bible

paralyzed by the whys

Posted on by Grace Day

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

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

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

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

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

“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. . . . Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. . . . Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. . . . Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. . . . On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” (Romans 12:9-20)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

sincerely, Grace Day

counting the cost

Posted on by Grace Day

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

“. . . now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 6-7)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

sincerely, Grace Day

necessary nutrients

Posted on by Grace Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus told His disciples this –

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

Peter says this to Jesus –

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

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

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

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

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

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

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

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

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

sincerely, Grace Day

fabulous footwear – con’t

Posted on by Grace Day

After writing the previous post (“fabulous footwear”) I now find myself focused on footwear much more than is typical for me or is necessary for that matter. I myself am wearing the same old shoes that I typically wear every day, being a firm believer that if you find something that works for you, stick with it, right? I am not making a statement with my shoes – fashion or otherwise. BUT –

I work in a high school and I have noticed that footwear is very important to the students here. Shoes seem to be more than just a fashion statement. Shoes here are symbols signaling status, identity, and perhaps power. Apparently, it’s all about the brand – the name brand. The name conveys the status, the name is the identity, the name confers the power to the wearer of the shoe. Who knew?

And I thought footwear was just to keep your feet warm, clean and dry? Turns out, footwear fills a much more important function for these teenagers than just utility, fashion or wardrobe choice. Their footwear defines them. For these teenagers, it’s all about the name – the name brand of the shoe.

However, I think Shakespeare would disagree. His view on the subject was revealed when he said – “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” However, that doesn’t seem to ring true anymore. Today it’s all about the name – probably why we have expressions such as “making a name for herself” or “name dropping” or “name brand.” It is all about the name after all.

So it’s not surprising that when a shoe bears the name of “Jordan”, it is a more expensive, more popular and a more impressive shoe, simply by virtue of the name. (of course I’m referring to the basketball star, Michael Jordan) Likewise, when I’m wearing shoes “fitted with the readiness of the peace of the gospel” that my Heavenly Father provides for me, I am wearing name brand shoes too. BUT – not just any name. No, these shoes bear the name of Christ. And that’s a big deal. How do I know this? Well in Acts I read this –

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Peter acknowledged this truth to Jesus when he said –

“Simon Peter answered Him (Jesus), ‘Lord to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.’ ” (John 6:68)

The psalmist said –

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1)

“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” (Psalm 148:13)

When I’m wearing the shoes God has provided for me, shoes that fit my feet perfectly with the readiness of the peace of the gospel, it’s like I’m wearing Jordans but infinitely better. Jordan is a really big name in the shoe world and in the sports world BUT – my name brand shoes bear an exponentially bigger name – a name described in this way –

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

Wow! That’s the name my God given shoes bear – the name of Jesus. What a privilege to wear the shoes that bear His name – His holy name that is above all names. I had better walk well when wearing these shoes so as not to dishonor or disgrace Jesus’s name. If I’m going to wear such fabulous footwear, this is my prayer –

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

What a privilege to wear such fabulous “name-brand” footwear every day!

sincerely, Grace Day

fabulous footwear

Posted on by Grace Day

I went walking today, so my footwear was a prime consideration. You might think that the weather or comfort would be the most important factors influencing my choice of footwear for said walk. You would be correct. However, there was a time when the style, brand and popularity of what I wore on my feet carried far more weight than any practical considerations. I even used to wear high heels. (what was I thinking?) Not so anymore.

One thing is still true however. There are shoes for every occasion and every activity under the sun. There are running shoes, hiking shoes/boots, dancing shoes, basketball shoes, ballet slippers, soccer shoes, rain boots, snow boots, wingtips, sandals, clogs, crocs – there are water shoes and even footwear for swimming and scuba diving – aka flippers! One of my favorite shoes as a teenager was a pair of soft leather moccasins complete with fringe. Not much foot support but super comfortable. I wore them everywhere. They were cool. Then there were my very uncomfortable, well actually very painful, pink toe shoes from my ballet days. Ballet is a beautiful but painful pastime and I had the bloody toes to prove it at the time.

Since footwear has become so important and so specialized nowadays, this begs the question – what are the appropriate shoes for me to wear for prayer walking? (one guy in our group wears flip flops pretty much year round and we have all four seasons here) After all, prayer walking is a very specific type of walking, encompassing both all terrain and all weather walking, as I have alluded to in previous posts. (post -“walking on what?”) You would think this would call for some very specialized footwear and you would be right. God’s word clearly describes the footwear that I need to put on for this particular activity.

“and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15)

I need to be fitted with special footwear, specifically designed for just the type of walking I, along with my prayer walking friends, do on a regular basis. Fortunately, my Heavenly Father provides me with this very specialized, personalized, powerful footwear. It is just what I need to enable me to walk the distance and to have sure footing on all types of terrain. I don’t want to stumble and fall. Fortunately, God’s footwear enables me to walk with confidence as is promised in Proverbs –

“When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” (Proverbs 4:12)

God’s shoes make it possible for me to walk, to run and to stand, which I also need to be able to do, just as it says in Ephesians –

“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,” (Ephesians 6:13-14)

These special prayer walking shoes are part of the armor God graciously provides for his children, knowing that we are in a spiritual battle and that we need the protection His armor provides and the ability His shoes provide us to both go where He sends us and to stand firm when we get there. I am told my feet must be fitted with this readiness so that I am ready and able to walk anywhere at anytime, and when I reach my destination, I am able to stand firm in my specially fitted, God provided, shoes.

This is some fabulous footwear for sure! I guess that makes sense because beautiful feet require special shoes and God’s word says this about my and my friends’ prayer walking feet –

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

In Romans I read this same sentiment –

“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15)

My Heavenly Father says my feet are beautiful! And He provides me some fabulous footwear so that I can safely and effectively carry His gospel of peace far and wide, to anyone and to everyone. King David knew about God’s special shoes. He said this –

“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights.” (Psalm 18:32-33)

And in Habakkuk I read –

“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 3:19)

I definitely need special shoes if I am going to stand on the heights. And I really need special shoes if I am going to carry God’s gospel of peace to the neighborhood where we prayer walk every Saturday morning. Without fail, my Heavenly Father provides me these shoes when I need them (which is twenty-four/seven). These shoes fit me perfectly, they are totally comfortable, they don’t wear out and they never go out of style. I guess that’s because the good news of the peace of the gospel never goes out of style either.

The peace of the gospel is ageless and priceless. Kind of like God’s fabulous footwear that enables me to go on the heights, to walk in all weather, on all terrain, to deliver the good news to all people and to stand firm. Nowadays, these are the only shoes I wear. These are the only shoes I need – God’s designer shoes, specially fitted with the peace of the gospel.

“and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15)

thank You, Lord, for the gift of Your fabulous footwear!

sincerely, Grace Day

every day a “do-over”

Posted on by Grace Day

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Another translation, the NLT, says it this way –

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness. His mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Mercy, new every morning! That’s something that I deeply desire and desperately need every day – mercy, forgiveness, a do-over, aka – a second chance. That’s why this truth from God’s word is so comforting and encouraging to me simultaneously. It reminds me that my Heavenly Father does give me multiple second chances every day – ie. “His mercies begin afresh each morning.”

This wonderful truth sets me free from regrets and resignation that otherwise would hold me hostage indefinitely. BUT – the mercy of my Heavenly Father rescues me from paralyzing despair over my failures, replaces my despair with hope – the hope that only His forgiveness, wiping my slate clean once again, can give me. Today, I am thankful once again for God’s daily mercies, which never run out. I am reassured by this truth from His word –

“If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4)

When I am most acutely aware of my failures and ready to give up on myself, I remember these words of King David and am reminded that my Heavenly Father does not ever give up on me (or on you either, dear readers) –

“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:10-14)

Those words are all about God’s forgiveness and God’s second chances. Those words of truth are just the comfort and the encouragement that I need in order to have hope. God “removing my transgressions from me” enables me to keep going for another day. My load is so much lighter when my Heavenly Father’s mercy removes the weight of all my sin. My Heavenly Father’s forgiveness has given me the clean slate, the second chance, the do-over that I so desire for today. I will trust that, like the manna in the desert, God’s mercy will “be new again tomorrow morning” when I will without a doubt, desperately need it once again. After all, I have this assurance from God’s word –

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” (Isaiah 30:18)

With God, every day is a “do-over day” for me, because His mercies are new every morning, giving me a clean slate and all the second chances that I will undoubtedly need as the day progresses. My Heavenly Father’s forgiveness always outweighs my sinfulness. He gives me as many second chances as I ask of Him. His word says so!

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

This truth assures me that God does indeed give me as many “do-overs” as I need – and I generally need quite a lot! Second chances are one of God’s many very good gifts. I am grateful to be one of the many recipients of “His mercies new every morning.” It is God’s mercy that makes unlimited “do-overs” available to me and to you every day.

I don’t know about you, but I will gladly take Him up on His generous offer. What God’s forgiveness does for me and for you is nothing short of miraculous. It is a miracle described by these words –

” ‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ ” (Isaiah 1:18)

now that’s a do-over!

sincerely, Grace Day

a popular lie

Posted on by Grace Day

Probably because I am pondering my last post about being tired or maybe because I am tired, I find myself thinking about this age-old and very common saying – “no rest for the weary.” Sounds true enough, feels true enough, BUT – I don’t have to accept this as true. Mainly because it’s not true. God’s word tells me something different and that gives me hope. There is rest for the weary. Jesus made this clear when He issued this invitation –

“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.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

This invitation suggests rest is available for me and for you. God’s offer of rest has been extended to one and all. And not just physical rest, but God offers “rest for our souls” – the best kind of rest and what we most need. The question is – do I want to take advantage of this opportunity? This call to come away and find rest is not something new. King David understood that God was the provider of the rest that he needed when he was battle weary and worn out. It was then that He wrote these words-

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:1–3)

There it is again. God not only provides for my physical needs, with the nourishment of green pastures and the refreshment of quiet waters and a safe place to lie down, but God also “restores my soul” – which is much more important. It is essential for sustaining my life. Nobody else can do that for me. The world certainly can’t do it. Other people don’t have the power to grant me the kind of rest that restores my soul. This is something King David had figured out I guess because he wrote these words –

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2)

God says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” It’s an open, ongoing invitation. Why don’t I take God up on His generous offer more often? Why do I just keep on going instead of coming to Him with my weariness as He invites me to do? Why don’t I follow where He leads? He wants to lead me into green pastures and beside still waters for the rest and restoration that He knows I need and that only He can give me. Isaiah’s words confirm God’s provision of rest and care for us –

“The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)

In Jeremiah I read this – “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘ . . . I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.’ ” (Jeremiah 31:25)

Today, I will not believe the lie that there is no rest, no restoration available to me. Instead, I will believe the truth. God’s word is truth. “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) And God’s word says –

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)

God, Himself, does not grow weary BUT – He gives rest and strength to those of us who, like me, do grow tired and weary. My hope is in God and He says He will renew, refresh, restore and revive me through the rest that only He can give my body, mind and spirit. Time to follow my Heavenly Father to some green pastures and still waters. Be back soon.

sincerely, Grace Day

I’m tired

Posted on by Grace Day

Can you relate? Maybe you’re tired too? Maybe for you fatigue has become a constant companion. My tiredness is a weariness not just of body, but more often of mind and of spirit. It is a tiredness that leads me into discouragement and then into despair. And despair leads me into hopelessness. Hopelessness leads me to give up. Sound familiar?

Nothing new under the sun. Our human struggle continues unchanged at its core from the beginning of time. Must be why over two thousand years ago the apostle Paul wrote these words to the churches in Galatia –

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

“not become weary”? Seems impossible as I, and many I know, are already plenty weary. Paul’s admonition is a bit belated if you ask me. But it does come with an instruction. The instruction? Don’t give up! Keep on going! More specifically, I am to keep on doing good. The promise? I will reap a harvest! Something good will result if I don’t give up hope, if I don’t stop doing what I’m called to do.

BUT – I’m tired. So was Diana Nyad. So was Florence Chadwick. They were tired. Utterly exhausted actually. Let me tell you their stories. Diana Nyad is a swimmer who swam from Cuba to Florida successfully in 2013. However, that was her fifth attempt. Her previous four attempts failed. With each swim she faced many obstacles – the danger of sharks, the stings of jellyfish, ocean currents, adverse weather conditions, physical exhaustion, mental fatigue – the list is long. Nevertheless, Diana persevered. She did not give up and in the end she did reap her harvest. She accomplished her lifelong goal of swimming from Cuba to Florida at the age of sixty-four.

Florence Chadwick was also a swimmer. On July 4th, 1952 she set out to swim the twenty-six miles from Catalina Island to California’s coastline. Fifteen hours into her swim, a heavy fog set in. Florence couldn’t see the land ahead of her. As the fog grew ever more dense, Florence despaired, feeling success was too far away from where she was currently. Florence lost hope and asked to be pulled into the boat.

Although she didn’t know it at the time she made her decision because of the fog, Florence was only a half mile from shore! She had swum twenty-five and a half miles! Due to the fog, she had no idea how close she actually was to land. She was so close to completing her task and reaching her goal when she gave up. If only she had known! If she had known how close she really was, she would have persevered despite her tiredness and she would have received her reward. But she lost sight of her destination and consequently, she lost hope.

That’s me. Is that you, too, dear readers? Tired. Discouraged. Losing hope. BUT – God’s word tells me and you not to give up. The thing is – I don’t know how close to or how far I currently am from land. I don’t know when my breakthrough or my harvest is coming. I don’t know how close or how far I am from seeing long prayed prayers answered. Life is too often filled with fog, obscuring my vision of the future. I am swimming upstream in dangerous waters, waters filled with sharks and jellyfish and swift currents that constantly try to take me off course. That’s life. It’s exhausting. No wonder I’m tired.

BUT – God tells me, don’t give up. Trust Him. Keep going. Keep going and I will “reap a harvest” if I don’t give up. He also says, “at the proper time” I will reap that harvest. Only my Heavenly Father knows when that “proper time” is. Like the swimmers, I can’t see the land. I just have to trust that it is there and keep on going, not knowing how much longer I will need to persevere on this path to which God has called me. Only God knows the end from the beginning. I will trust Him even when I am tired – especially when I am tired. I have this encouragement –

“standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:9-10)

” . . . now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

It will all be worth it if you and I don’t give up, dear readers. God will make you and me “strong, firm and steadfast.” Today I may be exhausted, weary with the weight of the world on my shoulders BUT – Jesus said –

“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.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

This is good news! Great news! My Heavenly Father wants to give me rest. And not just physical or mental rest, BUT – rest for my tired soul. The best kind of rest. Isaiah wrote these words regarding what God does for those of us who find ourselves tired –

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; (ok, I feel a little better about my tiredness) but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Reading those words, I’m feeling less tired and ready for a little soaring above the fog – care to join me?

sincerely, Grace Day

P. S. fun fact – the rest of the story – swimmer Florence Chadwick did try her swim again two months later in September and did succeed in completing it despite the same conditions of dense fog. The difference? This time she didn’t give up. She set a new record, besting the men’s time by two hours. She later did this swim two more times. Thank You God, for not giving up on us and for giving us multiple second chances!

you are more

Posted on by Grace Day

It was Aristotle who said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” While mathematicians might disagree with this sentiment, in most other areas this statement rings true. This is particularly true of human beings, namely you and me, dear readers. You and I are infinitely more than the sum of our individual parts. We are more than just a collection of bones and blood, of a brain and a heart and a stomach.

We are created in the image of a triune God. We are triune beings. We are body, mind and spirit. We are more than the sum of our parts. Exponentially more.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,’ . . . So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)

So why do I often feel worthless when my Heavenly Father says I am priceless? Could it be because I listen to what the world says about me instead of what my Creator says about me? In Psalms I read this –

“what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.” (Psalm 8:4-8)

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:13-14)

It is clear that you and I, dear readers, have been created with care in God’s eternal, triune image. Each one of us bear the imprint of the divine nature upon us, making each one of us unique, each one of us of immeasurable value in our Heavenly Father’s eyes. Instinctively we know this. We know whose we are – BUT – the deceit of the devil and the lies of our culture convince us otherwise. We know that –

“He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

You and I are “fearfully and wonderfully made” with “eternity in our hearts” and yet we don’t always remember in our day to day experiences that we are indeed so much more than the sum of our parts. And in this culture it’s not surprising given that we are constantly bombarded with labels meant to define and divide us from each other and even from ourselves. We become so fragmented with all the different labels put on us – we lose our identity, even as we are constantly being told what that identity is.

The culture wants to define us by things such as sex, age, income, skin color, religious beliefs, nationality, occupation, education – the list seems endless. But these things don’t define us or determine who we are or what we are worth. Only our Creator can do that. And He already has done this. Our price? The life of His only Son, Jesus. That’s the price He paid to redeem you and me for His own and give us eternal life with Him .

God doesn’t look at me or at you through the lens of all our manmade divisions such as sex or religious denomination or nationality or skin color. This is made clear with these words from Galatians and Colossians –

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28)

“Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Colossians 3:11)

God is the author of diversity in all He has created, but we turn the beauty of that diversity into divisions that separate us from each other and from our Creator. Seems as though the people in Paul’s day did the same thing. Perhaps that’s what prompted Paul to write the above words to the Galatians and the Colossians. Paul was pointing out our unity in Christ, who transcends all the things we use to build walls between us. He said neither circumcision nor uncircumcision mattered nor whether one was Jew or Greek, which was a big racial divide in that day.

Today we still label ourselves and others with many different labels, allowing those labels to define us, when in reality our true identity is found in knowing that we are created in God’s image and are made to reflect His glory and His goodness. But somehow that truth gets buried beneath the lies of the world. We then spend our days trying to figure out who we are and where we fit in. The world may not place much value on us or on life in general. We are deemed expendable. BUT – God says otherwise.

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

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” (Matthew 18:12-14)

Each one of us matters to God. You are not invisible. I am not invisible. God knows you and me completely, even down to the number of hairs on our heads! We are His children – that is our true identity. We are not defined by our ethnicity, fame, fortune, accomplishments (or lack of them), our earthly status, church denomination, occupation, skin color or any physical conditions or handicaps we might have. These are not the things God sees when He looks at you and me. Instead, I read this in Samuel –

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. 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)

Sometimes it is easier to let the world define me, dismiss me, devalue me (or others) than to believe the truth that I matter so much to my Creator that He left His home in glory and came here to give His life for me. You and I are more. We are more than the sum of our parts. We are more than the sum of all our labels. You and I are priceless. We are of infinite value in the eyes of our infinite Creator. That’s why He paid the ultimate price for each one of us.

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

No more labels. No more divisions.

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10)

Something to look forward to . . .

sincerely, Grace Day

why pray?

Posted on by Grace Day

“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 6:18)

Why pray? Because it’s all true – every word – every living Word!

And that Word tells me to pray – commands me to pray – gives me (and you, too) the privilege of praying – the privilege of praying for others – for those I know and for those I will never meet on this earth. But still I pray. Because?

Because Jesus is my role model and Jesus prayed.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)

Because my Heavenly Father invites me to come to Him in prayer.

“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.” (Hebrews 4:16)

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

Why do I pray? Because I know God hears me –

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.” (Psalm 18:6)

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Why pray? Because my Heavenly Father’s promises are true and He has promised this –

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

and He has promised this –

“This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it – the Lord is His name: ‘Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ ” (Jeremiah 33:2-3)

Why pray? Because I am not only invited but instructed to pray –

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Why do I pray? Because of who He is –

“I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I the Lord, do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:5-7)

Why pray? Because I know this is true –

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;” (Joel 2:32)

and this is true –

“He is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

So, I will pray without ceasing, knowing that my Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers in His perfect timing.

sincerely, Grace Day