“For now we see through a glass darkly; but then we shall see face to face.”  (1Cor. 13:12)  And that’s why we walk by faith and not by sight; because our earthly, human sight isn’t all that clear or good.  We lack the perspective of the God we call “Abba, Father”.   “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  (Isaiah 55:9)

But the night Carla shared her story with all of us there, we all caught a clear glimpse beyond the glass of our omnipotent God at work.  There was no reason for this revelation, this moment of mercy; in allowing us to see our God at work behind the scenes, connecting all the dots.  For the most part, ours is to obey and trust that God is using our obedience to accomplish His purposes, which are always good.  With the telling of Carla’s story however, our faith was given sight for a shining moment of encouragement and affirmation.  How kind of God to let us see His hand orchestrating every detail of every event that led up to the breathtaking revelation which concluded Carla’s story.

In our humanness, we like to think that we are making a difference, we want to know that what we do matters, at least to someone somewhere.  But we don’t always get to see the end results of our efforts, of our obedience or of our prayers. And we are not alone.

Abraham didn’t live to see that whole descendants numerous as the stars in the sky and grains of sand on the seashore thing that God had promised Him.  He and Sarah had only one son, (granted a miracle child what with Sarah being barren and well beyond child bearing years and Abraham being one hundred and all) but still not exactly off to a great start on that stars/sand promise.  Then Isaac had two sons, so at the time of Abraham’s death, he could count his descendants, he could count them on one hand.  From a human perspective, God’s promise to Abraham didn’t look all that plausible given the current circumstances.  It was off to a pretty slow start. Three kids in three generations? not very promising (even if Isaac was “the child of the promise”)  But Abraham had believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.

We have the advantage of hindsight when it comes to Abraham’s life, we can read all about it and see how it turns out.  But not so with our own lives.  We, like Abraham, have to obey and trust God to bring about the desired result.  Results that, just like Abraham, we don’t always get to see.  But God let Carla see a result this week at Camp Life and she shared her glimpse beyond the glass with the rest of us so that we could all be reminded just how incomparable, how indescribable, how compassionate, is the God that we belong to.

Carla had donated clothes, as many of us do from time to time, nine months ago. Her donated clothes were to be sent from Texas to Zambia, to be made available to the more than seven hundred children Family Legacy cares for in the Tree of Life Village.  Now, nine months later, Carla and her teenage daughter were here at Family Legacy’s Camp Life to spend the week with some of the children that Family Legacy serves.  In Carla’s group of little girls, there was one who was cold and needed a jacket.  When Carla asked for a jacket for this little girl, she was handed the same jacket she had donated nine months earlier! But this wasn’t just any jacket.  This had been her now teenage daughter, Lauren’s, favorite jacket when she was younger.  Now Lauren was here to see for herself, along with her mom, how God was using her jacket to show His love and care to a little girl on the other side of the world, named Peggy.

We don’t always get to see the end result of our obedience, but this day Carla and Lauren got to see what God did with their obedience.  “of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world . . . ”  (Casablanca)  Only one container of supplies had arrived out of all the containers shipped.  There are over seven hundred children in residential care and around seven hundred at Camp Life this week. And Peggy is in Carla’s group?  And Peggy gets that jacket?   Coincidence?  I think not.  Our culture may attempt to explain away God’s miracles by calling them coincidence, but God leaves no doubt. God left no doubt when He parted the Red Sea, He left no doubt when He raised Jesus from the grave and He left no doubt when He brought together Carla, Lauren, Peggy and a jacket that traveled round the world to arrive at the appointed time to clothe a chosen child.  God leaves no doubt that He is at work in our lives. He revealed Himself clearly through Carla’s experience, that each of us, for an instant, might see clearly beyond the glass for that moment.

And now back to walking by faith.  By faith we offer to God what we have.  Like Carla did.  Like the small boy with the fish and the loaves of bread did when Jesus needed to feed the thousands.  The boy offered to Jesus what he had, though it was clearly far, far short of what was needed to feed that many people.  Jesus took it and made it much more than enough.  He will do that with us too.  What we have to offer falls far short of the need.  But we are called to offer it up to Jesus anyway. He takes it and makes it not only sufficient for the need at hand but more than enough, pressed down and running over.

“In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at His reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see Him in His completeness, face to face.”  (1 Corinthians 13:12, Living Bible)

That night we all shared a glimpse beyond the glass through Carla’s story.  and I am grateful for that glimpse, grateful to be reminded that my God is at work behind the scenes, neither slumbering nor sleeping, working ALL things together for good and for His eternal purposes.

sincerely,      Grace Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was down the hallway and almost out the door, just like so many other times at the end of the school day, when it hit me.  This was my last, last time to do this. This day had been my last, last day and I had lived it like it was every other day that had gone before and like all the days that would surely follow, identical in their sameness, yet unique in the variations that existed within the framework of that sameness.  (there are always surprises when you are dealing with teenagers) Except that now there would be no days like this to follow.  Some people called it monotony, I called it comfort.  I called it home.  It is the place I have belonged.

How had I not realized that this was my last, last day?  Well, for one thing, it was not the last day of the school year, there were still almost two weeks left.  But it was my last day because I was leaving early to go on a mission trip.  Besides with the year- round school calendar we are on, there are lots of last days as we are always starting and stopping.  Even summer break is short lived, not long between the last day and the first day of starting up again.  It kind of all blends together.

So why was this day so significant for me?  Because this high school is closing.  I will not be returning here in just a few short weeks to began another school year.  I will not be returning at all.  There will be nothing here to return to. So that explains my feelings.  I have been coming to this school for many years and I don’t want that to change.  I have had many “last days” here but they have always been followed by yet another first day.  Not anymore.   I am a nomad by nature, but this school, out of all the schools I worked in, had become my home.  Now my home is closing.  When you can’t return home, where do you go?  (even teachers who retire and students who graduate can return “home” and visit their alma mater)

Growing up I was taught that the church is not the building, it is the people.  I think this is true of schools as well.  This building will still stand and will be used for younger grades and some alternative programs.  But the high school that it once was will be gone.  No more football games, basketball games, bands, choirs; no more graduating classes.  The people; the students, staff and faculty who make up this school community will be gone; dispersed and absorbed into other already existing communities. I can return to the building, but the school will be gone. There will not be another first day of school here.  This year, the last school day was truly the last, last day.

And I missed it, being in Zambia at the time of its’ occurrence.  Maybe that was for the best.  I had my own last, last day alone, in solitude, not even aware that I was living it until my final walk down the hall, when I realized that I had just finished my last, last day in the place I had come to call home somewhere along the way. How glad I am that in eternity there will be no “last, last time” for anything.  It will be all about “hello” and never about “good-bye.”   Because, eternity by definition has no end point.  So no need of good-byes, there will never be the last of anything that is good again.  There will be no more “last, last times.”  and that’s fine by me!

“Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns Your house for endless days, O Lord.”  (Psalm 93:5)

“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  (Psalm 23:6)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”  (Revelation 22:13)

sincerely,      Grace Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missing a flight is never a good thing in my book, I consider it a bad thing always.  So you can only imagine my frustration as I waited long in line, listening to four chatty travelers exchanging life stories with the baggage check person, while the rest of us listened, a captive audience waiting our turn to check our bags.   But my irritation quickly turned to panic when I heard the words come down the line; “no more bags checked, it’s within forty-five minutes of departure time.”  Questions raced through my mind. Where had this rule come from?  (of course I rarely fly and almost never have luggage to check) so I would not necessarily know about this obscure rule.  But I was not alone.  Those ahead of me and behind me in this long line to check bags,  seemed also to be caught unaware and seemed also equally panicked. (which was strangely although only momentarily reassuring to me, knowing that I was not alone in my plight.)

The irony of the fact that I had waited long in that slow moving line only to be told it was now too late, was not lost on me.  As those around me protested this obvious injustice, (they were headed for a myriad of different destinations than mine, but as all our flights left about the same time, we were all in the same boat (so to speak) that of wishing we were on a plane) I wondered, “what do I do now?”

This could not be happening, I told myself.  I had printed out my boarding pass the day before, I was even TSA precheck!  And I was headed out on a mission trip, so certainly God was on my side, right?   So why would He let this happen?  I had to get to Dallas, as that was the connection to Dubai which was the connection to Lusaka, which was where I needed to end up.

So I continued to question God in my mind as I used a kiosk to register for another flight to Dallas, the next available, which left at 8:05a.m., just a couple hours later than my original 6:10a.m. flight.  I knew this would get me there in time because my friend, who was going on the same mission trip, was taking this flight.  We had planned to meet up in Dallas, but maybe God wanted me to be on the same flight as my friend, I told myself.  (like I needed to have a reason to explain the minor inconvenience of my current circumstances)  But I did want a reason and it better be a good one.  I wanted things to make sense, that is, to make sense to me.

So much for walking by faith and not by sight.  So much for trusting God in all things.  Often we wait months or years before we can look back and see how some “bad” thing that happened to us turned out to be God’s best thing for us; turned out to be God’s blessing or God’s protection of us.  But we don’t recognize it as such at the time.  And that was the case with me this early morning at the airport.

But unlike most of my past experiences, where I had to wait years to get the revelation that hindsight always provides in seeing God at work on my behalf in all the “bad” things that I have experienced; today I would see how this bad thing was clearly the best thing in only a matter of minutes.

So I arrived at my new departure gate at 6 a.m. thinking to myself, “see, I could have made the 6:10 flight.”  It was fairly empty as I took a seat to wait on my new plane.  Then it began filling up quickly, surprising since the flight wasn’t for two hours yet.  I began listening to the conversations around me and guess what I learned?  The 6:10 flight (whose gate was right next to this one) had just deboarded.  (unboarded?)  well, you get the idea.  That plane, my original plane, had not taken off as scheduled.  Why?  Two flat tires on the landing gear and no spare!  They were waiting for replacement tires.  Although apparently, they were telling the passengers that it would still take off before the 8:05 flight.

Well let me tell you, when we took off at 8:05, my original plane was still sitting on the ground with no signs of being ready to go anywhere anytime soon.  If I had been able to get on that flight as planned, I would still be sitting in Indy!  and even if I could have gotten on another flight to Dallas, my luggage, full of ministry supplies for the trip, would still be on that grounded plane.

I had wanted to be on that plane.  I thought I needed to be on that plane.  But God knew what I couldn’t know; God knew that plane wasn’t going anywhere.  God did have my back.  He made sure I got to Dallas by making sure I was denied access to my desired, scheduled flight; the one I was so determined to get on, the one I thought would take me where I needed to be, where I wanted to go.  (found out much later, that flight never did take off)

But God in His mercy took care of me by denying me what I thought I needed and giving me what I did need instead in that moment.  What a wonderful way for this mission trip to began, with God reminding me of His constant watchcare over me. This time, I didn’t have to wait long to realize the reason for the “bad” thing that happened to me in being denied access to my chosen flight.  God’s protection and provision were almost immediately apparent.

But more often, I just have to trust that any “bad” things that I experience, God will use to bring about what He knows is “best” for me.  Because my Heavenly Father always has my best interests at heart.  This airport experience just reminded me once again that I can trust Him.  Many things I will never know the “why” this side of heaven.  But I can trust that with my Heavenly Father what I think are the “bad” things will ultimately turn out to be the “best” things.  I just have to have faith – and I do!  (even if it is just a mustard seed)

“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 we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28)

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  (Deuteronomy 31:8)

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” (Pr. 16:9)

sincerely,       Grace Day

I am back, dear readers!  (you didn’t even know I was gone, now did you?)  But I was gone bungee jumping again and my bungee held me well.  (that would be my sister, who has made this journey of the heart many times)  It is a journey that covers many miles (around 14,870 to be exact) but who’s counting?  I would love to share pictures with you all, but technology is not my ally in this endeavor.

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.  But often it takes a thousand words to truly tell the story of a picture.  You see, in a picture, behind every smile there are tears.  And behind those tears there are broken hearts.  And behind those broken hearts are the stories of how those hearts came to be broken.  And then follow the stories of the healing of those hearts and how they came to be healed.  This leads to the smiles in the picture and brings us full circle in the story.

Such are the stories I long to share with you as I process all that God has done in this journey that has allowed me to share in the lives of the poorest of the poor, the least of these whom Jesus loves and gave Himself for, the orphans and vulnerable children of Zambia.

“From heaven the Lord looks down, He sees all the children.”  (Psalm 33:13)

sincerely,      Grace Day

My desktop was dead, to begin with; of that there could be no doubt.  No light came on, no sound, no picture, nothing.  Yes, just like old Marley, my computer was as dead as a doornail.  And all without warning.  While I had been busy bungee jumping, moving mountains and most recently, searching for my burning bush, my computer had died.  This left me without email, without internet, without access to today’s Sunday school lesson, without access to my music, to my work, to my friends, to my college class, without access to my life or all that came together to make up my life.

How had this happened? I wondered, as panic set in.  When had I handed over my life to my desktop?  I don’t remember doing such a thing . . .  Sure Google is now my best friend, although many I know have replaced her with Alexa.  Alexa, who sees all, knows all, and answers all questions.  What did I do before Google entered my life?  How had I survived?  And just today a new study’s results saying our memories are worse now that we feel we don’t have to depend on them because we depend on our technology to know and remember things for us.  Then there was something about us being so busy documenting an event (so that we can remember it) that we don’t actually participate in and experience the event ourselves.

But back to the burning bush, you know, like the one Moses saw, a bush on fire but not burning up.  That’s not normal.  Guess that’s why it got Moses’ attention.  Why am I looking for a burning bush?  Because God spoke to Moses out of that burning bush and I want to hear God speak to me.  Who wouldn’t want to hear God speak just to them?  Leave no doubt — that’s what I want!  To know God and to know His will for my life.

So I search for my burning bush.  I want something impressive, big, flashy, out of the ordinary and a burning bush seems to fill the requirement.  A burning bush can’t be ignored.  A burning bush leaves no doubt.

But I have something Moses didn’t have —  the Bible.  Of course, Moses wrote some of the Bible eventually, after many years and many conversations with God.  At the time of the burning bush however, Moses didn’t have the bible to turn to. Today, if I want to hear a word from God, I don’t need to find a burning bush, I can open my Bible and it’s all there.  God’s revelation of Himself to me, to each of us — and like the burning bush, His word is alive, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12)

And like the bush, God’s word remains, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”  (Matt. 24:35)  The fire did not consume the bush, time will not consume God’s living Word.  God spoke out of the fire to Moses, now God speaks out of His living word in the Bible to me and to you.  I don’t need to search for a burning bush, I just need to open my Bible.  I don’t need the flashy, the showy, the spectacular; I need the quietness of solitude in which to be still and know God.  “Be still, and know that I am God;”  (Psalm 46:10)

I sought God’s presence in a burning bush but the miracle of God’s presence is in the mundane moments of my everyday.  This means my every moment has the power and the possibility of the burning bush, which is the presence of God.  I can rest from my quest for my burning bush.  I can seek Him through His word.  The miracle that the Creator of the universe would make Himself known to me and to you, defies any logic or human understanding.  God’s revelation of Himself to me through His word, His Holy Spirit and His Son, Jesus; fills my longing to know and understand my place in this vast universe of unknown galaxies and infinite space.

My computer may be dead, but my burning bush is alive and active.  And that is all that I need and more.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:19)

sincerely,     Grace Day

 

today I’m wondering if anyone out there shares my aversion to (if not outright hatred of) roundabouts?  or is it just me?  I mean what were the British thinking? Roundabout, according to the dictionary, is a British term for merry-go-round. and secondarily a British term for traffic circle.  The first definition says it all.  The British knew what they were doing when they started putting “merry-go-rounds” at every intersection.  The proof is in the name they gave to their traffic circles. Calling them roundabouts shows they knew they were constructing “merry-go-rounds” for cars.  Given that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, one would think someone would have questioned the reasoning behind turning straightforward paths into circuitous challenges.

Apparently someone over here thought it would be cool to follow Britain’s example.  (don’t they know we are no longer a colony?)  Now there seems to be a conspiracy to bring these roundabouts to any and every intersection near me. You, like me, dear reader, may be innocently unsuspecting of this plot until it is too late. Your once very straightforward drive to work or to wherever is now suddenly a dizzyingly, dangerous and circuitous obstacle course that must be overcome.  Your drive is now a series of yielding, merging, circling, exiting (or not),  yielding, merging, circling, exiting; over and over again at each new roundabout.

It used to be so simple to get from point A to point B, the light told me what to do at each intersection or the well established rules of a four-way stop dictated my behavior.  But participating in this cut-throat, Indy 500 challenge at every intersection, leaves me little adrenaline left over for the rest of my day when I do finally arrive at my destination.

What were “they” thinking?  Are my lawmakers so bored that they have nothing better to do than to fix what IS NOT BROKEN?  Do they have that much extra money burning a hole in their budget that they need to spend it on merry-go-rounds?  (which I do not want to ride)  I have a few suggestions for them if that is the case.  I could point them to a pothole or two or more.  They really are broken and they are breaking our cars.

There are plenty of broken things out there that really do need fixing, ie. old, collapsing bridges and such.  I wish they would stop “fixing” things that are currently working just fine.  We need more support for our fire and law enforcement people, for our child services, for world hunger and world peace, for local hunger and local peace.  There are lots of things we need, but another roundabout isn’t one of them.

I spend enough time going in circles (metaphorically speaking of course) in my life that I have no desire to travel in circles literally, every day, just to get where I need to be.  These roundabouts are adding miles to my commute every day, particularly if no one will let me off (or is it out?) and I must continue to circle in the inside lane (don’t tell me it has never happened to you)  Plus, for the directionally challenged, such as myself, an encounter with a roundabout is a daily nightmare, often leaving me quite turned around.  If I get off too soon or too late I am headed somewhere I never intended to go and before I can figure it out, there is another roundabout in my path, taking me even further from my destination and leaving me hopelessly off course.

Life used to be so straightforward.  Now I am forced to travel in circles. Roundabouts take up so much more space and cost so much more of our tax dollars than regular, run of the mill intersections.  All this at a time when funding isn’t available for so much that needs to be done, so much that is actually broken. How are these roundabouts being funded anyway?  I’m beginning to suspect Russian collusion (not to be confused with collision, which is definitely associated with roundabouts)  Maybe the Russians’ plan is to keep us Americans busy endlessly circling, leaving us dizzy, disoriented, drained and discouraged; allowing them to be one up on us.  I bet you the Russians aren’t busy building roundabouts right now.

I recently heard a rumor that there was talk of putting in a traffic light/signal at some of the roundabouts to help with traffic flow.  Now I thought the sole purpose of the roundabout was to replace the traffic light and to improve traffic flow?  I sigh in resignation every time a new roundabout appears.  When will it stop? When there are no more straight roads left?  I am paying more tax money so that I can drive in circles, drive more miles, spend more time in my car . . . forgive me but I’m not seeing an upside here to this roundabout takeover happening at an intersection near me.

Maybe I will lead a protest of some kind, but first I will have to break free from these circles of life I now must navigate daily at my own peril.  Stop the merry-go-round, I want to get off!

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

sincerely,         Grace Day

ps.  I forgot to mention that the dictionary definition of roundabout as an adjective includes the words circuitous, indirect, meandering (none a ringing endorsement) and also the word “tortuous”.  I am not making this up, dear readers, check it out for yourselves.  So, in the final analysis, a roundabout is in reality a “tortuous merry-go-round.”   Happy driving everyone!

 

What is a typical day?  well, let’s see.  I turn some of my many molehills (life is full of molehills, you can’t avoid them) into mountains (that takes some concentrated effort such as worrying or fretting or stewing) then I get overwhelmed by the mighty mountains I have made.  Mercy comes to my rescue.  I receive mercy, mercy sets me free, she teaches me to be merciful.  I set all my prisoners free, now I can see my mountains moving, making a way for me to continue moving forward in faith, all the while I hold tight to my mustard seed.  I will need her again tomorrow.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  (Matthew 5:7)

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, . . .  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)

“He (Jesus) replied, ‘Because you have so little faith.  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.'” (Matt.17:20-21)

sincerely,      Grace Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to confess, dear readers, it has been so very long since I have been on an actual date, that I completely forgot about all the angst and anxiety associated with such an undertaking.  (or maybe that’s precisely why I did agree to said date, I had no memory of what I had experienced so long ago)  As it turns out, for me, all of my angst and anxiety are focused on one all important aspect of my impending date — WHAT TO WEAR?

This is the dilemma that is consuming my waking hours and keeping me up at night. What to wear?  Nothing I can think of seems right.  Too dressy, too casual, too outdated, (why is it still in my closet?) too loose, too tight, too conservative, too trendy, too plain, too uncomfortable (why did I buy it in the first place?), not right for the season, not right for the weather, wrong color, wrong style, not my best look, (do I even have a best look?), no wonder panic is setting in. My closets are full to overflowing but I have nothing acceptable to wear.  How is this even possible?  The saying, “water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink,” plays in my mind as I continue to go through my closet and drawers in search of that perfect article of clothing that I can wear on my date.

Now two things occur to me at this point.  I realize that I have managed to leave my house seven days a week appropriately dressed for work, church, the gym, errands, meeting friends and whatever else takes place away from home, for many years now.  And I do this successfully every day.  At least I think that is the case.  No fellow Target shoppers have ridiculed my attire to my face, my gym friends seem okay with whatever I show up in, and of course my church friends are accepting and grant me grace.  But I do have one very tough audience, my high school students — they would say something to my face.  (and sometimes do come to think of it)

Why don’t I just go shopping you might ask?  The answer is, because I have to know what it is that I am shopping for, in order for that to work.  And I have no clue, no clue what this perfect, yet elusive first date outfit looks like.  So I wouldn’t recognize it even if I came face to face with it in the store.  I need help, big time!

The words of Colossians 3:12-14 run through my mind, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other . . . Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”  Now this is some good advice but I’m not sure my dilemma is decided.

Although I gotta admit, these intangible attributes are right for any occasion, they are always in style, never out of season or out of date, they look great on everyone, they fit every size, work for every age group; they are each person’s best color and best look.  These attributes are much more comfortable and becoming than their counterparts, which we often wear instead. (indifference, cruelty, pride, harshness, impatience and hatred are not a good look for anyone)  And love is the perfect outer garment or covering for the whole ensemble.

So, on second thought, maybe my dilemma isn’t that much of a dilemma after all. Whatever I wear, if I clothe myself with these attributes from Colossians, I will be well dressed indeed for any and every occasion.  Hopefully, my date will think so too.  (or he won’t notice what I’m actually wearing because of the dazzling effect of the intangible attributes with which God clothes His children AND God says that love covers over a multitude of sins, (1 Peter 4:8) even the most serious fashion faux pas.)

“And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  . . .  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

sincerely,     Grace Day

 

 

 

 

 

If I see myself reflected in another’s eyes,  when they are gone and I no longer see my reflection, have I ceased to exist?  Am I no longer the daughter I once was?  the granddaughter I used to be?  no longer a wife, a fast friend; who am I without their eyes to attest to my existence?  in beholding me, reflecting back that I am seen, that I am known;

this is how I know my place in this world, where I fit, guided by what I see reflected in the eyes of those I have loved — I find my way — always know who I am, until you are no longer here — I search in vain, fearing I have vanished as well with your departure from this present place . . .

I knew myself reflected in your gaze — now I wonder who I am, (if I am even here at all?)  For if I find no reflection of myself, have I ceased to exist or am I merely invisible?  Then I realize the answer doesn’t matter — because there is no difference between the two — invisibility and death.  They are the same in so many ways.

“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”   (Job 23:10)

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said , ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.'”  (Genesis 16:13)

” . . .  I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.”  (Isaiah 43:1)

“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”   (Matthew 10:30)

“Does He not see my ways and count my every step?”  (Job 31:4)

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”  (1Cor. 13:12)

No more death, no more invisibility, no more poor reflections, just face to face fully knowing and fully being known.

“O Lord, You have searched me and You know me.   . . .  You are familiar with all my ways.”  (Psalm 139:1&3)

I will see clearly in eternity, reflected in my Heavenly Father’s face, my identity, which belongs to Him from the foundation of the world.  And on that day, there will no longer be a question of identity.

sincerely,         Grace Day

 

 

 

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”   (Philippians 4:13)

I want to pray down Jericho’s wall, stand on faith and watch it fall.

I want to pray down the walls hiding every human heart, watch those barriers crumble, bestowing a new start.

I want to walk on water and soar on eagles’ wings, I want to move mighty mountains and do other impossible things.

I want to handle serpents and face the lions in their den, I want to walk through fire, I hope it’s me He’ll send.

I want to see hearts of flesh replacing every heart of stone, I want to sing Your praises, Lord, with those around Your throne.

I want to see Your miracles, I want to know Your mighty power,  You alone are my Rock, my shield, my shelter, my strong tower.

I want to know Jesus’ resurrection power, Your word says lives in me;  I want to have the faith I need to set that power free.

Help me, dear Lord, to hold onto my mustard seed; for just as You have promised, that is all I’ll ever need.

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”  (Matthew 19:26)

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I believe, help my unbelief!'” (Mark 9:24)

“He (Jesus) replied, ‘Because you have so little faith.  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.'” (Matt. 17:20)

“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”  (Romans 8:11)

“I pray also that . . . you may know the hope to which He has called you, . . . and His incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,” (Eph. 1:18-20)

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”  (Philippians 3:10-1

sincerely,           Grace Day