With Thanks

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. – (Colossians 3:17, HCSB)

Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. – (Colossians 3:17, ERV)

Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing, or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father. – (Colossians 3:17, VOICE)

After a great spring break that went far too quickly, this is a great verse to set my heart right as I go. It will be a busy day, as it is not only the first day back for staff and students, but it is also the first day of coaching volleyball this season. There is a long list of girls who will be trying out, and reteaching routines in the classroom after a break require much patience, as we push into the final long stretch of the school year. Ultimately, when I remember who I am doing it all for, my priorities are set right and my heart seeks to love as He loves me. In all of the busy, my aim is to walk in gratitude, for He has been so good to me. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His love, so that all that we say and do is done unto Him with thanksgiving.

All unto the Lord,

in word, thought, and deed;

may His love be shown,

as He meets our needs.

He grants us patience,

the strength to be kind;

to do things with love,

with heart, soul, and mind.

In everything,

may we let love lead;

for His way’s greater,

and He meets our needs.

Show us, Lord Jesus,

Your way in all things;

lead us and guide us,

in everything.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good and loving and kind. Thank You that You ask us to do all things unto You so that we might choose to love as You love. Forgive us for every word, thought, and deed that did not glorify You. Teach us to trust You more to lead us so that we may reflect Your goodness and love in all that we say and do. Show us how to love those around us in ways that demonstrate our gratitude for who You are and how You love us all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us in all that we say and do, and give You thanks in all things. Amen.

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

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

For Us, In Us, Through Us

And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in Him. – (1 John 4:16, HCSB)

So we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Everyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them. – (1 John 4:16, ERV)

We have experienced and we have entrusted our lives to the love of God in us. God is love. Anyone who lives faithfully in love also lives faithfully in God, and God lives in them. – (1 John 4:16, VOICE)

As we come to know and trust the love that God has for us, it grows in us, and flows through us. The more faithfully we love, the more clearly we reflect God to those around us. Without God, it is impossible to love as He loves. With Him, His love flows through us and others gain glimpses of His goodness. May we ever seek the Lord to live faithfully in Him, for when we do so, we are faithful to love as He loves.

The Lord is for us,

as we seek, He stays;

faithful to lead us,

in all of His ways.

He shows us real love,

so we do the same;

as we live for Him,

we honor His Name.

Let’s faithfully live,

in God’s love and grace;

so we may share well,

each one of our days.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we invite You to live in us, You show that You are for us, and demonstrate Your love through us. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected to receive all that You offer, or have withheld love that we were meant to share. Teach us to trust You more so that we walk out each day faithfully loving as You love each of us. Show us how to love in all things and at all times so that Your goodness is evident to all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we recognize You are for us, trust You because You are in us, and give You room to move through us. Amen.

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

This God, our God forever and ever – He will always lead us. – Psalm 48:14

Songs of Strength and Love

But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in time of trouble. – (Psalm 59:16, NIV)

But I will sing about Your strength. I will rejoice in Your love every morning. You have been my place of safety, the place I can run to when troubles come. – (Psalm 59:16, ERV)

But me? I will sing of Your strength. I will awake with the sun to sing of Your loving mercy because in my most troubled hour, You defended me. You were my shelter. – (Psalm 59:16, VOICE)

This morning, I woke more than an hour later than I typically do. I rose to go about my usual routine, only to discover one of our dogs and my husband were not downstairs. He had brought Thor upstairs so that I could have more rest. His love and kindness to me is a reminder of how much the Lord loves and cares for us all, individually. He supplies us strength when we are weary, grants us safety in the storms, and is the One whom we can run to when troubles and trials come our way. David, the one who penned Psalm 59, certainly knew how the Lord would help be his strength, provide loving mercy, defend him, and grant his safe shelter in spaces of need. He actually celebrated the victories the Lord had given with singing and dancing before everyone. David could not help but praise the One who had protected and preserved his life, and supplied all that was needed to press on. God does this for us as well. Last week was a marathon of a week, and there were a few mornings that I was uncertain as to how I would get through the day. He met me in my moments of exhaustion and gave me strength, and sleeping in this morning was an additional reminder that He sees and knows our needs and is ready to help us recharge. This weekend, despite having several things scheduled, holds many hours with none so that rest and restoration may be found. Additionally, a holiday weekend is on the horizon, so there will be more time to rest and reflect. As I sit here with one pup leaning on me and snoozing, the other happily chewing on a new chew toy, and my husband on the couch nearby, my heart is full of gratitude and songs of praise flood my mind. May we sing of His love forever and praise Him for being our strength and our shelter.

O Lord, unto You,

may we ever sing;

our strength and shelter,

through all that life brings.

You see all our need,

and hear each request;

You help and give hope,

and show us what’s best.

Father, we praise You,

for how You love us;

our strength and our song,

unto You, Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You meet us where we are and supply all that we need. Thank You that You grant us strength, hope, safety and Your overwhelming love. Forgive us for the times that we fail to recognize Your provision. Help us to sing praise to You for Your goodness and grace that is granted throughout every day. Teach us to love those around us in ways that make Your kindness evident to all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we sing of all that You do for us and Your incredible love that lifts us up and makes us new. Amen.

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

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations. – Psalm 89:1

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

A Work in Progress

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. – (Philippians 3:12, NIV)

I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason He made me His. – (Philippians 3:12, ERV)

I’m not there yet, nor have I become perfect; but I am charging on to gain anything and everything the Anointed One, Jesus, has in store for me – and nothing will stand in my way because He has grabbed me and won’t let me go. – (Philippians 3:12, VOICE)

Paul, one of the most faithful followers of Christ found in the Bible, still recognized the need to press on in the pursuit of that for which he had been called. Not one of us “arrives”, but rather we are all a work in progress. When we place our trust and hope in Jesus, He leads us and guides us, corrects and refines us, so that we may more clearly reflect His heart to the world. Each day we live we have the opportunity to learn and grow. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His love and give Him room to refine us to represent Him well to the world around us.

The only perfect,

in this life’s pursuit;

is the Lord Jesus,

and His love that’s truth.

For as we seek Him,

He makes His heart known;

transforms the willing,

and calls us His own.

This is a process,

throughout our lifetime;

learning and growing,

as He calls us “Mine”.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we are all a work in progress, yet when we pursue You with our whole heart, You hold us in Your capable hands. Thank You that we can always learn and grow. Forgive us for the times that we ignore the correction or direction You give. Teach us to listen and respond swiftly, and to ever pursue You to show us all that is good. Show us how to love those around us in ways that most clearly reflect Your heart for the world. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we give our hearts and lives to You to grow and transform us to more tangibly show Your love to those around us. Amen.

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

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

To Do What is Right

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. – (Proverbs 21:3, NIV)

Do what is right and fair. The Lord loves that more than sacrifices. – (Proverbs 21:3, ERV)

Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors means far more to God than religious performance. – (Proverbs 21:3, MSG)

Our attitudes and actions in all that we do are what matter most to God. How we treat people is a direct demonstration of our love for Him and all that His hands have made. Love is made known to others when our choices in word and deed are guided by truth, reason, justice and fairness. God does not look at religious performance; He looks at the heart. All that we say and all that we do needs to be guided by love in order to be what is right and fair. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in all that we say and do, and may all we give be right and true. Lead us Lord, so that we may live right and justly throughout all of our days.

Help us, Lord Jesus,

in all of our ways;

to be right and just,

throughout each new day.

May our hearts reflect,

the glory that’s Yours;

as we walk in love,

for Your love restores.

It mends what’s broken,

restoring to whole;

brings joy and laughter,

for You soothe our soul.

Lead us, Lord Jesus,

to walk in Your love;

may kindness be seen,

through grace from above.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are far more concerned with our choices to live with fairness and to act justly, than You do about us presenting some sort of religious appearance. Thank You that You love us as we are, and transform us as You renew our hearts and minds. Thank You that You call us to love like You. Forgive us for the times that we have spoken or acted in a way that did not demonstrate Your goodness, fairness and grace. Teach us to walk in Your ways and to love all whom we encounter as You do. Lead us to love well, so that all may come to know Your heart for each one of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to show us more and more how to live right and justly throughout all of our days. Amen.

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

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

Love Completely

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – (Ephesians 5:1-2, NIV)

You are God’s dear children, so try to be like Him. Live a life of love. Love others just as Christ loved us. He gave Himself for us – a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God. – (Ephesians 5:1-2, ERV)

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He did not love in order to get something from us but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that. – (Ephesians 5:1-2, MSG)

Yesterday’s message at church was grounded in the story of Jesus’ first miracle, when He turned water into wine at a wedding. There were many outstanding points, but what continues to resonate with me is how the servants did what Jesus asked and filled the water jars. Not only did they fill them, but they filled them to the brim (which was no easy task back then). That act of trust turned into the first miracle of Jesus’ ministry and reminds us of how completely we ought to follow what He asks of us. His greatest command is to love God and love people. If we chose to do so “to the brim”, we will be walking in the way of love, just a Christ did for us. Love sees, love sacrifices, and love gives completely with no expectation in return. This is an ongoing, lifelong process, to live and learn how to love like Christ. Every day is new, and we have a new opportunity to live the life of love that God intended. May we ever seek the Lord, study His word, and spend time with Him, so that we may learn and grow to reflect His love and light more clearly to the world.

Lord help us to love,

As Christ has loved us;

Sacrificially,

The way of Jesus.

Teach us to trust You,

To walk in Your ways;

Love without limits,

Throughout all our days.

Each blessing given,

Show us how to share;

Generously give,

Love and truly care.

Lead us each day, Lord,

To love as You do;

Fill us each morning,

So that we love true.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to show us what real, complete, and sacrificial love really is. Thank You for the beauty and blessing we receive as You claim us as Your own. Forgive us for the times that we have not loved like You. Teach us to trust Your more so that our every word and action would be a reflection of Your goodness, grace, and overwhelming love. Show us how to love each person we encounter so that Your heart is made tangible through us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You and trust You to lead us to love as You intended. Amen.

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

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. – John 13:34

Space In Between

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – (Romans 5:8, NIV)

But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much He loves us. – (Romans 5:8, ERV)

But think about this: while we were wasting our lives in sin, God revealed His powerful love to us in a tangible display – the Anointed One died for us. – (Romans 5:8, VOICE)

The time in between the crucifixion and the resurrection is a strange space. Back then, I can only imagine the grief and horror the disciples and family of Jesus must have been feeling. It had to have been a somber, sorrowful sort of Saturday as they faced the disbelief that the Savior had died. Being a Sabbath, there was little that could be done on this in between day. Thankfully, now, it is more of an anticipatory sort of day, as we await the Sunday celebration of our risen Savior. He who died on the cross was not defeated by death, but was about rise, overcoming a horrific death, to show us the power and love of our Lord. Today is a great day to contemplate not only the sacrifice our Savior made on our behalf, but to anticipate with hope, the soon and coming King. His resurrection is our reminder that after darkness, light will come; after death, new life awaits; and after sorrow, there is a celebration that lies ahead. May we never forget the death Christ died on our behalf, and the powerful love that not only did so for our sake, but defeated death and rose again to show us the hope we forever have in Him.

Love overwhelming,

Chose wear all our sin;

Suffered for our sake,

So hope could begin.

Hope in the waiting,

Unsure what to do;

Anticipating,

All that is made new.

With resurrection,

New life can begin;

Where death’s defeated,

As His love does win.

The cross remembered,

This time in between;

Anticipation,

Of that yet unseen.

The stone rolled away,

And an empty tomb;

Holy announcement,

To see Jesus soon.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to save us. Jesus, thank You that You took on all of our sin and shame so that we might know new life in You. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected to recognize the overwhelming weight that You bore on our behalf, and the miraculous power within You to overcome death; for not even the grave to hold You. Teach us to reflect and rejoice in Your goodness and love, and show us how to love those around us in ways that extend the hope that is found in You alone. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for You sacrifice and embrace the hope that we know in You because the same power that defeated death dwells in every heart that has invited You in. Amen.

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

Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. – Matthew 27:59-60

Train in Trustworthy Traits

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – (Colossians 3:12, NIV)

God has chosen you and made you His holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. – (Colossians 3:12, ERV)

Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. – (Colossians 3:12, VOICE)

If we know God, we are His chosen people. It is only by His great love that we are made holy through Him and equipped to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. This way of life is a choice and it requires us to invest our heart in Him. As we do, we grow in our capacity to be kind and loving, gently and patient, humble and full of mercy for those around us. The process is an ongoing, lifelong journey to ever be refined to more clearly reflect the Father. May we ever pursue the Lord with passion, being intentional to seek Him anew each day, for it is through our seeking that we come to find the One who gives us all.

Because we are loved,

We know to love too;

With patience, kindness,

As mercy shines through.

Ever we’re to walk,

In humility;

With a gentleness,

That brings sweet relief.

Relief from the harsh,

That the world does bring;

A generous love,

In everything.

O Lord, please lead us,

Throughout all our days;

With Your tender love,

To walk in Your ways.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us Your children and teach us to live as Your own. Thank You that Your love equips us to be compassionate, kind, patient, humble, and gentle with those around us. Forgive us for the times that we have been lacking any of these in our interactions with those around us. Teach us to listen to Your loving leading in all things. Show us how to love those around us with kindness and compassion, patience and gentleness, ever walking in humility knowing You are our Source for all things. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we embrace the grace that You alone give, and continually pursue the traits that You call us to carry throughout all of our days in every circumstance. Amen.

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

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promises for both the present life and the life to come. – 1 Timothy 4:8

Seek to Grow

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. – (2 Peter 1:5-7, NIV)

Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love. – (2 Peter 1:5-7, ERV)

To achieve this, you will need to add virtue to your faith, and then knowledge to your virtue; to knowledge, add discipline; to discipline, add endurance; to endurance, add godliness; to godliness, add affection for others as sisters and brothers; to affection, at last, add love. – (2 Peter 1:5-7, VOICE)

These things, faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love, are not things we somehow muster up, but rather are traits that rise up within us as we faithfully follow our Heavenly Father. Our effort is our intentional pursuit of our Provider, and the investment we make – heart, soul, and mind – to follow Him. It is only through our growth in the Lord that these other things grow too. The more we know and love the Lord, the more clearly we reflect His goodness and love to the world. May we ever be intentional in our investment in Christ, for it is through Him that we exhibit the good fruit that He calls us to bear.

Without choosing faith,

It’s impossible;

To love like the Lord,

Who teaches us all.

He gives His goodness,

Help and self-control;

His perseverance,

And love that will grow.

The more we seek Him,

The more we will grow;

In love for others,

And for Christ alone.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to freely seek You. Thank You that as we do, You transform us to more clearly reflect You through our words, thought, and actions. Forgive us for every time that any part of us did not bring honor to you. Teach us to love with patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to grow us more like You every day. Amen.

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

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. – Colossians 1:17