Divine Influence

This morning I noticed a little phrase in Colossians 3:16. In fact, Colossians 3:12-16, pretty much sums up what could 'fix' us all, if we lived in and by it. The little phrase is this: "...singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." What does it mean to have grace to the Lord and to sing with this grace to Him?

Webster always throws a fresh light on things, even though he's been dead for years.

Under 'grace' in the dictionary, there is a theological definition.
The first one sounds familiar.

Grace is:
a) the unmerited love and favor of God toward man.

This is the grace that comes through Jesus Christ.

John describes Jesus as 'full of grace and truth.
Of His fullness we have all received,
and grace for grace.'

We've been given His fullness
and grace to receive and give grace.
Oh, to be filled with the fullness of God!
Full of grace and truth!
This is probably my favorite verse in the entire Bible.

Then, Webster gives two more theological definitions for grace.

Grace is also:
b)divine influence acting in man
and
c) the condition of a person thus influenced


The unmerited love and favor of God towards us
divinely influences us to give His unmerited love and favor to others.
And to ourselves.

And this grace also makes us a gracious person.
It becomes the condition in which we exist.

This grace affects our singing.
"Singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord."

This grace affects our speaking.
"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt,
that you may know how to answer each one." (Col.4:6)

This grace affects our strength.
"..be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
(11 Tim. 2:1)

This grace affects our hearts.
"...it is good that the heart be established by grace."
(Hebrews 13:9)
Establish=to make stable;settle
A stable, settled heart because of grace.

This grace affects our stewardship.
"As each one has received a gift,
minister it to one another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
(1 Peter 4:10)

Get this.

Manifold means 'having many and various forms and parts.'

A steward is a 'keeper;
one who is in charge of the affairs
of a large estate.'

We are keepers of the large estate
of the many and various
forms of the grace of God!
We are keepers of grace
to give it away!

This grace also grows.
"..but grow in the grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
(11 Peter 3:18)

Grace is living.
Never stagnant.

It grows as we receive His grace
and give His grace
and sing with grace
and speak with grace
and are strengthened with grace
and are established with grace
and are keepers of grace.

Being filled with grace
and operating out of His grace
will make us people of grace.

If we live in this grace
we won't operate out of our insecurities
about what others think of us.
We will give them grace.

We'll have grace to give grace
and grace to receive grace.

For just as we must give grace to those who do not deserve it
so others must rely on grace when they are relating to us
when we least deserve grace.

It's all about grace.

And of His fullness we have all received,
and grace for grace.

Hertzler Doings~March 26-April1, 2012

Mon.-Psalm 138:3,7,8-"In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands."
Naomi called. Made plans to spent Thurs. and Fri. night with her this week. Susan took a history test and worked for several hours on her eggs. Janelle sent a picture of a snake to us on face book and then called, asking for help in identifying it. She had been cutting some herbs and realized that it was dangling just a few inches away from her. I told her who to contact and right away that person said that it was a Corn Snake and would do only good. Now Micah wants to keep it as a pet. Booked hotel room for CS weekend. Washed clothes and tidied up house and went for an adventurous drive on the gator down to our river and the river over at O'Brien's. Got stuck in the mud over there and was several miles away from the main road. It would have been a long, mountainous walk back to the main road. Thankfully, God helped me. I began to put twigs, etc. down to cause some traction. I wrote about it in 'Carpet of Blue.' In the evening, Susan and I went to Cornerstone Christian Academy to see their spring Recitatio. It was great. They should take it on the road. The older students quoted from memory facts about the twentieth century, one decade at a time. They would feature one of the facts with a song, dance, or speech. It was wonderful to see the teachers and students too. Oh! Even Elvis showed up. It was a complete surprise to the kids.

721-Thankful for the song that Mikayla and Sidney sang for me in the gym after the program.
722-Thankful for friends who are still friends even when I haven't seen or talked to them for awhile.
723-Thankful for God's blessing on CCA.
724-Thankful that God literally delivered me out of the miry clay. I was really thankful. I was beginning to feel like 'Survivor Woman.'

(I'm writing this on my new laptop and can't seem to save it so I guess I'll print it right away. That should make Gil happy.)

Tues.-"He loves me too, He loves me too, I know He loves me too..." Susan is learning a lot about taking care of a baby calf and not everything is pleasant. We went out to homeschool co-op and ran some errands. I had lunch with DDF and then picked up Susan and we met Judy and another friend at Sweet Frog. We spent a nice hour together, catching up and just being together. Phil heard from the boxer people and Susan likes the picture of the puppy that was sent our way. She's dipping eggs tonight, Phil is catching up on paper work, I'm thinking about cleaning off my messy desk and getting ready for the week ahead, Philip is at a cattlemen's meeting, and I talked with Michael and he was on his way to Buffalo wild wings.

725-I am thankful for my younger friend, who always brings me back to the gospel and what it teaches. She is young in the faith, as far as years, but she is way beyond me in her pursuit of God and her desire to obey Him. She asks me questions but I have so much to learn from her.
726-I am thankful for the loaded trust-filled question I was asked today. After consulting with every family member, we said, "Yes."
727-That love keeps a record of rights and believes the best about people even if they might not deserve it.

Wed.-(I haven't been able to blog for at least a week, due to being away, and due to blogger switching over to google and messing up my style. Lindsay has put it all back together for me and I am writing this a whole week late. I have some notes and will go from them.)
Today, at Mom's and More, Lindsay texted Ginger and Ginger read her note aloud. Lindsay said that I was one of the ten finalists for the Zondervan New NIV Mom's devotional Bible writing competition. That made me so happy! Lindsay is even more 'stoked' than I am. People can vote for my writing and we'll find out the final results on April 14. Had lunch with Dianna and Friends. Shopped at Belk's. Susan and two of her friends went to see 'The Hunger Games'. (Oops-I had earlier written 'Hunting' Games. I went with them. They wanted to be independent and guardianless, so I sat in back, far away from them. The movie is very disturbing. The one girl had read all of the books and said that there are more movies coming out. I told her that there had better be a revolution among the people and she said that there is. I had to think about abortion and Hitler and something else that hasn't quite revealed itself to me yet. Finished packing in the eve.

Thurs.-Left around 8 and got to Mother's new place around 5. She moved to an assisted living location at her retirement home. She has one room now, instead of a nice sized carriage house. It's lovely but it is different. Change is hard. Redbuds are losing their bloom in Va. but as I traveled north, the pink trees were at their finest. Spring is coming to Lancaster County. There are so many beautiful shades of green covering rich loamy soil. I ate supper with Mother in the dining room and watched Jeopardy at 7. She has a waterfall outside her window and a gazebo and a flower garden. I liked telling her that her blog-I.B.Lieve, has had nearly 2,000 page views. I went outside after supper to get her the lilacs I had brought from home. I went out the wrong door and couldn't get back in. I got seriously lost and didn't find my way back until after a long walk and 20-30 min. of trying. Got to Naomi's around 8 and we talked and laughed with Ashley, Krissy, and then, Mabe. What a good home this is.

Fri.-Had a nice leisurely breakfast with Naomi after sleeping straight through the night. Homemade granola, vanilla yogurt, fruit, and coffee with cinnabon creamer. Met Rosalee at Mothers soon after 9. Worked on her other house and sorted through some things. Went to Lickety Split for take out lunch and brought it back to Mother's. Went back and worked in the afternoon. Abie came and put up more pictures and a mirror for Mother. Ate supper with Mother and picked up Amber's marathon bag at the front entrance. Got to hear Janet Oberholtzer speak for about 10 min. I had seen her book in the lobby and walked over to it. I recognized the cover. Jerry, Janet's husband, said, "Hi." Oh, I said. I recognized your wife's legs before I recognized you. Then he told me she was speaking so I snuck in and sat in the back. She did see me and face booked me. I hadn't wanted to 'throw' her concentration, but she didn't mind. She is an excellent speaker. Buy her book, "Because I can." It tells her journey about a life threatening accident where she nearly lost one leg and now she is running again. I'm so proud of her. Went back to Naomi's. Amber and Brayden were there. We decided to refer to me as 'Aunt Annette' and when I got up to go somewhere, Brayden, 3, said, "Where is Clarinet going?" Morgan was home from Temple. It was great to be around all of the girls at one time. Coffee and chocolate cookies for bedtime snack and I slept on the cot in the computer room. Michael called today and requested that I write more of my memories of childhood, grandparents, etc. on my blog.

Sat.-Woke up to a happy little voice in the house. Went to Squire Side Cafe with Mabe, Naomi, the girls, and Brayden. Amber was running in the marathon. Went over to Mother's. Rosalee and I worked over at the other place. Mabe and Naomi picked up my dry sink and wicker table and chairs. They are storing it for me until we get up with a truck. Got lunch from Lickety Split again. We were eating it in the lobby. A lady walked by with her Mennonite mother. I said, "You look really familiar....do you know my friend, Naomi Glick? She works at Auntie Anne's counselling center." The lady said, "I AM Auntie Anne." That was so cool. I had read her book at the shore and recognized her from her pictures. She is the Auntie Anne of the Auntie Anne's soft pretzels. She was taking her mama home over night. We introduced my mother and played the Mennonite Game. My mother told her that she had been a Landis and I said that the guys used to sing to her in the hallways at school, "Oh, Beulah Land...sweet Beulah Landis..." something like that anyway. Anne started to sing, "I've reached the land of corn and wine..." and we joined in, harmonizing, "and all it's riches freely mine...there shines undimmed one glorious day, when all my night shall pass away...Oh, Beulah Land, sweet Beulah land..." It was a precious time. Anne encouraged my mother, saying, "We don't always like the way life is here, but it will be worth it all some day." My mother told her that her cousin, Jake, owned the farm that Anne had bought to build the center. Jake still lives on the farm and Anne was going to give him greetings from his cousin, Beulah. Sometimes, it's really worth it to speak up and say, "Do I know you? You look familiar to me." I had supper with Mother and then said a hard good bye and went to spend the eve. and the night at Mom and Dad's. Had such a nice visit with them. Jim's, Pauls, and Joe's, came over, and little Jonathan was very lovey dovey with me, in spite of the fact he had a temp. of 102.5. First time being sick. Fever only symptom. Karen said he is that friendly with every one, so I guess I'm not so special after all. ;) Got to see Jim's boys and Karalee, too. Paul's hand is doing great. What a thrill to see how well it has healed. I took pictures so I could show Phil since we've only seen it wrapped up. Mom served us pumpkin custard and apple crisp. Later that eve, as I was getting ready for bed, I listened to the radio station the were playing in their room. Old hymns took me back to my childhood. "The Old Rugged Cross" and other songs. I found a note in Susan's childlike handwriting in the guest drawer. "I love you Grandpa and Grandma. Love, Susan Hertzler.

Sun.-Mom made me breakfast. We had a sweet time of prayer together and a group hug. Just Dad, Mom, and I. Then I said, "Now, I have to take you back to Va. with me." Left around 8:20 and got home around 4:20. We drove again in the eve., about 1 hour and 10 min. away, to check on Susan's week old boxer puppy. They weren't home. We decided to wait for 5 min. in the driveway, and glory be, they came! We hadn't been able to reach them via phone. Susan has posted pictures on face book and she looks like she's in love. I got to hold the little thing for a brief 5 seconds. It's good to be back home. I really truly can't wait until heaven, when we will no longer need to say good bye.

Carpet of Blue

The Virginia Blueballs are in full bloom down at our river. The heavy rain was hard on them but they still swing with beauty in the breezes of spring. They are a carpet of blue, covering the forest floor. A little poem came billowing into my mind and when I reached the house, I grabbed pen and paper and jotted it down.

"O' gathered bells of heaven's blue,
Ringing and Singing, "He loves me, too."

As far in the wood as my eye can see,
They're ringing and singing His love for me."

Leaving our property here,
I ventured over to O'Brien's-
our other farm a few miles away.
I drove the gator on the main back road,
leaving Susan and Angel at home
to catch some sun's ray's on the porch.

Once there, I took some panaromic pictures of pretty red buds
parading their paintings of pink in the pasture.

Then I drove the gator down the long rocky lane
to find the bluebells down at the river.

Alas, the heavy rains had bowled over the bluebells
and the bank was a mass of mud.
I drove down into the land mine
and as I turned around to leave,
my back tires spun helplessly
in the very wet mud.

I put it in four wheel drive
and I think that made it worse.

The sun was hot.
I pulled out my phone to call Susan,
thinking she could come down to get me
on the four-wheeler.
My phone had no reception
and as I took note of that fact,
the battery died.

I started to pray.
"Jesus, help me."
I began laying down twigs
in front and in back of the front
and back tires.
Slowly, about a foot at a time,
I began plowing my way
out of the mudslide.

This went on for quite some time
and finally,
after using nearly all the available debris
in the area,
I gained enough momentum
to spin onto more solid ground.

My feet, hands, and clothes,
were smathered in mud
and the gator had clumps of brown matter
all along its' sides.

I should have known better than to drive down into
that mudhole,
and I'm not sure why I did it.

Next time I venture so far from home
wearing only crocs on my feet
and having no cell reception,
I'll work it out with Susan ahead of time,
saying something like,
"If I'm not home in an hour,
come looking for me."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Psalm 40:1-3-
"I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth-
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD."