settingatthepoolofgrace

As the weather gets warmer people do what is known as taking vacations. They leave their mundane daily chores and vocations to do whatever they want to do even if it means doing absolutely nothing.  If you are one of the fortunate ones your vacation can last as long as 4 weeks taken at one time or spread over a period of time.

No matter how long everyone looks forward to vacation. Some save for months toward the perfect vacation and some save for years for what they deem to be the vacation of a lifetime . Some desire to travel the world, some just want to drive to see relatives they haven’t seen in awhile and then there are those who just don’t want to be on a schedule or punch the time clock.

Vacations can be many things, there is no limit to what the mind can conceive. When we plan for this time we fail to consider that danger may be lurking in the shadows waiting for us. The evil one will claim every opportunity to cause  us distress and grief. Seldom in our planning do we consider the “what if’s” that could happen.

Lost documents, credit cards, or simple car trouble become major events when not prepared for them. This turns our amazing adventure into a nightmare. It can be little things that cause discontent but will affect every ones disposition and bring unhappiness to all.  However, there is a way to be prepared for whatever may come your way.

It will not guarantee you will not have problems, but it assures you will over come them. The solution for preparing is a very simple one which many don’t think is part of the process. Seek first the face of the Father coming to him in the name of the Son. Declare he is the Lord of your life, give  every concern into his hands, and have confidence he has heard and is in control of all your circumstances.

When this is the first step in your planning, he will open doors before you. No matter what may come up against you as Lord of your life he will be victorious. When you release everything into his hands you will embark on the most Amazing Adventure, one that will last a lifetime and beyond.

A very famous storyteller once told a story about a lost coin. I’m sure if you have ever lost or misplaced money you can identify with the principle of this story. I have taken the liberty to tell the story from my own prospective if you will indulge me allowing me to do so.

It was the largest sale of the year, money was set aside each week anticipating finding some great bargains. The day had finally arrived, in preparing she went to her hiding place to retrieve the money .

No money, panic stricken she tried to remember if this was the right place, Had she forgotten where she put it? She searched everywhere that came to her mind, yet; still no money.

As she continued her search she realized the purpose for the money was no longer as important to her as finding the money had become. Sometimes in life we find ourselves in this same position.

We lose so many things that we feel are not important on the surface, but if we are honest with ourselves we would acknowledge they are worth searching for. Finding lost things may not always be easy.

Sometimes it requires more effort then we are willing to give. Lost things can come in the form of broken relationships and denial of a loving God. However, we must be persistent as the principle in the story was.

The search continued all that day until suddenly there it was, the money she had so diligently searched for. The search was over and anxiety was replaced with great joy. So much joy that she had to share it with friends & neighbors.

We must be diligent in our search to find and restore what is lost in our lives. Relationships that were broken by misunderstandings, mistrust, or the interference of outside forces should be sought out and healed with forgiveness.

God the father has been and will continue to seek out his lost children. They may have forgotten him but he has never forgotten them. His heart has a void where they belong, their names are written in the palms of his hands, and he greatly desires to restore them  to his family.

There are evil forces that create obstacles to keep the lost separated from the father. These obstacles can come in the form of lies feed to our minds, promises of grandeur and all manner of deceptions. Be not deceived the father will not leave you.

He is reaching out his hand to pull you to safety, he will forgive your forgetfulness and restore your joy with such great joy you will have to share it with all you meet. It is said “the angels rejoice when one soul that was lost is found”.  Are you that ONE?

A rainbow appears after the storm,it represents God’s promise to never destroy the world again with a flood. The many colors of the rainbow intertwined produce a brilliant display of God’s love for the world. A world that had become so tarnished by sin it grieved his heart and had to be removed from his sight.

Love cried out “one more chance” and eight were spared to start again. The air clean and fresh, the grass greener then before; regeneration had begun sin would be no more. Arrayed in her new apparel the world spread her wings to fly. She had been given new life.

Once again people covered the land, like the different colors of the rainbow so were his children. Different in their skin tones, languages, shapes and sizes. However; all still his children, all beloved by him, and all one family. His Family , though different all united in humanity; a world reborn.

Man was given a second chance but one selfish act and things changed, sin entered the world again. The desire for fortune and fame caused some of his children to stray. The weak and defenseless around the world became prey for the strong. Telling those who had not they don’t belong.

Evil has infected the hearts of men, violence permeates the air and all hope seemed to be lost. But the father watching quietly has not left his children alone.He stepped down from his throne clothed himself in humanity and made earth his home. He came to brake the evil one’s control, giving his children a chance to be free.

The price to be paid required a sacrifice, the death of the only sinless life. His children once again unified….One people, one world  with ONE FATHER

Life is a precious gift, no matter the circumstances as long as there is life there is hope. The greatest joy a mother’s heart will feel is felt with her infants first smile, the first “I love you” from her child’s lips and their first steps into adulthood.

Trials will come, they are necessary for growth in faith, understanding of self, and progress. What you consider success will determine what you are willing to do to attain it. You become a product of what you feed your eyes, your ears, and your mind. If you thrive on love , love will be produced. If you thrive on hate, hate will be produced.

To acknowledge the presence of God in all things is the beginning of wisdom. All nature testify’s he exist. Mans limited control & understanding testify’s he exist.  The many mysteries in the universe testify’s to his existence. Little things can make big impacts on our lives; smiles, hugs, laughter, and yes even tears.

All are expression of unconditional love. Forgiveness frees the soul too shed the chains that bind it in envy, hate, misunderstanding and bitterness. God is never far from those who love him. His joy is our strength, he will provide our daily needs, shelter us from the storms and guide us through every decision in life.

His love is everlasting, it is expressed in the sunlight, starry nights, a gentle spring rain, and the song of birds filling the air.Life is to be celebrated for the love that binds people together, memories created that flow through the mind like an epic drama. Lives intertwined in love one to the other.

Love that transcends time to encompass the past, the present and reaches into the future.These are life lessons for which I am truly grateful. Thank you Father for little smiles and big hugs, the joy from little voices saying I love you grandma, and for the desire to love unconditionally.

Thank you for not allowing me to stray too far from you. For manner in times of hunger, shelter in time of storm and your out stretched hand in time of need. You have never left me alone .

 

If you could reclaim one moment in time what would that moment be?We know there is no permanence in this world, change is inevitable. Transformation occurs in all created things; in nature, the animal kingdom and in all human kind.

Time waits for no one it moves at a steady pace. We often fail to realize the importance of the moments of time we are graced with. The opportunities we fail to capitalize on become time lost and is gone forever. Words unspoken lost, memories waiting to be made lost, and love not shared lost.

Procrastination , a tool of the enemy causes us to idly  away our days believing we can reclaim the time lost in idleness.Time is a precious commodity and should not be taken for granted. The giver of time expects us to use the gift with wisdom, produce positive change, and impact our environment in a loving way.

Time doesn’t guarantee tomorrow which makes today so very important.Time stood still on Calvary’s hill as the creator of time gave his life for a lost world. The darkness covered the sky in the midst of the day, silence fell on creation as the creator gave his last breath.

So many years have passed since that dreadful day, mankind has strayed so far from the story of loves sacrifice. The thief of time has confused our minds with the games he plays. Our time is running out, we don’t know how much we may have left. Each of us will cross the threshold when time will be no more.

Take hold of the hand that holds time and walk along side of him. He will lead and guide you through each moment of time, his love in you  will leave little droplets of love all along the way.  The thief of time is defeated no longer will he have power over you.The master of time is holding your hand and he will never leave you.

When your time is no more and you say farewell to the world you know, the master of time stands ready to welcome you into eternity’s Door.

Clouds of darkness filled the sky, no sunlight could be seen on that dreadful day at Calvary when my Lord was slain. It seemed all hope was lost no help to be found as his lifeless body was stretched upon the ground.

2000 years or more have past since that awful day, but the story of his sacrifice has changed every generation since that time. A love so strong for all mankind he came and gladly gave his life. His enemies celebrated the threat they feared was gone, little did they know their problems had just begun.

His followers were feeling lost and alone, uncertain for the future with no place to call home.Their beloved leader was lying in a tomb and all their hearts were filled with gloom. As I sit thinking about the sacrifice he made, i’m so grateful to know he rose from the grave. For 3 days the darkness held him still, after which he rose from death.

Now he lives. It is because his tomb is empty I have been redeemed, his love has filled my heart with a joyous melody. His presence erases all my fears I know I am not alone. He walks with me through test and trials that I may overcome. He introduced me to his Father who called me his own,explaining I was purchased by the blood of his son.

The sin in my life was washed away the day he rose from the grave. He gave me a new book of life without stained pages , clean and white. The opportunity to start anew he also offers to you. Come to the fount of endless love and bathe in his grace, you too can start life anew because of the empty tomb.

Man is born,man dies but in between these two events he walks the corridor of time. The journey is not guaranteed to be one of longevity. Each one is born with a spark of God inside, it is nurtured by those assigned to be our guides. As seeds are planted in the soil of life the growth begins to take flight.

Everything that is seen and heard makes an impression on our world.Where there is love, love will grow but we must remember life is not meant to be a bed of roses. We travel life’s roads from day to day through a maze of decisions along the way. We encounter cross roads, u-turns, one ways up and one ways down, blocked roads as well as dead ends.

There  are situations that cause time consuming delays in making the choice, we tend to think we have all the time in the world to decide. Each span of time is fleeting and once gone cannot be reclaimed. Time is relative I’ve heard people say as they let precious moments slip away. Today we are hear but tomorrow we could be gone; we don’t control the tune we just sing the song.

The choices we make determine how long our performance last, if it will be remembered or become a thing of the past. There is a quiet melody that whispers to our hearts a song of eternal joy where time has no ending if we make the right choice. Don’t delay to choose it is important to choose today. Tomorrow is not promised, tomorrow may be too late.

You may have gotten side tracked or lost sight of the road, the spark of God within will always lead too home. Beware there is danger we cannot control, the thief of time will be stationed at different junctions on the road. He has a melody he sings to confound and destroy the soul, it is rich with worldly goods you can have but cannot hold. The goal is to chain  you to the collector of lost souls.

He has little time left to weave his magic spells, the end there of is death and hell. Time is winding down each one must make a choice, the corridor of time is getting short. Remember you are here today, tomorrow you may be gone. Make your decision and don’t wait too long.

Imagine the joy when your favorite sports team wins the big prize, the super bowl or the world series.  The player that contributes the most to the win is deemed the most valuable player. He or she receives  accolades, prizes, and monetary gain.

You overcome all the huddles and complexities of that big deal you are trying to land, finally success; it is accomplished. Your boss is so grateful he gives you a raise, promotion, and that corner office you have long awaited.

The theater has been your life work, but you have not had your body of work recognized to your satisfaction. Now you have the role that will garner you the recognition and honor you believe you deserve.

The accolades, rewards, prizes and even the money received  through your efforts are all conditional and temporary. The world that gave these rewards can easily retract them when you loose it’s favor.

you may have had an illustrious career in the sports arena, the business world or in entertainment. Whatever the arena of your success in this world you are under a hard task master. The ruler of this world enslaves with the enticements of honor, power, fortune and fame.

Once he has totally seduced you into moral decay he uncovers you before the world. Your character is shattered, you stand naked before those who at one time sang  praises of your accomplishments; but now you wear the badge of disgrace.

The word of God has given us the secret of success which will have longevity in this world. When we seek him first, give him complete control of our lives and trust his promises our success will be sure.

All good and perfect gifts come from above, he loved us so much he sent his son to defeat the ruler of this world by his blood sacrifice on our behalf.  He alone has the keys to the chains that bind us to the things of this world.

He alone can cover our nakedness and remove our disgrace with his righteousness then present us faultless before his father.His requirements lead to glory everlasting and are not grievous to bear.

Reverence Father God above all things, make for yourselves no idols , Honor your mother & father that your days may be long on the earth , Love others as you love yourself and Forgive as your have been forgiven.

He encased his love for us in his laws for life. We show our love for him by keeping those laws. He knows our frame that we are but dust and prone to weakness but fret not if you are overcome by temptation.

His door is always open to us. He will forgive us when we ask of him and turn from our sinful ways. When we totally surrender to him he will honor us with joy, peace, and everlasting life.

Unexpected, something has happened that surprised you. We are seldom ready for surprises, they interrupt  our plans. Suddenly we must make new plans, change our direction and sometimes discard items we have held onto.

Every move requires accessing what is of value and must be kept, every move requires careful preparation for the transition and many times lots of help. Unfortunately with transition there may be stress. Reluctance and questions about the unknown are caused when we are unwilling to accept change is necessary.

We are not in control of the circumstances that caused this necessity, but we can control the final out come with our attitude concerning the changes. Our minds are flooded with questions; how can I afford this? who will help me? will this make me happy and comfortable?.

Wait, you have forgotten who you are and who your Father is. You have a promise that all things work out for your good. When we have given our will to the Father of light we are not to fear the things that come upon us. Whatever the enemy means for our demise Our Father will turn around for our good.

Though unexpected circumstances come remember who is in control of your life, the promises he has given you, and get ready, get set, and go knowing he is leading. Release any weight that will hider your movement. Rejoice and follow his leading with gladness recognizing your blessings are waiting at the end of the journey.

It is the little things that trip us up. We think we can handle them so we fail to pray or ask direction in handling them. No matter how small or large the concern, God wants a front row seat in the theater of our lives. The dreams he has placed in our hearts will not come to their fullest potential with out his hand at the helm leading the journey.

With each choice we face he  whispers the right direction in our ears but he leaves the decision to follow in our hands. The path we take will lead us too accomplishment or detour. He will never override our decision even when he knows the choice we have made is not the right one to choose. He waits patiently for us to return control of the journey back into his hands.

With each wrong choice we take control of the helm which usually leads us into troubled waters. By our actions we tell him he is no longer needed, we know the way to go.  It is only when we see icebergs ahead we realize we are way off course and cry out for his help. He sends a gentle breeze, the current changes and we drift to safe harbor. He welcomes  us with open arms,restores us and plots a new course.

Knowing we are head strong this will not be his only rescue, yet; he does not abandon us and will throw out the life line each time we call out to him. We prolong our journey by our choices. When we are in control we are sure to encounter disaster but with God at the helm the waters of life may be choppy but the sailing will be smooth.His love whispering to our souls will guide us safely to our destiny.

He is the anchor on which we can stand secure in his love for us. Take hold of his hand,never let it go. allow him only to be the captain of our lives.