Author: Jenny Grumbrecht

Jenny has been attending Grace Community for the past three years with her husband Pete. They have two sons and two daughter-in-laws. They are proud grandparents of three teens. She is looking forward to retiring next year to spend more time reading, writing but mostly spending time with family and friends.
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MY ADOPTION

Does your mind ever wander down deep rabbit holes and land on past experiences?  For me, some of those memories are good, where my mind loves to linger.    Then there are times when painful memories pop up from the shadows.

TRIP DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

Recently, I experienced one of those ugly trips down a rabbit hole.  I remembered speaking before thinking and unintentionally hurting a friend.  The echoes of that memory left me feeling yucky, simply yucky.  I can’t think of a better word to describe the gnawing in the pit of my gut mixed with deep regret.  The incident that evoked such emotion happened years ago and was resolved. But there I was, remembering the sickening feelings again, as if the incident had just occurred.

FEELINGS OF SHAME

However, something changed this time.  As the yucky emotions threatened to smother me, the Holy Spirit helped me identify those feelings as SHAME! Now, it would be legitimate to feel this way if I hadn’t asked for forgiveness. But I had, and there was no reason to keep reliving it.  Doesn’t God forget our confessed transgressions? 

WHAT GOD SAYS

This was worth investigating, leading me to look up some verses on God’s forgiveness.  Here are just a few:

Isaiah 43:25 – “I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and remembers   your sins no more.”

Jeremiah 31:34b & Hebrews 8:12 – “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

MY IDENTITY

Not only are my sins are completely wiped away, but I remember who I am in Christ.  An adopted Child of God! “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:15-16)

MY ADOPTION CERTIFICATE

Adoptive parents strongly desire to adopt.  They look forward to the day with great anticipation. The adoption certificate proves whose family the child now belongs to.  Scripture states that those who put their faith in Jesus are adopted into God’s family according to His will!  Our sins are wiped clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is our spiritual adoption certificate. 

I now carry in my heart my spiritual adoption certificate.  When shame tries to creep in, I remember who I am in Jesus.  He paid too high of a price for me to continue living with those yucky feelings of shame. My Abba Father declares proudly that I am His, and His alone.

AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST

Are you an adopted child of God who becomes trapped in the rabbit hole of shame? It is an issue that needs to be dealt with. Remember the Lord urges us to confess and turn our backs on sin. If you are feeling shame long after you experienced forgiveness, you too have a spiritual adoption certificate. Our Abba Father is the One who blots out our transgressions for His own sake. He remembers our sins no more. “As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so He removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.” (Psalm 103:12) This is the wonderful freedom of being fully forgiven in Christ Jesus.

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WHAT TO FOCUS ON

IMAGE OF HOLDING LIGHT

A recent diagnosis of Lyme Disease put me in a quickly descending tailspin of toxic thoughts.  Will there be long term side effects or permanent damage?  Will I recover 100%?  Is this going to impede the upcoming vacations that I’m eagerly waiting for?  What if, what if, what if….

HOLDING TIGHTLY TO THE NASTY

I find myself holding onto something, either positive or negative thoughts, but not at the same time.  And if you are like me that slippery slope into negativity can happen quickly. Have you ever noticed that our spiritual hands are never empty?  Holding on tightly to the nasty stuff like bitterness, offenses, anger, unforgiveness, fear, etc. can quickly become a huge burden.

SORT OUT THE JUNK

So, what’s the fix? Becoming doers of God’s word. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul states, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  This simple solution is harder to execute.  Fortunately, the Bible also tells us that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.  Jesus offers to help us sort out the junk.

A beloved Bible story brings this principle to life.  Matthew 14:22-33 tells of Jesus calling Peter out into the water.  The familiar story begins with Jesus walking on the water toward the disciples in their boat.  The disciples are terrified, until hearing their master’s voice; “Take Courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  His comforting words calm their fears. 

PETER LETS GO

But, for Peter, the master’s words embolden him to try something new.  “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  Jesus calls him, and for a moment Peter lets go of all the trepidations that his natural mind screams at him and embraces the supernatural by focusing on the peace that only Jesus can provide

Though the experience is short-lived, Peter miraculously walks on water!  While he remained focused on Jesus, he was free to defy nature with a miraculous new experience.   But, as soon as fear crept in, he began to sink until he cried out to the Savior of the World; “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus catches him.

So, we have the contrast of the positive versus the negative. When Peter focuses on Christ, he is free to walk on the water. When the negative thoughts enter his mind, he sinks faster than a bag of lead.  If Peter had released the negative thoughts, how much further could he have walked on top of the water? 

THE CHOICE

What about us; are we willing to release fear and negativity when Jesus calls?  Probably you do not have the diagnosis of Lyme disease, but you have other challenges in your life. Let go of the nasty stuff like bitterness, offenses, anger, unforgiveness, fear, etc. What amazing experiences are waiting for us once we release the negativity and hold tightly to the supernatural peace of Christ. Hold on to the Light.

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RESTING IN THE STORM

IMAGE OF SHIP IN STORM

Lately I have been having a rough time with a back injury. I’m so glad that Jenny wrote this piece:

This made no sense!  The Master never makes mistakes, but this is a big one!  He suggested we cross the lake.  Now, here we are on the verge of sinking.  In all my years of fishing, never have I seen a squall of this magnitude.  We are taking in water alarmingly faster than we can possibly bail out, yet there he is sleeping!  The waves rock violently almost tipping over the boat and yet he sleeps.  His soaking wet body rests on a waterlogged cushion, yet he sleeps.  We holler at each other just to hear above the howling wind and crashing waves. Yet he sleeps as peacefully as a well-fed baby in his mother’s arms.

OUR LOOMING DEMISE

When the wind first picked up, we realized a squall was coming and prepared for it.  Most of us were seasoned fishermen and know what to do when bad weather strikes.  But this was different. On the brink of disaster, we have no choice but to wake the Master and make him aware of our looming demise. 

HOW COULD HE BE SLEEPING?

We wanted to let him rest, knowing how exhausted he is.  Preaching and healing fatigues him at times.  But how can a person rest in the middle of a raging storm?    Frantically shouting and shaking him awake, we asked, “How can you be sleeping?  We are going to drown in this storm!  Don’t you care?”

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

His eyes blink open and realizing the magnitude of the storm, he stands up and rebukes the wind and the waves.  To our astonishment, immediately the wind stopped blowing and the sea turned to glass.   Our mouths still agape as he turns toward us and compassionately rebukes us with one question; “Where is your faith?” (As told by one of the Twelve)

NO MISTAKE ON BEING ON THAT BOAT

How often I ponder these events and think of how the wind and waves obeyed the Lord.  I understand there was no mistake about being in the boat that day.  That storm proves a valuable lesson.  We learn that Jesus, the creator of the universe, has all power and authority over nature.  In all circumstances we need to stay focused on Christ and not be shaken by what is happening around us.  Just as Jesus rested during the storm, we can rest in him and not be overwhelmed by life’s storms.  We can aim to rest as peacefully as Jesus did that day on the boat. 

HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR STORMS

Read Mark 4:35-41 and ponder the wonders of Jesus.  What storms are you facing?  Are you looking at the storm through spiritual eyes or earthly eyes?  Do you stay in peace as life’s trials feel like waves crashing over the boat?  Picture being on the boat with the disciples.  Imagine the placid sea after Jesus’ rebuke. What a blessing to know the Savior who can calm all our storms.  The storms are real, but they no longer need to rock us to our core.

Click to listen to the Lewis’ story of being in the center of the storm

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FROM BLACK AND WHITE TO TECHNICOLOR

Image of Scrooge

I am one of the thousands who love A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  To be honest, I never read the book beyond the first chapter, but I’ve watched every version of the movie that has crossed my path including The Muppets’ version and my childhood favorite, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol. 

THE BLACK & WHITE STAGE

Knowing my passion for A Christmas Carol, my husband surprised me with a tickets for a local performance. When the play started, I wasn’t sure what to think.  At first, the stage was bare. The actors doubled as props (to see actors contort themselves into a bed is extraordinary).  The choice of lighting created the appearance of a black and white film. I quickly became engrossed.

A CHANGED MAN

During the scene with the Spirit of Christmas Past, some actors pulled people from the audience to participate in Fezziwig’s Ball.  To my delight, I was selected!  I’d say that dancing on stage with the cast was the highlight of the evening, but in A Christmas Carol, the pinnacle is always Scrooge’s experience of true redemption.   My favorite line of Scrooge is when he pleads with the Spirit of Christmas Future. He explains he is a changed man and pledges, “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”  He is transformed!

COLOR BATHES THE STAGE

At the end of the play Scrooge awakes. He discovers he is alive and has not missed Christmas. His previous dark heart is filled with joy. He now longs to give whereas before all he wanted to do was steal. At this point in the stage production, the stage is no longer just black and white. Color now bathes the actors as Scrooge crosses over from death to life.  Scripture gives us beautiful example of this in Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

HE HAS RESCUED US

I love this play because it is a great illustration of true redemption freely available to all of us. Is there anything sweeter than knowing we can come to God, through his son Jesus any time we need forgiveness? God is always ready and available to hear from us. All this is made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ.   “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13, 14).

Even better than Scrooge, we can experience eternal redemption. Is your life full of God’s life in eternal technicolor? Are you redeemed from the darkness?

God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy!

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MARY DID YOU KNOW?

Image of Mary next to manger

I am excited about retiring and look forward to the next chapter of my life. Yet, unexpected emotions pop up, regarding the end of a season and the beginning of a new season. Looking back, I reflect with clarity God’s hand on my life, but I cannot see what lies ahead.

My job with my current employer began as a short-term temporary assignment, but circumstances offered me a greater role. God gave me a boss who was also my biggest cheerleader. She prompted me to further my education, launching my career path. My entire 23 years was like that. God gave me people who had a larger vision for my future than I did. God always has the larger plan in mind.

CHANGING SEASONS

Recently, in what could have been my final promotion, I blew an interview.  Although it was 100% my own fault, God allowed it.  He knew then what I know now: the promotion would have added more years to my career. According to God’s timeline, this season is ending and the unknown (from my vantage point) looms on the horizon. Do you also find it challenging to change seasons?

UNCERTAIN AND CONFUSED

How do you think Mary and Joseph felt as they walked over to the final hill into the town of strangers, Bethlehem? God had figured everything out, even though the young couple were uncertain and confused. He had a greater vision for their future than they could ever imagine. Their story through their seasons is like no other’s.

HOW PERPLEXED THEY MUST HAVE BEEN

Over the course of the years came major events. A king tried to murder Mary and Joseph’s first born. Then there was the occasion when they lost their special twelve-year-old in the large city of Jerusalem. The frantic parents discovered their young son Jesus teaching old men in the Temple. How perplexed they must have been. As an adult, Jesus became a teacher, who was both honored, revered, vilified, hated, and spit on.

Then came the cross. None of Jesus’ disciples understood the magnitude of what His death meant for the entire world. Even though Jesus had told them about it, they had no clue regarding the upcoming resurrection.

CON YOU GLIMPSE THE JOY TO COME?

Mary knelt at the cross, lost in confusion and grief. Yet God’s favor on Jesus, was present every step of the way, every season, even into eternity. Mary, in your heartbreak, could you glimpse the joy to come?

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CHICKEN, CHICKEN, CHICKEN!

Image of chicken

Riding in the car, Kimmy looked at her brothers and challenged them to a race.  Jake was too busy reading to care, but Wes accepted the challenge. As soon as the car was parked in Grandpa’s driveway, Wes and Kimmy jumped out and dashed toward the house. They were both out of breath as they were greeted by Grandpa Myers with one of his big bear hugs.  “Why the rush?” Grandpa asked.

“We raced like always, and I won!” Kimmy responded.

“Well, I let her win,” mumbled Wes. They sprinted off to the kitchen.  After hugs and kisses from both grandmothers, Kimmy declared herself an Olympic racer.

Wes asked Grandma, “What’s for dinner? I’m starving!”

 “One of your favorites, fried chicken,” smiled Grandma as she pointed to the stove.

Mom was just entering the room when she heard the conversation and began to laugh. “Oh my, do I have a chicken story for you! I’ll tell it while we eat.”

FIFTY POUNDS OF CHICKEN

When everything was in place, the family settled down at the table.  Grandpa said grace. Mom began, “Last Friday afternoon I went into the garage to grab something out of the freezer for dinner and noticed that someone never quite closed the freezer door.  Water was dripping from the open door onto the garage floor.  Looking further, I was surprised to find a lot of the food still frozen, but it seemed like fifty pounds of chicken had thawed. It was still very cold, but not frozen. 

THE CHOICE

I knew my evening plans had suddenly changed.  I would be spending the evening cooking all that chicken before it spoiled.  While loading my arms with chicken, I was upset until I heard the still small voice of the Holy Spirit reminding me, ‘You can be grumpy and waste the evening cooking while in a bad mood, or you can make the best of it. Your choice.’

THE CHICKEN DANCE

“Once I was back in the kitchen with the chicken, I turned the radio to my favorite praise music. I then began cooking and singing at the top of my lungs. The neighbors probably heard me. There was chicken on the stove top, chicken in the oven, chicken on the grill. I laughed as I was even doing the chicken dance.  There I was, happily cooking and singing until about 9:30. Then I realized that it would be impossible to finish cooking all that chicken before bedtime.  I didn’t want to spend the next day still cooking chicken.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS ALONE

“Again, the Holy Spirit whispered to me, ‘You know, you don’t have to do this alone.  There are others who would appreciate some chicken.’ My first thought was to drop some off at the mission the following morning. Then I remembered the family of five right across the street. They might enjoy chicken.  I called them and left a message explaining that I had extra chicken for them, but it needed to be used soon.

PRAYERS FOR CHICKEN

“First thing Saturday morning, my neighbor called. She had been praying for chicken just the night before!  She said she was pouring her heart out to God, ‘I don’t need a lot, just a little extra chicken in the freezer would be nice.’” 

Wes chimed in, “God had the chicken ready to go even before the lady prayed for it.”

SUCH A LOVING GOD

Grandpa thought a moment. “I know what you mean Wes.  He is such a loving God.  God answered your neighbor’s prayer through your mom’s problem.  Your family also blessed – the open freezer was discovered before all the food went totally bad.  I love the verse: My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need. (Philippians 4:19) Wes, do you want to pray for us today?”

Wes bowed his head. “God, thank-you for using my mistake of leaving the freezer door open so that our neighbor could have her chicken prayers answered.”

“And Lord, please help Wes remember that freezer doors are supposed to be closed, otherwise all our ice cream will melt,” Kimmy added.

And all the family said, “Amen!”

Questions:

  • What did Mom have too much of?
  • Why was she grumpy?
  • Instead of being grumpy, what did she choose to do?
  • How did God use Mom’s overabundance of chicken to help the neighbor?
  • What does God promise in Philippians 4:19

Prayer time: thank God for everything He has done today