Made Known

If I a not doing My Father’s work, don’t believe Me. But if I am doing them and you don’t believe Me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand that the Father is in Me and I in the Father. – (John 10:37-38, HCSB)

If I don’t do what my Father does, then don’t believe what I say. But if I do what my Father does, you should believe in what I do. You might not believe in Me, but you should believe in the things I do. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father. – (John 10:37-38, ERV)

By all means, do not believe in Me, if I am not doing the things of the Father. But examine My actions, and you will see that My work is the work of the Father. Regardless of whether you believe in Me – believe the miracles. Then you will know that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father. – (John 10:37-38, VOICE)

When the Pharisees and religious leaders of the time were trying to stone Jesus, this was His response. Incredibly, they had all seen and knew of the miracles that Jesus had done and could not argue this truth. As they sought to capture Him, Jesus eluded them, for that time had not yet come. What His example shows us is that if we live out love, Jesus in us will be evident. Our aim ought to be so full of Jesus that people cannot help but see His love in and through us. May we ever seek the Lord so that we are so filled with His goodness and grace that we cannot help but overflow to those around us.

The Lord God with us,

is made evident;

as we love like Him,

the One who was sent.

He showed all goodness,

and living out love;

His words and His deeds,

pointed to above.

He healed the broken,

spoke to the denied;

touched untouchables,

and for all He died.

Death could not hold Him,

the third day He rose;

gave us His Spirit,

so love might be shown.

In all that He did,

and all that He was;

He showed us the way,

to do as He’d done.

May we choose go forth,

do all things in love;

so His heart’s made known,

our Savior above.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You came and lived out love so well, that no one could deny the power of God in You and You in Him. Thank You that You showed us the way to live and love like You. Forgive us for every time that we fall short, for we are broken and in need of Your leading every moment of every day. Teach us to trust and follow after You more completely. Show us how to love as You loved. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us in Your love, for loving like You testifies the truth of who You are in all things. Amen.

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

We love because He first loved us. – 1 John 4:19

Love in All Things

Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, HCSB)

Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. – (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, ERV)

Love doesn’t celebrate injustice; but truth – yes, truth – is love’s delight! Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what. – (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, VOICE)

God is love. If He is love, then God and all who trust and follow Him will rejoice in the truth and will always trust, hope, and endure. There is no joy when there is unrighteousness, wrongs or injustice. That being said, love never gives up on people. The same God who forgave the criminal on the cross during his final hours of life when he asked to be remembered, never gives up on us. Both the sinner and the saint are equally loved by God. It is our charge to seek Him to lead us in His love so that we too, may delight in the truth and love in all things. May we ever trust in the One who is love to lead us to love like He does.

Real love is from God,

it’s righteous and true;

it hopes in all things,

ever makes us new.

For love does delight,

when we walk in truth;

as trust is in Him,

we’re shown what to do.

But there is no joy,

in unrighteousness;

He calls us to live,

in His faithfulness.

God’s love is righteous,

full of hope, it’s true;

His call, to seek Him,

so we are made new.

Lead us, Lord Jesus,

to love as You do;

to never give up,

faithful trust in You.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You have shown us what it is to love in all things. Thank You Jesus, that even unto death on the cross, You chose to love those who persecuted You. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected to love through our words, thoughts or actions. Show us how to love in all things and to never give up on choosing to love. Lead us in Your overwhelming, never-ending, love, so that those around us might gain glimpses of who You are and how You love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to love in all things as You designed us to love. Amen.

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

Yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from Him, and we exist for Him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through Him, and we exist through Him. – 1 Corinthians 8:6

Light the Way

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. – (Psalm 119:105, NIV)

Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take. – (Psalm 119:105, ERV)

Your word is a lamp for my steps; it lights the path before me. – (Psalm 119:105, VOICE)

The more time I spend in the word, the more I am aware that every step I take must be done in love. If my words, thoughts and deeds do not reflect love, then they are not following the guidance that I am being given. This is a lifelong learning process, for our arrival does not come until we enter into eternity with God. Personally, I am well aware of the spaces I am lacking light, for my frustration with students is my continual reminder of my ongoing need for Jesus and HIs wisdom and love. We all fall short, yet we all have access to the Savior who will pick us up, dust us off, and set our feet back upon the path that He has placed before us. His light does not grow dim. When we are less aware of what we ought to do, it is because we have strayed from the path or are looking elsewhere for answers. May we ever seek the Lord and His loving light, for He will guide us in His goodness and flood us with His grace so that we may follow the path which He has set before us.

O Lord, You are good,

as are all Your ways;

You lead and guide us,

as we seek Your face.

You make the path plain,

where we are to go;

and grant what we need,

to learn and to grow.

Help us, Lord Jesus,

to ever seek You;

for You are the Way,

the Light and the Truth.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You have given us Your word to guide us. Thank You that by Your Spirit, it is alive and active. Thank You that You continually show us what we are to do and where we are to go. Forgive us for the times that we have gone off-course. Teach us to keep our eyes fixed on You. Help us to seek You and You will in all things and at all times. Lead us to love one another as You do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to be the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path. Amen.

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

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. – Proverbs 3:3

God is… (Day 10 – My Blessed Redeemer)

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. – (Psalm 19:14, NIV)

May my words and thoughts please You. Lord, You are my Rock – the One who rescues me. – (Psalm 19:14, ERV)

May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart meet with Your gracious approval, O Eternal, my Rock, O Eternal, my Redeemer. – (Psalm 19:14, VOICE)

According to dictionary.com, to redeem is to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner. God is our Redeemer, for He made the way for us to be delivered from our sin and death through the only sacrifice that could atone for all who believe – Jesus. Jesus lived a life without sin and was seen as blameless. His cleanliness covers our filth, and His wholeness restores our brokenness. He willingly laid down His life for ours, and giving praise and blessings to Him throughout all of our days does not even begin to acknowledge the enormity of what Jesus did for us all. The exchange of His life for ours has made the way for us to not only know Him, but to spend eternity in His presence. David’s response to God in Psalm 19 is what ours ought to be as well. Not only does David praise God for who He is as our Redeemer, but he seeks the Lord to guide and guard his words and thoughts so that they would be pleasing unto Him. It is not about pleasing the people around us, but rather it is about being right before God. We all fall short with this daily and would be sunk without our Blessed Redeemer. May we ever seek the Lord to guide our words, thoughts and actions, and give Him praise for paying the price that our misdeeds deserve.

Blessed Redeemer,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irPaWr2Em5k

the One whom we praise;

only Sacrifice,

that could make the way.

The way to freedom,

from all of our sin;

forgiven, removed,

when we let Him in.

His life for our own,

the price has been paid;

our eternal hope,

the way has been made.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Blessed Redeemer, for You bore the weight of our sin and shame and cleansed us from all unrighteousness. Thank You that You continue to lead, guide and direct our steps as we seek You. Forgive us for every word, thought and deed that was not pleasing to You. Teach us to trust and follow after You in all things and at all times. Show us how to love those around us well so that they might know and understand Your goodness and grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, our Blessed Redeemer, as we seek You to lead us and give You praise for who You are and all that You do. Amen.

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

They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. – Psalm 78:35

God is… (Day 3 – My Ransom)

In continuing with the unpacking of who God is to me, today my focus is on God as my Ransom. Though I fall short and succumb to sin again and again, Jesus is my Ransom, the One who bore the weight of all of my sin and shame and made the way for me to be whole, accepted, and loved by God as He views me through the lens of His one and only Son, who was without sin.

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. – (Matthew 20:28, NIV)

Do as I did: The Son of Man did not come for people to serve Him. He came to serve others and to give His life to save many people. – (Matthew 20:28, ERV)

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as the ransom for many. – (Matthew 20:28, VOICE)

As a point of curiosity, I looked up the formal definition of ransom. According to dictionary.com, a ransom is a payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner. That is an excellent description of what Jesus has done and will do for all who place their trust in Him. We all are prisoners to our own sin and shame until Jesus enters in. On the cross, He bore it all so that we could be set free from the weight of our own thoughts, words and actions that are deserving of destruction. He made the way where there was no way, and He welcomes us into His presence, provision, protection, and perfect love when we choose to place our life in His hands. His sacrifice, though He had never sinned, covered over every wrong that I have ever and will ever do. It is beyond comprehension, yet I am forever grateful that Jesus freely chose to be my Ransom so that I might know life in Him. May we ever thank and praise the Lord for His overwhelming love, for it was His love that held Him to that cross so that we could each be set free.

Jesus, my Ransom,

the One who redeemed;

set free from my sin,

that’s what freedom means.

Not stuck by the weight,

of all of my wrongs;

covered by His grace,

throughout my life long.

In Him, I am free,

to live and to love;

embraced by His arms,

all hope from above.

The price has been paid,

His life for my own;

the way has been made,

my heart is His home.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are my Ransom. Thank You, Jesus, that You gave Your life for mine. Thank You that in You, I am forgiven and free and equipped to love. Forgive me for every word, thought and deed that has not aligned with Yours. Teach me to listen to Your leading and trust in You in all things, so that I might become more like You. Show me how to love as You love, so that those around me may come into a deeper understanding of who You are and how You love us so much that You ransomed Your life for ours. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise and thank You again and again for being our Ransom so that we know freedom, life, and love in You. Amen.

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

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. – Hebrews 9:15

Be a Pleasing Aroma

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. – (2 Corinthians 2:15, NIV)

Our offering to God is to be the perfume of Christ that goes out to those who are being saved and to those who are being lost. – (2 Corinthians 2:15, ERV)

In a turbulent world where people are either dying or being rescued, we are the sweet smell of the Anointed to God our Father. – (2 Corinthians 2:15, VOICE)

Our strongest memories are typically those that are multisensory. When I smell the scents of a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal being prepared, I am taken back to childhood and my grandparents home. The house was full of family, and Grandma, Mom, and my aunts were all busily preparing and organizing dishes. Often, my cousins and I would get to join in to help, as we donned one of Gram’s aprons, and love and laughter filled the air. For those of us who know, love, and follow Christ, we have the opportunity to become a sweet scent to God as we love and care for those around us well. In the same way that the scents in creation remind us of who God is and how He loves, we can demonstrate our love of God through the way that we love those around us. May we be as fragrant as spring flowers in bloom, the salty air by the sea, and the fresh pine in the forest to God as we love and honor Him by loving those around us well.

The sweetest of scents,

remind us of things;

imprints on the heart,

that of His love sing.

Tangible His love,

experienced by grace;

His heart He pours out,

throughout all our days.

May we do the same,

as we seek to love;

by grace let us give,

like the Lord above.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You created us with multiple senses to experience the fullness of Your love. Thank You that as we love as You love us, we are a sweet aroma unto You. Forgive us for the times that our attitudes, words or actions have stunk. Teach us to trust You more, so that we may be a clear reflection of Your loving kindness and grace. Show us how to love others so that what we say and do is a pleasing aroma unto You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us in Your love so that we may be a pleasing aroma unto You. Amen.

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

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. – Psalm 19:14

Speak Life

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. – (Psalm 141:3, NIV)

Lord, help me control what I say. Don’t let me say anything bad. – (Psalm 141:3, ERV)

Guard my mouth, O Eternal One; control what I say. Keep a careful watch on every word I speak. – (Psalm 141:3, VOICE)

What we give voice to matters. Our words hold the power of life and death. Though what we say may not seem significant, words have power as they echo in the halls of hearts and minds. As a teacher, I am acutely aware of this, as students often say things that they have heard from others, and such words become a part of their own self-talk. The number of times that I have heard kids claim that they are stupid is heartbreaking. I often spend much of the year trying to help them recognize their own intelligence so that they can discover they are indeed capable of doing difficult things. Though I would never tell anyone that they were stupid, how I deal with frustration and discouragement matters. I need God to guard my mouth so that what I say brings life and hope and help. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in what we allow to leave our lips, and fill our hearts with His words of hope, help, life, and love.

O God, guard my mouth,

help me to speak life;

silence anything,

that might lead to strife.

Flood my heart with love,

for all whom I meet;

let kindness pour out,

overcome defeat.

May my heart and mind,

Filter what I say;

let Your words of life,

be all that escape.

Show me, Lord Jesus,

others through Your eyes;

so all that I say,

is love realized.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You instruct us to watch what we say. Thank You that words from You bring life, and hope, and love. Forgive us for every word spoken that does not reflect Your goodness and love. Teach us to self-edit so that we encourage and build up through what we give voice. Show us how to speak words of life to all whom we encounter. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to guard our lips so that we silence words that do not give hope, and flood our hearts and minds with words that encourage and give life. Amen.

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

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. – Psalm 19:14

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

Clean

Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them. – (Mark 7:15, NIV)

There is nothing people can put in their mouth that will make them wrong. People are made wrong by what comes from inside them. – (Mark 7:15, ERV)

There is nothing outside someone that can corrupt him. Only the things that come out of a person can corrupt him. – (Mark 7:15, VOICE)

We are not made unclean or unholy by what we eat or drink, but rather by the actions that are motivated by our heart. Our words, attitudes, and actions determine whether we are following God’s own heart or not. If love is not the motivation behind what we say and do, then we are defiling ourselves and being sinful. In this, we all fall short. However, with God, we can seek Him to lead and guide us according to His good and perfect will. As we do, we begin to more closely resemble our Heavenly Father with our words, thoughts and deeds. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us so that what comes out of us gives honor to God.

It’s not what we eat,

Or choose to consume;

But rather, the heart,

Where sin tries to loom.

The source of our sin,

Comes straight from the heart;

Willful wrongdoing,

The defiling part.

As we seek the Lord,

He shows us the way;

To love as He loves,

Throughout each new day.

It is up to us,

To listen and learn;

For God’s ever near,

But we must choose turn.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we do not live under stringent regulations about what we can and cannot eat, or how we do everyday tasks in a space of fearing being made unclean. Thank You that our cleanliness before You has everything to do with the condition of our heart. Forgive us for the things we say, think, and do that do not bring honor to You. Teach us to keep short accounts before You, and to ever seek You to lead us in all that we do. Show us Your way to love those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to wash us in Your word and immerse us in Your overwhelming love so that we might go forth and love likewise. Amen.

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

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10

The Way of Love

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” – (John 13:34-35, NIV)

“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. All people will know that you are My followers if you love each other.” – (John 13:34-35, ERV)

“Let Me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are My disciples – when they see the love that you have for each other.” – (John 13:34-35, MSG)

Truer words have never been spoken. It is only by loving one another well, that anyone will see a difference in our lives. If we act and react the same way as everyone else, there is nothing different about those who are in a life-changing relationship with Christ. However, if we love and care for each other, and extend love, even when it is not “deserved”, there is a noticeable difference, and it demonstrates the goodness of God to those around us. Not only are we commanded to love one another, but we are given the clear “why” as to the impact it has when we do. Today, though a “Hallmark” sort of holiday, it is another opportunity to choose to love well, all whom we encounter. Imagine the impact if followers of Christ truly followed Christ in such a way that all whom we see, speak, and interact with would know by our love. May we seek the Lord to lead us in His love and allow His love to transform our hearts and minds so that we too, love well.

The love of the Lord,

Power to change things;

It transforms the heart,

And the hope we bring.

For when we know God,

And receive His love;

We are empowered,

To do as He does.

For God, He so loved,

That He freely gave;

Without conditions,

The way He did make.

Help us to love well,

So all people know;

The goodness of God,

Through the love we show.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You love us in such a way that we are empowered and equipped to love like You. Thank You for the examples You have given us through Your Son and through the people around us who choose to love like You. Forgive us for the times that our words, thoughts and deeds have not been done in love. Teach us to seek You to lead us in all that we say and do. Show us how to love everyone as You do. Give us Your eyes to see and Your heart to understand so that we may love well. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, for Your love knows no end. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to love everyone as You do, today and always. Amen.

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

May Your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You. – Psalm 33:22