grace illuminated: Storms

When I think of the blessings of my life, I am overwhelmed - why is it we allow ourselves to lose sight of truth, to become so distracted by the pressures of this planet that we forget He has overcome this world and its troubles.

We spend our days sometimes filled with worry, rarely choosing contentment and gratitude - allowing anxiety to overtake us. When truly we need to see the joy in such small things as a child sitting on your lap while you read to them....warmth, firelight, a garden, being with those you love and listening to their stories....breaking bread with friends & family, singing, dancing - these are the most precious of gifts.

The treasures we should store having nothing to do with gold or silver and everything to do with the memories of times with those we love.

Our Father in heaven rarely gets credit for these times, instead He gets the blame for the storms that rage - the "acts of God".

However, let me remind you Dearest Reader, the act of God is the shelter in the storm - the love, compassion, care giving & generosity of our fellow man...beauty and goodness simply for loves sake.

In the face of fear, find strength in knowing He is bigger than any storm and He values you as His own child. Even at our worst, we love our children when they are rotten, even when they don't love us in return. In spite of them turning away from us we remain steadfast in our love for them. God's love is more than this, far greater than any love we could comprehend - never with motive of self.

Oh you of little faith. Be Bold. Be brave. Be strong. Be courageous. Be Happy. Believe.

One God is different from all others, coming and living as one of us, a man of great sorrows who knew what it was like to bear the pains & burdens of this fallen world - no other offers what Christ can give.

All others ask "How good can you be, how much can you give?" Christ says:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” Matthew 8:23-27