Month: September 2019

Thank You, Jesus

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

“Thank you, Jesus”, says my aunt every time something good happens; a nice jacket goes on sale, a close parking spot becomes available, her bill was lower than she thought it would be. It can be easy to raise eyebrows because she isn’t shy about saying Thank You out loud, but I think she may be on to something. How often do I not give credit to God for something that goes on sale or for a close parking spot? Everything good that happens in life surely cannot be all coincidence, right? The more hectic my life is becoming, the more I am mindful of the handfuls of grace that come along and the more I say, “Thank you, Jesus”- out loud!

Here are a few stray gifts from September that I am thankful for:

  • My husband and I were out to eat one day and I noticed a young man reaching down to pick up a set of keys off the floor. A woman had just dropped her keys and hadn’t noticed. It was great to see some kindness spread.
  • Flowers from my dad!
  • Green lights all the way down Montana Avenue. I am not quite sure how that happened, but if you knew just how long that road is, you would be amazed too. I wasn’t in a hurry, but it was nice.
  • My husband had his right hip replaced in July. He has been able to help with dishes again after dinner in the last few weeks.
  • Speaking of hip replacement surgery, we thought he would have to wait until next year to have his left one done. The surgeon told him a few weeks ago that he felt John was strong enough to have the left one done soon. The date is set for October 21 and paperwork is going through much quicker this time between the VA and the surgeon’s office.
  • A tiny black and yellow bee in the yard. All I have seen are the big black carpenter bees, so the little one was nice to see since I am working to attract bees, butterflies, and birds through various plants.
  • A friend sent me a text with her very own stray gift through an unexpected healthcare rebate that will significantly help her financial needs. I love that she shared this with me and that she used the specific words, “stray gift”.
  • Other friends send me stray gift photos of their flowers, of sewing projects which turn out well, and of their surrounding scenery in a day which cause them to stop and say, “Thank you, Jesus”.

Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.

William Wordsworth, 1806

Grace Goals for September

Published on by Rebecca GilbreathLeave a comment

I am not interested in having an orchestra sound like itself. I want it to sound like the composer.

Leonard Bernstein, Composer from 1940-1990

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

Paul opens up the letter of Philippians by writing, “Grace be unto you, and peace; from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy…”(vs 2-4). I can’t imagine how I would feel if I opened up a letter that began with words like those.  And to know that in every prayer of the letter’s sender, my name would be mentioned with joy. Paul goes on to say that he is confident of this: that God who began a good work will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. He is convinced that God is producing something good and that His purpose is underway for His people to go in a specific direction.  Paul shares that the things which have happened to him in life have really just furthered the gospel and that because of this, more Christians are bold to speak about Christ and are not afraid.

So what does all that have to do with me and Grace Goals? God not only set in motion His plan for the believers at Philippi but also for every believer.  “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”… He has put in motion a direction and will carry through until a future time when Christ comes again; a continual motion, an ongoing process.

I am not a finished product. And when I get frustrated with myself for not learning life’s lessons the first time, when I doubt God’s involvement in even the smallest of details, I need to be reminded that I am still learning and will always be growing and metamorphosing while on this earth. News flash: I have not arrived. ((sigh))–so much more growing to do. And I think, “What is God doing? What does He want me to do?” 

I believe He wants me to listen to the whole symphony. By themselves, each instrument used in my life to shape me into His image would not make much sense and may seem to have no meaning or significance in the grand scheme of things. The music of His composition can only be recognized as beautiful when I pay attention to the combination of life events- trials and blessings alike. God is orchestrating the composition of my life and whatever good work He is doing, His plan is for His glory to be magnified in my body-faults and scars included. He is not interested in my life’s symphony sounding like myself. He wants me to sound like Him- the Composer Himself.