Category Archives: Grace

Simple Bubbles

Christianity, Grace, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, teachers, Uncategorized, , , , ,

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Simple Bubbles

I think I am into “simplification” right now.  I just believe with all my heart that is a message for us.  And what could be simpler than “bubbles?”

As a preschool teacher the word “bubbles” conjures up images of that soapy, messy stuff.  As a grade school teacher up it brings to mind…….standardized testing!!!!! ICK!  Those bubbles of the little kind that a student must fill in and darken with a number 2 pencil so that the computer can grade it.  It must not stray outside the bubble, and no extra erasures on the answer sheet!  I won’t even start on standardized testing…that another blog!!

As a special education teacher, I had to read the tests to my students (except the reading test, which even though not on their reading level, they had to “read” it alone..uh-hum)  For some, darkening the bubble into a certain pattern on the page proved to be the exciting part of the test.  Others simply were discouraged by having to be so “perfect”.

As I walked around the room reading, I had to encourage many of them to “fix” the bubbling.  One had the darkened image outside in the margin, one simply missed them completely.  Finally Marley decided he had to say something.  “Mrs. B. Why do these bubbles have to be so perfect?  You always tell us that we don’t have to be perfect in here.”  Whoa.  He was right.  Efforts are all that are required.

What if our Christian walk was like that?  What if we had to fill the bubble perfectly each and every time we did something?  Unfortunately, I believe some Christians believe that, thus they give up.  Then try to fill out the bubbles on their own.  That is simply not possible.  We cannot achieve perfection in and of ourselves.  Only Jesus did that.  He just expects us to surrender.  He wants to live His life through us.

Marley finally gave up.  “Mrs. B., I cannot do this right…it just won’t stay in the circle.  Will you shade inside the bubble for me? You can just do that work through me!” I was very thankful for his IEP accommodations at that point!

Then it hit me…. well said little one, well said.

Ephesians 2:4-9 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*

 

Simple TRUTH

Christianity, Grace, homeschooling, Love one another, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

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Simple TRUTH

Wow, do we ever complicate the truth about grace. I just finished reading ALL IS GRACE: A RAGAMUFFIN MEMOIR by Brennan Manning. It was the last book he wrote before he passed away. I think I have mentioned him once in my blogs. That is because the truth of the gospel hits me between the eyes when I read his books….A RAGAMUFFIN GOSPEL, RUTHLESS TRUST, ABBA’S CHILD, THE RELENTLESS TENDERNESS OF JESUS and many more.

We as parents are so concerned in raising our children in the way of the Lord.  We take them to church every time the doors open, talk Bible and scripture, and sometimes unknowingly have an expectation of perfection.  When we should have been teaching constantly about the unconditional love of Jesus and truth of grace, we were teaching rules and regulations. And I am pointing the finger at me as a parent.

Oh, our hearts were in the right place…and later on I myself got the grace message and taught it, but oh, how I wish I had it down deep in my heart before that!  I would teach, show and exemplify the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.  I would extend grace to others as He extended to me. 

While under legalism, the rules and regulations have a way of catching up with you!  We cannot maintain the law!  It is impossible.  Then the cycle begins….obey, fail, guilt, start again….try and obey, fail, guilt, start again….and on.  Many times we believe God could never love us after that “sin”, so we just give up.  We fail.  We do not deserve the love of God!

But the truth of  grace is simple.  Not that what Christ did was simple…He sacrificed more than we will ever understand.  But His extension of grace to us is about Him, not our ability to get to HIM by all the “good” or “right” things we do! Grace is “something we don’t deserve, unmerited favor.”

Brennan Manning says:  “God loves you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because nobody is as they should be.”

His grace is contingent upon me being as good as I can be. Truth.

THAT, my friends, in my humble opinion is what we should be teaching our children.  Theology is great, scripture memorization is awesome, even those called to apologetics is something to behold…but if I have not an understanding of unconditional love and the truth of grace, what do I have?  

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

True Grace—

Be Blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV*

Want to be a Princess?

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I wonder if every little girl wants to be a princess at some point in her life?

 

I know I did.  I did not want to be an ordinary princess though.  I wanted to be a “tough as nails princess”  The kind that rode horses, participated in sword fights, and really didn’t need a prince to save her from anything.  I wanted to be the type of princess that was beautiful, yet didn’t really care if all her gowns sparkled.  I wanted to be that type of princess that people liked because she was kind and helpful, not just because she was a princess.

I think my vision of “princess-hood” came from my experiences as a child.  My parents divorced when I was young and I was the oldest, thus the “caretaker” of my brother and sister (or so I thought).  I had a tendency to protect and hover over those I loved….and no one, I mean no one could mess with me.  Not that I was mean….I just didn’t take any junk from anyone!

As I grew up I realized that I wasn’t a princess at all.  I feel like I fought for a lot in my life.  I am not complaining, it made me who I am today…but princess, naw….no need.  I was my own woman.  I did not need anyone, or so I thought.

Once I got married, I didn’t really act like I needed my husband either.  I did not have a good relationship with my dad, thus the tough exterior.  Well, that did not work so well.  I did not know who I was….nor how much God really loved me. Then I found out I was treasured…I was a princess.

James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Isaiah 62:3 “You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”

I needed to know that then, and I need to know that now.  I love God with all my heart, and He loves me. And I am still a princess!

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

 

*google image, NIV Bible*