Word - Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

We Have the One Thing We Need

September 10, 2015 by Ellen 14 Comments

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you…” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Look at this! I need it. It would really help me. Oooh, look, if I had that I’d be set!

If I had the confidence (or brains, looks, opportunities, money, time, health) that she/he has, I could do so much. If I had this ONE thing. THE thing that would make life easier and better, I could soar like an eagle!

Imagine now if I had all that. The danger would be that I would think I was all that. Puffed up with pride, I would be walking around confident in my own strength and abilities. I would be “Miss Thang” in all her glory. I wouldn’t need help from anyone or anything. I would only need myself.

The apostle Paul had a “thorn in his flesh” that was so painful he called it a “messenger of Satan.” Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly what the thorn was, but it was a physical pain that caused Paul much distress. If he could just get rid of that one thing he would be healthy, pain free and able to continue his ministry. He begged Jesus three times for it to be removed.

“Please Lord, remove this pain! Please! Please!”

And Jesus simply told him “My grace is sufficient for you…”

What’s your One Thing? The one thing that never seems to come your way. The thing you can’t seem to grasp. What one thing would make the hard days bearable? What would your life be like if you had it? Easier? More productive? Would you be boldly confident in your own abilities?

As followers of Christ, we have the one thing we need. And that is His grace. It is sufficient for all our needs, all our trials and every difficult situation in which we find ourselves.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines sufficient like this: enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end.

His grace is sufficient to meet all our needs; it is sufficient for every situation; and it is sufficient to carry us through to His proposed outcome. His gracious power overcomes our every weakness.

When you are fearful, His grace will be your courage. When you don’t know, His grace will be your wisdom. When you are weak, His grace is your power. When you think you can’t take one more step, His grace will carry you.

I don’t naturally tend to rely on the grace of Christ, do you? I tend towards stubbornness, independence and self-sufficiency. But I have had trials and thorns in my flesh that bring me to the end of myself. That’s when I remember: His grace is sufficient.

Let’s bury this scriptural truth deep in our hearts and let it whisper to our souls:
His grace is sufficient…His grace is sufficient.

Rest in Jesus, The All Sufficient One. Walk confidently in the grace of Christ, knowing it is all you need.

Until next week,

Joining these lovely writers. Be sure to visit their pages, you’ll be encouraged!

Suzie Eller, Live Free Thursday

Kelly at Purposeful Faith

Holly at Testimony Tuesday

Crystal at Intentionally Pursuing the Heart of God

Winter at Words with Winter

Jennifer at Tell His Story

Your Dream Home is Waiting for You

August 27, 2015 by Ellen 12 Comments

One of the hardest things after Mama died was letting her house go back to the bank. She and Daddy had taken out a second mortgage; none of us could afford to keep their house. It was a sad thing, letting that house go.

We didn’t really love the house, and none of us wanted it. It was musty, old and smelled of cigarette smoke. It had more wrong with it than right. But it was home for Mama, and when we would visit, she made it home for us. It was where we all got together, cooked, laughed and shared life.

And even though we didn’t love the house, we loved the memories of home that were made there. One time, when Mama and Daddy both happened to be in the hospital, my sister-in-law and I spent the night at the house, to make sure all was well. That night we learned plumbing. Because when the toilet doesn’t work, you have to learn plumbing.

Tammy and I slept on the recliners in the living room. We couldn’t get the gas heater to work, and it was cold in the back bedrooms. Or maybe we just wanted to be in the same room. Because you know the boogey man lives in the back woods of Mississippi.

One night, when I was there alone, I pushed back the curtains on the sliding glass door, and was startled at the person staring at me from the patio. It took about three or four seconds before I recognized my own reflection. But it could have been the boogey man.

Occasionally I get homesick for the smell of pine trees. I long for Daddy’s homemade yeast rolls dripping with butter, and playing the washer board game out back. I listen for Mama’s “Hey darlin’!”

Nothing can compare to home. I wonder what makes it so magical, what draws us? I believe it’s because our roots are there. It’s our foundation. It’s a safe place.

Maybe you didn’t have that foundation, that place you always went “home” to, like I did. Maybe you don’t have fond memories of home. Perhaps it wasn’t safe for you at all, and you long for a refuge, your very own safe place. It’s something you’ve never had.

Let me be the first to say: Welcome home!

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? John 14:2 (NLT)

Jesus has a home prepared for you. He’s getting your rooms ready. There is more than enough space for you to spread out. There is an abundance of love to be poured out on you.

And what about the city where your home is located? Its Architect and Builder is God. The city’s foundations are firm and permanent. It is a forever city and will have your forever home on its streets.

Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. Hebrews 11:10 (NLT)

God set eternity in our hearts, and built a city for our home, and Jesus is preparing it for us. That warms my heart!

I can almost smell the homemade yeast rolls, can’t you?