A Trophy of Grace by Kathie Luther
A Trophy of Grace
"The grace of God is that quality of His nature which is the source of
man’s undeserved favor and blessings, especially salvation through
Christ. The grace of God is fully disclosed by Christ and He is Himself
the complete statement of grace. He is the chosen vessel whereby God
shows His favor to sinful man. Where sin abounds, grace so much more
abounds. Romans 5:20 " (Harper’s Bible Dictionary)
"A trophy, on the other hand, (according to Webster’s Dictionary) is a
sign of victory, a token of an enemy’s defeat. It’s something taken from
the enemy and kept as a memorial of victory." Wonderful Webster! A
Christian, then, is a symbol of the devil’s defeat through the Blood and
Cross of Christ! We have been taken away from our arch enemy by the very
grace of God!
We are products of God’s grace, love, and mercy, but we are not formed
on an assembly line. We have God’s personal attention to shape us
individually. His own Hands have made us, His Holy Spirit lives inside
us. We are a constantly changing product, alive unto God. We will change
as quickly and as often as we surrender and yield to Him. However, our
carnal nature still exists and it’s a battle every day to not let the
influence of the world shape our thoughts, words, actions. It’s so easy
to let the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches spring up
as thorns and choke the Word in our hearts. This happened to me recently
[years ago now] and the thorns grew so slowly that I did not feel them.
I had become unfruitful in many ways. God showed me a dream so I would
see what I was really doing.
The dream is called:
THE HOLE IN MY FATHER’S HEART!
I see my Dad looking very sad and lonely as well as tired. I go over to
him and ask him what’s wrong. He tells me that he has a very large hole
in his heart, about half the size of his heart! He feels unwanted and
unhappy that I wanted "to make him feel useful" by having him help me
with my garage sales. I give him my full attention now. What is the
meaning of this? Well, I have a pole building that I sell antiques from
by having sales from time to time. I had done an antique show also. I
began to work with a website as well to sell my antiques on. This began
to consume my time and energy and my thoughts as well. I was not giving
my Father in Heaven my full attention, the intimate fellowship that His
heart longs for. He has an emotional hole in His heart, a void, an empty
spot that used to be filled with my attention, prayers, conversation,
praise, I had prayed for his blessings on my sales and the show. I had,
in effect, tried to make Him feel useful by asking for His help with my
sales. He did bless me but His heart ached for me. I know I will not
forget this parable or its message, His grace was extended to me in a
kind and gentle way as He showed me His heart. Once again, His love was
manifested to me and I became a trophy of His grace! I had His personal
attention given to me in order to get me back into shape.
Take the warning, the thorns grow so slowly that you may not notice
until too late and you have also caused a hole in your Father’s heart.
The Lord brought me to Job, chapter one in which Job loses all his
wealth, children, servants. A pointed reminder that everything I have is
in His hands. Naked I was born and surely I can take nothing with me out
of this world. Only things of eternal worth will last. Thank God that
where sin abounds, grace so much more abounds! I deserve no good thing
from my Father’s hand, I often waste what He’s given me. But by His
grace I have been bought with a Price! I endeavor to glorify Him for I
am not my own, I belong to Him. Read this poem and think of what you are
because of His grace:
A TROPHY OF GRACE
I am the good seed that brings forth much fruit
Because I am watered and have a deep root.
This earth isn’t home, in Heaven’s my place.
A crown and a mansion wait for this trophy of grace.
I am the wheat among tares because Jesus came
Gave me a new nature, saved me from the flame!
I’ll press toward the mark and I’ll win the race
Because of my Savior, I’m a trophy of grace!
I am the Pearl of Great Price which the Merchant has sought.
He gave up His all, with His Blood I’ve been bought!
Hopeless and lost ‘til my sins He erased,
I’ll walk streets of gold as a trophy of grace!
I am a Work in Progress, so have patience with me.
Though we are God’s children, we’re not yet what we’ll be!
I have never deserved to see Jesus’ face.
Oh, but I shall as a trophy of grace!
By Kathie Luther
A Trophy of Grace by Kathie Luther
A Trophy of Grace
"The grace of God is that quality of His nature which is the source of
man’s undeserved favor and blessings, especially salvation through
Christ. The grace of God is fully disclosed by Christ and He is Himself
the complete statement of grace. He is the chosen vessel whereby God
shows His favor to sinful man. Where sin abounds, grace so much more
abounds. Romans 5:20 " (Harper’s Bible Dictionary)
"A trophy, on the other hand, (according to Webster’s Dictionary) is a
sign of victory, a token of an enemy’s defeat. It’s something taken from
the enemy and kept as a memorial of victory." Wonderful Webster! A
Christian, then, is a symbol of the devil’s defeat through the Blood and
Cross of Christ! We have been taken away from our arch enemy by the very
grace of God!
We are products of God’s grace, love, and mercy, but we are not formed
on an assembly line. We have God’s personal attention to shape us
individually. His own Hands have made us, His Holy Spirit lives inside
us. We are a constantly changing product, alive unto God. We will change
as quickly and as often as we surrender and yield to Him. However, our
carnal nature still exists and it’s a battle every day to not let the
influence of the world shape our thoughts, words, actions. It’s so easy
to let the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches spring up
as thorns and choke the Word in our hearts. This happened to me recently
[years ago now] and the thorns grew so slowly that I did not feel them.
I had become unfruitful in many ways. God showed me a dream so I would
see what I was really doing.
The dream is called:
THE HOLE IN MY FATHER’S HEART!
I see my Dad looking very sad and lonely as well as tired. I go over to
him and ask him what’s wrong. He tells me that he has a very large hole
in his heart, about half the size of his heart! He feels unwanted and
unhappy that I wanted "to make him feel useful" by having him help me
with my garage sales. I give him my full attention now. What is the
meaning of this? Well, I have a pole building that I sell antiques from
by having sales from time to time. I had done an antique show also. I
began to work with a website as well to sell my antiques on. This began
to consume my time and energy and my thoughts as well. I was not giving
my Father in Heaven my full attention, the intimate fellowship that His
heart longs for. He has an emotional hole in His heart, a void, an empty
spot that used to be filled with my attention, prayers, conversation,
praise, I had prayed for his blessings on my sales and the show. I had,
in effect, tried to make Him feel useful by asking for His help with my
sales. He did bless me but His heart ached for me. I know I will not
forget this parable or its message, His grace was extended to me in a
kind and gentle way as He showed me His heart. Once again, His love was
manifested to me and I became a trophy of His grace! I had His personal
attention given to me in order to get me back into shape.
Take the warning, the thorns grow so slowly that you may not notice
until too late and you have also caused a hole in your Father’s heart.
The Lord brought me to Job, chapter one in which Job loses all his
wealth, children, servants. A pointed reminder that everything I have is
in His hands. Naked I was born and surely I can take nothing with me out
of this world. Only things of eternal worth will last. Thank God that
where sin abounds, grace so much more abounds! I deserve no good thing
from my Father’s hand, I often waste what He’s given me. But by His
grace I have been bought with a Price! I endeavor to glorify Him for I
am not my own, I belong to Him. Read this poem and think of what you are
because of His grace:
A TROPHY OF GRACE
I am the good seed that brings forth much fruit
Because I am watered and have a deep root.
This earth isn’t home, in Heaven’s my place.
A crown and a mansion wait for this trophy of grace.
I am the wheat among tares because Jesus came
Gave me a new nature, saved me from the flame!
I’ll press toward the mark and I’ll win the race
Because of my Savior, I’m a trophy of grace!
I am the Pearl of Great Price which the Merchant has sought.
He gave up His all, with His Blood I’ve been bought!
Hopeless and lost ‘til my sins He erased,
I’ll walk streets of gold as a trophy of grace!
I am a Work in Progress, so have patience with me.
Though we are God’s children, we’re not yet what we’ll be!
I have never deserved to see Jesus’ face.
Oh, but I shall as a trophy of grace!
By Kathie Luther