My Place of Grace

With the Christmas season upon us, it is so tempting to be caught up in all the hustle and bustle of gift buying, decorating and baking that we risk missing out on the most valuable gift...Jesus. He came humbly as a baby, innocent, helpless and totally dependent on his earthly parents for everything. He was poor and born into chaotic circumstances much like many in the world today. He left His Father in heaven to become our salvation from sin. He came to seek and save the lost. to rescue the oppressed, serve the poor and restore light to the dark places in this world. He didn't remain a baby. He grew and set himself to action and He calls each one of us to do the same. Who of us doesn't want to see our world in a state of peace rather than chaos and suffering being the norm? We can do it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus commissioned us. I came across this video that I hope will touch your heart this Christmas season and beyond. I pray for your heart to be spurred on to a...

Storms will come and storms will go. Waves may toss us too and fro. But Jesus came to save the lost So hold tight to Him no matter the cost. There is nothing on earth that will ever compare, To the security He brings when our life meets despair. He is our anchor, our light in the dark. He won't let us be devoured by hungry sharks. He chases the enemy, calms the waves Keeps us afloat with His hand that saves. He soothes with His word, always faithful and true He plugs the holes in our boat so we don't fall through. Give Him a chance Call out His name. Reach for His hand. You'll never be the same. You will find that in spite of the treacherous storms, He's restored what's been broken, tattered, and torn. Covering over the damages done, Replacing storm clouds of doubt, with the warm hope of sun. Anchor yourself with Jesus today... And you'll sail through the storms not get tossed in the waves. Blessings, Mary

Here is an example of some of the after care efforts that the International Justice Mission provides to those they rescue. Something as simple as a bicycle can mean the difference between simply surviving vs. thriving. In India, Former Slaves Explore Freedom - On Bicycles(Information taken from IJM web site http://www.ijm.org/ ) Thursday, 26 August 2010 BANGALORE, INDIA – What does a bicycle mean? This symbol of sport and leisure for many signifies something quite different in IJM’s anti-slavery casework in India. To a recently-rescued victim of forced labor slavery, a bicycle can be a pivotal tool in the emancipation process, as it expands life choices, broadens horizons and makes the long road to freedom easier to travel. Being able to travel freely is a new experience for some IJM clients. While trapped in slavery, even if granted permission to temporarily leave the facility, forced laborers are often required to leave a family member behind as “collateral” to ensure their swift re...

Yes! I have given birth! No...not to a human baby, but to my first published book. It felt much like the birth of a baby. A lot of anticipation, care, hard work, and push, push, pushing it out. It was finally delivered on October 28th. That date having great significance, because it also happens to be the date of my first child's birth day, so my first child and my first book were delivered on the same day...how cool is that. What's so special about this book? Well, there are several things that make it special. First, it was inspired by a time in my life when difficulties were running rampant, and God gave me the outlet of expressing myself through poetry. Second, it is a ministry book. Not only ministering to peoples heart and spirit, but also all the profits from the sale of the book are going to a Christian organization called the International Justice Mission, to help put an end to the injustice and tragedy of human trafficking and slavery. Last but not least, it is part ...

This morning as I prayed, God revealed this little snail on the ground at mt feet. I picked it up. it was securely encased in it's shell at the time and I placed it in the palm of my hand. For a long time it stayed safely hidden in its shell, but after a while of being very still, it started to venture out. I thought a moment about this, and a picture formed in my mind. We are very much like this little snail. We all tend to hide ourselves away when the world around us becomes too scary, big, and ominous. It is only when we feel safe and secure that we can begin to advance. The only place we can truly feel this kind of security in when we are resting in Gods hands. There we are safe, there we are protected, and there we can explore the world around us without apprehension. As with the snail, things will come along and scare us back into our shell, but when we stay in the protective shelter of God hands we don't feel the need to stay inside our shell for long. The other interest...

The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."...Exodus 33:14 Lord, our lives get so busy, We lose sight of what is true. Productivity become our idol Always seeking more to do. It's a trap we all fall into, Thinking more is always best. Relaxing seems a waste of time And it's laziness to rest. The world keeps moving faster. We try hard to keep the pace. Feeling worthless when we're tired; And need a break from life's cruel race. Lord, You never called it lazy Taking time to spend with You. It's in those quiet moments That Your presence can shine through. Let us just remember As we go about our days In His presence rest is given When we follow in His ways. M.D.

"This is what the LORD says—he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun , whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams." - Isaiah 44:2-4( NIV ) Have you ever gone through a dry season in your life or in your ministry? Listen to Gods words through the prophet Isaiah... "Do not be afraid"...could it be in those dry times in our lives that it is fear that is our drying agent, leaving us cracked and thirsting for that life giving water? Fear can cause all progress to stop. It paralyzes, limits growth, creates doubt, holds us back, and sucks us dry from the joy and prosperity that God has planned for us. The antidote for fear is faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is being sure of what we ...

Spirit of God, wash over me Cleansing my mind of impurity Fill up the cracks, revealing my leaks Wash away all the obstacles keeping me weak. Rush over my soul with waves of Your power Strengthen my faith hour by hour. Renew my heart with Your life giving rain Quenching my thirst, removing my pain. Plant me by a stream where Your waters flow. As continuous nourishment to help me grow. "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."... Psalm 1:1-3

"It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!" Psalm 92:1-5 Walking through the forest this morning, I noticed the sun emerging from it's sleep. It crept through the forest trees, creating such perfect clarity. It's light shown and danced with glimmers of hope for the coming day. I thought about God and His perfect plan for creation. God has provided all we need for each day. It's right there within our reach. but so often we are stuck in our own dark forest, and we can't see anything clearly. It is only when we look to God for our direction that we become aware of the light He gives. He sends those glimpses of light through His word, others, and nature....

Living in a broken sin filled world, we often find ourselves sailing through some pretty intense storms. God reminds me time and time again of the story in the Gospel(Matthew 8:23-26) of Jesus calming the storm that rose up in the night as He was sleeping. Panicked, the apostles quickly woke their Master, asking what they were going to do? They were beside themselves with worry! Calmly, Jesus looked to His friends and asked them why they were so afraid, where was their faith? They had seen the power and authority Jesus displayed first hand, through numerous other miracles and yet fear rose up inside their hearts at the threat of drowning in the storm. With a word, Jesus instantly quelled the storm, and though they had seen this power many times before...the apostles were still amazed that this could be, and asked themselves who is this that can calm the sea? I am so thankful that we serve a God who wants us to believe and will continue to be patient and show us until we do. We know we ...

Yesterday,on my walk, I saw a huge tree fallen in the woods. It looked perfectly healthy, but the roots had rotted away, causing it to fall. God spoke to me, calling to mind all that has transpired throughout my life...He reminded me that what I am doing right now is building strong roots in Him, so I am able to withstand the winds and storms and opposition that arises through my life. Abiding in Him gives my roots nourishment. Trusting Him moment by moment makes my roots grow deep, obedience spreads them wide, and faith strengthens them, resisting decay. God's love is the water that causes them to grow, remain healthy, and bear fruit. Like trees, we all need to build a good root system in order to grow into who God meant us to be. And like a tree, this is a life long process, but without good, strong, healthy roots to draw our strength from each day, we will eventually fall, succumbing to the force of life's storm's. With a good root system in place, we will be able to wea...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart Lean not on your own understanding. When we try to go it on our own We're in for a bumpy landing. Faith in God requires action Stepping out, so fear steps back Relying on God to move us forward Any way else, our courage will lack. If we find ourselves looking inward Dwelling on our own efficiency The only answer is acknowledging God Submitting to His sufficiency. Then we can rest in God's provision Faithful, He meets all our needs. Never will we have to worry When we walk the way our Father leads. Let us then take heart, and not grow weary With our hope in Christ, we're not alone Each step we take, we lay up treasure For the day our Father calls us home. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ...Proverbs 3:5-6 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in...

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 Waiting on the Lord Pondering His word Delighting in His way Praying through the day Humbled by what He has to say. Resting in His hands He eases life's demands Comforting my pain Peace and joy exclaimed Shining sunbeams through the rain. Showered by His grace Puts a smile on my face Praise to Him I sing My heart to Him I bring Giving to Him thanks in everything. I have a tendency to lose perspective of what is important in my life, getting caught up in doing things, an endless string of activity fills my days. All the "things I do" seem important, worthwhile and more often than not, provide a need for someone. My goal is to serve God, this is why I live. But some times in the serving, I get carried away. I find myself stressed out, my eyes lose focus on why I'm doing what I'm doing, and I...

One week ago today I had surgery on my shoulder. The operation went well. I had never had surgery before, so I have to admit I was a bit nervous. I was knocked out by the anesthesia so quickly I didn't know or feel a thing! Piece of cake! This next 6 week phase, after the surgery is the challenging part. My whole life changed in the moment that I was fixed by the surgeon. I woke up with this huge sling holding my arm still(my right arm, and I'm right handed)I was given strict instructions on what I can and cannot do, and they scheduled me for a regimen of physical therapy to begin the very next day. For the past week, I haven't written much, but have been doing a lot of thinking about what God is trying to show me through this experience. This morning something hit me. A parallel between surgery and salvation! Here's how it goes. My shoulder was broken,hurt, and in need of surgery in order to save and restore it back to use. We are much like my shoulder. Before we met w...

Psalm 139 is of my very favorite Chapters in God's Word. This Psalm tells us some very important things about God's character and how He feels about each one of His children. In verses 1-4 tells us God knows us, intimately everything from the inside out. Verses 5-12 tells of Gods protection over us, He hems us in, goes behind and before us, He is with us always, shining His light, guiding our way. Verses 13-18 shows that God made us and values us, we are His creation made in His image formed by His hand and He not only made us, He planned out our whole lives for us before we were even born. We know He values us because His thoughts of us outnumber the grains of sand on every beach everywhere on this earth...imagine how many thoughts that is. Consider that...Valuable things are always given great thought and consideration. Verses 19-22 tell us that God who loves us so much deserves recognition and first place in our lives. He is our all in All and we shall stand up for Him at a...

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34 We all face difficult relationships, even the best of relationships can be strained. God calls us to love, but let's face it, that can be very challenging especially when we don't agree with someone. So how do we love one another when we are feeling angry, hurt, betrayed, or mistreated? Our natural reaction is to withdraw, lash out, get even, and prove ourselves right at all cost. So how do we love well? Let's look at this command, God tell us to love one another, but the next few words give us the reason/ formula for succeeding in it. When we understand our fallen human nature, we know it is impossible to love all people. When we add God to the equation the impossible becomes possible. "As I have loved you" Have you ever thought about that statement? How many times have we disappointed, hurt, betrayed, lied, ignored, and sinned against God? Yet ...

Have storms and discouragement been plaguing your life? Your thoughts? I think we can all relate to the apostle Paul and the story of the thorn in his side, given to keep him humble and leaning on God's strength. (2 Corinthians 12: 1-10) We can also relate to the life of David, who loved God so much but found himself in all kinds of trouble and trials before God lifted Him up to his prosperous position. (1 &2 Samuel and Psalms) And Elijah who believed God to win a battle but then turned around and doubted Him when he heard that Jezebel wanted to have him killed .(1 Kings 19) It seems in some things we can easily trust God will handle the storms in our lives and in others, we get in our heads that this next storm must be too big and we withdraw from Him. I can almost hear God asking as He did Elijah" What are you doing here?"(after he ran for His life, from fear and discouragement.) That's the question we need to ask ourselves ..."What are we doing here?...

"So if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed." John 8:36 The other day I was visiting and spending time in our local women's prison. Once a week, a fellow volunteer and I go and hold a Bible study with the ladies. We pray and then hand out song books. We always like to sing. Every week we ask the ladies to pick a song, and every week they pick a Song called "Jesus Signed My Pardon", I had never heard the song before I started going to the prison but the words are so meaningful and it has become the theme song of this group. I thought I'd like to share the word's with you: Jesus Signed My Pardon I was in sin's prison, oh, so dark and cold Like a lost sheep wandering from God's eternal fold; Then the door swung open, and He spoke to me "I have signed your pardon, now you may go free." Chorus: Jesus signed my pardon, this I surely know Took my place at Calvary, now I won't have to go; All my life I'll give to Him - He gave H...

Walking hand in hand with God is my hearts cry. I want to be so completely immersed in Him. I want to feel his presence next to me, as I do walking with a friend. I want His guidance and direction in all things. I want to hear everything He has to say to me, learn all his ways, grow to become just like Him in character. With every task I do, hurdle I leap, trial I go through, and trail I blaze, I want to do it in a way that points to Him. Psalm 119:27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be a Christian. It's not just a statement. Being a Christian is a lifestyle, it means being set apart and setting Jesus Christ apart as Lord and savior over my life. It means I follow Christ, walking in His footsteps. (I have this image in my mind of child walking behind a parent, trying to step in each footprint their parent has made.) Being a Christian is an active living daily choice I make to ...

See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. -Isaiah 48:10 We go through refining seasons in our lives. Times when God really puts us through the fire to rid us of impurities that take away from our being the person that He has purposed us to be. We need to go through these times as painful as they may be, because it's in these times when we are tested and proved. I write this because I am currently being put through the fire, looking at my situation in this way brings me hope and assurance that God has something important for me to learn through it. He is also using my testing as a means to witness to others as a source of encouragement and proof of His great power and grace when we choose to stand in our faith in Him. Don't get me wrong, though God gives me His grace to get through this time of fire and testing it HURTS! There is pain involved in this process, but as I continue to look to God, He is faithfully revealing His p...

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 It is very easy to get caught up and overwhelmed with all life throws at us, but the battle in our own minds is probably the most brutal of all battles many of us may ever face. It's fierce and merciless at times. How we think about our circumstances can be far more damaging than the circumstance itself. When we go into this battle armed with the God's truth, understanding God has a purpose already planned out for us to achieve the goal of bringing His kingdom full circle, our battle becomes an honor to fight. Knowing that our response to each circumstance we face can be a testimony to God's Power and every choice we make in it will either bring God glory or defame Him really shines new light on the battle. With the eternal mind set, it is no lon...

'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3 Sometimes the answers we seek are only as far away as the call. God is always waiting for our call and the best part is, He is always home to pick up. In this age of technology, it is so automatic for us to pick up our cell phones or shoot e-mails and text messages to our friends. We search for answers to our problems and look for direction from friends,counselors, books, television, and Google; but how often do we call on God? How often do we use His resources? God is the source of all life, who better to run to first? He knows ALL the answers we seek before we even ask. He watches our futile efforts at trying to solve our life's problems on our own, and He waits. God waits for us to pick up that direct connect and contact Him. So what are we waiting for? The answers we are looking for are wrapped up in Him. The only way to unwrap them is to call and get to know Hi...

I am praising God for His grace and mercy, wonderful friends, and the gift of children. This has been one eventful week so far...Steven's life was saved, Chris enrolled in college and as of April 10th will be off probation FOR GOOD! He also recently got a job working for the very same drug and alcohol rehab the he, himself went through, Jon applied for college, and Zachary brought home 2 excellent grades on tests! In our time of crisis all three boys rallied with us for their brother, and I am very proud to be their mother. Though Jon is very angry.(and rightly so) He also is the first one to jump in and help. I am blessed beyond measure with my boys. I love and appreciate them and want them to know it! Our worth is not measured by material successes or possessions but rather by the successes of the heart and those characters of God possessed with in it. It is so easy to be sucked into focusing our problems, but where does that lead? Unfortunately only to more problems. When we fo...

This week my house was thrown into turmoil. It is in complete and utter chaos. Everywhere I look there is a mess to be gone through and cleaned up. It's to the point where I just look around and feel so overtaken at the magnitude of it all. It seems too overwhelming to conquer, so I just push it off. The only problem with this is that the mess isn't going anywhere, it's actually growing bigger and bigger. I think that's what happens with our heart sometimes too. The trials of life make these impressions in our hearts, and if we're not careful and diligent in cleaning them up(taking them to God with bucket and scrub brush in hand) then they accumulate and grow to seemingly unmanageable proportions. Today I was reading my Bible and came across this passage in the book of Haggai, chapters 1&2. The word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai concerning the condition of Gods house. God asked why the people of Israel were neglecting the disrepair of His house. He chas...

I've been working on a publishing a book of poetry for the past several months. I am feeling this stirring of excitement as it nears it's completion. To be able to hold the compilation of my thoughts all together in my hands is to me, like scoring the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl or the game winning home run in the World Series. I started writing this collection of poetry a few years ago, during a difficult time in my life. In many ways it is my journey with God through that time. Thus I entitled it "Hand in Hand with God" He has been my "coach" so to speak, in this experience, and I give Him all the credit for training me to score! I wanted to share a little bit about this journey in my life, because I think so many times God uses difficult circumstances to reveal the direction and purpose He has for our lives. He reveals diamonds in the hard, dirty walls of our caves, and shines light and perspective in dark places of our lives. God brings beauty fr...

Ever find yourself drowning in a sour pit of lemon juice? Everything in your life going wrong? Can't seem to find your way out? Well take heart my friend! Life is guaranteed to give us lemons...but with a little sugar those lemons can turn into sweet tasting lemonade. The sugar I'm talking about is God Himself. He's the sweetener that makes life lemons into our lemonade. Apart from Him we are settling for that sour juice. In the gospel of John, Jesus tells of his sweetness and power, He says "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) In the context of lemonade, we can say Yes, In this world you'll be surrounded by many lemons...but take heart...I have come to make the lemonade! We can see this relationship in John 10:10 as well when Jesus tells us, "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and s...

Well known author, speaker, and counselor, Leslie Vernick, will be presenting a free 2-session seminar for men and women on Friday evening, March 19th at 7pm at Faith Church in Allentown. She will be speaking from two of her books, Lord, I Just Want to Be Happy and How to Live Right When Your Life Goes Wrong featuring The TRUTH Principle. The Truth Principle Do you struggle to live out God's truth from your heart? Many Christians know more truth than they actually apply. Leslie offers a unique 5-step process called The TRUTH Principle that will help you: · Respond to difficult situations without losing your temper or your faith. · Break free from internal lies in order to fully embrace Gods' truth. · Develop the discipline to take your desires from dreams to reality. Lord, I Just Want to Be Happy It's not the new circumstances we often pray for that move us toward lasting happiness, but rather something entirely different. Drawing on her own struggles and those of people s...

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11 "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." Rev. 3:19 This is my Grand dog Charley. As you can see he's gotten himself in a bit of a mess! I love Charley. He is an energetic, fun loving, always ready to play and please puppy. He loves to be around people and he comforts them with his big brown eyes and is always ready to snuggle on your lap(even though he's really NOT a lap dog). Sometimes He gets a little carried away in his joy, as in this picture. These soft white rolls seemed like the perfect toy for him, they looked harmless enough. He thought he'd just check them out and before he knew it he had unrolled, tossed about, tore up and thoroughly examined each roll. He was feeling pretty good about himself, satisfied, till his master walked in the r...

I have the honor today to post a review of "Thin Places", a memoir by Mary DeMuth. Mary has written numerous books, both fiction and non fiction. All have been wonderful reads, showing God's amazing love and grace over our lives along with His incredible redeeming power. In telling her story, she brings testimony that Jesus is always near to us, even in the most horrific of circumstances and is unfathomably able to heal up even the deepest of scars left behind. Thin Places takes this theme, and chronicles it through her own life experiences in a real, personal and powerful way. Her own walk with God becomes the catalyst for determining these defining moments, that she describes as: "snatches of holy ground, tucked into the corners of our world, where if we pay close attention, we might just catch a glimpse of eternity. They are snatches of time, moments really when we sense God intersecting our world in tangible, unmistakable ways. They are aha moments, beautiful rea...

"...When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.(Hebrews 12:26-29) Passionately I will worship God. Singing His praises all day Hiding His word in my heart Coming before Him to pray. Delighting in His commands Loving Him in all I do and say. Trusting God for all my needs Walking in His way Obediently I'll follow And in His presence I will stay. Fix your eyes on Jesus...especially knowing that the things of this world will pass away. Do not let any obstacle keep you from God's presence...He is the source of your strength continually call Him to mind...He helps replaces all feelings of dread with His ...

"that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living." Psalm 116:9 Entangled by the toils, temptations, and troubles of daily living, not to mention those lies we believe from the past, the stress of finances, wayward children, troubled marriages, financial difficulties, mood disorders, jam packed days, sleepless nights, caring for elderly parents, and the list goes on... have a tendency to hold us captive and hinder our walking in freedom with God, keeping us from the person God intends us to be. God has a predestined plan for each of us to carry out in His kingdom here on earth. So how do we throw all these things off so we can run the race set out for us?(Hebrews 12:1-12) How do we grab hold our freedom offered us as followers of Christ? We need to know him. We need to spend time in his presence,we need to become fully dependent upon him and live out of the strength He provides. We need to become aware of our weaknesses and quickly repent of our sins, becoming willin...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. " Hebrews 12:1-3 I have been greatly inspired recently by a book that I read, called The Heavenly Man. It is a book about a Chinese mans life and journey to bring the message of salvation to the Chinese people, in spite of the great risk involved in spreading the message. You see, China does not allow freedom to express your own beliefs, you must be part of their registered church. So to stand against the government in the name of Christianity is a serious crime. Those who ...