Unveiled Graces

When I decided to start blogging again, my mission statement was, "seeking transformation through authenticity." As I started this week, familiar whispers of insecurities began to resurface.  I perused the beautiful Easter pictures on Facebook and saw how many people "liked" everyone else's photos. Compared to my own pictures' status, I felt insignificant.  Knowing that this was no proper self-evaluation, I turned off the computer and went for a walk.  While I walked, God's grace poured over me. In the crisp morning dew, a small wren munched a bug.  I was reminded of Matthew 6:26-27 which says, " 26  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  My concerns for popularity seemed quite trivial in comparison to the significance of God's love and provision f

This morning, I asked my kids if they knew what Jesus did on the Monday of Holy Week.   When they said that they did not, I told them that He cleansed the temple.   They wanted to know more, but seeing that the teacher was about to open the car door, I told them we would discuss it further this afternoon.   I decided to review the story this morning.   God reminded me the reason Jesus cleansed the temple.   The people had neglected the original purpose of the temple.   Matthew 21:13 records Jesus reciting Isaiah 56:7, “my house will be called a house of prayer.” Instead, Jesus states they were making it a “den of thieves,” recalling Jeremiah 7:12.”   As I thought about this passage, I began to ponder the implications to my own life.   Most people who know me would consider me a fairly honest person.   I try to help others and I do not intentionally hurt people.   However, the more I reflected on this passage, the more the question, “is your ‘house’ a house of prayer?”   Scrip