change, growth, transformation, empowered 4

Encouragement

CHANGE, GROWTH, TRANSFORMATION?. . .”JUST KEEP SWIMMING”

Image by Veronica Enriquez from Pixabay We take what we think are the tools of spiritual transformation into our own hands and try to sculpt ourselves into robust Christlike specimens. But spiritual transformation is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the Master Sculptor.    Jerry Bridges SILENTLY, AND WITHOUT REALIZING Everyone infused with, and empowered by God’s very life, is being transformed. The Apostle Paul, when addressing the Corinthians explains it this way,  “And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image...

Waiting on God’s answer 4

Encouragement

REFLECTION

If you are coming up short on adventure, answered prayer, or breathless wonder, try waiting on God. As I was writing the final sentences of last week’s post, a text arrived from a close friend. Of course, it was about—waiting. But not on the front end, on the other side. Don’t you love it?  When I wrote that we would see where we would go this week, I meant it. With my stash of posts depleted, I had no inkling or impressions about where to go next. Waiting. Again. But the moment I heard my friend’s story, I knew I...

Actively waiting on God 10

Teaching

ACTIVELY WAITING ON GOD

Crickets Many people have a word of the year. I have more of a focus. When the new year arrived without a specific objective, I had no idea what God was doing.    In the past, the trajectory for the following year arrived long before the fireworks boomed, crackled, and whistled at midnight. These concise statements, encapsulated in rhyme would often surface mid-year, or at the latest, each fall. After almost twenty years of these directional ditties, 2022 began with nothing. Blank. Empty. Concocting any number of possibilities would have been fairly easy, but what’s the point of that? Every...

Giving brings blessing 0

Comfort and Hope

GIVING — A Poem and Some Pondering Points

The Giver God’s scandalous kindness and His excessive goodness gush forth unhindered. Revitalizing streams of mercy and vast oceans of grace are free for the taking. The upside-down kingdom where in giving we receive and in dying we live defies human reasoning. Yet every time we give, as led by Him, we are splashed, refreshed, and invigorated by Love Himself. Praise Him! The Divine Design—A Paradox Enriched beyond what’s given Replenished by His grace Supplying, never lacking Decadent disgrace Obnoxious overflowing Continual supplies Giving from His fullness Barrenness denied Receiving in the giving  Mysterious refrain  Deepening communion No loss, only...

Shade of grace 2

Encouragement

SHADE OF GRACE — AS A LIFESTYLE

GOD’S INVITATION TO SHADE Life is hard. We are all damaged—ravaged by the sins of others and the consequences of our own sinful choices, a broken world, and the enemy’s schemes. Things break—glasses, cars, hearts, all the things. The heat is on. Challenging circumstances, pressure, disappointments, relationship struggles, unexpected diagnoses, anything, and everything threatens to zap our strength, steal our joy, and distract us from knowing and enjoying God.  All of it—the hard, broken, difficult things in life can be redeemed if we will do one thing—come to Jesus.  Come out from the oppressive heat into the shade of God’s...

Shade of grace 4

Encouragement

SHADE OF GRACE — PART SIX HOT—Inside and Out

Suffering It happened again—she found herself depleted. Drained by the ongoing drama with her sibling and the vicious cycle of impossible interactions, her frustrations cozied up with anger and settled in for the long haul. Then there was all the immaturity, neediness, and worldliness of the younger folks that attended their weekly gatherings. By the end of those evenings, she felt sucked dry. Barren. Exasperation and exhaustion filled the days following these get-togethers.  A close relative required lots of attention, necessitating hours of her assistance. Although the efforts would bless her and others, the expenditure of time zapped her energy....

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Encouragement

SHADE OF GRACE — PART FIVE Be Still

THE RIGHT DIRECTION I was headed over to one of my mother’s rental properties to open the recently vacated apartment. Instead of turning onto the street where the duplex is located, I decided to circle the block.  Approaching the stop sign the thought of heading straight came to mind. A street at the top of the hill has charming older homes with gorgeous landscaping that never disappoints.  When I stopped at the sign I heard, in my spirit, “Turn right”. Without hesitation, I did. The next intersection required me to stop and yield to traffic. When I looked left, sandwiched...

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Encouragement

SHADE OF GRACE —PART FOUR Help In Times Of Trouble

Help In Times Of Trouble DIRECTED STEPS After lugging my terracotta pots to the truck, I went back inside the house to see if my friend was finished at the estate sale. When I didn’t see her, I decided to check out the kitchen again. My first run-through was brisk. The thought of missing an antique bowl or passing up a rolling pin left me eager for a second look. As I stepped into the small kitchen, I noticed another woman perusing the sea of cooking utensils. After a few moments, she spoke. One of those passing comments about estate...

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Exhortation

SHADE OF GRACE—PART THREE There Is A Plan

There Is A Plan HOPE My soul was shriveled. It had been a long, hard, 4-year cancer journey with my husband.  While God had proven exceedingly faithful and I was surrounded by friends who shared my burdens, the desire to process life with a therapist surfaced again. I had reached out to a counselor I respected months before, but his waiting list was over the one-year mark at that point. Watching our cancer journey unfold, I knew I could no longer wait to sit with someone to process my heart. I prayed, then checked out several websites for counseling agencies...

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Teaching

SHADE OF GRACE — PART TWO Trusting God Brings Perfect Peace

Trusting God Brings Perfect Peace The Shade A few weeks ago I was in the backyard under the shade of a towering pecan—thinking. The contrast from previous weeks with their cooler temps and overcast skies made the shade a welcome refuge. Lingering under the canopy of youthful leaves provided relief from the piercing sun and stifling heat. As I sat there enjoying the blissful respite I began considering shade. Then it dawned on me—shade is all grace. It is a refuge from the intense sun, a covering of coolness, and a place to rest. Immediately the thought of God’s Word being like...