Stopping to take a breath and have a cup of coffee. I started to consider God’s grace and how grateful I am for God’s immeasurable grace to me and the people I meet each day.

When was the last time you needed grace? Were you able to give grace to someone else near you that needed it?

The simple definition I have grown up with for grace is an unmerited favor. There is a host of different ways grace can be expressed. The Greek word (charis) means “that which brings delight, joy, happiness, Grace from God”. How often are we grateful we don’t get what we deserve? Unmerited favor. How often do we show grace? Unmerited favor.

As I hear of families all around the world grappling with the effects of the global pandemic, I consider those that have gone before us. There are the Apostles who lived in the center of violence and political injustice. I think of the many affected by wars and plagues over the years. What was their stabilizing force? Faith in the one who loved us deeply. The Creator of the universe. The Alpha and Omega. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I was reflecting today on heroes from the past. A simple but profound truth was the golden thread that ran through every life.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

Courage and Peace are not what I would have typically considered together yet in John 16:33 Jesus says:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Evil will test your metal; who you are, your core.

It will try to seduce you. It will confront you. It will do all it can to destroy you. That’s its nature.

I’ve heard it said that God doesn’t lead us into temptation. There is truth in that statement, but He does allow us to be tested and, in some circumstances, leads us to the testing place.

While sitting in front of the fire doing my devotions I came across the verse of the day from Colossians 3:12. It brought a new aha moment for me.

I have always considered the Fruit of the Spirit to be a barometer for my walk with God. That perspective is usually accurate and helpful. Galatians 5:22-23 is the explanation of the Fruit of the Spirit.

In travels recently, people watching was intriguing. Seeing folks interact with each other, those they knew and those they didn’t know, brought my thoughts to my interactions with others.

How do I interact with those around me? Those I know and those I don’t? What is in my heart? Am I bustling along and impatient or do I stop and consider those around me? Am I present or distant? Am I demanding or kind?

I considered if Jesus was the one I was watching; what would I see?

Not in the wind or the storm but in the still small voice.

It has been a crazy busy few weeks. Voices from all directions clamoring for my attention and yet only so much time to give attention to any of them. For me, at times all this commotion leaves me with a "deer in the headlights" kind of response.

Whew. There are voices calling here and there: "listen to me."

Enjoying the fire in the fireplace I picked up my Bible and started browsing, looking at verses that in the past I’ve highlighted. I am considering which one is encouragement or direction for me today. It didn’t take long. The Lord’s Prayer stood out to me. I enjoy that prayer specifically. I’ve written articles on it but today there was a portion of that prayer that was for this day.

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Matthew 6:12

A new situation came up with a person I had forgiven long ago. I found myself resentful and angry at the concept set before me by this same person. I was able to tamp it down for a day or so but it simmered below the surface. Poke me in the arm and it would rise with alarming speed. It affected and infected topics and people that had nothing to do with this person.

For a few days, there was an urgent desire in me to see the face of Jesus. The desire kept building and finally I searched for the name of the young girl that had famously painted Jesus’ face at a very early age.

The first time this young girl painted Jesus she was eight-years-old. The picture is startlingly detailed and profoundly realistic. The second time she painted it she was 19 and again what a spectacular picture of Jesus. Her name is Akaine Kramarik. She is an American poet and artist. She is a former child prodigy; her childhood paintings of Jesus Christ, along with other pieces, gained international attention. She began drawing at the age of four.

A day to ponder as I have spent a good portion of time considering: What is my core?

What is it that drives me? What motivates me even on cloudy or physically and mentally hard days? What gives me strength and purpose when there is a great struggle or the satisfaction of success?

Both struggle and success have ways of sidelining or neutralizing our passion if we’re not careful. In Weight-watchers, we talk about identifying the “why.” Why am I willing to work hard to lose weight or maintain goal weight? Why get back up, keep going, or start again. The “WHY” is critical. It will empower us to focus on what’s incredibly important to us.