Dear Reader, please understand that the content of what you see here did not easily make its way to this webpage.  Even before computers came on the scene technology had been my foe. Our home has been without a television for fourteen years because of my addiction.

Most recently when our PC died we were encouraged to try a Mac, which we now have.  The contention has continued as I have not yet learned how to do what I want to do on it; so much time is spent just trying to use the documents from our PC which are in booklet form.  I do not “love my Mac.” Nevertheless, I am here on January 28, 2011, blogging—something I NEVER wanted to do.  In my thinking, blogging was akin to clogging. (Imagine this 71-year woman with the short skirt on the dance floor.)

Second Childhood ~ New Legacy

Many years before I ever wanted to use a computer God had drawn me to his Word, The Holy Bible.  Through my study, and prayer, He revealed Himself to me in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.   Since then hundreds of articles, poems, essays, booklets, and books have been written of the experience of God’s grace in my life, (most writings being relegated to a Posthumous File.) My long-range plans for retirement was to be a simple wife, living a simple life, enjoying my husband and family, attending church without my services being required. All I wanted, as I had learned to wait on God, was for Him to “show me His ways, teach me His paths, lead me in His truth,” for me to do His will as humbly and simply as He would enable me to do.  He had always given me “the will, the zeal, and the skill” to do whatever He wanted me to do.

My union with Christ, not remaining stagnant, but always growing, and my communion with the Father, has been a result of His own working. By His grace, He has brought me to these latter years, and through many trials, rejoicing in Him.  This second childhood I am going through (I must be out of my mind to think that now is a good time to have books published, and to start a blog to be a support  for those who will read them,) needs more than my small bit of dust and time. This will require more wisdom, knowledge, and strength than this frail body is able to muster.

Filled, Fit, Fat, and Flourishing

The new birth in Christ that comes by-way-of the legacy of grace is like a second childhood experience.  The Father’s  inheritance comes through His Son, Jesus Christ~”For it pleased the Father that in Him all fulness dwell.”  (Colossians 1:19)  “And of His fulness have we all received, grace for grace;” (KJV)  “grace upon grace.” (ESV.)

How can we be satisfied with half a legacy? “To whom much is given much is required.” More grace is promised and required for us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:18) To “taste of the Lord” is to see and know that “He is good.”  Just a taste will not do.  He promises that as we know and grow we shall be filled with “all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19)  It is a lifetime process.  A baby does not remain in a crib all his life, but is fed, happy and satisfied; and continues to be fed and to develop physically.  Like so, God, our Father makes us fit—enabling us to live the Christian life—to be “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; having delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”  (Colossians 1: 14)

At this age and stage are we to rebel and turn back?  I thought my life was full already.  Are we to sit back and rest on our laurels?  He promises that in old age His “righteous ones shall still bring forth fruit; they shall be fat and flourishing.” (Psalm 92:14)  God’s grace has no limits.  As long as we have breath we are His building, His field, His voice, His hands. Not physically able, nor mentally prepared, my dependence is solely upon the power of His Holy Spirit to work in me what He wants—what He is “exceeding abundantly” able to do in me. It will be more than we can ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

In the ministry of intercession my prayers continue for the working of His grace in the hearts and lives of His people—“earthen vessels” filled with the treasure of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:7)  As a vessel created and redeemed for His use my heart’s desire is to desire what He desires.

The possibilities for a new ministry through this website are overwhelming.  And having a tendency to be carried away, I ask that you pray for me to stay focused on Christ, who is the center of my life; and not on what I think He can do through me. There is the potential for addiction to this technology as there is to anything else.

Please pray for those whose hearts and hands will help me in this new endeavor to share God’s grace and His glory—for His glory and our joy.

Addicted to His Grace  ~  Fran