True Wisdom

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. – (James 3:17, NIV)

But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest.- (James 3:17, ERV)

Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy, and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy. – (James 3:17, VOICE)

Godly wisdom produces good fruit and is helpful and merciful to others. Worldly wisdom does not consider others and often causes conflict and strife. When we sincerely seek the Lord, He will show us what is good and grant us His wisdom to know how to navigate all things. To be pure, peaceful, gentle and easy to please are a natural result of God’s wisdom being displayed. He is faithful to help us do good for others and to be fair and honest. Left to our own broken humanity, we would not have the capacity to do these things, but with God, His wisdom will lead and guide us to walk in His ways and do His will. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His wisdom so that we may be pure and peaceful, gentle and easy to please as we seek ways to help others in honesty and truth.

To walk in wisdom,

we must seek the Lord;

for it is from Him,

all goodness is stored.

The more that we seek,

the more we shall find;

the ways that are His,

all peaceful and kind.

As He leads in love,

we follow the same;

honoring the Lord,

as love is our aim.

So, choose seek the Lord,

for wisdom and grace;

He’s faithful to show,

how to walk His way.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your wisdom is loving and kind, peaceful and pure, and it ever seeks to show good to those around us. Forgive us for the times that we have attempted to navigate in our own wisdom, for on our own, we lack the love that You intend. Teach us to seek You and trust in You in all things and at all times, for You supply what we need each time we ask, and show us how to walk in Your ways and do Your will, if only we are willing to listen. Lead us, Lord Jesus, to love as You love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us in Your pure and peaceful wisdom that is loving and kind and always seeks to give good to those around us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Your word is a lamp for my feed and a light on my path. – Psalm 119:105

Cleansed and Renewed

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – (Psalm 51:10, NIV)

God, create a pure heart in me, and make my spirit strong again. – (Psalm 51:10, ERV)

Create in me a clean heart, O God; restore within me a sense of being brand new. – (Psalm 51:10, VOICE)

To have a clean and pure heart, we must confess our sins to God and ask for His forgiveness. As we do, He meets us and restores us, refreshing our strength and spirit once again. Incredibly, His loving kindness does not run out. He knows the state of our broken humanity and loves us anyway. Jesus came so that we could be forgiven and free, and continually find a sense of being brand new in Him. God is overwhelmingly faithful, even when we are not. When I pause and reflect on His goodness, grace, forgiveness, and loving ways, I cannot help but desire to seek Him more. Yesterday, for the first time in ages, I truly enjoyed my art classes. His grace was present, a few individuals were absent, and the feeling in the room was one of peace, rather than the common chaotic feel of too many dysregulated kids together in one space. Students worked on their projects and interacted with each other with kindness and calm. I walked away at the end of the day with a smile on my face, rather than feeling exhausted and defeated. Instead of relying on the joy I find in coaching after school to revive my weary heart, I drove to prepare for our meet in a great state of mind. Despite being fatigued from a late night, I woke feeling renewed and ready to take on the day. I know not what today may hold, but I do know that God will go before me, remain with me, walk beside me, and renew my strength to do what needs to be done. May we ever seek the Lord to cleanse our hearts so that we may live and love as He intended.

O Lord, cleanse my heart,

ever make me new;

so that I reflect,

the goodness that’s You.

Please grant me Your grace,

and Your eyes to see;

so that I choose love,

always, endlessly.

Teach me to trust You,

to forgive, renew;

show me Your goodness,

in all that I do.

Lead me and guide me,

in Your loving way;

correct, redirect,

so in You I stay.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You and confess our sins, You forgive us and renew us to live and love as You intended. Thank You that Your heart is for us. Forgive us for every word, thought and deed that was not a reflection of Your goodness and love. Teach us to seek and depend on You to lead us in Your goodness and grace. Show us how to love well as we go through our day. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your goodness and grace, and rely on You to lead us in Your love. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. – Psalm 118:29

God is… (Day 25 – Righteous)

The Lord is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does. – (Psalm 145:17, NIV)

Everything the Lord does is good. Everything He does shows how loyal He is. – (Psalm 145:17, ERV)

Everything God does is right – the trademark on all His works is love. – (Psalm 145:17, MSG)

The questions that people cannot help but ask in response to hearing that God is righteous in all of His ways include, “Why do bad things happen? or Why is there suffering?” Some answers we may not ever know or understand until we meet Him face-to-face. I do know that even when bad things happen or suffering is happening, God is present to help and provide comfort. His righteousness and faithfulness transcend our understanding. Between living in a world run by broken humanity and having a free will, the difficulties we endure are not given by God. Our bodies are not eternal and we each have an expiration date. Thankfully, our soul is eternal and we have a choice in where it will reside forever. When we give our lives to God and choose to follow after Him, we have the blessed assurance that our home is not here, but rather in heaven with the Lord. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that God is good. His righteousness and goodness are made evident in and through all things. Even in hardships and suffering, He makes His love and care for us known. May we ever seek the Lord and trust in Him, for He is righteous and all of His ways are motivated by His overwhelming love.

The Lord is righteous,

in all of His ways;

His love surrounds us,

throughout all our days.

In good times and bad,

the Lord’s ever near;

our help and comfort,

the truth that we hear.

Faithful forever,

His promises true;

our hope and our peace,

each day He makes new.

All praise to the Lord,

God of righteousness;

His good knows no end,

endless faithfulness.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are righteousness and faithfulness and love. Thank You that even when we do not understand why things transpire as they do, we can trust that You are good and You can bring beauty from ashes and hope from despair. Forgive us for the times that we limit Your power and goodness in our own minds, for we cannot grasp how great You truly are. Teach us to trust You in all things and at all times. Lead us to love as You love so that all may gain glimpses of Your goodness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your righteousness, faithfulness and love, and how You have so much more in store for all of us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. – Psalm 7:17

Known in the Stillness

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – (Psalm 46:10, NIV)

God says, “Stop fighting and know that I am God! I am the one who defeats the nations; I am the one who controls the world.” – (Psalm 46:10, ERV)

“Be still, be calm, see, and understand I am the True God. I am honored among all the nations. I am honored over all the earth.” – (Psalm 46:10. VOICE)

In a world where so much seems out-of-control, it is an excellent reminder to meditate on what is true. No matter what we see, or what we hear, God is still the One in control. Everywhere we look, we can see both chaos and calm, dark and light, good and bad. It is important to remember that not only is all in His hands, but He is greater than all. There is peace in knowing who God is and how He loves, even when there is chaos around us. Our calm need not be dictated by the world around us or what we experience, for in Christ, we have peace in all things and at all times. May we look to the Lord to remind us who He is and how He loves when we witness the craziness this world provides.

Be still and you’ll know,

that peace you can find;

through seeking the Lord,

Who has us in mind.

For He is greater,

than all that we face;

His love is stronger,

as He gives us grace.

Grace that reminds us,

of all that is true;

peace in His presence,

as each day is new.

Jesus, we thank You,

that You are much more;

than what surrounds us,

as love You outpour.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are God and You are good. Thank You that we need not worry when the world around us seems broken beyond repair, for You are so much more than what we see. Forgive us for our fears and frustrations when we witness the ugliness of broken humanity before us. Teach us to trust You more, for You are great everywhere we go and forever. Show us how to lean into You when we cannot see how You are moving in our midst. Teach us to love those around us in ways that make Your love tangible. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pause in the stillness of Your nearness and recognize how very good You are. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. – Exodus 14:14

Provider of Peace

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – (John 14:27, NIV)

I leave you peace. It is My own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid. – (John 14:27, ERV)

My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful. – (John 14:27, VOICE)

In our broken humanity, we become troubled and fearful and anxious. However, when we bring all to Jesus, He exchanges His peace for our fears. He soothes the spaces that are anxious, walks beside us through every trial that comes our way, and shows us that in Him, there is no reason to fear, for He has overcome all. As we approach a new year, after a year of many trials, challenges, and obstacles to overcome, we can look forward with peace in Jesus. No matter what comes our way, we have the assurance that God will be with us, will walk beside us, and will never leave us to navigate alone. It is up to us to turn to Him and place our trust in Him, and trust that He hears and is faithful to answer as we ask. May we anticipate the coming year with the peace of Jesus in our hearts, for He will continue to be faithful forever.

The peace of Jesus,

Cannot be compared;

No matter what comes,

His grace will be there.

Each time we seek Him,

He’s faithful to hear;

Christ floods us with peace,

As He’s ever near.

The peace of Jesus,

Goes far beyond calm;

It surrounds our hearts,

His sweet healing balm.

Courage in chaos,

Strength throughout each storm;

Blessed Redeemer,

Where hope is transformed.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in You, there is perfect peace. Thank You that even in the midst of challenge, trial, chaos or crisis, You hear and are near, providing Your peace. Forgive us for the times that we have allowed our circumstances to drown out the truth. Teach us to trust You more, so that our first response to all is to seek You. Show us how to rely on You in all things, so that we may know and understand Your perfect peace in all things. Lead us to love those around us in ways that perpetuate Your perfect peace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your ongoing provision of peace throughout all of our days. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. – Isaiah 26:3

Let Love Continue

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. – (Hebrews 13:1, NIV)

Continue loving each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. – (Hebrews 13:1, ERV)

Let love continue among you. – (Hebrews 13:1, VOICE)

We are called and commanded to love one another like family. I know not all families show and express love as God intended, but it seems that God places us among those who can become family. I am beyond blessed to have a sister and mom who love well. Their love for me and one another is unconditional, and loyalty is a bond that cannot be broken. If in our broken humanity we are able to love and be loved well, how much more ought we extend the same to those in our communities. The more we choose to love, the greater the opportunity for God’s love to be made known, and His light to shine in places lacking light. Yesterday, I had to have a punch biopsy done on my upper lip. The result included a few stitches and a lovely bandage situation in said location. Though a bit self-conscious about it when I walked into the gym to coach my high school gymnasts, I was met with nothing but love and concern. Their kindness reminded me that God is always good, and that He has me in the hollow of His hands. The biggest challenge now is that I can’t smile without pulling on the stitches, and I am surrounded by people who make me smile by being themselves. God’s goodness is evident all around us, and the more we choose to love our brothers and sisters (the people whom God places in our lives), the more His love continues to spread and His light shines ever brighter. May we seek the Lord to lead us in His love so that we may love well, all whom He has placed upon our path.

The love of the Lord,

Is given to us;

So we too may love,

Just like Lord Jesus.

His love is gracious,

Gentle and it’s kind;

Without conditions,

He has us in mind.

With this sort of love,

That’s meant for others;

To reach out, to give,

Sisters and brothers.

Help us ever seek,

So that we shall find;

Overflowing love,

To share with mankind.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love those around us like family. Thank You for the beautiful blessing I have in both my family by blood, and those whom You have purposefully placed in my life. Forgive me for the times that I have not loved as You intended. Teach me to trust You more, so that all that I do and all that I say is a reflection of Your gracious and generous love. Lead me to love those around me in ways that make Your heart abundantly clear. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to show us how to love those around us as brothers and sisters. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. – Psalm 143:8

How Love is Made Known

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. – (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, HCSB)

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. – (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, ERV)

Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; it’s never rude, crude or indecent – it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs. – (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, VOICE)

God provides us the ultimate example of what love is and is not. We are commanded to love God and love people, and He both shows and tells us what it is to love. Patience and kindness should lead us in how we love. Jealousy, pride, unkindness, selfishness and a short temper do not help us show love. In our broken humanity, we all struggle with loving as God does in all things. All it takes is being stuck in Seattle traffic during rush hour to be reminded that we are ALL a work in progress. We have the opportunity to extend love everywhere we go and through everything we do. Imagine what the world would look like if we all sought the Lord to lead us in His love in all that we said and did? Each time that we extend patience and kindness, we are igniting a spark that can spread. For me, when I have been granted patience or kindness when I know I did not deserve it, it caused me to take pause and work to do the same in similar situations. May we ever seek the Lord in His goodness and grace to lead us in His incredible love in all things.

Lord, help us to love,

In all that we do;

Let each word and deed,

Reflect Your heart true.

Grant us Your patience,

And Your kindness too;

Lead us to love well,

As You call us to.

Help us be gracious,

Wherever we go;

May Your heart shine through,

So love is made known.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love. Thank You that You show us what love is and is not, so that we know what You are calling us to do. Forgive us for the times that we have lacked patience or kindness, the times that we have been jealous or rude or proud. Teach us to trust and follow You so that we might extend Your heart to the world through our love. Show us how to be patient and kind in each circumstance we encounter. Help us to love as You love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us in Your love in all that we say and do in every circumstance. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.” – John 13:34

To Learn What is Good

You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes. – (Psalm 119:68, HCSB)

You are good, and You do good things. Teach me Your laws. – (Psalm 119:68, ERV)

You are good, and the Source of good; train me in Your goodness. – (Psalm 119:68, MSG)

You are truly good, and Your acts are too; teach me what You require. – (Psalm 119:68, VOICE)

Because God is good, what He requires is also good. In our broken humanity, good is not always what comes naturally. Instead, we must invest time with God and read His word to grow in our understanding and listen as He reveals more of His heart to us. For the last eleven plus years, I have invested the start of each day into spending time in God’s word and in prayer. What I have learned and continue to learn is the importance of loving God and loving people. The more I spend time with Him, the more He reveals His heart for all of humanity. At the end of the day, what matters most is am I loving Him and loving those around me. He shows willing hearts how to love as He loves, and the process is one that takes a lifetime. No one ever arrives. We all have an ongoing need to learn and grow to become more like Him. May we ever seek the Lord in His goodness and love, so that we may continue to learn what He requires of us to live and love well.

The goodness of God,

Photo by Lukas Rodriguez on Pexels.com

Truth that shall remain;

All that the Lord does,

Shows His love explained.

It is up to us,

To choose seek the Lord;

And as we do so,

His grace is outpoured.

He shows us the way,

To live as He asks;

In all things, choose love,

Not a list of tasks.

So, choose to seek Him,

Spend time in His word;

In love, He’ll lead us,

Making His heart heard.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good and all of Your ways are good. Thank You that as we seek You, You show us how to live and love as You intended. Thank You that it is an ongoing process. Thank You that we are a work in progress. Forgive us for neglecting to seek You to lead us. Teach us the value of investing time each day with You. Show us Your heart for us and for those around us. Lead us to love as You love. May many come to see and know how good You are and choose a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us, grow us and transform us to be more like You in how we live and love each day. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

Not Finished Yet

I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – (Philippians 1:6, HCSB)

I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until He completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again. – (Philippians 1:6, ERV)

I am confident that the Creator, who has begun such a great work among you, will not stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you until the day Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, returns to redeem the world. – (Philippians 1:6, VOICE)

We are all a work in progress. Not one of us “arrives” at some point in our lives, but rather as we seek the Lord, He continues to transform our hearts to more clearly reflect His own. The great work He does in us is an ongoing process that we must be willing to pursue, for it is by His grace that we can live and love through a life that extends His heart to others. In our broken humanity, we all fall short, yet it is Christ who picks us up, dusts us off, and encourages and strengthens us to press on. May we ever seek the Lord to lead and guide us in His love, so that He may continue the good work that He has begun in each of us. 

Lord, please continue,

What’s begun in us;

Love’s transformation,

Power of Jesus.

For as we seek Him,

He shows us the way;

To love as He loves,

A bit more each day.

Such love’s a process,

That grows and refines;

Power of Jesus,

To change hearts and minds.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that the work You began in us will continue until the day that we see You face-to-face. Thank You that You are not finished with us yet. Forgive us for failing to press in when You are calling us to so much more. Teach us to trust and continually pursue You and all that You have for us. Show us how to love You and love people in the way that You intended. May many come into a lasting relationship with You as they witness the depth, power and goodness of Your unending love. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us and transform us to love as You do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10

Unto Us

For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

For a child will be born for us, a Son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. – (Isaiah 9:6, HCSB)

Hope of all hopes, dream of our dreams, a child is born, sweet-breathed; a Son is given to us: a living gift. And even now, with tiny features and dewy hair, He is great. The power of leadership, and the weight of authority, will rest on His shoulders. His name? His name we’ll know in many ways – He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Dear Father everlasting, ever-present never-failing, Master of Wholeness, Prince of Peace. – (Isaiah 9:6, VOICE)

The arrival. Heaven coming to earth in the form of a baby who would grow and become the Savior of the world, was foretold centuries prior to His birth. All of the anticipation and joy that comes with a newborn baby was experienced by Mary and Joseph. However, God did not just make the arrival known to Mary and Joseph, for He placed a star in the sky to indicate where the baby lay, and had heavenly hosts announce His coming to shepherds in the fields nearby as they watched their sheep at night. The living gift. God with us is a gift that knows no end. Each name foretold has proven true again and again throughout the ages. Jesus indeed is a Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. He comforts us in our time of need, He is more powerful than anything that might come against us, He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and He is the place where we find our peace. Though today is set aside as a day to celebrate His arrival, everyday that we draw breath ought to be spent in thanksgiving for all that He is as He grants us hope, joy, love and peace no matter what surrounds us. May we each take pause today to recognize and give thanks for the hope that we have in Him, the joy that is found in knowing Who is for us, the love that He gives unconditionally, and the peace that is found when our hearts and minds are set on Him. Merry Christmas to all, for He has come!

Unto all of us,

A Savior has come;

Blessed Messiah,

The battle’s been won.

For that sweet baby,

In whom hope did lay;

The promised Savior,

Who’d take sin away.

No more a baby,

He’s now on the throne;

Eternal Father,

In whom we are known.

May we each seek Him,

And find sweet release;

As we trust in Him,

The great Prince of Peace.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to save us. Thank You that He came humbly so that He might know and understand what we experience in our broken humanity. Thank You that He took on the weight of the world so that we might know hope, joy, love and peace. Forgive us for allowing the distractions of the world to divert our eyes from the real reason for the season. Show us how to honor You in all that we do today and always. Lead us to love as You love so that all whom we encounter would sense and experience hope, joy, love and peace in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we celebrate Your arrival and Your eternal roles as our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. – Luke 2:11