing of a production facility and to problems with the supply chain. And now this, shelves that are usually full of peanut butter, are at present, empty.

This one caught me by surprise, but maybe I just hadn’t been paying attention? Made me wonder, what’s next? What should I be stocking up on? How long will it be before I can again purchase peanut butter? Is there an underground market for peanut butter? This is probably how people become hoarders – they are driven to it by fear and panic.

I was feeling a little bit of both those emotions myself, actually, as I stood in front of the now empty shelves, not knowing when they would again be full. It’s the not knowing, the uncertainty that produces the fear, I think. As I contemplate a change in my shopping habits (when I realize I am out of or almost out of something, is when I think to put it on the list to buy) I can’t get the story of the rich man with a good crop out of my mind. You know the one, he had such a good crop that he had no place to store his excess grain. So he tore down his barns and built bigger ones in order to store all his accumulated wealth. He had enough laid up for many years. But,

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)

Other words also come to mind as I fight the fear that an empty shelf produces in me. Jesus’s words to His disciples turn my focus from empty shelves to a future full of God’s goodness.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

This reminds me of the daily manna the Israelites received in the desert each morning – it could not be stored up. If they attempted to do this, the manna became rotten real fast, foul smelling with maggots. God gave them fresh manna every morning. They had no need to store it up and they were expressly told not to, but those who did found out quickly what happens to stored up, excess manna.

“However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell.” (Exodus 16:20)

The manna is kind of like our earthly treasures, “where moth and rust (or maggots) destroy, and thieves break in and steal.” Nothing is really all that secure here, but Jesus told His disciples not to worry. Jesus pointed out how God clothes the flowers so beautifully and feeds the birds, who don’t “sow or reap or store away in barns.” Then Jesus tells them,

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

Good advice, but can I do it? Panic is worry on steroids and that’s what I experience with the empty shelves and the shortages and the rumors of shortages to come. Our news is full of dire predictions every day and Jesus says not to worry? How can I not worry? Well, turns out there is something I can do. I find the very clear instructions in Philippians 4:6-7, which says –

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present my requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.”

Peace is definitely preferable to panic and fear. And God’s peace is a unique gift that doesn’t depend on my earthly circumstances. The store shelves don’t have to be full for me to receive God’s peace. Jesus said to His followers,

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Even though my circumstances in this world are constantly changing and uncertain, I do not need to live in fear and panic mode, or even in a state of constant worry every time there is a new shortage of yet another item. Shortages and empty shelves may become more common in the days ahead. However, I will determine to say along with Habakkuk –

“Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:16-19)

It is God, from whom all blessings flow, as the doxology says. Psalm 145 reminds me of this, I need not fear shortages and empty shelves.

“The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:14-16)

thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your infinite supply of everything good – mercy, grace, forgiveness, peace, hope, joy, comfort, healing, streams of living water in the desert, manna new every morning – great is Your faithfulness –

sincerely, Grace Day

openly opining about “open” continues

Posted on by Grace Day

Seems like just yesterday I was opining about all things open. And actually, I believe it was yesterday literally. So today as I wrestle with the cap on my green tea bottle, trying to get my drink open, my thoughts turn again to all things open – not the least in importance being my Lipton green tea, which I want to see successfully opened. This is a battle I engage in often – fighting stuck and stubborn lids on jars and bottles as I attempt to open them.

There are other things that need opening also, like my front door, which often sticks, so I can’t get the key to turn, making it impossible to open my own front door. I like things that are “open.” I love the open road, open enrollment, an open forum, open dialogue, when the radio person says, “the phone lines are open, be the ? caller and win ?” – when an employer says, “we have an opening” or a moderator says, “let’s open up the floor for questions” or it’s “open mic night” or “open auditions for whatever it might be.” Something about an opening implies possibility, implies promise, implies hope. We all prefer an open door, as opposed to one slammed in our face.

Yesterday I opined over open hearts and open minds while leaving out open eyes. Seems like a gross oversight on my part. (pun intended) I don’t want to turn a blind eye to what God would have me to see clearly. King David asked this of God,

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.” (Psalm 119:18)

Isaiah talks about what God will do in Isaiah 35:5-6 when he says,

“Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”

That’s a lot of opening! – the opening of eyes, ears and mouths formerly mute – plus streams opening up in the desert. All miraculous openings. And in Isaiah 42:7 he says,

“to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

God opens eyes and dungeon doors – He opens heaven to all who believe on His name. God opened Hagar’s eyes when she and her son were alone in the desert facing certain death. But “Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.” (Genesis 21:19)

Like Hagar, I may often miss what is right in front of me, if I don’t allow God to open my eyes to see as He sees. This is important because – “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

My Heavenly Father is the One who opens my eyes so that I can see Him at work in this world, He opens my ears so that I can hear His voice, He opens my heart so that I can receive His Holy Spirit, He opens the doors of any and all prisons that attempt to hold me captive. My Heavenly Father says,

“I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” (Isaiah 45:2)

Truly, He opens the way before me, moving my mountains and making a way for me where there was no way. Thank You, Heavenly Father, – You opened Your mouth and spoke this universe into existence. Thank You that You welcome this prodigal with open arms. I am on my way home!

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

Our Creator waits to welcome you and me, dear readers, with open arms –

sincerely, Grace Day

opining on all things open

Posted on by Grace Day

I am always glad to see an “open” sign. Doesn’t matter where or on what – if it is open, I am happy. This applies to my favorite restaurants and shops – I like to see that “open for business” sign in the window. I am disappointed when they are closed. This is especially true for the roads I travel. Nothing is more dreaded than the “road closed” sign. Nothing is more welcome than the “road open” sign on a road that had been closed. With all the road repair going on right now, there are a lot of roads closed at the moment, forcing me to find alternate routes to the places I need to be.

Anticipating “open” is something fun which brings my hope for the future into the present. There are “grand openings” of new businesses or buildings in a community, signaling the beginning of something perhaps long awaited. There’s the opening of a new movie or opening night at the theater, both usually highly anticipated and met with much fanfare. Openings are beginnings filled with hope, so much better than the closings which inevitably follow openings at some point.

Flowers open to the sun in the morning, welcoming the warmth and the new day. On special occasions, like birthdays and Christmas, we open presents. Opening is part of the fun, revealing the mystery of what lies inside of the package. When topics or subjects are open to discussion, whether interpersonally or in the public arena, it is much more likely that understanding and resolution might take place. We are often told to “keep an open mind.” Could that be because nothing penetrates a closed mind? – new information, new ideas, different perspectives, new ways of viewing things, understanding, empathy, new ways of doing things – an open mind is necessary to allow any of these things to be experienced.

Just as important, is an open heart. A closed heart lets no one in and feels nothing. That’s a sad way to go through life. An open heart will experience heartache but also joy along the way. An open heart will not be empty, because an open heart lets other people in.

We say of ourselves (or someone else) “my life is an open book.” This is meant to say that there is no deceit in us or in someone else, that we are not hiding anything, all is out in the open. I think I prefer an open book to a closed one full of subterfuge and secrets. Most of us prefer “getting it all out in the open” to the alternative of things being discussed and decided “behind closed doors.” We want the doors wide open, providing access for all.

I think I simply prefer open in general. Perhaps in the past I have taken open too much for granted. But after two plus years of “closed” – I now realize the true value of open – open schools, churches, businesses, gyms, restaurants, stores, salons, theaters, community centers, sporting events, homes – yes, even our homes were closed. Homes that had previously been open for barbeques, book club, backgammon, bridge, Bible study, anything and everything, were closed – leaving us isolated, alone and online – a substitute that did not suffice when all was said and done.

I definitely prefer an open invitation – no limits, no one is excluded, the door is always open, it never closes, the venue is never too full, the host never runs out of food or changes His mind about inviting me in the first place, His open invitation stands, He is ready to receive me, – all I have to do is to accept this open invitation and be willing to open a closed door – a door that I closed and only I can open – and I will be admitted to the party. Jesus has issued just such an invitation – an open invitation to one and all – an invitation that includes me and you, dear readers.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

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

“Yet to all who received Him,” (accepted His open invitation) “to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -” (John 1:12)

It is this open invitation from my Heavenly Father which leads me to an open life, lived out in the open, with freedom to come and go through an open door. Jesus said,

“I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9)

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your gracious open invitation to me. Give me the courage to open my heart and to open the door and invite You in.

sincerely, Grace Day

stop, look and listen

Posted on by Grace Day

Sound familiar? I heard those words often as a child. I was forever being told to stop, look and listen when I came to an intersection before I crossed the street. This, of course, is actually good advice for anyone walking or riding a bike, as it could help them to avoid getting hit by a car that they didn’t see or hear coming, all because they didn’t take the time to stop, look and listen.

I feel like these words are still relevant advice for me today. I often find myself at an intersection, a crossroads in my life’s journey, which I need to safely cross while also needing direction about which way to proceed. Coincidentally, my Heavenly Father’s advice is the same three words, stop, look and listen. (ok, technically four words) If only I would heed His call to stop, look and listen before I rush into the intersection oblivious to any impending danger. He implores me to “stop” –

“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)

“Wait for the Lord and keep His way.” (Psalm 37:34)

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;” (Psalm 37:7)

When I am still and waiting on God, next I am instructed to “look” –

“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,” (Hebrews 12:2)

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.” (1 Chronicles 16:11)

and I am instructed to “listen” – Jesus said,

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8) – I just have to listen.

I come to intersections every day in my faith walk. It is at these crossroads in life that I need to heed the admonition to stop, look and listen before attempting to cross on my own, putting myself in danger if I haven’t looked to be sure the way is clear. Seems as though I too often run full speed ahead into the crossroads, oblivious to oncoming traffic, because I haven’t stopped so as to give myself time to look to my Heavenly Father for His direction and to listen well to His words of wisdom before continuing on my journey. I want to remember to stop, look and listen every time I come to a crossroads. I will –

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

stopping to wait on Him, looking to Him, listening to Him,

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ ” (Jeremiah 6:16)

sincerely, Grace Day

wrong turn reflections/a way of escape

Posted on by Grace Day

As I reflect on my recent “one wrong turn” experience, these words from 1 Corinthians 10:13 keep coming to my mind,

“And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

He did provide a way out of the race traffic I encountered, traffic which had successfully ensnared and entangled me, bringing me to a complete standstill. I wasn’t going anywhere soon – until a way out came in the form of an exit, which I chose to take. I could have stayed in the traffic and waited for another exit further down the road to give me another opportunity to extricate myself from this jam of cars which surrounded me, or I could exit now. The choice was mine.

As I look back, I realize that my Heavenly Father always offers me a way out of situations and circumstances that are holding me hostage. I just have to be brave enough and trust Him enough to take the way of escape that He is offering to me. The choice is always mine. Take the way of escape He provides or continue in captivity with my own plan.

Seems like the escape option would be a no brainer, but that isn’t always the case. When I was stuck in traffic, at least I knew the exit I wanted was just over the bridge. But if I took the earlier exit, I would leave what I knew for what I didn’t know. I didn’t know what kind of traffic I would encounter if I took the first exit. Sometimes what I know, even if not good, seems better to me than what I don’t know. There’s comfort in what I already know and risk in what I don’t.

God will always offer me a way out, a way of escape, that’s His promise. But when He does, when He holds out His hand to me – am I brave enough to take it? Do I trust Him or do I trust my own human wisdom? At those moments of decision, like when I turned toward the race traffic rather than away from it, then later when I decided to take that first opportunity to exit the traffic rather than gamble that a better opportunity would present itself later – at those moments of decision, which are many each day, I want to remember these words –

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8)

On my own, I make so many wrong turns. It really makes more sense to let my Heavenly Father direct my paths. So why don’t I do that all the time? Will I never learn from experience? I have His promises like this one,

“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, (not into traffic jams – my words) He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3)

He stands ready to lead me, He wants to guide me – I can choose to follow or not. The choice is always mine to make. But when I go my own way, it never seems to lead me anywhere satisfying or good. I end up at the dead end of living for myself. Jesus said to Peter and his brother Andrew,

“Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” They were brave enough to accept His invitation. “At once they left their nets and followed Him (Jesus).” (Matthew 4:19-20)

Their decision reflected in their action, took courage and it cost them something. But they trusted Jesus and they took the way of escape from their current life of living for themselves that Jesus offered them. Every time I make a wrong turn and end up somewhere I don’t want to be and never intended to go, Jesus offers me a way out, a way back to Him, a way to the abundant life He came to give me and you. In fact, Jesus Himself is the way of escape, the way to reconciliation with God, the way to eternal life.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You make a way for Me when I need one and there is none. When life’s circumstances and my wrong turns lead me into places of captivity, You show me the way out, the way of escape. You provide the way of escape.

“I will go before you and will level the mountains, I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” (Isaiah 45:2–3)

Oh, Lord, when You call me by name and show me the way of escape You are making for me, may I be brave enough to take it, rather than choose to remain where my wrong turn has taken me. Give me the faith and the courage to follow where You lead, to allow You to direct my paths each day.

sincerely, Grace Day

one wrong turn

Posted on by Grace Day

It wasn’t so much a wrong turn, as that was my tried and true route to travel crosstown to my church on any given day, as it was a bad decision on this particular day. The reason being, this wasn’t just any day, this was race day. I knew the closer I got to the track, the worse traffic would become. But I didn’t have to get that close, I just needed to get to the exit that would allow me to head crosstown in the opposite direction of all the race traffic. I knew I wouldn’t have any trouble once headed away from the Speedway, because all of the traffic would be going toward the Speedway. I just needed access to the exit that would put me on the path I needed to travel.

My moment of decision would come early in my journey, at the very first stoplight actually. I could either turn right and take my usual route or go straight and take a longer, less direct route, with more stoplights (no interstate) and a slower travel speed, giving me a later arrival time. The second option, however, would not be affected by any race traffic at all, because I would be heading away from the track at all times. With the first option, I would be heading toward the Speedway until I reached my exit. I decided I would make my decision at the first stoplight, when I could see for myself what traffic looked like.

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

Well, at the light I saw that I could turn right, the road was clear as far down as I could see. There was no stopped or backed up traffic. So I turned and headed down the road towards my usual exit. Smooth sailing it was at first. There are no stoplights on this residential road until the intersection that contains the exit I needed. Actually, at that point there are two stoplights – one before the bridge and one on the other side of the overpass, which is where my exit lies. I did not encounter stopped traffic until I approached the first light and the backup wasn’t that long, so I wasn’t worried. I thought they were just waiting for the light to turn green.

But when the light turned green and we didn’t move I began to feel uneasy. After sitting through several cycles of the traffic light, I realized I was not much closer to it than when I first became stopped in this line of traffic. I began to panic, I began to regret my earlier decision to take this route and I began to search my mind for a solution to this problem. I was ready to consider other options. I had plenty of time to do all these things – panicking, regretting and searching for alternate routes, as I wasn’t going anywhere at the moment. Plenty of time for soul searching.

One big decision was “Do I bail at the first opportunity? or do I stay in this line, trusting that eventually I will get through the light, across the bridge and be able to exit to the right while everyone else continues inching forward in this line toward the Speedway?” Eventually I got close enough to exit to the right before the bridge, so I was headed in the opposite direction of where I wanted to go, away from where my stated destination was. I got off at the first exit, thinking I could circle back around and finally be headed in the right direction. But traffic was backed up here also. These lines of cars did not appear to be moving anytime soon. Again I headed away from where I wanted to go. I headed north (away from the Speedway) so I had a clear shot back up to 56th street, which is where I had started in the first place. Except that I was further west, further away from where I had started.

All this time, all this travel, and now I found myself further from my desired destination than ever before, not closer. I had arrived at another intersection of decision. Do I continue trying to reach my destination or do I give up? I continued on, being thankful that I still had enough gas to get me where I needed to go. This was turning out to be quite the expensive journey, with gas prices being what they are at the moment. I thought of King David saying he would not give to God an offering that cost him nothing and I drove on toward the intersection I had come to first, when this journey began.

This time, though the road appeared clear, I resisted the urge to turn right and continued on through the light. I took this road all the way cross town, till I at last headed south toward my church. It would still be aways to go, as I was much further north than I would have been had I been able to take my regular route. Still, had I taken this route today in the first place, I would have been at my destination on time, despite it being the longer, slower route.

What have I learned about wrong turns? I went toward what I knew could be a problem, could entangle me, could hold me captive and keep me from getting to where I wanted to go. I thought I would not get caught up in it, others yes, but my exit would come before any real problem would occur – only problem is, it didn’t and I was caught and captured along with everyone else. I thought I could come close to race traffic without getting caught up in it. I couldn’t – anymore than I can draw close to any sin, evil or harmful practices and not get caught up in them. Must be why Paul warned in his letter to the Thessalonians –

“Avoid every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22) – or why Paul wrote to Timothy these words,

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.” (2 Timothy 2:22-23)

I made a wrong turn. I turned towards something I knew was a problem, thinking I somehow would not come face to face with that problem. I should have turned away from race traffic, even though at that moment, from my vantage point, I saw no problem, I saw no backed up, stopped traffic. That appeared later, when I was already too far down the road to avoid it.

It occurs to me that just as important as not making a wrong turn, is choosing which direction I will turn. What I am turning towards is even more important than what I am turning away from. Paul gave this good advice to Timothy, which I think I will take to heart for myself, as it seems all too relevant for today.

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. . . . But you, man (woman) of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, . . . I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in His own time” (1 Timothy 6:9-15)

Sometimes my life seems to be one wrong turn after another, turns that lead me to places that I don’t want to go, turns that lead to dead ends, turns that leave me lost and searching, turns that take me far from where I wanted to end up. So today, I will turn my eyes and my heart and my mind to the One who can direct my paths and Who holds me fast, even through all my wrong turns.

“Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward Your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your word.” (Psalm 119:35-37)

sincerely, Grace Day

three days in the dark

Posted on by Grace Day

We are living in uncertain times. There are wars and rumors of wars. There are shortages and there are rumors of more shortages to come. There are diseases and death and there are rumors of more diseases and more death to come. There are uprisings and unrest and there are rumors of more uprisings and more unrest to come. It is times like these that strike fear into the hearts of men and women around the globe. Although, if we look back through history, we see that every era in human history has been an “uncertain time” for those living in it and through it at the time. Life is uncertain because the outcome is unknown to us, we don’t know what the future will bring.

Of course, if we’ve read the end of the Book, (the book being the Bible and the last chapter being Revelation), then we do know how things turn out. But does this make what we are living through at present any easier to bear or to navigate? any less painful or less terrifying? I don’t think so. We are still witnesses to the eternal struggle between good and evil being played out every day on the human stage. We are the proverbial captive audience, with a front row seat. Actually though, we are more than witnesses. We are also participants. Whether we like it or not, we are engaged for better or for worse, in our era of history, in this human drama we call life.

So does knowing how it ends make a difference to me and to you in our daily lives? Does knowing how it ends give me hope? Does it give me a reason not to give up when it looks to me as though evil is winning and will prevail? John 16:33 gives us a spoiler alert when Jesus says this to His disciples,

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Well, I have and continue to experience that “trouble” Jesus talked about, every day, some days more than others. I’m still waiting for the “overcoming” part to take place. I guess we all are. My heart is particularly heavy today as I write this, heavy with grief for people, for parents, for families that I have never met and do not know. I am sad and angry for a community not my own, but it could just as easily be my own community, and it was, not all that long ago. Nothing separates us but distance. However, evil knows no boundaries – evil is everywhere with us, hidden in the human heart, waiting to reveal itself.

Already grieving, as I was, for other families in a different community, this new assault coming so soon, seems way too much for already frayed and frazzled human hearts to bear. Where is the hope in this overwhelming despair? Where is the light in this darkness? The Israelites wondered the same thing centuries before Jesus was born and Isaiah had these words of hope for them –

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, . . . to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. . . . Instead of their shame My people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; . . . and everlasting joy will be theirs. For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In My faithfulness I will reward them . . . so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” (Isaiah 61:1-11)

That all sounds good, I am ready for everlasting joy and for righteousness and praise to spring up. I am ready for what it says in Isaiah 11:4-5,

“He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist.”

I am ready for the wicked to be wiped out. Romans 12:21 tells me – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

I want to believe that good is overcoming evil, but right now it doesn’t seem like that is happening. It looks like evil is winning or at least succeeding in gaining the upper hand at the moment. You and I are living in that moment, and it is hard and it feels hopeless. I wonder if that’s how the disciples felt after Jesus’s crucifixion? They had left everything to follow Jesus and now He was lying in a dark tomb. It was over for them. They had put their hope in Jesus and now He was dead and buried.

It must have seemed to Jesus’s followers that evil had won. The kingdom He had promised them, was not going to come after all. That’s what they thought. They didn’t know those three dark days were not the end. They didn’t know a new beginning was on the way, so close, if they could just hang on. They didn’t know. How could they? Could they be expected to hope based not on what they saw but on what they couldn’t see but had been promised? Or did they even remember any of Jesus’s promises and predictions during those three dark days following His crucifixion? Did they recall Jesus saying to them –

“Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)

You and I have the advantage of knowing how that part of the story turns out because we live on this side of the empty tomb. But the disciples didn’t have our historical perspective. During those days, which must have seemed so long, as time stood still while they mourned, they couldn’t know that those dark days would end abruptly with an empty tomb and a risen Savior. They couldn’t imagine that hope and joy would replace their despair and grief. To them, their situation appeared hopeless during the three dark days Jesus laid in the tomb.

Then Jesus’s resurrection changed everything. When the disciples saw their risen Savior, their mourning turned into rejoicing and they had hope once again. They would need that hope to sustain them in the days to come. Jesus ascended into heaven with a promise to return one day and a charge to them to share the Gospel and make disciples of all men. Today, like the disciples, we are living in those days between Jesus’s resurrection and His return.

We have every reason to hope because we know how the story ends. We didn’t have to endure those three darkest days with the disciples, but our own days can seem pretty dark when all around us evil seems to be prevailing and there seems to be no end to the suffering evil deeds cause. However, we have the hope of Jesus’s return to sustain us during our darkest days. We can look forward to the time described in Revelation 21 in these words,

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

This is the hope that holds me fast during dark days when it looks like evil has the upper hand, when it looks like evil has won, which is how it looked to the disciples during those three darkest days in human history. They were without hope. But you and I are not without hope, we know how the story ends. We know that God is still in the mountain moving, miracle making business and one day He will set all things right. We have His promise on that. We have this hope as an anchor for our souls when darkness surrounds and we are tempted to believe the lie that it is over and evil has won. But hope does not believe the lie! The three darkest days are over – ended with a resurrection bringing eternal life. Hope in my living Lord will carry me through all the dark days while the battle rages. The battle is the Lord’s and so is the victory.

“I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” (Isaiah 45:2)

“I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” (Jeremiah 31:13)

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

sincerely, Grace Day

Entrenched

Posted on by Grace Day

Ever feel like you are living in a war zone? or maybe on the battlefield? maybe you are on the front lines of your fight? and maybe no one even knows, even suspects, what mountains need moving in your life. I am reminded of a favorite line from a favorite movie, Wonder, spoken by the hero of the story who says, “Be kind always, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle you know nothing about.” Isn’t that the truth!

I am so busy fighting my own battles that I am often unaware of the battles those around me are engaged in. Even as I am firmly focused on my own struggle, entrenched in my fox hole as it were, all around me people are perishing as the enemy takes them out one by one. Why should I be concerned? Why should I care? I am busy with my own battle, carrying my own burdens, fighting a hard fight they know nothing about. Or do they?

As I remain entrenched in my own fight, it dawns on me. Although our battles may look different, we are all fighting a common enemy. And this is a battle to the death. How could I not have seen that we are all fighting the same ruthless killer? Perhaps because the fight looks so different in every life? Or maybe I know nothing about another’s battle because we are like icebergs, with so much of our lives hidden beneath the surface. (post “islands & icebergs – Nov. 2017 archives)

Nevertheless, the war rages on all around me, around us and my enemy, our enemy is real. He is clearly identified in 1 Peter 5:8 –

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Ephesians 6:12 helps me further understand who my enemy is, saying –

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

So, it is not my imagination. I am engaged in a great war, a war that has been raging ever since Adam and Eve were put out of the garden, a war that continues still to this day. It is the struggle between good and evil, truth and lies, light and darkness, love and hate, being played out daily in my life and in the lives of everyone living on this earth. When the hero in Wonder said we were all fighting hard battles, he spoke truth!

There is encouragement for you and for me, however. John 16:33 reminds me of Jesus’s words,

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Still, in the meantime, while waiting for that happy ending, I am growing weary with the daily fight. I am surrounded on all sides it often seems with loss, pain, disappointment, hardship, unexpected assaults and challenges, – and then I turn on the news and am confronted with death, disaster and dire predictions of every kind outside my door and around the world. I am entrenched – awaiting a rescue. I call to mind these words from 1 John 4:4 –

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, (the spirit of the antichrist) because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Yes, I am entrenched in this eternal battle for my soul and for the souls of others whom I love and for that matter, for the souls of those I don’t even know and have never met. But still I do battle – while entrenched. I can only imagine that you too, dear readers, are fighting many battles daily of your own against our common enemy, and you, too, find yourselves entrenched. It is in these times of entrenchment, dear readers, that you and I find ourselves saying along with the apostle Paul,

“I am hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. I always carry around in my body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in my body. . . . Therefore I do not lose heart. Though outwardly I am wasting away, yet inwardly I am being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10 & 16)

We are living in a war zone. The battle is inescapable. But I can prepare for it and so can you. Our instructions are clear –

“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. And 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 6:13-18)

This then I must do every day – put on my armor, take my stand and pray. I am to stand firm, to stand entrenched in the Gospel of peace, the gospel of salvation, the gospel of redemption – the Gospel that is good news for everyone who hears it. And so I will remain entrenched as long as the battle rages, relying on God’s protection and provision daily. The battle is the Lord’s. He will not abandon me.

sincerely, Grace Day