What She Said ~ Part 13 ~ Week 2
Grace Enjoyed: Delighting In Our God In The Ordinary Moments Of Life
by Sharon W. Betters
TODAY’S TREASURE
Dear Friends,
Our guest writer this week is Judie Puckett, author of Grace Enjoyed: Delighting In Our God In The Ordinary Moments Of Life. My sister, Jane Anne Wilson, one of our devotional narrators, told me about Judie’s book and recommended her as a guest writer. I’m so glad she did. From dirty dishes in a sink to cream in a cup of coffee, Judie helps us not only see but delight in our God in the ordinary moments of life.
In Wednesday’s devotional, Judie writes:
“The Coastal Delaware Running Festival hosts a race each spring. The route is a unique course in which participants run to a turn-around point, and then return on that same path. Therefore, at various spots along the race, you pass fellow runners.
My daughter and I loved this! Because each athlete wears a bib with their name and race number pinned to the front of their shirt, as we passed oncoming racers, we cheered for them by name. Many of them turned and looked at us with smiling yet puzzled faces, perhaps wondering, “Do I know them?” It was awesome to see their faces brighten and their paces quicken as the sound of their name was shouted.
So many aspects of the day remind me of the race we run as Christ followers—the endurance needed, the importance of fellow runners, the highs and lows of the course, the mile markers, the internal and external battles of the race, the thrill of the finish. It’s no wonder the image of a race is used so often in the Scriptures!
But what struck me most is the inspiration and drive to finish that infuses you when someone cheers for you. At several places along the route, non-runners set up chairs and sit by the road, waiting for competitors to pass. They shout, “You can do it! Keep going! You're almost there! You’re killing it!”
It’s amazing the spark these cheers ignite! Inspired by strangers’ cries, runners are determined to finish the race.”
Judie continues:
“Now imagine this. There is One in Heaven who knows your name. He plots your exact course, and He is your biggest fan. At every point along the race, He is there cheering your name. When you feel like you can't possibly go on, He reminds you that He is right there with you, and He will never leave your side. When the finish line feels too far away, He points you toward the prize and continues to cheer you on. When the aches and pains of the run make you want to quit, He gives supernatural strength. When you fall, He is there to pick you up, bind your wounds and carry you. He knows every ache of your past, every emotion of your present journey, and He has secured your future. ”
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Friends, unbeknownst to Judie, she has captured the purpose of Daily Treasure. These devotionals are one more way our God cheers us on, as our writers remind us of His faithfulness, kindness, unconditional love, and constant presence. Jesus often used the simple things of life to convey deep spiritual truth—Judie does the same for us through her writing, focusing on the “little things” that are really the big things.
Treasured by Him,
Sharon
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Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.