Category: Grace

Prayer For Sixth Granddaughter

Grace, Prayer, Scripture, Truth

Another miracle. This little one is not even three years old yet. We know she is not fond of confinement, time riding in a car, or being strapped in a carseat. She is raring to go, a girl of action! She has the most contagious smile and zest for living! Yet Lord, please give this youngest tike the true enjoyment of her God-given life as she learns and grows. I pray that her greatest pursuit would be after the Lord Jesus and that she would know Psalm 14:2 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.”

For the future you have planned for her, Lord, be her ever-present Shepherd and let Your glory shine through her. Give her a joyful heart and a celebration of Your Holy name (I Chronicles 16:10). Even now I pray that her landscape of future interactions with friends, teachers, employers, and spouse be laced with many confirmations that You, God, are sovereignly orchestrating her life, intending to deepen her love for Jesus and to seal her friendship with the Word of God.

Protect her from the physical dangers and mental snares of life while also giving her a forceful strength of character to confront what brings attack. Protect her from false messages and errant doctrine while also giving her Your wisdom which is better than silver, gold, or rubies. Protect her from chaos and confusion while also giving her a life of honor, eternal riches, pleasantness, and peace. (Proverbs 31:13-18)

What might be this granddaughter’s pilgrim’s journey? I pray it would be a fight to thrive and sow endless seeds of grace and mercy to those around her. I pray it would be a fierce determination to understand God’s truth and to share it widely. I pray that she would be the greatest and most loyal friend anyone would ever want. I pray it would be an intense focus on helping others and alleviating their suffering. O Lord, may this little girl make a huge difference in this world, for Your honor and glory!

Amen.

Sticky Notes

Family, Grace, Scripture, Tribute

When I have something important to remember, I sometimes jot a a sticky note and then paste it where I know I will see it. With the many distractions of life, remembering important things can be a daunting task… And sticky notes can help.

My mom passed away recently and the process of sorting through her things was one of those projects that was totally overwhelming, yet also helped me to remember her well. Remembering a loved one is a gift that lives on. I found a collection of sticky notes written to mom from my dad. Tucked in a billfold, these were “long ago” messages dad would leave for mom when he went to work and she was still sleeping. Messages as mundane as “Honey, I made the coffee and it is decaf” or as endearing as “I love you.”

Mom almost lived long enough to celebrate her 72nd wedding anniversary. She was very happily married to my dad. They were inseparable and modeled devotion, faith, romance, loyalty, and unity over a long span of time. Even to the end, my dad was holding my mom’s hand at her bedside as she quickly declined during a battle with cancer. Lovers until the end.

I read countless anniversary and birthday cards from my parents to each other over the years. I handled many gifts that they had given each other, including several Bibles and Christian books from each decade. Jewelry, clothing, and all kinds of remembrances. But, it was the sticky notes that grabbed my heart. The daily expressions of care and love. The simple reminders. The evidence of thoughtfulness. The treasures of small amounts of words on little pieces of paper. So, I decided to put the collection of sticky notes at my mom’s side in her casket.

God’s Word is full of imperatives and “remember” is one of them. Psalm 143:5 says, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands.” We are changed when we remember God’s faithfulness in the past, the days of old. We are encouraged when we remember Daniel’s faith, Solomon’s wisdom, or David’s courage. We are changed when we remember God’s amazing gift of salvation through Christ Jesus. We are moved when we consider the vast details of God’s Creation.

We are changed whenever a good memory brings on a big smile. And likewise, when a bad memory causes heartache…

I am grateful for the wonderful memory of dad’s love for mom. I am changed by it. Although their long romance is too vast to describe here, those sticky notes are indicators of the deep love of a lifetime imprinted on tiny everyday papers, attached to various mirrors and counters, and left behind for a daughter’s remembrance and gratitude.

Similarly, I am grateful for the wonderful memory of God’s love. It is also too vast to describe here, yet Scripture is given to remind me of the deep love of my Lord and Savior Who leaves an eternal reminder imprinted on my heart. This is something my parents have passed on to me. And it will change me forever.

A Certain Kind of Joy

Grace, I Peter, Infertility, Scripture, Truth

Photo Credit: Kim Clayton Lance

There is a certain kind of joy that can occur when we endure an impossibly hard season. Be it a pandemic, a terminal diagnosis, a death, shattered bones, infertility, betrayal by a spouse or friend or colleague, loss of employment, or persecution because of our faith, we can still experience the unique! Joy. If we know Jesus as Lord, in particular.

I’m not talking about happiness. This joy is more about confidence. It is more about hope being fixed on what is unseen, what is coming, what is promised. It is more about security in eternal terms. No way will we be happy about what we are enduring in the now. But we can be happy that God is lovingly showing us whether or not our faith is genuine. Fire turned up on high. Dross burned off. Hindrances vaporized. What’s left? Strong faith.

There is JOY IN THE SHOWING. I Peter 1:6-7 (NASB) says, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” This proof reveals lives miraculously transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. This evidence lets us know where truth faith is bubbling up.

There is JOY IN THE SEEING. God already knows the status of our faith. Weak or strong, marginal or steadfast. He already knows. The testing happens so that we can know it ourselves or that others can see the real live picture of Christ’s character in us. God sometimes uses the disastrous to thread perseverance through our lives. To make us dependent on Him. To make meaningful our wrestling. To prevent us from abandoning hope. To make us like Him.

Too, I have noticed that in Christ, one kind of suffering prepares us for the next season of suffering. When I replay God’s faithfulness and provision in the former seasons of my life, even if waiting on Him seemed endless (and it always does), I know His strength for the next season is accessible. This is a repeated revelation for me but, in one faith experiment I learned that I had a self-sufficiency problem. This was when I broke my upper right arm (after a trip and fall in CW). And yes, I am right-handed. I clearly saw the dross God wanted to remove. The testing of my faith was not wasted on that painful healing process! God exposed my dependence on myself and it definitely needed to be taken down a few notches.

There is JOY IN THE KNOWING. Settle assurance. I can make sense of my pain when my faith is being purified by my suffering. God allows it and God uses it. Like childbirth, I can even call pain productive. But, only if the process forces me to focus on the age to come instead of the temporal “sparks flying upward” (Job 5:7) life here on planet earth. I must see the unseen to be weaned away from obsession with the earthly. My heart must be lifted to unseen glories. Kate Warren defines joy this way: “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.” Unseen glories. Still learning this lesson…

Romans 5:3-5 (NASB) says, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God have been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

In this, there is a certain kind of joy.

A Whisper of Easter

Easter, Grace, Numbers 6:24-26, Scripture, Truth

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God surely has a way of lifting up His countenance upon us! My husband and I recently welcomed a beautiful new granddaughter into our family. A baby! In March 2020. In the middle of a pandemic. God has a way! We recently enjoyed some home-smoked barbecue from our son-in-law. Delicious! God has a way! We have had regular FaceTime visits with our grandchildren who live 45 minutes away. Ages almost 2, 4, and 6. Blessed chaos! God has a way!

I am not usually a participant in chain letters. I’ve never had much trouble saying no to invitations to anything “chain.” I’m not even comfortable with text chains with unrecognizable numbers. But, I recently made an exception. The purpose of the chain was to provide an “uplift” to women. And yes, I got a few “no’s” and I didn’t really expect the 20 of my friends that I thought might participate to actually participate… They might not even speak to me again…

But, I received some pearls in the desert! Refreshing. Encouraging. Unexpected. Smile-producing. Heart-warming. Grace-filled. God has a way! And, I happened to recognize two out of the four responders (small world!):

One sister-in-Christ wrote: “John 1:14 ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory. The glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of truth and grace.’ One of my favorite verses. Praying for all. Hope this finds you and yours well. And sane!” The sanity part is up for grabs. But, this happens to be one of my favorite verses too!

Another sister wrote: “I want to encourage you today that, no matter what your circumstances say, God is Sovereign, Wise, and Good! He is love and He loves you. Trust in Him! I Chronicles 5:20 ‘…for they cried out to God in the battle, and He granted their urgent plea because they trusted in Him.’ Your sister, Angela.”

Another wrote: “Hope you and your family are well during this strange time in our lives. Here is what I wanted to share with you… Isaiah 41:10 ‘So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’ ” She attached a YouTube original song, written and sung with additional encouragement. God has a way!

The fourth one wrote: “Numbers 6:24-26 ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.’ Have a great night!”

Words can be used for amazing good. And yes, The Lord surely lifts up His countenance upon us. Even now. These words provided me with a whisper of Easter.