settingatthepoolofgrace

The ground was rough and rocky, it appeared nothing good could come out of it. It seemed hopeless to even spend any time trying to make it produce. However with the eye of the Gardner beauty could be seen beneath the rough exterior.

With loving hands he begins to prepare the ground for planting. First all the debris must be cleared from the space, the ground broken and tilled, and what to plant decided. The work of preparation is not always easy and requires dedication and strength to complete the task.

Once this step is completed he analyzes the soil; what does it need to enhance it’s ability to produce? what additional nutrients does it need? He now decides where each plant will go; will there be sufficient sunlight and rain to start the growth process, how long before he see evidence and will the end product meet his expectations.

The first blade of green answers some of those questions, before long the bud can be seen; then the flowers. The rough ground at first glance that was seen as worthless now displays the hidden beauty only the Gardner could see. So it is with our lives, at first glance they can seem so dark.

Lost in  the ways of a loveless world we are counted as worthless and un- salvageable; but, God looks at the beauty beneath the outward appearance. Like the Gardner he begins his work of uncovering the beauty within. He removes the crud, cleans us from the inside out, and restores peace and love to our lives.

As he fertilizes our lives with his mercy, rains on us with his love and shines on us with sunlight from his smile; we begin to grow. That which was once lost is found and what was thought to be nonredeemable has been redeemed. As we grow the more like him we become when we bask in his love, follow his example for life, and when we obey his instructions given by the helper he left to tend our gardens; the Holy Spirit.

There is something we must do to aide in our redemption, we must choose to be redeemed. Not everyone wishes to be rescued, some have decided to languish in the darkness of a loveless world. They are totally blind and do not want to see. When we choose to be redeemed our gardens bloom with the beauty of love.

The fragrance of our lives permeates the worlds flower garden uniting each one to another  until the full beauty of the garden can be seen by all.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

The movie “Happy Feet” had a scene where the little penguins where asked to give their teacher an example of their “Heart song”.  As movies go it was very entertaining, this morning I awoke with the thought on my mind”what is your hearts song?”.

The question took on a life of it’s own consuming my thoughts. What gives me my greatest joy, makes me smile, and brightens my world? What fills my life with it’s sweet aroma saturating my senses?

There are pleasures I behold with my eyes that are so amazing in all surrounding me. The formation of the clouds on a clear day, the majesty of the moon and stars in the night sky, the smell of the air after a spring rain and the magnificence of a rainbow.

All cause my heart to smile; the softness of a baby’s skin, their first smile and their first words reminds me of the greatness of our creator. How fearfully, wonderful and intricately we are made. Each body part having it’s own value all working together to benefit the whole.

The melody that once heard lingers in the mind long after the song has ended, the words “I love you” spoken by someone you admire, or that surprise visit from someone you have not seen in a long time. All of these makes the heart smile.

These are all examples of love was my conclusion, this revelation made me want to jump for joy; I hadn’t realized how God shows his love to me in nature, in the simple pleasures of life, and in all who touch my life with their lives.

After giving this matter my undivided attention I have concluded my heart song is “Love”.  Love for a heavenly Father who loved me before I knew how to love myself, Love for the stranger I meet along the journey.

Love for family and friend, love for all nature and  created works of the Father and love for those deemed to be unlovable. Love is the sweet perfume that permeates my life and gives my heart it’s song.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

Most of us never give any thought to the importance of the rain. To some the rain becomes an inconvenience, especially when it impedes our progress or confines us not allowing us to accomplish our plans for the day.

On hot summer days we welcome brief showers that cool us off for a moment; gentle rain falling on blades of grass and softly kissing the flower petals. The sun peaks from behind the rain clouds floating quietly away.

It’s warmth soaks up the droplets of love left behind by the rain. How often do we take the time to reflect on the changes that occur after the rain; the air smells fresher, the grass is greener and all nature lifts it’s voice in praise and thanksgiving.

The rain is a cleansing tide that rejuvenates whatever it touches creating new life. The miracle of the rain has not gone unnoticed by the enemy of all creation. As with everything he touches he changes it for the worse.

In his hands the rain becomes destructive, all consuming, and deadly.  He uses it to destroy and cause havoc in the lives of all created things. His goal is to use any and everything he can to blemish the Fathers world.

To remove the joy of life, cause doubt in his love for his creatures, and eliminate our trust in him. We can be thankful that he is a defeated foe, no weapon he forms against us will prosper and every test will be our testimony.

Every mountain will lift us higher and every river will keep us moving forward. We just have to remember the promise, after every storm; comes the rainbow.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

Have you heard the expression,” a life well lived”? Do you ever ponder what that means? There are many views on what makes one successful in life all of them different. Some would say riches, others family,still others long life, and we can’t forget those who consider having all of these during their lifetime along with good health is the epitome of success.

As you can see being successful in life is subjective to a persons condition and experiences. I’m reminded of the stories of two men who where very different, yet; their lives would be considered well lived. Both lived many many years age in a land not readily remembered today. One was by all accounts a very successful man.

He had wealth, health, family and was highly recognized among his peers, he was also a man of great faith in a loving creator. Without warning all he had was lost; his wealth,family, his health and his standing in his community. It was assumed by those looking on at these life events he was a cursed man.

Sometimes life is funny that way, the unexpected is never expected to happen. However, with everything he was enduring his faith remained in tact. His belief in a loving creator was still strong. Because of his faith he was restored to a position that was greater than his previous circumstances.

His family was restored, his wealth and health, and his standings in his community was better than before.As with the cycle of life it could be said of him when his journey here was over,”he had a life well lived”.   The second man was born into what would be considered poverty by the standard of his day.

He was at one time considered homeless in that he had no dwelling place, he had no earthly wealth, he was often rejected by his community and regarded an outlaw. His greatest possession was love. Through adversity he remained committed to his purpose; to open the eyes of the blind,set captives free, and open the ears of the deaf. He too was a man of great faith.

You would think these acts of charity to others would make him a man of good standing among his peers, yet; he was despised by those in power who felt his presences was a threat. He was a clear reflection of what they were not. It didn’t matter that he changed many lives for the good.

He was an example of real love removing the bonds of the people who were chained by the laws of those in power and teaching the love and forgiveness of a great creator. Quickly he became the enemy that must be eliminated by the very people who were proclaimed to be the keepers of the creators laws. however they failed to recognize him who was the creators only begotten son.

Their envy and hate killed him, by their actions his purpose was fulfilled. They didn’t take his life as they thought, he willing gave his life for the lost. Death could not hold him it had to let him go, in 3 days he was alive again; alive forever more. The question comes to mind was his a life well lived? The answer resounds loud and clear, yes.

His legacy remains he came that we too can be free,the life sacrifice he made by his shed blood covers you and me. Not fortune, fame or praise of man can determine the value of life. Only when the love of the redeemer inhabits the heart can it be said of man, “he had a life well lived”.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

The first step is often the hardest one to take, however; when you take it the next one to follow will seem easier. It’s making the decision to move that causes anxiety.  Our minds become influenced by all the things that we could encounter should we choose to make the step.

While life is filled with uncertainty we must trust we are capable of making the right decision if we step out in faith. To second guess our decision will cause doubt, doubt then causes immobilization.  The door is then opened for the enemy to attack.

He will use any road block or obstacle he can use to keep us at a stand still, the longer we postpone making a decision the stronger his hold becomes. By the time we decide we are so entangled in his trap, we need to be rescued; we are incapable of moving on our own.

Before reaching this point it is necessary to take the power from doubt, we must starve our doubt so our faith can grow.  We have the promise of victory when we step out in faith holding the hand of our redeemer, Jesus the Christ.

It is by his power that our faith will unlock the chains the enemy binds us with and by his grace we over come. He alone can give us the drive and determination to move. Each step we take with him increases our strength to take the next step.

There is one step the enemy never wants us to take, it is his desire to separate us from the Saviour permanently, he is defeated when we place our hands in the hand of the master, surrender to his leading, trust completely in him, and take the step of faith.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

How often as a child did you say to yourself “I’m going to be rich and famous when I grow up/” We dream of what we think will make us happy, money and fame; the more the merrier.  Every parent wants to build a future that will leave a rich inheritance to their children.

They will sacrifice their desires to ensure a legacy for the next generation.  As their journey comes to an end, the inheritance is claimed by those who remain; they have not worked for it and in some cases may not be deserving of it.

Inheritances are good for those who are well grounded but sometimes receiving riches will draw many of us away from Gods plan for our lives. We want to do our own thing, yet; the good times never last long when not guided by wisdom which is through the Holy Spirit.

We become caught up in the deception of the enemy, our judgment is faulty, our morals decay, and we lose sight of the light of Gods love. We find ourselves easily swayed from the path we should be walking. Without warning we are immersed in the pig pen of life, the more we struggle to be free the deeper we sink.

It is by Gods grace and love we are rescued from the pig pen. His love reaches into the muck causing us to come to our senses. The Holy Spirit then gives us the understanding that we can go home again. The Father is waiting to welcome us back into his arms, clean us up, and forgive us.

We must decide to go home knowing home is the best place for us. Fall at the feet of the Father who loves us so much asking his forgiveness.  We must not be afraid to return to the father’s house where the greatest love resides.  He longs for his children to come home.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of Grace.

 

Have you ever heard anyone say” I never had the opportunity”? It’s a widely used saying, but the truth is we miss the opportunity because we fail to recognize it when it presents itself to us. You’ve heard the saying “why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?” procrastination is another way to miss the opportunity that is right in front of you.

Each day we are gifted with life begins with opportunity; first to thank the Creator for the gift, the ability to think, to move, to enjoy loved ones and everything that surrounds us. Sometimes it is the little opportunities we take advantage of that can bring the most joy. Have you ever been standing in the checkout line and the person in front of you is a little short in paying for their items?

You can see on their face the need for the items so you volunteer to pay the extra. The look of shock and gladness on their face at your act of kindness brings its own reward. You may not give it a second thought at the time, but thinking about it later warms your heart. Then there are times we are expected to show up and we are absent. It was his 1st-grade recital, your son was so happy daddy was coming to hear him play.

Daddy was missing; he thought something else was more important until he recognized the pain of disappointment in his son’s eyes and his heart was crushed. We have become so busy and self-absorbed that random opportunities are missed each day.  The stranger we pass that smiles and say “good morning”, but we pretend not to see or hear them. Someone holds the door for you, but you forget to say “thank you”.

You may yell “hold the elevator”, but where is the please? We don’t think of it but common courtesy is an opportunity to share love and concern for others. It saddens my heart to realize our world is growing darker with each passing moment. Hatred is spewed out like water flowing from a fountain. Everyone wants to be right not accepting accountability for what we have done to the beautiful world God gave to us.

There are wars and rumors of wars, people are homeless and starving, and power hungry men seek more power but at the expenses of the less fortunate.  Random acts of kindness are few and rarely recognized, however; with each kind action light shines into the darkness bringing hope. Hope that justice will remove her blinders and stand for what is right, hope that love will penetrate selfish cold hearts with its radiance melting away the ice.

Hope that we can be ONE people united under God with respect for our many differences and hope that our world will be renewed, not destroyed by our own hands. The opportunity stands before us to irradicate the evil that is engulfing our world; we must look it in the eyes and denounce it, fight it with all our strength and never turn away when it rears its ugly head.

Its presence is invasive, we must stop it in our churches, homes, government, courts, schools and anywhere it may be found beginning by self-examination. Allow love to find you, renew in you the right spirit and brighten your corner of the world.  Don’t miss the opportunity to shine loves light into a dark and evil world. Each love filled heart will touch another love filled heart and the brightness of shared love will implode the darkness.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

Standing at the threshold of life, one day dying and another beginning; I’m comtemplating how you have changed me. I would have  never imagined I would see 70 years of life. As I stand looking at my reflection in the mirror I ponder how fast time has passed, asking myself the question,” is this what 70 is suppose to look like?”.

I’m amazed at how God has kept me viable, has given me control of self by allowing him total control of me. Everything my eyes behold reminds me of his majasty, love,compassion and forgiveness.  The sun as it kisses my skin, the wind  blowing through my hair, the smell of flowers in the spring and the gentleness of a spring rain.

The joy of life serging through my veins, my heart pumping with enthusiasm and love permeating every fiber of my being. I’m so grateful for all the darkness your love removed from my life. Darkness so thick I couldn’t see any light. My eyes cluttered with sin no light could enter. Sinking into eternal damnation not realizing I was truly lost, then you whispered in my ears “there is a better way.”

I didn’t recognize your voice for it is soft & gentle and my ears were filled with life’s distractions. Thank you for pursuing me not giving up the quest to capture my heart. You never left my side though there were times I didn’t realize you were there. Your sweet voice continued to whisper in my ears ” I love you.” The years have come and gone, I have experienced  many wonderful days wrapped in your loving arms.

Each day a new adventure, the storms don’t frighten me the way they once did, I’m constantly reminded you are never far from me, that what matters to me also matters to you, and you will always listen to my concerns.  Though much time has passed it has not always been without stress, pain, or worry. Many tears I’ve shed over loss of loved ones, dying friendships, bad decisions that hurt those I held dear to my heart.

Mistakes I’ve made, my unwillingness to forgive when I had the opportunity, and most important my failure to see my need for you in my life sooner. As a child I was programmed to do all the things that would say to the world you were important to me, but i never knew you. It was just a story that happened long before I was thought of or so I thought.

As I look back today I know for certain the story is true, the sacrifice of blood was real and you will come again. Because of the change you have made in my life, life is worth the living.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

On the surface the river lazily moves pass the shore line, clouds drift slightly above the green mountain tops, and the sunlight reflecting off the water says” all is well”. Nature at it’s finest a display of love so splenderous and bountiful, creatures great and small enjoying her delights. The silence of the river calls beckoning to all to come repose upon her peaceful breast.

But beneath her surface lies a under current that is deceptive and deadly. If caught in it’s clutches destruction awaits.  Many times the river lures those unprepared into her bosom never to emerge again. So it is with our earthly walk; on the surface every thing appears to be moving quietly along the shore line of life indicating “all is well”.

Our smiles adorn our faces just as the clouds grace the mountain tops,, yet; beneath the surface the under current of selfishness, self righteousness, unforgiveness, hatred and indifference stirs. Those caught in it’s clutches risk character assassination, isolation, betrayel and all manner of negative attacks from the enemy of mankind.

These attacks are sometmes so destructive they are hard to recover from, often they are perpetrated by well meaning participants; those who think their intentions are honorable but their actions place them in the service of the wrong captain. The river is not always calm and peaceful nor is life’s journey.

It is necessary during times of discord and upheaval to be prepared to endure the storm, to maneuver the strong currents, and survive until calm water is found. In preparation for rough water we must be taught by the Master of seas; he is knowledgeable of where every strong current resides waiting to claim a victim, where every trap or pitfall of the enemy hides waiting to ensnare.

When we choose him to be our captain our victory is sure, we will have many obstacles to over come but we will be victorious. Sometimes we may seem to be in dark waters for extended periods of time, yet; there is light at the end of the tunnel. We must be rooted and grounded in the knowledge our captain’s love for us will never lead us to a destructive end.

we can trust he knows what is best, we can depend on him completely, and he will never abandon ship. With him at the helm, though the water maybe choppie the sailing will be smooth.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

As a child I can remember my mother saying”teeth & tongue fall out but they still need each other.”  Her statement always puzzled me but I never asked her to explain. I have come to understand that the human body is just like a family. Each member is dependant upon the other, without any of them the body would need to make adjustments to still function effectively.

Whatever affects one member of the body will have an impact on the others, hands without fingers or feet without toes; the ability to hold objects would be hindered and our balance impaired. Our bodies have been designed so that each entity compliments the other.  We had no part in it’s conception or creation, that’s right we are created beings born from the love of the Father Creator.

He chose the earthly parents we would have and all that make up the family. Sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandma, papa and the cousins.  He also places people in our lives that become extended family, although there is no blood ties the bond by love is great. Every family is different with different compositions; some small, some very large, some  very loving but some not so much.

We are part of the family unit, however; our life journeys are different. Each member of the family has been appointed  a road to travel that is designed to reunite us with the Father of all that was created.  Because he gave us the gift of choice, our choices then determine the consequences we will face along the journey, our victories and defeats. Many of us think those choices only affect us. We fail to realize that like the body, the family is one unit and what happens to one member affects all the members.

When we make decisions that impacts us negatively the ripples from the consequences continue, in that same light when our decisons bring positive consequences  the ripple also continues. The example we set can impact the entire family resulting in good or bad behavior based on the choices. Like the Father Creator the love of the family is undaunted by the the wrong choices we make.

The family members maybe disappointed but they will still love & support, they maybe confused by your choice but they will never desert,  and they may even be angry but they will forgive.  The love that permeates the heart links each member together in an unbreakable chain of gold that will eventually lead back to the original LOVE source, The Father Creator. There is nothing more amazing then the love of family.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.