Theater of Grace

It (the church) is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts. ~ AA 12

Christians a living spectacle...a walking stage to the world. 

What is the drama that is unfolding? 

Our Father’s unfathomable, matchless grace...

grace that transforms shattered fragments into stunning mosaics

...and delights in it...

But why would He place such a trust into the hands of such unworthy vessels? 

Because my friends, He loves to shine through broken pieces...  

Will you let Him showcase His grace through you? 

The church is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to make experiments of mercy on human hearts. ~ OHC 172

One Person at a Time

My precious child...

Yes my Father?

I have a new assignment for you...

Really? What is it? 

I want you to change the world...

What? Me? No! I think you forgot who you are talking to...or maybe I just misunderstood. 

No, don’t worry...you heard correctly and yes, I know who I’m talking to. I’m serious. I know it seems completely impossible to your little finite mind, but are you willing to trust me? 

I don’t know...I think you’ve overestimated me this time, Lord. Ah...well...I just don’t think I’m the one for the job...

But my dearest child...I don’t call the equipped, I equip the called. Just trust me and let me work through you. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And so I struggled. My heart rebelling at the calling my Father was giving me. But finally He got through to me. He needed ME. He was pleading for ME. How could I resist Him? So with a fearing heart and trembling lips I gave in. 

Lord, I’m willing, but I’m overwhelmed. Where do I even begin?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And then He sent me just what I needed...through the paragraph a friend sent

"People who really want to make a difference in the world usually do it, in one way or another. 

And I've noticed something about people who make a difference in the world:

They hold the unshakable conviction that individuals are extremely important, that every life matters. 

They get excited over one smile. 

They are willing to feed one stomach, educate one mind, and treat one wound. 

They aren't determined to revolutionize the world all at once; they're satisfied with small changes. 

Over time, though, the small changes add up.

Sometimes they even transform cities and nations, and yes, the world..."

He spoke through another friend’s post. 

And I got it...

Changing the world is about individuals. About smiles. About a silent influence. About reaching out to those I meet everyday. About one.

And so I’m determined...I’m off to change the world, one person at a time. Not through my own strength, but by living a life of complete abandonment to Him. I know it won’t always be easy...He hasn’t promised that, but He has promised to be there. And my Father never breaks His promises. 


So my friend...will you join me? He is calling for you just as He is calling for me. You may have fears and doubts like I did, but don't let them stop you. He has all the power in heaven to impart on your behalf. Just surrender yourself completely to Him, let Him fill you and then you will become a lantern through which His light pours forth. The lantern doesn't have to worry about shining...the candle does that. The lantern just has to make sure it is emptied of everything but the candle. Our Father is looking for a whole army of lanterns...


Those who are willing to change the world...one person at a time.

This Is Not My Home

I don't know about you, but everyday finds me with a deeper longing for home...Today the desire was kindled afresh. I'm determined to hold on till the end no matter the cost...anything we have to go through in this life, any trial or suffering endured will be found worth it in the end. While sitting under the tree of life we shall try and recount up our greatest trials, but they will seem so small in light of the eternal glory that surrounds us that we will not be able to speak them out...the only words on our tongue will be, "Hallelujah! Heaven is cheap enough!"

Let's hold on friends...it will be more than worth it!

I woke up this morning, the sun was shining,

the birds were singing, their carols raising,

I felt a thrill fill my soul for the joy of being alive,

But as I looked out my window I saw tears in people’s eyes...

And I was reminded that this world is not my home,

I’m just passing through...

Chorus:

I don’t belong here, I’m but a stranger and a pilgrim in this land

I’m treading down the straight and narrow path

My eyes fixed upward, upon the prize

Oh, Lord Jesus led me home.

Every day I hear of more tragedies and deaths,

Famines, wars, earthquakes, sorrows and thief,

How much longer can this poor earth go on?

Oh, Precious Jesus come and take us home!

I can’t help but praise you that this world is not my home!

That I’m just passing through...

Chorus

Bridge:

Sometimes this old world can look attractive,

Sometimes I can forget where I’m bound,

Oh, Jesus keep me pressing forward, help me never forget...

That this world is not my home!

Chorus

Oh, Lord there is so much hurt in this worn earth,

How can I show others that there is a better place,

A land where sorrows, famines, tears and dying aren’t found,

And best of all, where we can see our Savior's face. 

Oh, help me tell them that this world is not our home.

That we’re just passing through...

We don’t belong here, We’re but strangers and pilgrims in this land,

We’re treading down the straight and narrow path,

Our eyes fixed upward, upon the prize

Oh, Lord Jesus led us home,

Oh, Lord Jesus...please...lead me home...

Abigail Eagan 2011

Reflecting Him

The less we see to esteem in ourselves, the more we shall see to esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour. A view of our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon; and when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, He will reveal Himself in power. 

The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to the word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of His character, and the more fully we shall reflect His image. ~ SC 65

Lessons from a Lawn Mower

It wasn’t some new revelation. I’ve heard others repeat it...but this time it hit home in a new and deeper way then ever before. I love object lessons and while sitting on the lawn tractor the Lord revealed some very important ones I tend to easily forget. 

You’ve all heard it, “You can’t go in a straight line unless you keep your eyes fixed on something ahead.” I found this true over and over again yesterday, but as I sat there I began thinking...I’ve found this true over and over again in my life. I must keep my eyes fixed upward on heavenly realities...on Jesus, or my path will slowly wander away from the one He has planned for me. Remember the slough of despond? It was when they took there eyes off of the light that they fell. If they continued to keep their gaze upward and forward they passed through safely. 

But once the line is straight can't you just follow it instead of looking ahead? No...if you are very careful you may be able to stay straight for a pass or two, but very quickly curves appear and if you keep following them there will eventually become so many that you will doubt that you ever had a straight line in the first place. The only way to restore the straight line is to look again to a mark ahead. Even so, it may take a few swipes to restore it completely to the line it was in the beginning. Is it not the same in the Christian’s life? When we begin to look at ourselves or at the lives of others as our pattern, we will always begin to turn from the straight way. For Jesus is the only true pattern to follow. But when we turn our eyes again toward heaven he gently leads us back again to the path. But even so, we must remember that we will never be where we could have had we kept our eyes upon our Savior. Delays and detours our not in the Shepherd's plan. 

So my fellow pilgrims, let us faithfully traverse this path ahead of us. Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who is just before us leading us to the city, and then...we will be safe!

The Honor of God

The sparkling sun was shining brightly in mid-heaven as a ruddy young man stepped out from among a multitude of trembling onlookers. Resolutely making his way down to the small brook nearby he stooped down and expertly choosing 5 smooth stones slipped them into the leather bag at his waist. 

Looking up his eyes fall upon his opponent. A giant of a man, girded about with heavy armor and a mighty spear in his hand. No wonder all the host of Israel has quaked at the sight of this Goliath. His eyes turn upon himself...he is unarmed except for a limp leather sling and unprotected by armor. To the human eye it doesn’t look like much of a match, but to David he knows it’s much more then a match. He is not just some stripling young man out to make a show and earn himself honor. No, he is a soldier in the service of the God of heaven and the honor of his God is at stake. 


Confidently striding forward, and with a ring of fearlessness in his tone he declared to his antagonist: "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands." 

The clear, musical words were still hanging in the air as with a look of triumph and rejoicing upon his fair countenance he pulled a stone from his bag and slipped it quickly into his sling. “The anger of Goliath was roused to the very highest heat. In his rage he pushed up the helmet that protected his forehead and rushed forward to wreak vengeance upon his opponent. The son of Jesse was prepared for his foe.” Fearlessly he slang the stone and it hit it’s target...the forehead of the Philistine. 

“Amazement spread along the lines of the two armies. They had been confident that David would be slain; but when the stone went whizzing through the air, straight to the mark, they saw the mighty warrior tremble, and reach forth his hands, as if he were struck with sudden blindness. The giant reeled, and staggered, and like a smitten oak, fell to the ground.”

The giant was dead...killed by a young boy who was willing to take God at His word. 




Are there giants in our day who are defying the Armies of the Living God? Me thinks so... But where are the Davids of our generation? Where are the ones who will take the Lord at his word? Where are the young people who will stand for the right and risk their lives for the honor of the Living God?

It is Davids, who will finish the work... “The Lord has appointed the youth to be His helping hand.” 

The honor of our God is at stake my friends...let’s not take it lightly.

Look Up!

So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell upon self, but look to Christ. Let the mind dwell upon His love, upon the beauty, the perfection, of His character. Christ in His self-denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ in His purity and holiness, Christ in His matchless love--this is the subject for the soul's contemplation. It is by loving Him, copying Him, depending wholly upon Him, that you are to be transformed into His likeness. ~ EGW