Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Grace is real, and it shows up in the most unexpected places. Maybe I’m inherently cynical, but whenever I need to face a potentially sticky situation, I run the possible challenging scenarios through my mind in preparation for the worst. Talk about a Negative Nelly!
When my dear mother-in-law was nearing the end of her long life, she would lay in bed and sing “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” as she drifted off to sleep at night. Do you remember that old Irvin Berlin song from the 1954 film White Christmas? Our local downtown theater showed that movie Christmas before last. I got a lump in my throat when Rosemary Clooney crooned that song, remembering Mom’s soft, sweet voice. And her constant positivity.
Count your blessings. I’ve been doing a lot of that lately. Eight months ago, when Chris and I decided to have a new house built, I spent a lot of time in prayer. Were we being greedy, wanting a new home when we already had a nice one? Were we being poor stewards of what the Lord had blessed us with by spending additional money on this house? I can’t wrap my head around the adage, “It’s better to ask for forgiveness then it is for permission.” I truly fear stepping out of God’s will and receiving divine punishment. I know in my head that’s not how God works, but my heart has a hard time believing it sometimes.
If I were to counsel another person in the love of Jesus Christ, I would never presume to lay this warped theology on them. I don’t believe it for other people—just for myself.
Maybe it’s because I have a personal view of my own flaws and sinful nature. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a church that taught works over grace. Or maybe it’s because I just finished reading the book of Numbers. God wiped out everyone He’d rescued from Egypt (except a select faithful few) for their disobedience. And then poor Moses. After years of putting up with those ungrateful Israelites, he lost his temper once and had his chance of entering the promised land taken from him.
But of course, we’re under the New Covenant, saved by the blood of Jesus. I know this. Truly. Still, I’m a work in progress, and I thank God every day for His patience.
As the house-building project progressed, the Lord kept appearing over and over again with abundant blessings, as if reminding me of His love and tenderness. Some of them might seem insignificant to anyone who wasn’t looking for them—and I was hunting them down with a proverbial magnifying glass. Blessing upon blessing, right down to a simple interaction with the clerk at the post office in our new hometown of Cornersville. It’s a town so small, you’d miss it if not for the required 30-mile-per-hour speed limit.
As you probably know, there are a hundred pesky details that need attention when moving, not the least of which was changing our address. I attempted to do this online and was shocked to find out that our new one wasn’t valid. What? I went to the post office in our “old” town, and the nice man there told me it had to be registered first. I’d need to go to the “new” town’s post office and get the ball rolling—which could take weeks.
The next morning, I showed up bright and early when they opened (7:30 am) and was greeted by an older gentleman with a huge welcoming smile. He couldn’t have been more joyful—and it turned out he was prophetic. He’d come across our new address the day before and took it upon himself to confirm it was correct then send it in for registration. You might not think that’s a big deal, but I don’t discount any kindness, no matter how small.
“You come on back and see us again,” he said, handing me a hardcover book titled The History of Cornersville. How sweet was that?
“I might just get me a cup of coffee and hang out here one morning,” I replied. This is Southern hospitality at its best, and I love every bit of it.
Many times, unanswered prayers are another of the Lord’s blessings for us. God’s grace showed up when our house didn’t sell as quickly as we’d hoped. I’m so grateful for His sovereignty. If it had, we would’ve been scrambling for somewhere to stay until the new house was finished. Our “before Christmas” move-in date was pushed out twice. A week before our final inspection, we had an offer with a two-week escrow. Talk about perfect timing! But that’s how our God operates.
And though Chris and I are not foodies by any stretch of the imagination, we do love a good coffee shop, and we found our new favorite in little ol’ Cornersville. The Cypress Café not only serves the best coffee, but they also have homemade pastries, baked goods, and delicious sandwiches. And they only opened their doors a few months ago. Coincidence? I think not!
I pray the older I get, the less I’ll act like Chicken Little, waiting for the sky to fall—or the other shoe to drop. Each day is a gift. Each breath is a gift.
Matthew 7:11 reminds me how deeply the Lord loves you and me—“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
We serve an amazing Father. Amen?
Comments 3
Amen
Thank you for sharing
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You are very welcome.