My Lord,
Today's sermon was on Luke 9:51-56. I love sermons where I am forced to reflect on my so called trials, challenges, struggles and sufferings. Today Davey preached on quite a few things that caused me to think back on many moments where I felt "rejected." Moments where I acted inappropriately because my flesh was hurt, offended, bruised and down right angry.
Father, you have the biggest heart to have loved us in our sin. We are continually striving to follow you and to please you and we fail, day after day after day. We are so grateful that you do not take your love away nor do you stop blessing and providing for us. As your children, we are expected to make mistakes, have tantrums and even fall into temptations. BUT YOUR GRACE ABOUNDS.....and you are such a forgiving and patient God. When you see the depths of our hearts and our deepest longing to please you, you convict us with your holy scriptures. Not only that, you never leave us "there" in that place of despair. You never leave us "alone." YOU are there and you've sent countless souls to encourage, build up, inspire and nurture us along our life's journey.
So grateful that I don't have to go it alone, I don't have to try to be perfect and I don't have to hang my head in shame when I mess up. So grateful that you knew rejection before my life existed and have shown us how to "react" when it occurs in our lives.
Oftentimes, we forget the initial response is to extend the same grace that you've extended to us, but because we have a heart for you and because you've chosen to place your Holy Spirit in your chosen children, we are quickly reminded that we are to forgive just as you did and we are to extend the fruits of the Spirit not only to one another as believers but more so to a hurting world.
Lord, help me to be more like you as I can forget because of my busyness, because of my feelings, because of my flesh and because I am still learning how to live out my Christian walk in this world where it can "feel" as though I'm not making a difference and I more often than not, I just want to come home. I long to come home and sit at your feet. I day dream about driving my car into heaven, but you have shown me on so many occasions that you still have plans for me.
My Lord, I welcome those plans.
Prayers: Safety for my baby sister and her family as they travel, Frida's mother in law, Gloria's cousin and granddaughter, safe travels for the Ermolds, our meeting on Tuesday concerning the Women's Retreat, those attending Wednesday night bible study, Missy, the Dant family, Anna's mom, unspoken, Welch family, missionaries, T's upcoming bible study class, Teneisha, and Beanie.
So many others My Lord, but you already know and I trust that you are working behind the scenes to accomplish your will. In Jesus' precious name. Amen.
Special Thank You! Father, today I had a missed call from Gloria and a missed call from Frida. When I returned the call, each said that they hadn't called me and that it must have been by accident. But then as we spoke, they each had a prayer request. YOUR Grace Abounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another special thank you that my books (the ones that you "allowed" me to publish) yes, those...they are still blessing people. I gifted them to my secret sister and she loved them. And today, I gifted them to Gina for her early birthday gift and she loved them too. She was so grateful that she called to say, "thank you." She said that she couldn't wait to send the "thank you" card and that she had to thank me today. I was so smiling. I don't see myself as an author per se' but I guess I am. :-)
Cannot wait to be blessed by having lunch with she and Anne very soon!!!!
Eternally yours
