Evidence of Grace

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
II Corinthians 12:9

Again and again, I am humbled by the truth of this scripture. God's grace is truly sufficient and it is only by His power that I am able to do or be anything of worth. As I look back at my life, the challenging circumstances, the numerous failures, the fits and starts... I see evidence of God's grace just as I see the snow that covers our mountains after a good storm. It is unmistakeable and beautiful; it inspires awe and humility.

One of the greatest evidences of grace in my life is in the area of anger. Anger was my constant companion for years, it was a burden that seemed impossible to unload. Daily my family suffered from it, I crumbled under it, the enemy triumphed through it - hopeless and life draining, I felt deep in a pit that had no escape. Everyday I felt angry, everyday I struggled to cope with normal things. I knew in my head that it was destructive, it threatened to destroy me. That could be borne more than the destruction and damage to my family.

The evidence of God's grace starts here... BUT God did not leave me there. He rescued me! Not overnight, but by His sovereign will, over a period of a few years. I'm not sure if the sin was so deeply wrought in my heart or if I was just a really slow learner but God is sovereign. Plus the lesson learned slowly and painfully is not easily (or quickly) forgotten. It truly was one bloody battle at a time, one bible verse wielded like a sword at each strike of the enemy. Oh and the battles raged!

God brought into my life a battle companion, the woman who discipled me through those years. Yet another evidence of grace, my Bonnie said yes to meet with me not knowing the years of diligence and toil it would take. Yes God is good to keep these things from our view!! Think of the things we would never do if we knew. Bless her heart- she was my angel of mercy.

Drawing near to God's word and His people was key to turning the battle around. Like a giant ship trying turn against a powerful tide, at times it seemed as though the ocean and waves were too overwhelming for me to turn the ship around. Even if I didn't explode and yell, my heart still raged yet God poured out His grace abundantly, covering my sins again and again, forgiving me, giving my family patience and grace to endure. It was as though I crawled through those years on my knees begging for God's mercy and asking for forgiveness.

In spite of myself, God has redeemed those years and given us a home of peace, love and grace. Not a week goes by that I am not overwhelmed by that amazing work of grace in my life. That fire was hotter and harder to endure than I could've imagined BUT to have not gone through it would have been hell on earth for me and those around me. God's grace is abundantly sufficient, He is my strength, He deserves all the glory. Hallelujah!

Of Wildflowers and Gratefulness

Taking a thoughtful walk through a broad meadow, a young girl pauses to take in the world around her. As she drinks deeply of it all, a lone wildflower left over from the great burst of spring catches her eye. She wonders at its beauty, its tenacity. Approaching it, she stoops lower to marvel at the wildflower blushing purple. Its lovely face upturned toward heaven, expectant to receive the good gifts it receives every day... the dew, the sun, the breeze, the busy bees. Her thoughts turn to her own life, comparing herself to that one flower.

"God takes care of this flower, will He not much more care for me?"

"Interesting," she thinks, "how this little flower reflects faith and hope. How it has endured to the end of spring, stands alone and still has an upturned face. How beautiful it is, it seems almost grateful. Had I not taken the time to stop and look around me, I might have missed this precious gift. Funny, I had to stoop lower to really see all of this. I wonder if this is the way it works, if stooping lower is the path to gratefulness. Is stooping lower the only way to really see the good gifts? Surely there are gifts I receive everyday just like this flower. Even the gifts this flower receives are gifts that I receive I suppose."

"What is it that scripture says?" She pulls a small bible from her skirt pocket. Turning the pages to Matthew 6 she reads softly to herself, "Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!" (v. 28-30)

Humbled by the thought, she sits next to the flower to turn her own face heavenward and bows her heart in grateful praise.

The Necklace - author unknown

image courtesy of www.karipearls.com

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

'Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?'

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. 'A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you a nd in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.'

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed.. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, 'Do you love me?'

'Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you.'

'Then give me your pearls.'

'Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me.. She's my very favorite.'

'That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night.' And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, 'Do you love me?'

'Daddy, you know I love you.'

'Then give me your pearls.'

'Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper.'

'That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you.' And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

'What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?' Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, 'Here, daddy; this is for you.'

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.

So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.

God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.

Whatsoever things are lovely...

Lovely is word that conjures up thoughts of lush, inviting gardens or a serene lake surrounded by trees at sunset; lovely reminds me of sweet tempered, servant-hearted women I know that I can't help but be drawn to. What does it remind you of? Lovely is a picture painting word isn't it?

I am grateful for "lovely", it cheers, brightens, and beautifies the world around me; it is winsome.


Just so, our thoughts are to be lovely - friendly towards others, with love toward others, agreeable. Our thoughts have the potential to reflect beauty and love drawing others to Christ. How do they do that? The Word of God tells us that what is in our hearts/minds will overflow into our lives (Matt. 12:35).


Thoughts full of the love of Christ, compassion, tenderness, mercy, and sweetness. Lovely thoughts have no room for bitterness, anger, malice, envy, jealousy, self-pity, or the like. These are not passive, enabling thoughts, unwilling to face the sinfulness of others but thoughts that are for their best interest, willing to reflect true Biblical love in a winsome way... they are thoughts that are purposeful, carefully chosen, and resonant of pure Christlike love for others.

How can we begin to think on whatsoever things are lovely? By filling our hearts and minds with the living word of God... hide God's word in your heart and that will be what flows out of it.