why this title?

realizations:
Whenever a thought hit me or lightning struck my brain, i would love to call those times revelations. However, when discussing this with a dear friend recently, i noticed that this is not an adequate description. She then suggested that realizations would fit much better. So, i converted and here's why...

rev·e·la·tion-- n. ; something revealed, especially a dramatic disclosure of something not previously known
re·al·i·za·tion-- n. ; coming to understand something clearly and distinctly

You see, i realized that most of my revelations were not previously unknown and were not usually dramatically disclosed. Instead, these bright moments of recognition are usually my mind's sudden grasp of a old concept that was given new meaning or at least a new personal meaning...hence a realization! k, so not sure if that makes sense...perhaps examples are better than explanation? well...those will follow, someday...

a wandering heart sealed:
These words originate from a hymn that became one of my favorites in college, when i realized that the meaning was much deeper and more personal than i'd ever thought before.

Come Thou Fount

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise His name - I'm fixed upon it -
Name of God's redeeming love.

Hitherto Thy love has blest me;
Thou hast bro't me to this place;
And I know Thy hand will bring me
Safely home by Thy good grace.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Bought me with His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.

This song could have many implications and applications...it speaks of the greatness of God--of who He is and of what He has done for me; it speaks of the praise and dedication that it should evoke from me; it speaks of the weakness of my wandering heart that so often fails the God i claim to love. And, yet, isn't God's forgiveness and grace amazing? He has sealed my heart and saved me forever and is patiently sanctifying me day by day, according to His perfect plan.

Jude 24-25 "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Daily, it seems as though i see more and more of my failings. And, daily, i need to be striving to love and know and serve my God more. But, i can also know that He is in control, not me...which i stubbornly tend to ignore at times...but, it is true. I can rest in that fact--that i am a wandering heart sealed by the amazing grace of God. i'm a fan...and that is such an understatement!

Before i leave this topic...i just have to mention the story that usually accompanies the history of this hymn. i won't explain it all, but you can find it here. The tragic story of the songwriter reminds me of Asa as found in II Chron. 14-16. Asa trusted; he followed God. And, yet, he died not trusting because of the devastating pattern that he had developed of not trusting the God of Israel. i was hit by this story particularly hard this past semester in Israel, during a History of Ancient Israel class; and i needed to be hit. Trusting and submitting to God's plan and leading is crucial. i have seen Him provide in SO many different ways. i have no excuse to try to do anything in my own strength...glorifying God involves doing everything not only for Him, but by Him.

by grace:

What can i say for this? Not much...i am inadequate. God's infinite grace astounds me often, and it should astound me always. So, i will stop talking now

I Timothy 1:14-17

14and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.