ARISE FROM THE ASHES

YES, YOU CAN ARISE

because God can

IN DEEP WOUNDS, whether of betrayal or loss, Father God reaches us and asks of us, “Will you give it to me? Will you stop burying it? Will you let me have it?” 

When we give him our sorrow, our anger, our unforgiveness, and our deepest secrets, he is able to begin a soft and slow restoring of peace to our inward self—our soul. In the safety of God’s love, his care, we face the ugliest of demons that reside behind a closed heart. The power of the ugly stuff, with its subtle but real influence over us, is then weakened. 

Essentially, God says to us: My child, I love you. Be free. Come to me. Don’t blame me. There are things you do not understand. This world is cursed—it is doomed—but I have life and I offer life to you. My love can transform the darkest soul. I, alone, can redeem the pain, the loss, and make you anew. I paint a new picture dispelling the darkness of your soul with light and shades of color in beautiful layers of joy. 

Thank you, dear God. Father God, I love you. Amen.

THE MEETING PLACE: Moments with God at Lookout Point  -N.L. Brumbaugh

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For more, visit my author site at nlbrumbaugh.com.
Have a blessed day.

An Extraordinary Remarkable Vision

He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by his wounds you were healed. -1 Peter 2:24

For Good Friday

MY OLDEST DAUGHTER had the following vision during a class at a Christian university. Worshipful music played while students participated in prayerful meditative contemplation. My daughter was praying and seeking God when this movie-like vision was viewed in her mind's eye. It startled her. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. It was so unusual that she called me later to tell me about it. At my request, she wrote it down on a slip of paper. She said the figures were  like cookie cutter shapes without gender. I think it is simple yet powerful. I suggest you read it out loud for the full impact.

Her Vision

JESUS was white, and everyone else looked just like him except they all were covered in dirt. Different people were dirtier, blacker, or whatever. Then they all went and hugged Jesus. Jesus became dirtier than anyone; caked with filth. Everyone else became pure white as Jesus once was. 

  "And I’ll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross."  Refrain  playing when the vision came to her.

---Here I Am to Worship by Tim Huges

Grace Giver -- Inspiration 10

Grace Gives Grace

Image from the recent Northern California Camp Fire 

-Beauty from Ashes-

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 12:19

O LOVING GRACE, beautiful grace, bountiful grace. What would the world do without grace? When grace is given it is received but not necessarily deserved. A prodigal son receives grace when he is welcomed home. Sinners are given grace when their sins are forgiven them. A recipient of an act of grace, do welcome it. Grace plays out in a myriad of ways. They could have gotten in trouble but they didn't, they've been given a second chance after a mess-up,  they are forgiven a wrong, or when they are loved just because. That's grace giving from out of its nature, extending grace because that is what grace does. Helping someone who is hard to help, like a person suffering with Alzheimer's Disease, is on the grace side of giving. God's grace is even greater. His grace chooses to redeem rather than punish, to set free rather than encage, to give to rather than to break down. Grace is greater than all our sin. We repent. God forgives. Grace pardons the offense. Grace covers with His feathers. Frequently grace carries an individual through a difficulty. They are given grace when they could have lost their job, a friendship, a relationship, or their reputation. Grace says they are worth it. They were worth a Son to Him. That's a hard understanding. Ultimate grace becomes human reality from its Giver of the divine Gift. Grace grows and blesses as God's grace multiplies in the interior self.

Dear Father in Heaven, spiritual life has many benefits and grace is one of them. You give grace to the humble, You give grace to us, You show us the ways of grace. Thank you for Your grace that welcomes us as part of Your family. Amen

To God be the Glory

Merciful Father -- Inspiration 7

Lord have Mercy on Me a Sinner

156 

Great are Your mercies, O Lord;

Revive me according to Your ordinances.

  Psalm 119:156

THE TENDER MERCIES of God don't get much press. God is merciful. God's mercy is called upon with every prayer request. His loving kindness is goodness and mercy. That humanity still exists after all it's warring factions and evil doings is a direct result of a merciful Heavenly Father. "Lord have mercy," we pray. We know He does have mercy and will continue to have mercy. Mercy is part of who He is in addition to being just and right. An erring child, mate, or colleague is prayed for by those who believe in the power of God to meet a need, to turn a life around, and to initiate the right circumstances to bring this to pass. They know this is within the will of God and it implores His abundant mercy. The sinner's prayer "Lord have mercy on me a sinner," is a humble prayer of the heart. It speaks of dependence on the merciful nature of God, and nothing else--not good works, not spiritual activities, not worth and value--just God alone. Therein is the key to all spiritual endeavors. God is the Master of the Universe, but His is a servant's heart that listens to those who entreat Him in their brokenness, with humility, and despite their dysfunction. God honors this self-denying humility in an "unworthy" person--according to human standards of conduct, but "worthy" of compassion in God's sight--according to His tender mercies. There is no pretending in this humble plea to our Father in Heaven. God hears the cry of the heart, and He answers.

Merciful Father, we are not worthy to sit at your table. We are not worthy to call on Your mercy. We do not deserve Your grace. But You are merciful. You are grace. You love with kindness. You answer according to Your mercy. Even Your reproof is for our good. Thank you. We love You. Praise Your Holy Name. Amen

To God be the Glory