settingatthepoolofgrace

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.

Ever notice how fresh the air smells after the storm, the trees seem to stand taller and the grass appears greener.  The sun shines brighter while fluffy white clouds dance across a blue sky. The storm winds brake away the bruised and broken limbs, dead leaves are gathered and the rain washes them away. Nature is renewed.

Every storm in the life of man is meant to bring regeneration and renewal. Cleansing of the character takes place with each storm, the process will continue until the character of Christ is revealed in each of his children.  As the sculptor chips away at the stone until the image of a master piece emerges, the filth of sin is removed as we repent and turn away from each sin that holds us captive.

The lying will stop, anger will flee, no gossip will pass your lips, your body will be cherished as the temple of the Holy Spirit and you will put all idols away from you. The Fathers loving hands will gently mold and shape you into the masterpiece he planned you to be when he whispered your name into existence. You were a perfect thought in his heart before sin separated you from him.

After each storm you are carried through his light shines into the darkness of your life. As the image is reflected by the mirror, your heart reveals the sin hidden within that you may confess it and be forgiven. You will be strengthen in your faith and prepared to withstand the storms to come. Your total submission to the sculpting of your life by the Holy Spirit will yield the perfect character of the Holy Only begotten son of God, who came to save the lost sheep and restore them to the fold of the shepard.

Often when we make the decision to change our lives, to do what we know is right ; we meet with turbulence.  First little drops of rain begin to fall, nothing major just inconveniences that seem to cause discomfort. It maybe our children making bad decisions, our family or friends needing help with their problems, it could be finances. We all experience shortages in our monetary funds from time to time.

These are issues that can cause us small amounts of stress. Thunder can be heard in a distance and we know a storm is approaching. The rain begins to pour, you realize you are in for a battle. You try to prepare yourself but how do you prepare for the unknown? The storms that cause major stress in our lives surface in many ways. Death of a loved one is a shock to the system sometimes causing despondency or depression.

A visit to the doctor for a routine check up just to hear “it’s cancer”. Suddenly you find yourself walking in a fog filled with questions. What can I do now? will I die? how long do I have? how will this affect my family? they consume your thoughts and become your primary focus. The clouds of life become so dark you want to give up, you can’t see how you can survive the onslaught you are facing.

It seems your entire world is falling apart around you. 25 years you gave  of your time and efforts to that job, of all people you can’t believe they would fire you; but they did. It was suppose to be your dream home, you raise your children under it’s roof. On summer days your grandchildren played on it’s lawns. Now it is gone and you are forced to move on with only memories.

Will the rain ever stop falling? When you made the choice to change your life, the enemy declared war. He wants you to self destruct, feel helpless, give up and stop fighting against him. No matter how hopeless the battle seems you must have faith that you can win. The battle is really not yours, it is between the Redeemer and the adversary. You are just a pawn in the conflict. Jesus the Christ is your champion, he is your umbrella protecting you from the storm.

Whatever you my lose in the storm of material value does not compare to the eternal gift he is willing to give to all who trust in him. When you choose to serve him,make him first in your life you can stand on his promises. You will be given everything you need in this life and in the life to come. Dwell not on fleeting material joys of this world but hold fast to the hope of eternal joy with a loving Savior.  He will carry you through the storm.

Yesterday is gone; tomorrow is not promised,we only have today. Only today can we begin a new direction that can last a lifetime. Change begins by just taking one step, shaking one hand or drying one someones tears. Little ripples turn into big rivers. It is not always the huge things we do in life that make the most impact but the small glimpses of love that come from a sincere heart.

We are all capable of making a difference in our world, our neighborhoods, our families and in whatever circumstance we might find ourselves involved. Each day of life is another opportunity to improve our environment,correct what is wrong, pursue what is just, find our purpose and extend our hand in assistance to those in need.

We walk not alone but are joined together in humanity. We all laugh, we all cry,we all hurt, we all bleed the same and we all face death. This is all part of life, it doesn’t change because we are different in complexion or heritage, wither rich or poor ,  prominent or unknown. We all share this commonality . The time is now for those who make hate their place of abode to change their address.

The time is now for those who govern to exercise justice. The time is now for those that have bounty to share with the less fortunate. The time is now for change.  Without change destruction for all will come. Hatred will consume everything in it’s path. We must nurture the seeds of love until they bloom into strong trees of hope. Hope that shatters the darkness of hate with it’s brilliance.

It is every mans duty to strive for peace cultivated in the soil of love. Soil rich from the blood of sacrifice. Blood that covers a multitude of faults. Blood that flows freely for all willing to bath in it’s cleansing power. Blood that removes selfishness, washes away hate, and allows the seeds of transforming  love to take root and grow.

Grow into a beacon of light that will transform the world. Light that elevates the down trodden, light that reaches from shore to shore, light that is inclusive and not divisive, light that looks beyond the exterior of man to see the essence of his worth and character.

“We the people” is the introit of a document which was meant to form a nation free of prejudice and persecution. A nation established to give people the opportunity to aspire to be all they were capable of becoming. The founding fathers fleeing persecution desired a nation greater than the sum of it’s parts.

A nation that would honor mans right to choose. A nation in which all men would be treated the same. “We the people” have strayed so far from the moral values on which the nation was formed under God. The once persecuted became the persecutors. Greed controlled the hearts of men, power their greatest desire. On the backs of other men they climb to their highest heights.

The years pass quickly while little changes, the brutality once done in the light of day now hides itself under the cloak of justice. Those who are chosen to lead on behalf of the people turn their heads to the peoples pain. The streets run red with the blood of the slain, our children die sitting at their school desk, hate has removed its mask that all may see its face and those with the power to make a change cry “shame, shame, shame.”

“We the people” have been asleep too long, it is time to awake and right the wrong. Time to ask God to heal the land, that peace of heart can dwell with every man. Time to break the yoke of the powers that be who cast aside whats good for you and me. “We the people” gave them the power to rule the land and we have the power to remove it from their hands. They have failed to recognize the need of the common man.

Hate  has assassinated  over time those who worked for the good of all mankind. “We the people ” it is time to decide, no longer can you stand on the sideline. Good people die while good people stand by. Yet, we claim to be children of God. The question is who is your God? Is his name power,greed,domination and destruction. Is his name love ,peace, understanding ,  and forgiveness.

“We the people” must choose, will we be counted as part of the solution or part of the problem. It is time to speak, time to heal, and time to stand in unity. Only when we stand  together can we become “We the people”

The mind of man can’t comprehend the beauty of the world at creation. Beauty personified beyond imagination. When God rested from his creative work he announced “it was good”.  Since the beginning mans choices have changed the complexion of creation. It’s original state marred by mans sins.

Sin that separated the creation from its creator. The penalty of death was pronounced on a sinful world, a penalty all mankind should pay. A world destined for destruction was rescued by love,”for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that through him the world might be saved.” Love paid the penalty of death that we might live  sin free.

God clothe himself in humanity and came to a world of sin to reclaim the lost as a babe. He walked the earth as a man touching the sick, teaching the word and raising the dead to life. Love flowed from him to all who would accept it. He was the good Shepard, the world his pasture and the people his sheep.

To the Shepard the sheep are important. For them he willingly lay down his life.  Against the back drop of Jerusalem on a hill called Calvary stood the blood stained cross of the good Shepard. The judgement was justified, the death penalty satisfied and man set free. That was over 2000 years ago and it seems we have forgotten the sacrifice on Calvary’s hill, the story of a special child and how it all began.

Violence consumes our world, hate grows stronger with each passing day and the value of life has been thrown away. Greed , indifference, and selfishness control the heart. The question is asked “is love truly lost?” The answer is “no”, there is hope. One hand touches another, one heart reaches out, one voice says forgive me, and one voice sings I love you aloud.

The light of Christ still shines bright. It’s light transforming the dark of night. The battles is not over it has just begun to win the souls of the wayward ones. He’s coming again  of that you can be sure, he can’t lie and he said he would.  Coming to claim his very own and return to his heavenly home. Sin eradicated the enemy gone, the world regenerated to the beauty that was once its own.