settingatthepoolofgrace

Love or loyalty that is the question, have you ever considered these are two different things? Can you be loyal without love? There are those of us who show up to work everyday to honor their commitment to their employer’s, they work hard to accomplish their appointed tasks, but; at the end of the day in their quiet moments of reflection they realize how much they dislike their jobs. On more then one occasion I’ve been told by acquaintance how much they hate their jobs, yet; they faithfully report to work on time everyday. Do you think this is love or loyalty?

Loyalty is defined as- a strong feeling of support or allegiance to a person or thing. Love on the other hand is defined as – a strong emotional connection; you can love without being loyal and you can be loyal to someone without loving them. In the biblical narrative we are told Jesus hand picked His disciples, 12 men who were dedicated to His teaching and messiahship; yet, there was one who’s heart was not surrendered fully to Him. Although he witnessed all His miracles, His love and compassion for all, and His willingness to forgive; there was still doubt in his heart about the teacher.

His love for his Master was questionable and loyalty no longer occupying a place in his heart, he betrayed his Lord. This narrative caused me great distress, the question that plagued my mind was ” do I serve Jesus because I love Him or am I being loyal to the training received from my parents? Have you ever considered this question for yourself, is it loyalty or is it love? This was not a question Jesus had to ask, it was love that He gave up His throne in glory, took on human form, lived a sinless life in a evil world, and shed His blood on Calvary’s hilltop.

It was love that slept in the earth for 3 days and was resurrected in the glory of His Father with the keys to death in His hands. It was love for you and me that he accepted the lashes to His body, spittle to His face, and ridicule from some of the very people He had healed from sin and disease; as well as those who professed to love His Father. It was love that mixed with water flow from His side, It was the voice of love that said ” Father forgive them, they know not what they do”. The love from the heart of Jesus touched my heart, my life was changed, all doubt erased.

The question for me was answered, I made a choice to love Him because He first loved me and gave His all to show that love. I have chosen to be loyal to Him, to surrender my will to His leading; it is through my loyalty and obedience I show my love for Him. “If you love me keep my commandments” John 14:15. If you, like me have been confronted with this dilemma; love or loyalty; Jesus is the answer, let His love touch your heart.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

Have you ever given much thought to people who do things for you which require no reciprocity from you? I know we expect our loved ones and friends to provide services to us when their is a necessity and we need help, however; this is not always the case. Some family and friend dynamics are strained, unresolved breaches causes heartaches, separation, and unhealed wounds. Only forgiveness can change these dynamics. What can change someone’s desire to restore the breaches in a relationship? Love is the answer; it is because we love we seek restoration and that begins with forgiveness.

Unforgiveness locks us in a cell to which we think there is no key, deliverance begins with the first step to reconciliation. On a hilltop against the backdrop of heaven stood a cross stained with blood, a sacrifice was made toward the reconciling of a Father to His lost children. He came to rescue them from the deception that held them captive, the price of their freedom required sinless untainted blood. It was on this cross He paid that price. Through this sacrifice comes forgiveness of sins and restoration to everyone who chooses to be restored to the Father.

When I look at this world today, it seems this sacrifice was made in vain, so many have chosen in darkness to remain. The Father still seeks to save the lost, it’s our task to let them know He has paid the cost of their freedom, let light shine into the darkness that the truth may be seen and shackles broken. The question that in my mind I ask, “if you knew it would be this way, why did you give your life on the cross that day?” In a still soft voice the answer came, “BECAUSE I LOVE YOU.”

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

Calibration is essential for maintaining the quality and reliability of measurements in various fields such as science, engineering and manufacturing. To ensure accuracy it is necessary from time to time to recalibrate; check and reset to true settings. As this year comes to a close it is time for us to recalibrate our lives. Self evaluation is sometimes very hard to do, yet; it brings healing and forgiveness if we are brave enough to dive into the waters of our memories.

In our reflections to be honest about who we have wronged, hurt, misunderstood, disparaged, or not forgiven. To muster up the courage to seek restoration of broken relationships; to ask for and grant forgiveness. Life’s journey can lead us on pathways to or from what is most important. We must decide which path to take, this is not always easy. Self is reluctant to admit the need for change, it wants to remain the same; even if traveling in the wrong direction.

There will come a time in everyone’s life when we will need a Spiritual calibration, it will be necessary to recalibrate our focus back to the greatness of our God; to recognize His power and authority over us in all things. If we do not acknowledge that we make mistakes and sometimes need to change our ways, it can have negative consequences for us. Proverbs 15:32 says “Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.”

No matter how far we may have traveled on the wrong pathway we can change our direction, but; recalibrating our direction will not be easy; we will need help. God’s word along with His Spirit’s use of it is the power we will need to show us our errors and give us strength to conquer self, submit to His leading and allow Him to reset our journeys path. When we take hold of His hand and walk where He leads our lives will be recalibrated and our direction true.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

The phrase “born for it” has been attributed to many things which define the accomplishments of mankind. Gravitating naturally and excelling in a given task usually garners this saying “he or she was born for it”. These talents tend to develop at a very young age and when recognized are nurtured to fruition. The media in recent years is filled with the amazing stories of children with genius aptitudes who have excelled in the area of science, medicine, and entrepreneurship. 

From the pages of times long past the story of such a child emerges, He was conceived in a very unconventional manner to a young woman promised to be married before the wedding ceremony could take place. His birth occurred in a small obscured hillside cave where the animals were sheltered, but; this was no ordinary event for His coming had long been foretold and yet, the world was not ready to receive Him. Something wonderful was happening and so few understood the magnificence of the moment.

The heavens were aglow as the Angelic host proclaimed His birth, a king is born and He will save His people from their sins. No one could have imagined how this child would change the world of His day in ways that continue to change our world today. His life story has been repeated for generations; His compassion, unconditional love, miracles and His sacrifice to reconcile His people to His Father; a destiny He Only could fulfill. The love He shared, the life He gave and the resurrection from death lets us know beyond a doubt, “He was born for it”.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

In 1971 the song clean up woman was introduced to the culture of that time by the songstress Ms. Betty Wright. This was the story of a woman who capitalized on the mistakes of women who neglected their husbands or significant others. Recently it came to my mind how this was the life God’s prophet Hosea lived, he was married to a woman who had a roving eye; she gave birth to three children, 2 sons and 1daughter, but; no matter what Hosea did he could not keep her at home. She was very unfaithful to him and considered to be a harlot.

Can you imagine this being your life? How would you handle it? Do you think you would or could still love her? Well, Hosea did, he still loved her; his life resembled how God felt about His children. He does everything He can to show His children how much He loves them, He gave Himself as a sacrifice that they would be forgiven of their sins. Yet, they still turn away from Him to fulfill the lust of their flesh. They are mesmerized by the glitzes and glamour of the world, the power and greed the evil one entices them with. Just like Hosea the Father waits for His children to realize love is waiting for them to come home.

Gomer, Hosea’s wife through her adultery was lead into slavery; in the eyes of society she was considered worthless, but; Hosea paid the price to redeem her. He took her back to his home, cleaned her up and loved her. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, by sinning we become slaves to the world caught in the web of the evil one. Jesus said” everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin”, the Father has paid the price for our redemption; He is ready to be our clean up man, to clean away our filthy lives, break the chains that bind us to the world and lead us back home to Him.

We have all become like Hosea’s wife, we have strayed away from Him who loves us most. We have given ourselves to idol worship; we worship earthy things and seek after them, but it is they that lead to darkness of heart. Gomer was very thankful to be redeemed and welcomed back into Hosea’s home, I can imagine she never went roaming again finally recognizing the love she always had at home with Hosea. The Father sent Jesus to express His unending love for His children, that through Him we could be reunited with the one who loves us the most.

John14:6 states “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. During this season of Thanksgiving we can be thankful for a Father who is willing to clean us up and forgive our sins, but; only if we choose to be cleaned up. The decision is ours to make and the time to decide is now.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

I love all types of plants; unfortunately, I don’t have adequate space in my apartment for many of them. There is only one space where enough light comes in to provide the nourishing sunlight needed for growth. I began with this one plant and she gave me 7 off shoots; 3 were given to friends who admired them when visiting my home. There are four along with the mother I still enjoy each morning the sun beams through my window. I noticed the mother plant was showing signs of having born the 7 children she gave me. She seemed to be showing signs of aging, although her leaves were full they were sparse.

This was her condition for such a long time I began to think I might lose her, but; I noticed something that grabbed my attention, she was showing signs of new life where I thought no life existed. I was so excited and began to watch her daily; first the bud then the stems and now the leaves have appeared. Each time I look at it a smile covers my face and I am reminded of when at one time in my life I was that mother plant, surviving from one day to the next; sometimes feeling so lost while wearing a smiling face. So comfortable with the darkness that had me locked in its grasp.

I’m a good person, I go to church, I help whenever and wherever I can was what I told myself; so why do I feel the way I do? What’s missing from my life? So many questions, so few answers; but, God had a plan for my life. The light of His love dispelled the darkness, the knowledge of the sacrificial death and resurrection of His Son for the salvation of sinners captured my heart and gave me hope for new life in the sunlight. No more unanswered questions, no more stress or worry; my heart belongs to Jesus the Christ in Him have I found new life.

New life is possible if you have strayed away, the savior is granting new life everyday; He waits patiently for those who are lost to reach out to Him, He has already paid the penalties cost. Don’t languish in darkness or chains of despair, Jesus waits to show you just how much He cares; “I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. John 10:10

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

There is a sport I find fascinating, it could be because I can’t swim and find too much water threatening to me; this sport requires a large body of water, namely the ocean. You’ll hear it’s participants say things like “catch a wave or riding the wave” and that is exactly what they are doing. Standing on a surf board with perfect balance as the waves head to the shore. However, when I hear the phrase ” riding the waves” it brings to mind a family of 8 locked in a boat riding the water for 40 days and 40 nights as the rain fell; not knowing when the rain would stop or their journey end.

Can you put yourself in the boat? How are you handling riding the waves? What are you expecting to find at the end of the journey? Is the falling rain causing you anxiety and stress? Sometimes life with it’s ups and downs seem like we are riding uncertain waves trying to keep our balance, unfortunately; sometimes we fall into the turbulent waters of life. Just as the family of 8 were shut in the boat that saved them from the devastation that engulfed the world, there is a lifeline for all who need balance in life today; Jesus the Christ is that lifeline.

The good news is that Jesus abdicated His home in glory, came to a sinful planet named earth to save its inhabitants who had fallen into the cesspool of sin created by Satan and his fallen angels to destroy mankind. Jesus paid the ultimate price for you and me with His blood, freely He gave of Himself that we might find in Him shelter in the time of storm, peace in the time of turmoil and a lifeline from the waters of strife. By joining our will to the will of Jesus the Christ we become part of a 4 strand code not easily broken.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit join us in our battle to defeat the tempter and his agents. The waters of life may still have times of raging, but; He who calms the seas walks with you and me, we can ride the waves with perfect balance for Jesus holds us up. There is a requirement we must be willing to meet, give your life to Christ; for the salvation He offers is free.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

How important are the feet? When you think about it, the feet are the foundation of the body; when there is a problem with them we find it hard to walk, run or even stand for any period of time. When we are endowed with health we seldom consider the importance of our body members, while they are all needed; the feet have a special assignment in holding the body up.

To protect the feet we wear shoes, the shoes we wear are also important to the health and protection of the feet; the wrong shoes can do great harm. They must fit the purpose of use intended and the correct size needed to protect properly. We are instructed in God’s word to fit our feet with the gospel of peace, ready to share the goodness of God with whomever and whenever the opportunity comes.

We must step into the work shoes of Christ, Isaiah 52:7 tells us ” how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bring good news, that proclaims peace, who bring glad tidings of good things; who proclaim salvation, who says to Zion, your God reigns”. Every day Jesus strapped on His sandals and walked among the hurting, sin filled, neglected people of His time.

His sandals were His work shoes, He walked many road and visited many towns to serve those in need of healing, forgiveness, and salvation for their souls. No one in need was cast aside or denied His touch. His love and compassion was offered to all who desired the gift of life He came to give. Each one of us who has chosen to walk the path He walked has a pair of work shoes that will perfectly fit our feet.

When we step into them we will be prepared to carry out His mandate to all His children, “go into all the world”; we will walk as He walked and love as He loved, no one will be cast out or denied the touch of love from Him that flows through each of us. We will meet hatred with understanding and forgiveness; viewing all through the lens of His love.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

I remember this song which describes the seasons we are entering, it goes something like this ” the falling leaves drift by my window, the autumn leaves of red and gold”; do you know this as a love song or as a song of mourning? The lyrics indicate a loss of love as it states ” since you went away the days go long and soon I’ll hear old winters song, but; I miss you most my darling when autumn leaves start to fall”. There seems to be something missing from a life that was once complete. We may not know how the loss occurred, but; we can feel the hearts longing.

What’s your hearts longing? What is missing from your life? Have leaves fallen from your family tree leaving branches bare? I’m sure we can all say we have experienced falling leaves, love lost to time. Winter is approaching when time seems to slow it’s pace, it doesn’t stop and it waits for no one; however, it doesn’t move as fast or so it seems when winter shows her face. Nature closes her eyes to sleep that regeneration can begin, it sheds what is old that new birth can come forth.

The sleep of death is not the end of the story, it is just a intermission from life; death lost it’s sting with the resurrection of Christ. Only His love can perfectly fill whatever is missing in your life, satisfy the hearts longing and grant new life. We know death is a part of life, the leaves will fall, but; those who sleep in Christ will see new life and that with immortality. We have God’s promise to all who walk in the shadow of His Son Jesus the Christ, eternal life. We have this hope when we submit our lives and will to the Father that we will walk in renewed life by the love of the Son at His return.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

Our nation in its youth has gone through many revolutions, each leading to the great notoriety we receive from the nations of the world today. There has not been a lack of adventure in the minds of those who forged their way into history through their willingness to explore the unknown. It was by their efforts our nation was founded, motivated by the need to be free from those who would limit or deny the right to govern self. The nature of man has lead him to seek ways to improve life, not just for himself; but, for all. There was a time when the only light source was by candle, the only source of heat was from wood fires, and the source of food from the land.

The industrial revolution changed the way of life; electricity replaced the candle, coal mining provided a better heating source, and food began to be mass produced in factories. Truth be told change does not come without consequences. The natural resources given to all men by their Creator is being controlled by those in power at the expense of those without any power. The coal mining industry was very lucrative and provided a great convenience to all, however; the price paid by those who were relegated to the work of mining was costly. Miners were crushed by collapsing roofs, killed by gas explosions, and unsafe working conditions lead to various diseases. Coal being an essential element in the production of heat and electricity was and still is an important energy source.

I would like to introduce you to another very important energy source, this source is not limited or controlled by any man; it is available to all willing to mine for the riches contained in its pages. The rare jewels that can be found are life changing, mind blowing truths revealed only to those who diligently search for them. How precious is this gift and yet, many forget there was a time when it was forbidden to the common man to know them; so many have neglected the opportunity provided to glean from the book of life its rich bounty. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the World was God. The same was in the beginning with God, all things were made by Him John1.

From one generation to the other the Word revealed to men through His Holy Spirit His will for His people which was written as a guide to abundant life for all willing to accept His gift by faith. The mine field is the Holy Bible, 66 books that detail an extraordinary life; John 5:39 states “search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me.” John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.” Psalm 119:160 says “the sum of your word is truth, and every one of your rules endures forever.” As afore mentioned change does not come without consequences.

To those who accept the challenge to become miners of truth and search diligently the worlds of life; hedges of protection will be established for you to combat the fiery darts of the enemy which will assail you. The riches that await you in the word are more precious than silver or gold for they lead those who seek them to eternal life in the presence of the great “I AM”. For it is written ” what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him. 1Cor.2:9

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace