settingatthepoolofgrace

Once upon a time their was a man and everyday He went out among the people to find work to do, that’s usually the way stories we tell our children begin. However, this is not a fable to excite the imagination of a child. When this man lived working was not like we know it to be today; there was no internet, no electric lights, no cars or buses, no trains or planes, no indoor plumbing, and no advanced tools of any kind. Times were very different and so were the people, some served others who spent their time in frivolous pursuits; you might say they were living high off the hog.

Some worked the land, this was done with their hands and help from their animals if they were lucky enough to have them, some were merchants, ironsmiths, Sheppard’s, and carpenters; all which required time and dedication to get the job done. All work was done from sunrise to sunset; sunset marked the end of the day. There were many people who like in our times didn’t work, today we call them disable; there were those who were blind, crippled, hearing impaired, and diseased. Yes, and there were those who were just plain lazy. In our modern society the work we can do is not limited to the daylight hours, transportation, inconvenience of antiquated tools or work needing to be done.

Finding work to do is not the problem, willingness to do the work is. Although life and times were hard this man went about looking for things to do. He was a carpenter by trade working with His hands, He liked to fix things and make them new. It was said of Him, He was kind and compassionate toward all; those in need found a friend in Him, no one was unlovable in His eyes. His hands were not found to be idle; touching the blind giving them sight, touching the cripple making them walk, touching the deaf so they could hear, touching the voice that was silent to allow it to speak and cleansing the body of disease giving new life.

Can you imagine how tired He must have been at the end of the day from relieving the burdens of those around Him? Now think about how could anyone hate a person like this man was, yet; many did. In our technologically advanced world what work have you found to do? With all the advantages we have who have you helped? Whose burdens have you helped to carry? At the end of the day are you tired from being available to help others or from building a financial empire just for you, no time for anyone else? It is important that the work you do brings joy to the heart, opens the mind to those around you who are less fortunate, and impress you to share with others your time and treasure.

It is said many hands make lite work and the idle mind is the devils workshop, finding the best work to do requires guidance and what better example than the one of a man who considers no one unlovable. He was not seeking fame or fortune, but; seeking to repair the broken, set the captive free, and showing the lost the way. His story has been shared through the ages as an example as to how we should live our lives; loving unconditionally, forgiving those who hurt us, helping those in need, and doing our work from the heart not just for selfish gain. His name is Jesus, His story is true, He lived on the earth, He died a cruel death on behalf of you and me and He stands as our intercessor before the Master of the universe.

Are you willing to open your heart to Him so He can guide you to the work He needs you to do? Work that leads to eternity in His presence.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase ” standing in the shadows”? Do you picture a dark area where someone might be hiding? Maybe you think of seeing your shadow on the ground on a bright sunny day. Some might think of the boy in the childrens fairy tale who refused to grow up; losing his shadow and requiring a young friend to sew it back on. Unfortunately, life is not a fairy tale; the shadows that we sometimes experience can be physically, mentally, and spiritually daunting.

The shadow of fear chains the mind and causes the heart to palpitate, the shadow of doubt brings confusion and stagnation; they are both distractions, tools of the enemy to hide the light. They introduce us to darkness and cause us to forget the promises of our Lord; ” I will never leave or forsake you” Heb 13:5, “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” Isaiah 54:7 and “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows” James 1:17. Because of these promises we don’t have to stand in the shadows.

On the pathway of life there will be shadows,but; the word of the Lord is a lamp to guide our feet and a light to our path Psalm 119:105. When we put our trust in Him we are not given the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a strong mind 2Tim1:7. We must not stand in the shadows but shake off anything that blinds us from the light of love shining from our heavenly Father. Submit all our ways to His care and He will give us rest from the daily worries of life.

He is willing to carry the burdens that life puts on our shoulders without complaint, in 2Cor12 He assures us with ” My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” and James4:7 says” submit yourselves therefore to God; but resist the devil and he will flee from you”. We can be strong and courageous, we don’t have to be overcome by the shadows sent to consume us; take hold of the light of love that reaches out to us and walk out of the shadow of darkness. Love will never fail, it will give all it has so we can be free, it illuminates the shadows so we can see clearly the path to take.

We must not linger or hesitate, the longer we stand in the shadows the blinder we become to the light and they will become emcompassing. Remember we must resist the enemy to break the power of his hold on us. When we accept the light of love we will have the strength needed to resist the devil who dwells in darkness.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

Very soon mother nature will change her dress, the radiant green will begin to fade. Slowly autumn leaves will appear; soft yellows, bright oranges, royal reds and browns displayed on every landscape. The beauty of her new dress dazzling to every eye. Isn’t it strange how some trees never change, they remain the same through every season; full and green. Life tends to slow down just a little; we prepare for harvest, take long walks in the forest or woods, we listen more intensely to the sounds of nature as it prepares for transformation.

In each season of life there is transformation, this requires death and rebirth; a new creation springs forth from the ashes of the old. The season of mans life can be very short or very long, the key that determines which unfortunately is not in his control; however, there are some simply life instructions given to man to aide in this determination. We are told to “honor thy father and thy mother that they days may be long upon the land which the Lord they God giveth thee” Ex 20:12. There is no caveat to this, honor is due no matter who your parents are or may become.

In our earthly walk we should be merciful, meek, pure in heart, and peacemakers among all man. We must be slow to anger and gentle when we speak, ” a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” Proverbs 15:1. “Blessed is the man that walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night” Psalms 1. This means we must choose the right path and not be influenced by others, stay away from those who indulge in sinful behavior, and do not mock God or sin, but study His word diligently.

The autumn of this world is rapidly approaching and the great harvest of our God soon to begin, those who have been transformed into the character of Gods only Son will be rewarded at His appearing and those who like the tree that never changes, will be destroyed by the brightness of His appearance. Time is running out, today is the day of decision; will your transformation bring rebirth into eternal bliss with the Father, a crown of gold from the Son, and a celebration with the saints of all generations or will you cry out to the mountains? They cried out to the mountains and rocks, ” fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb”. Rev.6:16

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

The quiet night was shattered by the sound of bells ringing, something was wrong; help was needed. Footsteps could be heard through the windows, slightly opened to capture the gentle night breeze. Should I get up to see or just wait until morning to get the news? This was the question in my mind, as the tumult outside my window grew so did my curiosity; sleep had been interrupted, I guess getting up was a must.

Pulling the curtains back my eyes beheld the fires raging at the end of the street, more alarms began to ring as the fireman battled the blaze that seemed to be getting the best of them. More fireman appeared as if out of thin air, all of them trying desperately to contain the blazing buildings. A crowd of neighbors aroused from sleep were standing in front of their homes with shocked faces and clutching their children. Above all the noise I heard a voice from the crowd say, “is everyone out of the buildings, have they been rescued, are they safe?”

This could be a scene from a movie, a book, or a real life situation; it calls for action to preserve the life or property in peril of destruction. Someone has to sound the alarm for help. Mankind is like those burning buildings, it is engulfed in turmoil and darkness. Life has lost it’s value and love for others is being consumed by evil. Who will rescue us? The fires of evil are quickly over spreading our world. Who will sound the alarm, we are desperately in need of help. Is there anyone willing to fight this foe? Is this a losing battle and are we destined to be lost?

From the portal of time I heard, ” I’m here and My blood covers all who wish to be free of the darkness”. I gave it that all could be rescued from the grasp of evil, come let me wash and deliver you”. I heard the cry of your heart and have answered the call, the alarm sounded; help has arrived. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Roman 10:13

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

Since the fall of mankind, our world has been spiraling down into the abyss of darkness; first came mans disobedience, turning away from divine guidance to follow his self seeking heart. Misguided by a desire to be more when he was made in the image of a perfect Creator. His fall from grace gave the father of lies dominion of the earth created for him; everything was tainted by evil. That which was full of life and majestic became spoiled by the touch of darkness. What was once light became darkness in his heart, his brilliance admired by all the Heavenly host; Lucifer the light bearer desired to be greater than his Creator which lead to his expulsion from the heavenly courts and his name changed.

He deceived many in his quest for greatness and they too were cast out of their heavenly home. “Therefore, rejoice o heavens and you who dwell in them; but woe to you o earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, knowing he has but a short time” Rev.12:12. With great ferociousness he lashes out at everything that seeks the face of God through His son Jesus the Christ. The shadows of darkness he has cast caused pain, strife, hatred, and the blood of the people of God through out the centuries; his greatest vengeance still to come in his effort to destroy mankind, the Creators loved creation. He attempts to keep man blind to the love of the Father, His willingness to forgive sin, and the sacrifice made on mankind’s behalf.

The dawn is coming, Math. 24: 37-39 gives us this warning; “but as the days of Noah were so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day Noah entered into the ark and knew not until the flood came and took them away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” The dawn is coming, the time is now to shed the deeds of darkness and seek the glow of loves light. Only by submitting to loves call can the darkness be penetrated and removed from the heart. The dawn is coming, evildoers with their evil deeds will receive their due rewards.

The dawn is coming, all mankind and the watching universe will know the justice of the Most High, His love and mercy. The dawn is coming, “Behold He is coming with the clouds and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be” Rev.1:7. “Behold I come quickly and My reward is with Me to give everyone according to his works Rev.22:12. The dawn is coming and the glory of His brightness will eradicate all darkness, restoration will begin and the earth will be purified; God will dwell on the new earth and those who love His appearing will be His people and dwell with the Father and the Son throughout eternity.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

In my youth I felt invincible, nothing was to hard or challenge to difficult for me to tackle; friends became family and family became friends. Mother would say” teeth and tongue may fall out, but; they need each other.” This taught me a valuable lesson, no matter what happens between mother and child, siblings, and other family members; at the end of the day if we don’t have love and forgiveness we open the door that will give power to the ruler of darkness.

I never thought I would reach 25, but; I did. It was not because I deserved it or was a person who made no mistakes. My mistakes were many and many of my decisions the wrong ones to make. My secret weapon was a praying mother, strong supportive sisters and brothers who were willing to fight my battles for me if need be. I never thought after searching for love in all the wrong places I’d find the love that mattered the most; love that sacrificed for me, forgave all my mistakes and made me feel like a new person.

I never thought I would see 50, but; I did, my life enriched by friends from childhood who still walk the pathway of life with me, sis and brothers in the faith that lift me up in time of trouble, knowing without a doubt my family and heavenly Father love me unconditionally. As I cross another threshold I never thought I would be granted the love of family and friends that have graced me with their presence to celebrate another milestone in my journey.

I never thought I would see 76, but; I did and the love that was showered upon me has made this a very special transition for this is the day the Creator whispered my name into the universe and I came to be. So grateful for my Fathers love

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

written June 4,2023

Do you remember how you felt when you received your first bouquet of flowers? The smile on your face and the joy in your heart, you couldn’t wait to open the little card often accompanying them; it was important to know who thought of you in such a special way. Sometimes they come from family members or friends, then there are times they come from a secret admirer, someone you least expected. There is something about receiving a gift you didn’t expect, it evokes a different kind of emotion; gratefulness consumes your thoughts and you wonder what you may have done to deserve such thoughtfulness from the sender or giver.

It is unfortunate that flowers have a very limited life cycle, they are beautiful while they bloom, but; soon they began to fade. Fading flowers show daily their end approaches; the petals begin to droop, the vibrant colors become dull and finally the petals fall leaving behind dry remnants of what once was. Just like the fading flower, mans life cycle is limited; we all know how we are born, but; death is a mystery. We know it’s inevitable, yet; seldom do we know the when, where, or how it will come. I’ve often heard that death is not the end of the story, just an intermission until the next act begins. My question is what will the next act be? Do we choose the role we will play? What happens when the final curtain falls?

This world has a Time Keeper, He records every wasted opportunity to learn our purpose for being and every wasted opportunity to share what we have learned with others. Unlike the fading flowers, mankind was given free will; choice which determines the path he or she takes. Natures course was established at Creation, it’s path set. The seasons change as directed, the sun rises and sets as directed and so does the moon and the stars. The natural and animal kingdoms give their obedience to their Creator, man is the exception to the rule; he has the ability to disobey. The condition of our world is the result of man’s disobedience to his Creator.

Lawlessness, greed, corruption, and unmentionable evil has consumed our world. Many have aligned themselves with the evil one who is its ruler. He seeks only to kill, steal and destroy; we must be alert and sober minded, he is not a friend of mankind, but; it’s greatest enemy. He is a deceiver, the father of lies, there is no truth in him. Those who follow his leading will end their earthly lives as refuse upon the ground, dried up and discarded like fading flowers. The Time Keeper is watching the clock of time as it ticks down to the final curtain of earths history. This is our final opportunity to choose life.

When the second act begins the trumpet will sound and the dead in Christ will shake off their grave clothes, put on robes of white and rise to meet their Lord, redeemer, and savior in the air. Jesus is the truth, the life, and the way, only those who choose Him will enjoy eternity.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

It was about to be discarded, what was it good for was the question in her mind. No value could be seen , it was lifeless and barren. Many times we are faced with circumstances that make us feel there is no resolution for what we are experiencing. Have you heard the old expression “just a stick in the mud”? This is how we find ourselves feeling from time to time; not moving, stuck in one place, non productive, and wondering how we get out of the rut we’re in.

It’s not easy navigating the waters of life; we often meet with turbulence, one way signs, roads closed and dead ends, all which call for a change in directions. Without clear eyes it’s hard to see what that direction should be. Many of us move to fast only to find we have another obstacle to over come, “stuck in the mud again”; we start all over trying to free ourselves. This seems to be the rat race many find themselves caught in. The question becomes how do we break the cycle?

At first it just appeared to be a stick protruding from the ground; lifeless and barren, just when she decided to rid herself of it she noticed something was different, it was showing signs of new life. What was thought to be of no use was budding with green leaves. What made the difference you ask? Patience, as she pondered her decission as to it’s fate nature had time to show itself in the stick in the ground; once a dry root was now teaming with life. We too must consider we are a work in progress; we must learn to be patient, God is not through with us.

Each new day we are given life brings a new experience to enhance our growth or cause stagnation. We are granted opportunities to lean into the beauty of God’s love or withdraw into the self gratifying ways of this tainted world. The decission is ours to make, our loving Father is patient not wishing any should perish, but; all to come to repentamce and receive new life through Him. Our eyes must be open to see clearly before we choose our direction, one way leads total destruction and the other to eternal life.

The Father loves all His children even though He knows many will not choose to be with Him; He sent to mankind a token of that love in His son Jesus the Christ. This gift became a willing ransom for man from the grip of sin. The penatly for sin is death, a price He paid with His own blood. Be patient and make the right choice, Philippians 1:6 says”be confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will complete it until the day when Jesus the Christ returns”. God is faithful, His love true; trust the process and allow new life to begin, life eternal.

My rervelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

See her through the eyes of love, remove the mask of a painted on smile; gaze into the eyes that cry themselves to sleep when all is quiet and the night is long. Recognize she is more than the sum of her parts, from her body springs forth life. She has many names; mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, niece and friend; each designating the role she is assigned in your life.

She represents the nurturing characteristics of the Father Creator; in her is His gentleness, kindness, sacrificing love, unconditional forgiveness, patience, and faithfulness. She fully embraces the concept of you before me, for those she loves no sacrifice is to great or problem to small if it is for her children or family members.

Her prayers never stop ascending to the Father for her family or friends who have lost their way or strayed from His care. She is by some under valued until she has faded into the mirror of time and they are left with reflections and memories. From the heavenly jewel box she was given to you, she maybe a pearl, or ruby or emerald or diamond. She could be slightly flawed, her brilliance not easily seen; yet, she is a priceless gift from the hand of a loving Father.

When you honor her you honor the Father Creator who loved you so much He gave Himself for you through the sacrificial blood shed by His son Jesus the Christ; whether mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, niece or friend when her role is finished and she exits the stage of life, you will reflect on your time with her and smile; remembering when the physical presence is gone the love lingers on.

With loving hands she was created from a rib taken from man, through her all human life began; she is adorned with modesty and good works. Early she rises to prepare for her families needs and ends her day in prayer and thanksgiving, her name is WOMAN.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

Father I come to You asking for help, I know You will know what I should do to solve the problem facing me right now. I just don’t understand the reasoning of men, the things they do just blows my mind. Sometimes explanations escape me for my own actions. It is as though even the air we breath is toxic. Everyday something new makes us wonder; where are You? So much hate is roaming the land and mans inhumanity to man is rapidly growing.

Where is the love comes to my mind? Where has it gone and how do we get it back? All questions only You can answer, please tell me what You need me to do to bring back the love we once knew. Open our eyes that we might see how we have changed our world and how wicked it has come to be. There is no safe place from the terror of hate, the young disrespect the wisdom of the aged, and those in power ignore the needs of the masses. It’s all about self seems to be the theme of the day; everyone is going their own way.

Father where do we begin? Please teach us how to love again. Remove the dark clouds covering our hearts, that we can make a new start. Forgive our indifference and ignite a desire for change; a willingness to erase another’s pain. Renew in us a right spirit and give us Your joy, let forgiveness reign in our hearts. Open our sight to the beauty of life; the rose not the thorns, the rainbow not the storm, the solution not the problem and the victory not the fight. Nothing in life comes without a price, but; You paid the cost so that we would not be lost. You came to give us abundant life, in You we rise above the pain and strife.

Father please start we me, open my eyes that I can see what I can do to honor You; teach me to go the extra step to make life better for someone else, a smile to the stranger I pass by, a desire to comfort those in need and words of kindness to speak. To pray for those who seem hard to reach, that they might find Your love and peace. I know our time is running out and soon it will be to late, but; it only takes a spark to start a flame. TEACH US TO LOVE AGAIN