Simply Gathering Grace - Page 4 of 5 -

OVERCOMING THE PAST OF ADDICTION’S AFTERMATH

October 1, 2015 By Mikki Jo Leave a Comment

I sit and stare at a blank screen, my cursor blinking at me. Nothing…. simply nothing. I go to the kitchen to fix another cup of coffee and just like the cursor on my computer screen, my eyes begin to blink at the kitchen sink. A stack of dirty dishes and I’m worried about writing.

My coffee maker gurgled and sputtered, I grabbed my cup of instant inspiration (I wish) and headed back to the keyboard. I could feel something churning in my spirit, but no words were forming.

I kept thinking about the dirty dishes, I hoped nobody wanted to eat soon. Dirty spoons and forks and plates and bowls, dirty everything. Maybe we’ll eat finger foods out of coffee mugs!

I spoke to God and asked Him to share with my heart His message for today. The peace of God soothed my boggled mind.

I was reminded of the times the Lord spoke peace into my life and calmed my storms.

There was once a time of guilt that ate away at my heart like a cancer. My loved one was struggling with addiction. I blamed myself for many years because he watched me struggle with my own addiction. I even told myself I deserved the pain of watching him suffer, and being unable to help. God was paying me back. I was a failure. All lies from the enemy.

I’m not a master at forgiving myself and the past will still surface sometimes. But because I accepted Jesus Christ and confessed my sins to Him, He forgave me of my failures, my addiction, my sin. He forgave me of my past. If I were to ask Him, “Jesus remember when I…” He would not remember, He would not remind me of it nor would He ever judge me for it. Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

If you have an addict in your life, encourage them and pray for them. If you are an addict call on Jesus to set you free and seek help in a safe place. If you were once an addict, don’t let the lies of satan hold you captive with guilt.

I know the guilt we can have, it’s a heavy burden to carry. I know the pain and fear of staying awake nights and not knowing where they are, not hearing from them for weeks on end. But when we release them to the Lord and claim His protection over them we can have peace of mind. Trust that He has a plan.

Guilt cannot thrive where God’s peace abides!

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your heart and minds through Christ Jesus.

Numbers 6:24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

P.S. Now, I’m going for another cup of coffee and I’m going to fill up that dishwasher with all those dirty dishes! God bless and keep you my friends!

GROWING IN A PLACE OF GRACE

September 30, 2015 By Mikki Jo 18 Comments

I stood by the side of the road, covered in dust. I hear gravel popping under the tires of a car in the distance, slowly coming my way. The car pulled up under the big oak tree, I see a young woman and she gets out of the car and begins taking pictures. I can hear her exclaiming, “How beautiful!” That was when I realized she was taking pictures of me. I stood up tall and straight.

She went on her way, and when she got home she sat down and wrote this story.

“Driving down an old country road I look over at the edge of the ditch line and see a cluster of wildflowers. I couldn’t help but stop and take a few pictures. The little things not knowing that they are in a lowly place, a ditch line of all places. They stand there, proudly displaying their bright lavender attire. Never to share the stage with a famous rosebush, or even a hanging basket of petunias. They don’t complain, they stand there boldly, among the crushed beer cans and faded paper cup. Their backdrop not that of a two story brick home like the rosebush has, but an old rusty fence. But still, they don’t whine, they just blossom right where they’re at. Sharing radiant beauty, in a dusty old ditch line. Lord, wherever you place me, help me to blossom. And help me to do so without complaint.”

You see, God wants us to stand up for Him and let His glory shine in a dark place. No place is too far for Him to reach. Every space can become a place of grace. He will send us to a place that needs Him. I’m a wildflower, I am only a glimpse of the glory of God on a dusty old country road under a tall oak. I stand in the ditch, where His grace was needed. Today God used me to speak to a young woman, to let her know it’s okay to blossom and grow where ever God places her. He has a purpose for you too, let the world see Jesus in you. His grace is needed wherever He sends you.

Yes, I am that young woman. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart that day I stopped on the side of the road. I pray I will always be willing to go where God sends me, and be ready to lead a heart to Jesus.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

WHEN YOU UNVEIL YOUR HAPPY PLACE

September 26, 2015 By Mikki Jo 6 Comments

A paper clip, an old set of truck keys, a battery, and one lone heart shaped earring. I toss them all into the drawer. You know the drawer, the one that holds everything but nothing. The drawer you go through with a slight degree of insanity every time something is missing in action. And then have to rearrange all the nothingness to get the drawer to even shut back, after you never found what you were looking for in the first place.

I could clean the drawer out and stack it neatly with some new company dish towels. The fancy ones you pull out when people come over. Because you don’t dare use the ones permanently adorned with coffee stains and spaghetti sauce!

Maybe I’ll find something of use in that drawer. I may find that other earring that’s been missing for almost a year, that battery may still have a bit of juice left, I may need to unlock the door on that old truck we sold seventeen years ago, or not.

So much stuff in that drawer and not one thing belongs there. What do I find when I open it?

Junk.

I wonder what God would find if He opened our hearts? Sometimes we hang on to things that cause us to sin. I use to be terrible about hanging on to past hurts and bringing them out in a “Ta-Da” kind of fashion to hold over the person’s head who injured me. I’d even keep my past failures hidden away and take a guilt trip or two. We can keep them hidden from everyone but God. He knows our heart. He sees our pain, sadness and bitterness. He wants to replace it with healing and perfect peace.

How do we allow God to fill those spaces where we need Him the most? We study the word of God and seek Him with our whole heart. Hide His word in our heart. God has His hands held out, He’s waiting for us to empty our heart of all the things that don’t belong there so He can fill it back up. Let’s give it all to Him, don’t hold back anything.

Fill me up with more of you Jesus, unclutter my heart.

Psalm 119:11 (NIV) I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

BE STILL MY CHILD

September 26, 2015 By Mikki Jo Leave a Comment

The inventions we’ve created in comparison are pale

To things that God has given us too numerous to tell

Please let me show you, if you will but listen

Turn off, turn down, and unplug your witty inventions

I unplugged the radio with the blaring tune

And listened to the songbirds sing something new

It was a song so sweet and they were all on key

It was a gentle soothing song that God wrote just for me

I turned off the t.v. with the violence and shame

And instead watched my children busily at play

They were very entertaining and it made my heart glad

To know God has blessed me with all that I have

I went out and sat under the shade of the trees

And delighted in the coolness of the feather soft breeze

I sat there so still and whispered a prayer

Simply thanking God for His breath of fresh air

I turned off my computer with my lovely blog

And the sight of God’s palette drew me out of my fog

I took time to smell the roses and savor heaven’s scent

The suns warmth upon my face felt like an old friend

Then I turned off my phone that rudely interrupts

And captures my attention entirely too much

Gently in my heart spoke that still small voice

I’d have never heard Him had I not turned off the noise

Be still today and know that I am He

The one who walked upon the sea of Galilee

I have come to bring rest for your weary soul

And tell you of a place where you’ll never grow old

IN THE LORD’S BOSOM

September 25, 2015 By Mikki Jo 12 Comments

The road was winding and dusty, my heart was beating faster. I was about to drive down the narrow road that my Daddy used to walk down when he was a child living at the end of the “holler”, up a little creek, in the shelter of an Eastern Kentucky mountain.

My eyes couldn’t take it all in fast enough. I felt the tears stinging my eyes as I blinked them back, I didn’t want to miss a single moment. I felt I had finally come full circle. I was finally here, where my heart had desired to be since I was a child. The place where I’d heard my Daddy and Grandparents speak of all my life, their old Kentucky home. I never understood my longing for this place, until my feet stood in the lush green clover on the bank of Frozen Creek in Knott County.

My heart was content. I was home. I knew that this is where I was supposed to be. God had indeed marked this date in time for me to be standing exactly where I stood. I looked at the mountains surrounding me, I felt a security that I’d never experienced before. I explained to my Dad how I felt and he said, “Yes honey, I know that feeling. Like you’re cradled in the Lord’s bosom.” And yes, that’s exactly how I felt.

I’d never been here before, but yet I felt like I had left something here, and I had this day came back to reclaim it. These emotions came from the deep bond I have with my Dad, and my family roots that remain deep in the heart of these mountains.

Many years ago, my Grandparents took the great Ship Mary and Ann from England to the Jamestown River to escape religious persecution. Years later a young man was born. A brave warrior, a man of honor who helped to attain my freedom during the Revolutionary War. He met a young dark haired woman, kind and patient and strong. They fell in love, had their own children, and eventually made their home in these beloved mountains.

The more I have learned of my family and their past, the more I have learned about myself and who I am. And I am thankful for the sacrifices made. I can never repay the debt that I owe to those that went before me. But I have walked in the shadow of their precious footsteps, down a dusty winding road, that lovingly led me back home. Truly, home is where the heart is.

SLEEPY SUMMERTIME

September 24, 2015 By Mikki Jo 2 Comments

The leaves are painted a bright yellow

As Autumn bursts in with a cheery hello

Tomorrow a new day shall soon dawn

Soft and fresh like a newborn fawn

The sun sets low upon the fields of green

Only glimpses of it can now be seen

Summer whispers goodbye for now

I’ll see you soon and he takes a bow

Sleepy summertime go to bed

It’s time to rest your weary head

The sun has set the day is done

A brand new season has just begun

I lay me down for some needed rest

Thank you Lord for I am blessed

When Trusting God Isn’t Enough

September 22, 2015 By Mikki Jo 15 Comments

I was running down the hill with my arms spread wide, the tall grass brushing softly against my arms. I looked toward the sky with my eyes squinted, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my face. I didn’t have a care in the world, my little nine year old self was savoring the sweet smell of Autumn. At least I was, until I took one wrong step.

I fell to the ground in a heap, cradling my foot. I had stepped on a nail and it was buried pretty darn deep. My Daddy came running and I knew he was there to help me. My head rolled back, my mouth wide open, my eyes tightly closed so I couldn’t see, I was screaming like a wild child. I trusted him, I knew he was going to take care of me.

My Daddy grabbed the nail and yanked it out of my foot! I was angry that he pulled the nail out, because boy did it hurt! I don’t know what I expected him to do. I knew he could handle the situation. He just didn’t do it the way I wanted him to. But what did I know, I was only a kid. And we both knew I couldn’t walk around with that nail hanging out of my foot like it was a piece of jewelry.

When we pray and seek God, do we really believe He knows best? I told my sister the other day, “I trust God to take care of it, I’m just scared He won’t take care of it the way I want Him to.” Today I said to myself, “Self, who do you think you are!” Of course the Lord knows better than I do how to take care of a situation. He is working things out even as I write this. But do I fully trust Him? Yes I do. Do I think He’ll answer my prayers the way I want Him to? I don’t know. This is where I fall apart, where I need grace. But I do know He is faithful!

1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV God, who has called you into fellowship with His son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

I’m learning to believe that He really does know best. Today let’s confess our areas of weakness and failure to Christ, and rest in His promises. Let’s give Him those areas where we need His grace to cover our failures. He is faithful, His grace is sufficient. He loves us.

Ephesians 1:7 NIV In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Let’s believe God together!

God Could Have

September 21, 2015 By Mikki Jo 4 Comments

God could have painted all of it

in simple black and white

Or tucked away the warmth

of the sun shining bright

He could have made flowers with

no bloom or no scent

But He wanted us to know

they were heaven sent

He could have left the trees

in the state of winter

But instead he gave them leaves

to shade us from the weather

He could have made the sky

as dark as miner’s coal

But instead he made it blue

with hues of pink and gold

As you look all around

at our majestic view

You can hear Him whisper

I did this just for you

Becoming A Misfit In A Cookie Cutter World

September 21, 2015 By Mikki Jo 7 Comments

My Grandpa’s hands were calloused and aged. With his pocket knife he casually whittled away at a small chunk of wood. It was nothing special when he began, but now it had come to life. It had ears, a nose, and a mouth. It was a horse, complete with mane and tail.

I said “Papaw, how did you carve that into a horse?” He kept shaving slivers of wood here and there, making it smooth as a river rock. “Well, I just whittle away everything that ain’t a horse,” He said. He explained how when he started whittling on a piece he knew what it would become before he even began to form it.

Little by little I watched as the small piece of wood turned into something totally unique. With each sliver that was shaved away it became a new creation. It was no longer just a small chunk of wood. It had been transformed.

That’s exactly what Jesus does with us. Jesus also knew us and who we were before He even formed us. Jeremiah 1:5 Isn’t that amazing! When we put ourselves into the loving capable hands of Jesus, we become a new creation. He transforms us and we become who He intended us to be. We won’t fit in in this world and we don’t want to, simply because we are not of this world. John 17:16 (NIV) They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Not fitting in isn’t misfortune, it’s transformation.

The Holy Spirit will gently lead us and open the eyes of our heart if we only listen. Sometimes it can be painful letting go of certain things in our lives. We need to let go of everything that keeps us from being like Jesus. We need to cleanse our heart of things that are unlike Him, and the things that keep us from becoming who He created us to be.

We just need to whittle away everything that ain’t Jesus, and when we do we will be a new creation!

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Is My Garment Machine Washable

September 19, 2015 By Mikki Jo 4 Comments

The entire thing was coming apart at the seams! I flipped the tag over and read, HAND WASH COLD. LAY FLAT TO DRY. Hmm, I neglected to read the care instructions. My favorite blouse was battered in the washing machine and then tossed into a gymnastic event in the dryer. No wonder it was a hot mess.

I was disappointed as I tossed my lovely blouse in the trash bin. I’ll follow the care instructions next time.

The disappointment was fleeting. I’d had a lifetime of serious disappointments, devastation and hardship. Haven’t we all? Isaiah 61:3 tells us The Lord gives us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and clothes us in a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness.

It can be hard to praise God when we’re in the middle of turmoil but that’s when we need to wear the garment of praise the most because He dwells among the praises of His people. Begin to praise Him because He pardons our sins. Because He is a promise-keeper. Because He is worthy!

When we receive His mercy and grace, our heart overflows with praise!

What happens when we praise God? In the book of Joshua 6:1-21 The walls of Jericho came crashing down! In the book of Acts 16:25-26 Prison doors shook open and chains fell loose for Paul and Silas! Miracles happen when we praise God!

If our garment of praise had a care instruction tag I wonder what it would say?

Psalm 34:1 Praise Him continually

Psalm 92:1 Sing praises to His name

Psalm 100:4 Enter His courts with praise

Psalm 138:1 Praise Him with my whole heart

I want to wear the garment of praise, don’t you!