Flowing in Grace

By Nancy Turley

"The clearest evidence that God's grace is at work in our hearts is when we do not get into a panic."  Oswald Chambers

“Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

The word I felt God gave me for 2015 was “Grace.” I love that word. I love the concept. My name, Nancy, means gracious. It’s a trait I am growing into. I wondered if one of the reasons God gave me this word for this year was not only that I needed to grow into it–to be able to give it more–but also, that I might need to receive it. For my birthday my sister Carol gave me a necklace with a swan on it because it was indicative of grace. Part of the description of the swan said that they were graceful. Though that applies to the swan much more than me, I do want to be "grace-full."

Recently a friend replied to a special request for prayer from me that she would listen to the Spirit as she prayed to “simply move to the unforced rhythm of grace.” It came as a hopeful admonition to me as well, as I loved this translation of “Come until me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest…” in Matthew 11. 

This was a new take for me to think of moving in the “rhythm” of grace, and more so, unforced rhythm. One never knows what is around the corner, both good and bad. I wonder how the rhythm of life connects with the unforced rhythm of grace. 

There will be many times where we need to flex, where we need to flow like a river that navigates slow curve bends—those longer stretches of life. We long for answers and movement but do not get immediate replies.

There are other situations where we feel like we are pushed into a narrowing canyon while in a fast current and are suddenly just dropped down a waterfall chute. Where then is that unforced rhythm of grace when we feel we are out of control? How can we flow with the rhythm of life, and yet be in an unforced rhythm of grace?

Perhaps it is like being thrown overboard while canoeing or rafting. We point our feet downward, life jacket snug around our chests, and are navigated around the rocks by hands of grace. Instead of being forced out of control, while we are in the current, grace gently guides us around obstacles. We are buoyed by grace as we flow with the current.

I was actually in that situation once where a friend and I capsized from our canoe as we went through Class III rapids on the Colorado River. I remember being guided by others still in their canoes to go with the current’s flow and put our feet downward. About a half mile later, we moved from the fast moving water to slower water. As we flowed with the current, knowing others watched and guided us, we felt we would be safely rescued.

Perhaps that is how we accept God's grace and allow it to work in our hearts...instead of panicking, we choose to rest during those times we feel so heavy laden. We flow in that unforced rhythm of grace.

The Leaves in the Fall

© Tawna Wilkinson

Have you ever observed the leaves in Fall;

No matter how big, no matter how small?

Each turn their color the Creator says to be,

Bright orange, sunny yellow, vivid red for all to see.

Then another beautiful phenomenon takes place.

With no fight, no struggle, almost with haste;

Turning loose of the trees with abandon they fall;

Never to return, no resistance at all.

They are not fearful, for they know His heart;

The Fall season Love brings is a brand new start.

Turning loose of the trees when

the wind comes they know,

They are free to be winsome, 

free to dance before snow.

                

They circle and laugh, they skip, and they twirl;

Enjoying each moment in the wind as it whirls.

“Our Creator is Love”, they all sing as they dance.

“He guides our way, He leaves nothing to chance.”

Oh won’t you come join them, 

precious child of the King?

His love is unending. Do trust Him and sing.

Sing and dance with abandon, and fear not at all,

Live your life as He guides you, like the leaves in Fall.

I Need a Clean Sweep

By Jill Palmer

I was driving past a storage place one time and the sign out front read "Too much stuff? Store it here. First month's rent is free!" 

My first thought was that I would give stuff away before I had to pay someone to store it for me. If you're moving that's different but I personally don't want to own more stuff then I can keep at my own house. Paying someone to store my junk doesn't make sense to me. And I don't know if you've noticed this or not but these storage facilities are going up everywhere! We live in a culture with so much extra. 

We find ourselves with extra things that need storing. We see the sign "first month free" and we find our solution! 

BUT THEN comes the sneaky part. As soon as that first month is over they start charging your credit card to pay rent on the unit. You see the charge on your card and say to yourself "I've got to go through that storage unit and get rid of stuff and not pay any more rent." 

And you do that for months....

As I was musing over that The Lord spoke to me and said that is what we do with our emotional junk. We aren't willing to part with old wounds, aren't willing to forgive, aren't wanting to let things go that we were never meant to carry. And so we store it. And the enemy tempts us and says it's okay...the first month is free! 

And it seems like such a good deal so we do it. "I'm mad at so and so and they don't deserve my kindness." We decide to hold onto something. And at first it's fine. No big deal. It's "free". 

Ya see, each of us has our own storage unit full of past hurts, unforgiveness and wounds. And every once in a while we are reminded that we are "paying" for them. Something happens that reminds us of what's in the "storage unit".  And we promise we'll deal with it soon so we don't have to keep on paying that rent. 

And we do that for months....or years...

See where this is going? This next picture might make you chuckle. 

Jesus wants to come in and help you clean out your storage unit. He wants to go through all that stuff that's been packed in there for years.  Sort through what is to keep and what is to dump. And He sticks with you throughout the whole process! It's like Clean Sweep! Remember that show on TLC several years ago?! 

He says in his word that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  If you are feeling weighed down by the world then maybe it's time to let Jesus into your storage unit and help you clean it out. And stop paying the enemy to store your junk! 

Have you been paying the enemy to store your junk and saying to yourself "I'll get to it later"? How can you begin to take steps towards a "Clean Sweep"?

Still

By Kim Beach

Ever just get tired of being here? In this life? In this time and place, filling this space on earth? 

Sometimes I look around at the pain and heartache of this world and I just want to hide. Runaway. Flee.

Senseless death claims a friend's son and another friend's brother. Cancer. A family struggles to find a home. War. Broken relationships. Disease wrecks bodies. Marriages in crisis.  

Young people grapple for identity. Fallen Heroes. People use their hurts as weapons. Slavery claims more captives than ever in human history. Abortion. Children are pawns in a game of "love". They are disposable. Suicide. Loss.

It just hurts too much.  

Hopelessness begins to surround me like a cloud. It wraps around me like a heavy woolen blanket, hot and inescapable. Struggle seems futile as it pulls me into despair.

"Where are you God ?!"

Silence.

"Do you see this mess ?!?"

Darkness

"Do you care?"

Then I hear Him whisper...

And a song fills my heart . . .

His promise is true. . .

"He is near to the brokenhearted and those whose
spirits are crushed,"
Psalm 34:18

And HOPE grows again. . .