They are keeping me company today – these holy ghosts of long forgotten Easters. It is fitting that they should be holy ghosts because Easter is a holy holiday. And in full disclosure, who I often heard referred to as the Holy Ghost when I was a young child, I now know as the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity – God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

But I digress from the more mundane, yet still sacred in their own way, holy ghosts of my past Easters – and they are many – the myriad memories of long-ago Resurrection Sundays. Those Easters were filled with more than just baskets full of jelly beans and chocolate bunnies. There were brand new black patent leather shoes, while lace socks, white gloves and hats – there were hats! Everybody, including my sisters and I got a hat! Guess that’s where the “in your Easter bonnet” song came from.

There was music, glorious music, hymns reserved just for Easter, which rang out so joyously, it seemed to me, more so than on other “ordinary” Sundays. And there were eggs to hunt – the hard-boiled ones we had colored the day before and plastic ones, which were more fun to find because they would have candy or coins inside, which I preferred to a hard-boiled egg any day.

Then there was Easter dinner, after church at Grandpa’s and Grandma’s house. I’m sure it was pretty typical stuff for the time – rolls, mashed potatoes, green beans, ham, I couldn’t say for sure. But what I can tell you is that there were bright purple eggs and a lamb cake. Now the “purple eggs” were hard-boiled eggs without their shells, turned purple by beet juice, I think? I only saw those eggs once a year at Grandma’s Easter dinner. Likewise, the lamb cake was only once a year as well.

This cake was Grandma’s own invention. She made a sheet cake, then cut it into sections out of which she fashioned the form of a lamb, then iced and decorated it. It was all white, white cake, white icing, only eyes, nose and mouth were a different color. The symbolism of the lamb cake never occurred to me as a child, nor do I remember any of the adults discussing the reason for a “lamb cake” at Easter. Or was it just happy coincidence? (I think not)

Either way, I realize today the deep significance of Jesus Christ as the “lamb who was slain for the sins of the world” and of the words “Take and eat; this is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19 & Matthew 26:26) That’s what Easter is all about – celebrating Jesus as the sacrificial lamb without spot or blemish, crucified on a cross, for my sin, for your sin, for everyone’s sin; Jesus, who then defeated death by rising from the grave on the third day – the day we celebrate Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, Easter Sunday. Jesus, our lamb provided by God –

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ ” (John 1:29)

” . . . For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” (1 Peter 1:18-20)

” . . . He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17)

today, memories of a lamb cake displayed on Grandma’s dining room table mix with my celebration of the sacrificial Lamb who is now the Risen Lamb, sitting on heaven’s throne, waiting to welcome me home – what glory that will be!

sincerely, Grace Day

Memories washed over me as I watched the children waving their palm branches as they walked down the aisle toward the front of our church as part of our Palm Sunday celebration. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was one of those waving palm branches and shouting hosana – but I guess it’s been a minute after all. Still, it is one of my clearest memories, commemorating a significant event in Jesus’s earthly life, His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The scene was a joyful one, described in Mark 11:7-10 in this way,

“When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, He sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!’ ”

Luke 19:38 records the rejoicing crowds as shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

It seems the people were in high spirits that day as they lined the road to watch Jesus pass by on His way into Jerusalem. Their hosannas were filled with the high hopes they had for Jesus, as they welcomed their long-awaited king. It is so easy for me to picture this joyous scene and to enter into its reenactment on Palm Sunday.

Not so easy, however, is picturing the scene that took place only a few days later. The same people that had shouted “Hosanna” with such joy, were now shouting with anger and hatred, something quite different at the very same man, Jesus. They were shouting, “Crucify Him!” How could this be?

Jesus had been falsely accused and arrested, but being found innocent, Pilate wanted to release Jesus rather than put Him to death by crucifixion. However, the angry mob, made up of yesterday’s Hosanna heralders, would have none of it. I read what happens next in Mark –

” ‘Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. ‘What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?’ Pilate asked them. ‘Crucify Him!’ they shouted. ‘Why? What crime has He committed?’ asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify Him!’ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.” (Mark 15:9-15)

These were the same people who just days before had been shouting “Hosanna to the king!” Now they were shouting “Crucify Him!” I guess James was right when he said, “Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing.” What had happened in those few short days? Had they lost faith, when things appeared to be going south for their deliverer? So they jumped ship – fearing they would go down too. Even Peter denied that he knew Jesus – three times! And indeed their worst fears were realized. Jesus was crucified and laid in a tomb. It appeared to be over. So much for the dream – the dream had died with the death of their Deliverer. BUT . . .

“If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”

The disciples dispersed and went into hiding. Jesus’s body lay in a tomb. They thought this was the end of everything they had been learning and doing during their three years following Jesus. The disciples had lost whatever faith they had possessed. But fortunately for them, God remains faithful to His promises and faithful to us, even when we are faithless. The disciples were soon to experience this truth for themselves. They did not know that what appeared to be the end, was really just the beginning for them and for the world. A glorious, new beginning was closer than they could have imagined. They just needed to hang onto their faith in Jesus.

From Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday is only one week on our calendar, but it is the journey of a lifetime, a roller coaster ride of highest heights and lowest lows – and I find myself drawn into the drama of each day every year. I have to ask myself, if I were there, would I have been among those shouting “Hosanna to the King”? Would I have been shouting “crucify Him” a few days later, along with the rest of the angry mob? Would I have denied knowing Jesus as Peter did? Would I have lost my faith as I watched Jesus die on that cross? Would I have visited the empty tomb, realized everything Jesus said and taught was true, and joyfully shared the news that Jesus is alive with everyone I met?

It surely is a journey of faith, – following Jesus, shouting Hosannas, welcoming the King/shouting “crucify Him”, watching Jesus die, finding His tomb empty, rejoicing again – a journey of faith found, of faith lost and of faith found again in a most unlikely place – an empty tomb. The disciples’ journey is my own. When dreams are denied, when the promise appears to be broken, when hope is gone and faith seems futile – it is then, I believe. I believe even while I am walking in the dark, I believe while I am waiting on the Light to come and conquer the darkness, I believe though I do not yet see.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

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

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

sincerely, Grace Day

I spent a moment on the mountaintop today. I always want it to last longer. But the air is thin up here, there is no level ground for the long haul, and the need is in the valley below. Still I never want to leave the mountain top when I enter into His presence where I am fully blinded by His glory, totally humbled by His love, completely overwhelmed by the reality of my sinfulness and the depth of His forgiveness, speechless in the presence of Him who knows my heart’s every word before it finds its way to my tongue, engulfed in the peace and beauty that are the province of the Creator of the universe, overtaken by inexpressible joy – tears fall freely as I fall face down in worship – only to discover my head is lifted to gaze upon His face. I never want to leave this place. I never want to leave the mountaintop.

I wonder if this is how Peter, James and John felt when Jesus took them up onto the mountain to pray one day? Moses and Elijah showed up unexpectedly and, well this is how the scene was described –

“As He (Jesus) was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. . . . a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.’ ” (Luke 9:29-35)

Pretty life-changing experience for Peter, James and John, right? So what happened next? Well, verse thirty-six says – “When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone.” So things went right back to how they had been and they headed back down the mountain where normal everyday life awaited them. Their mountaintop moment was over, left behind as they entered once again into the mundane of the everyday.

Were the three disciples forever changed by their experience on the mountain? Luke 9:36 tells us, “The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.” How could they? Some things are just too wonderful for mere mortal’s words. They defy description. So the three remained silent. I wonder, as time passed, did they began to doubt the reality of their mountaintop encounter? Were they asking themselves, “Did it really happen? Was I really there?” Did the memory of the transfiguration they witnessed began to fade as earthly cares took precedence each day, until it seemed only a distant recollection -vague and devoid of the power it once possessed?

I think I know how they felt. Mountaintop moments change you forever. But then you come down the mountain and nothing has changed except that you don’t fit in, but you want to find a way to walk in this world without forgetting what the mountaintop taught even as its memory grows dimmer with each passing day. I can learn from Peter’s experience, though. Sometime later, after his mountaintop moment, Peter denied he knew Jesus three times to people who asked him. I am no different. By my actions and words, I often deny the transforming moments I have experienced in the presence of my Savior. And like Peter, I am filled with regret and remorse each time.

However, I take heart in knowing that Jesus forgave Peter and He forgives me too, when I ask. This knowledge gives me the courage to climb the mountain again and again in pursuit of a moment on the mountaintop, knowing I will not get to stay there long but that I will be welcomed in. Hebrews 4:14-16 tells me so,

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. . . . Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

The climb is long, all for just a moment on the mountaintop. And no matter how many moments there have been before – when I come into my Heavenly Father’s presence – my moment on the mountaintop – it is all brand new and like coming home simultaneously. He really is that Holy. I really am that sinful. And like Job I cry out –

“Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. . . . My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:3-6)

in that moment, I know that I am loved without limit or measure, I am loved beyond all reason or explanation – and so are you, dear readers, so are you.

sincerely, Grace Day

Last time I looked there were two-hundred fifty-four comments and counting in response to a devotional about rest which I read yesterday. This is probably three to four times the usual number of comments. Who knew “rest” was such a hot topic? But I discovered that it truly is a topic that touches a lot of lives. As I scrolled through the comments it didn’t take long for a common theme to emerge – we are all exhausted – we all feel like we are “running on empty” and we are all desperately desiring rest. At least that was my take-away from the comments I read and I easily identified with all the various situations and seasons of life that contribute to this phenomenon of perpetual weariness.

I am wondering if this weariness is just a western culture problem or is it something women around the world are experiencing, irregardless of country or culture? Could it be the result of our fast-paced way of life today? Were my grandmothers and my mom this tired all the time? I am trying to remember if rest was such a sought after commodity back then.

It occurs to me that there is a difference between physical fatigue and soul weariness. What I learned from the many comments I read was that I think for most of us the mental, emotional, soul/spiritual fatigue is what we suffer from much more than physical tiredness. Sleep can alleviate our physical tiredness, but we are left still seeking solutions for our elusive soul weariness.

Which is precisely what Jesus offers to each and every one of us when He says in Matthew 11:28-30 –

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

Jesus provides me with rest, so why do I so often feel fatigued? For me, the answer lies in these words Jesus spoke to His disciples,

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

No wonder I sometimes get so tired! I too often try to do things (bear fruit) in my own strength, (instead of letting God do the heavy lifting) and this leaves me exhausted and discouraged – like the branch which wearies, withers and weakens when not fully connected to the vine. Apart from the Vine, I am running on empty. I know I need to stop and get gas, but I don’t have time – time to spend hanging out with the Vine – actually time spent hanging onto the Vine. If I don’t stop and fill up my tank, I will stall out, I won’t be going anywhere. But when I am abiding in and connected to the Vine, I have a constant supply of everything I need to live this life that God has given me.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

My Heavenly Father’s manna and mercies are new every morning. As long as I remain connected to Jesus, the life-giving, life-sustaining Vine, I am continuously filled up with His grace, love, forgiveness, compassion, peace, comfort, joy, light and so much more – so that I can serve Him by sharing with others all that He gives to me. In other words, I will bear much fruit, just like He said. As a branch on the Vine, I only began to weaken, wither and grow weary when my connection to the Vine is loosened or lost.

I never want to be apart from the Vine. Why would I? Jesus said,

“No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” (John 15:4

To a branch like me, the Vine is life itself – abundant life, so much more than I could think to ask or imagine. I never want to be a branch without a vine. Thank You, Jesus, that I can abide in You, the Vine, who sustains every branch – including me, giving me abundant life and rest for my soul every day.

“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

sincerely, Grace Day

I was pretty sure no one was – listening that is, to me. As a substitute teacher, I am somewhat used to this feeling that no one is paying attention to what I am saying. Actually, it is not just a feeling that I’m not being heard, it is a reality, an observable fact. Today, the noise level in the high school classroom assured me that they could not possibly hear me call their names for attendance purposes. Raising my voice would still not ensure I would be heard over the dozen or more of the class who were laughing and talking, well – let’s just say they were using their outdoor voices at full volume even though they were all seated right next to each other.

I guess none of them were feeling heard by their peers, so their voices continued to rise up over each other – each talking louder in an effort to command the group’s attention, which was constantly shifting as they continued to shout over each other. But that’s what we do when we aren’t heard, isn’t it? We turn up the volume of our voice. (commonly called shouting) It’s our natural instinct to get louder in our effort to be heard.

Unfortunately for the students, if they didn’t hear me call their name, they didn’t respond letting me know they were present. The result? They were erroneously marked absent. All because they didn’t bother to take the time to listen.

So now of course, I’m wondering – has God been calling my name? Is the noise all around me so loud that I would not hear His voice if He were? Like my students, do I refuse to turn the volume down, even long enough to listen for my name? Something else I notice about my students is that they often have earbuds or headphones in or over their ears, preventing them from hearing others’ attempts to engage them in conversation. They may feel isolated, but because of their own noise, they don’t realize others are calling their name.

I’m thinking this is how God must feel. He’s calling out to this lost world and we just aren’t listening.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

But we don’t hear His message. We are too busy shouting at each other and over each other and listening to our own music and wisdom and ways – the noise of our TVs, radios, video games, social media platforms, (Facebook, tic-toc, twitter etc) fills our ears and our minds, leaving no room to receive any whispered words from God. Which brings me to another ironic twist.

God could just speak louder, couldn’t He? Isn’t His voice like roaring thunder? God could just shout louder than all the noise that surrounds me in this world. But that’s not how it happened with Elijah when he was in a cave on a mountain, wanting and waiting on a word from God. In 1 Kings 19:11-13, I read what took place,

“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”

The Creator of the universe could drown out all my noise by being the loudest voice by far. But He chooses to whisper to get my attention. I guess that’s why I need to be still (quiet) in order to know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10) Maybe when I am lamenting that God is silent, that is not the case at all. It is more likely that I don’t hear Him because I am not listening for His voice. I have my headphones on and my chosen noise turned up full volume. In my attempt to drown out the din of noise around me with noise of my own, I simply add another decibel to the noise level and turn a deaf ear to His still small voice.

After God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, they tended to turn a deaf ear to God as they wandered in the desert. Moses said these words to them,

“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!” (Deuteronomy 32:1-3)

I know my Heavenly Father hears me, I have His assurance on that. “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:12)

“I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1-2)

So my Heavenly Father listens to me, but do I listen for His words? (post – “the conversation of prayer”) Conversation is a two way street. I shouldn’t be doing all the talking. I find these instructive words in Proverbs 4:20-22 and in James 1:19,

“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.”

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”

While I have been thinking God silent, I have failed to realize that I have not turned down the volume, taken out my ear buds, sought out a solitary spot and gotten still in anticipation of His whispered words to me. I have been too busy to listen well, or to listen at all. But now I want to say with Samuel,

“Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

I want to do what King David purposed to do in Psalm 62:5,

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.”

Surely in the silence I will hear His whispered words guiding me in the way I should go –

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ ” (Isaiah 30:21)

my Heavenly Father is speaking, when I am quiet and listening, I will hear Him –

sincerely, Grace Day

yes, it is Monday all day today. And just for the record, it is also raining. So you know what song is playing in my head right now, don’t you? “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down” by the Carpenters, of course. At this point I should say, I’m not sure about the wisdom of listening to melancholy music when it is already kind of a melancholy day. Then again, Mondays have been much maligned ever since I can remember. I have yet to meet a person whose favorite day of the week is Monday. They have such a bad reputation – poor Mondays. They definitely could benefit from an image makeover.

I think for my grandma, Monday was laundry day – all day long. That would be enough to give Mondays a bad rep, laundry being one of the more mundane of all the mundane tasks, to be sure. Or maybe it’s that Monday is the first day of the school/work week for many – so not much to look forward to except more school/work at this point in the week.

Mondays are those days I am wanting a mountaintop experience, but I am in the valley surrounded by all the molehills I have made into mountains, which now need moving if I am to find my way out of this deep, dark place. Time to go mountain climbing, but I need a miracle. Miracles, however, require faith. Jesus taught His disciples about faith saying,

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

That is a great encouragement to me, to know that even if I can only muster a small amount of faith (pun intended) Jesus can work with that to enable me to move my mountains. And there are days, mostly Mondays, when it is hard to muster the faith of even a mustard seed. But Jesus explains it this way to His disciples,

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32)

Mustard seed faith can move mountains! That truly is a miracle amid the mundane of a Monday, or of any day. As I start my mountain climb upwards toward the light, wanting my mountaintop moment, I become aware of many miracles amid this mundane Monday that have been surrounding me this whole day. Glad I opened my eyes to see them and give God thanks before this mundane Monday draws to a close.

Every moment is time spent in His presence, every moment an opportunity to be salt and light to someone who just might be in need of a little salt or a little light as they go about their mundane Monday. Lord, help me to see Your light in every raindrop that falls, bringing things to life after the death of winter. Help me to see Your many miracles taking place amid the mundane of yet another Monday, let me extend mercy to all, help my mustard seed faith to grow strong enough to move my mountains. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for mundane Mondays. Every day is a gift. Every day is filled with challenge and opportunity to be Your witness in this world. May I make the most of every mundane Monday.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us (I will) rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6)

sincerely, Grace Day

Today I found myself thinking about these words of the late Jim Elliot, a missionary killed in 1956 in the jungle of Ecuador. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Those words remind me of a question Jesus put to His disciples when he asked them, “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 16:26) Jim Elliot had the answer to that question figured out at a young age. Jim Elliot was no fool.

He was only twenty-eight when he died but he had already chosen “that which he cannot lose.” Perhaps he had taken to heart these instructions of Jesus,

“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)

Sounds like Elliot realized this simple truth earlier than most, which is “you can’t take it with you.” And yet we live like we can often, dedicating ourselves to accumulating “wealth” – for what purpose? I now have to ask myself. Nothing here is guaranteed. It is all transient and temporary. On the other hand, what Elliot was referring to as “that which he cannot lose” is eternal. 1 Peter 1:3-4 gives us this assurance –

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

So, my inheritance is being kept in heaven for me and it will never “perish, spoil or fade.” This definitely seems like the wiser option to me, as it did to Jim Elliot. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:18 also let me know I would be foolish to put my trust or my hope in the things or “riches” of this world. Why? because they are not going to stand the test of time. They are not going to last.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

I don’t want to be a fool, an April fool, or any other kind. I don’t want to be thought of as foolish. Still, if I am thought “foolish” by the world’s standards, that might not be a bad thing. Consider these words,

“Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19)

I guess that’s the key – not pursuing what the world calls wise, but seeking God’s wisdom. And He has promised to provide it.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7)

I wonder if there is a day set aside to celebrate wisdom? I know I am always in need of wise counsel, which I find daily in God’s word. God’s wisdom is available to me 24/7 and He never sleeps nor slumbers. These words from Proverbs remind me just how important Godly wisdom is.

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. . . . She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.” (Proverbs 3:13-18)

“to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.” (Romans 16:27)

sincerely, Grace Day

I cannot count the stars, they are far too numerous – but I know the One who calls them each by name.

“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” (Psalm 147:4)

I can’t escape life’s storms – but I know the One who calms their chaos.

“He (Jesus) got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” (Mark 4:39)

I often (being directionally challenged) don’t know the way – but I know the One who IS The Way.

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

I often don’t know which path to take – but I have His promise that if I will,

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

I don’t know what tomorrow holds in store for me – but I know the One who holds tomorrow and is not surprised by what it will bring.

“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.” (Isaiah 46:10)

I don’t have sufficient wisdom and knowledge to meet the challenges I face every day – but I know the One who has all wisdom and knowledge.

“so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3)

Sometimes, like Job, I don’t know where God is – but I know that God always knows where I am. I am never lost to Him.

“But if I go to the east, He is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find Him. When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:8-10)

Basically, there is not much I know for certain. But there is this one thing –

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

and knowing this one thing is everything –

sincerely, Grace Day