#sustaining grace

New Post has been published on https://www.crownofcompassion.org/2019/08/09/affirming-gods-control-sustaining-grace/

Affirming God's control, sustaining grace

“When Jesus raised the bread and fish up to heaven and said a blessing over them, he was affirming God’s control over the situation.  He was emphasizing that God’s sustaining grace provides for all his creatures, day in and day out.”- Tina Boesch

“Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who in His goodness, grace, loving kindness, and mercy nourishes the whole world.  He gives food to all flesh, for His loving kindness is everlasting.”- Opening of the Birkat Hazan

In Chapter 7 (“Blessing Around the Table – Shared Abundance”) of Given, Tian Boesch talks about the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.  Apart from the Resurrection, its the only miracle recorded by all four Gospel writers.  Furthermore, Matthew, Mark  and Luke all recorded that Jesus looked up to heaven and said a blessing over the bread and fish.

Yet, none of the Gospel writers recorded Jesus’ words of blessing.  Perhaps, Tina suggests, that’s because they knew the blessing by heart – the Birkat Hazan.  The words of this blessing probably began to take shape during the time of Ezra.  However, the form of the prayer, Tina notes, crystallized during the Talmudic period.  A time when the Jewish people wrote down their oral teaching and traditions.

Also, this tradition of blessing God for provision goes all the way back to giving the law on Mt. Sinai.  There, Moses delivered this clear directive: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.”- Deuteronomy 8:10, NASB

Therefore, the blessing focuses on God, who provided the food, rather than the meal itself.  Because when we bless God, we acknowledge that He alone is the source of the blessing.  And, day in and day out, God’s sustaining grace provides for every one of His creatures.

Today’s question: What Scriptures aid you in affirming God’s control and sustaining grace?  Please share.

New Post has been published on http://www.crownofcompassion.org/2015/07/20/mamas-heart/

Mama's heart

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”- Psalm 55:22

“If I be his child, then I have a portion in his heart here, and I shall have a portion in his house above.”- Charles Spurgeon

Mark Lucas and I started our lifelong friendship during our freshman year at Concordia- River Forest.  I soon learned that meant assimilation into his immediate family- Mama (Annabelle), Papa (Clarence), sister Hope, and toy poodle Creamy (Cream Puff).  Always the gracious listener, Mama’s unwavering support and encouragement for her biological and “adopted” sons’ calling to the teaching ministry blessed us beyond measure.  Henry Ward Beecher once said, “The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom.  Jesus was fully present in Mama’s heart, steadily manifested through the sustaining grace that filled her soul.  Even though she went to be with the Lord in 2002, Mama’s heart is a daily reminder of God’s healing and abundance.

Mark Batterson (The Grave Robber) writes that whatever situation we find ourselves in, God has us right where He wants us to be.  Taking offense at the injustice of our ministry downsizing or vocation loss and the resultant material/spiritual devastation ultimately is counterproductive.  Mary DeMuth points out that “we are not built to carry offense.  God designed us for joyful freedom.”

This joyful freedom only is possible through God’s sustaining grace.  At those times when life is hard and everything is falling apart, God heals our souls and steadies our hearts.  Max Lucado beautifully defines sustaining grace:

“Sustaining grace meets us at our point of need and equips us with courage, wisdom, and strength. . . . Sustaining grace promises not the absence of struggle but the presence of God.”

God is writing our story.  He knows not only how it works out, but also where everything leads and what it all means.  As we enter fully into God’s presence, His sustaining grace enables our hearts to be open and complete.  Mary DeMuth (The Wall Around Your Heart) offers these words of encouragement:

“. . . cultivate open hearts to Jesus and the people He populates our lives with.  To be open is to be anticipatory.  It’s to have levav-shalem, a Hebrew term that means ‘complete heart.’  In order to have complete hearts, we must begin from a place of healing and abundance.”

Thank you Lord, for Mama’s heart.