Laying in a hospital bed battling cancer, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, blood transfusion as well as a host of other things- my Grandfather greets his pastor with “Isnt God Good?” It takes my breath away. I look at him and smile. He has always been an example. He is practicing Eucharisteo and probably doesn’t even know it.
An hour later, his weak heart can not keep up with the amount of blood that is being poured into his frail body and blood clots affected his lungs- just like that- he is on life support and intubated.
And through this- the truth remains that God is still good. God is good when jobs are lost. God is good when houses don’t sale. God is good where there is pain. God is good when babies die. GOD IS GOOD.
I trust in this truth… A good God plans everything! Isaiah 14:24 (NASB)- “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned it so it will stand.” A good God can only give good gifts that accomplish his ultimate glory. These gifts He gives are examples of His grace. I can be so ungrateful for “my” gifts… my pieces of grace that I find myself asking him for more and more. In reality, even one gift/ grace is more than I deserve.
While I am still counting to 1000 gifts, I am reminded of a section in the book, “One Thousand Gifts”, where the author talks about grace.
“Suffering nourishes grace, and pain and joy are arteries in the same heart…
What in the world , in all the world is grace?
I can say it certain now: All is grace.”
So if all is grace, then everything is eucharisteo (or everything should prompt thanksgiving). Page 99 of “One Thousand Gifts” talks about the ugly-beautiful . This is what giving thanks does… it takes the ugly and transforms into beauty. “The dark can give birth to life; suffering can deliver grace.“ But how do I give thanks when it is hard? How to I give thanks when it is ugly?
The author gives Jesus as an example of how to practice eucharisteo (thanksgiving). At the Last Supper Jesus knew His time to die on the cross was near. Did He freak out? No… Luke 22:19a “He took the bread, and gave thanks.” He took the pain and He gave thanks.
I have to train myself to look at the hard, to look at the ugly and to give thanks. Because All is grace. It is more than when God blesses me is grace. It is more than when I get more money is grace. It is more than when I barely miss having a car accident is grace. But when the times are hard is grace. When the checking account is bare is grace. When I run a red light and have a car accident is grace. All is grace. Therefore, everything is a time for thanksgiving. Because recognizing His grace, giving Him thanks, brings us joy.
405- Ocean breeze
406- Sand in my toes
407- Boulders preventing erosion
408- Power of the waves crashing on me
409- Little boys running away from little waves
410- Walking right onto the beach from the house
411- A good book
412- Serious card games with m&ms
413- Visiting with great friends
414- Cousins together
415- Comfortable beds when away from home
416- Walk on the beach when all is quiet
417- Sounds of the ocean
418- Lightening flashes over the water
419- Dolphins through the ocean
420- Making good time home
421- Lots of rain while we were gone
422- Wave petunias running over
423- Willingness of parents to watch my kids
424- Safety while white water rafting
425- A good guide
426- Speed of the channel and getting to swim it
427- Exhilation of hitting a good sized rapid
428- Beauty of God and his creation
429- Life Jackets
430- More specifically- Chad's life jacket
431- A good game of volleyball
432- Cookies n Creme milkshake
433- 8 years
434- $20
435- so many blueberries
436-Ashton's willingness to work
437-Shepherd shoveling blueberries into his mouth
438- Vegetables coming in full force
439- Toddler wearing shoes as glass breaks
440- GrandmaDean's smile
441- A 50 year old picture of my grandparents that brings tears
442- Good spirited GrandpaGordie
443- Joy in a brush
444- A hug good bye
445- A good nurse tech
446- IV's that do their job
447- The heart
448- Late nights and early mornings
449- A good God
Ah, Hannah....if only we could truly rest in the truth that all is grace. If believers can't trust in the tough times that our God is faithful, true, and supplies our every need, we need to pack it up and go home. Thanks, sweetie, for reminding us the simple truths. Much love....Oh and for those who follow - Grandpa Gordie is off the ventilator but has issues that will keep reminding us to praise Him in the storm.
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