In the Fullness of His Grace

Begging your grace on today with my late Five Minute Friday post!  You know the drill!  Write for 5 solid minutes unscripted, no worries on the prompt for today.  And don't forget to share the love with the scribe that posted before you. Link up here. 

Take a breath and inhale His GRACE.

Tumultous waves thrashed and crashed against jagged rocks,

hissing and foaming,

rising up,

up,

up…

threatening to swallow anything or anyone in its path.

And like an angel,

she appeared out of nowhere and stood on the edge of the bank.

Gathering all of the breath in her tiny body,

she began to speak to the storm in a small, still voice.

Her voice was like a beautiful song – no more like

whispers of a lullaby,

enchanting,

soothing and caressing,

gently rocking the waves into a sweet, peaceful sleep.

And then she held up both hands before the waves

and looking up to the sky, 

she spoke to the heavens 

and

blessed the storm

in His name.

Master, thank you for sending her; thank you for your Grace.

Ordinary Me

Happy FMF - Five Minute Friday!
                                                

Five minutes to flow freely. No bustin' a sweat, over-editing and over thinking it.  Just WRITE!  LisaJo came up with this cool concept and now we're a community of free-flowing writers doing our thing and sharing the love.  Write.  Link-up here and send some encouragement to the muse who linked before you.

  Today's prompt: Ordinary.

Just ordinary people,

God uses ordinary people.

He chooses people just like me and you,

who are willing to do as He commands.

God uses people that will give Him  all,

no matter how small your all may seem to you;

because little becomes much 

as you place it in the Master's hands.  

Songartist : Danniebelle Hall & Moms Winans

He used me,

but I didn’t care; I wasn’t even mad about it

once I understood that it really wasn’t about me…

I guess you could say

I asked for it –

I asked to be used.

“His Co2 levels have dropped.  He only has about an hour left.  You have to make a decision..."

My beautiful baby boy’s fragile life hung 

in the balance 

and in a moment of desperation,

I made a promise – 

I promised Him my very best.  

I promised Him my all.  

I promised whatever He asked of me, I would do it,

if He would just 

let my baby 

        live...

He used me.

Me.

Unexceptional-in-any-significant-way-always-thinking-of-the-worst-case-scenario-play-it-safe, ME.

Just ordinary people.

He used me,

one EXTRAORDINARY God,

to share a story,

for the manifestation of His glory!

And 

I’m

so glad

He

did.

But GOD!

Greetings Readers!  I have a special treat for you - my husband, Maurice, will be my guest writer for today!  Two months ago I embarked upon a journey of declaring daily gratitude for 30 days.  I also involved my family in this experience.  I hope that you are inspired by what Maurice had to share and that these writings cause you to reflect upon what you have to be most grateful for in your own personal life. As always, be divinely inspired!   ~  Dena :)

One day last summer Josh & I sat in the living room watching a ballgame together, while Dena and the evening nurse were in the kitchen.  Malachi was resting in his room after a long day.  The monitor which measured his heart rate and oxygen levels was replaced a day or two earlier, and as with most technology, the upgraded model took some adjusting before we could set the volume to a reasonable setting.  Over the prior two days, Dena and other nurses were constantly modifying the various parameters, so when I heard the alarm I figured either Dena or the nurse was attending to Mal.  But after a few minutes, my spirit was troubled and I finally got up to check on him. 

As I approached his room I was shocked to see Dena in the kitchen chatting on the phone and cooking, while the nurse was at the sink cleaning his assorted tubes, connectors, and feeding devices.  I shouted “Did anyone hear the alarm???”  I turned on his light and his face was pale gray, and his lips were blue.  I immediately grabbed the bag to manually ventilate my child.  As I squeezed and squeezed, my heart raced, and my worst fears were upon me.  This is NOT the way we were supposed to lose our child!  Malachi was unconscious and totally unresponsive.  His heart rate (HR) was in the 50’s and his “sats” were in the 40’s!  “Call 911!” I demanded, while tears welled up in my eyes.  My heart was sinking, as it appeared that we were unable to revive Mal.  In a sudden moment of desperate resignation, I cried, “JESUS”, and simultaneously Malachi opened his eyes and looked around at us as if to say, “Why all the commotion”?

After he regained normal vitals, (HR~120, O2 saturation levels~ 98-100%) I gathered Dena, Josh & the nurse for a brief word of prayer to thank God for His Mercy and Grace.  I then encouraged them to acknowledge the moment and witness what just happened.  It was a point of clarity and re-assurance for me, for I was convinced at that moment that NOTHING was going to happen to Mal unless it was of God’s will.  

Through the years we’ve had many scares and worries.  We’ve been worn down and worn out by the physical, mental and spiritual demands of caring for a totally dependent child.  We often neglected ourselves and each other due to fatigue, stress and overwhelm. 

But God!  Through it all, He has been there.  He promised to never leave us or forsake us, and I can honestly say we have NEVER felt alone in this journey.  We are fortunate to live in the midst of God’s miracles each and every day.

Today, I am grateful for His omnipresence; thank you, Lord for your omnipresence.  We feel your spirit in our hopes, in our home and in our hearts!