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Just Enough Grace

Valerie Basham

August 29, 2011

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

When my husband was 16 years old, he began having severe pain in his lower back. After taking medication for many days with no relief, his parents took him to the doctor. They discovered through ultrasound that one of his kidneys was the size of a basketball. Further tests revealed that a vein had been attached to his ureter since birth. As he grew, the vein grew, finally closing off the ureter so that the kidney could not be emptied. By God’s great mercy and blessing, the doctors were able to remove his kidney, repair the problem and then replace the kidney. It now functions normally!

He told me that while he was in the hospital, they gave him a morphine pump. When he needed pain relief, he need only to press a button, and morphine would go into his IV and into his blood stream. He often wanted more than the prescribed amount to relieve the pain from the 12 inch cut they had made in his side. He said, “I would push the button over and over, but it would only release the morphine after a certain amount of time had passed since the last dose had been released.” In other words, the medical staff had made it possible for him to get pain relief on demand, but within reason. Obviously, if they had let him take as much as he wanted when he wanted, he could have overdosed and died.

Sometimes, I feel as though I’m not getting any help from the Lord, I’m not getting any “pain relief”. Then I realize that I’m borrowing trouble, I’m fretting over something that may or may not happen. In those times, I don’t need any grace, I need to re-focus. I need to stop worrying! He gives me the grace I need, when I need it. I may want grace for tomorrow, but I don’t get it, not until tomorrow comes. I get the grace I need for today, for my current problem. Then tomorrow, I’ll get the grace I need for that time. Day by day, moment by moment, I receive the help and strength that I need. Not a moment too soon, and not a moment too late. Right on time.

Just when life gets unbearable in the present, I cry out – I press the “pump”- and guess what? I receive the relief I need. He sends me an encouraging email or card from a friend. He allows me an up-close look at His amazing Hummingbird. He helps me to see the many blessings I’ve overlooked. He reminds me of the heroes of the Bible. For instance, when I feel forsaken, I remember how Hagar felt the same way after Sarah forced her to leave. She was ready to die, but God saw her and He took care of her.(Gen.21:14-19) God knows where I am, too. He will take care of me.

And in the process, I can boldly say with Paul, “His grace is sufficient!”

Because of Jesus

Valerie Basham

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August 29, 2011

Genesis 39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and overall that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

As I read this verse, I noticed that God blessed the lost world because of Joseph. Joseph followed God and trusted Him, even though he was hated (for no good reason) and falsely accused of a wrong doing. I’m not sure if Joseph was aware that God was blessing Potiphar because of him or not. Because you honor God in your life, you may have no idea how God is blessing those around you, because of your testimony. One blessing that a lost person receives because of you, is that you are saved. You have the ability to share with them how they, too, can meet the Master. What a life changing effect you can have! I pray that we all get the opportunity to share Christ with someone this week. Wouldn’t it be great to see someone birthed into God’s family because of our witness?

But not only that, I believe Joseph is a picture of Jesus here. How unworthy I am to receive blessings from my Heavenly Father! I would receive none at all were it not for Jesus’ righteousness being imputed upon me! When God looks at me, He sees Jesus, and He treats me as such. He has a place in Heaven prepared for me; I can converse with Him at any time, day or night; I hear His voice through the pages of His Word; I feel His correction and experience His forgiveness and mercy and comfort. The list could go on and on! I daily receive multitudes of blessings because of Jesus. And I’m so very grateful!

The First

Valerie Basham

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August 27, 2011

I will never forget this day, and what it represents. I became a mother for the first time, twelve years ago today. I was very far from home, with no family around. The nurses had kept her on a warming table for the first four hours after she was born, because her temperature wouldn’t stay high enough for some reason. Finally, it stayed up and I got to hold her. I can still see her dark blue eyes as they looked up at me for the first time!

When she had to go to the nursery for random tests and paperwork, I got all cleaned up. As I was finishing up in the bathroom, I heard the nurse wheel her into my room. Lauren had started whimpering a little. The nurse soothed her and said, “Awww, do you want your mother?”

Do you want your mother? Mother. That was me.

The weight of the reality came down upon me like a ton of bricks, but with that weight came the greatest joy my heart had known since the day I got saved and the day I got married. Truly, this was a high point in my life. I had kept myself for my husband, and we had saved ourselves for one another till marriage. And now, the Lord had graciously allowed us to have a child – a tiny miracle with a smile that would melt your heart! Her name was Lauren Kassidy. She weighed 7 pounds at birth and was 19 1/2 inches long. She loved to be rocked. She slept easily. She was, and is, beautiful.

And now, she is 12. She is growing up so fast, just like everyone said she would. I have made mistakes. I have not been as good a mother to her as mine was (and is) to me. I have had to say to her “I’m sorry.” And I’ve been blessed by her sweet smile and her “It’s okay, Mom.” She has accepted Christ, she has given her life to Him, to do whatever He wants. She loves her siblings and a finer big sister I could not ask for. She watches out for them, loves them and takes up for them. She loves the great outdoors, Star Wars and bike riding. She likes to cook, bake and read. She plays the piano and mows the lawn.

I cannot hold her in my arms at night and rock her anymore, but I will hold her in my heart forever.

Happy birthday, sweet Lauren. “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.”(From the story book we’ve enjoyed many times together, Love You Forever.)

Love,

Painful Words, Painful Wounds

Valerie Basham

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August 26, 2011

Proverbs 26:22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

I completely understand this verse. For the past year, maybe a bit more than that, we’ve been dealing with talebearers. In modern lingo: Liars! Their lies have been spread around so much that there’s no way to tell with whom it originated. And it hurts. Deeply. I have struggled with my flesh, wanting to right the wrongs, to defend myself, to tell them off! Then, the Lord says to me, “Whoa, girl! Think about that! You’d be just like they are; you’d be stooping to their level.” My flesh says, “Oh yay! That will feel so good! Let’s do it!” Then the Lord says, “No, that will just add more sorrow to your life in the long-run! Think about how Jesus answered liars, He opened not His mouth! You want to be like Him don’t you? If you react that way, that’s not being like Him at all!” Reluctantly, I force my flesh to do the right thing, but it’s no fun!

But the damage has been done; the wounds are there. The next time I hear the lies, the scab is ripped off those wounds and they bleed anew. The cycle repeats itself. So far, I’ve heeded the Lord’s prompting and not retaliated. But it’s a fight. Have others wounded you with their words? Here are some verses that help me deal with those times.

Is. 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Prov. 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Prov. 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

1 Pet. 5:7 Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for you.

Luke 6:31-34

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Psa 64:1-10

(1) To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

(2) Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

(3) Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

(4) That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

(5) They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

(6) They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

(7) But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

(8) So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

(9) And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

(10) The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

I apologize for the lengthy post today, but this really encouraged me. I needed these words today. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to write all of this out. It has really helped me.

It’s That Time Already?

Valerie Basham

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August 26, 2011

A couple of men in the church came by to “sweep” our church yard. They were able to use an attachment on the back of the lawn mower that swept up fallen leaves and pine needles and left them for the city to come bye and vacuum up. Yes, our city has a big vacuum cleaner that goes around sucking up dead leaves and pine needles!

We usually don’t have to do this until fall is well under way, say around October-November. But, this year it’s been so dry, the poor pine trees starting shedding their dead needles early. They need moisture and less heat – neither of which are in the forecast.

Here’s a photo of the vacuum truck!

It sure was a hot day to do being “fall” work!

He Has the Answers

Valerie Basham

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August 25, 2011

John 6:5 When Jesus lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

In the passage today, the Lord and the disciples have 5,000 men, plus women and children, to feed. Jesus asks Philip, “What should we do?” Wow. The Creator of the universe asks a mere mortal what to do! The passage tells us that Jesus knew what He was going to do. He asked the question in order to “prove” or test Philip. Philip’s answer was one of human reasoning, not blind faith.

Each day I’m “tested” in my Christian life. I constantly see some area, new or old, in which I need to improve. Just when I think I’ve got a meek and quiet spirit, something happens and I blow up in front of the children. Just when I think I’ve got a discreet tongue, I let some bit of gossip or criticism slip out. Then, I realize that I thought I had those areas licked, and thinking that is a pride problem. There is always something! Perhaps the test is one similar to what Philip faced, like, where will I get food for today? Or, how will I pay this bill? How often do I view those dilemmas with human reasoning and try to figure a way out, rather than pray and let God work!

I wonder what would have happened if Philip had answered the Lord with something like, “Lord, You can handle this with no sweat. I can’t wait to see what You’ll do!” I wonder what would happen if I did that in my own life? I think I’ll do my best to face today by letting God handle the tests. When I do it myself, I always seem to fail. After all, He already knows what He will do, so I think I’ll just let Him do it.

A Burning, Shining Light

Valerie Basham

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August 24, 2011

John 5:35 He [John] was a burning and a shining light: …

Jesus tells us in John chapter 5 that John the Baptist was a “burning and a shining light.” I want to be a “shining light” for the Lord, as well. Oh, no, I’ll never be what John the Baptist was, but I can point others to Christ by life, just like he did! Matthew 5:16 says Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

I can point others to the One who saved me by my good works. But don’t be fooled, the world can tell when the good works are genuine, or just a show. They’ll know if we’re real when we get tested. Will we compromise? Will we truly trust the God of our salvation, or will we work out our problems ourselves? This will show whether or not our hearts’ desire is to glorify God or if we’re just trying to look good to man.

When others look at me, I hope they see a woman who loves the Lord. I also hope they see that I’m just a sinner, striving to glorify God (against my flesh) each and every day. I worry about those who never seem to struggle against the flesh. Either they aren’t genuinely serving the Lord, because God’s people will endure suffering (1 Peter 2:21) or they aren’t being real with me. And, personally, I like real.

May each of us glorify God with our works, and therefore shine a burning light into the darkness of this world!

Crispy Chicken

Valerie Basham

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August 24, 2011

I found this recipe buried deep within my recipe card file a few weeks ago. I made it quite a while ago…in fact, I think Lauren was only 2 when I made the first time, and I hadn’t made it since! I recently pulled it out, and tried it again. The kids loved it! I was so happy! It’s so easy, and really tasty. I hope your family will love it, too. 🙂

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal, coarsely crushed
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves.

Directions:
In a shallow bowl, combine cereal, flour and seasonings. Place butter in another bowl. Dip chicken in butter, then into cereal mixture. Place in greased baking pan or casserole dish. Drizzle with remaining butter. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20-25 minutes, or until juices run clear.

See for Yourself

Valerie Basham

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August 23, 2011

John 4:42 And said they unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.

I read this morning about the woman at the well. In the first verse of chapter four, Jesus is aware that the Pharisees are comparing His ministry with John’s. They see that Jesus is baptizing more disciples than John. When did they take opposing sides? When did it become a competition? In verse 3, Jesus departs to Galilee, but He goes through Samaria. It is there that He saves the woman at the well, along with the many people she witnesses to.

I am so tired of the “comparing” game. I’m so tired of preachers making the ministry all about themselves. We are all on the same side: Jesus’ side! We recently heard of a church that is hosting a preaching conference that is all about the memory of a dead preacher. What happened to making Christ the center of life, of service, of everything? As frustrating as the “comparers” are, it’s best to just stay focused on the work He’s given me. After all, Jesus didn’t attack the Pharisees and line them out. He departed and gave living water to a very needy woman. When comparisons start, or criticisms come, we can’t stop and take on those causes. We need to get busy, we need to “depart”, if you will, and think about those whom have never met our Savior!

I loved the verse above, where it tells us that the people the woman at the well witnessed to believed because they met Christ. We need to tell others about the Lord, but only they can experience Him for themselves. We can’t force Him down someone’s throat. But, if they talk to Him, if they listen to Him, they will never be the same. They will believe, because He is wonderful! It makes me think of the verse in Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Have you met Him? If you have, you know He is good, because you’ve heard and seen Him through faith for yourself.

Breakfast Table Moments

Valerie Basham

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August 23, 2011

I’ll never forget the peaceful mornings I spent at home as a child. I remember my Dad coming in to wake me up for school, leaning down in my face to say in a whisper, “Wake up, sleepy head! It’s time to get up.” I could smell the coffee on his breath and was a bit resentful at his chipper morning mood. I remember the smell of bacon and eggs they were making for breakfast. I was a milk and cereal girl, myself.

I remember our Saturday morning routine. On those days, Dad didn’t wake me up! The smell of his homemade pancakes wafting into my room did though! I remember wrapping myself in my fuzzy robe, pushing my hair out of my face as it lay in all different directions. I slipped on my houseshoes, because Mother hated seeing bare feet in chilly weather. I sat in Dad’s recliner, waking up. Soon, I’d dig in to some yummy homemade blueberry pancakes doused in syrup. I can taste them now!

After Dad ate, he’d pull out his well worn Bible and begin the reading for the day. I remember when he read Psalm 34 aloud. I remember how tender his voice got as he read verse six. “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” His voice was soft. His eyes were glistening. “I love that verse.” He’d say. “That’s what the Lord did for me.”

I don’t think he knew then that I would remember. I don’t think he realized I was paying attention. But I was. It’s been about 20 years since that breakfast-table moment took place. But I remember. Just like it was yesterday, I can bring it all back.

******

I remember the day it arrived. It wasn’t a happy day, but it was another step toward closure. I approached it with some trepidation, just as I did the coffin holding his body in the funeral home. Was this real? I wondered. Or is this all a terrible dream? As I crunched through the fallen leaves, holding my jacket around me to keep out the wind, I looked down at the block of gray stone that bore my Dad’s name. Beneath the dates were these words:

Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

My mind raced back in time to the breakfast table from years gone by. I knew these were the right words for this man – my father, my friend.

They’re the right words for me, too. I was so poor, so needy, I had no one. But Dad and Mom showed me the way. They pointed with their lives to the One who could save me from all of my troubles. And He has.

With love,