We are commanded to SING- not about the world or our problems, but about His holiness, His majesty and power. When we consider how great, how grand, how worthy He is, it puts us in a right mindset of God’s position. It knocks off the barnacles. Heavy burdens slip away as we focus on Him. It’s as if the glory rays of heaven open wider and focus directly on us. They heat up our cooling embers. And give a spurt of lighter fluid to our flame. We burn brighter as the impurities in our lives burn off.

When I give God more of my attention there’s less of me in the way. I then can get a proper sense of where I’m at.  As His light shines on the path ahead, I’m clearer on the direction that He’s bringing me. Many times, it’s out of the storm’s path and out of harm’s way, but don’t be surprised if sometimes it’s not out of the storm but into a storm that we must go. 

Why? Storms quickly remove all unanchored things. And honestly if we have things hanging onto us that are not anchored in Christ, we really don’t need them. They’ll pull us under if we’re knocked into the coming deluge.

Storms always affects what in its path. Things get wet. Get blown away. Damaged. 

Singing to the Lord about the wonders of His power and the perfection of His plan reminds us that this world is temporary. He is all knowing and we are so limited. Reminding ourselves of these truths can bring us into a proper relationship with God. More of Him and less of me is always a better equation.

So let’s join the praise team and sing!

Blessings,

Debbie G

#singpraise #praiseteam #WritingInspiration

Sing to the Lord a new song. Psalm 149:1

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

After Christmas thoughts…

We buy gifts and then wrap them in specialty paper with ribbon and bows. They are given in anticipation of the joy we hope to see in the receiver’s eyes. And in a flurry of excitement the wrappings are tossed aside, and the item is evaluated in mere seconds- and either effervescently accepted and loved or it is gingerly set aside with a slight smile and a hint of gratitude. We hope our guess is correct, that we’ve found a good gift to give, but often we miss the mark. If the receiver is a good actor, we may never know. And at the end of the day all we have left is a room full of expensive wrappings and an empty box.

Good intentions and a beautiful presentation may be enough to catch the receiver’s attention, but contrast that to what God does. He comes to the outcast, the maimed, lowest caste, dirty, rank, drug addicted, ornery, foul-mouthed person and unlike the world he ignores the wrapping. He’s most interested in what is inside no matter how damaged. He eagerly takes the willing heart and slowly transforms it from the inside out so that the gift is always lovingly received, unique and beautiful. And although our exterior wrappings may not change much in other people’s eyes, inside us is the perfect gift, one fit for a King.

What more could a King ask for than to be seen as He truly is. He’s the perfect gift giver… we can be too. I’m thinking about what I will give to my King. What will you?

Thanks for pondering. Blessings, my friend.

Debbie G

Prayer: Lord, so many times I think that You look on my workings and see my shortfalls. I know that I don’t stay connected with You as I should. No matter how I wrap myself, I am an offering without substance unless I have You within me. I pray You would accept me as Your child as I accept You as my Leader and Father. Help me to walk in the pathway You designed for me, and may You be glorified in it. I thank You that Jesus is the perfect gift. Amen.

 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us Romans 5:8

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.  Psalm 14:2

But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17

#emptybox #mattersoftheheart #whatwillyouchoose

I was wondering how many times I’ve overheard positive words spoken over children. I realized that I don’t recall many of the words spoken over my life, however I do know how certain people made me feel. As a mother and grandmother, I’ve spoken a ton of affirming words over my brood. “You are strong, compassionate, able, and smart.” The building up of little hearts and souls comes without any guarantee that they’ll receive our words, but we plant them anyway.

And oh, how many times the words come with an expectation. Parents expect a child will be good, fair, loving and kind. A teacher expects a child to and be scholarly and will apply themselves to learning. An employer expects a dedicated and honest worker. And the government expects us all to be law-abiding, tax-paying citizens. These are not bad things to aspire to be. But it’s a fact that there is a myriad of expectations placed on us as we mature.

All of these qualities are gained by having experienced a character-building situation. Ever see two kids with one toy? They each must choose between being selfish or sharing.  Wisdom is gained by success and failure. And each kid will see the outcome differently. I’m so glad mistakes do not define us. We all learn as we grow.

In a spiritual way we almost see an opposite expectation in the Garden of Eden. God came and walked with His people in the cool of the day. It wasn’t to evaluate their work; it was about relationship and connection. And even later when Moses was given the laws, the fourth requirement for God’s people was that they take a Sabbath rest. To cease striving, to stop working, to let go of fulfilling one’s weekly obligations and to simply spend time with the Creator God.

Sometimes I can get lost in my eagerness to be a good mother or a supportive friend and I overcommit myself. And when my schedule is too packed, I have very little time for relationship or even reflection on relationship. It is in these moments that I hear a negative voice in my head telling me I’m not… (fill in the blank).  Not enough, not good enough, not smart enough… basically that I’m falling short of an expectation. So the questions that follows are: ‘Whose expectation am I striving to meet?’ And ‘Why do I feel so stressed over it?’

Perhaps this is the time to start speaking encouragement over ourselves. We can remember that we are made in God’s image. He will never leave or abandon us. He holds our hand in our times of trial. He is compassionate and loving toward us and nothing can separate us from His love. He sent Jesus to reconcile us to Himself. These truths ring true through every generation, even now.

And if I forget and I continue to strive and not remember who I am in Him. I can always go back to the book of Genesis and reread chapters 1-2 and see that everything God made was good. It was disobedience that led to pain and hardship in the world today.  God created a perfect paradise, and He has already opened the door for access again for all who will believe. As a father is with his child, we too can bring Him delight just with our very presence.

Oh Lord, help me to remember to sometimes just ‘sit and be’ with You. Not do, not go, but just be. And may that bring You pleasure. Amen.

Blessings all,

~Debbie G

– So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (created in His image)

-And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day… Genesis 3:8 (togetherness)

-Keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God. Ezekiel 20:20 (to rest in Him)

– Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20 (relationship)

#drawingcloser #letitbeginwithme #writerthoughts

My granddaughter was not quite two years old and easily reached for my hand as we crossed the parking lot. She quietly sang a song as she skipped along. I looked around to make sure the pathway was clear and seeing an approaching car I squeezed her hand firmly and we stopped for a moment. She danced at my side full of joy as the car passed by.

Oh, the innocence of childhood. Can you imagine yourself busily dancing to a song in your head today, oblivious to the world around you? Probably not. The world around us is busy and can be a dark and sometimes a dangerous place. Headlines assail us with the worst ails of society. Sickness, famine, storms, diseases, attacks… the list is longer than our attention span. We read a tidbit and can get lost in the details. And then there’s always a similar story waiting to be read right behind that one.

I think it was easier to dream of a safe world when our news arrived via newspaper and only once a day. And so much easier if we didn’t read the paper. Sometimes a neighbor would mention an important event before you caught the headline of the 5 o’clock evening news program on television.

So, how can we get back to a carefree mindset? Unfortunately, I think with age comes some wisdom. We are wise enough to know that just because we don’t read it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

Perhaps the refresher we need is the reminder that nothing ever has been totally under our control, not completely and not ever. We may decide to go shopping and accomplish that. It’s always good when the expected happens. But often we get side-tracked or something stops us before we even leave the house. Our decision to go makes us think we’re in control, yet so many elements can affect our day.

We have no direct control over our neighbors, our community, our state, our nation, our world or our universe. We may sway people’s opinions by our research or our vote for representation; we may complain or protest when wrongs are committed. But the ultimate outcome is beyond us. Possibly causing us distress, anxiety, frustration, even hatred and hopefully not retaliation. This is not the innocent world we wish we lived in. So, the question is: is there an answer?

If you’re like me, you pray for a better world. You look for ways to bless others in their neediness and pain. But the best reminder for me I found in the book of Psalms. It reminds me that I may stumble, yet I won’t remain down. I, like my granddaughter, can walk unafraid. Even allowing today’s news to go unattended. (It usually waits for me anyway.)  I may not see the challenges ahead, but my heavenly Father does. When I focus on Him, He directs my steps, and I can trust that my hand is safely tucked into His.

We aren’t promised a safe world, but his word testifies to His faithfulness to every generation. I find peace in knowing that I may be blindsided by an oncoming hardship, but He never is. He is strong and He holds my hand. Like my little granddaughter I simply must learn to pause when He bids me to do so. I may not like it, but if I keep my eyes on Him, you may even find me dancing as the danger passes by. Eyes up, my friends, we serve a great big God.

Be blessed. And be a blessing,

~~ Debbie G

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:23-24

#peaceinthepause #parkinglotdance #Heholdsmyhand

Did the woodcutter who felled the tree understand its destination? Planted. Growing ever skyward till need and destiny collided.
Now our focus changes to a man with outstretched hands, one hand accepting a piece of bread, the other transcends space, and exchanges friendship for coinage. Giddy adversaries rub their blood-stained hands together as their trap is set. His kiss of betrayal is a foreshadowing of his own death on a self-hung noose.

The felled tree, held no resemblance to its initial state, changed by man’s woodworking ways, hewn and slashed into a cross. Splashed with blood of a man’s pierced hands and feet, now raised for all to see.

One tree held regret, alas not repentance: the other shouted resurrection’s victory over death.

Our eyes move from his innocent slaughtered body offered up on the hewed tree to the empty tomb, then to the clouds on which he rose.
The journey of Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday is good news. His blood-soaked offer of love is held out with outstretched pierced hands. It’s His gift of everlasting life to all who will receive.

Rev 5:8- For with your blood you purchased men for God.

#GoodFridayMediatation #HisPiercedHands

This morning’s table talk discussion between the Lord and me. 

Picture this: You are sitting at a table with Jesus. He’s leaning toward you, speaking quietly, discussing His plans for you for the day ahead. Your eyes are on His. Your heart and your mind are trying to absorb all the ramifications of following His plan.

The scene widens and you realize that your table is in the middle of a city street marked with chaos, confusion, conflict and danger. (in my mind some things were literally blowing up) Now, I have the choice to keep looking at and listening to Jesus or to be distracted by the world around me.

It is a battlefield! Not only in our world, but a battlefield of and for our minds.

I think, “Lord, how can I stay focused when the world around me is falling apart?”

He replied, “Look closer at the scene around you.”

And I did. There, with a woman hovering in a doorway, was Jesus, His arm around her. I glanced to the right and there He was with another person and then over further He was with another. Jesus was with each person who had called out to Him.

Jesus is Spirit. He can be and He is everywhere all the time. This is a hard concept for my natural brain to absorb. But oh, how it frees me to lean in and to listen knowing that He’s got the whole world in His trustworthy hands. And that He has a plan for me in this day.

I hope this blesses you as it did me.

Debbie G

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

Thank you to painting illustrator: Cheri Bladholm, Syracuse, NY

#LeaningAndLearning #PeaceInChaos #TodaysPlan

In the shadow of His hand, we learn to hear Him. He made my mouth like a sharp sword. He hid me in His
hand, made me a polished arrow, and concealed me in His quiver.

When I’m in a dark season. I must LISTEN. I train myself to be quiet in my home and in my head. Don’t talk. Listen. Hear what He says.
In the shadow there is less light. I must use other senses. I am training my ears to be attentive. As a sheep knows its master’s voice and responds, so must I.

Our bodies have an outer ear to catch sounds. I must tune out these natural noises of the world and use my inner ear from which spiritual wisdom comes. Our natural inner ear has semicircular canals enabling balance and eye tracking movement, and also a cochlea needed for hearing. We have tiny muscles that help modulate the noise, make sense of the sounds and send the signals to our brain.

We’re so very intricately made, aren’t we? Every little part has a purpose, a grand design to help us make sense of
the vibrations of our world. Outer ear to gather information, sacs of fluid to cushion and gently transfer the vibrations to receptors. And a brain to comprehend the message sent. When any one of these get out of whack we’re compromised. Even the protective coating of ear wax can be a hindrance to hearing clearly.

So how do we clear away the world’s cacophony (our heavy build-up) so we can hear spiritually? First try changing up what you’re
listening to (the external sounds). Try listening to speakers of the Word and praise music. As we sit quietly and read scripture, we can ask God to help us to hear Him clearly. Then look for parallels in the Word of God that He leads us to apply to our personal lives. Journaling also helps cement the direction that we’ve received.

Dark times need not be frightening. He is fine-tuning our ability to hear when we sit in the shadow of
His hand. He is sharpening our skills to speak His life-giving truth to a darkening world. And like an arrow
He will launch us at the right time. We can trust for His aim is sure.

Less talk and more purposeful listening are on my agenda today. Praying for you, dear friend as I head to a lonely beach. May the
mediation of our hearts please the Lord.

Blessings.

Debbie G

#PowerListening #NoiseFiltering #ShadowLessons

The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. -Psalm 91:1

Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. -Jeremiah 33:3

He made my words like a sharp sword; he hid me in the shadow of His hand. He made me like a sharpened arrow; He hid me in His quiver. Isaiah 49:2

I homeschooled my kids, so we were together a lot; and they picked up an annoying habit. They began saying actually in practically every sentence.

My comment, “Time for bed,” was met with, “Actually Mom, we’ve got another ten minutes.” 

“Can we have take-out tonight?”

“No, we had take-out last weekend.”

“Actually, it was Thursday night before soccer practice, not the weekend, Mom.”

So how did I handle that? I implemented a new rule. I announced that we were using the word way too often so anytime I heard them use the word, they needed to stop and spell it aloud.

“A-C-T-U-A-L-L-Y.”

And yes, it worked. They eventually stopped using it, and even today will spell it out to make me laugh.

It makes sense that whatever we apply our mind to, will make us aware of our thoughts, aware of our actions and words.

For me, writing my way through a personal issue helps to corral my thoughts. I can catch my mistake or the lesson I need to learn easier by journalling. And if I ever share my failure in a story, I can at least offer a solution that worked for me.

Throughout scripture we are reminded to be diligent and to apply our thoughts to many issues. Some key areas (listed below) are injustice, laziness, idleness, sinfulness, and in how we walk with the Lord.

I may not be able to do all these things at once, but if I pick an area to focus on and begin, I have an easier time getting at least one area under control.

How best to be diligent? Be mindful. If I’ve had a bad day, I review it. Where did it go wrong? What was my part in the issue? What could I do differently? Seeking out God’s answers to that in scripture is also an important step for me. Talking to God about changing my habit or my attitude is next.

I’m actually amazed that a word that used to steal my joy can now make me laugh. Oops, “A-C-T-U-A-L-L-Y.”

Being mindful is catching what catches you so that you can find peace.

Blessings,

Debbie G

#SlipUps #DiligentlyMeansBeingMindful #WorkingItOut #HomeschoolingIssue

Diligent: persevering, paying careful attention, painstaking effort, not careless, interestingly attentive, steadily earnest.

Some areas to consider:

Ps 64:4 (injustice) diligently search inward mind and the heart of man.

Proverbs 12:24 (slothful) diligently rule- or it will become forced labor.

Proverbs 10:4 (slack hand) brings poverty- diligence makes one rich.

Proverbs 13:24 (wayward) do not spare the rod.

2 Peter 1:10 (salvation) all the more diligent to make your election sure. Confirm your calling by practicing these qualities and you will not fail.

2 Peter 3:14 (prepared) Be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace.

Pedicures. Never had one, but I can say after a long day on my feet that a cleansing foot massage would be glorious. But to be sure, I wouldn’t treat it as I would a car wash. I’d arrive with clean feet.

So, I wondered what’s up with Jesus spending his final hours with his disciples by washing their feet? And the crazy tidbit thrown into the mix is that Jesus knew that Judas (one of his hand-picked followers) planned to betray him, and he washed his feet anyway. Now that’s some self-control.

We read that Jesus wrapped a towel around himself and must have knelt at their feet with a basin of water. Picture Jesus kneeling at twelve individual men’s feet. Dusty, dirty appendages that he touched personally. Imagine their thoughts as they waited for their turn. As Jesus washed and dried, he listened to Simon’s rebuke, “No, you’ll never wash my feet,” and Jesus’s response changed Simon’s ‘never’ to wanting more: “then also wash my hands and my head.”

Jesus clearly stated that all need to be cleansed by Me. This experience was not only an example in humility, but it was also preparation for the journey ahead. Their job going forward would be to make disciples. Time consuming work. Jesus washed 24 feet on his last night of freedom and that took time. Probably not what we’d choose to do if we knew it would be our last night here on earth.

Jesus went to the place of ‘further still’. Yes, this was ministry work. They already knew hardships. But it was also the dirty work, the intimate work, and in a few hours, they’d understand more fully that it was the sacrificial work that he calls all followers to.

Now, a pedicure involves much more than foot cleansing… it is truly digging deeper, rounding off the rough spots, trimming away sharp edges, and finally massaging moisturizers into the skin. Just like the walk of faith does in our lives. We root out misunderstood passages, prejudices, and pride by drawing close to the Teacher.

Jesus taught that all people are worthy of God’s love regardless of their lives, actions, or choices. No person is ‘too far gone’ to offer the hope of salvation, not even one’s ‘enemies.’

And like Mary who anointed Jesus’s feet with a year’s worth of nard, (fragrant oil) Jesus was fitting their feet to go into all the earth with the gospel of peace.

We walk in love best when we’re willing to get a little dirty.

Blessings,

Debbie G

John 13: Jesus washing feet.

John 12:3: Mary’s anointing.

Ephesians 6:15: Feet fitted with the gospel of peace.

Matthew 28:19 Make disciples of all nations.

#pedicure #footwashing #nevertoofargone #walkinginlove

I felt an impression this morning to read from the book of Isaiah and my thought was, Oh no, I don’t like Isaiah. It’s full of judgment. I just didn’t want to start my day off with sadness. I found myself complaining as I opened to chapter 12 and began to read. Thanks to the Lord, he turned from his anger and comforted me. God is my song and strength. I will trust and not fear. God is my salvation.

I took a deep breath and read on about drawing from his well and singing his praises. Which then moved to shouting with joy for the Lord is in your midst.

I paused and chided myself for grumbling. “God, I love Isaiah!”

I am reminding myself to not fear (or whine) when he leads me to read difficult passages. It’ll take working through hard places for me to reach the end of my story here on earth. And so often, like today, I am humbled by his compassion as he leads me to inspiring verses to start my day.

I will trust and not fear for he is my strength and my song. Hoping you find strength for this day.

Blessings,

Debbie

#MyStrength #MorningDevotion

We sat silently together my hand in hers for the longest time. Her husband had died, and I had no words. I’m not sure how long it was that we sat there as I listened to a clock ticking in a nearby room. Suddenly she came to herself and said, “Thank you.”

Call it friendship. Call it empathy. But it’s beyond words, it is the power of touch.

We touch with words, “Thank you.” “You’re the best!” “I love you.”

We touch with actions. Bringing homemade soup to a sick associate. Grabbing a meal in a bag for a homeless person. Raking a neighbor’s leaves.

We touch without even knowing it. Passing someone crying on a bench. Hurrying past a disabled car on the roadside without calling for roadside assistance. Mindlessly letting the door close behind us into the face of someone else.

This reminds me of a story in Luke. ‘Just who is my neighbor?’ a lawyer asked Jesus. And as the story unwinds, we see a half-dead man lying on the side of the road being ignored by two presumably holy men. One a rabbi and the other a Levite (one who cleans the temple). The third, an enemy from a rival town decided he couldn’t just leave him there to die. He poured healing oil on him, bound his wounds, and brought him to safety. Even paying the hotel debt.

Jesus made it clear that this neighbor thing was more than looking for ‘a neighbor’, it was about being a neighbor.  It wasn’t only caring about but caring for someone else. It’s an action. It’s moving to help when assistance is needed.

We read in Hebrews, that Jesus was not only a rabbi, but that he is our Great High Priest. And if you consider that before we knew him, we were in essence his enemies. Thus, our Rabbi, our High Priest, the one who could consider us an enemy, found us in our woeful state and tended to our needs. Pouring the oil of salvation in our open wounds. Covering our bodies with His robe of righteousness, and He paid our insurmountable debt of sin at the cross. No matter how we look at this parable, Jesus owed us nothing, yet gave us His all.

The choice is ours: we can walk in love or throw our hurts around like knives. We can tap our toes at the long check-out line, or we can pray for the harried clerk as we wait patiently.

It may be difficult to set aside fears and frustrations, but making the most of our moments makes our lives richer. If the Great Shepherd walked and served in empathy and compassion, can’t we?  If the Holiest of all Rabbis willingly left the ninety-nine in the temple to minister the one in dire need. What are we willing to do?

Sometimes all that is needed is to hold a hand. But joining people in their hard places can heal their deepest hurts. It may be uncomfortable and it’s always a sacrifice, but they’ll never forget it. And neither will you.

Praying for you in your journey, my neighbors and friends. 

Blessings,

Debbie G

Hebrews 4:14 Jesus, our great high priest.

2 Corinthians 1:4 Comfort those in any trouble.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Hebrews 10:34 Stimulate one another to love and good deeds.

Luke 10:29 Who is my neighbor?

Unlike a cookie cutter press, consider that we are like clay being molded. Our circumstances and relationships help form the shape that we become.

We have a dent here when a friendship ends badly. Or a dig mark there when someone uses harsh words to condemn us. We may even have great gouges when a life partner is removed. We walk around cracked and damaged, each unique yet affected by the world around us. We cannot see ourselves as other’s do. The barometer of our experiences and pain colors our vision.

How are we called artwork? We don’t often think of ourselves as being works of art. After all, who would want someone’s cast off? Someone who’s done what we’ve done or someone as sullied as we are? 

Perhaps we’ve come to think that we must fit into a specific mold to be considered ‘good’ or ‘valuable’. Where would you place yourself on a scale compared to a highly paid professional or a successful businessperson? Why would we think lower? Probably because society has a step ladder and uses finances as its gauge. It’s as if owning things and having a large bank account places people on a higher rung. So, we work to get ahead… um, ahead of who? Ahead of what?

No wonder our self-image is askew.

Back to the clay. If I put myself in the category of a walking lump with a huge hole from a past broken relationship, I begin to question myself. What did I do to deserve this? Why wasn’t I enough? Natural questions, but anytime I’m involved so is the potential of my sin nature. No one is perfect, not one. Certainly not me. So, my new question instead is: now what, God? 

And God, being the Brilliant Potter that he is, takes me in his loving hands and reshapes me. He covers the edge of my gaping wound by moving some of my clay and slowly I realize that I’m now more in the shape of a bowl. My opening is at the top and I can receive whatever blessing he wants to rain down on me. 

But not everyone is a bowl. No. In his creativeness, he transforms some into useful cups, pitchers, vases, and beautiful decorative pots. His creativity is endless. I only know that he has a purpose for each and every lump of clay he forms. 

So even if the world looks at you and sees a walking saltshaker, know that you can be the seasoning God uses to add flavor to the lives of others. And instead of using the world’s ladder to judge your saltshaker status, imagine all the people who could be sitting around the table in heaven, because you’ve sprinkled their lives here with truth. 

So, rise up clay pots, walk in love, and trust that the painful markings this world gives can be used by the Master Potter for much greater things.

Blessings my friend,

Debbie G

Suggested Readings: Jeremiah 18:4, 17:9, Isaiah 64:8