GRACE IS A MANTLE!

 

"His Name is Jesus!"

 

 

How does one define "grace?"

               We are told that "grace" is unmerited favor from God.  It is a gift!  It cannot be earned.  It is given to us in the goodness of God.  Grace is invisible.  And, still, we can see "grace" as it operates through those who walk in purpose for the things of God.

                "Grace" is many things to many people demonstrated through testimony and witness from those who have been captivated by the love of God.

               I cannot remember ever being without "grace."  For a time, I fell away from my Christian roots.  Even then, I discovered "grace" in a conscience that haunted me.  My childhood upbringing gave me a strong foundation.  "Grace" was the life force that sustained me.  It did so even when I did not understand it.

               I returned to my first love, Jesus Christ, and searched with all my heart for meaning and for a life of purpose.  "Grace" in the form of sanctifying power cleaned me up. 

               Something was missing from my life.  I continued the search, until one day I attended a prayer meeting.  A small group of ladies stood to worship the Lord.  When the song began to play, the first notes of the CD ignited a flame in my heart.  I began to sing with the ladies:   "I came to worship you."  This music was different.  I recognized power, healing, love.  I recognized the Presence of the Lord.  Something inside me began to change.  I did not understand fully what it meant to me.  However, I recognized that I received "grace" to enter into God's Throne Room.  This "grace" laid over me, like a blanket of love.  Through one song, I found the entrance into a new kind of worship.  The "Grace of Worship" had become mine.

               This morning in my quiet time with the Lord, I took seriously a posting I read on Facebook the day before.  The Lord is calling us to "Write!"  He wants to speak mysteries to us.  He wants to tell us things that He doesn't tell others.  We are to record these treasures of "grace."  We can share some of the things He tells us.  Other words might be private, for our ears only.  Keeping a journal is our response to "grace."  It becomes "Faith." 

              I began to write in the journal and suddenly I knew the words I would write were important words.  I knew God wanted me to share these words with others.  ---Especially with those worshippers who love God with all their hearts.  These are the words I wrote:

              "The Grace of God is a mantle that we are called to wear.  It is a precious mantle. And, it is one that is fragile.  Even delicate.

 

             It is true that God does not take back the gifts He has given to us.  However, we are covered with a mantle of grace to do a specific work with those gifts and talents.  When we ignore the "Call" our gifts never mature.  We might even prosper in the eyes of men.  However, the vision becomes blurred, either by fear or unbelief.  It is as if the magnificient covering, the Mantle, is packed away.  One might think they do this to preserve the beauty.  Hidden as it is, it cannot be misrepresented.  These lies feed unbelief.

 

            Take out your Mantle!.  Allow Me to place it upon your shoulders correctly.  The majesty and the splendor are Mine.  The "Grace" is yours.

 

           I asked:  What is the name of my mantle, Lord/

 

                          What is the work You call me to achieve?

 

                          I hear one word:  Impart!

 

                        --- Teach others how to "See" by "Seeing."

 

                        --- Teach others to "Believe" by "Believing."

 

                        --- Teach others to "Do" by "Doing."

 

                     I asked:  How do I begin?

 

                     Wait and "See!"  Then, step in!

 

 

Written by Rita Burton

September 29, 2014

 

 

"Itsi too!"

 

   "GRACE" is a Mantle we are called to wear!

 

Images taken from the book:

The Oracles of Quack, Quack Duck

by Rita Burton

 

Available through LuLu Publishing or the Artist.

 

BLUE FIRE: Burning in the Fire of His Presence!

 

Deluge

 

Buring in the Fire of His Presence!

 

TO THE RIGHT Read about the Series entitled:  BLUE FIRE

DAY FIVE: Brokenness Darkens Our Vision: ETERNAL LIGHT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE IN MEASURE

I am reading through the Bible, trying to saturate myself with this Bread of Life. It fills the void, and displaces selfishness. As I go along, I am finding great treasures and nuggets of truth. ---This morning I read a very interesting verse concerning when the Lord restores His people, Israel, He will restore "Light." ---"Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days in the day when the Lord binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow." Isaiah 30: 26 ---We have little understanding of what God's 'Whole" and eternal Kingdom appears. Even in our wholeness from the healing touch of God, we possess a measure of the Holy Spirit. ---We see in part! ---My focus this morning is on the "measure" of light God will restore on that great day. Each of us, who live by the Holy Spirit, possess a measure of light. God implants his light in us, as a down payment of what is to come. Even so, if our measure of light filters through darkness, how great is that darkness? I ask: How great is the light of God? ---It is beyond our measure! ---Incomprehensible to our sight and understanding. ---"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face." 1 Corinthians 13: 12

DAY FOUR: WIND DANCER Poem and Painting by Rita Burton

We wait for its stirring ---Our voice calls it forth ---The Wind: God's Mystery ---His Breath from Kingdom's shore ---It seems at Light's first appearing ---The Fire of Morn searing ---It stirs the bowls of Heaven ---And sings the earthly score. ---Tis then I feel the strength to be ---Tis then my feet leap high in glee ---And whirl and fly the Heavenly Sky ---I dance the Wind is by my side ---Round and Round upon the land ---The sea does churn ---Love's Fire burn ---Swallowed whole ---In and out ---Wind Dancer laughing ---In Love about. ---It is the way ---We wait each day!

DAY ONE: GOD POSITIONS US

GOD POSITIONS US -"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! Song of Solomon 1: 2 READING: Song of Solomon Book. Special attention to S of S 8: 13 & 14 and chapter 2: 8-14 The last written words the King speaks to his Bride are: "O you who dwell in the garden, with companions listening for your voice; let me hear it." Song of Solomon 8: 13 These are curious words. Think! They are newlyweds. The King finds the bride In the garden, but with her companions. What is the bride doing? Telling her companions the wonder of her new found love. The King, on the other hand seems to wait on the sidelines: "Let me hear it!" It appears that even in the days of King Solomon, there is a social media. Curiosity led me on. Back a few chapters the Beloved is speaking to his adoring bride: "Let me hear your voice. For your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely." Song of Solomon 2: 14 Aha! Intimacy. Face to face. They are together in a hidden location: "...in the crannies of the cliffs." Song of Solomon 2: 14 It is a tight fit. Barely fit enough for two. No place for the social crowd here. In this secret place of intimacy, the lovers feed one another. The bride is positioned by his side. She gives and receives. She soaks in his Presence. She is full of the Beloved. ---She rests in the loving arms of "Him." He too receives from his adoring bride. It seems He needs her as much as she needs him. She is his garden. She is his delight. (Song of Solomon 5: 1) How do we find this "cleft of the rock?" ---Our hidden place of intimacy? God, positions us. Before that can happen, we must learn to respond to the sound of his voice: "Let me hear it." Song of Solomon 8: 13 The wise maiden responds quickly. She turns her back to the social seekers and runs to the sound of his voice. She realizes her neglect of him and searches for "He, Whom her soul loves." The bride cries aloud: "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!" Song of Solomon 1: 2 Knowing He sees her, the bride exclaims in understanding, "Make haste, my beloved." Song of Solomon 8: 14 ASK: What can I do today that allows God to position me hidden in the secret place? Journal.

"LITTLE DEVILS" - It is time to get serious about time!

Slumber is a spirit where one wants to sleep, eat, and be lazy. There are other such "little devils" in our lives that want to distract us from the purposes of God. One of these "sweet nothings" is the social media: Facebook. It seems insignificant when we check in to see what others are saying. "We won't stay on long." we tell our curious self. Why do I care? I chastise myself. So, I pull away, only to be pulled back on-line hours later. Conviction overrides my indifference, concerning the time I spend on-line? Could it be that my focus on what others say does little to further the work set before me? God has a plan. I won't find it in others. In my early reading the other day, my eyes fell onto the words: "Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his Presence continually." Psalm 105: 4 ESV. A note is written next to this verse: "Stop looking for man's approval." Ouch! I have never found the Presence of the Lord on Facebook. I wonder if it is true for others: Is the time I spend on Facebook more than the time I spend in God's Presence? Hmmm. Conviction is tightening. The Bible says, "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17: 21 KJV. The scripture seems more fitting for one who has demonic possession. But, then, again, if we are not walking in the Presence of God, who possesses us? I believe it is time to circle the wagon, per se. It is time to get serious about "time." I am challenged to go on a 21 Day Fast from the Social Media of Facebook. Yes, in God's eyes, this is a genuine fast. In the void I will spend more time in the Word, God's Presence and do his work. I wrote in my Journal: Focus on Lord Read! See/Hear! Pray! Write! and Post! Therefore, I will write my blog. I will post it to fb. However, I will not go on to fb to check to see if there are any responses. I will stop seeking the approval of men and rather seek the approval of God.

INTRODUCING TRUTH IN RHYMN
My new picture book:  Funky Me!  ...And 3
Paintings Illustrated and poem by Rita Burton

For young children and for the young at heart!