From Wild to Privileged

Romans 11:17-18 ESV

…you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

Born with surname, Savage, I lived to be wild. Steppenwolf’s song resonated within my lifestyle, “Born to Be Wild.” Being wild left me wanting more. I came out empty every time. A wild olive tree can not bear tasty fruit; it is sour and good for nothing.

I wanted to be nourished, loved and cared for. I wanted to be wanted. I took a taste of the cultivated olive tree with savory fruit. But then I became afraid. I thought, “How can Jesus love me after all I’ve done? How can I be a part of these people who probably have never done anything wrong?” I ran away from HIM. I went back to the only love I had ever known—ever so temporary and void. Lacking.

I ran until this broken off branch started to wither. Lying there wasting away. God is gracious! My name, Shonda, means God is gracious. By God’s loving grace, He picked up this broken and battered branch. He grafted me into the Root, who is Christ. Now I am nourished, loved, accepted and flourishing. I am privileged to share in blessing of Abraham.

Galatians 3:14 ESV

so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

“The church of God is an olive-tree, flourishing and fruitful as an olive, the fruit useful for the honour both of God and man.” ~~Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Be grafted into the Root. The Root, Christ Jesus, supports and nourishes the branches. We who are in Christ are privileged to be called as beautiful as an olive tree! (Hosea 14:6)

Engrafted by His Grace--

Rose Colored Glasses

I felt like I had it all together. Things were going well. Everything looked pretty and perfect. I didn’t have any problems so I busied myself trying to fix the problems with my husband, my children, and my friends.

Then – BAM! BANG! BOOM!

I got knocked in the head and my rose colored glasses fell off. That’s when I noticed I didn’t look so good after all. God revealed the deceit in my own heart.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV

The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?

"I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve."

To point out the faults of others comes so easily, but to examine my own self takes effort. Self-deception is to think that I’m better than I really am. Elevating myself over others. If this process were allowed to continue, eventually it will lead to self-destruction.

I’m thankful to God for His word which is alive and active and sharper than a two edge sword that penetrates the soul and spirit, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) I realized that I was easily condemning those around me that I love the most causing hurt and frustration. I stabbed at their hearts with my words that wounded. Life and death are in the words we speak and I spoke heart breaking words instead of life-giving words. My pious attitude caused pain in others.

There’s hope. Peter did not think he could mess up either. Jesus said at the Last Supper that Peter would deny him three times. Peter said, “no way! I would never deny my Lord!” Before Peter realized it he denied the Lord three times just as Christ told him. He wept bitterly. (Luke 22:54-62) Peter felt deep remorse over what he did.

I too felt deep remorse over using my mouth to sin. That is good news. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.” (2 Corinthians 7:10) No regrets in confessing my sins to a God who is faithful to forgive my sins. Repentance cleanses the soul of guilt.

To repent is to turn away from a sin. How do I keep my deceitful heart from deceiving me? I must change the way I think.

Romans 12:2 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

How do I let God transform the way I think? I transform by fighting the fight of faith in the spirit.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

When the thoughts come to me that someone else is wrong and I want to fix them, I must stop and ask God to examine my own heart. I started praying and asking the Lord to show me what I need to learn through this experience. I must ask the Lord to show me how He sees the situation and filter it through His Word.

I must remove my rose colored glasses to stop the self-deception and start the self-examination that leads to repentance and obedience and maturing in Christ!

Engrafted by His Grace-

Note: I am participating in a chronological Bible reading with Bev. For more information on joining us in the chronological reading, please visit Bev's blog.

One of Those Days...

Have you ever had one of those days that you space out, improvise and later regret it? Well perhaps this video will make you feel better...



Ya'll be blessed now ya hear!

Engrafted by His Grace--

My Helper

I must admit I’ve struggled up to this very day with the desire to be perfect. Yet I fall short every time.

I have become defensive when I’m told I need to do something I know needs to be done. Or I can be self-condemning if I don’t complete a project on time or just right. If things don’t turn out the way I expected or wanted, I keep on with it until I can complete it right. If for some reason it did not reach the level of success I wanted, then I could easily lose self-esteem and confidence.

Perhaps this tendency developed when I was a child. I wanted to please my parents, especially my dad. I wanted to be accepted and loved by him. When I brought home a report card with an “A”, he’d ask me is that the best you could do? If it was a 91, then you can get a 95. Try harder. I was always told to try harder no matter how I did. If it was something I knew I could not be good at, there was not any reason for trying.

I’ve struggled with this for many years and this past week it has come to my attention as I identified the problem by the grace of God through His word. Oh how marvelous is the Word of God! His word is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16) I needed it! The Lord knows what we need.

Through bloggy friends, Marina, Jerri [whom I just met through Marina], the chronological reading with Bev, Bible Gateway and my local women’s Bible study, the Lord showed me that HE will help me. He knows my difficulties and my fears. Here’s the scripture the Lord gave to me five times this week. Five different times between Tuesday and Saturday this scripture showed up for me:

Isaiah 41:10 AMP

Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you [Shonda]; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden [Shonda] to difficulties, yes, I will help [Shonda]; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

Were my actions of self-condemnation based in fear? I thought I loved and trusted my Lord. Why am I afraid? I could not control the circumstances nor the outcome of circumstances. I cant change things and make them the way I want them to be. I just cant do it. So I’m afraid. But I don’t have to fear, I can trust in my God to hold me in HIS hand. God is so much greater than my self-condemning heart and HE knows everything!

1 John 3:20 AMP

Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For^]we are in God's hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].

Well I had been accustomed throughout my life to hearing voices telling me I can do better. If I messed up, then I learned to listen to the critical voices. So now that no one is actually telling me those things, I told myself condemning words. I condemned myself for falling short of perfection. As I criticized myself, I felt depressed & heavy.

Proverbs 18:21 AMP

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

No wonder I felt heavy and depressed in spirit—I was eating the fruit of my tongue. Where did these thoughts and words come from? The evil one who is the accuser. (Rev. 12:10) What are we to do when those thoughts come to us?

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 HCSB

For although we are walking in the flesh, we do not wage war in a fleshly way, since the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge⁾ of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

We can war in our own ways, our flesh and blood. But only in power through the Word of God can we demolish the thoughts that come up against the knowledge of God. His Word will not return void but will accomplish what it is sent to accomplish. (Is. 55:11)

By God’s grace I realized the battle is in the spirit and only by HIS word will I have victory in my life. I purchased index cards and pulled out the Sword (a.k.a. Word of God). I started writing scriptures that speak life to my life. I put these cards in my purse. I read them out loud.

I am more than a conqueror through HIM who loves me. (Romans 8:37) God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7) I can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6) I have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

The Lord helped me by guiding me to HIS word which is life through Jesus Christ. I am being held and retained by the Lord’s right hand. He teaches me. His grace forgave me. There is no way I can ever be perfect, but I can know that I am accepted and loved by the One who gave up HIS very own life so I can have life and have it abundantly—Jesus Christ!! (John 10:10)

The Lord is our Helper!

Engrafted by His Grace—

Romans 11:17

Note: I thank God for HIS love for me. The Lord used blogging friends to reach me. I thank you friends! Believers are in a spiritual battle and we need to know how to fight the evil one by the power of the blood of Jesus and the Word of God. To read more on this, please visit Jerri Phillips.

Amazing Grace

This song and video speaks about God's grace and being free in Christ---that's what's HE's done for me this week! Set me free by HIS amazing grace!



Engrafted by grace--