#GODSDESIGN#REDEMPTION#MYLIFE#FINDINGGRACE

It has been several months since my last blog.  I've been reminded but it is always about God's timing and leading me to share.  I recently heard a message referencing Acts 3: 6 where the man lame from birth was being carried to the temple and laid at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate.  As the crowd gathered to hear Peter's sermon and Peter gazed upon the man, he tells the man, "Silver and Gold have I none, but such as I have, give I thee, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."    Years ago, we often sang these words as a praise and worship chorus in our Sunday night fellowship in our home in Alaska, and I remember this verse every day.  I have thought about this message often in the last few weeks and was reminded today of the words in Acts 13 where Barnabas and Saul are commissioned by the Holy Spirit and are sent on their first missionary journey.  As Paul now takes the reins of leadership and shares his first recorded message, he emphasizes that JESUS is the Christ.  As the people continue to gather and are persuaded to continue in "the Grace of God, Paul and Barnabas boldly proclaim in Acts 13:47 "For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I HAVE  SET THEE TO BE A LIGHT OF THE GENTILES, THAT THOU  SHOULDST BE FOR SALVATION UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH." 

It’s interesting how God orchestrates our steps.  What we sometimes plan for our day is totally changed as He leads in a different direction, to set our hearts upon Him. “ Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:133

This morning, I remembered that last night, I had decided to place cleaning under furniture on my “to do” list.  This was brought about as I took off my rings and dropped one, as I was getting ready to go to bed, shortly after midnight.  I looked all around the area rug and the chair where I had been sitting/sleeping and could not find the ring.  It brought back memories of the multiple times my love and I would search for a nail, anchor or screw that he had dropped as he was working on a project and I was helping.  Sometimes it would go in a totally different direction, three or more feet from where it had fallen and it would take a few minutes to find it.  I can’t even begin to count the number of times this has happened recently.  I finally went for the flashlight and looked under the recliner and saw the ring, as well as lots of dust particles, and crumbs, lurking under the chair, illuminated by the bright light of the flashlight, just as the sin in our lives, is revealed by the light of His Word.

I awoke early even though I had set my alarm for later than usual.   My favorite tool for cleaning under furniture is my love’s long metal yard stick,  around which I wrap moistened paper towels or a cleaning cloth.  So, of course, this morning that was my tool of choice.  One of his favorite phrases was “jury rigging,” and I thought of that as I worked.  As I attempted to clean the love seat/rocker recliner, which I can not move, it becomes a challenge, because of the coils, etc. and required a lot of movement on my part, lying on the floor, trying to clean from the front, sides and back, with not much room between the love seat and wall.  I then did my recliner, end table, coffee table, and decided since I was armed with the flashlight and had the yard stick in hand, to move on to the kitchen.  As I worked, God began to sow seeds of spiritual wisdom, as He loves to do in our hearts and souls.  How often our lives are cluttered with all that is going on around us, our family and friends, many whom are going through hurting and difficult times, navigating changes in our own lives, hearing political power struggles which are ever present when we turn on the news or pop up on news alerts on our phones and devices.  I’m grateful for the light of God’s Word that shines in our hearts and reveals the hidden sin in our lives and lifts us into His everlasting Hand.  Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

As I worked in the kitchen, cleaning under the refrigerator and then the stove, which I have done on several occasions but not as often or as well as I should, I shined the flashlight again.  I was amazed at the dirt, and construction debris that appeared on my cloths as I pulled the yardstick out, time and time again.  I decided to use a dish towel that was about to be thrown in the washing machine.  Again, there were bits of ceiling particles, unpopped kernels of a bag of popcorn I had spilled at some point, all under the stove which is built in and cannot be pulled out.  It was all going well until the dish towel got lodged under the stove.  My attempts to get it out were at first futile.  I then opened the stove drawer but it was not able to be removed from the stove.  I continued to work and went to the garage to see what I could find to reach the cloth.  I found a slim curtain rod, and  thought of the refrain to the hymn, “Washed in the blood of the Lamb,” and how we are washed in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb.”  The refrain asks if our garments are spotless, and white as snow?”  As I sang the words, and began to piece together the verses, I suddenly realized I needed to know who had written this beautiful hymn of redemption.

My search found that it was written by Elisha A. Hoffman, who was born in Pennsylvania on May 7, 1839, of German Dutch ancestry and grew up in the Philadelphia area.  My ancestry is Pennsylvania German Dutch, I and my dad were born in Pennslyvania, my dad’s birthday was May 7th, and I felt an immediate connection to this man of God who pastored churches, composed over 2,000 hymns and touched the hearts of thousands with the lyrics of his songs.  He also wrote, “I Must tell Jesus,” {“Tempted and tried, I need a great Saviour, one who can help my burdens to bear; He all my cares and sorrows will share.  O how the world to evil allures me:  O how my heart is tempted to sin! I must tell Jesus, and He will help me, Over the world the vict’ry to win.}. 

I’m so very thankful for how God’s plan goes beyond our feeble attempts and achieves His purpose, is in us, and for us and works through us.  He does not evade us but knows our thoughts and give us the promise of everlasting salvation.  “For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is GOD!), who formed the earth and made it. (He established it; he did not create it empty, He formed it to be inhabited!);  I am the LORD, and there is no other.”  Isaiah 45:18

So as God has spoken to me today and to those reading these words and perhaps struggling with pain, circumstances beyond your control or in need of encouragement, remember the promise of our LORD and Savior, “even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you.  I have made and I will bear; I will carry and will deliver you.  To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?  Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and. From ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.”  Isaiah 46:4, 5, 8-10

To GOD BE ALL GLORY!