Grace For the Moment

Corrie Ten Boom shares,

"When I was a little girl, " I said, "I went to my father and said,
"Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ."
"Tell me," said Father,
"When you take a train trip to Amsterdam,
when do I give you the money for the ticket?
Three weeks before?"

"No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train."

"That is right," my father said, "and so it is with God's strength.
Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ.
He will supply all you need – just in time…"

I find this story encouraging and comforting, not only because of the truthful promise found in it but because it brings to mind the countless times God has given me what I like to call, "grace for the moment".

I've spoken Lamentations 3:22-23 to myself on many occasions- "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." The reality of that Truth brings so much joy and peace to my weak soul. I find hope in remembering that God strengthens my days through His grace and mercy and lavishes upon me His unending love every day anew.

But it goes even further than that. God has promised to give me GRACE for EVERY situation that I encounter. But you see, what I fail to remember, is that He promises to give it to me when I need it. How often I try and borrow grace for the future, today. I look to an event, problem or situation in the future and try to ponder how it will play out or work out today. The result? Worry, fear, and overwhelming anxiety. If only I had listened to my Savior's words in Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." We must live in TODAY and rely on the Lord's grace He has given us for that day, for that moment, and trust that He will equip where HE calls.

Although I may not be facing martyrdom as Corrie was, I can learn from the wisdom she shares; God will give us the grace we need for the moment. He will never lead us where HE won't guide. He will never ask of us where He will not provide. He will never allow us to suffer, hurt, or despair more than we can bear. And he will never call without equipping us. Our God is good. He is faithful. He is PERFECT in ALL His ways. We must rest in that reality and rest in the grace He has given us for that moment; always trusting He'll supply all we need WHEN we need it. "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."- Philippians 4:19

Death for the Christian

Death...there seems to be a painful ring to that word. It is something not often discussed and yet a large part of reality each of us face. The truth fails to grasp our thoughts and quickly exits our minds as it enters. Let's face it, we really want nothing to do with talking about it. Although we know it is a fact, it is a fact we'd rather shy away from bringing up. And yet for the Christian this should not be the case. Paul himself said, "To live is Christ and to DIE is gain!" (Philippians 1:8). Or in Ecclesiastes 3:2, Solomon reminds us that there is "A time to be born, and a time to die". Death was not a foreign concept to the men and women of faith of old. James Smith said, "To the true Christian, sudden death--is sudden glory! The soul departs to be with Christ--which is far better than remaining here on this poor earth." John Owen, "We cannot enjoy peace in this world unless we are ready to yield to the will of God in respect of death. Our times are in His hand, at His sovereign disposal. We must accept that as best." And the list goes on. Death is real and for the Christian, death is GOOD!

Before you think I'm crazy, think about the reality of what death ends and what it brings. For the Christian death is the realization of faith in its most pure and perfect sense. Death is the moment of redemption from the fleshly body that we are entangled in. Death is the ultimate joy as we stand in the presence of the Almighty. Death is hope realized, promises made a reality...death is freedom.

I am not advocating that we be longing to die but rather that we continually hope in what is to come, remembering that we are merely passing through this world until we are finally home. Thinking about the reality of death however keeps us focused on our mission here, glorifying God in all we do as we seek to walk in a manner worthy of what we have been called. We are here to be lights in a dark and fallen world and to be vessels of honor for Him. Our days are numbered, short at that, and therefore we are to make the most of every opportunity as God could call us home at ANY moment. We are far from immutable and fully dependent on the Lord for every breath we take. Our prayer should be as Paul's was, we should LONG to be at home with the Father, to depart from here knowing that to die is gain...and yet find joy in knowing that we are here for a purpose and a reason, and that to live IS Christ!

Death for the Christian is more than a reality as it is for all of humanity; it is a blessed promise of hope fulfilled, joy made complete, and perfection realized as we enter into eternal glory with our Beloved Father!

Look UP!

I subscribe to a daily devotional blog, Grace Gems (which I HIGHLY recommend-http://gracegems.org/), that is beyond encouraging. Each morning I read something that challenges, encourages, or reminds me through the precious Word of God. Recently, I received a devotion from the Puritan James Smith called "New Year's Motto"...a fitting title for the reminder He provided through the Word.

Smith began with this verse:"Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!" Luke 21:28

This precious reminder served as an encouragement and yet convicting exhortation to me as I mulled over the devo. I found myself recognizing how often I look back or I look forward or I even look in the moment instead of looking UP...looking UP at the precious Savior, the perfect One, the sovereign God, and trusting Him!

The year will be full of trials, testings, blessings, gifts, challenges, and much sanctification and yet in it all, the hope I have will never change although many things will. In whatever circumstance I might find myself in, I must continue to look UP. I must look UP to find peace, look UP to find grace, look UP to find love, look UP to find mercy, look UP to find direction, look UP to find satisfaction. For it is He who is guiding, He who is working, He who is protecting and providing, therefore why would I ever look anywhere else.

In whatever state, in whatever place, into whatever condition we may be brought this year--let us seek grace to follow our Lord's loving advice, and "look up!"

Do not look back--as Lot's wife did.

Do not look within--as too many do.

Do not look around--as David did.

But "look up!" Look up to God--He is your Father, your Friend, your Savior. He can help you. He will help you. He says, "Look unto Me, and be delivered--for I am God!"

My prayer is the same for each of us- that we would LOOK UP this year as we continue to run the race to win the prize that will far outweigh everything this earth has to offer!

I Shall Not Be In Want

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. --Pslam 23:1

Stop for a moment and think about that phrase...the Lord is my shepherd, I shall NOT want. The truth in that small statement is a lesson that takes the believer a lifetime to master; for it will not be until we are in heaven, made perfect, that we will be fully content, fully satisfied, and "FULL" in Him.

I remember memorizing this verse as a kindergarten student at the Christian school I went to. We would recite it as an entire school every week, and yet I hadn't even begun to understand what I was saying. My words had not been the meditation of my heart and mind. As the years went on, the more I read the verse, the more I began to feel the weight of the statement. I saw the reality that if I truly believed I had EVERYTHING in Christ, I would be fully content in whatever my lot in life, full and not in want. And yet my life was not marked by this attitude continually. Although I was His, I failed to take advantage of the blessing of having everything I needed for life and godliness. And then in 2006 I faced a trial that forced me to cry out this prayer and trust and live it. I had always been dependent on him and he was always all I needed but now that reality was staring me right in the face.

Since then I have found the power in believing and pursing the faith that allows you to live this truth out. When you live knowing He is all you need and in him you have all things, you want nothing more...you are full and satisfied. You find joy in every circumstance and live faithfully in the moment. It is a daily battle to keep your eyes fixed on Him, to trust His providence, and to live with faith like this but with Him it is possible. Our hearts must desire, as believers, to be made full in Him, and strive to do that. When we find ourselves lacking joy or hope or in despair and discontent we must refocus and remember that THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD...and when we do this, when we have our hearts fixed and full in Him, WE SHALL NOT BE IN WANT...no matter what our lot.