The Rains bring balance, producing growth.
The fragrant blooms of perseverance flourish.
Sprouting towards the Heavens,
In reverence and praise.
Do they see the light of Christ brightly shining within our eyes?
Do they hear the song of salvation when we speak?
Do we emulate well the love and compassion of Jesus?
Do our hearts break with what breaks His?
Do we judge those who need Him more?
In, John 8:1-11, I have often wondered what Jesus wrote in the sand to the scribes and pharisees who wished to stone a woman caught in the act of adultery? Whatever was written caused her accusers, one-by-one, to drop their stones and walk away.
I like to believe that GRACE was one of the words written in the sand.
This particular scripture brings a poignant reminder to always extend a heart of mercy and love, gentleness and kindness to all. Not one did He exclude. This is the very essence of Christ!
In the book, Destination: FIERCE, Cathy Joy Hill, imparts to her readers, “Our purpose is to know Him and LET Him be known. (emphasis added) …. Our passion wakes us and keeps us up at night…. It is the piercing arrow from the Holy Spirit for which our heart bleeds.”
What does your heart bleed for?
Does it bleed for a struggling child?
For the forgotten, isolated, and alone?
For a wrong to be made right?
For the uncompromising faith to which you cling to?
For revival to begin within you and to spread across our land like wildfire?
It begins with us.
It begins with GRACE.
Two weeks tomorrow, I have been convalescing in bed after undergoing a second surgery since the first one six months ago was unsuccessful. So, as you can imagine I have had an exuberant amount of time on my hands. One thing I had not counted on was a conviction of the heart. My fear of failure.
From my bedroom, I have a few irons in the fire which I am trying to manage. However, last night the searing heat became too intense for me to handle. To my horror, Andy had front row seats to my extremely, disturbing performance that came with an intermission and second act. I was utterly humiliated and full of remorse. I had failed not once but twice in a matter of minutes.
This morning as I read in, Ruth Chou Simons’ book, ‘Beholding and Becoming’, her words became a healing balm to my penitent heart. “Failure and shortcomings remind us that we are not saviors of our own lives. They keep us tethered to the humbling reality that in order to receive the grace of God, we must begin by believing we are in desperate need of it.”
Looking back, I never once invited the Holy Spirit into the details I had become so enthralled in. He had birthed these plans in my heart two years ago, why on earth would I not want the Conductor to orchestrate them as well? All that I am, my successes and failures, tell a story of His Grace, one which I am certain has many more pages to be filled with many more humbling lessons to learn.
