Devotional Archives--Unwrapping Grace

December 12, 2005 —

Guilty No More

Author’s note: I’ve chosen to deviate from our Bridal series until a later date. I’m in the midst of a study on the Song of Solomon and would like to delve deeper into the idea of being the bride of Christ before writing further on this topic. Also, it seemed timely to wrap up the year and enter the new one focused on God’s greatest gift to mankind—the grace of Jesus Christ.

“Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.” Phil 2:6-7 (NLT)

The neighbors across the street spent most of yesterday putting up lights. One of their displays is a twinkling nativity. Gazing upon that tiny manger scene, I am reminded that the same baby who came to earth so vulnerable, soft, and cuddly—is the God Who created a bazillion stars, cared for man through the ages, submitted to death upon a cruel cross, and now reigns in heaven.

Sometimes it baffles me that God would lay aside His crown, majestic robe, and exalted position to give Himself to His creation knowing He would face ridicule, abuse, and rejection. He came aware of the whole plan—that His perfect life would be sacrificed to redeem our imperfect lives. He came to give us the gift of grace.

The sights and sounds of a nation celebrating Christmas surround us here in America. For many, the season will be nothing more than a whirl wind of company parties, expensive gifts, and self-imposed contests to out-do the neighbors’ lawn decorations.

Yet, as we are out and about during this time, we’ll also hear carols of the incarnation on the radio and over the loud speakers at the grocery stores. We’ll see manger scenes like the one in my neighbor’s yard and on occasion, there’ll even be a twinkling cross amidst the decorations.

This year I’m asking the Lord to help me embrace His grace more fully each time I hear or see one of these icons. I’m asking Him to help me be grateful that He emptied Himself of the rights of heaven long enough to come and save me. I’m praying that He help me unwrap the gift of His grace.

I’ve made up a little acronym to help me think about this. Here it is:
G-Guilty no more
R-Rest in Christ
A-Accept His unconditional love
C-Christ, my hope of glory
E-Empowered by His Spirit

This week, I’m thinking of my Savior’s incredible act of Salvation and how Jesus came to earth to offer forgiveness. He was born so that He could die in my place. He came so I could be guilty no more.

The foundation of grace is Jesus saving us from ourselves, from all our wrongdoings, and declaring us forgiven.

As you drive through the twinkling lights in your neighborhood this week, may your heart sing, “No more let sin and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found . . . “* and may you whisper, “Thank you, Jesus. I am guilty no more.”

*Joy to the World, text by Isaac Watts

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December 19, 2005 —

"R" is for Resting in Christ

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]” Matthew 11:28 (AMP)

I love the sound of the snow crunching under my boots, or even underneath the tires of my car. There’s something about a cold day and a blanket of snow that make me want to burrow in and just relax. I long to sip a cup of hot herb tea and read a book or bake something that fills the house with a wonderful aroma and just put my feet up while it’s in the oven.

This time of year, despite the snow and dipping temperatures, I don’t see a lot of resting happening around me. The streets are busy and the calendars are full. But as we unwrap the gift of grace this season, I think it is important to remember that our Lord offers us rest for our souls.  Last week I shared my acronym for grace. Here it is:

G-Guilty no more
R-Rest in Christ
A-Accept His unconditional love
C-Christ, my hope of glory
E-Empowered by His Spirit

As we look at “R” this week, I’m reminded of one of my favorite experiences as a mother. I nursed all four children and I spent many, many hours in my recliner with a baby snuggled to my breast. There were times it was hard for me to set aside my personal agenda and enjoy those quiet moments, but when I did, they were a time of rest for both my baby and me.

I’ll never forget the look in my baby’s eyes as he would nurse awhile, then pause and look up at me. He (or she) would gaze at me with complete satisfaction, trust, and peace.

As my babies became toddlers they’d run through the house, their diapers making funny crackling noises. Life was full of new discoveries for them and they were so busy! But every day the time would come when they just needed to rest.

Sometimes, especially if we were out and about instead of at home at naptime, they’d fuss and squirm and I’d pick them up and cuddle them. They’d burrow their little heads into my shoulder, wrap their arms around me, and snuggle in. Soon, they’d be fast asleep. Totally at peace, no matter the chaos around them.

I believe the rest Jesus talks about in Matthew 11:28 looks a lot like those two pictures. As we receive His grace and learn to rest in it, we can gaze into His eyes, trusting His provision, and be at peace.

My babies didn’t do anything to earn my love. They were born and I just loved them! Strangely enough, I loved them more and more as I cared for them, met their needs, and sacrificed my own desires for them.

In the same way, our Father doesn’t expect us to earn His love or the right to rest. He simply comes to us and says, “Are you tired? Let me help you. Are you burdened? Let me carry it. Do you feel guilty or ashamed? Let me take that and replace it with forgiveness and acceptance.”

This holiday season some of us desperately need rest—and not just a time-out from our busy schedules, but a deep soul rest. A rest that leans our tired minds (that think too much, worry too much, and feel guilty too much) upon His shoulder and finds peace. We need to learn to rest in the provision He has made for all our needs, both physical and spiritual and learn to gaze, satisfied and full, into His loving eyes.

As you celebrate Christ’s birth, won’t you unwrap His gift of rest?

Dearest Jesus, thank you for coming to earth and offering me rest. Show me how to let go of my worries and my striving and lean against in your shoulder in peace.
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December 26, 2005 —

"A"--Accept His Unconditional Love

G--Guilty no more
  R--Rest in Christ
  A--Accept His unconditional love
  C--Christ, my hope of glory
  E--Empowered by His Spirit

Last night about 9:30 pm my phone rang. My next door neighbor said, “Hurry, open your door. You’ve got a TV coming in.”

“What?”

“I’m giving you my old TV, my grandson’s bringing it. Hurry and get that door open!”

As it turned out, my neighbor’s grandson had bought her a new big screen TV. I guess she knew our TV was older than our marriage. Her grandson joked that it was the kind he’d had in elementary school. Our new TV is just a few years old and has a much bigger screen than our other one. Our family did nothing to deserve such a gift, but we’re sure enjoying it!

As generous as our neighbor’s gift was, however, we were given a gift much greater over 2000 years ago. God, in His unconditional love, sent Jesus because the Father wanted to be close to His children.

See, the main thing that separates us from our Creator is His perfection (holiness) and our sin (lack of holiness). When Jesus came it was for the sole purpose of taking our sin and giving us His holiness.

We did nothing to deserve His great act of love, but God gave it anyway.

We could have chosen not to accept our neighbor’s generous gift. What we had got us by. Sure, it was old, the picture tube wasn’t holding so sometimes we got weird colors, the knobs didn’t always turn right, and the technology was so outdated it didn’t interface with our DVD player.

Still, we could have stubbornly hung onto our old TV. But it wouldn’t have made much sense. Someone who delighted in giving to us wanted us to have something much better.

Unfortunately, there have been times I’ve rejected something much more precious than a new TV. I tenaciously hung onto my shame and turned away from the Giver of Grace.

All He wanted to do was give to me His unconditional love and acceptance. He stood by patiently, His arms open wide, longing to enfold me in them, but I ducked my head and walked the other way.

Father, teach me to truly believe in and accept Your unconditional love. Help me to run straight into Your arms and know I am accepted no matter the circumstances.

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January 2, 2006 —

"C"--Christ, My Hope of Glory

A note from Paula: Happy New Year! I’ve left you a little gift at my website. The book review pages have been updated and we’ve added a couple of new pages: Paula Pens and Sarah Says (book reviews for girls done by my daughter). Enjoy!

G--Guilty no more

R--Rest in Christ

A--Accept His unconditional love

C--Christ, my hope of glory

E--Empowered by His Spirit

“The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple . . . To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less.” From Colossians 1:27 & 28 The Message

All across the western world people are making New Year’s resolutions. Most of those are designed toward improvement—of the person, the lifestyle, or the future.

We make resolutions because we want to be better ourselves or accomplish our dreams. We want to be mature and successful. And sometimes we write those goals with a rock in our gut because we’re afraid we won’t succeed in them—or that we will.

I think there’s a better approach.

I’m not knocking goals. I have some myself. But really, the only true betterment we have is found in one place—Christ. To be mature is to live in Christ. To share in God’s glory comes back to one Person: Christ.

This is grace.

It is Jesus within us Who purchased a glorious future for us and it is Jesus within us Who matures us.

Maturity isn’t chasing after good works or good goals or achieving our dreams.

It isn’t being the perfect worker, parent, or student. And it certainly isn’t connected to how much weight we lose or how much we’re going to accomplish.

Maturity is knowing Christ and letting our life flow from that place. He is our hope of betterment. He is our hope of glory. And He promises to be faithful to complete the work He began in us.

So focus on Jesus and be refreshed. Let His grace fall like a waterfall—rushing, splashing, rumbling over your world. Open your heart and drink of the life-giving Stream. Watch the renewing droplets glisten in the Sonlight before they splash onto your face, your arms, and into your soul.

All that other stuff, those dreams and stresses that cause you to list those resolutions and goals, will fall into place. The betterment will come as an outgrowth of the relationship you have with Jesus.

You’ll change because He lives inside of you and is bringing forth the Father’s glory. He’ll lead you in pursuit of the future He has planned for you as you surrender to His Holy Spirit.

May all our New Year’s Resolutions fall under one heading: Christ.

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January 9, 2006 —

"E"--Empowered by His Spirit

Sometimes I really blow it. I want to live a life that lets the beauty of Christ shine from me and instead I mess up. Today was like that for me. Ever have one of those days when you try to do what’s right, make a little progress, get knocked backwards, and blow it again?

Then, after you’ve dealt with a pack of emotional stress, something awful happens that causes physical stress? And then, to top it all off, you have a commitment to fulfill that requires you to talk about God?

That’s me today: messing up, getting up, and falling down again. Then, after a pile of emotional stress, a water pipe in the wall burst and caused a flood in the basement. And now I’m staring at computer screen, which is supposed to be filling up with a devotional.

I not really in the mood to write about God and there’s a hint from the enemy that I am not worthy to do it anyway. Part of me wants to flee my computer and hide from the world.

But, thank God, His grace covers me and I glue my backside to my chair. I began preparation to write this devotional with a plea to the Lord to pull me through, an honest admittance that I feel kind-a like a creep and don’t really want to do this, but that I know He is there and can show me His Truth.

I read back over the first four devotionals on “Unwrapping Grace” as I try to shake off the grime of today and write about being empowered to serve God. As I read, I find my heart softening and new Truth being birthed.

Perhaps there is a progression in our acronym—maybe part of being empowered to serve Him is accepting the things I wrote about in the first four devotionals. As I re-read my words of the last month, I am reminded that I am forgiven, even for the faults of today.

I let go of the striving to live up to my ideals and I rest in grace of Christ. I am unconditionally loved. Any hope of good in me is Jesus. He is the One who re-makes me to be like Himself and He is the one who empowers me for His service, including writing this devotion.

I always pray for God’s empowerment as I write, but today I’m keenly aware of how desperate I am for His grace—and how freely He gives it to me.

And so I close this series as I began it, unwrapping the gift He is offering me. I receive again His grace and move forward in obedience to His call in my heart. And I’m humbled, reminded of how much I need Him. And I know that is a good thing.

There’s not a single job I want to do without Him. I especially need His empowerment as I mother. Throw homeschooling into the mix, and well—let’s just say there’s plenty of opportunity for me to come face to face with my failures.

And I need Him in my friendships, my writing, and even in my ability to fold the laundry that so often piles up on my couch. I need Him in my part-time job. I need Him in my ability to be a wife. I need Him to face myself.

Maybe you’ve felt like I did today. Like you keep trying and failing. Like maybe you’re not worthy to do what your heart calls you to.

The answer to all of those feelings is summed up in GRACE:

G-Guilty no more
  R-Rest in Christ
  A-Accept His unconditional love
  C-Christ, my hope of glory
  E-Empowered by His Spirit

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