Filter Your Life

Colossians 1:20 “and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross — whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

I am an Instagram junkie. There… I admit it. They say that is the first step, right?

If you don’t know what Instagram is, ask your kids. Or your grandkids. Or someone with a smart phone.

I don’t really know why I like it so much. Maybe because there is something about adding all those filters to my photos to manipulate the color and the focus that make me feel so… so… artsy, and creative.

The downfall to all these Instagram pictures that are taking over my social media is that every picture starts to look the same. The lighting, borders and colors are all so similar that the beauty of the photograph is getting lost. Artsy is okay, filters are fine, but there are times when clear, unfiltered pictures are so much better. In an attempt to express our individuality and be “hip” and “cool”, the masses are creating a generation of dingy, muddied, distorted images that all look the same.

Then again, not all filters are bad. Some filters give us protection. Sunglasses protect our eyes from the harmful rays of the sun, and sun shades for our car windshields protect our dashboards as well. The most important filter in our lives is the filter with which God views us. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are covered in a new filter – the veil of the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. When God looks at us, and when we come to Him in prayer, he doesn’t see the sin and ugliness in our lives. He sees us as pure and white as snow because He is seeing us through the filter of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross gave us the perfect filter. And we don’t have to do a thing to apply it to the picture of our lives except believe it.

Do you have that filter of Jesus in your life? If not, it is easy to get. All you have to do is ask Jesus into your heart, confess with your mouth that He is Lord, believe He is the Son of God who sacrificed Himself on the cross for the redemption of the sin in your life, and you will be saved.

No smart phone required…

Friday Original #3

I recently started writing a poem series on the attributes of God.
I have only finished one, although I have started several.

Here is the first installment of my Attributes of God Series -

Lover

The touch of a hand caressing your face

The beat of a heart while wrapped in embrace

The barriers down to personal space...

... His Love is Closer

The poem that reads of flowers in bloom

The love song that plays a beguiling tune

The promise that lures in whispering boom...

... His Love is Truer

The place in the soul where butterflies live

The ears that flush out the bad like a sieve

The feet dance in rhythm with all they can give...

... His Love is Sweeter

Horizons expand in measureless width

From mountaintop peaks to ocean floor depth

The galaxies stretch with infinite breadth...

... Still, His Love is Greater

Copyright © 2012 Mary Grace Wallace

My Plank or Yours?

I truly dislike election season. I avoid watching TV (thank you Netflix and Hulu) because I can’t stand the ads which are all full of lies, half truths and exaggerations. I just don’t enjoy coexisting with so much negativity. It is everywhere… it’s on TV, it’s on my Facebook wall, it’s on every internet page and in so many of the conversations I hear around me. Negativity is everywhere.

And now my Facebook wall and 6 o’clock news are covering a new topic – Chick Fil A vs. Muppets. Okay, not muppets really, but the Jim Henson Corporation. I happen to love Chick Fil A with their waffle fries and shakes that are delicious. I also love the Muppets; I grew up watching them and have a cat named Fozzie Bear. According to my Facebook news feed, I can’t exist this way. I must take a side. I have to decide who I will stand by in this latest edition of divisive media stories.

I am a Christian, so does that mean I must automatically take the side of the Christian based company of Chick Fil A? Not so fast…

See, I take a different approach to this subject. In my attempt to follow Jesus’ example of how to live life, I am not so quick to point out the flaws in someone else. I don’t avoid certain people or places simply because they live their lives to a different moral standard than I do. I don’t assume that their sin or their life issues are any worse than mine. Trust me when I tell you, according to the bible, there is plenty of sin in my life. I am flawed and the plank in my eye is a big one. So who am I to point out what I perceive to be the splinter in yours?

Jesus spent most of his ministry life with the dregs of society – the prostitutes, tax collectors and the dishonored of that time. He gave them his time, he told them about God and most importantly, he loved them. This man, who was without sin, did not spend his hours ranting about the sin in their lives. Instead, he loved them.

Who am I to act any differently? And we are not talking about the dregs of society here, we are talking about your neighbors, your teachers, your family members and your friends. Does the bible say a man should not lay with a man? Yes, it does. The bible also says adultery is wrong and lying is sinful, and yet it happens more often than we even know about. Why are we as a Christian society so focused on a few sins of others? If we truly believe in the redemptive power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then don’t we also believe that God can deal with this particular issue on His own, just as he deals with the sin in our own lives? Who are we to point fingers at the splinters of others? My plank is big enough for me, and it needs my immediate attention… How about yours?

Now, I think I will head to Chick Fil A for some waffle fries, and pick up a Muppets t-shirt on the way.

Matthew 7 1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Obedience and Favor

Daniel 6:21-23 Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.

Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den and lived without a scratch on him. Think about that for a minute…

Daniel was a man who was obedient to God before all things in his life. He learned how to balance being under earthly authority with being under God’s authority. Through his unwavering faithfulness to God, he was given the wisdom to earn trust and favor from his earthly authorities. It is amazing to read about the life of Daniel and see the Hand of God (literally in one case) lead him through. Daniel’s position increased as his earthly authority changed several times through the course of his lifetime, but his Heavenly authority remained constant and unchanging. And Daniel was obedient.

If Daniel received so much favor, then how did he end up in a lion’s den?

Two words: Jealousy and Pride

The administrators and the high officers of the king saw how well Daniel was doing and they were jealous. They tried hard to find fault in him, but because he was a man of integrity and was faithful and trustworthy, they could find no fault in him. So, they went to the king and praised his majesty. They told the king how worthy and wonderful he was. By appealing to his pride, they tricked the king into signing a law that if a person was caught praying to anyone other than the king, that person would be sentenced to death through the lions’ den. Daniel refused to disobey his God and continued his daily routine of prayer. Not only did Daniel refuse to go against his God, but he also refused to pray to Him in secret. He worshiped him in plain sight, just as he had always done.

The king had no choice but to follow through with the law and throw Daniel to the lions. We know the rest of the story… God protected Daniel and rewarded him for his obedience and faithfulness, and miraculously he was unharmed.

This story teaches me two things. First, it is possible to remain faithful and trustworthy with my integrity intact while I am serving my earthly authority, and yet still remain 100% obedient to God. Even when faced with terrible outcomes, nothing is as bad as facing a lions’ den. If Daniel could remain faithful in his horrific circumstance, I can remain faithful in my minor one. No one is threatening my life for being obedient to God. No matter how bad it seems, I have to remember that my God is faithful and he is bigger than any circumstance I face.

Second, I learned that when I am faithful to God, and God’s favor comes in my life, there will be those people who are jealous and want to see me fall. Just as the administrators and officers of king Darius tried to get rid of Daniel because of their jealousy, I will have opposition in my life as well.

Who are the king’s officers in your life? And will you remain faithful to God, even if it appears to bring you harm?

Tuesday funny #2

Rest begins Restoration

Matthew 11:28-29 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Insomnia… I am occasionally afflicted with insomnia. There are nights when my brain refuses to shut down. I lay in bed, tossing and turning, wishing for some sweet sleep. No matter how hard I try to shut down my thoughts, they continue to swirl through my head like a blizzard of stress, worry and to-do lists.

In the morning, I get out of bed slowly and face my day in a fog. My eyes are heavy and my focus is limited. I am reminded how important rest is for my physical well being. Without allowing my body the true rest of sleep, I am unable to function as normal. I also leave myself open for more mistakes and even attacks of illness because my immune system is weakened. Rest is imperative for a healthy physical body.

In that same way, resting in the Lord is imperative for my spiritual well being. Just as my body cannot function properly without sleep, my spiritual walk suffers without proper rest. My faith is weakened and I become more susceptible to the attacks of the devil.

So how do we rest in the Lord? It is really quite simple – we pray. By spending time with our Lord in prayer and the Word daily, we are inviting His Presence to be with us throughout our day. Just as one night of sleep will not carry our physical bodies through an entire week, one morning in prayer and scripture will not suffice for 7 days, either. We cannot limit our time in the presence of God to Sundays only, or we leave ourselves open to doubt and fear because of our weakened faith.

In today’s scripture, Jesus promises us that if we come to Him, He will give us rest. I pray that the true rest found in Christ bring you strengthened faith and restoration to your burdened and weary mind. Just remember to come to Him daily and you will have optimum spiritual health.

What is your favorite time of day for devotion and prayer? Do you find it difficult to face the day without first resting in Jesus?

Look Inside

My church is doing a series on family right now. It is called Rx for a Fractured Family. It really has me thinking about how important it is to keep Jesus at the center of our homes.

This series reminded me of a poem I wrote in 2010 called Look Inside...

I hope you enjoy it.

Look Inside 

Our dress is not lavish.

We do not wear gold.

Our hair doesn’t shine

like others, I’m told.

Our home is quite modest.

Our car shows its wear.

Our lawn is not perfect

like others out there.

Our paintings are simple.

Our kitchen’s a mess.

No silver to polish

like others, I guess.

But our bibles are worn

and stained from our tears,

from hours of reading

and prayers through the years.

Our dining room table

to others seems bland,

but our food we still bless

as we sit hand in hand.

Take a look past the dirt

of old window panes…

See a family that loves;

over whom Jesus Reigns.

Copyright © 2010 Mary Grace Wallace

Born to be Kind?

Ever have one of those days where you just feel the need to punch someone in the face for no apparent reason?

No?

Oh… well, me neither, then…

Seriously, though, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. I thought maybe my devotional would help, but not really. And as soon as my prayer time was over, I went right back to feeling cranky.

On my way to work, I was being snippy with my daughter, and then once I got to work I found it hard to put on my smile. I was just all around sour…

Then a funny thing happened. I watched an old man helping his wife with a walker get her food from the buffet, and he carried it back to her seat. He was so attentive to her the entire time, watching her intently and lovingly helping her. Then I saw some young parents who were attending to their very upset little baby. They lovingly caressed and held that baby until it calmed down. And I also saw a teenage boy pull out the chair for his grandmother and arrange the plates on the table for his grandfather.

Everywhere I turned I witnessed acts of love and kindness. It took away my sour attitude instantly, and as a result the rest of my day went smoothly.

It got me thinking about human nature. Society likes to tell us that people are mean, dishonest and untrustworthy. What I witnessed today and every day tells me that society is completely wrong. After all, we are made in the image of God. I believe that means that we are innately kind and loving creatures. Satan will try to tell us otherwise, and it is true that some people are so far removed from God that they appear to be evil and unkind. But I think the majority of people are what I saw today… kind, attentive and loving. That realization really puts a smile on my face…

What do you think? Do you think we are born kind and loving? Or do you think it is something we learn?

Destruction Lurks Within

Psalm 19:12

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.

Denial – not just a river in Egypt.

That saying used to cause me to roll my eyes and groan at its triteness.

Not anymore… Just this week I have restarted working the steps of Celebrate Recovery, which is based on 8 biblical principals, as well as the 12 step recovery we all know. I have dealt with my addiction to food, but I didn’t ever really deal with my co-dependency issues. So, I am going through them again with a good friend.

I didn’t think anything of our first lesson, which is on Denial. I thought, “No biggie, I don’t have any denial in my life anymore… my life is an open book – good and bad.”

Um, WRONG! As we worked though the lesson, it became very clear to me that I am still in denial about many of the hurts and pains of my past and how they affect me to this day. There are many heart issues and feelings I have not properly dealt with and they are affecting my relationships and decision making.

After our lesson was over, I was reading my bible for devotional, and read Psalm 19. Normally in this psalm I focus on the beginning where it talks about the Heavens proclaiming the glory of God. I love how it compares the beauty of nature and the greatness of it to worship. Without a word, these things are glorifying God. However, as I read on, a new verse in that psalm stood out to me. Verse 19 – “how can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.” Wow, that hit home. It dawned on me that when I am in denial about a sin in my life, it is hidden, but it is still there lurking in my heart. It doesn’t go away simply because I don’t acknowledge it, rather it remains there causing damage and destruction.

So… Denial – it really isn’t just a river in Egypt. It is a real issue, and one that reaches well beyond the obvious things like addiction in our lives. It reaches into our soul, and hides its sin in the shadows of our hearts.

My prayer today is that God will shine His Light into every crevice of my heart, my life, my mind, and reveal to me all the places where denial is lurking. I can’t be fully free in Christ unless I am willing to rid my life of denial and deal with the hurts, habits and hang ups that are affecting my life.

Thankfully, I am not alone in this struggle. Through my church and especially through Celebrate Recovery, I have found the support system I need to embark on and complete this journey.

If you would like to know more about Celebrate Recovery or find a meeting place near you, visit this website:

www.celebraterecovery.com

Tuesday Funny - Bedtime Prayer

My kids and I got a good laugh at this Tim Hawkins video... I used to pray this prayer with them! Although it was a much less scary version. I remember the first time they heard this version as kids and they couldn't believe it... haha!

Enjoy... the first is a link to the video, in case the video doesn't show up in your browser. :)

Tim Hawkins - scary bedtime prayer

It Does a Body Good

1 Peter 2:2

“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…”

I have vivid memories of the television commercials of my youth that showed a scrawny young boy who would drink a glass of milk and turn into a strong young man. Or it would use the image of an awkward pre-teen girl who would turn into a beautiful, shapely young woman. As a child, these images were powerful in my mind. I wanted to grow up strong and beautiful, and the tag line of those commercials, “Milk, it does a body good!” made me believe in the power of that beverage.

In reality, Milk may not make an awkward child turn into a gorgeous young person, but it is a powerful substance. It is the first thing that newborns eat/drink and it contains all the necessary ingredients to help that baby grow in body and in mind. Without that milk, an infant cannot survive, for they are unable to eat or digest anything else.

Our spiritual lives are no different. We need the nourishment that will help us grow and strengthen in our walk with God. As babies we need the milk of our mothers to achieve this, but spiritually it is the milk of our Heavenly Father that we need to mature – the Word. The Word of God is our key to growing up spiritually to become strong and faithful believers.

In the commercials, they stretched the truth with the promise that we would turn out beautiful and strong if we drank those glasses of milk. Obviously, there is no guarantee that we would turn out that way, but the commercials did a good job of selling that idea to us. However, spiritually we do have a guarantee: If we give our lives to Jesus Christ and accept him as our Savior, we will be saved. And if we nourish our spirits with the spiritual milk of the Word of God, we are guaranteed to become stronger and more faithful in our walk with God. And that kind of guarantee just sells itself.

So tell me… Have you had your Milk today?

The Prodigal

It might be early Sunday morning, but I'm posting my Friday original post. :)

I wrote this after I came back to God in 2009. It fits with my devotional from Wednesday, and this weekend at church, my pastor is talking about Prodigals as well. So fitting... God must be trying to say something to me. I love when it is so clear.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

~Mary Grace

The Prodigal

What happened to her? Where did she go?
The one with the laugh and never a foe...
She'd light up the room with only a smile
Lending a hand or an ear all the while...

Somewhere along the journey of life
Her heart was consumed by darkness and strife.
When did it change? How can she know?
She faded too slowly to see it go.

Confused by the hurt and turmoil of late
She wonders if this is really her fate.
There's only one answer for the state that she's in
But she can't see it clearly through the veil of sin.

What's that?!? A light is piercing right through.
It started out small and she watched as it grew.
With ripping and tearing is the veil torn away
Instantly turning her night into day.

And now with the warmth of the Light on her face
She's enveloped by Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace.

"Where have you been?", to her Lord she cried out.
"You were gone for so long, I started to doubt."
"My daughter," He said, "I've always been here.
You just couldn't see me because of your fear."

"Oh Jesus, forgive me, for running away!
I promise to never again go astray.
I know in my heart my life is made new
As long as my eyes remain always on You."

Copyright © 2009 Mary Grace Wallace

Like David

Tonight I was reminded how much I love to worship.

I went to a small coffee shop in Lutz, FL called Organic Life Coffee Shop and Bakery. Every Tuesday and Thursday they hold open mic worship nights. I love to hear the awesome talent you find right in your own small town. I was there tonight specifically to watch a couple of young men in a band called Run Dakota pour out their hearts in a worship set. I love to see the next generation making a stand and telling the world of their love for Jesus Christ.

After Run Dakota finished their set, the next group came up and played a few songs. Immediately as we sang and worshiped, the presence of God that was invited into that place by Run Dakota was ushered in by the praises of this small group of musicians. That warm, enveloping blanket of the Holy Spirit rested upon each and every person in that room. I closed my eyes, and worshiped my Creator with my voice and basked in the Glory of His presence. It was beautiful.

I am a David… I live to worship my God. Nothing in this world – no person, place or thing – can make me feel so at home like worshiping God can.

I need to spend more time in Worship… There is no place like home.

What bible character do you take after?  

After the Locusts

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” ~Joel 2:25

My divorce sent me into downward spiral of pain, depression, self hatred and anger at God. But that’s not the worst part…

In my anger at God, I ran from Him. In my 10 years of running from Him, I did something that carries more weight in guilt than everything else – I stopped teaching my children about God. I stopped attending church and stopped praying with them. I stopped talking about Him and definitely didn’t live a Godly example for them.

In August of 2009, this prodigal daughter returned to her Father, who was waiting with open arms. As I poured out my guilt and pain at the feet of Jesus, one thing was impossible for me to let go… I had let my kids down. The product of my 10 years of selfish living was four kids who didn’t know anything about God, and barely believed in His existence. I would have done anything to go back and change that, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t go back and change the bad decisions and mistakes I had made. But God could!

Through the Mercy and Grace of Christ, my kids began attending the amazing youth group at my church. One by one…

Through the Mercy and Grace of Christ, my kids gave their lives to Jesus. One by one…

Through the Mercy and Grace of Christ, my kids publicly declared their faith through baptism and I got to witness it. One by one…

Through the Mercy and Grace of Christ, I have been able to let go of the guilt and shame of my mistakes. One by one…

As I watched the last of my children be baptized on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, a scripture ran through my mind. I had heard a friend use it a few weeks before:

Joel 2: 25-27

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you.
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
And praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame.
Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:
I am the Lord your God
And there is no other.
My people shall never be put to shame.

Through my bad choices, the locusts had eaten a significant chunk of my life and the lives of my children. Through the Mercy and Grace of Christ, those years were restored to me and to them. One by one…

The wonder of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is that when we turn our lives over to Him, fully and completely, He takes our battered and locust ridden lives and turns them into something beautiful and amazing – and He gets all the Glory!