Tables Of Grace

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Posted by Kim Stanley, November 21, 2023

As I type this at my kitchen table, I’m picturing all of the people who will be sitting around it this holiday season.

We’ll have to add more chairs so that everyone can fit. Of course, the chairs don’t all match; that’s another lovely picture of the exquisiteness of these humans around my table.

I can see my beautiful grands fidgeting while trying to wait patiently for their plates to be filled. I love how my grown kids want to sit in the same exact seat they did when they lived here.

There will be many games played around this table with hearty discussions and lots of laughter. And yet, there will be someone missing; someone who left us too soon, whose presence is forever missed at every family gathering.

Because my daughter left us for heaven 5 years ago, it changed the look around our table. Not only is she gone, but her family lives far away and has started over in their new life.

I’m sad for those changes. I miss her in unspeakable ways.

Is it possible to be thankful during the holidays when we are carrying grief for those who are gone? I would say a definite “yes.” It’s possible to live with the ache of loss and fully embrace the joyful moments with gratitude. But, it’s only through God’s grace that it can happen.

I can speak from experience and not from theological expertise; I have been given that amazing grace from the Holy Spirit.

This may be one of the most life-changing things that grief has taught me: It is not only possible, but promised. We can live fully and abundantly, our days intertwined in the sacredness of both joy and sorrow.

To experience lament and grief, for any reason, brings a richer understanding to the brevity of our days here; “for the things which are seen are temporal.” (2 Corinthians 4:1)

To embrace the pain of searing loss is a way to deeper joy.

“The joy of the Lord is our strength.” (Neh. 8:10)

The joy of the Lord; not my joy, but His. The promised fruit of the Holy Spirit that fills us with this overflowing joy is ours in Christ.

You can name your pain, recognize the losses, and feel the hurt deeply. It’s vital for healing.

Otherwise, we’re just hiding behind our fig leaves of fake laughter and “I’m fine” quips. And in the very next breath, whisper a “thank you, God” for every bit of it.

Your Presence has carried us through the darkness, into your glorious Light.

Isn’t that worth celebrating?

The people around my table are lit up with crinkling eyes as they smile with their whole faces, enjoying mounds of food and telling stories, probably on each other.

And we share stories of our sweet Jordan, her voracious love for life and family and friends, her wit and silly jokes, and the way she always had to read the rules for every board game we played.

And it’s all so very good;

Even the salty tears mixed with mashed potatoes.

I pray that you are filled to the brim this Thanksgiving season.

And if you are missing someone at your table this year, I pray you can remember them, talk of them, cry for missing them, and thank God for letting them walk through this life with you, even if for a short time.

And then look, really look, at those who are sitting around your table. Throw your head back, laugh out loud, and enJOY the bounty of the Lord.

Kim Stanley is a worship leader, speaker, writer, and is the worship leader for Touching Hearts Ministries. She and her husband Joe have been in itinerant worship ministry for over 30 years. She is the founder and director of One Thing Worship, a retreat ministry for women that provides sacred time and space to be still and hear the voice of God. She also co-hosts a podcast called “A Burst Of Hope” with Martha Wilson. She and Joe have been married for 40 years; they have 4 grown children, one in heaven, and 6 grandchildren. They live in the south metro Atlanta area. You can connect with Kim on her website, www.joeandkimstanley.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @onethingworship.

God In Nature

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Posted by Erin Roberson, November 14, 2023

I recently heard about scientists who tried to create a drone that would mimic a bird in flight. According to Wikipedia, the bird called a swift is highly aerial and is among the fastest of birds, traveling up to 105 miles per hour! Swifts can change the angle between the bones of their wingtips and forelimbs to alter the shape and area of their wings, which improves their control and maneuverability in the air. Some say swifts can stay in the air for up to 10 months! (Don’t we have an amazing and creative Creator?)

The really interesting thing is that scientists could replicate only about 10% of the swift’s movements. They were just too intricate!

A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity to take a short trip to the Georgia coast. I was very busy with everything I needed to do during my trip, but I did take the opportunity for one early morning walk on the beach. It was so relaxing to listen to the water moving back and forth, waves breaking on the shore one after the other in perfect rhythm. I saw the sun peaking over the horizon as darkness became light and the silhouette of birds gliding just above the surface of the water, looking for their morning meal. I saw shells scattered along my path, left over from the most recent high tide and undisturbed by the children who would collect the unbroken ones later. It was a wonderful time to enjoy God’s creation and have quiet time with Him!

It comes as no surprise to us believers that there is value in spending time in God’s creation. Scientific studies have shown over and over that being outdoors is beneficial for our mental, emotional, and physical health (almost as if God planned it that way - wink, wink).

Of course, exercise is important for our heart health, and exercising outside has additional benefits. Spending time outside relieves stress and gives us time to recharge. It also improves our immune system, increases creativity, helps us focus, and lightens our mood.

Click on this link to read more:

https://www.realsimple.com/benefits-of-spending-time-in-nature-7376683

Isn’t it great when science confirms what God has already told us in His Word? In Genesis 1:4, 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:21, 1:25, and 1:31, we read that God created the heavens and the earth. After each step of creation, God saw that it was “good.” When He was finished, He saw that it was “very good!”

Science is telling us what God said from the very beginning - His creation is good, and it’s good for us! Let’s all get out and enjoy a walk in this amazing world God has provided for us!

While you are walking, enjoy this song!

https://youtu.be/asNP8VVWKAE?si=6Ca0VLz6SI-iPtvU

Erin Roberson is a wife and mother of two wonderful grown boys. She is a lifelong educator who loves learning and teaching others. She believes our primary focus should be on our relationship with God, learning who God is, who God says we are, and how God wants us to live.

What's In Your Heart?

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Posted by Martha Wilson, November 7, 2023

“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3

“Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck.” Proverbs 6:21

All dressed and ready to go, I reached for the same necklace I usually wore with the outfit. I typically want to spend less time thinking about the accessories and just getting going. But, a different heart necklace sparkled beneath the others, and I changed it up a bit.

As it hung around my neck, I remembered the day my friend invited me for coffee and creating. She had inherited a large inventory of jewelry items and wanted to share them with me. I was encouraged to choose any locket I wanted and then fill it with tiny treasures that made me smile. I chose a clear heart locket trimmed with silver and a filigree background. Within, I placed a small blue heart, a pink flower, a cross, and my initial M or W. I wore it proudly, remembering the fun day I spent with my friend.

But it seemed that the necklace was no longer just a happy memory and lovely gift; it began to talk to me. If you know me, you will understand that it is not crazy because almost everything in my life becomes a visual, a teaching, a spiritual lesson. I felt the question rise in my thoughts. “What’s in your heart, Martha? You are responsible for what is within your heart. You allow and are responsible for what goes on in your heart. You better pay attention to its contents.”

Proverbs 4:23 immediately came to mind.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”

Another translation says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This truth sounds very serious because it is critical to our lives. What’s going on in my heart will affect all of my life.

“Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you. “ Psalm 119:11

I’m guessing that you live in a hurry like most people. Who has time to carefully consider the accessories you wear or the condition of your heart? Besides, a heart search takes honesty and authenticity. It can be painful and humbling.

This past weekend, as I spoke for a women’s retreat, the necklace hung around my neck. I talked about some of the things we might find in our hearts. I wonder if any of these resonate with you? Take hold of your heart and ask God to show you what is within, remembering that all of life flows out of what you find in your heart.

A few things that God brought to our attention were: Pride, Fear, Anxiety, Disappointment, Judgment, Unbelief, Offense, Bitterness, Rejection, and Unforgiveness

God longs to fill our hearts with His love, peace, and joy, but when cluttered with these and many other things, we can’t receive His lavish love, nor can we be carriers of His love. Yet John 13:35 says, “By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

After speaking, many women clutched my necklace in their hands. They wanted to see what I had placed in the locket, and they admired the beauty of it. Honestly, it was a great visual for us to “guard” our genuine hearts.

Unlike my necklace, we can easily hide what is within our hearts. We can say beautiful, kind words and even do many acts of kindness. We can respond the right way. We can smile and pretend to others and even to ourselves. But, God knows my heart!

So what do we do with these cluttered and messy hearts? We surrender them to God. We quickly agree with Him when He shows us what is really there. We don’t argue with Him or compare our hearts with someone else. We hold our hearts up to Him and ask Him to forgive and cleanse us. And He is always faithful to answer that prayer.

“Please, Lord Jesus, come search this heart and change me from the inside out. Cleanse me, O Lord, and purify my heart. Fill me with Your word and Your love and shine Your light through me to a dark, lonely world.”

Martha Wilson is a writer, speaker, blogger and co-host of “A Burst of Hope” weekly podcast. She is the founder and director of Touching Hearts Ministries for women. She has led women to pursue an intimate relationship with Jesus for most of her adult life. She is bold, tender, and transparent as she teaches women to embrace powerful Biblical truths. Martha and her husband, Ed, live in Fayetteville, Georgia, and enjoy their blended family of five children, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. You can connect with Martha at: Facebook and Instagram @TouchingHeartsMinistries or listen to the A Burst of Hope Podcast.