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

Faithful Through All Generations

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. – (Psalm 100:5, NIV)

The Lord is good! There is no end to His faithful love. We can trust Him forever and ever! – (Psalm 100:5, ERV)

Because the Eternal is good, His loyal love and mercy will never end, and His truth will last throughout all generations. – (Psalm 100:5, VOICE)

 

God has been overwhelmingly faithful throughout the generations. Between my mother and her mother before her, (and so on) there have been incredible examples set before us of God’s loving kindness and faithfulness that have been made tangible. Today, we celebrate the gift that is my mom. For seventy years, she has graced the earth with her goodness, life, and light. Though this past year has likely been her most challenging, (particularly the last four months) she has risen to every challenge and is persevering with strength, faith and fortitude, trusting in Him to be her Healer. Where some would grow grumpy and lose their graciousness, mom has remained loving and kind, full of humor and grace, willing to laugh at the humor that comes with the obstacles we all face in the midst of life’s challenges. I know that I would not be the woman, mother, wife, friend, teacher and human that I have become, without the leading and influence of my mom. Her guidance has taught me that I can be tender and tough, sweet and strong, and extend kindness to all. She models each of these through her very existence. May we all trust in the Lord and the goodness of His love, for His faithfulness endures through all generations.

 

God’s blessing to us,

Is like no other;

In the treasured gift,

That is our mother.

No matter what comes,

Her presence is near;

Prayers tangibly felt,

Strength to persevere.

She models the way,

To love and to live;

May we do the same,

And of ourselves, give.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the treasured gift that You have given us in our mom. Thank You for Your grace and protection that spared her life and that is granting her strength and hope and courage to recover what was lost four months ago. Thank You not for the stroke, but for the blessings that have come from it – the time together that far exceeded what we would have ever had otherwise. Lord, bless our mom with the desires of her heart in the coming year. Forgive us for our impatience with Your timeline. Thank You that You know best and that You have a plan and a purpose, and that You bring beauty from all things. Teach us to trust You more when we cannot see the next step, or feel discouraged in the here and now. Show us how to love and encourage all those whom we encounter. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we follow the example of love and joy that mom offers to all as we navigate each day. Amen.

 

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

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34