faith

pitfalls and potholes

Posted on by Grace Day

Currently my life is full of both – pitfalls and potholes. Both are plentiful and both are unavoidable. Both make navigating the road ahead of me difficult if not downright dangerous on a daily basis. Of course, this is the season for potholes in my city. The winter’s deep freeze is past, the spring thaw has arrived, the snow has vanished leaving behind the “big reveal” of roads now decorated with multitudes of potholes. It is definitely “driver beware” every time I get behind the wheel of my car these days.

Although I’m sure there are potholes all over the city, one of the worst stretches that I am aware of is on the road right outside my neighborhood. In order to get anywhere, this is the road I must travel, (usually multiple times a day) whether going right or left, in order to drive to work, church, grocery – basically anywhere I need to go, I must first pass through the pothole ridden road that leads to all things.

Navigating my pothole ridden road multiple times a day has become (and continues to be) a significant challenge which I am forced to incorporate into my daily routine. Practice does not seem to be making perfect, however. No matter how many times I travel this road daily, I still have yet to avoid all the potholes successfully. Some of them “get” me every time.

There are several reasons for this besides my lack of driving expertise. First of all, the potholes are multiplying on a daily basis. I must constantly adjust my game plan to avoid the known potholes and to incorporate the surprise new potholes into my updated driving strategy. It’s exhausting! Every day the obstacle course, that is the road, changes, always adding obstacles (potholes), never deleting – always becoming more challenging, never easier.

Potholes are a lot like life’s many pitfalls. Some are deeper than others, making them more dangerous and potentially more damaging to my car. Some potholes seem to grow deeper and wider by the day. Some potholes take me completely by surprise, perhaps because I took my eyes off the road to look at surrounding traffic for a moment or because I was going too fast to adjust to the unexpected pothole at the last minute. Some potholes are simply unavoidable, as are many of life’s pitfalls. The potholes are in my path and unless I move over into the lane for oncoming traffic, (also dangerous) I am forced to drive over the potholes or on the side of the road, which is also full of potholes.

By now, I have noticed that other drivers do go into the other lane if there is no oncoming traffic at the moment, which gives me the courage to follow suite and do the same. Otherwise, if this is not an option, traffic pretty much comes to a standstill in a few spots as cars attempt to navigate the numerous clustered potholes without blowing a tire or damaging their vehicle. It is an impossible obstacle course to navigate. I cannot keep all four of my tires pothole free simultaneously and still move forward. Like traversing a mine field, I hold my breath and proceed with caution.

Potholes on the roads I travel seem an apt metaphor for the pitfalls I encounter on my life’s journey. They are often deep, dangerous, unexpected and unavoidable. And they are more difficult to deal with in the dark. I can attempt to avoid the potholes on my street in the daylight because I can see them coming and make a plan. But in the dark, I am defenseless because I don’t see the potholes until it is too late to avoid them.

Light is essential in dealing with both potholes and life’s pitfalls. Therefore, one of my survival strategies is traveling in the light. But this is not always possible, because at some point each day, the sun will set and it will be dark. However, in my life’s journey I never have to travel in the dark, nor alone for that matter. Jesus said –

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

God’s light will certainly help me to avoid many pitfalls and potholes in this life. Light enables me to see them clearly and to go around them rather than falling into them. The psalmist said this about navigating the pitfalls and the potholes that I encounter every day.

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm119:105)

I have God’s Living Word to show me the way safely around and through all life’s pitfalls and potholes, of which there is definitely no shortage! I wish my journey was easier, my road smoother. I find myself wondering why my street hasn’t been repaired yet. Why haven’t all these potholes been filled, making the street safer for us all? Miraculously, my Heavenly Father does do that for me and for you, too, dear readers. He’s been in the building better roads business for centuries. Consider what He says in Isaiah –

“This is what the Lord says to His anointed, . . . I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” (Isaiah 45:1-2)

Pretty dramatic – I’d be happy just to have the potholes filled. But there’s more –

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)

How comforting! How reassuring! Just what I long for – His presence with me, His light guiding me and the rough places now smooth! My Heavenly Father is with me, rescuing me daily from the pitfalls and the potholes that are a part of my daily life, an inescapable part of this life. BUT – He is also busy preparing something better – I just need to hang on!

“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. . . . Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:1 & 4-5)

no more pitfalls, no more potholes

sincerely, Grace Day

spring break

Posted on by Grace Day

Do those words (spring break) make you think of sunny beaches, warm sand and ocean vistas? Maybe fun, frivolity and time with friends come to mind when spring break is mentioned. After all, spring break is something to look forward to, right? This week I have been on my spring break from school. Jealous? Want to know what words most accurately describe my spring break? Ok, here they are – taxes, mammograms and a summons to jury duty. Now some call a jury duty notice an invitation, but an invitation can be declined. You decline a jury summons – they call that “contempt of court.”

As my fun filled spring break is coming to an end, knowing what you now know, you might not be surprised if I said I was looking forward to returning to school. Today, while reflecting on my fun filled spring break week, these words came to mind –

“give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Ok, I can do that. I want to do that. And I will do just that. I am thankful to have a job which allows me to make money, even if I then have to pay taxes from that money. I am thankful to live in a free country, so I will gladly obey Jesus’s instructions on this matter, which are –

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:17)

I’ve been doing a lot of grumbling about “rendering unto Caesar” this week but reading anything from “Voice of the Martyrs” puts everything into proper perspective. I don’t want to ever forget how fortunate I am to live here. I will give thanks.

And I am thankful for the access to good healthcare that I have. I am thankful for all the hard working, highly trained medical professionals who work in all the different fields of medicine providing care to me and to you, dear readers, and to countless others. Instead of complaining about a mammogram, I will be grateful for preventative healthcare, including mammograms. I will “give thanks in all circumstances.”

I will give thanks for the privilege of living in a free country, a country with laws and courts and due process protections for everyone when accused of a crime. A jury made up of private citizens is a part of that lawful process of prosecution for wrongdoing and of protection of the wrongfully accused. I will be grateful for the opportunity to serve on a jury rather than see it as an inconvenience or as a punishment. Jury duty is a small price to pay for the luxury of living in a free society. I will give thanks for jury duty. I will “give thanks in all circumstances.”

So my spring break hasn’t exactly been a day at the beach. BUT – it did include a walk in the wild with a friend and other such friend meet ups. And giving thanks in all circumstances certainly does change my perspective about my supposed hardships this week. The simple act of telling God “thank You” increases my gratitude to Him exponentially. And it makes me realize once again –

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

Being able to work and earn money is a gift, (even with taxes), having healthcare is a gift, being chosen (summoned) to participate in our system of justice is a gift. (even having a system of justice is a gift) So, today I will give thanks to God, I will be grateful, I will be glad and I will rejoice. And if anyone asks about my spring break, I will tell them it was really something, something to be thankful for! That is sure to leave them wondering where in the world I went or what in the world I did this week! (no need to mention that it consisted of taxes, mammograms and a jury duty summons)

thank You, Heavenly Father, for a wonderful spring break!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. . . . Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy.” (Psalm 107:1 & 21-22)

sincerely, Grace Day

just for today

Posted on by Grace Day

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

Yes, let me rejoice and be glad today! NOW! Not yesterday, not tomorrow – today!

Yes, I know it’s Monday, Lord – BUT – You made Mondays, just like You make all the days – in fact, You have already made “all the days ordained for me, written in Your book, before even one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16)

so just for today, I will give You thanks – no requests, no demands, no complaints, no whining, no criticizing, no doubting, no questioning, no striving, no plotting, no planning – today, just gratitude to You, Lord, because –

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

You give only good gifts – so today I will –

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 106:1)

today I will –

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5)

just for today – I will put aside worry – after all, Jesus told His disciples –

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? . . . Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:27 & 34)

just for today – I will rest in Your green pastures, Heavenly Father and I will thank You for the peace and provision of the still waters that You lead me beside – I will not ask You, Heavenly Father, for more or for something different or for anything at all –

instead, I will thank You for Your mercies (new every morning) and for Your love and Your constant watchcare over me and Your faithfulness to me even when I am unfaithful. I will thank You for forgiving me of my sin and for dying in my place. I will thank You that You have loved me with an everlasting love that rescues me from sin and death. I will thank You for the beauty of Your creation that surrounds me. I will thank You for the promise of Your Presence never leaving nor forsaking me – Your Presence protecting, providing and guiding me today and every day.

today I will rejoice, I will pray and I will tell God thank You – just because – because God instructs me to do this in His Word –

“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)

so not just for today – I am to give thanks to my Heavenly Father in all circumstances – not only the green pastures and still waters days. Being a Monday (or any day really) this could very well be for me a desert crossing day, a mountain moving or a mountain climbing day, a valley of the shadow of death day, a fiery furnace day, a high waters day, a deep chasm day, a dark pit day, a surrounded by my enemies day, a lost my way again day – BUT –

no matter what my circumstance is today – just for today, I will choose to give all my gratitude and all my praise to my Redeemer – believing soon “just for today” becomes every day – because every day is –

“. . . the day the Lord has made;” every day is – a day for me to “rejoice and be glad in it.” today, I will –

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of gods. For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (Psalm 136:1-3)

today, I will join with all of creation in rejoicing, in being glad and in giving God praise –

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’ Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:31-34)

just for today – I will give God thanks, I will rejoice in Him, I will rest in His Presence.

sincerely, Grace Day

open arms

Posted on by Grace Day

You can’t go home again – statement of fact or the title of a 1940 novel by Thomas Wolfe? Both, perhaps? While those words are the title of a novel by Wolfe, they aren’t necessarily always true in all situations. Sometimes you can go home again. Consider the situation of the prodigal son. He collected his inheritance and left home for good. Or so he thought. He never intended to return home, BUT – when his situation changed, he changed his mind and decided to return home. What happened? How was he received? The following words tell us everything we need to know.

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

Sound familiar? This story of the prodigal son’s return is universal. It gives hope to those of us who feel there is no going back, no way to return because we have burned the bridges that once connected us to those we love. BUT – this parable from God’s word tells us something different. Just as the father welcomed the return of his son with open arms, so, too, will my Heavenly Father welcome me back with open arms.

And there’s more. The father of the prodigal didn’t wait for his son to fully arrive, but when he saw his son “still a long way off”, the father ran out to meet him with open arms. He did not wait for his son to travel the remaining distance between them alone. Instead, the son was able to travel the remaining distance of his long journey in the company of his father – the father he had run away from so long ago.

This son, who had turned his back on his father and on his family, was not only allowed to return home, he was welcomed back home with open arms. This returning son was embraced and he was celebrated. In fact, his father threw a huge welcome home party to commemorate his son’s return. Here’s what happened –

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:21-24)

I guess you can go home again! That’s really good news for those of us who fear we have wandered too far from God, so far that we believe we cannot go home again. But God’s word says otherwise to us. Jesus taught this parable of the prodigal son’s return and the subsequent restoration of his relationship with his father to illustrate what is possible for me and for you, dear readers.

The story of the prodigal son gives each one of us hope. We can know that our Heavenly Father eagerly awaits our return each time we choose to leave like the dissatisfied son did or each time we find we have wandered farther than we ever meant to go. I may have lost my way BUT – I can find my way home again! I can go home again! And when I do, I will find my Heavenly Father running towards me with His arms wide open. I know this because I can count on the truth of these words –

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.” (Isaiah 30:18)

I can know that my heavenly Father will meet me with open arms, welcoming me back into fellowship with Him, forgiving me and giving me right standing with Him once again. To that end, I find these words especially reassuring –

” ‘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. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:18-20)

I will receive a warm welcome when I return home to my Heavenly Father. So will you, dear readers. All of us prodigals will be welcomed with open arms and a party will be thrown for each one of us – just like the party the father in the parable gave to welcome his son back home. God will throw a party for me. He will throw a party for you, too. It will be a no holes barred, all out celebration of joy and rejoicing. God’s word says so.

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. . . . In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:7 & 10)

Has your life, like mine when apart from my Heavenly Father, become like the prodigal son’s life – a life full of disillusionment, disaster and despair?

“After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.” (Luke 15:14-20)

We know what happened next – his father welcomed him back with open arms. Perhaps it’s time to believe the truth and return home to God’s open arms and warm welcome. Why would I continue living apart from my Heavenly Father when He is watching and waiting for my return and has a party already planned to welcome me home. God’s arms are open. I can go home again!

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

sincerely, Grace Day

the least of these – made in His image

Posted on by Grace Day

The unexpected quiet took me by surprise. Her outbursts were loud and continuous, complete with flailing arms and violently jerking body movements. Good thing she was securely strapped into the seat of this three wheeled device that she was pedaling while I pushed and steered from behind. I don’t know the name of this contraption, but it is used with a few of the special needs students in the high school where I work. Today I was pushing one such student around the empty gym on this “bike” in hopes that she would find the repetitive motion of pedaling soothing and that the act of moving forward at a slow and steady pace would calm her mind and her spirit.

I had pretty much abandoned the idea that this was going to happen, but I continued our laps around the perimeter of the gym anyway. I was singing quietly, more to sooth myself than my student and then I found myself praying over her, praying for her. Eventually it was quiet. I realized that she was finally peaceful, silently enjoying the monotony of the motion as we continued at our own pace around the gym. At this point, I dared not stop.

I decided to keep going as long as I could, as long as it was bringing her much needed relief from whatever was torturing her soul. (her guttural screams sounded like a prisoner being tortured – a prisoner longing to be set free) Which I have to say, I understand completely. I, too, am a prisoner desiring freedom. Aren’t you? Aren’t we all? These words found in Romans explain my situation clearly –

“The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” (Romans 8:19-24)

You and I are a part of God’s creation. So it’s no wonder that we too are groaning, wanting to be released from our bondage to decay and death, longing to be set free when God redeems and transforms our bodies. We have this promise in Philippians –

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Something to look forward to – complete healing of body, mind and spirit. As I pushed this precious girl around the gym, the peaceful silence a much more welcome companion than her angry screams had been, I thought about the transformation in store for her and in store for each one of us. It will be dramatic. Just how dramatic is described with these words in 1 John –

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

What a transformation awaits us! As she and I continued walking/pedaling in a silence now filled with peace and prayer, I continued praying for her and the other special needs students I have the privilege to serve at this school. Some are non-verbal or very limited in their ability to use language to communicate their needs and their feelings. Others have physical limitations, one is in a wheelchair, two use walkers. They each have limitations on their mental abilities, some more severe than others. These limits or deficits impact how much the students are able to understand and what information and skills they are able to learn.

Society today does not place a high priority nor a high value on our students or on people who, like our students, are physically and mentally handicapped. They are too often overlooked, undervalued and even discarded or dismissed by those around them. BUT – each person is of infinite value to our Creator, irrespective of their IQ or their physical abilities or lack of physical abilities, because they are created in His image. As I continued to push my now calm, pedaling student, these words of Jesus echoed in my mind –

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Our special needs students may be considered “the least of these” at school and in the culture at large. However, each one of them is “fearfully and wonderfully made” in God’s image, even though in this imperfect world, God’s perfect design is often marred. But when Christ returns, He will set all things right and that includes us! It will happen in the “twinkling of an eye.”

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

Changed! All these bodies healed! All these minds fully restored! All these spirits finally set free! At last, these students will be fully all that they were created to be all along in Christ! What joy that will be! These prisoners, held captive by the limitations of their bodies and their minds, will be set free. What they will be “has not yet been made known . . . but they shall be like Him when He appears, for they shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2)

Jesus came for the least of these, those made in His image. (that includes you and me, dear readers) We know our Creator cares for each and every one of us, including the least of these.

“The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.” (Psalm 145:9)

That “twinkling of an eye” moment is going to be spectacular – all of us set free and transformed “to be like His glorious body.” I am able to see the unique personalities of each of our students now. Their special identities shine through even the most profound of their disabilities. Still, I can’t help but wonder what they will be like when they are fully healed, redeemed and restored. Until then, I will continue to serve the least of these in Christ’s name. It is a special privilege.

sincerely, Grace Day

walking on what?

Posted on by Grace Day

What if I told you I was walking on water yesterday? That’s right – I went water walking. Well, ok, full disclosure, the water was frozen, so it was actually ice I was walking on. Although, having walked on said ice without sustaining any falls or injuries, I consider this no less a miracle than walking on water. I found myself wondering, however, if this is what it feels like to go glacier walking?

One of the rules of glacier walking is that you never walk alone, but always in the company of others. Fortunately, I wasn’t alone as I “glacier walked” the sidewalks and the streets of this inner-city neighborhood. My intrepid, all weather, prayer walking partner was with me. Due to below freezing temperatures, the snow and ice have remained on our streets and sidewalks, although there are now increasing patches of pavement between the “glaciers” that still flow across most of the sidewalks and streets that comprise our prayer walk route.

As my friend and I picked our way carefully across the stretches of ice and snow in our path that we were forced to cross in order to get to the next patch of visible pavement, it occurred to me that people actually pay money to do this, walk on snow and ice, that is. Glacier walking is a real thing in places such as Iceland and Alaska. There is a whole tourist industry built around doing just this. Of course, the scenery is a bit more dramatic on actual glaciers, being full of ice towers, deep ice caverns, waterfalls and beautiful views.

The ice patches (or mini glaciers) we encountered on this particular morning weren’t that deep, definitely not as dangerous, but still just as challenging for us to walk across. (in my opinion) Perhaps it is because my friend and I were not properly prepared for glacier walking on this morning or on any morning for that matter. We were not equipped with the essentials of glacier walking which include crampons, rope, a climbing harness, a helmet and an ice axe. We had none of these things. Neither of us had even so much as a walking stick to steady us, nor did we have special shoes. We were totally unprepared for glacier walking.

BUT – we were prepared for prayer walking. Before setting out on our prayer walk this morning, my friend and I had suited up with all the essentials that we would need. How did we know what to put on and what to take with us? Our instructions are given to us in Ephesians chapter six.

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. . . . 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.” (Ephesians 6:11&13)

Interesting, the goal is to stand. That was certainly my goal as I was glacier walking on this cold morning. My goal was to keep from falling, to remain upright. My goal was to stand. Our instructions continue –

“Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:14-17)

So my friend and I found ourselves glacier walking while wearing full armor. Seems cumbersome and counterintuitive at best. But, I gotta say, having the sword of the Spirit is even better than having an ice axe. The sword of the Spirit cuts through anything. Here’s how the sword of the Spirit is described in Hebrews – (remember the sword of the Spirit is the word of God)

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

Sounds like the sword of the Spirit is sharper than any ice axe, so I guess my friend and I were in possession of the more powerful of the two weapons. And our footwear? (which is pretty important when one is walking on ice) My feet and my friend’s feet were custom fitted with “readiness” – perhaps readiness to face and to flourish in any situation – even glacier walking? At any rate, we were bearers of the gospel of peace – a large load to carry in treacherous terrain such as we found ourselves traversing. A weighty message, the gospel, yet inexplicably light, a joy to carry. Must be why Jesus told His followers –

“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 11:29-30)

That’s how we ended up glacier walking in the first place, my friend and I. We are servants of the gospel, commanded NOT to keep this Good News to ourselves but to share it freely, just as it was freely given to us. And so sometimes we find ourselves walking in places that are not always easily traversed. There are deserts and oceans to cross, and valleys and mountains and rivers to ford and sometimes even glacier walking is necessary. No one ever said following Jesus is easy. BUT following Jesus is the ultimate adventure. Jesus told His disciples this –

“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)

One translation of “must deny himself” says – “you must give up your own way.” That’s how I ended up glacier walking with my friend early on that cold weekend morning. Left to ourselves, we would have been asleep, warm and indoors. BUT – I wouldn’t trade our slippery, semi-perilous, very cold, praying, glacier walking time for anything. Better to be about my Heavenly Father’s business than my own, even if I end up walking on ice!

sincerely, Grace Day

open hands

Posted on by Grace Day

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

That’s what King David had to say about God’s provision when he wrote this particular psalm. He started by saying –

“The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time.” (Psalm 145:15)

This beautiful image of God as our Provider, God as my Provider, is also expressed in another psalm –

“These all look to You to give them their food at the proper time. When You give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things.” (Psalm 104:27-28)

This picture of God’s open hand offering to you and to me everything we need or could ever need is profound. God’s provision is available to me. BUT – do I draw near enough to Him to “eat from His hand” so to speak? Or do I keep my distance, preferring what the world or others have to offer me, rather than what God wants to give me? Why would I settle for less when my Heavenly Father’s riches are readily available to me? After all,

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

In both psalms, the word “satisfied” describes the recipients of God’s provision. I can’t say the result is the same when I attempt to fill myself with what I think are “good things” or when I look to current culture to satisfy my desires. In reality, only the One who created me, the One who knows me completely, can truly satisfy the longings of my heart. After all, I am created with eternity in my heart. So are you, dear readers. You and I are created for, specifically wired for, an eternal relationship with our Creator.

“He 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)

The image of God’s hand, full of His provision, opened towards each one of us, towards all He has created, reminds me of times I have tried to coax or to tame one of God’s creatures by opening my hand full of whatever their preferred food is, in hopes that the allure of food will draw them close to me and get them to return to me willingly again and again, thus establishing a relationship between the object of my affection and myself. “If I could just get them close enough to taste what I am offering them,” I think to myself, “then they would see what they are missing when they ignore my outstretched, open hand, extended to them full of good things. They would see that I mean them no harm.”

I wonder if that’s what my Heavenly Father is thinking about me? (and the rest of humanity) After all, His intention is that you and I and others will –

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8)

I think it is fear that keeps whatever creature I am attempting to tame from coming close enough to me to eat out of my hand. Is it fear that keeps you and I from drawing close enough to our Heavenly Father to receive what His open hand is offering to us? I have to ask myself – do I truly believe these words of Jeremiah, and if so, am I brave enough to boldly approach God’s outstretched, open hand?

” ‘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)

God’s hands are open today and every day, filled with good things, reaching out to you and to me. Will I draw near to Him? Near enough to be fed from His open hand? Will I leave my own pursuits and instead pursue Him? Will I receive from God’s open hand all the good gifts He is offering to me today? The choice is mine. God’s open hands hold an infinite supply of all I will ever need. God patiently continues to hold out His open hands to me, desiring to bring me into relationship with Him as my Provider, my Protector, my Heavenly Father.

God’s open hand is always outstretched toward me. BUT – the question remains – will I draw near to Him, near enough to allow my Creator to tame my wild and rebellious heart? He says to me, to all, and to each one –

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

sincerely, Grace Day

walking with who?

Posted on by Grace Day

They were very large white letters on a black background – too big and too bold for me to miss their message, although I was definitely caught off guard when I saw the words, probably because of context, meaning where I was at the time. These words were on the front of a student’s hoodie – all in caps – inescapable – “WALK WITH GOD”. It was something I didn’t expect to see in this public inner city high school. A private Christian school, maybe. But here, no. Maybe that’s why her hoodie got my attention even in the crowded hallway, packed with students hurrying to their next class, intent on beating the bell.

I must admit, I have grown accustomed to the more typical cliche’s of the current culture being displayed on the students’ t-shirts and hoodies. As there is no real dress code, a lot of darker sentiments and profane sayings are more often displayed on students’ clothing than something as counter cultural as – “WALK WITH GOD.”

So of course these words got my attention and got me thinking about . . . about walking and about how walking is, in many ways, a metaphor for how we go through life. ie. – “a walk in the park, a walk on the wild side, walking on eggshells, walking a fine line, walk a mile in my shoes”. You get the idea. And in this case the question becomes – “who do we go through or who do we walk through life with?” As it turns out, the answer to this question makes all the difference in how we experience this life and in how we navigate our way through life. Who it is that is walking with me matters. And of ultimate consequence is – who do I chose to walk with?

You would have thought I would have figured this out by now. Although I often prayer walk by myself (but not alone) I also join with others weekly to prayer walk and this is a very special time because of who walks with me – another praying person, someone to share in this part of my daily walk with God and vice versa – I am sharing in their journey on this stretch of the road as well. Our journeys or Christian walks intersect during this time and it is encouraging and uplifting.

There’s a song – “You’ll never walk alone” – a beautiful song but my experience often makes me question its sentiment. If you’re like me, maybe you question that too? Like me, you probably feel like you are walking alone many times in your life, perhaps daily? BUT – there is One who is always walking with me, (and you) even when I am not acknowledging His presence nor seeking His company. My Heavenly Father has promised –

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

King David acknowledged this truth when he said –

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

Walking with God is not something new. It’s been going on since the beginning of time, even though sin disrupted this activity. Ever since Adam and Eve made their fateful choice in the garden, you and I can choose to walk with God or not. Adam and Eve chose hiding rather than walking.

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)

Adam and Eve weren’t the only ones to walk with God. Consider Enoch –

“And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:22-24)

Enoch surely walked a lot of miles/years with God! Maybe he holds the record? But there have been others.

“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9)

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before Me and be blameless. I will confirm My covenant between Me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.’ ” (Genesis 17:1-2)

“Then Moses said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’ The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ ” (Exodus 33:14-16)

Moses has a good point. If I don’t walk with God, if His Presence doesn’t go with me, what sets me apart as belonging to Him? When I’m not walking with God, I lose my way and I miss out on the direction, the protection, the provision and the peace that my Heavenly Father’s Presence brings me as I walk with Him. The Israelites experienced God’s Presence walking with them in the desert in this way –

“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” (Exodus 13:21-22)

As the Israelites walked with God, God provided them water from a rock and manna new every morning. His Presence lit their way at night, protected them from the sun by day, and guided them on their journey. Of course, walking with God means He’s in charge. I have to walk His way (or in His ways) instead of going my own way.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Instead, as I walk with God I am learning to –

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

The psalmist had this to say about those who choose to walk with God –

“How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.” (Psalm 128:1)

I want to walk in God’s ways. I want to walk with God like Enoch and Noah and Abraham and the Israelites in the desert. As I write this, I realize something – God’s word says, “Noah walked with God” (where God was going) – not “God walked with Noah.” (wherever Noah was headed?) It was all about God’s plan for humanity, not Noah’s plan for himself. Noah never would have built an ark if he were doing his own thing. An ark would have made no sense in a land locked place that had never experienced rain. God didn’t join Noah on Noah’s journey, Noah joined God as God was in the process of carrying out His Sovereign, eternal plan to save those He created in His image (you and me) from eternal destruction.

God will not join me on my self-centered journey BUT – I am invited to walk with God on His road – to walk in His ways. I am invited to experience the journey of a lifetime, the journey that leads to eternal life. Walking with God is an adventure. I will walk in dark, dangerous valleys, I will walk through fire, I will walk through deep waters, I will walk up steep mountains, I will walk across deserts. I may even find myself walking on water! Impossible? well –

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

As I walk with God, His words give me comfort, courage and the hope I need to continue walking in His ways rather than pursuing my own path –

“But now, this is what the Lord says – He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel; ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.’ ” (Isaiah 43:1-2)

the choice is mine – with whom will I walk?

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

sincerely, Grace Day

the sound of forgiveness

Posted on by Grace Day

It started slowly enough, at first, only a few metallic thuds broke into the stillness of the sanctuary, echoing eerily all around us, sounding vaguely like gunshots. This quickly grew into a barrage of loud crashing sounds, gathering momentum and increasing in intensity, like hail hitting a tin roof. Except this din didn’t come from above. Rather the echoes of rocks hitting metal reverberated, the resounding ripples of jarring sound surrounding us on all sides as we exited the sanctuary.

By the sound of it, we could have been fleeing a war zone and perhaps in a sense we were leaving behind a battlefield. Normally when we leave the sanctuary, it is worship music that surrounds us – providing an inspiring and uplifting sendoff for the week ahead. But not today. Today we left in somber silence, while all around us the clamor of rocks being dropped into empty metal trashcans exploded, their echoes lingering like thunder’s ominous rumbles after a storm.

Could this be what forgiveness sounds like? – like a war zone – like a battlefield. We were each given a rock as we entered the sanctuary at the beginning of the service. The dropping of our stones into the large, empty, metal trashcans at the end of the service was symbolic. This was a tangible way for each of us, if we so chose, to symbolically drop our stone of unforgiveness into the can, signifying our choice to forgive, to let go of any offense done against us and subsequently to let go of any accompanying bitterness or anger we are currently holding tightly in our grasp, due to our refusal to forgive someone else.

If only forgiveness was as simple as dropping a single stone into an empty trashcan and walking away – as simple as letting go. If truth be told, though, I carry with me more than just one stone. I carry multiple stones. Perhaps you do too? Nowadays we collect and hoard offenses like it’s a competition or a sport. The resulting stones of unforgiveness that we carry with us, have a way of accumulating over time, eventually becoming an unbearable burden.

When I am unwilling to let any of my stones go, the load of stones I carry continues to increase until the weight of my stones soon surpasses my own weight. When this happens, I end up buried alive beneath my own stones, all the stones I have so carefully hoarded over the years. I find myself barely able to breathe, unable to move forward, trapped inside the rubble a lifetime of stone collecting brings.

This certainly gives new meaning to the phrase “stoned to death.” And in an ironic plot twist, I am the one carrying out the stoning of myself! Reminds me of the time the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, saying the law required that she be stoned to death for her crime. Jesus’s reply?

“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)

Their response? “At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.” (John 8:9)

Those present, no doubt released their stones as they walked away, stones intended for the woman, dropping them to the ground as they left in silence. Apparently, the woman’s actions had offended them, but when forced to face their own sinfulness, they forgave her offense and let go of their stones. In this case, the sound of forgiveness was the dull thud of rocks hitting the dirt and of feet shuffling in the dust as they walked quietly past her. That day, she heard forgiveness, not as loud as rocks falling into metal trashcans, but no less dramatic.

Forgiveness demands that I put down my stones, that I release them, that I give them up instead of carrying them around with me twenty-four/seven, always at the ready for me to throw at those who have offended me, hurt me, wronged me and even persecuted me. Jesus showed all of us “how it’s done” as He hung on the cross. Those present at His crucifixion were hurling the stones of insulting words at Him –

“The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. . . . The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. . . . One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him:” (Luke 23:35-39)

Jesus’s response?

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ ” (Luke 23:34)

the sound of forgiveness – pleading in prayer to God for those who have offended, hurt and wronged us, just as Jesus prayed for the people who were literally in the act of murdering Him even as He prayed for them –

forgiveness – impossible, impossible for me on my own – BUT – “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

So, I have to ask myself, do I really want to go through life carrying so many stones of unforgiveness around with me all day every day? Unforgiveness inevitably becomes a burden which weighs me down, a burden which holds me hostage, and robs me of the riches of the relationships that I lose if I choose unforgiveness over mercy. Forgiveness, on the other hand, lifts the load off my heart, sets me free and restores the relationships unforgiveness has stolen from me.

I know I desperately desire forgiveness from my Heavenly Father and from others when I have offended or wronged them. Why would I withhold from others the very thing that I myself most wish to receive – forgiveness? I can’t in good conscience. In fact, when Jesus was instructing His disciples in how they should pray, He included these words –

“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6:12)

forgiveness – highly sought after but often in short supply – except with our Creator, God – He has an infinite supply of forgiveness at the ready –

“If You, 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)

the sound of forgiveness – a father’s footsteps running toward his son in order to welcome him home after his rebellion and disobedience

the sound of forgiveness – sometimes harder to hear than at other times – tears falling, hearts softening, hands clasping, relationships reuniting, walls coming down, (like Jericho, but much tougher walls) sighs of relief, shouts of joy, heavy loads lifting, the beating of a thousand wings as hearts set free take flight, no longer earthbound by anger, bitterness or unforgiveness –

the sound of forgiveness – the Holy Spirit’s whisper of truth – “It is finished.” “You have been forgiven!” I have been forgiven!

Jesus also said this –

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

When I realize the enormity of how much I have been forgiven by my Heavenly Father, I dare not withhold forgiveness from anyone. Why hold onto my stones? Who am I to do such a thing? The forgiveness I daily receive from my Heavenly Father, I daily extend to others. I no longer need to carry all those stones – I travel lighter through this world. In forgiving others their offense against me, I am the one set free!

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

sincerely, Grace Day

a jolt of joy

Posted on by Grace Day

Joy is quite elusive, if you ask me. Joy can’t be captured, measured, tamed, quantified, stored up for later – joy isn’t something I can schedule into my day or put on my calendar. I can’t anticipate joy’s arrival or make an appointment to gain an audience with her. Joy comes and goes on her own schedule, without fanfare. Joy doesn’t announce herself, which explains why she catches me by surprise every time and takes my breath away. Joy always vanishes too soon, leaving me longing for more time together. Still I am grateful for the time joy and I do spend together.

Joy made an unexpected appearance one morning this past week and I am still the better for the time I spent in her presence. It was an ordinary morning in every way, except that it was the coldest morning of our winter so far. In fact, it was cold enough that my school system and many others were starting two hours later on this particular day. This meant that I was not driving to school in the dark as usual on this coldest of all mornings. Instead, I was still at home when joy paid her unannounced visit. And let me just say, joy shows up in the most unexpected, in the most mundane of places, amid the mundaneness of my everyday life.

Such was the case this ordinary morning. I was in my laundry room. That’s right – with my extra time I was putting in a load of laundry. Now laundry must be the most mundane of all tasks, I think. However, my laundry room has an east facing window and on this uneventful morning, I looked out my window over the frozen landscape to see a sky on fire, a sky ablaze with warm, glowing oranges, pinks, yellows, all blending together, creating a radiance unique to this sunrise of this new day alone.

The morning sky was so beautiful, it took my breath away. I stood captive, unable to look away, lest the beauty before me should disappear as soon as I turned my back. And so I continued watching – BUT – joy doesn’t tarry, she has places to go and people to see. The initial brilliance of the sunrise faded as the sun continued her climb into the sky. I however, had received my jolt of joy for the day (better by far than caffeine) before the day had even begun. How grateful I was to receive this extraordinary gift on this ordinary day. Unexpected and freely given – joy does things like that.

I didn’t have to go looking for joy. She came to me. I didn’t have to climb a mountain or travel to an exotic location to behold such thrilling beauty. No, joy comes freely to all who will receive her. All I had to do was to look out my laundry room window and God’s glory was on display right in front of me! Joy is definitely one of my Heavenly Father’s many good gifts and I never want to take joy’s visits for granted. Joy showed up on a sub-zero morning, brightening up a cold, dark world with a heavenly lightshow defying description. She didn’t stay long, but the memory of those moments spent in her presence kept me warm all day.

That’s joy for you. She is elusive. She can’t be captured or conjured up or summoned or manufactured. But she is all around me, readily available to me, just waiting for me to pause from my busyness long enough to notice her and engage with her. Joy comes with the kind word I didn’t expect and didn’t realize how desperately I needed it until it was given to me. Joy comes when I dare to obey God’s truth instead of being bound by my fear. Joy is more of a constant companion than I realize, because God’s presence is constant and God’s presence brings joy. God’s presence is joy. The psalmist experienced this saying –

“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

Joy always feels like an undeserved bonus in my daily walk – the icing on the cake. Joy uplifts me, inspires me, encourages me when I am weary and considering giving up – it is then, in the despondent moments, that joy shows up and carries me forward. No wonder Nehemiah said this about joy –

“Nehemiah said, ‘ . . . Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ ” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Joy shows up to override my pain and to make me strong again in the Lord. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for sending joy into the moments of my days. Joy reveals You each time I encounter her. No wonder I long for more moments of joy. It is the expression of my longing for more glimpses of You!

sincerely, Grace Day