Jesus

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

the joy of comfort

Posted on by Grace Day

Do you ever get tired of living life with a broken heart? I know I do. I walk into this New Year wounded, desperately desiring comfort. Comfort sustains, though it does not heal. Fortunately for me, my Heavenly Father is the God of all comfort. Paul mentions this in his letter to the church in Corinth, saying –

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Paul also explains further, saying –

“For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” (2 Corinthians 1:5)

That’s what I crave these days – overflowing comfort. Maybe that’s why I picked “comfort” as one of my words for this year? Paul says that God “comforts me in all my troubles.” That promise in God’s word is in itself comforting to me. God’s abiding Presence provides me with comfort despite what my current circumstances might be. Kind David acknowledged as much when he said,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

I too often find myself walking through things and in places I would not choose. During these times, my path is not a comfortable one. On the contrary, it is difficult, scary, painful and even dangerous – kind of like the valley of the shadow of death that David was traveling through in Psalm 23. It is during these parts of my journey that God’s Presence gives me the comfort I need to sustain me. God’s comfort allows me to hope and to have courage, which enables me to keep going even in tough times.

Comfort comes in many ways. During these current days of sub-zero weather, I find comfort in a warm blanket and a cup of hot tea. While my physical comfort can be addressed by adjusting the thermostat or wearing warmer clothes, my emotional and spiritual comfort require something more than comfortable shoes or comfort food. The embrace of a friend, the companionship of kindred spirits, kind words, encouraging words – all these provide much needed comfort when my heart hurts and my spirit sinks beneath the burdens of the day. I think Solomon agrees with me that words can provide much needed comfort because he said this –

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (Proverbs 12:25)

“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word!” (Proverbs 15:23)

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)

God has promised His comfort to me and to you, dear readers, and actually to anyone who desires it. God stands ready to comfort those He has created.

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

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

My Heavenly Father’s Presence is my comfort. And I have His comfort twenty-four/seven because He has said –

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews13:5)

Jesus promised His disciples this before He left them –

“But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.” (John 14:26 ASV)

The Holy Spirit is referred to by many different names, including the Helper, the Counselor, the Spirit of truth, and also as the Comforter. I feel like “the Comforter” is an especially apt name for the Holy Spirit because God’s abiding Presence with me certainly does bring me His comfort as I face whatever uncertainties, fears, hurts and losses the day brings my way. It is God’s comfort that sustains me, bandages me up and sends me back out again into the world to do whatever He has called me to do on any particular day.

My Heavenly Father’s comfort is the cloak I wear, the cloak I wrap myself in as I head out into a less than kind world each day. God’s comfort revives my hurting heart and brings me joy in my journey. His promises give me comfort, promises such as this one –

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

What is more comforting than a lullaby sung to an anxious child in need of soothing? Our parents did that for us, we sang over our children – and our Heavenly Father has been singing over us, watching over us, walking with us, ever since He created us in His image. He truly is the God of all comfort, which is good because I seem to be constantly in need of comfort!

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the comfort of Your constant Presence walking with me in this world. Your comfort gives me joy in the middle of the hurt, loss, fear, pain and suffering that I inevitably experience in this life. Your comfort sustains me in all my trials and circumstances. I have Your promise!

“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1)

“Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.” (Isaiah 49:13)

thank You, Lord, for the joy of Your comfort –

sincerely, Grace Day

remember me

Posted on by Grace Day

Those words could be a question, “remember me?”, but they could also be a command or a plea. As for myself, I think I have uttered those words as all three, question, command and plea, at various times in my life, depending on the situation. The one I most identify with however, is the heartfelt plea the thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus uttered in desperation when he cried out to Jesus – “remember me!” Here’s what happened –

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him (Jesus): ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? we are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ ” (Luke 23:39-42)

This was the plea of a dying man -“please, I beg you, Jesus, remember me, don’t forget about me, save me, call me to mind and to You” – all this and more was implied in the thief’s plea, when he begged Jesus simply to “remember me.” And Jesus did. The result?

“Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.’ ” (Luke 23:43)

Jesus “remembered” him and he was rescued from his death sentence and given instead life with Jesus. The same thing happened for Noah. Remember Noah, the ark and the flood? Remember what happened after the flood?

“The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days. But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and He sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.” (Genesis 7:24-8:1)

God “remembered” Noah. The result? Noah and all on the ark were saved. They were rescued from the flood which covered the whole earth. Remembering leads to rescue, it would seem. That was the case for Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Abraham had asked God to spare Lot’s life. The result?

“So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.” (Genesis 19:29)

God remembered Abraham’s plea for Lot’s life and God rescued Lot from the disaster. Do you ever feel like God has forgotten you? The Israelites often felt that way. They felt abandoned by God.

“But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.’ ” (Isaiah 49:14)

What was God’s response to this?

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16)

When I feel unseen and unheard, invisible, overlooked and forgotten by everyone I ever knew – I can know that my Heavenly Father “remembers” me. God has not forgotten me! He sees me and He hears my cries. He hears my pleas to Him to “remember me.” I think Jeremiah also feared being forgotten or overlooked by God because he cried out –

“You understand, O Lord; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering – do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for Your sake.” (Jeremiah 15:15)

God will not forget me nor you, dear readers. Our names are engraved on the palms of His hands. God does not lose track of us either. We have this promise from Psalms –

“He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. . . . The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:7-8)

It’s reassuring to me to know that God not only remembers me, but He’s remembering me twenty-four/seven with no gaps in His infinite attention span. God keeps His promises because He always remembers His promises. This is what God said to Noah –

” ‘I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.’ ” (Genesis 9:11-16)

Unlike you and me, God has a perfect memory. I don’t have to worry that God will forget about me. Still, King David, entreated God to remember him in this Psalm –

“Remember, O Lord, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O Lord.” (Psalm 25:6-7)

David’s plea is that God will remember him BUT will NOT remember his sin and his rebellious ways. This is my plea as well – “Remember me, God! Please don’t remember all my sin and my rebellion – but do remember me!” Fortunately, God does this very thing. I have His Word on it!

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25)

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)

Best deal ever! My Heavenly Father will remember me BUT not my sin. Like the thief on the cross, my plea is “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And He has promised that He will do just that. Jesus told His disciples –

“In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)

This is good news! My Heavenly Father not only remembers me, He watches over me continuously, He knows every hair on my head, He calls me by name just like He does every star, my name is engraved on the palms of His hands, He’s preparing a place for me and He’s coming back to get me. When I cry out “remember me!”, I can know that my Heavenly Father does indeed remember me. He has promised to forget nothing except my sin. Me, He remembers always.

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

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

sincerely, Grace Day

post Advent ponderings continue

Posted on by Grace Day

“Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy! Oh tidings of comfort and joy.” You would think I would be done with Christmas carols by now. The radio has stopped playing any Christmas music, of course, and we are no longer singing carols at church. But “tidings of comfort and joy” continues to echo in my mind even after all my Christmas decorations are packed away, out of sight and out of mind for another year. Still, the words “comfort and joy” persist, remaining with me.

Maybe they should be my new words of the year? I don’t think there’s a rule stating I can only have one word per year, is there? My word for the year has been “hope” for at least the last three years running. Perhaps I have been holding onto “hope” for too long at this point? Pun intended, although I don’t ever want to give up hope, whether figuratively, by choosing a different word, or literally.

However, I am intrigued by the combination of the words “comfort and joy.” I don’t usually think of these two words as going together. Still, the more I think about them – the more I realize how much I long for each of these two things in my life – comfort and joy. I need them both. I would welcome more of each into my life. The reasons for this are self-explanatory. Life can be hard and painful, we all need comfort to sustain us during times of loss and sadness. And joy – who doesn’t want more joy in their life? Moments of joy may be few and fleeting, but I cherish them and crave more of them in my life, as you probably do also.

Why are the words “tidings of comfort and joy” in a Christmas carol? Perhaps because the news of Christ’s birth is a tiding that brings both comfort and joy to all mankind. The angels said as much to the shepherds when they announced Jesus’s birth –

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.’ ” (Luke 2:10-11)

The news of Jesus’s birth was cause for joy – great joy. I read this in Matthew about how the Magi received the news of Jesus’s birth –

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” (Matthew 2:10)

The Magi were overjoyed to see the star because the star would lead them to the child, the King, the Savior that they were earnestly seeking. And it did just that!

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

Jesus’s birth was definitely an occasion that brought much joy to everyone. The word “joy” was prominent on some of the Christmas cards I received this year. I also received a Christmas gift that was the word “joy” in handcrafted letters strung together, ready to hang on a tree or otherwise display. And another Christmas gift I received was a decoration with the words “wishing you peace, comfort and joy.” I have been sensing a theme. BUT –

so much of daily life, of my current circumstances and situations, is painful, that it seems difficult if not impossible for joy to breakthrough, let alone to enter in with the intent to abide. But Jesus is joy. His arrival brings joy. Jesus came to abide. Joy is here to stay!

Even so, I am still in need of comfort on a daily basis. In fact, I crave comfort. Fortunately, Jesus’s arrival brings me comfort as well as joy. Isaiah talked about this when he said –

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, . . . 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 40:1-2 & 5)

Jesus’s birth brought great comfort to all those who had been waiting long for God’s promised Deliverer, Messiah, Savior and King. This is particularly true for Simeon, who took much comfort and joy in seeing for himself the newborn Savior, Jesus. We read Simeon’s story in Matthew –

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.’ ” (Luke 2:25-32)

“the consolation of Israel” aka, the comfort of Israel, what God promised Simeon he would see for himself before he died, had arrived! Jesus had been born and Simeon had the joy and the comfort of beholding God’s salvation with his own eyes right there in the temple courts. Jesus’s birth not only brought Simeon comfort and joy, (he said he could now die in peace) but Jesus’s birth was also to bring comfort and joy to Israel and eventually to all who would believe on His name.

Surely, the news of Jesus’s birth, or the “tidings” were indeed tidings of both comfort and of joy to all who, like Simeon, had waited with longing for God to make good on His promise to send them a Savior who would rescue all people from the death sentence their own sin had brought them. What joy to have my death sentence lifted! What comfort to know I am forgiven and loved unconditionally! The message of Christmas, therefore, is one of both comfort and joy – two things I definitely desire.

I have found that knowing Jesus and walking with Him, brings me both comfort and joy on a daily basis. These are two priceless gifts His Presence bestows that I never want to take for granted. So I think I will choose “comfort” and “joy” as my words for this New Year. I will be thankful for all the ways His Presence comforts me in my troubles and for all the moments of joy I experience in His Presence.

I pray for each of you, too, dear readers, that 2025 will bring you many moments of comfort and of joy as you not only hear the tidings of this good news that the Savior has come, BUT you actually experience for yourself His Presence as you walk with Him into this New Year. (previous post -“walking into the New Year”)

“You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

“I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

may God give you each His comfort and His joy in this New Year –

sincerely, Grace Day

walking into the New Year

Posted on by Grace Day

that’s right, I said walking, not running or sprinting BUT neither did I say crawling or limping into the New Year – even if some of us may feel today as if that is how we are entering into this New Year, perhaps weak and wounded, going at a slower pace than we would like – perhaps entering into this new year from a position of perceived defeat rather than victory –

Nevertheless, the new year is here and I just walked into it, literally – that is to say, I just took my first walk of the New Year. Ironically, I took this walk not somewhere new, but in an old, familiar place, but one that I have not walked at all in the last several years. The route or path was full of memories even though this time of year it looks very different from what I remember. That’s because I used to walk this place in summer or fall, when it is in full bloom with wildflowers, community gardens, all kinds of wildlife and plenty of other walkers.

Today is bitingly cold and windy, the landscape brown and barren, except for some cattails and other tall brown grasses. Still, I find beauty in the stark barrenness of the landscape and of the trees, and I take comfort in knowing that the time is coming when this same landscape will again be full of color and life.

This is the same place I remember, just in a different season. I walk alone, remembering all the times I walked this path with a friend as we shared and prayed our way along the route until we would arrive back where we started. Actually though, today I was not alone. My Heavenly Father was walking with me, as He always does. I’m just more aware of His Presence when I’m by myself.

I am reminded that God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden “in the cool of the day.” God has been walking with His people from the very beginning and He’s still doing it today. God told Abraham –

“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)

God would be going with Abraham to show him the way. I feel like God does that for me every day. He doesn’t send me off alone – He walks with me to guide me, to direct, inform and teach me along the way. This is a good thing because I am directionally challenged. I can so easily lose my way and my focus and my purpose as I walk out my life’s journey. But I have the promise of His Presence even when I lose my way or get off course –

“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)

I especially like the promise that my Heavenly Father’s “right hand will hold me fast.” This knowledge, this truth, gives me both comfort and courage as I walk forward into this new year. I welcome both, as it is the comfort of His Presence that gives me the courage I need to face the uncertainties and the inevitable challenges this new year will surely bring to me. With my Heavenly Father’s hand holding me fast, I am able to walk into this new year with grit, grace and gratitude – knowing I do not walk alone.

That doesn’t mean my walking is always graceful or that my walking conditions are always ideal – far from it. Very few moments do I find myself “walking on water” like Peter. I love those dramatic moments when my faith overpowers my fear and I step out in obedience. I step out of my boat like Peter did, leaving behind what I trusted in, instead walking toward Jesus across a stormy sea, trusting only in Him. I have eyes only for Jesus – I am walking on water – until I notice the storm surrounding me and I began to sink like Peter did. BUT – as with Peter, it is in that very moment God’s hand holds me fast and rescues me.

“But when he (Peter) saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.” (Matthew 14:30-31)

My walking will not always be in pleasant places during this coming year. BUT – God’s Presence walking with me will make all the difference. Like King David, I will probably walk through many valleys in 2025, and some will be dark valleys, like David’s valley of the shadow of death. However, look how David describes his experience of walking with God –

“He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:3-5)

Even when I am walking this world’s darkest valleys, I don’t have to be afraid! (“I will fear no evil”) I have the comfort of God’s Presence. And even while I am walking my valleys, my cup overflows! God sees to that. Will I be walking in any more difficult places than valleys surrounded by my enemies? Well, I imagine I’ll face a few fiery trials, aka. furnaces again this year. Remember Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.”

However, I recall the furnace experience of Daniel’s three friends and I am encouraged. Remember they were bound up and thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter than normal to assure their destruction. But when King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, he got a surprise –

” ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, O king.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’ ” (Daniel 3:24-25)

A furnace is not a place I would choose to take a walk, but the three men were “unbound and unharmed – walking around in the fire” – because God was there with them, the fourth One in the fire. As long as I’m walking with God, I can walk with courage. Although, climbing mountains does seem a bit daunting, to put it mildly. Not so with God.

“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)

Walking on water, walking through dark, dangerous valleys, walking in fiery furnaces or walking up steep mountains – I never know where walking with God will take me, but I do know He will be with me every step of the way – and that is enough, more than enough actually. I have these marching (walking) orders for 2025 –

“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)

Sometimes I walk with friends, sometimes by myself – but never alone. God’s right hand always holds me fast. That’s His promise. When I fear that I am losing my way, I am reminded that –

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

My life is a walk of faith from start to finish. Currently I am continuing on said walkabout knowing this to be true –

“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 40:31)

walking with you, dear readers, into God’s new year – today I walked not on water, but into the wind and the cold – tomorrow? who knows? (well, actually God knows) I have the promise of His Presence, the assurance that I will walk without fainting, the knowledge that God will direct the paths that I walk – that’s enough for today – enough for me to put one foot in front of the other – I don’t need to see the end – I walk by faith today, tomorrow and every day. To that end I will –

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

sincerely, Grace Day