Make Your Life Count Forever

Woman at the Well with Gelato Photo © 2013 Kelly Grace Have you ever noticed how often Jesus began His work in a village or region with an audience of one. There's the Woman at the Well in John 4. She became an evangelist and brought others to hear Jesus.  Many believed because of her word and many more believed after Jesus had stayed and preached for several more days. Further on in John 9 Jesus heals a man blind from birth. Of course all those who had known him as a blind beggar wanted to know how he had received his sight.  This man was cast out of the synagogue for his belief that Jesus must be of God or He couldn't open the eyes of the blind.  But, Jesus appeared to him and revealed Himself as the Son of God.  He also used it as an opportunity to let the Jewish religious leaders know that they were blind and still in their sin. Then in Luke 8 we are given the story of the Maniac of Gadara. After his miraculous deliverance he begged to foll...

The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the  twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb,  each holding a harp, and  golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8 God never forgets our prayers.   He cherishes them. He keeps them in golden bowls. Heavenly Incense: that's what becomes of our prayers. Years ago on a trip to Israel I left a prayer in the Western Wall in Jerusalem. It was for a daughter who wasn't walking with God. I don't remember what I wrote on that little slip of paper. God remembers. He has long since answered that prayer. The beautiful godly woman she is today bears no resemblance to the troubled hurting young girl she was then.  Transformation, God's work in the heart and life of people.   That's what God does with our prayers. He answers them in spectacular ways. Now to Him who is able...

The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes , Indecision Political Humor , Video Archive This tribute reminded me that a mother remains a mother her entire life. The fact that our children are grown doesn't mean our role is diminished.  Our love and support can and should endure as long as we live.   Here are the lessons I learned from Lorna Colbert's example: Make life in your home as much fun as possible.   Hug your kids and teach them to hug each other. Encourage singing, dancing, and play acting.  Approve of their silliness and participate with enthusiasm and smiles. Teach them what you know.  She'd studied acting, but you might paint, garden, or write. Share it with them. Embrace joy and resist bitterness when  difficulty arrives on your doorstep. Model faith and gratitude as lifestyle choices. Pray for and with your kids. Make it your aim to be a blessing in their lives for as long as you live. Maybe ...

Church Steeple in Pienza Italy Photo © 2013 Kelly Grace Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God:  for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalm 5:1-3 This familiar passage has often reminded me to start my day with God. It's been made popular as a Worship Chorus and that means many of us have actually memorized it by singing it often. But this morning the last four words preached a little sermon to my heart about prayer. , and will look up. What do I do after I pray? These four words give a simple and clear direction; and will look up . It speaks of expectation. It speaks of waiting. It speaks of a burden transferred. It speaks of a new focus. Expectation because I've taken my thoughts, my worry, my anxiety, my problems, my hopes, my need, my confusion, ...

Preparing for Battle Marble Floor in Siena's Duomo Photo © 2013 Kelly Grace The smoke has cleared and the dust has settled, so let's talk about marital fights. Recall the last time you and your spouse had a fight. Was it in the evening, or worse yet, late at night? Was it a completely new issue or were you having a new fight about an OLD issue? After a recent and thankfully rare fight, Gary and I started our own joint list  of rules and restrictions pertaining to disagreements. These are uniquely designed to address our own weaknesses as individuals and as a couple.   They are custom tailored to fit us and our relationship. Each one is intended to help THE US prevail over THE ME. Why am I sharing something so personal and unflattering as a marital spat? Because this morning I read the following in my Bible reading: 2 Kings 13:25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz recaptured from the hand of Ben-Hadad, the son of Hazael,...

Lessons in Fruitfulness Do you worry about being fruitful in your Christian life? For many years of my Christian life I did.  I wanted to know I was "doing" everything I was suppose to be doing. I'm thankful that God didn't let that go on. Instead He kept bringing my attention back to the words that speak of relationship. Children Friends Brethren Fruitfulness is a result of relationship.  In John 15 Jesus says it happens when, and ONLY WHEN, we stay connected to Him. So how do I stay connected? Abide in Him.  Jn. 15:4 Let Him abide in you.  Jn. 15:4 Prayer.  Jn. 15:16 Jesus gives us the specifics of the "HOW TO" in Jn. 15:7-8 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire,  and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified,  that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. Give His words a place, a big place, in your life ea...

The Parking Lot David, Piazza Michelangelo, Florence Italy This is not Michelangelo's David. I call him "The Parking Lot David". He's a poser.   He's a fake. Have you ever heard of Impostor Syndrome?   It's basically feeling like a  phony.   As wives, mothers, and even as Christians, we sometimes feel like we're not what we should be.  We're definitely not what others think we are. And sometimes we're right. But that can be a good realization if we allow it to prompt us to make the changes we know we should. Paul urged Timothy to ". . .set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity". I don't want the opinion of others to shape who I am. I want God to do that.   Only He can make me a genuine example to others.  Only He can give me the right motivation, the sufficient power, and the unique blueprint that results in my being what He intends for me to ...