3 Novel Ideas for Man-God’s Grace for a Lifetime
I am so excited to announce that finally at the bottom of this blog there is a link to the Comment section that actually works. After years of trying to figure it out on my own, reading through the disqus website, google searches, and you tube searches; I finally have a comment button link near the end of this blogpost. It only took 3 persistent e-mails to the disqus help team, where I finally had to confess that I was an idiot and could not figure this out nor find it by reading their website. Once I confessed my total idiocy to a group of computer nerds; I got the answer sent to me in the next email response. Of course it was pretty simple. Not nearly as complex as the original setting up of the account which I had somehow accomplished on my own. Oh well on to the next hurdle. There always is a next hurdle. The idea is to learn from the previous hurdle, so as not to make the same mistake. Right? Well, easier said than done. Also, it is important to stop and ask someone who knows instead of being too embarrassed.
picture of my son Alberto when he was 3 or 4
Repeat Offenders and Do-It-MySelfers (Like me!)
The same is true along this Christian pilgrimage. How many times have I failed to learn from my previous mistakes? How many times have I climbed a gigantic mountain only to be halted by fear when a small stone lies in front of me? How often have I been too embarrassed or too proud to ask God for help? Instead, I look at Him and say, “I’ve got this, let me do it.” Of course, then He has to undo my mess as well as help me do the original task at hand.
ABRAHAM DOES IT AGAIN:
Abraham has at moments demonstrated great acts of faith by obeying God. After all, Abraham had gone out into the desert wilderness to a land he knew nothing about because God said so. He had allowed Lot to choose whatever land that Lot wanted; because, Abraham trusted that God would provide. Abraham had a close communion with God, so close that Abraham even presumed upon God to save Sodom and Gomorrah if only 10 righteous could be found. Abraham always returned to the altar to praise God and to give an offering of Love to God. Yet, Abraham had moments of doubt when he was easily persuaded that perhaps he should do things his own way and not consult God-like Hagar. There had been the famine when Abraham went to Egypt and had told the King that Sarah was his sister. Remember that story? He was afraid for his life because of her beauty. God had intervened and prevented her from being compromised. Years of walking with God and growing in faith had passed. Years of God answering Abraham’s prayers for guidance had passed. God had even sat with Abraham one evening and told him that Sarah would get pregnant in one year. After all of this, what did Abraham do? He went to Gerar where he once more feared for his life because of Sarah’s beauty. He told the King of Abimelech that Sarah was his sister. Once more God had to intervene to prevent Sarah from being compromised. Don’t think it possible? Read Genesis Chapter 20. So what happened? Short term memory, my guess would me. Much the same short term memory that affects my Christian walk all too often. He forgot these 3 important novel ideas.
3 NOVEL IDEAS
1. Ask an expert for advice before attempting something (this will save a lot of wasted time). Oh, and by the way, when it comes to life’s big questions, who better to ask than your Sovereign Creator? “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God… and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).
2. Follow the instructions given. “Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge” (Proverbs 23:12). “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:10-11
3. Remember what you have already learned. Seems like a no brainer, but this is usually where we fail the most. Once we have gotten past the crisis or when we become complacent, we forget that we need to stay in the word and prayer. We are a forgetful people. “15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word…18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119). “8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:7-9)
Good News—God’s Grace
Because of Grace, Abraham was included on God’s Faith Hall of Fame; even though Abraham didn’t always get right. That is good news for people like you and I. Oh, yes; we still must strive follow after and seek God with all our hearts, minds, and souls. “ The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children” (Psalm 103).
What about you? Have you ever, like me, spent months trying to do it on your own? Or forgot the lessons already learned—like I all too often do? I would love to hear your stories. You can COMMENT HERE.
In the end of day, it is God’s Grace that draws me ever closer to Him. He is my hiding place, listen to this song “You are my Hiding Place”
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header is Ronald Barba. Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you. Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
The picture I used is of my son Alberto when he was 3 or 4 years old on my father’s farm