Release for Restoration

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. – (Matthew 6:14-15, NIV)

Yes, if you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, then your Father in heaven will also forgive your wrongs. But if you don’t forgive others, then your Father in heaven will not forgive the wrongs you do. – (Matthew 6:14-15, ERV)

In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part. – (Matthew 6:14-15, MSG)

Matthew 7:12 tells us, “Do unto other as you want done unto you.” This “do unto others” applies to forgiveness as well. Forgiveness is a tricky thing, as it does not mean that you necessarily forget and resume all as usual, but rather it is a release of the weight of anger and hurt, and a choice to trust God to do what only He can do. There are times when forgiveness is simple, for small things, yet other times, we need to release the weight within us for things that seem unforgivable. The thing is, unforgiveness does not harm the offender, but rather it harms us. It is a weight that wraps around our heart and seeks to sink us to the depths of despair. Forgiveness releases the weight and trusts God to restore our heart and allows God to be the One to deal with the offender. He grants us wisdom in how to navigate after an offense. Sometimes, it is a mutual recognition of the harm that was done, and forgiveness and restoration rise up. Other times, boundaries have to be set and our method of moving forward may look different than before. Often, when the offense is immense, we have to forgive over and over again in order to release the burden created by what was broken. God is faithful, and He will meet us each time we choose to forgive and He is faithful to help us move forward with wisdom and grace. When we choose to hold onto hurts and withhold forgiveness, we get in the way of allowing God to forgive us. May we ever seek the Lord to help us forgive every offense, and praise Him for the forgiveness that He grants to us, for His forgiveness leads to our salvation and eternal life with Him.

Forgive each other,

as God forgives us;

for as we do so,

we honor Jesus.

If we hold a grudge,

we get in the way;

of the work of God,

that we should display.

The weight, too heavy,

for our hearts to hold;

release to His hands,

for grace to unfold.

We are forgiven,

as we choose forgive;

so seek our Father,

as to Him we give.

Give all our burdens,

the hurt and the weight;

His grace that follows,

is what makes the way.

Way to move forward,

as He calls us to;

living love out loud,

in the light of truth.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to forgive as we have been forgiven. Thank You that as we release the hurts and heartache and choose to forgive, You restore us and show us the power of Your goodness and love. Forgive us for the offenses that we cling to. Teach us to let go of hurt and offense and to seek You for wisdom as to how we are meant to move forward. Show us the power of Your love in all things. Lead us to love and forgive like You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You as they see the restorative power of releasing offense into Your hands. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to strengthen us to forgive again and again, for in forgiveness we come to know Your restoration through the release of wrongs.

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

Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. – Acts 13:38

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

Kindness and Comfort

So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. – (Zechariah 1:13, NIV)

Then the Lord answered the angel who was talking with me. He spoke good, comforting words. – (Zechariah 1:13, ERV)

The Eternal One answered him, speaking kind and comforting words to the heavenly messenger who had been talking to me. He shared with me the message. – (Zechariah 1:13, VOICE)

After seventy years of suffering, God showed Zechariah that He would restore Jerusalem and her people. He spoke through an angel and showed Zechariah visions that assured him that there would be restoration. Zechariah knew that his people had suffered for their evil thoughts and acts. God, in His great mercy, showed Zechariah that He would not only relent on the punishment, but that He would restore and protect His people. Our God is just and merciful and offers us kindness and comfort as we recognize our need to repent. He hears our cries and sees our needs, and He makes the way for all to be restored. May we ever seek the Lord, for He is our comfort and the One who restores what has been lost.

When all seems hopeless,

or full of despair;

the Lord’s sweet presence,

reminds us He’s there.

He stands beside us,

holds us in His hands;

He leads and guides us,

so that we can stand.

Stand in His goodness,

rise up in His grace;

follow His leading,

and walk in His ways.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are kind and comforting to us. Thank You that You see us in our need and come close so that we are ever aware of Your presence and Your peace. Thank You that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Forgive us for our fears and frustrations that warp our view of You. Teach us to trust You in all things and at all times, for You are faithful forever. Lead us in Your love so that those around us may know Your comfort and kindness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your presence and thank You for Your kindness and comfort that meets us in our need. Amen.

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

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His Holy Name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits. – Psalm 103:1-2

A Solid Foundation

Luke 6 opens with things that Jesus did that the Pharisees claimed were unlawful, but Jesus refuted their opposition with truth. When Jesus healed a man with a shriveled hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath, the Pharisees began to scheme about what they might do to Jesus. The next segment in Chapter 6 tells of Jesus calling His disciples and names the twelve who were designated apostles. With the twelve, Jesus went down and stood on a level place with a large crowd around them and He spoke of blessings and woes. As He continued, Jesus taught about loving everyone, including our enemies. “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31) Next, Jesus directly told the crowd not to judge others and then told a parable that explains the same. He then teaches that good things come from good stored up. Verse 45 says, “A good man brings good things out of good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Jesus ends his teaching with an illustration of wise and foolish builders that he unpacks to help the hearers understand the importance of a solid foundation.

Jesus as teacher,

along with much more;

He lived what He taught,

He healed and restored.

Jesus called the twelve,

and showed them the way;

living example,

to live, love, and pray.

He taught to the crowds,

and healed one-by-one;

to not judge others,

love everyone.

To take in good things,

so good is what’s stored;

for that from the heart,

can help and restore.

Let our foundation,

be built on You, Lord;

on Him we will stand,

where grace is outpoured.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to show us how to live, love and follow after You. Forgive us for the times that we have not loved or judged others, rather than looking at our own sin. Teach us to seek You to show us what is good and what is not, and help us to listen and obey. Show us how to love those around us well. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You and study Your word so that we may live out our days as You intended. Amen.

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

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who build his house on the rock.” – Matthew 7:24

Faithful

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. – (Job 19:25, NIV)

I know that there is someone to defend me and that He lives! And in the end, He will stand here on earth and defend me. – (Job 19:25, ERV)

Besides, I know my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will rise and take His stand on the earth. – (Job 19:25, VOICE)

These words were spoken by Job to his “friends” after he had lost everything, including his health, and they were basically telling him that his suffering was his fault, that it must have been from his sinful ways. Job, despite the horrors and heartache of what he was going through, remained steady in his trust in God. He had always been faithful, and knew that in the end, God would redeem him somehow. If we continue reading, the discovery is that God does indeed restore Job’s health and wealth and position. Even when all was lost and he seemed to be knocking on death’s door, Job remained steadfast in his trust in God. His unwavering faith is an example to us all. We all go through things in this broken world, but the One that remains true is present forever. May we ever trust in God and His faithfulness to us, even when life throws us more than we can handle. God is worthy of our trust and will provide what we need each new day.

The Lord is so good,

even when life is not;

worthy of our trust,

as close as our next thought.

Each word that we pray,

our faithful Father hears;

in love, He’s working,

to help and calm our fears.

His timing’s not ours,

but His answers will come;

in the end His good,

is that which will be done.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the example set by Job, as he did nothing wrong, yet went through so much. Thank You that though we have no guarantees that life will be problem-free, we do have Your word that tells us You will be with us, always. Forgive us for our lack of faith when troubles come our way. Teach us to trust You more and show us how to walk with faith when we cannot see. Lead us to love those around us in ways that encourage and strengthen. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your faithfulness forever and for the countless examples of those who have gone before us with infallible faith. Amen.

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

For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. – Psalm 33:4

Breathe New Life

This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: ”I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” – (Ezekiel 37:5–6, NIV)

This is what the Lord God says to you: “I will cause breath to come into you, and you will come to life! I will put sinew and muscles on you, and I will cover you with skin. Then I will put breath in you, and you will come back to life! Then you will know that I am the Lord.” – (Ezekiel 37:5-6, ERV)

God, the Master, told the dry bones, “Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come to life. I’ll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You’ll come alive and you’ll realize that I am God!” – (Ezekiel 37:5-6, MSG)

If God can call an army of dead bones to life, He can bring life to the places in our lives that seem lifeless, hopeless, or simply beyond what we can handle on our own. As I await a surgery date and dread the process that looms ahead, I can trust that God will carry me through. The same God that breathed life into a valley of dry bones, knit me together in my mother’s womb. He knows the number of hairs on my head and can restore anything that is out of alignment. Sometimes, He moves miraculously, and other times, He utilizes modern medicine and people to perform that which was seemingly impossible a few decades ago. Despite my anxiousness for what lies before me, I know I can trust in Him to be with me, hold me up, and restore what is not as it should be. May we ever seek the Lord when we find ourselves in a seeming valley of dry bones, and trust in Him to do far more than we ever thought possible.

When in the valley,

That’s lifeless and dry;

God can breathe new life,

Hope we can’t deny.

He is light and life,

When things may seem dim;

He brings help and peace,

As we let Him in.

Keep seeking the Lord,

His love is for all;

Our great Provider,

Hears us when we call.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are faithful to listen to our every prayer, and that You can do exceedingly more than we could hope or imagine. Thank You that You are life and breath, hope and help, throughout all of our days. Forgive us for seeing only the dry and lifelessness in the valleys, rather than the opportunities for You to do something new and miraculous. Teach us how to trust and depend on You in all things and at all times. Show us how to love those around us well, so that we can be extensions of Your life and love, peace and hope. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we watch for You to move in the places that seem overwhelmingly desolate. Amen.

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

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. – Genesis 2:7

Light in the Dark

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. – (2 Corinthians 4:6, NIV)

God once said, “Let light shine out of the darkness!” And this is the same God who made His light shine in our hearts to let us know that His own divine greatness is seen in the face of Christ. – (2 Corinthians 4:6, ERV)

The God who spoke light into existence, saying, “{Let light shine from the darkness,” is the very One who sets our hearts ablaze to shed light on the knowledge of God’s glory revealed in the face of Jesus, the Anointed One. – (2 Corinthians 4:6, VOICE)

The same God who brought light into being, illuminates the hearts of all who seek Him. As our hearts become flooded with His light, we can more clearly see who He is and how He loves. That same light that glows within, begins to shine outward to all those around us. May we ever seek the face of the Lord to lead us, so that His light shines wherever we go.

With only a word,

Light began to shine;

In darkness no more,

Through Him who’s divine.

God the Creator,

Sheds light on our souls;

Illuminates dark,

Restores to make whole.

As we let light in,

He frees us to shine;

Be beacons of love,

Reflecting Divine.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in the dark, You brought light into being. Thank You that as we seek You, You flood the dark corners of our hearts with Your loving light and transform us so that we too, can shine as reflections of Your goodness and love. Forgive us for the times that we have hidden in darkness or have withheld the light that was meant to shine. Teach us to trust You more, so that we might live in the light of Your love and shine brightly before all. Show us how to be beacons of Your light in the dark spaces around us. Lead us to love everyone as You first loved us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we ever seek to live in the light of Your love and extend the same to all those we encounter each new day. Amen.

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

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. – Genesis 1:3

Joy and Rest

Therefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. – (Psalm 16:9, HCSB)

So my heart and soul will be very happy. Even my body will live in safety. – (Psalm 16:9, ERV)

This is a good life – my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest. Who could want for more? – (Psalm 16:9, VOICE)

This feels like the reason for summer break for students and staff alike. Time away provides rest and reflection, and it seems that through this season of rest, hearts are made glad and joy is restored. I am so grateful that God provides what we need when we need it most. Not only has the school year come to a close, but my love has taken vacation time and we are enjoying the opportunity to take care of projects, spend time together, and relish the time we are able to spend with our besties, as they prepare to move out of state in six months. God is good, and my heart is glad. May we ever give thanks to the Lord who fills us with joy, keeps us safe, and provides much needed rest.

Lord, You are so good,

In You, there is rest;

Peace for the weary,

Your joy is the best.

It fills up our hearts,

Surrounds us with peace;

Reminds us again,

Your love will not cease.

You restore in us,

The things that seemed lost;

In safety renew,

Grace never exhausts.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You are where we find joy, security and rest. Thank You that You provide what we need when we need it most. Thank You for seasons that grant us extra rest and refreshment. Forgive us for losing sight of where true joy is found when we are weary. Teach us to trust in You and recognize the joy that we have in You, no matter our circumstances. Show us how to love those around us in ways that provide rest for the weary and extend the joy we have in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your goodness and grace that give us joy, rest and security. Amen.

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

When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy. – Psalm 94:19

Life When All Seems Lost

When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and told Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!” – (John 11:32, HCSB)

May went to the place where Jesus was. When she saw Him, she bowed at His feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” – (John 11:32, ERV)

Mary approached Jesus, saw Him, and fell at His feet. “Lord, if only You had been here, my brother would still be alive.” – (John 11:32, VOICE)

There is so much to the story of Lazarus. Though he was the one that Jesus raised from four-days dead, his sister, Mary, was also a key player in the miracle that Jesus provided for people whom He loved. In her grief, Mary spoke to Jesus, acknowledging the power He held in preventing death, and honestly shared her frustration and sorrow that He had not arrived four days sooner. It was not an accusation nor placement of blame, but rather a statement of faith in her sadness. She knew that had Jesus been present, He would have healed her brother. Jesus, full of compassion for His dear friends, wept, and then asked them to take Him to the tomb where Lazarus was laid. Once there, He asked that the stone be rolled away, and then He called out to God to bring Lazarus forth from the grave. Lazarus, still wrapped in grave clothes, walked out of the tomb. For Mary, this miracle went even further beyond her hope of what Jesus could do. Despite witnessing the power of God to raise a man from being four-days in the grave, faith again would be blinded by grief a short time later when Jesus Himself was crucified, died and was buried in a tomb. I wonder if Mary held hope that Jesus might do for Himself what He had done for Lazarus? Incredibly, she was one of the women to whom Jesus appeared after He had risen. Imagine her faith and determination when Jesus told her to go and let the others know. For me, this is a reminder that no matter how far gone things seem to be, God can bring life back to hopes, dreams, promises, and more. He can do immeasurably more than we could hope or imagine. Mary wished that Jesus had been there sooner, yet He still did the impossible. We may hope for answers or direction sooner, yet God can do so much more in His time. May we ever seek the Lord in faith, trusting that He has compassion for us and will move in ways that are even better than we could hope or imagine as we wait and trust in Him.

In disappointment,

And times of sorrow;

We forget who holds,

All our tomorrows.

The very same God,

Who raised up the dead;

Can still move mountains,

Lifter of our heads.

He can restore hope,

Where all seems but lost;

Restore life to dreams,

We thought had been squashed.

Sometimes the answer,

Is not what we’d choose;

Yet there’s always more,

For His love renews.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You restore life into hopes and dreams, even when we think that they are long dead. Thank You that You can do immeasurably more than we could hope or imagine. Forgive us for our faltering faith when things seem hopeless. Teach us to trust in You in all things and at all times, believing that You can do more than we could hope or imagine. Show us how to love those around us in ways that give life and hope and help where all seemed to be lost. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we call on You in faith to be our help and hope, and to bring life to that which seems lost. Amen.

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

I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in Your word. – Psalm 119:147

Comfort That Conveys Joy

When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy. – (Psalm 94:19, HCSB)

I was very worried and upset, but You comforted me and made me happy! – (Psalm 94:19, ERV)

When anxiety overtakes me and worries are many, Your comfort lightens my soul. – (Psalm 94:19, VOICE)

This weekend has been exactly what my husband and I have needed. The weight of the week had grown heavy, and time away together has been a space to relax and recharge. For me, I find joy being outside in God’s creation. There is nothing that makes me more aware of Him than fresh air and all of the colors that surround us. My husband is his best self when he gets to let go of the burdens and be himself. After much pondering about how to best discover a way for both of us to really relax and enjoy our time together, I ordered two e-scooters and helmets for us, prior to this weekend. My Viking and I scooted along miles of trails that run beside the bay, and run through lush green vegetation. We were further able to explore the town, and spent hours riding around, taking in all of the beauty of the area. I am not sure which brought me more joy – our surroundings or watching my mister play and enjoy himself in a childlike manner. I don’t think a smile ever left our faces. We will have time again this morning to explore a bit more before we need to pack up and head home. Already, I feel as if my soul has been lightened, and I am better equipped to navigate the week that lies ahead. God is good, and I am so grateful that He provides joy in ordinary spaces when we take time to get out and enjoy all that He has made.

When life feels heavy,

Take time and slow down;

Observe surroundings,

For peace will be found.

View all the beauty,

That His hands have made;

Joy rises within,

And worries will fade.

Place all in His hands,

For they’re strong enough;

He lightens our load,

Brings smooth to the rough.

Rise up each morning,

And look all around;

Joy is waiting,

In Christ it is found.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can bring our cares and burdens to You, and You soothe our souls and fill us with Your joy as we delight in You. Forgive us for allowing worries to overtake us instead of bringing all before You. Thank You that You call us unto Yourself and restore joy anew. Show us how to love those around us well, so they too, may be filled with Your joy and peace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we turn to You with our worries and cares, and recognize the joy that is within as we appreciate all that You have made. Amen.

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

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. – 1 Thessalonians 3:12