From Shades of Night

Good morning, Dear Friends and Family,

It's a cool sunny morning here in NC. It appears fall may be around the corner. The leaves are just starting to turn. I so much love this time of year.

I'm sitting in my recliner with my vibrator, heat on my back. It feels so good.

I just finished reading aloud, Ephesians 1 and 2. Whew! What a wonderful "dose." I think I'll go in the strength of it all week! Chapter two was titled, "Saved by Grace." As I was reading aloud for Jon and me, I had to keep pausing.........it was just too overwhelming! From verse one to verse six, I was taken from the depths of despair to heights of glory.

Paul reminded me that in time past I walked according to this World, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and was by nature a child of God's wrath. How awful! How hopeless! How dark!

Then verse four:

But God...

What about God? Who is rich in mercy! Who has great love! Who even when we were dead in sin, quickened us! Raised us up! And...

Made us to sit together with Him in heavenly places.

That in ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus! For by grace are we saved by faith.

Wow! That's what I call transformation! That's what I call change! That God should love a sinner such as I, how wonderful is love like this!

This morning, I'm aching from head to toe! I feel paralyzed in the grip of physical pain. But I'm soaring with the eagles in my soul! Suddenly even my temporal doesn't seem so important! I'm sitting with Jesus in Heavenly places!

Once again, He has spoken to me through His precious Word! God is so good, always, all the time!

FROM SINKING SAND HE LIFTED ME — HE LIFTED ME

In loving kindness Jesus came

My soul in mercy to reclaim,

And from the depths of sin and shame
Through grace he lifted me.

From sinking sand he lifted me,
With tender hand he lifted me,
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise his name, he lifted me!

He called me long before I heard,
Before my sinful heart was stirred,
But when I took him at his word,
Forgiv'n he lifted me.

His brow was pierced with many a thorn,
His hands by cruel nails were torn,
When from my guilt and grief, forlorn,
In love he lifted me.

Now on a higher plane I dwell,
And with my soul I know 'tis well;
Yet how or why, I cannot tell,
He should have lifted me.

Hope your day is blessed,

Linda