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Hanging By Grace

6/5/2011

19 Comments

 
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Sometimes I feel like I am completely off my rocker, like I am hanging only by grace.

Sometimes I pray absolutely outlandish things. Like recently I've been praying and been trying to start link up to Brag about God.  And maybe to other people this doesn't seem so far fetched. But I am fairly new to the blogging world and am still have a lot to learn. ...

But then I remember two things:
God desires His name to be famous more than I do.
 
And I remember the time I prayed for a bus, a school bus to be given to my church. For some reason I thought that would be helpful for the church. (My wild imagination at work.) Not long after I started praying, someone went to the Pastor and said they had a school bus they wanted to donate to the church. God said yes to my crazy thought, even when the church didn't even need it. Perhaps He said yes then, 10 years ago to remind me now, that He delights in creatively thinking through how to make Him known, and then going for it, trusitng Him for it, hanging only by grace.

God delights in my "throwing bread on many waters" since I don't know what will succeed (Eccl. 11:1-6). He tells us to:
1 Chron. 16:24 "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."
 
Psalm 9:11
"...proclaim among the nations what he has done."

Psalm 71:15-18
"My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come."
 
Isaiah 12:4 "make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted."


So, it is ok to fail in trying to do the very thing God delights in. I think God delights in us using creativity in planning, dreaming and trying ways to make Him known.

Will you join me on this journey of throwing bread on water by linking up for Brag on God Friday? You can link up anything that brags about God's character; stories, what He's teaching you about Himself, something from His Word, what you saw through creation that gave you a glimpse of Him, the sky is the limit (ha ha... since the heavens declare the glory of God.)

"This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. Jer. 9:23-24
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I have been bungee jumping, but sure didn't
look like this. I was clinging to the rope and
screaming. This is Austin's courageous sister, Heather.

In light of hanging by grace here are some markings toward A Thousand Gifts:
#30 Opportunities to step out and try new things.
#31 Being able to declare His glory among the nations through the internet
#32 Having eyes to see how God is revealing Himself
#33 Having godly ladies like Ann share her wisdom in her blog
#34 Being able to communicate with my husband as he is in the middle east
#35 My friend Janie bringing my family dinner (and having enough for left overs)
#36 Sweet Hannah for watching the kids so I could get some stuff done.
#37 Airplanes and pilots that allow us to cross oceans to share the Gospel
#38 New Hope Publishers for sending me some great books to read
#39 My kids all sleeping right now.
#40 My generous mom, who renewed our membership to the zoo
#41 All the different colored birds at the zoo that cause little red-headed Uriah's face to light up.
#42 The flowers growing in the backyard for the boys to pick them and give to me
#43 Our ministry house, that I am daily in awe of how God provided it for us.
#44 My step dad who fixed our plumbing
#45 My dad's encouragement in blogging.
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I'm linked up with...
God's Perfect Promises, Spiritual Sundays,
Top Photo Credit Fun Munch
19 Comments
Joan link
6/5/2011 02:47:24 pm

Thanks for dropping by my blog earlier and leaving your kind comment. It is nice to meet you,Laura! What a fun way to phrase praising God..."Brag about God"! He is indeed worthy of our praise and adoration! I will brag about Him and what He has done in my life every day! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Blessings, Joan

Reply
Tracey link
6/5/2011 06:16:22 pm

the pictures on your post terrify me! I'll gladly take a risk for God but a smaller leap for me please... perhaps that is my problem!

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Heart n Soul link
6/5/2011 09:17:46 pm

Yay for grace :)

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Carly link
6/5/2011 11:19:23 pm

So encouraged by this post-joining you in the throwing bread on the water!

How exactly does linking up work? If I blog on Friday so I send readers back to your page somehow (button or link?)

Reply
Laura link
6/6/2011 02:26:00 am

Thanks Carly! Just post what you want to share on your blog and then come here. At the end of my post there will be something that says your next... click the link and it will walk you through the rest (having you fill in your url and select a picture and such) Can't wait to read your post. I always LOVE what you write!

Reply
Angi link
6/6/2011 02:53:28 am

Yes! There is so much to brag about what God is doing! You are so great Laura :)

Reply
Jennifer link
6/6/2011 06:41:44 am

What a great idea and awesome story about God and the bus! Good luck with your link up!

Your pictures terrify me, by the way! :)

Reply
Becky link
6/6/2011 07:18:36 am

Thanks so much for stopping by blog and leaving such a nice comment!

Bragging about who God is and what He can do is one of my favorite things! I look forward to many others bragging about who God is to them!

Blessings!
Becky

Reply
Jen link
6/6/2011 01:06:37 pm

Welcome to SDG! so happy to have you!

Ugh -- you so hit my heart with "it's okay to fail." This is something I struggle with a lot!

I love your idea about bragging about God -- what a way to declare His glory!

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Amy Sullivan link
6/6/2011 01:30:17 pm

Laura,
My stomach drops just looking at the pictures!

#30? Yes, yes!

Reply
journeytoepiphany link
6/6/2011 10:09:43 pm

I hope I remember on Friday, because I have a lot to brag on God about...

Reply
lavender link
6/6/2011 10:55:40 pm

He made us this way. To use everything that we are, everything that we can...and all for His Glory!

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Courtney link
6/7/2011 03:26:50 am

Oh, these pictures make my heart jump! But I do love your point that it is okay to fail when working for God. Thanks for that.

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Rhonda
6/7/2011 06:53:52 am

AWESOME!!!

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Charlotte link
6/8/2011 07:31:49 am

I like your attitude. We need more "out of the box" thinkers. And the pictures are perfect for the subject. I'm glad you shared this with us on Spiritual Sundays.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Reply
Michelle DeRusha link
6/8/2011 11:57:58 am

I'm with Jen; this is the part that hooked me hard: "it's okay to fail in trying to do the things God delights in." Never thought about it that way -- that God would prefer that we try and fail then stay in our little comfort zone and not try at all. Love that insight!

Reply
Melanie link
6/9/2011 05:55:32 am

This is my first visit here, and what a beautiful blog! I needed the reminder that it's okay to fail. Sometimes taking the first step is the most difficult part.

Thanks for sharing.

-Mel

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Emily Wierenga link
6/9/2011 02:13:56 pm

love this idea, friend! love your beautiful heart...

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patty link
6/12/2011 12:44:52 am

visiting from imperfect prose... love the images and you are brave just to step off, soaring like an angel or not!! :))

Reply



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  • Home
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  • Video Bible Studies
    • Matthew
    • John
    • Galatians
    • Philippians
    • Know your Purpose
    • Creation Reveals
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    • Heart Growth
  • You Are Unshaken Book
    • Unshaken Groups
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    • Unshaken Freebies
  • Shop