Has Grace Got You?

My Saturday early morning walk with my two fur-friends before the blistering heat made its way to us, gave me these two photo opts. I saw this beautiful Grace Church in front of me and the street sign read: “Grace Street”. We turned east and ran into this morning glory of God’s grace shining through to us. My “inside voice” was singing Mercy Me’s song, “Grace Got You” that put a skip to the beat in my feet:

Have you ever met those who
Have you ever met those who
Keep humming when the song's through?
It's like they're living life to
A whole different tune.
And have you ever met those that
keep hoping when it's hopeless?
It's like they figured out / what the rest haven't yet.
The second when you realize / what you have inside
It's only just a matter of time / 'til you
Chorus:
Sing, so the back row hears you
Glide, 'cause walking just won't do
Dance, you don't have to know how to
Ever since, ever since grace got you
Laugh, 'til your whole side's hurting
Smile like you just got away with something
Why? 'Cause you just got away with something
Ever since, ever since grace got you

So when you're standing in the rain again
You might as well be dancing
Why? 'Cause there ain't no storm that
Can change how this ends
So, next time when you feel blue / Don't let that smile leave you
Why? 'Cause you have every reason just to....sing

For the uplifting beat and words that make you raise a praise to the Grace-Giver, check out the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtiUjNT_vAM

I live in God’s grace. I just know it. We all do! No matter what kind of mistake we make, there is always a solution for restitution. It comes in the form of grace. God’s grace that heals and restores. He exchanges our tarnished slate, for a fresh, clean slate so we can begin again. Mistakes are inevitable, but the good news, as God’s repentant kids, all our mistakes are forgivable. That kind of grace is so amazing, God can even turn those mistakes to something good. Romans 8:28 “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.” Most importantly, it reminds me that my God is bigger than my faults and weaknesses and He can turn anything around for His glory!

Maybe all kinds of stuff is being thrown at you -- like the media or your co-workers or your friends or family seem just too much to handle and it seems there’s no hope for tomorrow. I have good news for you. You are not alone. The ONE who created you and loves you and wants your life to be full of joy, peace and happiness…LIVES! And because He lives, your life is worth living. His grace will carry you through! Go ahead — tell tomorrow — “I’m alive. I live in the abundance of God’s grace and that grace HAS GOT ME!"

Because He Lives, We Can Face Tomorrow

One of my all-time favorite songs (not just at Easter) is Bill and Gloria Gaither’s beloved song, "Because He Lives”. Wow! Did they ever get that one right?!! Here is the chorus: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, He holds the future. My life is worth the living, just because He lives." What a perfect song to sing in light of these uncertain times we’re living in today!

I know those uncertain times – long before this pandemic. Ten years ago, during the Easter time of celebration, we received the call that jolted our lives. My husband's bone biopsy results came in. "He has Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma Cancer -- metastasized." That day, our unplanned Faith Journey would begin. During that Easter season before us, we embraced the cross of our Savior who bore the stripes for our healing like never before. We were committed to trusting in God's faithfulness. And, the prayers we prayed for God's wisdom and guidance, as well as our family's unwavering faith, tenacity and joy, was well intact the next 7-1/2 months until His total healing came when he graduated to heaven.

As I sing that chorus this Easter morning in my little quiet shelter-in-place, I realize that I have never sung those words with more fervor as I sing them today. Without a shadow of a doubt, ten years ago on April 5th, 2010, and TODAY, I have this strong, tenacious faith because I know our Lord has held my tomorrows in His tight grip for a very long time.

I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I do know WHO knows and as long as I maintain my "God perspective" on just about everything this life doles out, I know I will make it through every triumph and even what may look like a tragedy. How do I know that? It was because of what happened on Friday when our Lord died a horrific death. But TODAY, He rose from the dead. Today, we celebrate His miraculous "Comeback Story", and BECAUSE HE LIVES, each of our days can be filled with hope.

Not only was this Christ's greatest comeback EVER, but it can be OUR greatest COMEBACK, too! Christ's resurrection is an opportunity to have a transformed life by accepting His love and forgiveness." Indeed -- this day represents the greatest COMEBACK for Christ AND for you and me!

I know that so many reading this blog today are wondering if life will ever get back to normal again. Maybe, it’s not normal that we need. Maybe – it’s to rise to a higher, new normal – of gratitude for the blessings in the midst of the storm. Maybe it’s to face the future with the certainty that “Because Christ lives” – we can face insurmountable situations. May we all make the decision to hold fast to His love, mercy, and infinite wisdom. May we embrace the cross and the empty tomb that guarantees victory for our todays AND tomorrows. Because He lives, we CAN face tomorrow without fear. Because we know He holds our future, life is worth living – because He lives!

Pray the Alphabet

My son, a 26.2 mile marathon runner (45 of them now), runs without earbuds which, typically, provides for some distraction during a long endurance run. He is just "in the zone" when he runs. So, he got a kick out of me when I told him that when I go on a long run, I sing songs according to the alphabet which helps make the time go by faster. For example: A - "Amazing Grace"; B - "Because He Lives"; C - "Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Alleluia", etc. He said, "That wouldn't work for me -- because I'd slow down just trying to think of songs!" LOL!

I also use a similar strategy for the nights when I might have difficulty sleeping. I turn my thoughts into a prayer. It really is a great strategy.

In 2 Corinthians 11:27, the Apostle Paul lists “sleepless nights” as one of the trials he underwent. Maybe by that, he meant worry, restlessness or insomnia. Then there's Jesus who was so relaxed that when He and the disciples were on storm-tossed waters, He slept right through the whole turmoil. He even seems a bit annoyed when those boys woke Him up. Why didn’t they trust that He would look out for them, even while He was asleep?

Instead of tossing and turning, I’ve found the best use of time when I have trouble following asleep is praying the alphabet with all the attributes of God. For example: A - amazing, adored, awesome; B - beautiful, beloved, bright morning star; C - Christ, creator, crucified, etc. And now, I'm trying another prayer strategy that I read from an article written by Norman Vincent Peal. The strategy is to pray the alphabet, but pray it for others.

For example, starting with A, pray names of friends, some you know, and some you don't even know, like: A -- Andy, Anna, Allen, Ashley; B - Brenda, Bill, Becky, Brice, etc.

By the way, each of these strategies really works for me because rarely do I get very far into the alphabet before I've fallen into a deep, sweet sleep. And at the same time, I like to think my prayers are making a difference in other people's lives -- whether I know what they're going through or even if I know them, but somehow just maybe God is using my sleeplessness to benefit someone in a crisis and they needed me to call out their name.

Another idea is to pray the alphabet with things you are grateful for. For example: A - apples, ankles, antelopes; B - beans, breath, brain.

Proverbs 3:24 "When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."

Of course, you can run using your ear buds and you can count sheep at night if you want to, but if you’re up – and I just might be up with you -- let's pray and be thankful!

Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow

Day 95 of Photo Inspirations -- Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow

At church yesterday morning (Easter), we sang the beautiful chorus:  "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone.  Because I know, He holds the future.  My life is worth the living, just because He lives."

As we sang, I remembered this date....5 years ago, April 5th, 2010.  I was working in a closet at a home where my sister-in-law and I were getting an estate sale ready for a client.   I received the phone call I had been waiting for, except I didn't get the news I had hoped for.  My daughter was at home with her daddy when the doctor's office called to give the report of the results of the recent bone biopsy that was done.  Subsequently, they called me.  Alone in that closet, I was jolted when I heard the report.  "He has Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma Cancer -- metastasized."    I couldn't hold back the tears, but then, getting a grip -- I hastened home to be with my Love.  That day, our unplanned Faith Journey would begin.    During that Easter season before us, we embraced the cross of our Savior who bore the stripes for our healing like never before.  We were committed to trusting in God's faithfulness.  And, the prayers we prayed for God's wisdom and guidance, as well as our family's unwavering faith, tenacity and joy, was well intact the next 7-1/2 months until His total healing came when he graduated to heaven.

As I sang that chorus, I realized that I had never sung those words with more fervor as I sang them yesterday's Easter morning.  Without a shadow of a doubt, I KNOW I have this strong, tenacious faith because I knew then, and I know now, that He who holds tomorrow, has held me in a tight grip since that day, April 5th, 2010.

The final verse of that song goes like this:   "And then one day, I'll cross that river.  I'll fight life's final war with pain.  And then as death gives way to victory.  I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives."  That was my Sweetheart's reward for His faithfulness in his own faith journey.  No question in my mind at all -- he is living in the lights of glory and he is face-to-face with our King of Kings -- and he is proclaiming to all of us:  "I LIVE, because He LIVES!!  He really LIVES!!"

I imagine that some of you who are reading this post today are facing insurmountable questions and concerns, and I assure you "Because He lives, you, too, can face whatever the future holds.  Make a decision, today, to hold fast to His love, mercy, and infinite wisdom.  Embrace the cross and the empty tomb -- that guarantees victory for your todays AND tomorrows.  He really LIVES!