The Beauty of Grace

If it were possible to take all that Christ was and is--His mercy and love, His righteousness and holiness, His power and intelligence, His creativity and wisdom--and focus all of it for the benefit of an undeserving person, we would begin to have a sense of what God's grace is all about. We would also have to consider the world He has made for us--the beautiful and colorful sights of nature; the sounds we hear and hum; food to taste and smell; the sensation of touch on our skin; and ideas expressed through words such as love, freedom, self-sacrifice, and purpose. The multifaceted expression of Gods' greatness through what He made was a gift of grace to us at the beginning of time to show us His love and favor. Then, after we humans rebelled and fell away from God, He sent His Son to redeem a fallen world back to Himself that we might personally still know Him in His fullness. This was the fullness of His grace--God's undeserved favor toward us. His serving us in generous love through a loving, humble relationship introduces us to the essence of His personality. His grace changes our lives and is the foundation for our learning to give grace to others in our relationships."

(The Ministry of Motherhood)

 

It is remarkable to me, sometimes, to consider the sheer enormity of the grace of God. Looking around at the lovely home He's given me, photographs of my children who are so precious to my heart, and even a sideward glance at my overflowing inbox with notes of love from my dear friends and so many of you whom I don't know or get to see very often can overwhelm me as I consider that all of those things come my way because of His goodness.

Romans 2:4  says, "Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" And indeed it does. God's kindness--His great love and the blessings He has sent my way--remind me on a daily basis of His grace. And His grace leads me to repentance as I know He is eager to forgive and receive me as His child.

Keeping this in mind helps me as I discipline and train my own children. It also helps me know how to deal with people, who are likely to be sinful and in need of forgiveness, just like me! If there's anything our world could use more of, it's grace. Let us purpose to look around for reminders of the grace He has already given to us, so we can offer it to those around us today.

 

Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal.....

Robie Blair--photography Colorado Springs--our view outside.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;"

This, from Peter, who was taken by surprise when Satan tempted him to despair and confusion at the cross.

Perhaps, as  mature, old-man, sweet hearted, humbled and compassionate believer, He wanted to extend His wisdom to save us unnecessary adrenalin and fretting. How kind of him.

And Peter says to us, to help us be prepared,

"Do not be surprised, as though some strange thing were happening to you."

I was realizing the other day, that at my age, I have been through so many difficulties and challenges and hard times, that one of my first reactions is, "This is familiar. Just take a deep breath and trust God and it will eventually pass and you will see His faithfulness."

Pray for firefighters

My heart is willing and is learning. But my flesh is weak. My heart wants to trust, but my heart has been saddened and I am a little weary and have been in tears, just a little. Not just from the fires, but always there are other issues, aren't there?

But, when God brought this verse to mind today, it heartened me--Peter went through so many trials and yet he said it is the testing of our faith. My hope is that in this confused time, the beauty of God's creation, our beloved city being destroyed, the fire tripling in size in the night to over 15,000 acres,

this is my place where I have the choice in the testing of my faith, to believe, to worship and to rest, as a child, in the secret places of his tent.

Prayers are so very appreciated.

I am so very sorry I have piles of emails and correspondence from the last couple of weeks that I have not answered and may never get to, as the daily life has many demands. Please, forgive me for my delinquency.

I am so very blessed by your many prayers, notes on face book, emails. The kids at Summit are all seeing Biblical messages in light of eternity and this makes it the best Christian conference they have ever been to--and their faith is soaring.

Moving prayer meetings are touching our hearts.

Seeing generosity being poured out and spending time sleeping in my dear friend's home, and the sharing of food and lives has been sweeter fellowship and deepening of friendship in ways that have deeply touched my heart.

Churches are stepping up to the bat and they are serving in the way God meant for them to.

And so, in the fiery tests, Jesus is with us and pouring grace and filling hearts and bringing all of us to worship and thanks.

Please pray--Colorado Springs on fire and homes burning--friends homes going down

Wrecks on freeway, fires in homes, friends stuck on roads evacuating, lots of confusion. Fire spreading all over the front range of the mountains and nearing Air Force Academy--God knew this would happen and He is with us, but we pray for rain, for safety, for homes to be saved and for the fire-fighters--for grace for all the children and families in the midst of it.  We just need God's mercy and redemption in this situation. Thanks for praying.

Finding My Mission

 

Like so many people today, I struggled as a young woman to know what I should do with my life. What was my purpose? What should I be doing with my time? What would be the best use of my talents and resources? At college in the 1970's, the answer to that question seemed to be, "Do whatever you want!" While it seemed fun at the time, there was still a hollowness in my soul that longed to be filled.

One day, a young lady knocked on my dorm room door and asked if I'd like to take a religious survey. Though she seemed doubtful as to my interest, I knew she'd actually come as an answer to prayer. And when she asked if I'd like to ask Jesus to forgive my sins and to live in my heart and be lord of my life, I was ready to do it. Suddenly, an entirely new avenue of possibilities was opened up to me!  The group of young people whom I gathered for Bible study with several times a week were very energetic and positive about encouraging new believers to reach out to others and pass along what we were learning. I gladly gathered a small group of new(er) believers to meet with weekly, and began to get truly excited about the possibility of using my life to help others come to know God and serve Him, too.

It struck me that just as Jesus had come into the world to teach people about God, redeem them back to him, and show them His kingdom purposes, He wanted His disciples to go into the world to do the same. Since I was a serious follower of Christ, just as the disciples were, I assumed that His purpose for them must become my purpose--to use my life to reach others for Him and to teach them what it meant to know and follow Him by understanding and obeying His Word!

One passage in particular seemed to clinch this idea for me. Matthew 28: 19-20 was a final command from Jesus to His disciples: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I comanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Jesus wasn't asking His disciples to go into all the world and set up church buildings or youth groups or Wednesday night church suppers but to make disciples--to cultivate spiritual relationships with people, to draw them to Christ and then train them to reach out to other people who would also be trained and able to make other disciples. He was entrusting the messages and work of the kingdom of God into the hands of ordinary people who had come to know His love and forgiveness."~The Ministry of Motherhood

Many years later, after discipling people all over the world through this model, Clay and I decided that if we were ever to have children, we needed to train them the same way. And so I found my mission--the same one Jesus demonstrated for His own disciples as He laid down His life for them on a moment by moment basis, loving, serving, training, healing, and finally literally giving His life on the cross for them. While discipling my children isn't likely to lead me to physical death (at least I hope not!) it has certainly been a season of giving that includes  incredible, wonderful blessings for me at the same time.

My mission is to love well the people He has entrusted to me. To demonstrate for them the love of God through beauty and grace, through meal planning and laundry and crafting fun experiences for all of us in the midst of this crazy culture we live in. To inspire them to live for God and give their own lives in His service.

Do you realize you're a mom with a mission? How are you embracing your own mission, today?

Holding Tight

News changes from minute to minute. This morning all the plans were to move people back into Manitou (Summit Ministries) and homes but now with the smoke so heavy and needing time to be sure, kids will be staying at Mountain Springs Church which is air conditioned and Summit isn't--and we have record breaking 100 degree weather predicted off and on for the next 6 days.

In the midst, lives are being changed, people are evaluating their lives and God is on His throne. I am thankful for the sweet fellowship I am having in the midst with so many great-souled people and love having friends in my home and love having friends who are all reaching out. Onward!

Fire, evacuation and perspective

A picture from my bedroom toward the mountains that Joel took.

With the smoke and the mountains, fire and sunset, there is still beauty.

As  many of you know from my facebook picture. The fires have attacked our wonderful city and area. Joy is presently attending Summit Ministries Conference in Manitou Springs and all of the kids have been evacuated to a local church and are safe, praise God.

Many of our friends have had to evacuate their homes and we will be keeping a family this week.

Please pray for God to send rain.

To protect the homes near the forest.

To keep the firemen and women safe--we have a friend who is there now.

Pray, Pray that God will protect Glen Eyrie, the Navigator Headquarters and retreat center  from burning as it backs up to the mountains that are burning.

Please pray for God to protect Summit Ministries buildings and dorms and all the other Christian ministries close by.

God is with all of us and He is in control and He is giving us all thoughts about eternity and about what really matters.

The Lord is indeed near. Peace to us all.

Home--a haven in the midst of life

Helen Allingham

"Home is a haven from a world that is swimming with challenges and difficulty. It is a school where one learns how precious life is intended to be. It provides the context of learning to know and love my Creator, the beauty of the world He made, and His Word, which guides me. And it is the environment where direction and purpose and values are passed from generation to generation, protecting and preserving all that is precious in life."

Mission of Motherhood chapter 9

Sally C. :) Have a blessed weekend

Answers Come as We Walk With the Lord

Cornelis Pietersz Bega

Isn't it difficult sometimes to be a mom? There are so many questions along our journey. We all long to be given concrete answers. I have been asked many questions over the years. Moms want to know how to deal with their toddler's whining, their teenager's rebellion, their elementary-school student's math problems. They want me to tell them just what to do to solve the problems they face.

I wish it were possible for me to help everyone! But the truth is, each problem you encounter in your own family has an individual answer. I can give you advice, direct you to scriptures, and share what has worked in my own home--but that still won't tell you exactly how to handle yours! It's not possible for me to know what you should do, because I am not aware of every detail that touches your particular situation. And if I did, I would be cheating you out of the opportunity the Lord is presenting through this problem, for you to interact with Him to receive His answer for it.

"There so many books on motherhood that focus on how to's and often end up in formulaic philosophies about how to do it right. But most of these books, although they offer some wise principles to follow, do not exactly fit my circumstances or tell me how to handle my unique problems and stresses. There is no book or speaker that can inform me about precisely what to do to make the right decisions I need to make as a mom.

Many times, during my own years of mothering, I would find myself on my knees before the Lord with a problem, struggle, or dilemma to solve, having come to the end of my own rope. What should I do about my child's asthma attacks? How should I handle my child's loneliness? Tantrums? The family member who causes so much stress? My lack of support systems? My struggles in marriage? My own loneliness? Depression? Moves? Financial problems? My child's disability?

As I began to read scripture more and understand my relationship with the Lord better, I realized that God didn't clearly define every issue of family life or parenting in the Bible. Since I know that God is thorough and good and providential over each day of my life, I figured He hadn't just forgotten to put all the rules in His Word.

Instead, I began to understand that even as He asked me to live my life by faith, based on the wisdom of Scripture and my relationship with Him, so He intended me to walk this journey of motherhood the same way. I was to walk by faith and with wisdom,. through the guidance I found by knowing Him and His ways, becoming obedient to His principles, praying for wisdom and then learning to walk each day by confidence and assurance with Him, resting in His promises, His dependable character, and in His provision."

This is His plan for all of us--that we take our cares and cast them upon Him; that we seek His wisdom and grow closer to Him through the challenges we face. Is there something troubling you, sweet mom, that no one seems to have the answer for? Ask your Father. He longs to guide you as you walk with Him.

Why I love to think about Dancing with my Heavenly Father

"If we're not supposed to dance, why all this music?"  

Gregory Orr

We were created to dance, to laugh, to love, to enjoy, to hug and hold hands and to find joy in life--

because He, who is the Great Artist, crafted life to be filled with hidden pleasures,

sparkling treasures,

deep fulfillment and smiles and thankful hearts and fulfilled dreams--happiness and joy.

Yet, sometimes the melody is hidden or overpowered by the noise that surrounds us, is it not?

Who makes the noise of the world so loud that, at times, we do not even notice the music or acknowledge it's reality?

Who would want us not to dance, not to listen, not to engage in the joy?

We must not give in to this dark side, that creates the cacophony to blot out all of the alluring, dazzling, delightful, pleasing, heavenly music.

But, if indeed, when God imagined us and longed to grant us beauty,

If God created life such as this--one in which there is so much soul wrenching, toe tapping, love-giving, comfort making music,

our deepest souls were also made to dance and to enter into and engage in the divine symphony, irresistable rhythms, haunting, memorable melodies, the harmonies,  that He has surrounded us with all the time, every day.

May God grant us ears to hear, hearts to perceive and a willingness to dance with all of our might.

But perhaps we must remember,

Unless one becomes as a child, he cannot experience the kingdom of heaven--or hear the sounds of the music He is playing for us, even now.