March 30, 2012: The Blessing of Being Laid Bare

3 gifts uncovered:

• me, after sleeping in this morning.  The gift of a day off with no specific plans.
• truth, from a discussion with a friend today.  Calling myself a realist is often just doubt in disguise.
• my heart, by God's Word. It is able to discern my thoughts and intentions, exposing me for what I really am.  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13
  

January 29, 2012: The Gift of Light

A song heard, a soft word, where you saw light:

• A song heard: in church this morning, "Matchless" (Troy Hatfield).  The lyrics speak so beautifully of who God is.  Beauty, glory, just and holy, righteousness and truth.  Faithful leader, gentle healer.  Matchless God are you.  You were, you are, and you will be.  God was, is and will always be all that and so much more.  Truth.
• A soft word: spoken as I received the gift of communion.  Christ's body broken for you. Christ's blood shed for you.  Grace remembered.
• Where you saw light: in an enlightening teaching on Jesus feeding the 5,000 from John 6.  That's the amazing thing about God's Word;  a story you've heard many sermons on can be fresh and exciting.  A passage you've read countless times can be relevant and new. Jesus the true light, gives light to everyone. John 1:9

January 25, 2012: Grace in Every Color

One grace borrowed, one grace found, one grace inherited:

• One grace borrowed: the comfort of knowing that God will never remove his hand from me.  In the 32nd psalm, David writes of the agony of unconfessed sin on both soul and body. For day and night your hand was heavy on me (verse 4a). I always thought the description of God's hand on him was  God bearing down on David, a kind of torture, until he repented.  Instead, it was a constant reminder of God's presence, waiting until David was ready to turn back to Him. God's grace to David and to me too.
• One grace found: among the women in my Bible study group.  They are never judgmental and always allow me to be honest, speaking truth with love and grace. It is a privilege to journey with them.
• One grace inherited: a little sewing cabinet that was my grandma's.  It is very simply, but well constructed, built by her dad, my great grandpa. Filled to the brim with every sort of sewing notion (many of which I have no idea what to do with), including thread in every color of the rainbow, it is a treasure trove.  Today I found in it a package of dark grey bias tape and used it to trim an old lamp shade to place on the dresser in the guest bedroom.  It looks darling--I'm sure my grandma would approve.

January 7, 2012: Surprised by Grace

3 graces from people you love:

• Much grace from my husband today as I got rather irritable while we tackled the task of painting one of the bedrooms.  Emptying the room and taping are a big fat pain, but he was very patient and tolerant despite my moodiness.
• Grace from my dad, who called to give me a report of the visit he and my mom had with my son.  I love knowing  all the details of what they did, and you just know you aren't going to get them from your kids! 
• Unexpected grace from my daughter, who came over on a Saturday night to visit.  I think she was pretty curious to see how the paint looked in her old bedroom, but it was still a bonus to see her tonight. 

When I saw this dare for today,  I thought, "Great.  My husband and I are going to be home alone all day painting.  How will I come up with three graces from three different people?"  Should have known that God had all kinds of gifts in store for the day.  Really, I could have listed more than three as my brother-in-law and nephew also ended over at our house today--2 more people I love.

The song that ran through my head all day is "Grace, grace, God's grace.  Grace that is greater than all our sin."  Truth.

Just in case you're wondering and want to join in, tomorrow's dare is:
Light that caught you, a reflection that surprised you, a shadow that fell lovely
Hmmm...