settingatthepoolofgrace

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.

 

 

 

Not every smile is one of joy, many of us hide our pain and heartbreak behind a smile. The outward appearence dosen’t always display the inward experience. smiling faces don’t always reveal the truth. We meet each other sometimes we shake hands or hug all with a smile on our face, but; what does our hearts say? Dose it pump with excitement or joy at the touching of the hand or the embrace one with the other?

Is jealousy, envy, or mistrust seething on the inside as we give the outward expression of joy and happiness. The smile we wear is just a mask we put on to cover up the truth of what we are really feeling.  However; there is no guarantee the deception won’t be recognized.  There are times when no matter how we try even our smiles can’t hide the pain we are feeling inside.

It is during these times we must reflect on the experiences in life that bring us to a place of joy; the first laughter of a child, their first words spoken, their first steps, the first time your heart fluttered at the words “I love you”, and the first smile the graced their little face.  Our life experience will not always be those which promote joy & happiness, cloudy days will from time too time darken our sky; but they will not last.

When storms come they bring cleansing, restoration, and rainbows.  As we whether the storm we grow stronger to meet the next challenge we might face. Every new opportunity will provide us a reason to smile, not of necessity; but of accomplishment. The joy derived will be a outward expression of the love we have inside, it’s glow so radiant it will warm all that it’s light falls upon.

It will be a direct reflection of the Fathers love streaming through us. He is constantly watching over us calling us to partake of his love which never ends, his joy which cannot be measured and happiness with him which is eternal. He invites us to remove the mask we hide behind and allow him to give us a true reflectin of joy in our smiles. Joy that will shine even through the darkest clouds.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

There are numerous ways to travel. Car, train, bus, by air, and walking.  In most of these forms of travel there is a cost involved.  When moving by automobile you must have gas, by train, bus, or air you must buy tickets and even though with walking no monetary value is needed, you must be physically able too endure the journey.

For each journey preparation is required; when should it begin, how long will it take, what will be needed for it’s completion, and what will it cost.  We must also consider if we’ll travel alone or with companionship and what will be accomplished at journeys end. Is there a lesson to be learned? At the culmination of the journey will you have learned the lesson.

Our lives are a constant journey; we travel through moments of joy, tears, disappointment, heart break, sorrow, renewal, regeneration,  high mountains and low valleys. Along the way we interact in the lives of others as they interact in our lives. For some their direction is unclear, their destination unknown, and their preparation unsure. They are just traveling not knowing what the end will be.

Some have not fully committed to the journey, they started but somewhere along the way they  began considering discontinuing the journey altogether;  to them life no longer holds hope for them. Then there are those who’s destination is clear; there journey is to the stars. They have fixed there direction on the path that the saviour traveled.

Their preparation is found in his word and his earthly example. They have committed to his leading. Sometimes they will have inclimate weather, yet; he has promised to bring them into sunshine and cloudless skies. They never travel alone he is their constant companion. They declare their focus is on a home beyond the stars not constructed by the hands of man. A home from which they will never journey.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

What can be accomplished in nine months? Bulbs and seeds are planted in the soil, with the right nourishment flowers spring forth and the food is produced. However, there is a waiting period involved with both.  As the flower grows it peeks it’s green stem through the soil, then the bloom. Our crops do the same, first the vine then the grapes.

In nature, each species reproduces in kind; birds produce birds, elephants produce elephants, and fish produce fish. Man produces man, the woman is the depository of man’s seed; over nine months a little form takes place. A tiny head, two eyes, arms, legs, hands, and feet.  A tiny little nose, mouth, and ears along with a beating heart.

During the child’s development, it feeds on the nourishment the woman is ingesting whether good or bad, the emotions she experiences both happy and sad, and the love she feels is all absorbed by the child growing inside of her.  Birth comes after the child has come to full term which is normally 9 months. There are times, however, when the child comes early. This is a premature birth and may require special care.

Once the child comes forth the woman receives a new title, Mother. With this title comes a lifetime of commitment, unconditional love, selflessness, and sacrifice. Not all women who give birth are equipped to meet the challenge of motherhood, these relinquish their responsibility of being a mother. The man then steps up to accept the responsibility playing the role of both parents.

Likewise, the man also receives a new title, father. Not all men are equipped to accept the challenge of fatherhood which leaves the woman the responsibility of playing the role of both parents. Both the mother and father who rises to the challenge are God’s earthly angels, the child God’s precious gift to them. He instilled a little of himself in each of our hearts teaching us how to love.

Yet, mothers and fathers seem to have a greater kind of love; love that knows no bounds or limits, that always forgives, love that endures through great trials, and love that sees no faults. Love that always seeks good for their loved ones. Just as we are God’s children and most important in his eyes, so is the child in his parent’s eyes.  Just as God in the form of Jesus the Christ did willingly give his life for us, his creation.

So should the mothers and fathers of the children they love be willing to sacrifice themselves. As his angel’s parents are to love and care for their children the same way God our Father loves and cares for us, his children.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace