by Stacey | Feb 4, 2016 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
I had planned to post something else today, something proofread and ready. Then, the message came. The message that sent words from the latest sermon looping through my mind:
Do whatever you can to get to Jesus.
So instead of adding that final polish to the prepared text, I spent this day before my Lord in quiet, in worship, in His Word. Soon that feeling of hopelessness snowballed into an awe of His unending mercy toward all who call upon His name.
I camped in Revelation 21, savouring this vision. I dwelt on the new heaven and the new earth, the holy city prepared as a bride, where God dwells with man, and God wipes every tear from our eyes. Death will be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain—for they have passed away.
A voice from the throne declares, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Here, there is no need for the moon or the sun for the glory of God gives light and its lamp is the Lamb.
All this awaits if your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.
As the heavy decay of fallen life increases with each rotation of the earth, the blessed truth of Revelation 21 breathes fresh hope in Jesus.
This post is a bit off-script, a hard move for an inside-the-box planner like me. But, perhaps life has knocked the wind out of someone else today. If that’s you, my sweet friend, I say with complete humility and love: Do whatever you can to get to Jesus.
by Stacey | Jan 28, 2016 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1
We work hard to keep the tone in our home gentle and encouraging, even in the midst of discipline. God’s Word is truth and it applies to both our children and to us as parents.
But, it’s not easy. It’s not easy to keep a gentle tone when one squirms on the floor refusing to put on his shoes when the others are late for appointments. It’s not easy after the fifth warning to quiet down and go to sleep. It’s not easy in the midst of temper tantrums and tears.
But, who said parenting was easy?
So much is at stake.
Their whole outlook on life, how they grow up and treat others, how they relate to people in authority, and what they believe about God is shaped during these early years at home. There is too much at stake to miss the target.
Strength comes from God. He will give me what I need to parent in wisdom, gentleness and love. I know that. I believe it. What scares me, is that I also know myself – my tendency to move ahead of Him, to try it on my own strength first, to rush into my day full of my own plans, trying to control the outcome of, well, everything.
I cannot control the choices my children make. They are ultimately accountable to God. But, by the power of the Spirit, I can control how I speak to them, what I teach them, and the example I set. For this, I am accountable to God.
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. (Philippians 4:5a)”
*From the archives
by Stacey | Jan 14, 2016 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Secrets can eat away at the soul and whisper unworthiness. They can woo the broken into dark places where the fear of discovery, the fear of admitting imperfections and struggles with sin, leave many shuddering in the shadows. So, we cover our sins, our worries, with good works, pretending we have always been so grown-up, so pulled together, so perfect.
So untrue.
Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…”
All. You. Me. Everyone.
I struggle with my sin nature. Specific sins have caused me great grief, shame, and regret. But, right when I feel hopeless, right when I feel beyond the redemptive reach of God, I read the beautiful words in verse 24:
“…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Justified freely by grace through redemption. And fear is overcome by the God who sees me and my sin through the redemptive lens of His Son. He declares me beautiful and clean.
My sordid history, your sordid history, is part of a story about a God who died for us while we continued to sin. Bringing hidden sin into the light, confessing and repenting, does what nothing else can. It illuminates our desperate need for grace and forgiveness. It reveals that anything good in you or me is the result of God’s mercy in our life. It shows us what God has known all along, we need a Saviour.
And His name is Jesus.
*from the archives
by Stacey | Dec 31, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
It happened. Everyone told me it might one day but no one can really prepare you for the day your child growls, “I hate you.”
He was in time out. Again.
Fighting angry. Hands fisted. Jaw clenched. And snarling those dreaded words.
I. Hate. You.
Imagine, just for a minute, the anger that must have been pumping through his heart to prompt the most hurtful words his young mind could imagine.
All directed toward me.
Now imagine his shock at finding me right behind him, absorbing the slam of each syllable. Words he likely thought in the past but never dared to voice until today. His eyes widen. He steps back. His transparent expression screams regret.
Then, shock turns to confusion. Utter and complete confusion as the target of his anger drops to his level, gathers his rigid, shocked form into her arms, presses lips against his ear, and whispers, “I will always love you. Even if you hate me. Even if you continue to disobey. Nothing can ever take my love for you away.”
I kiss his temple and walk away. I blink back tears against the deeper stinging truth.
I am just like my son.
My words drove nails into Jesus’ hands, words spoken aloud and uttered in the sinful folds of my heart. My attitude thrust spikes through his feet, attitudes of pride, self-sufficiency, and a stubborn refusal to yield. My anger put a crown of thorns on His head and there is no hiding any of it from God.
But He gathers me in His arms, presses His lips against my ear, and whispers, “I love you. My love does not depend on you, it depends on me. There is nothing you can do that will ever change my deep and great love for you.”
A heartbeat thunders in my chest. Sorrow washes over me. Regret. Shame.
A small hand tugs at my sleeve. A repentant voice seeks forgiveness. I pull my little man into my arms whispering assurances of love and I understand a little bit more of the joy our Father must feel over repentant, surrendered hearts.
*from the archives
by Stacey | Nov 12, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Such a beautiful day to end dark.
Sleepy smiles and warm hugs. Family prayer. Snacks and play. But like a cloud slipping over the sun, darkness creeps over little hearts. Gentle correction produces tempers and tears. The easy becomes hard.
Love is patient
Harsh words. Wounded hearts. Growling anger.
Love is kind
Love responds with another hug, even when little arms beat against my chest. Love softens the tone, even when my insides twist in frustration. Because Love never fails.
Never.
Love is patient with the crying child.
Love is kind amid the battle.
Love keeps no record of wrong.
Never.
Oh, how these children keep me humble. Driving me to me knees, where I meet Perfect Love.
And He meets me there, bent low, confessing my sins, my lack, my need.
He is patient. He is kind. He holds me tight, even when I beat against His chest in anger. He speaks truth into my soul. He sheds light into the darkest corners of my heart.
I yield, almost as begrudgingly as my child. Exhausted from the struggle. Ready to listen and repent. He threads His Spirit through me, and by His strength, I respond in love.
*from the archives
by Stacey | Oct 1, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
She sang it in her hospital room. As the pain increased, so did her praise. She sang, “Bound for Glory” by the Vertical Church Band and I will always, always, always, see her beautiful face every time I hear that song.
And suddenly, all that frustrated me, sapped my joy, or stole my patience, didn’t matter anymore. The time wasters that sucked away hours lost their appeal. She gave me perspective. Holy perspective.
Only God knows how many days are written in my book of life. Yet, how long have I lived as if tomorrow was certain? How many hours did I waste on things destined to burn?
I hug my kids a little bit tighter. I extend more grace. Much more grace. I unplug and pray. I pray long, hard, like I’ve never prayed before. I pray until I can sing along with that sweet little girl. This world is NOT my home. I am bound for GLORY. It’s time to live like it.
This world is not my home. I’m here for a moment. It’s all I’ve ever known, but this world is not my home. The fight is not my own. These burdens aren’t my future. The empty tomb has shown I am bound for glory.
I am free because I’m bound. I am bound for heavens gate. Where my feet will stand on holy ground I am bound for glory.
The saving work is done. Death is not my ending. My God has overcome. I am bound for glory.
All my pain, hurt and shame, gone when Jesus calls my name. Endless joy endless praise—All when Jesus calls my name.
And this sweet ten-year-old does what many four, five or six times her age cannot. She stares death in the face and smiles because her God has overcome. These burdens are NOT her future. She is bound for glory.
Thank you, precious girl, for loving your Jesus.
*printed with permission
