settingatthepoolofgrace

Life can be so tumultuous, hard to understand, and filled with a crisis for many of us. There are times when we just don’t know what to do or which way to go. We climb one mountain only to see another in the distance.

We are never alone although it feels like we are stranded on an uninhabited island, we try to be so independent we don’t want to ask for help from anyone. We place a price tag on the help of others then assume we can’t afford their assistance.

We forget how great love truly is, how it covers a multitude of fault and how it is always waiting to love back those who embrace it. Often we struggle when we don’t have too. We allow stress and anxiety to rule our thoughts, everything we do is filled with worry. The question I propose to you , is why?

Why do we choose to fight our battles alone when help is available for the asking? Love surrounds us in our families, friends and sometimes even those we consider enemies. Why is it hard to recognize our need for help, who to ask for help, and how to be thankful for the help.

Now let’s just imagine if our friends and family supply the physical help we need & support us in time of turmoil; how much more will a loving creator who considers us his crowning glory of all he created.

His love unchangeable, his presence ever near, and his desire is to encircle us in his joy daily. He never sleeps, is not surprised by what we encounter or what we do, forgives our wrong choices, and corrects us in love with sympathy for our human frailties.

Acceptance of the love he offers will erase stress, anxiety, and fear from our lives. Knowing he is there whenever there is a need will bring comfort and peace. As he loves on us daily, we will learn to love on those around us.

His love changes everything that we are into everything he is and prepares us to spend eternity in his presence; but, we must first recognize our need for him in our lives.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

There is a saying I’ve heard many times, “to thy own self ,be true”.  How often do we look into the mirror of life and see who we truly are? Our characters are formed by every experience of our lives. We grow from childhood to young adult, and  then to adult through each new adventure.

Our education begins with our parents, based on what their parents taught them we are enlightened. Their values become our values, their experiences shape our beginnings, their fears become our fears and their dreams are realized when we achieve our dreams. Unfortunately, life is not always fair and sometimes for reasons unexplained we suffer.

Our childhood years are not good ones for us. We hide them away in the darkness of our minds, with passing time we forget they exist.Everything we know revolves around home whether good or bad. Those years are designed to teach and prepare us for interaction with the outside world.

From these lessons too often the wrong impression is received, there are times when the lesson learned is selfishness, superiority, and deserving. we think the world is our oyster there for the taking.  However, the first interaction with the real world shatters our beliefs and we quickly realize we are important only to those who love us the most, our parents and family.

Relationships formed teach us lessons which enhance or question the life we are living. Our choices determine our consequences. More times than not those choices are based on our past personal experience allowing the past baggage of our lives to surface impacting our future.

The Past hurts and fears that we failed to resolve continue to plague our lives. These issues remain unresolved because we fail to walk in truth; to accept our portion of responsibility for whatever has happened in our life experience. There may be times when we don’t share in the cause and must acknowledge we are not at fault and not harbor guilt.

There is never one side to the story, yet; is it very hard to honestly look at the story from someone else’s perspective.  Most of the time we are too busy justifying our position as being right and not realizing the other person may feel the same way we feel. We must face the reflection we see in the mirror of life recognizing who we are and not who we think we are, self-reflection is sometimes hard but it is necessary.

Learning to allow others to be the individuals they are meant to be is as necessary for their growth as you being who you are meant to be is to yours. A person life does not revolve around what another person thinks it should be. We must not judge others by who we think they should be based on our needs, desires, or experiences.

Everyone must be allowed to walk in their own truth because our life experience is different our truth will never be the same truth. We can experience complete joy of life when we allow others the opportunity to be themselves and not expect conformity to our idea of who they should be, loving them for who they are not who we want them to be.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

 

As in the days of Noah so shall it be at the coming of the Creator at the end of the age. So it is written, but do you believe it? Time has taken man so far from the image of a loving creator. A love so great it gave all it had to provide a redemption plan for all seeking freedom.

The enemy of mankind has flooded this world with greed, hate, and selfishness; he has changed the face of all creation. Her beauty can no longer be recognized by its creator. Sin has diminished her perfection and her smile has lost its brilliance.

However, this is only a temporary stop along the journey, The question is will you be prepared for the transition at journey’s end? There are so many voices speaking, so many thoughts and interpretations, so many ideologies & doctrines that have filled the world with confusion.

Some kill others in his name,some use his word to subjugate and control. Yet, his voice is the only one that whispers “I am the way” softly in the ear of those seeking the truth. The sincere heart will not be deceived or lost in the maze of confusion.

This world is again scheduled for destruction and rebirth. It will be renewed to its original  beauty, but only those who hear the voice of the shepherd will reside there. Only those who hear the call of love through the many voices and answered will be counted worthy.

Those who leave behind the lust of the world and choose the gift of salvation will be redeemed. Only those who study his word and are guided by the spirit of God will escape being confused and deceived in their time of trial. The word became flesh and dwelt among us that we would have an example of Gods love and the power to overcome sin.

The warnings of impending doom should be shouted from the rooftops, the street corner, in our homes, the halls of government and to every corner of the earth. We must solidify our relationship with our redeemer to be prepared for the trials to come.

He who has ears to hear turn not away, start today that you will be prepared for tomorrow. The truth can be heard, but only if you are listening.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

 

The world stands on the verge of repeating itself.  Those seeking power disregard what is best for the masses to accomplish their own selfish desires for control. They court the evil lying dormant in the shadows of men’s heart to insight fear.

The courtship starts slow but steady; saying what they think will make the most impact to arouse anger ugly head. ” We are better than them”, “they need to be eliminated”, “we must regain superiority”, and ” save our world from destruction”.

The messages are subtle but still lethal; words have power.  we need to be mindful of what we say, once said it is hard to retract the damage that is done.  The pain caused lingers in the mind and heart, not easily forgotten.

Is there any wonder why the world is going crazy; morals are lost, kindness is fleeting, and togetherness is hanging by a thread. Good people stand by while good people die, who will stand for what is right?. Where is the outcry?

History records how indifference in the past opened it’s eyes too late while millions of lives fell prey to hate.  Voices silenced just because someone who saw himself as greater said they didn’t belong.

The enemy of mankind is trying to lull us to sleep, while he plans history to repeat; hate is his weapon of choice. Man’s inhumanity to man is perpetrated by the evil one and will cover the world if those who recognize him will not stand up.

Together we stand and divided we fall, this doesn’t apply to one group pf people but to all. What hurts me today as you silently stand by will hurt you tomorrow.  The hate that leaves your doorstep will return to its source.

Time to remove the blinders, we can no longer silently stand by watching as our world dies. We are all important, the apple of God’s eye; the war on hate must start with us. Only love will conquer hate but we must stand together we can’t afford to wait.

The many must take back control from the few who govern us all. Greed has corrupted their hearts and they make our laws. Equality must become a right not a privilege for a few. My eyes are now opened, what about you?

We have the power to change the world, your voice is important so make it heard.

Voting is the power of the people, use it.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

Where do we begin? you work as hard as you can to provide a better home than you had. You remember how it was to be raised with no father, only a mother who was addicted to drugs and alcohol. You remember days when you didn’t eat and had nowhere to sleep.

Maybe you had a father but no mother, he worked so hard to provide he was often too tired to care about your concerns. Worried about how he would feed and shelter you was his primary concern. He didn’t know how to console you when you were hurting so you thought he didn’t love you .

All your life he was there for you, you had the best uncle in the world. So you thought until the first time he molested you. How could you tell your parent their beloved brother had done such a horrible thing. If you told would they even believe you?

He wined and dined you treated you like a queen, promised to give you the moon on a silver plate. You said “I Do”, now you’re wondering what happened to the man you thought you married. At times you think you are sleeping with a stranger. He has changed, he’s not the man you fell in love with; the one who promised you the moon.

They were your angels, you never imagined there would be a day you’d be without them.Now you understand the meaning of the saying”be careful who you have children with” and “momma’s baby, daddy’s maybe”.

You were the best father you knew how to be, yet; you are still denied the right to be with your children. What is wrong with this world? why does it seem good people are punished while bad people prosper? Is there a remedy for this imbalance? Can we break the cycle? How do we heal the hurts lurking in the hidden corners of the heart?

It was not supposed to be this way, in the beginning, there was a perfect balance. Disobedience created the imperfect world we inherited. Our first parents were deceived, the family structure destroyed by the sin that infected the world.

Hope lives through sacrificial love. Love that became a father for the fatherless, a mother for the motherless,shelter for the homeless, food for the hungry, and healing and forgiveness for the hurting.

A walking, breathing example of love wrapped in humanity. He alone can restore the breach and bring perfect balance to the life of man. No matter  the circumstances life has given you he has the answer to solving the problems and breaking the cycle. He is called Emmanuel, God with Us.

My revelation as I sit at the pool of grace

 

Each of us have been endowed with five senses;sight, speech, smell,hearing and touch. These gifts enable us to experience the amazing attributes of our creator. Through our eyes we view the beauty of the world in which we live. Natures rolling green meadows, trees dressed in hues of tans, purples and orange, snow capped mountain peaks and oceans blue. Streams and rivers clear as glass teaming with life.

We smell the sweet fragrance of flowers in spring as it floats on the breeze or the coming of a spring rain as it approaches. Our appetites are enticed by the aroma of food being prepared for consumption as well as the unpleasantness of unfavorable odors. In  the distance the sound of an instrument plays it’s melody, our attention is captivated as the tempo becomes clearer. We hear the notes as they rise and fall. A baby crying, laughter, and a gentle voice wouldn’t be possible without speech; the ears and mouth dancing to one beat.

A warm hug drawing one close to the heart, lips against the cheek, water against the skin or the heat of the sun as it radiates.   Simplicity of touch; the magnificence of a master artist. Each stroke of his brush against the canvas of life creating a master piece. Our lives are filled with the wonder & majesty of a loving creator, a forgiving Father, provider and protector. He has woven a tapestry of love into the very fiber  of our being.

He has touched our eyes that we see, our ears that we hear, our lips that we speak, and now he desires to touch our hearts that we might learn how to love. Love begins and ends with him for he is love. A life without him is a life without love.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

For many years I didn’t understand what it meant to love you, I was given a  mother who nurtured me with a warm, loving, and sacrificing spirit. She was my first example of what love should be. In everything she did she displayed your love for me. I was however, caught up in the rituals of what I thought was serving and showing you love.

I didn’t realize then that the change had to come from the inside and that could only be accomplished through the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful for the prayers of my mother,had she not prayed for me I would never have found my way to your glorious light of love. I am so thankful you didn’t cast me away but opened your arms welcoming me.

You washed the dirt from my face and gave me a new lease on life. You surrounded me with your love and my joy is endless. You have made me a rich woman in the land, my children honor me and my grandchildren shower me with love. I am called mother & grandmother by children I did not birth. yet, you have blessed me to be important in their lives .

My friends are numerous, they desire always my good.  We join together in praise and prayer for they love you as I do. I thank you so much for your precious son Jesus, the Holy Spirit and for your endless love, grace and forgiveness.

I awoke this morning with the song “God Restores” singing in my spirit, Just the thought that you restore brought a smile too my face as I lay here realizing you have blessed me with another day of life.That you loved me enough to breathe into my nostrils  your love once again. My circumstances seem to melt away when I hear the refrain “with his healing hands I am made whole”.

I recognize it is only in Jesus wholeness exist, joy can be found in the midst of turmoil,peace when confusion is all around me, comfort when my heart is troubled and only in him is there salvation. I heard it said if my mind stays on Jesus there would be no room for the enemy to interrupt my thoughts with temptations.

Everything begins with a thought, the more I entertain the thought the more the desire to do it grows. If I allow the enemy to control my mind I will exercise my own selfish will and lustful nature. You knew I would not be able to defeat him and you sent me a weapon in Jesus, a shield against my fleshly desires. He places his life before me as an example of your love.

Your law is a template of your character, the enemy would have me believe I can’t keep your Law. He is right because it is my nature to sin but you sent Jesus that I may know your love and mercy. He lived a human existence and sinned not that through him I could be strong and stand against the enemy.

It is my desire to be like him, to keep his sinless life ever before me and to walk in his foot steps as I journey through this sinful world. I am so grateful to know you are a God of restoration and I am RESTORED.

Brake every chain Father, every chain// Chains that consume my thoughts in the late hours of the night, chains that consume my thoughts during the waking moments of the new dawning day. Chains of fear,chains that keep me immobilized,chains that bind my emotions, chains that keep me from hearing your voice, chains that hinder me from making the right decisions,chains of people in my life I need to let go, and chains of worry,stress,confusion and indecision.

Release me Father, I am asking in the Most Holy name of Jesus the Christ; send your Holy Spirit to inhabit this temple with his keeping power. Bind my tongue that it speak only what is pleasing to your ears,cleanse and renew me in the image of your son. Erase the stains of my past and give me a new vision for my future. Strengthen me where there is weakness as it pleases you for I know your strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Give me wisdom that I may recognize my foes and the traps of the evil one and his angels. Reveal to me anything that I have made an idol that it may be destroyed. Take my heart , mind and transform them. I am a willing vessel to your service, prepare me for the tasks ahead; use me as you will according to your good pleasure. I am so unworthy of your mercy and grace, yet; you shower me with them daily.

When my skies are filled with dark clouds, when the rain comes and the thunder roars I can still see the light of your love peeking through the darkness, I can feel you holding my hand and your joy encourages me ; I know it will be over soon. On your shoulder I can lean and you will hold me up right not allowing me to fall. I know only you are the source of deliverance;  I wait on you Father, I wait on you//

Father thank you so much for the pearls you have placed in my life, in 2 days my son will have his 47th birthday and 6 days later I will have another birthday. It seems so much time has passed and somewhere during that time span he became a man, his own self made man.

I never realized the impact my decisions would make on my children until I saw the reflection of them in their behavior. I just assumed I could live as I choose with no consequences to them for my actions. I now know  that if God is left out of my life, I then have no life.

I was carried away on the winds of emotions and false knowledge failing to understand everything begins with God and separated from him I was just a lost soul wandering aimlessly through time. Parents have dreams and hopes that the lives of their children will be better then theirs.

They wish for less struggle in the lives of their children, that they come to know who God truly is, how much he  really loves them and commit to serve him. To seek his face through his son Jesus the Christ who gave his life to redeem the lost misguided sinners of which I was one.

My desire is my son comes to know you Father who’s transforming love changes hearts, minds and characters. Life’s journey is not one of ease, sometimes there will be hills, valleys and even mountains to overcome, yet; if we travel with Jesus he will give us the strength to climb the hills and mountains guiding us to a victorious end.

He can erase the bad choices of our past and forgive the sins of our ignorance. He gives us hope and faith to believe “all things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to his purpose”. I know some lessons can only be learned through experience and with time.

I have learned it is wiser to find the face of God in ones youth and with time grow deeper and deeper in love with him. I am so grateful I opened my heart so that I could hear the love song being whispered in my ears. I regret the time wasted as I Waller in the pig pen of a filthy world.

Entrapped by a superficial love and enslaved by it’s false glamour. I am grateful my eyes were opened so I could see his out stretched hands biding me to come, so grateful for each time you wiped away my tears, so grateful for each time you minded my broken heart and there were many.

With each passing day you reveal your love for me more and more bringing me new mercies. Your word revives me and brings me peace in time of storms. I rest on your promise to always be with me so I am never alone. So as one year is dying and another is being born I am so grateful to see your touch in everything around me.

I feel the breeze on my skin, I hear the birds sing, I understand our time on this earth is but a whisper and my eternal future will be determined by the choices I make today.  I am filled with great joy anticipating the opportunity to learn more and grow closer to my Lord, to love more, give more and to seek out the lost.

To find those who like me are sinking in  muddy water looking for a way out,to be more obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, stand firm in my faith and to be a vessel that you can use for the work you would have me to do. It is my greatest desire to bring Glory, Honor, & Praise to you  by the living of my life.

Father where you lead I will follow