Tuesday, August 23, 2011

#213 "Grace Amid the Thorns"


photo from: margauxville.com


Thorns. Like pointed arrows. We touch. We hurt. We bleed.

Flaming arrows of the evil one. They hit their mark. We hurt. We bleed.

Thorns in the flesh. Sent to torment. Allowed for a reason.

Paul's thorn kept him from becoming conceited. What would I become without the thorns?

What will I become with them?

Three times and more, I ask for the taking away.

"My grace is sufficient for you," He says.

Is it really? The words flow off my lips.

"His grace is sufficient for me."

But is it? Really?

It is, because He says it is.

The better question is, "Do I really believe it is?"

When it hurts. When I bleed. When it hits the mark.

Is grace enough for me?

Grace. Unmerited favor from God. 

Good in the middle of bad. Light in the midst of dark.

Like those days when it rains but the sun is still shining.

Grace is the rose that grows from the thorn bush.


image from: haendi.files.wordpress.com


Three times He asked for the thorncup to be taken from Him. 




Abba's grace.

Sufficient for Him.

Sufficient for me.



40 comments:

  1. This really speaks to my heart. Such a hard thing to understand, to believe, to trust and the only way to really do it is just to walk in it.

    Glad to be walking with you!

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  2. Love this! I blog at AdventurezInChildRearing- (SAH homeschooling mama) but, I've just started a new blog called Unendingrace- your post hits home with what I am studying - I'll link to your post!
    look forward to your ebook! glad to do a review for you-

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  3. I keep waiting for God to tell me "You aren't tall enough for this ride." Instead, He keeps telling me "I will stretch you, and be your seatbelt. Hang on!" I don't always like the thorns, nor the pain they bring, but I'm slowly learning to trust the vision of God rather than my own.

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  4. Beautiful post, Donna. His grace is sufficient...sometimes I need the reminder.

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  5. It is a true act of faith to believe that his grace is sufficient when the thorns press too deep and seem so permanent. This was beautiful

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  6. Neat post! Stopping by from WFW. Have a wonderfully blessed day!

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  7. It is funny but as a rose gardner I have to deal with the thorns to get to the prize, the beautiful rose. It is a necessary pain, I can't take care of the rose if I don't want to deal with the sticky parts. I never thought about it in relation to God or grace. I want God to take away the thorns, instead He always helps me tend the garden.Thank you.

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  8. that is beautiful! what a great poem! visiting from ifellowship

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  9. Wonderful post today, Donna. His grace truly is amazing! He is so faithful to bring us through so much!

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  10. I like the repetition in this piece. His grace is sufficient.

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  11. Such good words!
    His grace is indeed sufficient for all our needs and situations.
    Life's thorns are softened by it, and then they become the means to receiving the treasure they enclose and guard for our good.
    All is grace..all is good!
    Thanks for linking to LACE.
    bless you..Trish

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  12. Is grace enough for me?

    Intellectually, I know "Yes!" But do I always "feel" it? No. Thanking God that we don't have to trust our emotions. His truths are more than enough. Thank you for sharing this one.

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  13. Hi Donna,
    This is beautiful. Found you via vB and I'm glad I did. God Bless.

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  14. Amazing post and beautiful poem. Gives me a whole new perspective, a new ways to see. A new view. Wow.. where would I be without the thorns? Without His grace. Thank you for sharing.

    Blessings,
    Misty

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  15. to find sufficiency in the midst of insurmountable struggle--that is grace indeed.

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  16. "I believe; help my disbelief"! I'm so thankful that He took the thorns for me and that every thorn in my own life only makes me more like Him.

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  17. amen. thank you for this reminder...

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  18. "When it hurts. When I bleed. When it hits the mark. Is grace enough for me?"

    Oh, Lord, I pray that you can trim the thorns when they prick my soul.

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  19. Donna:

    Although I read this post a couple of days ago, it was just as encouraging today - a beautiful reminder of His grace.

    Thanks for linking up today.

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  20. Yes, His Grace IS Sufficient. Everyday! Thank you for linking up!!! :)

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  21. Thank you for sharing.
    I am thankful for God's grace.
    Even though I don't always understand it.

    I'm visiting from His Word Friday.

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  22. Hi Donna,
    What an important question you're asking us to think about.
    In the quiet moments I KNOW God's Grace is enough to see me through the thorns of life...
    but
    when the thorns come I react by asking for them to be taken away.
    I'd like to take a deep breath and trust God More...
    Thank you for asking
    God Bless
    Barb from Australia

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  23. Wonderful post! Thanks so much for linking up! His grace is absolutely amazing!

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  24. you have such a ministry here, friend. thank you for speaking to our hearts.

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  25. A great reminder...yes, His grace is sufficient for me for it was sufficient for Christ...

    Blessings, Joan

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  26. Wow...where the rubber meets the road! May our belief, our faith, our trust in His power, get us through.
    He is ABLE!!
    Julie

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  27. I have had the most horrible thorns where I work but oh how they've made me grow. :) Beautifully written, and speaks to my heart. Thank you.

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  28. Wow I can relate to the picture on the very top. I like your page and awesome poem. Thanks for sharing..

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  29. A beautiful meditation. Thank you, Donna.

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  30. Hello, this is the second time I have come to your bog via Saturday Sampling and I do really like what you do here. A request for those not as well-versed in the Bible as you (like me, not at all but trying to learn)? Please throw in some hyperlinks. For example I think Paul is an apostle but I am not sure and it would be nice to have been able to click on his name and read about him.

    I am sure that there are many out there who want to be as moved by your message as those who are more knowledgeable. I hope my advice can help you spread the Good News even more! Thank you.

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  31. Hello,

    Found you via Saturday Sampling. I love the images along with the post.

    We never know if we truly believe what we say we believe until we're put to the test.

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  32. Beautiful! I've been having some of my own small struggles lately, and it is great to have a reminder. Thanks for stopping by the Sit and Relax weekend hop!

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  33. It really makes me think, this post. I know I have asked for the removal far more than three times. But...it's like that song--maybe his blessings come through raindrops, maybe the healing comes through tears. What would we be without the longing to be more? For more of Him? Good food for thought.

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  34. I relate to your words. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  35. About a year ago I was crying on the phone with my mom, pouring over the pain of my life at that time. She mentioned God's Grace and in that place of pain I squeaked out, "it's...just...not..enough!" My mom raised her voice at me even though I'm now a grown woman with a child of my own and said, "Did you just tell me that God's Grace isn't sufficient?!" Oh, I snapped out of it right then. God's grace is sufficient. It doesn't mean that he magically changes the circumstances (which is more of what I wanted in that moment), but when I allowed myself to let his Grace wash over me, I was renewed, and it was enough.

    So thankful for a Bible believing mom!

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  36. Much to contemplate about Grace being there in the midst of the pain. It's like His presence being in the midst of the clouds.
    Walking in unmerited favor is always difficult because of our natural tendencies to work hard at achieving--achieving anything.

    Blessings,
    Janis

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  37. Thanks so much for dropping by the Monday Mingle Blog Hop! I hope you'll stop by
    again soon! Have a great day! :)

    P.S. I would love to connect on Facebook too, if we haven't already. http://facebook.com/toughcookiemommy

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  38. His grace is sufficient. It isn't always easy to remember this but it is almost essential. Thank you for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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