settingatthepoolofgrace

Nothing compares to the magical time in life known as childhood. The undaunted enthusiasm of a child is infectious; they are carefree, spontaneous, and adventurous. They are inquisitive about everything in their environment.

They are also collectors; boys seem to collect things like rocks, marbles, comic books, toy soldiers, and building blocks. Girls on the other hand collect things like dolls, doll houses, stuffed animals, hair ribbons,beauty products and frilly dresses and shoes.

While there are exceptions to the rule, most children are collectors of some sort. Some of which live past childhood into adulthood. some become very valuable both in their sentimental and monetary value.

Over the years these collected items receive the best care, they are handled by their owners with loving intentions to ensure their protection. The older they become the more they increase in value.

We are all part of a very special collection, we were purchased by sacred blood drawn from a loving heart. we were considered so valuable to the purchaser that he was willing to give all he had to add us to his collection.

Unlike the inanimate collectibles from our childhood, we are his prized possessions because he created us in the beginning. We lost our way, lost sight of him, and forgot how valuable we were.

He never lost sight of us, kept reaching out loving hands until he reclaimed us and reminded us of how valuable we are to him. Although his collection is composed of a cornucopia of nations, peoples and tongues,we are each very special.

His love surrounds each of us giving us exactly what we need, removing any doubt we may have, and giving us the assurance he will never leave our side or leave us to walk our journeys alone.

He is preparing a place for us where we will experience  an abundance of joy, we will not grow old, nor will our value decrease. He has marvelous wonders he is waiting to share, questions he is waiting to answer and arms aching to embrace.

He is Jesus the Christ, the collector of hearts and he wants to add yours to his collection, are you willing and ready to accept his tender loving care by becoming part of his family?

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

There was a time when you didn’t have to leave your neighborhood to shop for the everyday essentials. On the weekend starting early in the morning you would hear the merchants calling to the households announcing their presence.

Everything was on the truck; potatoes, tomatoes,onions,peppers, greens, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melons. Some even had fresh eggs and meat, you could shop just steps from your door.

It wouldn’t be long before you could hear ” Ice cold milk, come and get it”. For some milk and juice would be delivered right to their door step. Leave the empty bottles and receive the filled ones .

Books, magazines, valcum cleaners and even cosmetics could be purchased without ever leaving your home, you could count on the traveling salesman. I have no doubt some of you have not experienced this on so large a scale.

Yet, there are those who even today bring their products to the door step just not so much anymore. If you really think about it there are two very prominent traveling salesman still operating today.

Both with different agendas both seeking to capture the attention of its audience. The first one is cunning, deceitful, selfish and inconsiderate. He plans to make his sale no matter what he has to do. He will promise whatever he thinks will win him the prize.

He will offer fortune  and fame at what he says is no cost to you; he is giving it away. But there is just one catch to his offer; you must give him your soul, obey his instructions, and follow his leading. The only problem is he is a lost being, following him leads to self destruction and eternal damnation.

The second one is of a gentle spirit, he desire to help all he meets; he is kind, compassionate,understanding, and sympathetic to the burdens of men. He too is willing to do whatever it takes to claim souls, even die for them.

There is no cost to you because he paid the cost himself.Yet, there is a catch; you must choose to serve him by loving others,by obeying his instructions and following his leading. The difference is he will not leave you but show you the way.

He will surround you with his love,joy, and peace and he will protect you from the storms that come against you. He desires your salvation not your destruction. Just like when you are shopping you compare the products, you weigh your options and decide which is the best for you.

They are both offered at no cost to you or so it may seem, one has a penalty; the other the penalty has been paid on your behalf. One will lead to total destruction, the other to total bliss; the choice is up to you.

Choose carefully, everything that glitters is not gold don’t be mislead thinking you can have the best of both worlds. When you make the wrong choice there is always the chance you will not escape the enemies grasp.

Once he has you he will not easily let go of his hold. Make the right choice the first time, you will enjoy all this world has to offer in peace and without consequences as well as eternity with the most loving salesman you will ever meet. He  has only your good in mind.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

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.