That makes me so mad, I am going do something about it. He did what!!!! I am going to make a stand. Oh my goodness, that is horrible, he is a horrible person. These are just a few of the things that I can remember saying about the behaviors and actions of others that I did not agree with. And of course MY opinion was the only right one. I start this post off acknowledging that yes!, I am guilty of everything that I am about to spew all over this page. I knew I have been guilty and I know that I have wrestled with this for a while however I could never really understand the tickle in my heart and mind every time that I would want to voice my opinion. Until this past week, when God decided to really show me…..

So, I despise injustice. I despise those that think their opinion is the only one and anything that does not fit with theirs is pure evil, they hate, they judge, they condemn and worse they hide behind, God and the Bible. Leaders in churches, Pastors of their flocks, fathers, mothers, friends and strangers. Footnote here (I deleted the work despise, several times and then I had to leave it, because God is working hard on me and I have to own it). There has never been a time that I can remember where the good, the bad and the ugly is front and center in everyone’s lives. Their mistakes, their thoughts and their actions are open for everyone to tell them what they think. I am only going to add that this includes the actions of our government on all levels as well because it has opened the flood gates on this subject. So I have wrestled with this for a while. How can we as professing Christians acknowledge sin that we see in the world, that has been acknowledged by God as sin and remain faithful in our own walk with Him? Well, now I know…

I had heard that someone was treated badly and it broke my heart when I heard the story. I wrestled and wrestled with what I needed to do or say. It was wrong, this was a Christian who did this. My mind was made up, I was going to say something. Thank goodness for the internet. I googled and BAM, there the person was and to beat it all there was a way to contact this person. Okay, I was now running late for an appointment so I will arrange the words in my mind and save the world from all injustice later. I took the time while I was at my appointment to do this when someone walked in. Ummmmm, where have I seen that face before? Oh yeah. WHAT!!! The very person that I was going to give it to was right there beside me! Never, ever did I know or see this person before. And God delivered them right to me! Well, of course I am to open that can of ………… on them now! God is telling me yep girl go get ’em!. Well, for some reason a greater power began to take over and I just let it simmer for a while longer. I got out of there and I went straight to my back up, my daughter and spewed out the whole situation. I was so ready for her to agree and even jump on the horse behind me. She looked at me and said, maybe you aren’t suppose to confront them and then the words rolled out of my mouth before she could finish, (we are like that, we really can finish each other’s thoughts.) I need to support the harmed with love and pray for the ones that did the harm. That is the seed that had been planted and has been trying to push through all the dirt in my heart to grow up and out into the world around me. I started writing this blog in my head right away, but there was also something in the back of my mind that was still tugging at me. God had spoken to me in a big way and I now needed His words to stand on. So I began digging, I didn’t have to dig very hard, because you know what, when God speaks he opens a lot of doors.

As Jesus’ hands and feet were nailed to the cross and He was left to die he cried out “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34. How do we even let our poor petty opinions of right and wrong even spill out of our minds, heart and mouth when the very one who redeemed us was able to ask for forgiveness for the very ones who killed Him? I am so ashamed. But yes, there are so many sins in this world that as a Christian we should not agree with, how do we seek justice against the injustice? Well, as a Christian it is not our’s to seek the justice, it is only for God to do. “There is only one lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4: 12. Who do we want to be when we take this upon ourselves to condemn? The Pharisees who brought the woman to be judged for her sin to Jesus? Or Jesus’s response “When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” John 8:1-8.

I now have once again have heard God’s whispers and allowed Him to speak through my perspective of my duty in the injustices of this world and those around me, so that He may more perfectly care for those who are broken, hurt, lost, hopeless and yes He will use me as His hands, feet and to say His words as He would have them said instead of my hateful, harmful and wasteful words would be. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” Ephesians 4:29. I learned a big, big, lesson…. I won’t dismiss the sin, and I won’t condemn the sinner, for if I condemn, then I have only picked up the stone they threw and threw it back.

At the finial time of this writing, an even bigger revelation came about…. as I breath a quiet Praise to the one who saves and destroys… the injustice was fixed and that world is back in order. God you are amazing!

Stop wasting the Grace

grace noun

\ ˈgrās \Definition of grace (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification

b : a virtue coming from God

c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance

2019 was born and I was challenged to find a word that would be imprinted on my heart for the year. The year of January came in and ended (I say year because January seemed like it went on and on) and so many words had been thought upon and none would fit. February opened its door and there God threw the word right into my mouth and it rolled out and woke me up. I was meeting with a personal trainer and nutritionist and as I was spilling the good, the bad and the ugly, since 2010, I realized that I have been wasting my Grace. After our meeting, God had a little meeting with me.

As a child, one of my favorite times was when we would visit family. I remember day dreaming as I looked out the window of the fun we would have and the loving arms and home that would surround me. Watching for the familiar landmarks to gauge on the “are we there yet”meter, I would see Cumberland Gap and yes I would know we were almost at my aunt Sue’s house. Pineville, KY, a small town squeezed in between the mountains, known for several attractions and is home to one of my childhood fascinations, Hanging Rock.

Being the small town below a giant boulder that was not too secure, I am sure the town called a meeting to discuss the best way to protect their town and hey throw a tourism nugget in as well. So this giant chain became the town’s saving grace. I thought of this as I was thinking about my journey to date. January 26,2010 the chain broke in my life and the boulder roared down through the mountain to crash into my already unstable life. Grace covered me as the boulder crashed into many pieces all around me. My journey began like a baby colt learning to use their wobbly legs for the first time. I began the journey to stand tall. Now as 2019 rolled in, I found that through that journey, I focused on just standing. I was wasting my Grace. As that word rolled out of my mouth in that phrase, I heard God whisper, as I love him to do, “you took care of your mind and heart, now take care of your body”. I am in the worse physical shape I have ever been, a horrendous diet, no activity, aches and pains that I ignore, physical symptoms that may be a calling card to something underlying and I push it all under the rug, because I am alive, happy and blessed. And then BAM, God does it again and brings my focus about face. So I am making some difficult decisions, the Stop wasting Grace Journey.

1. Get vulnerable

2. Get Help

3. Get going

Three simple steps for the low price of $9.99, money back guarantee, no questions asked. Anyone that knows me knows that the first two steps will be my hardest. I never ask for help and to really get this done I have to quit hiding and be split wide open so that it is all out there. So here I go. I am not fine, I am overweight and am a couch potato. I love my life, my family, friends and most important of all I love my God. I am blessed…

X Six and one on the way…….

Stop Wasting Grace Journey starts now.