Encountering Grace

It always looks different,
but The Giver is the same.
Luke 15:11-32

Do you ever wonder what became of Jimmy? 

You might remember me from our family’s recent story in
“The Prodigal.”

My brother Johnny left the farm. 
He ventured out into the city to follow some pipe dream.  That’s not a big deal except that he left my dad and me in a bind.  

I worked hard alongside my dad to keep the farm afloat.  We almost lost it all.

After quite some time Johnny decided to come back home.  Except it wasn’t his home if you asked me.  He spent all his inheritance on foolish living and when he was spent, he graces us with his presence and expects life to go on as it was.

This is where my life story takes a turn!  I want to call it a screech. A halt that caused my heart to change.  Two brothers.  He received grace and I went through a bitter decline visible to all.  An imprint I wish were not true.  Anger can do that.

Johnny came back and my dad welcomed him with open arms.  Forgiveness was lavished on him.  Parties, celebrations, and joy for a selfish boy who squandered his inheritance, my dad’s hard-earned money.  A boy, a foolish man!

I’m not sure my life has been any better. I mean bitterness always brings friends.  Deep within the crevices of my soul unforgiveness and bitterness danced until resentment was a way of life. 

I swore I would never forgive my brother Johnny!

Life has been challenging.  I’m still here with all the difficulties of living on the farm, the decline of the farm I mean.  It’s hard to live with contentment when one’s heart is heavy with unforgiveness.  

I’d be cordial with Johnny, but I never really extended him an olive leaf or anything like that.   

It’s like living in the shadows of who I was or maybe could have become. 

It’s been almost 10 years.  There has been a moral decline in me.  Oh, I didn’t hurt or kill anyone, but I do recognize that hate lives here, a resentment that won’t let me go even when slivers of light shine and allow glimpses and opportunities for my heart to be changed.

I’m in a downward spiral. Yes, this is where I live.

Granny that poor soul ravished with Dementia couldn’t remember my name at times.  Interestingly, there were parts of her past she could recite without any hesitation.  The glow on her face testified she trusted in her God. It was evident it comforted her heart.  Not even Dementia could take that from her. 

One late night, or rather I should say early in the morning, I was gathering some clover to bring to the pen and feed the animal. It was about 3 am and I was alone.  

I couldn’t sleep that night, so I made my way to the barn to make myself useful.   

I was startled when I saw the shadow.  In the moonlight glow, I realized that the slow-moving figure was Granny.  She’d often wander from her home and would be found strolling among the sheep. 

I quickly had her sit, and I placed a blanket around her.  

I told her it was me, Jimmy.  With a grin, she said to me, “I know who you are.”

Granny began to ramble on about how life was short and some other stuff that wasn’t very clear.  She spoke to me about Jesus. I just shook my head and agreed even if I did not understand all she was saying.  I wanted to comfort her.  

Granny was shivering even with the blanket.  

Was she afraid?  Was she cold?  

She spoke again and told me that God loved me.

Loved me?  I did not say it out loud.  After all the battle was always in my mind. 
Did God really love me?

It was so interesting how the conversation quickly took a turn.  

There was a stillness in the air blanketed by the sounds of the farm.  

All kinds of animals testifying they were alive.

There was a breeze coming through the slates of the barn walls.  

For a moment I felt a shiver too.

It was like a visible hush. Granny looked straight at me and put her fragile hand on my knee.  

She had my attention.

She said, “Jimmy, it's time.”  I wondered what she meant.  

Did she realize that she had been wondering and needed to go back to her home?  

Was that her confusion talking?

I’d like to say I understood everything that happened that night but truly I can’t.

With her eyes fixed on me she said, “He loves you too.”  

What did she mean? Was she referring to my dad? 

Without saying a word, I just nodded. 

My angry heart whispered, “I know my dad loves Johnny.” 

My thoughts started to drift.  A few days earlier I had found my dusty Bible in the recesses of my closet.  I did dust it off but reading it, that would take a miracle!  Resentment does that to you.

Yet of all the pages I could have come across, this I did read, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  (1 John 1:9)

It was like a flashback.  I was right there again.  

My dad lavishly extending forgiveness to Johnny for all his foolishness.  

I could see and sense my anger rise again.  

I remembered the words I spewed at my dad that night, “I will hold Johnny accountable.  But as far as forgiving him, he is dead to me!”

That quickly I began to sob uncontrollably.  Why was I crying?  I hadn’t done anything wrong.

My thoughts were interrupted when Granny said again, “Jimmy, it’s time.”

I yelled, “Time for what?”

She glanced over and began to stare off at the bricks of straw lined up by the barn wall. 

There it was again.  That stillness in the night that beckon my attention.

“Granny, are you ok?” I was so sorry I yelled at her.

She began humming and then she stopped.  

It was a song that seemed familiar, but I could not quite remember it. 

In the silence of that moment, something happened. 

I began to pour out my heart to Granny.  I knew my heart was safe with her.  

She may not even remember what I was about to confess anyway.

I cried and told her how sorry I was for the hardness of my heart.  My anger and resentment had taken full charge of me.  I wanted freedom. I wanted joy, and to believe my father’s love for me was real.  But I was gripped and bound.  I could not get free.

Granny embraced me and allowed me to pour out my heart.  

That night I surrendered my life and all my pain to God and asked him to forgive me.  

Indeed, I felt the warmth of the Lord all around that barn.  

There were parts of me being stripped away. Like weeds being pulled from the depths of my heart; something beautiful was happening to me!

She said it again, “It’s time Jimmy.”  I tried to compose myself.  

I dried the tears from my face.  

I helped Granny up and I walked her home.  I assured her family that she was ok.

The next evening, I got the call.  

Granny had passed away.

Ten years of resentment building a kingdom within me.  It grew.  It expanded and it almost took me.  I’m thankful for Granny’s life.  Those few moments changed the course of my life. 

I encountered grace.  

Yes, the same grace that had received Johnny when he had come back home.

I’m grateful to the Lord.  That night I became free.   

Joy finally came and filled my heart. 

I understood.  I understood.

It’s the mercy of God.  

Yes, the mercy of God that saved me that night.  

This broken man encountered grace.  No, I didn’t deserve it.  I reckon neither did Johnny.  

But God, who loves us has done this for us.  Yes, God has done this for me. 

This prodigal son has come home too. 

God bless you!~Liz

Did you hear me, God?

In this story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, I’m pleased with what God reminded me again today regarding prayer.

Zechariah a priest was serving in the temple.  Gabriel the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.” (v13)

There are a lot of specifics in this announcement!

A child is coming. A son! He will be a joy & delight to you.  Other people are going to rejoice at his birth. The details of his life are given, “no fermented drink” for him. He will be great and filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

Was that Zechariah and Elizabeth's prayer? 

I think they just asked for a baby! 

New parents often say, “Children don’t come with instructions.”

Yet this child will arrive with instructions!  Details ordained by God!

Do we realize that praying to the Lord is more than a request? God doesn’t grant wishes. 

He is a Sovereign, Powerful, All-knowing God who inclines, bends, comes low, and turns his ear to the righteous for his purposes. (Psalm 116:2)

The book of James says the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  The power and effectiveness lie in the One that can answer our heart’s concerns, burdens, and requests.

Answers to our prayers are intertwined with God’s sovereign plan.  Do you want his plan to unfold?

It wasn’t just Zechariah praying; Elizabeth was also calling on Yahweh!

Even when Zechariah questioned God’s message, God's mercy fulfilled it.  God’s plan unfolded and the forerunner to the Savior was born.  

Scripture reminds us to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways.  We can approach God, ask anything according to his will and he hears us.  (1 John 5:14-15)

There is so much to learn from Luke 1. 
But today it’s simple for me. 
Trust in God.  Keep calling on his Name.  Don’t give up.  Knock, knock knock! 
Don’t be surprised how he answers. 

Prayers don't vanish.  Time doesn't negate an answer. God hears us!
The answer is in His Perfect Plan!

God bless you!~Liz

CHANGE, WELCOME IT!

 Acts 9:32-34

As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.

Do you see all that's happening as this man is being healed? 

This is a grown man who at one point could walk.  Scripture reads that at this point in his life he was paralyzed.  He was bedridden meaning he could not get out of bed on his own.  He lived in a bed. He was restricted, confined because of this sickness.

In these two short verses in the Book of Acts, Peter who is traveling to Lydda stumbles upon this man Aeneas, whose name by the way means "praiseworthy."  

I pay close attention when I see numbers in the Bible.  These are details that don't have to be there but they are!

The number eight in the Bible can represent new beginnings.  It can represent a new order if you will.  

Peter comes in contact with Aeneas and tells him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.

Do you know what happens to muscles and ligaments when they are not used? The medical term is contracture.  The muscles become weak. Muscles can become permanently shortened and joints can become deformed and bent.   Ligaments and tendons stiffen over time.  There is  a loss of skeletal mass.  Because of the lack of use, weakness sets in.  

When Peter said, "Jesus Christ heals you, Get up and roll up your mat." the POWER of God went to work.  Imagine the body's shock when it encountered the power of the Lord!  Every ligament, muscle, bone had to obey its Creator.  Everything came to order!  Hallelujah!

This is a new season for Aeneas!  After eight years, something new has happened.

It seems impossible for this to occur.  A man bedridden for eight years, legs unable to move, yet at the command of Peter, the Power of the Lord raises this man to his feet. 

Aeneas is not doubting.  He's not questioning if Jesus can heal him.  He obeys the command, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” 

He is not wobbling!  He actually bends down again and picks up his mat.  Now, that is praiseworthy!!

I want to believe the Lord for all the healing he wants to do in my body regardless of the time lapse. Whether its illness or atrophy that has settled in my relationships, mind, finances, or even my relationship with the Lord.  Father, command life to return and do a new thing!

The Lord loves change!  He takes dead things and brings them to life. Yes, my very life transformed.
I have been born-again!  Jesus is still working in my life.

Lord, those things that have been damaged over time; the relationships that have been impaired, speak over me Lord!

Here they are Lord.  All that I have is at your feet.  Command new life.  Let my heart bend toward you and bring glory to your name, Jesus.  

Stimulate new life at the beginning of the new year.  Let everything counterfeit come into the light of your presence.  Strengthen what has been weakened due to compromise or neglect.  

Let any illness of the heart encounter your LOVE. 

God I am yours!   

Happy New Year!
He is still working miracles!

God bless you!~Liz

A Little Change

Yesterday I spent the entire day with my dad and my sister. As we get older it's harder to care for ourselves and we need help. Sometimes we welcome it and sometimes we don't.

When I was young, living at home with my parents, I remember waking up early in the morning and tiptoeing into my parents room grabbing my dad's pant and checking his pockets for loose change. I would travel to school on the train and it was always important to have money in the event I needed to make a call. Yeah, in those days we used phones that were actually attached to a pole and you had to put real coins in it. 

One dollar worth of coins would enable me to get a snack at the local "bodega", make a phone call and maybe still come home with spare change. In those days a dollar would take you a long way.

This memory came to me yesterday while I was visiting my 82-year-old dad. I parked my car in New Jersey and realized I had to feed the parking meter. In today's world I barely carry any currency that does not come in the form of plastic. So, what did I do? Well, I didn't check my dad's pocket but I did ask him for coins for the meter. As he went to his little jar and poured out $2.00 worth of quarters for me it was like I was a little girl again dependent on my dad.

As time changes it's my dad that is dependent on my sister and I now. Getting old has challenges. For the most part my dad is healthy and in his right mind and for that I'm thankful to the Lord. He has taught us many things. He is a man of integrity. He raised a good family and now it's our turn to take care of him. Every decision we make is not always an easy one.

The Bible says that in the council of many there is wisdom. (Proverbs 15:22)

Suffice it to say it was a good day. A long day but nevertheless successful. We made some decisions and then we changed them again. He is content.

If you are reading this today and still have your parents this is my two-cents worth of council to you. Seek the Lord he is available. Sometimes we think we know all the answers, but that job belongs to the Lord. Listen to those that have gone before us. Parents are a gift. If your parents are still alive hold on to them tightly.

The roles change. They took care of us and now we take care of them. The challenge is we also are getting older. We may not always have the energy that a caregiver needs. All the Lord requires is that we do our best. Let's honor our parents and we will also honor the Lord!

"Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:32)

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)

God bless you!~Liz

RoboVac Prayers

In the book of Matthew there is a story about Jesus speaking to the people. God wants the heart. There is an intimacy that he wants with me.

I've been serving the Lord since my 20s. I remember when I encountered him, he made known to me my sin, restored me and called me his own. I had been walking aimlessly through life. I did not really know it. Truly if you asked me if I knew the Lord, I would have said yes. I did not know my sin.  He showed me how much he loved me and that he wanted me for himself. 

Sometimes we go around life just doing stuff without any real purpose and more importantly in the absence of joy.

Last Christmas I received a gift from my husband. It was something that I chose.

So, what did he get me, you ask? Well, he got me a RoboVac.  No laughing. He's not trying to get me to clean. I keep I neat home, but I could always use more help.

So, we unpacked this robot. I downloaded the app. I even instructed Google how to command it to vacuum.

Well, was it worth it?

The RoboVac does work! 

It’s interesting how the Spirit of the Lord speaks.  He’ll use any circumstance or object lesson to get to us.  As I was having my coffee, God showed me in a practical way what he meant when he spoke about ”babbling like pagans” when it comes to prayer.

Uh?

In the book of Matthew, the Lord is instructing the people how to pray, how to help the needy and give to others. He was encouraging us not to look for applause for doing what we are supposed to do.
Pride usually whispers, “What’s in it for me?”

He wants authentic, raw prayers. Remember, he wants a relationship with us, not just religious acts.

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:6-8)

My RoboVac is doing a great job. But it's still missing some areas that have dirt. When I use the manual vacuum I can get to areas where this automatic robot is missing.

I'm vacuuming with intention.

Sometimes when I pray, I may be in a rush, so I just spew out a list of things I want God to do for me. First of all, we just read that God already knows what I need. Yet, I proceed with my list.

Sometimes my prayer life can be just like my RoboVac.  Oh, I am praying but I'm so robotic I wonder if I'm even getting God's attention.  Babbling is what the Lord calls it.

When I purposely sit to hear the heartbeat of the Father, the Bible says he inclines his ear to me. He's listening and he wants me to hear my heart's desires. The intention must be to hear from God.

God is not a genie, and I should not behave like a robot.

Sometimes I justify my rush, rush prayer to the fact that life is busy.

Wow, Jesus who walked in the flesh, having an assignment from God to rescue us from this fallen world, took time to pray and to be still before God, to hear his instructions, to be edified and strengthened in his quiet time with his Father.

I must do the same.

The RoboVac has a pattern that it follows.  It goes up and down in linear lines to do its cleaning.

According to Matthew, the Lord has a map for me to follow as well. I must remember how to honor him. Yes, I can ask him for anything, he is my Father! What the Father wants is my heart.  Open and bare before him.

Outside of the routine and mundane we find the ever-flowing Spirit of the Lord that wants to meet with us and guide us. 

Unplug from the robotics and allow the Holy Spirit to lead. 

I must pray with intention.

It’s better to be an open book and let the Lord see all the dirt then to try to impress a God who already knows my weakness and brokenness. 

Lord sweep over me. This is me Lord and you know me well. 

Talk to the Father he is waiting.

God bless you!~Liz

If you play with fire you're bound to get burned.

If you play with fire you're bound to get burned.

I remember hearing that phrase even growing up as a little child.

Really? Who would want to play with fire?

This idiom is a warning against folly. It's a red flag for dangerous and unsafe acts or behaviors that can lead to pain and injury.

This week the news reported the warning that it was Red Flag week. What does that mean? It means that the conditions outside are conducive for spontaneous fires. It won’t take much to start a fire. The humidity levels are low and often winds can promote fires that can engulf acres of land.

These fires don't apologize or give warning to anything in its way. It will consume the dilapidated house along with the mansion down the road.

Yesterday evening I received photos from a friend. The images depicted the danger of the flames running rapidly through a local neighborhood.

As I stared at the photo it was so surreal. I could see the danger, but the image was so captivating.

As I spoke with my friend the Lord impressed me, that's exactly what happens when my children are very close to sin.

It's a captivating time. Often, we will reason that “we can handle it.” We say things like “I know what I'm doing.”

We are convinced we have a grasp on our situations, environments, troubles, marriage, gambling, drinking, drugs, and on and on it goes.

Something even less subtle is when we pull back from gathering with the Saints. The Lord has made it clear that we are not to forsake coming together.

Sunday, the first day of the week, is an opportunity for us to gather, worship the Lord, giving him thanks for who he is. Praising him for protecting us from darkness that was unbeknownst to us.

The fire is neighboring us. Sometimes we see the smoke. The danger is when we are captivated and drawn in. Wake up! Sin visits us all. It tempted Jesus in the desert. Jesus, the Word overcame him with the Truth!

We need our safe net! We are not strong enough to fight without the Helper! The safe net is prayer, touching and agreeing with someone before we become attracted and fall. Run! Run! Sin is crouching at the door waiting to see who will open it. (Genesis 4:6-8)

Water is what is needed to quench this wild fire. Fire departments will fight this on foot and from the air. The fire must die. Fire lines are created to break and stop the flames from this destructive path. If left alone it will continue to burn and destroy everything.

The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit himself is our Counselor and will warn us even before we see the smoke. He will direct us. He will use others to warn us. God will cause a donkey to speak just to save us from the threat.

God himself that will draw the fire lines so that sin won’t be entertained and cause our fall.

We need to resist the pull of sin from every angle. Physically we remove ourselves from the path of temptation. Spiritually we call on the One that is our Helper. He will make a way of escape for us. Follow Him. He knows how to get us out of the fire before we get burned.

Look around. If the landscape is changing perhaps, it’s because the flames are coming. God sees it is all. The warning has come. Run!

God bless you!~Liz

Good Diet

How miraculous!  God provides fresh food daily for his people. He still does that today! When we open his Word daily, he is speaking life to us.  It’s nourishment to us, his people.

But what happens when we skip a day?  Ok, let’s say two days.  Life gets busy so now it's three days.  We did not realize that life’s complexities were going to send us in a direction that was not on our calendar.  Now what?  Did you eat?  What will keep us going?  Where is the spiritual nutrition he has so aptly given -  that we have neglected to eat?

We thought that yesterday’s bread would be sufficient. 

We are depleted. We are sluggish and our spiritual vitality is being hindered by the lack of the “Good Diet”.

Run!  Go back to the table of the Lord. 

Do you see it?  It’s a beautiful spread of sustenance that will keep us alert and healthy.

Come, sit at the table. 

Manna is daily.  Yesterday is gone.  God has something GOOD for us today.

Sit, eat and note his presence is with us.

He gives us His Word for our lifetime. 

God bless you!~Liz