And Like a Flood...

On Sunday, September 21st we sang these words in church:

"And like a flood, His mercy rains--unending love, amazing grace."

I was standing there singing these words and thought of how a severe flood requires the old to go and the new to come. New carpet, new drywall, sometimes new everything. And it struck me that HIS MERCY has the same effect on us--in light of His incomprehensible mercy, the old has to go and the new comes in.

It poured that day. Seemed just like one REALLY rainy day.

But by the next day there was widespread flooding--roads and schools closed--chaos.

A house across from Trevor's school (right around the corner from us) flooded and caught fire, leaving the family with nothing. So very many people are having to start over from nothing, We were okay--no flooding at our place. We were really grateful, but brokenhearted for those who weren't so fortunate.

Then came Thursday.

That evening we ran a quick errand together as a family--we weren't gone more than 15 minutes. But we returned home to our own mini-flood. Water was rapidly pouring out of the upstairs toilet (the tank had a HUGE crack in it...HUH?!? and it kept filling up and spilling out)--and as quickly as we moved to get all the water up, there were several leak spots all over our ceiling downstairs. We'll likely need to replace the flooring up there, all due to water run amock.

Makes me think of mercy run amock in my life. God's love and grace--they rush in and command a change in me. Selfishness is torn out and replaced with love. My apathetic heart is exchanged for one filled with compassion. His kindness leads me to repentance.

It's all over the news--floods can be utterly devastating in the worst way. But how thankful I am for the flood of His mercy that devastates my purposes and plans and makes a way for His--the rush of His grace that prepares the way for all things new.

First Podcast!!!

This has all been a few months in the making--but they're here!!

The Women's League Speakers' Bureau podcasts!

Click HERE to listen to a short online devotion. It'll only take 3 minutes of your time!

Jodi's is "A Moment." Mine is "Where Your Eyes Rest" (added today). Rae's podcast will be added next Monday. Then each Monday, a new one will be added.

Blessings! Thanks for listening!

Under My Feet

One of my favorite songs is "Shadowfeet" by Brooke Fraser (if you've visited our family blog, it was on the playlist until recently). The line that is really speaking to me today is:

"EVERY FEAR AND ACCUSATION UNDER MY FEET
When time and space are through, I'll be found in You."

The past week or two I have been dealing with accusations.

Unsubstantiated ones.

And anyone who knows me knows that I am wired to tread lightly and that I do not try to tick people off. In fact, I err on the side of really, really, really trying NOT to tick people off. To a fault. So when it has come my way more than once in the last two weeks that misunderstandings have led to me getting lashed out at by those who do not know me, it has really burned. And while I desire to have a teachable heart and have been trying to evaluate these situations and consider if I need to own any of it, ultimately I've been brought back to who the accuser is. And boy, does he make me mad.

I think back to when I was pulled over by a police officer who seemed pretty nervous approaching my vehicle. Once he was at my door, he proceeded to accuse me of driving a stolen car.

Oh, yeah. That's JUST like me to do something like that.

He wasn't even the least bit nice about it. And by the end of his tirade I was ready to ask for the guy's badge number (but didn't, in keeping with the whole "don't-like-to-tick-people-off" thing).

Somehow I was able to convince the guy I wasn't some felon on the run (though I really give off that vibe, I know) and was on my way, but there was something about being falsely accused that did not sit well with me.

Nor does it now. Prayerfully the Lord has really brought me to the peace that I am not to own these unmerited accusations--by strangers--those who do not know my heart.

But I praise the One who sees my heart--the One in whom I am found.

He is my DEFENDER. He is my ADVOCATE. He speaks on my BEHALF. He's my MEDIATOR. And because of His victory over sin and death, and because I am, by His grace, found in Him, these fears and accusations are UNDER MY FEET in the strong and mighty name of JESUS.

And so I say to the accuser, you may have struck the heel of my Jesus. But He has crushed your head (Genesis 3:15). You are under His feet.

And your accusations are under mine.