All is Grace

We Won't Stop

 "We won’t stop confessing He is good and we won’t stop thanking Him for grace and we won’t stop holding out our hands — and taking His hand. We won’t stop believing that “God is good” is not some trite quip for the good days but a radical defiant cry for the terrible days."  Ann Voskamp


  When I first read the above words, they struck me straight to my soul and I embraced them. I have made them my Thanksgiving 2013 rally call.

 "WE WON'T STOP!"........."GOD IS GOOD! "........we will CONFESS it.......we will THANK Him......we will HOLD OUT OUR HANDS expecting good to come from Him.........we will BELIEVE He is good and that He will bring about good......WE WON'T STOP!

 2013 has not been the best of years for us, in fact at present it has been the worst of years. Don't get me wrong or think me ungrateful,we do have a lot to be thankful for and we are thankful.

  We have a roof over our head, we have food in the cupboard, we have jobs, we have each other. Adam came home from Afghanistan, we have breathe in our lungs, we have blood coursing through our veins, and we are blessed.

  But even so, 2013 has been the worst of years.

 We lost precious things in 2013. Things that cannot be replaced this side of heaven.  We lost Melanie, and we lost Allen, we lost innocence, and for a time we lost hope, we lost direction, and we lost joy......it has been a year of loss. But in that year of loss we found grace. Abundant grace. Poured out upon us. Grace that drove us to God, drove us to our knees, drove us to His word, grace that opened our eyes, opened our clenched tight fists and split open our hearts.
   And grace, if received, counters all loss. Grace if received brings back hope, finds joy. In this year of 2013 we learned that ALL IS GRACE. It was a hard lesson, and one we are still working through, still processing, but one we believe and embrace. ALL IS GRACE, even the hard things, even the things that you don't want, the things you want to cast aside and run from.

  In all this soul searching brought about this year, I have not yet found the answer to the question most asked. I am asked it often by others, and I have asked it often myself....that single two word question......that question that I am willing to bet every single living human being has asked......."Why God?". I have found many responses to this question, many that make sense and may very well be right, but no concrete answer, and each time I sought the answer to this question I was driven to know more of God. Who is He, what is He. Who does He say that He is.

 He says that He created everything that exists. And that it was good.
 He calls himself the "I AM."
 He says that He saves His people.
 He says we who call upon His name are to call Him our Father
 He says that He alone is God and there is no other.
 He says that He is good.
 He says that He is faithful.
 He says that He loved us enough to die for us.
 He says  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
 He says No one has ever seen Him. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

 The list could go on and on and on again.........read His word and see for yourself what He declares.

So although I have not found the answer to the question we ask when we are hurting, when things seem to be all wrong and twisted and upside down, this WHY GOD that we cry out, perhaps it is not meant to be found this side of heaven, I have found enough to put the question to rest in my soul. I do not even ask it anymore. When I feel it starting to bubble up inside me, when the urge to cry it out to the heavens begins......I pause and say "I don't understand Lord, but I trust You.....I believe....help my unbelief."

   By His declaration and by past experience, I have found that God is good. He has plans for us, plans for good and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope. Plans to cause all things to work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Personally I think the biggest problem for most of us who call upon the name of the Lord, is that we continue to look for that future and that hope right here on earth, and when bad things happen we are left wondering why. This life here is not what God is preparing for us. Here there will be good times and bad, here we will find precious things and we will lose them. Here we will experience great happiness and great sorrow.....but it is there that we must set our eyes on. When we set our eyes on there, everything here begins to make more sense, begins to be bearable.



 So this Thursday we will host the Thanksgiving dinner in our home and we will gather, with family around the table, where we will feast, we will fellowship, we will laugh and we will love, and we will believe that our God is good, and that all He is doing is good and all that He has allowed is good and that one day we will see this clearly. We will believe the things He has promised. We will trust in the only One who is trustworthy. We will rejoice in His presence. We will remember the ones who have left us, and we will feel sorrow in their absence, but as we mourn we will also remember the one who visited our dreams, and her words......"its gonna be okay Ma, its gonna be more than okay."


"Though He slay me.....yet will I trust Him."


 ALL IS GRACE MY FRIENDS..........ITS ALL GRACE







 Quote is from the blog of Ann Voskamp. I urge you to follow her blog, it has been a great blessing to me. http://http//www.aholyexperience.com/2013/11/why-the-best-response-to-life-the-holidays-anything-is-yada-yada-yada/








All of Creation

I would begin this post by thanking my Facebook friend Chipster, as it was several posts that he did today that led to this posting.

 A few months ago I was sitting outside, praying, my heart was discouraged and I felt a call to be still and listen. I closed my eyes and opened my ears, and I could hear the wind as it gently stirred the branches of the Sycamore tree I was sitting under, and all of a sudden, it was as if the trees were singing. Each one had a slightly different sound to it, the Sycamore the loudest, the pines more stoic and reserved, and the Japenese Maple very gentle.........and my heart was lifted and I was filled with a sense of wonder, at how all of creation really does praise Him!

 My friend posted two Psalms. Psalm 19 and Psalm 148. Read through them, let the words of the Psalms resonate with your soul. And then listen to some of the wonderful sounds of nature lifting its voice in song to the King!

Psalm 19

 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky aboveproclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech,and night to night reveals knowledge.There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens,and its circuit to the end of them,and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

 The law of the Lord is perfect,reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;  the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
the rulesof the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned;in keeping them there is great reward.

 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!  Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together,
old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints,for the people of Israel who are near to him! Praise the Lord!

Crickets and female opera singer (slowed) Thank you Chipster!

 

Trees and Wind

Earth sounds

Sun sounds

Moon sounds

 

And the best saved for last, Louie Giglio combined the radio waves from pulsating stars, with the sound of whales and human voice in praise. The video is 14 minutes long, but it is 14 minutes well spent. (Thanks Chipster for sharing this one! It is awesome!)

His Peace.........We Give Thanks

Today I give thanks for His peace, without which I would most likely be a quivering mass of tissue lying in a heap on the floor, weeping, wailing and worrying.

Peter was asleep in prison, slated to be put to death the next day, chained to his guards....at peace...asleep, when the angel of the Lord smacked him on the side and said GET UP PETER! ( the peace of God)

What is the peace of Christ?

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Definitions of His peace:

 "The peace of Christ is a feeling of peace that is given to us by Christ when we trust — not our circumstances — but all that God promises to be to us in Christ."

"Peace is a gift from Christ, you can’t earn it. Only He can grants such a gift because He is in control of all things. We must believe in the sovereignty of God, learn to let go and leave our burdens with Him, and take the gift of peace by faith."

 The world defines peace as surroundings or circumstances, such as the absence of conflict, or the absence of noise and chaos or troubles and worries.  Yet when we study the words of our Lord we can easily determine that this was not what He meant by peace.

A peaceful place ( How the world defines peace)

"In this world you WILL have trouble." But in the midst of that trouble, it is possible to be at peace, to be at rest, to trust and to have joy.

A peaceful person (How the world defines peace)

Lord, I give thanks today for Your peace, which does indeed transcend all understanding. May it guard the hearts and minds of all Your people today. In those moments where we lose sight of it, and begin to slip into fear, or worry, or anger.....remind us of Your promises, remind us of who You are and of who we are in relation to You, so that we can come quickly back to that place of perfect peace.



The Last Prayer depicts Christians praying as they meet their death in the arena. (the peace of God)

Have a blessed day everyone. May our God meet you today, right where you are, and may He provide for your needs, may He shoulder your burdens as you walk out your faith and if you know Him not, if this peace of which I speak is unknown to you, may He open your eyes, your ears and your heart that you might know Him, and the peace which He provides to those who do.

Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer being prepared for burning at the stake. As he was tied to the stake to be burned, Latimer said these words "

“Oh, heavenly Father, I give unto thee most hearty thanks that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee, even unto death. I beseech thee, Lord God, have mercy on this realm of England, and deliver it from all her enemies.”

As the flames took them, Latimer said to Ridley these words "

“Be of good comfort, Mr. Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out.”  (the peace of God)



The Song, "It Is Well With My Soul" was written by Horatio Spafford in 1873 after the tragic loss of his four daughters at sea.He wrote it on the ocean while sailing near the spot where his daughters died.(the peace of God)


  1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
    When sorrows like sea billows roll;
    Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.
    • Refrain:
      It is well, with my soul,
      It is well, it is well, with my soul.
  2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
    Let this blest assurance control,
    That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
    And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
  3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
    My sin, not in part but the whole,
    Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
  4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
    If Jordan above me shall roll,
    No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
    Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
  5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
    The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
    Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
    Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
  6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
    The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
    The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
    Even so, it is well with my soul.



Your Righteousness Is Like the Mighty Mountain

I have had this one song stuck in my head for days now, my heart sings it over and over, and unlike those silly commercial jingles that sometimes get stuck in there, this one does not bother me. I love having it in there.
 On Saturday I was in my kitchen, cooking breakfast and this song started playing. I was singing along and just as I begin to sing "Your righteousness is like the might mountain", I glanced out my patio window at the beautiful Sandia Mountains, and there was a hawk up in the sky, what a beautiful sight, mighty mountains and a majestic hawk.


(This is not a photo of the hawk I saw, nor even the mountain I was looking at, but it gives an idea)


Your Love, Oh Lord
Reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness
Stretches to the skies
Your righteousness
Is like the mighty mountain
Your justice flows like the ocean's tide

I will lift my voice
To worship You my King
And I will find my strength
In the shadow of Your wings

Your Love, Oh Lord
Reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness
Stretches to the skies
Your righteousness
Is like the mighty mountain
Your justice flows like the ocean's tide

I will lift my voice
To worship You my King
And I will find my strength
In the shadow of Your wings

Your Love, Oh Lord
Reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness
Stretches to the skies



The Redeemed Thief

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

  The Bible does not tell us who these men were, that hung on crosses next to our Lord, we know only that one now resides with Christ in paradise, and the other does not.

  Some people tend to have their opinions regarding who goes to heaven and who does not. I have heard callous and cruel people inform people that their loved ones now reside in hell. What a terrible thing to say to someone. My question to such people is "how do you know this?" "Do you claim to know the mind of God"?

 It would seem from the story of the thief on the cross that it is possible for someone to live a life of evil, and in their final moments God speaks, God moves, and their eyes are open and they believe. It is pretty obvious from the scriptures that this thief did not serve God, and upon believeing he had no oppurtunity to remedy that problem.

Today I was thinking about the loved ones of the repentant thief. Perhaps they were in the crowd watching the scene. I wonder about his mother, did she go to her grave thinking her son was lost forever, seeing him live his life apart from God, seeing him break the law day after day, until one day they came to her home, and took him out in chains.

 Did she watch her son as he stumbled along the road to Golgotha, her heart breaking? Or was she able to hear the words of the God man, whispered to her child......."Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise"? It is all specualtion but it is very possible that this man's loved ones had no evidence whatsoever of the final destination of their loved one.

 Maybe she did not even know about the death of her son until later, perhaps people came to her home and informed her that her child had been crucified a criminal. We can specualte that if she did not hear the words of the Lord to her son, she would have believed the worst for her own. He had broken God's commands and the commands of the state and died a sinners death on an instrument of torture.

 The story of the thief on the cross, and of his transformation from mocking thief to a believer in Christ, always gives me great hope. It does not matter how bad things may seem. Our God is a gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. If He reached out, in the midst of His own physical suffering that day, and granted eternal life to this man, this man who had never done anything of value that we are aware of, then we can have assurance that He still does so today to people that we love.

 

 Never give up hope, continue to pray always for those you love, even if they mock God, even if they mock you. God seems to enjoy delivering people like this........he delivered me!

Thief by Third Day

I am a thief, I am a murderer
Walking up this lonely hill
What have I done? I don't remember
No one knows just how I feel
and I know that my time is coming soon.
It's been so long. Oh, such a long time
Since I've lived with peace and rest
Now I am here, my destination
guess things work for the best
and I know that my time is coming soon
Who is this man? This man beside me

They call the King of the Jews
They don't believe that He's the Messiah
But, somehow I know it's true.
And they laugh at Him in mockery,
and beat Him till he bleeds
They nail Him to the rugged cross,
and raise Him, they raise Him up next to me
My time has come, I'm slowly fading
I deserve what I receive

Jesus when You are in Your kingdom
Could You please remember me
and He looks at me still holding on
the tears fall from His eyes
He says I tell the truth
Today, you will live with Me in paradise
and I know that my time is coming soon
and I know paradise is coming soon.