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November Days of Thanks: Unexpected Grace

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For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

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November Days of Thanks was a series I participated in last year on Instagram. Each day I shared a picture that reflected something for which I am grateful – family, fall, etc. I’ll be posting photos in the days of thanks campaign again this year, and I invite you to follow along. (You can access my Instagram account through the icon at the top of the page, or look for the widget in the right menu.)

Here on New Day this month, I’ll also be blogging the thankful series each week, offering thanks for blessings granted. Now I could never, EVER contain those to four blog posts, but I will use the space to reflect on what stands out most for me this year. I begin with this blog:

When you aren’t looking, life has a way of sending you down a path you may have never meant to take. I mentioned in last week’s post how faith writing wasn’t something I thought I’d be doing. Now, I don’t think I could see myself committing this gift to any other place. Here is where the fire burns for me. I have to write.

Without God appointment, I wouldn’t be able to write, anyway. I wouldn’t be able to do anything without His favor, His grace, which He generously gives to those who have open hands and a heart to receive. For me, grace is not often announced with balloons or loud party whistles, but as a soft, unexpected whisper. You have to be in position, within spiritual hearing distance, to discern His voice telling you to go. Then, when that seed is planted, take hold, make space for it to grow. Heed the grace.

I’m so thankful for this space, for the gift I’ve been given to express faith through words. It’s been a delight to meet such wonderful friends along the way.

But while I’m thankful for the gift, I must bow to the One who gave it. It’s His gift, His grace that’s bestowed, all so that His name will be glorified on earth as it is in Heaven.

What’s an unexpected grace you are grateful for?

Follow Your Dreams

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I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalm 32:8 KJV

All this month here on New Day I’ve been sharing writing from a Christian magazine I published several years ago. It’s been fun to revisit the pages in PRAISE! where faith words first flowed. Continuing that venture now through this blog has been equally as fun and rewarding, and I thank you for following along.

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Early on, the dream to write and share from a faith perspective was one I really never knew I had. Sure, I’ve loved words ever since I learned to write, but life has a way of expressing itself and showing you the particular path you are meant to take. When God planted that seed in me, I gave it space to grow and haven’t looked back. It’s a fire that, so far, hasn’t been put out.

I remember that fire being stirred in me through the words of author Terri McMillan in her acceptance speech at the 2002 Essence Awards. I recorded her words and shared them in the Fall 2002 edition of PRAISE!, hoping to stir up the gift in others, to encourage the following of dreams. I pray her words inspire you today…

“I write because it’s cheaper than therapy. I write because it gives me patience… Writing for me is like praying on paper. What I pray for is compassion and empathy, for insight, and writing helps me pay attention. It helps me worry about folks who I think deserve some. It allows me to at least try to understand our shortcomings and virtues as human beings… but also how they sometimes get misappropriated. I want to know why we do what we do, and why we’re always so surprised by the outcome.

“I also write because I want to be a better person – I want us all to be better. But I accept this award on behalf of all African-American writers whose goal is to help put a smile on a reader’s face, a fire in their minds, and hope in their hearts, because that’s all we have…”

God has placed a gift, a purpose within you. Seek His face to find the path for which you are destined.

PRAISE!Magazine was published from 1996-2003, ISSN 1520-4057.

Poetry Corner: “With Him”

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The October series continues with posts from PRAISE!Magazine, my very first self-publishing venture. I wrote a lot of poetry back then, and here’s a short poem featured in the Winter 2001 edition called “With Him.”

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With Him in me
I am she
who can do all,
have all,
be all.

With Him in me
I am she
who is graced,
spirited,
with a cup that runneth over.

With Him in me
I am she
who can walk through,
fear not,
mount up with wings.

With Him in me
I am she
who can love my God,
love my neighbor,
love myself.

With Him,
because of Him,
and by Him,
I am.

Someone.

Something.

Somebody.

Because He is,

So am I.

What are some of your favorite Christian poems?