Grace Day
Open Your Bible
Ecclesiastes 3:1, Ecclesiastes 3:4
BY She Reads Truth
Take this day as an opportunity to catch up on your reading, pray, and rest in the presence of the Lord.
Focusing on the second part of verse 4, ask the Holy Spirit for the freedom to mourn and dance in every season of your life.
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4:
There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance
34 thoughts on "Grace Day"
-
Is there something that makes posts disappear after a certain time instead of showing up? Thank you.
-
I have the mourning, but where is the dancing? If I follow God’s teachings in this life I am miserable. If you flaunt them you will be happy. I know that’s not right but that’s the way life is. I am so sick of being kicked in the face and ignored. Of death and disease and doctors and hopelessness. I honestly do not understand how anyone in this life can smile or laugh, let alone dance. I’ve never said this before, but God has forgotten me. Oh God forgive me for saying that, but are you gone for good?
-
I’m really feeling sorry that you are at this point now! The dancing will come for sure! He has not forgotten you. Jesus really knows how it is like to be kicked in the face. He endured it so you can be free. It’s not about following his teaching but about being with God, following Jesus. I really pray you’ll be able too be so close to him and enjoy life with him soon!!
-
Susan, I know I am just a faceless, distant woman to you, but my heart is so heavy seeing your pain. If you have been hurt and ignored by the church especially that can leave the most devastating scars. I don’t think there is any hurt like the hurt that comes when we feel abandoned or judged or misunderstood by the “people of God.” I get that, I’ve felt it. Following God’s teachings, or at least staying in his word, even when you don’t feel it, just reading it, it will eventually sink in to your soul. You ARE right to follow his teachings, and flaunting them does not bring happiness. People that do may appear happy, but remember sweet Susan, you only see what they want you to see. LIVING God’s teachings brings JOY!! I am so sad that you feel alone, I am sincere. Loneliness is devastating and especially if you are dealing with sickness, loss etc. GOD is with you. He is Susan. You may not feel His presence but HE has not and will not leave you, I promise. But somehow, you need some community, Whether it be one friend to start or a group, you need community so they can edify and encourage you, and you can share with each other ALL of your feelings, good and bad, and not be afraid to trust. I promise you with all that I am, I am going to be praying for you everyday. Susan I am nothing special, in fact I am pretty much nothing in and of myself. But if I may share something with you, not trying to be selfish and tell you my story, because your story is what matters right now, In 2007, my daughter Holly who was 20, was killed by a drunk driver. I want even begin to go into describing more right now, but I was in a church, with a pastor who told me “if Holly hadn’t of been out so late this wouldn’t have happened!” Can I tell you that the rage and hurt I felt was life changing. Unfortunately in my grief I responded boldly and loudly and NEVER entered the doors of that church again! No regrets about that to this day. But I just isolated myself, and stayed on my computer concentrating on Drunk Driving and laws…blah blah..because I just couldn’t go to God. I was already so MAD at Him!! So MAD at everyone. Then the one place I thought would lift me up dropped me on my head. Through the weeks and months that followed, I began to journal to God. I let Him have it. I even journaled the DD would not receive salvation and would burn in hell. But even at those times when I had hate in me, I look back and can read how my words were beginning to change. From sheer desperation, I decided on Sunday to visit a church nearby that I knew people in, and can I tell you that I stood during praise and worship all alone, and broke!! I totally broke. I cried out so much pain, so much anger and even more so much loneliness. I COULD not carry my grief and my pain alone. I needed God, but also I needed people. From there I started going to a small group once a week, and those people, layed hands on me, and cried with me, prayed over me, and my tears came like a flood. They were REAL followers of God, not flaunters and they cared about my pain! Susan I wish you were close and I could come and listen and be a friend in the flesh. I really do. But through the prayer of those people and then my church family and of course the Lord, I have found beauty from ashes. Do I hurt? Oh gosh some days it hits me like a wrecking ball and I find myself in the fetal position in bed. But less and less. I DO have JOY. Not happiness but JOY. Because its from God, not my circumstances. Susan, pray keep praying please!! Pray God will send someone. Someone who you will trust and will see God’s love in them. They are out there. HE loves you! Remember, He said in this world you WILL have trials..you obviously have many, but take heart sweet sister. This world is not your home. But while you’re here He wants you to have joy and some happiness. He doesn’t want you to be isolated. The devil loves for us to be isolated. All through the bible, a strategy of attack was getting someone away from others. The devil loves that strategy!! He loves deceiving you into thinking God has left you and no one cares. He is a liar!! Susan, you are a daughter of the most high king! He is YOUR FATHER. IF only to save you, He would have still chosen death! I know physical illness makes it more practical to isolate, but try to get out, pray for God’s leading to a church that isn’t self absorbed, but people absorbed through God’s love! They are out there and I am so sorry if you, like me experienced the judgement and condemnation from a “church” or people who say they are “Christians!” Keep your gaze fixed on him! I am praying for you and I wish we could keep in contact. Hold tight Susan. Weeping may endure for the night, but JOY does come in the morning. Just when there seems to be no hope watch God work!! Much love and my humble, unworthy self cares for you!
-
What beautiful words Danette. They have ministered to me and I’m sure they’ve ministered to Susan. Thank you for your transparency. I’m so sorry for your loss. I will be praying for you dear sister.
-
Thank you for your testimony.
-
Your words spoke to my soul, Danette. So terribly sorry for your loss & cannot imagine your pain, but please know that God is using your story to minister HOPE to hearts like mine. Your words were spot on. I hope you start a blog or somewhere to keep writing, because you flatlined me this morning & I wish I had a way to quickly share your story on my social media & to my mom who needs to hear hopeful things right now after a very difficult year. So thank you for sharing, God is doing something beautiful in you!!!
-
Wow. Just wow. I so needed this tonite. My heart is heavy with so much right now. But your words gave me some measure of hope. Thank you
-
Thank you, Danette, for your God given strength and grace. You are helping so many who are walking through a desert.
-
-
Praying for you Susan!
-
-
Does anyone know which study is next.
-
The next study is on the book of Ruth and is called Fields of Provision.
-
-
Thanks for a great study!
-
Life is full of ups and downs! We can’t escape either, but we do have a choice…How do we respond to the ups and downs! How shall I respond today?
-
Reading this scripture again, I notice the phrase “under heaven” a sweet reminder that when we experience the brokeness of this world we will weep and mourn, but hold tight to the truth that these things and activities are of the Earth and have no place in heaven. As I walk through this season of mourning the loss of my baby I am desperately trying to cling to this.
-
praying for you and your lose!
-
-
There is a season and a time and all is in God’s hands. Resting in that on this grace day. (and the song “Hope You Dance” came to mind! So… Resting in truth and dancing in joy… A good way to start the weekend!)
-
Ecclesiastes 3 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the power in the smallest or simplest scriptures. I’m glad I’m being reminded to dwell on this.
Post Comments (34)