(G)Leaning on Grace

I have been blessed in various amazing ways in my life. I have literally been allowed to witness miraculous workings of God and, at unbelievable awe-filled moments, I have been the recipient of miracles myself. But I wonder, why would God do that for me? Why would He go to such lengths to save my life? I have not always been a faithful servant. I have struggled like every other person I know with discerning His will for my life which is sometimes a moment by moment battle. I have certainly done, said, or thought things that are anything but worthy of His love, grace, mercy or acceptance. So I continue to ask, why would I be important enough for Him, the God of the Universe, to take such an interest? Well here on this cold gray snowy Saturday morning, as I am sitting in the living room with Christmas tree glow all around, I am contemplating this very thought. I have had many questions over the last few years digging deeper into the "why" of such an inspired, yet undeserved ble...

A beginning, Day 6 This morning I am thankful. For what, you might ask? Well, let's see what I have to thankful for... The Lord woke me up this day so I have life to be thankful for. I am relatively healthy for someone my age. I have a great family: loving husband, sweet daughter and an extended family that would cover this page if I wrote out all of their names. I have a job where I get to make a difference. I have a home to live in, food to eat, clothes to wear, car to drive. I have great friends who are loyal, loving and fun to be around. I go to an amazing church and church family. I am a child of God. I am saved by grace and believe Jesus is my Savior. It just doesn't get any better. Oh, yeah, I did my walk this morning ...  Day 6!! Woot, Woot!! God is good... I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:1-3 NIV)

This morning's devotion was about God's perfect plan for my life. It pointed out my inability to be perfect and how the plan is not perfect because of me but instead because God made it. These last few days of this "new beginning" I have realized more and more that what I am capable of doing is less dependent on my will power and want to and completely rooted in the power of my God. I cannot answer why for sure this week has been different. I am not certain as to why He chose this particular moment in time to push me a little further. What I am absolutely confident in, however, is that what has been going on for the last few days is entirely by His will and not mine. I believe as the scripture states that He began a good work in me. It also says that He has perfect timing. So, just maybe, what began a few years ago with my weight loss, the spiritual growth and the constant evolution are all pieces in the Sandy puzzle that God is still quite actively arranging to suit ...

Wow! Day 4 already. Time sure flies when you are learning something new; a new skill, a new strength, a new attitude. This week has marked the start of greater dependence on God for something I have said I have asked Him to do in me, but I think maybe it was a less that honest request. I asked God to help me learn to exercise.  Yeah, I know it sounds kind of mundane, but you have to understand that like many people daily exercise is not something I have made a priority in my life. The mere idea of getting up a bit earlier to walk, run, do calisthenics was as far away from my to-do list as chocolate is from bitter herbs. I did purchase a treadmill last spring that I thought would be the answer to my dilemma. "Have it the house where I can use whenever I want," I said. I was determined and I searched high and low to find just the right one. The problem came when it was delivered and assembled. Not all of the parts were there. I had to wait for almost a month to get it completed...

And the story continues! Yes, day 2 and I was up early enough to get my walk in prior to going to church. As I walked, I listened to Christian music singing praises to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I was even closing my eyes at times just enjoying His presence there with me on the treadmill. (Yes, I held on to the hand rails just for stability :-) ) I remembered what it felt like a few years ago when I had lost quite a bit of weight and I could walk 3 or 4 miles on the treadmill at the YMCA. I had to keep reminding myself, that just like then, I would have to start slow and build my way up. Even though I had shed 150 pounds I still did not have the muscle or the stamina for that when I started. I had to begin in small increments. Then, I slowly would add more distance, more time and more incline to the machine as I walked. So today, on day 2, I added an extra degree of incline and 2 tenths faster on speed. I walked the same mile but did it a little faster and with a bit ...

Today  was the first day of this new start that includes getting ready for work. Having a specific schedule to keep presented a challenge all its own. My clock was set for 6:15am but in my normal slow-to-move way I didn't actually roll out of the bed until 6:25. That meant that by the time I got dressed, got my water and got down stairs I didn't have as much time as I would have liked, but, I still managed to get in 15 minutes of walk time.  In my book, it may not be the full mile I have done the last two days, however I did get 15 minutes and .70 miles that I normally had not done. Yay! I want to do the exercise thing, but I was not willing to give up my devotion time with God. I talked to Him as I walked, as usual, but I still wanted to read my daily allotment of encouragement to face the day. This morning it was all about the power that is in the name of Jesus. Oh, how many of us underestimate the power in the name. Evil must flee at the mere mention of it. Calling on the n...

This morning, as I awoke way too early for a Saturday morning, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to do something I have not had the gumption to do in quite a while. The very first thing to cross my slowly waking mind was, "I need to go walk on the treadmill". Now, I know for some people this may not be a monumental moment, but for me, this was huge. I have been praying about finding the time and the energy to make a step toward a healthier lifestyle. I know deep in my healthy-girl soul that exercising is necessary but my big-girl flesh fights every urge, every inkling toward making better choices. Exercise by far a huge hurdle for the big-girl that fights to keep control of my body. This morning, however, was different. It is difficult to explain but I woke up with this idea in my head. A full plan: get up, put on comfy exercise clothes and my tennis shoes, fix a bottle of water, get on that treadmill and walk.  Even if its only fifteen minutes, its fifteen minutes more tha...

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”                                                                              2 Corinthians 5:20-21 In this fallen world, we have a purpose. Some wonder what that purpose may actually be; is it to live however we want? Is it to make the best of what we have day by day only to die some day and cease to exist? Are we supposed to scratch and claw our way through life not caring about the collateral damage we may be causing? Or, are we here for a higher purpose, something more eternal, more exceptional than the visible, tangible proper...

  25 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 on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss [ d ] your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (NIV) Can you imagine waiting many, many years for something that was promised to you? Waiting day after day for that life-changing offer to show itself? The very thought of being that patient seems foreign and impossible to many of us beca...

  Most people, when they consider the life of royalty, either by birth or popularity, think of posh surroundings with pampered spoiled individuals who look out for themselves first.  The media of today as well as recorded history for that matter, portray the privileged aristocracy as oblivious to the plight of the average. They seem to have the easy life with few cares or concerns. They do not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, whether they can pay the mortgage, get to work in a broken car or if indeed they will still have utilities when they get home from a long day at work. There is one King that did not live the “royal” life on earth. He did not have the creature comforts afforded by his title, for that matter, he was not even recognized by most as the true king. That king was Jesus; Lord of Lords, King of Kings, ruler of all nations. Jesus’ birth was foretold centuries prior by prophets and anticipated by the masses yet when he was born to a lowly...

  John 1:12-13 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.   How does knowing you are God’s child affect your day-to-day choices?   What does is mean to be a child of God? How does this truth change the lives of those who accept His gift of salvation, adoption into the Holy family of the Most High? The moment that we receive the truth in our hearts and minds and confess that we believe that Jesus is the Savior, our Savior, then we are accepting the gift of adoption and eternal life by faith. It is not by virtue of good deeds or even a well intentioned heart that we receive salvation, but entirely by the act of faith. All the good intentions we could muster would not inherit the relationship being offered. Being a good person and believing there is a God does not earn a place in glory. It is by the simp...

  John 1:10-13 10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. I was asked a question this morning in my devotional time. “What convinced me to put my faith and trust in God?” Honestly, I do not know that there is a simple answer to that. I know some have a life changing moment at salvation while with others it’s a more gradual process. For me, it was a need to be restored, put back together. I felt like my life was falling apart piece by fleshy piece. I lost control of all that mattered to me in what seemed like a very short period of time and I was desperate for an answer. Now, you might think that sounds pathetic and that desperation makes for bad decisions. The truth is during th...

Luke 1:30-38 tells the story of Gabriel’s visit to Mary announcing the future birth of Jesus and Mary’s faithful response. Luke 1:37-38 “For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responded, “ I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And the angel left her. When is submission to God’s will the hardest? For me it is when it is not what I am want or am hoping for. It is when life get’s harder or great sacrifices are required. When following God, trusting God, brings a loss of something I hold dear it is always most difficult to submit to His will not mine. However, in those instances, life is what it is. When I lose a loved one because it is their time it is out of my control but I have to look for purpose or comfort in knowing that those who have given their hearts to God do not experience death, but life everlasting with Him. Sometimes I may be asked to give up something else or to sacrifice a dream or desire for the greater good. I cannot see it a...

John 1:1-5 (NLT) Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.   As I begin this new year of 2013, I plunge into a new devotional book. This one is called the Life Application Study Bible Devotional. A one year study of the Gospels and Daily wisdom from the life of Jesus. With the focus each week on a different aspect of the life of Christ, or the character of Jesus, it is an opportunity to focus wholly on who Jesus is and what that means in the life of a Christian, in my life. Today’s verse sets the stage for a great start not only for this year, but for a continually devoted life in Christ. No, I am not claim...