Sufficient Grace, Perfect Power

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

After finishing my devotion tonight, I scanned my Bible for highlighted verses. Every now and again I like to re-read highlighted verses to test my memory-which sucks-and to etch them into my heart, my mind, and my soul. 2 Corinthians 12: 9 caught my eye tonight...umm, well this morning seeing as how it's 3:41 am. I've read and heard this scripture a hundred times. I thought I understood it. I mean, it's pretty straight forward, right? God's grace is enough and when we're weak He's strong. Yeah...well, that barely scratches the surface. Stay with me...

Me being a sucker for words, I pulled out my old, red, faded, smells like a library friend, Merriam Webster and looked up the definitions of the key words of the verse. Here's your English lesson for the week. Definitions according to Merriam:

Grace: unmerited divine assistance given man for his regeneration or sanctification.

Sufficient: enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end.

Power: ability to act or produce an effect; possession of control, authority, or influence over others; physical might; mental or moral efficacy.

Perfect: being entirely without fault or defect; satisfying all requirements.

Weakness: the quality or state of being weak. Weak: lacking strength; not able to resist external force or withstand attack.

These are common words. But words are much more dynamic when we move past simple context and disect their true meanings. The other day my daughter asked me what inevitable means. I know how to use the word in context, but I fumbled to tell her the actual meaning of the word. I'm sure I confused the poor girl. The incident reminded me that words are more meaningful when we truely understand their meanings...understand what I mean? These five words alone pack punches. But when I connected the meanings of each word, this verse came alive to me in a whole other light.

When we don't have the strength to withstand the enemy's attacks, with grace, God provides supernatural help that's more than enough to meet our needs. When we are weak, without strength, tired, unable to resist temptation, or any other dagger Satan throws our way, and we rely on God, His magnificent power has the opportunity to activate and take control over us and whatever attack we face. When we have no strength left of our own, God's power takes over. Whew. That's a load.

The world we live in tells us weakness is a bad thing. But in God's universe, the spiritiual world where our hearts and souls dwell, it's in weakness that we're overtaken by a power like no other. The power that called the earth into exisitence. The power that heals. The power that strengthens. The power that conquered death. The power that cleanses. Oh, the power of my God!

My prayer is that in those many, many moments when I feel I'm at my weakest point, I call on and rely upon the sufficient grace and perfect power of my God to overtake and empower me. May I never become so absorbed and entangled in my own strength that I block God from exerting His power in my life.

Everlasting Comfort

Man, oh man. Did I ever wake up on the wrong side of bed this morning. These are the kind of mornings I wish I had a do over button so I can start all over. As soon as my alarm went off, the first thought I had was, don't get up, stay in bed, this is gonna be a bad day, don't go to work, stay home and sleep. That was mistake number one. I allowed my mindset to dictate my morning...and a rough morning it's been. Not because of any disastrous incident, I'm just in a crappy mood for no particular reason (that I can identify). Any and everything and person that has come across my path has irritated me. My poor kids were on my short list before they even spoke words. Thoughts have been thunk, time has been wasted, fellow motorists have been yelled at. If someone said 'good morning,' in my head I thought whatever dude, not in the mood, is it really necessary to say good morning every morning, I'm not having a good morning, so is it really appropriate for me to say good morning to you?? Do I wanna say good morning to you??? NO!!...

And down fall the tears. Crappin' tears. Didn't know why I was crying. Probably all the stuff on my plate has taken a toll on me and I just needed to release some of the stuff I've been holding in. So, in addition to the bad hair day, I've got puffy, red, itchy eyes. Lovely, huh?

So, I'm crying my heart out to God. Asking for forgivess. Begging for comfort. Thanking and praising God for all He's blessed me with. I turn the praise & worship music loud. I sing. I'm determined to sing. When I don't know words to pray, I sing. When I'm feeling emotions I can't process I sing. Then I feel the spirit tell me to grab my phone and open my Bible app. I never read the daily plan. I was led to read it today. The last verses of the four or five chapters of reading from the old and new testaments helped instantly change my mood....

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself and God our Father Who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

That verse is so awesome to me. I needed comfort. God reminded me of the comfort He already gave me because He loved me. I'm not crying anymore. As I type this, I'm smiling. I'm smiling because my heart is happy again. The amplified version says 'everlasting consolation and encouragement' in place of 'eternal comfort and good hope.' We all need encouragement along the way. Sometimes the encouragment we get from other people wans aways and there's not always enough to carry us until we hear the next 'keep going, you'll be okay, don't stop now.'

But God's comfort and encouragment is everlasting. That means it doesn't run out, it's always there. He's always there...nudging and carrying us along. Through God, we have a lifetime supply of encouragement and comfort. So, no matter how horrible the season we're in, no matter how dreary the outcome seems, no matter how dark the night is, God is there to comfort and encourage you. How amazing is that? 

What's even more awesomer is the fact that God gave us comfort and encourement through grace. Grace us unmerited favor. That means, there's nothing we can do to earn it. If there's nothing we can do to earn it, I'm pretty sure there's nothing we can do that would cause us to lose it. After all, he gave it to us...it's ours.

Today is going to be a good day!

HEAR, RETAIN, PERSEVERE

"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." Luke 8:15

This week during my daughter's, Girl Scout meeting, she had to plant a daisy. The other girls in her troop planted their dasies at the previous meeting which Mo missed. The girls brought their daisy plants from home to share with each other how the plants were growing. The other girls' plants had begun to sprout. Looking at her plant in comparison to the other girls' Mo looked in disgust and said, "I just have dirt, nothing grew yet." She's six years old. She has planted seeds before and the logical part of her brain understands seeds need time, water, and light to grow. She knows if you plant a seed today it will not sprout today. Nevertheless, Mo’s natural tendency was not to respond with logic first, but rather emotion.

The "all I have is dirt" comment got me to thinking about my walk with God. Sometimes I feel like all I have is dirt. When I look at other people's lives around me, from the surface most of them seem to have all their ducks in a row. Faith and walk with God strong-check. Ability to quote scripture like it's written on their arms-check. Ability to pray and pray and pray without effort-check. I can't do any of those things. It's really hard for me to study God's word because I'm attention challenged which makes it difficult for me to stay focused on any one task for extended periods. Seriously, I have the attention span of a five year old.  My memory sucks, so remembering specific Bible verses is near impossible for me. I think I can write, but I lack the ability to clearly articulate my thoughts orally, so praying is hard too. My false impression that I cannot do these things  as well as my neighbor sometimes makes me feel like a seed in dirt that hasn't taken root yet.

While I may not be as advanced in my faith and walk in Christ as I think I should be, I know who I am and what my roots are. I’m confident that I am growing and new leaves are spouting each day. I know this because each day it becomes easier and easier for me to neglect my flesh and obey God's commands. Each day I see growth in some area of my life. I'm persuaded that I’m growing at God’s speed because I’m not the person I was a year ago. My faith is deeper. See, even if I lack the natural ability to sit in quiet devotion for an hour everyday, I know God sees my heart and desire to live in His will and follow His commands. I know that everyday, every word of God I read is cemented into my memory bank and when it’s time for me to use a certain word or principle of my faith, God will bring it to the forefront of my brain as necessary.
 
When Moriah said all she had was dirt, I asked her what plants need to help them grow. She said, "Water and light." Absolutely. God's word is our water. He is our light. In Luke 8:1-15, Jesus shares the parable of the sower. I encourage you to read it. In sum, the sower scattered seeds that landed in various places.  Only the seed that fell on good soil resulted in a bountiful crop. In verse 15, Jesus tells us the good soil represents those with a good and noble heart who: hear the word, retain the word, and persevere.

Hear. Retain. Persevere. To hear is to listen and pay attention to. To retain is to continue to use or practice. To persevere means to persist or to continue with a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles or discouragement. Hear. Retain. Persevere. Now, I'm no expert, pastor, or teacher. But for me, these three words tell me exactly what my goals should be when I am studying God's word. My ultimate goal is a closer walk with God while I‘m here on earth until I make it to heaven. In order to maintain our walk with God, we must be rooted in His word. I believe the way we become rooted in the word of God is to actively hear, retain and persevere.

Hear. Read your Bible and other study material aloud. Reading aloud encourages better listening skills, and comprehension. When you read aloud, there’s an increased chance that you’ll actually read as opposed to just glaring or skipping over words. As you read, make an intentional effort to listen to what you read.

Retain. I think it’s common for people to think retain and memory are one in the same. They are not.  Retain is a verb.  Memory is a noun. After you’ve read God’s word aloud, you have to do something with it. You can file it away in your memory bank for later days, or you can begin to incorporate what you’ve learned into your everyday life. My memory sucks, remember? For me the best way to remember something is to practice it regularly or write it two or three times. If I can’t practice what I’ve learned, I tend to forget about it. I know it’s all tucked away in some deep dark cobwebbed corner of my brain, but if I don't use it, I tend to lose it. The Bible is huge. Obviously, God doesn’t expect us to remember it verbatim. But if everyday, little by little, concept by concept, command by command we purpose to apply what we’ve learned by living it, we’ll begin to grow and all those lessons become habits, second nature. So, lets put less focus on memory and more focus on retaining (practicing) the Word of God in our day to day lives.

Persevere. Perseverance is a  big word I learned in 2nd or 3rd grade. Aesop’s Fables. It’s the story of the crow, the pitcher, the water, and the pebbles. That crow refused to give up, even when the task he faced seemed impossible; he was determined to have success. Little by little, pebble by pebble, eventually the crow got what he so desperately desired-the water which was once at the bottom of the pitcher. Life isn’t easy. We all experience difficulty, hurdles, pain, hurt, and disappointment. We all have our crosses to bear. But our crosses pale in comparison to the one Jesus bore for us. Even during our darkest hours, we must remember what we are here to do and where we are going when we leave this earth. We are here to bring glory to God. We are striving to keep his commands. This life is just the road we must travel in order to reach our final destination-heaven. Keep going. Remember your purpose and the ultimate goal. Remember that no matter how rocky your road gets, you gotta press through and continue on the journey with unwavering determination, knowing that with each sunrise and sunset you are one day closer to spending eternity with our Father.

I want to be that seed that fell in the good soil. I want to reap bountiful crops. How blessed are we to serve a God who gives us all the answers we need and doesn’t confuse us with riddles and tricks. Jesus took a layered concept and broke it down in three simple words so the likes of simple people like me can understand and grow bountiful crops…HEAR, RETAIN, PERSEVERE.

Nothing without God

"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me." John 5:30

These are the words of Jesus. He was responding to the Jews' (His people) accusations of Him not observing the Sabbath and calling Himself the Son of God. Jesus acknowledged the fact the He was God's Son, was sent to do God's work, and that He didn't work without God.

One theme in this chapter is the fact that we can do nothing without God. So, when I'm high on life and feelin' myself because of some minor or major accomplishment, this scripture serves to remind me that without God, I can do nothing. For it is God who gives gifts. God provides strength. God assigns talents. God has the vision and simply uses me as a tool to accomplish the work He purposed for me. This passage helps deflate a bloated head. It reminds me to stay humble.

"...The Son can do nothing by Himself; He can only do what He sees his father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." John 5:19

For me, as a parent another theme that seems to resonate throughout the fifth chapter of John is the parent/child relationship. Jesus says He does what He sees His Father (God) doing. This reminds me that I have to be mindful of my behavior and the words I speak around my children because they are watching me and will emulate the way I behave, treat others, and speak.

One dynamic of the parent/child relationship is the child's seemingly natural desire to please their parents. Children need their parents' approval to help validate them, it shapes their self-esteem, and encourages them. Most children will do whatever it takes to hear their mom and dad say "good job, I'm so proud of you." I don't think kids ever really outgrow the need and desire to please their parents. I certainly haven't. When I accomplish a goal or do something I think is pretty awesome, my mom is usually one of the first persons I call. When I make choices that I know disappoint my mom, I feel horrible and ashamed and hope she doesn't find out. I think in some ways, our natural desire to please our parents is similar to our spiritual desire to please our Heavenly Father.

As great as it feels to indulge self, Jesus reminds us that our goal should be to please God our Father. The moment we get caught up in ourselves, we begin to forget that our goal should be to please God. When we are not pleasing God we are pleasing ourselves. When we are pleasing ourselves, we indulge our flesh which makes us more susceptible to temptation and eventually to sin. Here's how I see it: if we strive to please God in everything we do, we will push ourselves to to the very best we can...in everything. If we do the very best we can do in every area of our lives, it can only lead to eventual success. Whether in our families, the workplace, our friendships, churches or schools, if our ultimate goal is to please God, then we have no choice but to put forth our best effort. Here's what's awesome~as we please God, not only do we feel good, but He'll bless us too. When my daughters do something that makes me proud, one of my first inclinations is to reward them for their effort. If we mere mortal people want to reward our children when they please us, can you imagine how much more our God desires to reward us when we seek to please Him and do His will? I can't even fathom what it'll be like when I meet my Father in Heaven, and he says to me "well done, my good and faithful servant."

Beautiful Woman

Look up you beautiful Daughter of God;
It's His cloak under which you're shod.
His DNA is embedded within you;
Look not to man, but to God to discover your value.

You are God's perfect creation;
Your joy and success serves as His inspiration.
He made you just as you ought to be;
Wonderfully, beautifully, spiritually, incredibly.

Without makeup, all naturale your face simply glows;
When your skin is bare your unmatched beauty truely shows.
Every scar, spot, pore, and freckle;
Like specks of color on the orchid's petal.

Hair short and straight or curly and long;
Each strand He purposely placed like notes in a song.
Updo or down, locks or braids;
Your hair is His gift which no product or chemical can upgrade.

Your body is flawless, every curve and dimple
Stunningly decorates your body, God's temple.
Each and every stretchmark, mole, and vein colored blue;
Souvenirs of your journey, reminders of what you've been through.

Woman of beauty, look in the mirror. What do you see?
When God gazes upon you, He sees His masterpiece.
Go on, look. You're staring at a work of art;
A woman fashioned after God's own heart.
Now, head up and back straight. Own your part.
Beautiful Daughter of God, see yourself as God sees you-a beautiful woman,
created in His image, a beautiful work of art.

~Darlene, 2/28/12

Good Samaritans

A couple of weeks ago, my girls and I were on our way to church. While stopped at a red light, the car died and wouldn't start up again. It was dark and cold out. I was sick. We were stuck. I didn't have anyone to call because I don't know many people in this city. I don't have roadside service anymore and couldn't really afford a tow truck to come out. We were stuck, but I didn't panic. I sang. I prayed. And prayed some more. I assured my nervous six year old that we would be fine and that God wouldn't leave us stuck. Even though I really believed that, thoughts of 'oh, crap, what am I gonna do, how am I gonna get my babies home, I don't have the stroller in the car, what if we have to walk somewhere...' I quickly quieted my thoughts by singing and praying more fervently. All the while, turning the key in the ignition hoping the car would start...it didn't.

After few minutes, an older gentleman came to my window and asked if I was okay and offered assistance. I explained what happened. He tried to start the car...nothing. He checked for obvious signs of mechanical failure such as low gas, etc...nothing. He looked under the hood of the car...nothing obviously wrong. Again, he tried to start the car...no such luck.

He looked at me and told me what my options were: they could push the car to the nearby gas station and take me to church, or they could take me home. By this time church had already started and by the time we got there it would soon be over. I was willing to let them push the car to the gas station, but was hesitant to allow them to take me home because in this day and age, it's hard to trust people.

They pushed my car to the gas station. He talked to the station employees and explained that my car had broken down and I needed to park the car there a while. Him, his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and nephew and I all stood around trying to come up with a plan. They weren't going to leave me out there with my kids. Eventually, it was decided that his daughter and son-in-law would give me and the girls a ride home. I felt  completely at ease. I trusted the God sent these people to help me. We exchanged phone numbers. They took us home. My car stayed at the gas station.

A couple of hours later around 10:00 pm, I got a phone call. It was the man whose family interrupted their dinner plans to help me. He said they got a tow truck and would tow my car home for me. Can you believe it? Complete strangers. They could have easily left me at the gas station with my car. Not only did they take me home, but they managed to get a tow truck for me. The son-in-law came all the way back to my house and picked up my car keys.

Thirty minutes later, there was a knock at my door. They brought my car back. And turned out they didn't even have to tow the car because it started.

Had it not been for a kindhearted, God-fearing stranger and his lovely family, who knows how that night might have ended. The fact is, they saw someone in distress and provided assistance. For that, I'm beyond grateful. It's nice to know that in a world saturated with evil, there are still people who are good. It's these kinds of incidents that remind me that you never know what a difference a nice gesture can make in someone's day. Even something as simple as a smile or compliment can go a long long way for someone who can be having a rough day.

I challenge you to do at least four random acts of kindness this week and every week. I promise you, it'll make you feel good, and it will make a difference to someone.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore as we have opportunity let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. ~Galatians 6:9-10

Hardships

Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom on God," they said. ~Acts 14:22

In my personal life, I'm currently walking through a fire and it hurts, immensely. It's during times like this that I find it easiest to question my faith. To wonder why I believe in the God I believe in. To ask myself will all the struggle be worth it in the end. I start to indulge my flesh by thinking things like, if I weren't walking with God, my life would probably be easier...easier because my moral compass wouldn't be pointed north all the time...no morals, no guilt or conviction. Easier because if I come across a road block, I'd be more willing to take shortcuts. Easier because I could satisfy my fleshly desires without consequences I'd be willing to acknowledge. During my Bible study tonight, Acts 14:22 provided a rebuttal to all of my waivering, all of my doubt.

I choose to believe in God. I choose to walk by faith. I choose to seek the perfect will of God. Not once does the Word of God tell us that the journey we take in this life will be easy. Every great man and woman we read about in the Bible experienced some hurt, some pain, some hardship. While He walked this earth in the form of man, Jesus experienced hurt, betrayal, persecution, hardship. If Jesus, the Son of God, himself experienced hardship, what makes me think I won't have hardships too?

"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God..." While the journey to heaven may not be easy, God's Word guarantees it will be worth it. So, while I walk through this trial, I can remind myself that this struggle brings me that much closer to reaching the kingdom of God. So, I won't look for shortcuts around this road I'm traveling. Instead, with God leading the way, and walking beside me, and guarding behind me, I will walk every inch of this journey and come out on the other side, stronger, wiser, and closer to my final destination...the kingdom of God. When I get there, I can imagine looking back at my journey here on earth and exclaiming, "YES! Every hurt, every tear, every hardship was absolutly worth it. For now I reside in my Father's house, where I belong, where there's no hurt, no tears, no pain, no suffering."

Hardships are hard. They hurt. They're uncomfortable. But think like this~no pain, no gain. I want to gain entry into God's kingdom. If that means on my way there I have to endure some struggle, then bring it on, because in the end the reward will surely be greater than the trials.