grace Archives - Laurie Hopkins

June 22 2020

When Grace Is Everything And Relationship Is Even More

When Grace Is Everything and Relationship Is Even More

Hi there and welcome to the table – if you are new here, grab a hot drink in your favourite cup and pull up a chair – we are happy you have joined us! Today we are going to chat about “When Grace Is Everything And Relationship Is Even More”.

Upside Down

The world is upside down – yes, I said it! Of late, I do not really know what else to say. I asked the Lord what to do in an upside-down world and He reminded me that the Gospel turns the world “upside-down”, so if it is upside down already, it is an opportunity to turn the world “right side up”.

What Does That Look Like?

Although it sounded right, I was not sure how to get my head around it, so I asked the Lord – can you tell me what that looks like in this season? And He gave me two words: Grace and Relationship.

What Is Grace Anyway?

What is grace anyway? Simplified, grace is unmerited favour. Grace is favour we do not deserve. God’s grace gave us His Son, Jesus, when we were still estranged from Him. God’s grace sustains us in the day-to-day, allowing us the confidence to get back up and keep going every time we fall or fail. The wonderful thing about grace – it comes from a place of love, not condemnation. Grace does not say, “because you don’t know better, I will show you favour”. Rather, grace says, “because I have a heart for you because you are precious in the eyes of the Lord and therefore in my eyes, I will come alongside and not only show you favour in this instant, I will be favour for you”. See the difference?

What Does Grace Look Like?

We are living in unsettled times. Every day, it seems, there is a new crisis or chaos. People are uncertain about, not only their future but for some, even their present. And it shows. It shows in their words, their behaviours and their actions.

Grace, in this season, looks very much like coming alongside. And coming alongside is another word for building relationships.

Relationship Is

Sometimes we get a bit stuck when we think of building relationships. Our mind immediately goes to complicated, time-consuming activities with other people. And to be quite honest, many of us are in a place ourselves, where we just do not have that in us.

I am here to tell you today that it does not have to be complicated and time-consuming. Yes, relationships require time and effort, but as Christians, we were created to build relationships.

When God created Adam and Eve, He walked with them in the garden in the cool of the evening. That is relationship. When Jesus came He was surrounded by those that “followed” Him, but He took the time to choose 12 to “surround” Him. That is relationship. In Acts we read that on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given and received, they were all “in one accord, in one place (Acts 2: 1). That is relationship.

Relationship is just being consistently present with others. Not necessarily physically present, but visible in their lives. It requires doing so in a genuine manner – not to say you did, for personal gain or because you have to, but because you want to. Where does that “want to” come from? It comes from a place of love.

Practical Christianity In 2020

We are called to grace and relationship in an upside-down world. This is a season of opportunity. We can open ourselves up to the Father and allow His love to touch our hearts, that our hearts, in turn, may touch the hearts of an upside-down world.

We need to move in love, not condemnation. We need to respond rather than reacting to the words, behaviours and actions. Responding is easier when we know ahead of time where we stand and in what vein we will answer. Choosing to answer from a place of grace, in love, rather than condemnation is a solid foundation. Then coming alongside and moving in relationship will be a natural response.

This is not the time to shrink back, isolate into our own little circles and protect ourselves. This is the time to step out, reach out, build longer tables, and invite new friends to join us there.

Relationship does not have to be gathering people together in large groups, talking about touch issues and hugging everyone. It is more about checking on people, being genuine and listening and doing this in a consistent way. No jumping in and out when you get busy or do not like what you are hearing. Remember grace comes from a place of love, the love of the Father, not from a place of obligation or duty. You cannot fake it until you make it – that hour has passed. This is a new hour, where, in the midst of confusion, chaos and uncertainty, people are seeking solid, truthful, honest and consistent interactions with those that profess the name of Jesus.

What I Know

No one promised it would be easy. But we know without a shadow of a doubt that it will be worth it! We are those that profess that most precious name so let us commit to walking in grace and relationship in this season. What a wonderful opportunity we have to turn an upside-down world back right side up.

Until Next Time

Well, my friend, it is that time again. My cup is empty and it is time to go. I love our chats together. Remember, talking is two ways so take a minute and share your thoughts in the comment box. I always love to hear from you!

Your Turn To Comment

As always, there are many ways to stay in touch. I would love to hear from you! Let me know how our chats around the kitchen table are going and drop a note about what things you would like to chat about.

Email laurie@lauriehopkins.ca

Professional Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LaurieHopkinsthisisabundantlife/

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.ca/LaurieHopkins10/

Comment section at the end of each blog

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

Laurie

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January 13 2020

When We Want Fairness But Really Need Grace –When Mindsets Need to Shift

Hello, my dear friend. So happy to see you back at the table for a chat. Last time I asked you to share your word for the year. We got some good words: expectancy, prayer, “make room at my table”, consistency, trust, “no more walls”. What a great start to the year! If you weren’t here last time, feel free to join us and share your word for the year in the comment section below the blog. I am excited to see what God has in store for all of us and we move in 2020. So, grab your warm cup of something and choose a chair. This week we are going to talk about When We Want Fairness But Really Need Grace: When Mindsets Need to Shift

It Is Time To Shift Our Thinking

I believe that 2020 is a year in which we need to shift our thinking. I think that we so often get caught up in our mind “habits” that we miss out on seeing things in a new and refreshing way. This week I would like for us to consider “What if there is something better?” with regards to 3 mindsets or ways of thinking, that I believe need to switch in 2020.

Matthew 20

Early last week in my devotional time, I was reading in Matthew 20. I read the story of the landowner who went out into the market at various times throughout the day and hired men to go and work in his vineyard. At the end of the day when it was time to receive their pay, we read the following:

So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ “And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. “But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.

“And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, “saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ‘Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. ‘Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’

So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen. Matthew 20:8-16 (NKJV)

Fair is Fair

From an early age, we teach about fairness. We believe that fairness is the king of the playground; and if we only applied it to the world around us as we grow from children to adults, then everything will be ok. When I think of the word fair I think of the word deserve. If things are fair, I am getting what I deserve and you are getting what you deserve. Therefore, when we fight for fairness, what we are fighting for is what we deserve.

When I Get What I Deserve But Someone Else Gets More Than They Deserve

Let’s look at this more closely. When we read the Biblical account above of the workers in the vineyard, we see that the landowner was accused of not “playing fair” when paying the workers. Those who were hired early in the day complained because those that were hired later in the day received the same amount of pay. But when we look more closely we see that those who complained actually got what they deserved – they were paid according to what they were promised. Therefore, we could say their pay was fair. They were paid what they deserved. The problem comes when the workers who started later in the day got more than they deserved. So the question of fairness is no longer about me getting what I deserve, it is also about others getting what they do not deserve.

What If There Is Something Better?

What if there is something better than fairness? Sometimes we really don’t deserve anything at all? What if in those moments, we were treated with grace? Grace is defined as favour. Favour, unlike fairness, is independent of what you deserve. In the above account, those workers who got paid for the day and only worked part of the day received favour. Grace was shown to them.

What if we fought for grace rather than fairness?

What if we shifted our mindset to be content when we get what we deserved without looking at what other people are getting? That would require being able to rejoice when others prosper.

Rejoicing In The Prospering Of Others

We are often taught, subtly or not so subtly, to look out for our own interests. This mindset comes from a spirit of lack. We often operate from the belief that there is really not enough to go around. Therefore, if you have something, there will be less for me.

What If There Is Something Better?

What if there is something better than operating out of a spirit of lack? What if we understood and truly believed that our Heavenly Father owns the “cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10)? What if we could get our head around the fact that Jesus came, not just to save us, but so that we would have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10)? There is no lack in either of those statements. Yet, we often live from a place of lack. When we begin to live from a place of “there is enough to go around”, we will find that we are more able to rejoice in the prospering of others. We will know we have reached that place when we get what we deserve, or not, and the person beside us gets grace or favour and we are able to rejoice alongside them.

Excel

We are also taught in life to excel. To aim high and work hard and become all you can be. Unfortunately, over time, our concept of what it looks like to excel has changed. It is no longer work hard, use the gifts you have been given, and be the best you. Excelling has come to mean fame, fortune and notoriety. It involves rising as far to the top as you can all the while comparing yourself to those around you.

What If There Is Something Better?

At the end of the above parable, Jesus ends with the “lesson” for His disciples. “So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:16) Kingdom principles are different than the mindset of the world. In the Kingdom, the goal is not always rising to the top. We can excel in our lives by being obedient to the path the Lord has for us, living our best lives and still never achieve fame, fortune or notoriety.

What if we shifted our view of excelling? What if we choose to excel from a place of serving and obedience and allowed God to raise us up in due time. It would allow for grace instead of fairness, stop us from comparing ourselves to one another, and allow us to truly rejoice when others are prospering.

There Is Something Better

Grace is better than fairness.

Rejoicing in the prospering of others is better than looking out only for our own interests.

Excelling from a place of serving is better than seeking fame, fortune and notoriety.

What I Know

I know that mindsets can be difficult to shift. Recognizing that we need to shift is the first and most important step. Are you ready to make a shift in 2020? Let’s commit to doing this together this year. There is no need for anyone of us to float on our own. There is grace at this table. And there is freedom to be the real you, not the you that you feel you have to put out there. Peel off the mask and put it on the table. Think about which of these three mindsets you would like to work on.

Until Next Time

Well, my friends, my coffee cup is empty and the kitty cat is clamouring for some attention. Thanks so much for coming to the table. I value your presence, your commitment of time and your thoughts. This year I would love it if everyone would commit to taking a few minutes to share in the comment section of the blog after reading it. Let’s build a community that can chat, encourage and share with one another. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their word for the year.

Your Turn To Comment

There are several ways to participate in the blog this week:

1) share your word for the year if you haven’t already done so,

2) comment on some of the other words that were shared (they are in the first paragraph of this blog),

3) talk to us about today’s blog – what do you think about the 3 mindsets we talked about (fairness vs grace, looking out for oneself vs rejoicing in the prospering of others, excelling for fame, fortune or notoriety vs excelling in serving)

4) share which mindset you would like to tackle first,

5) share what you would like to chat about at this table,

6) just share!

NEW!

On the website, I have posted my word for the year and my Bible Verse for the year. I am planning for some changes to the site – help me out – what would you like to see on the website? Comment in the blog section.

Be In Touch

I’m at the kitchen table every day; drop by anytime for a chat! You can find me on:

Email laurie@lauriehopkins.ca

Professional Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GodsWritingDancer/

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.ca/LaurieHopkins10/

Comment section at the end of each blog

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

Laurie

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