New Mercies

She looked up at me with sad eyes, completely helpless, and unable to free herself.  “Dahlia, girl, I feel like I spend the majority of my time untangling you from the trouble you get yourself into.” I said and smiled as I stooped down to unwind my new puppy’s leash from her legs and the legs of the kitchen table and chairs. 

I scooped her up and kissed her furry little face.  “Soon you’ll figure it out.  Sometimes it just takes a while to learn.” I said as I set her back down on the floor. 

And then it washed over me like a wave.  I thought of just how many times God has reached His hand down to free me from the tangles I’ve created.

He doesn’t scowl in anger when I turn my eyes to Him and tell Him that I’m lost and helpless without Him.  He responds in love because He is love.

I thought of the way He continually provides invitations and opportunities for me to grow and to be transformed.  He knows I’m learning and that I want to keep learning.  He sees my heart.  And although He wants better for me, He’s gentle and patient as I learn.

He wants me to be transformed into someone who lives and loves like Jesus just as much as I want that for myself, more, in fact.  But he knows my humanity and He’s aware of my struggles.  And He has a plan and a purpose for me, even if I sometimes struggle to follow it as well as I wish I did.

I thought of the people that God has placed into my life to journey with me to walk with me, to encourage me, and to grow with me so that maybe I get tangled a little less often.

And right there, with my new little puppy, I gave thanks for a God who cares enough about me to stoop down and show me love and compassion as I grow.

Lamentations 3:21-25

“Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.  I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”  The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.”

Philippians 1: 6, 9-11

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns… I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.  May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.