down through floorboards
circling chandeliers
gliding past bookshelves...
It's a commercial for air freshener, but it got me thinking about Grace.
My baby is a few short months from graduating high school
Bringing to an end 3 decades of bus schedules, backpacks, unfinished homework
I can't help but think of Grace.
On a recent date, in the darkness of the theater
I wound my hand inside my husband's, leaned my head on his shoulder
and remembered Grace.
Our Pastor loves God and is passionate about His Word
every chance he gets he reminds us: we owe it all to Grace
Past. Present. Future. Grace.
Grace, Grace God's Grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace that is greater than all my sin
Ah yes, Grace.
Unmerited favor.
Unearned gift, no strings attached.
The ultimate gift that keeps on giving.
Grace came at the very beginning:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1)
Grace owes nothing to me, is wholly dependent on God.
Yet from the very moment that He called me"His", it moved through my life,
wrapping itself like tendrils, attaching to my guilt, my shame, my sin
Casting light into the deepest crevice
Cinching up the edges and holding it all together
Over 35 years of marriage and parenting; every year, every child, every day,
the remembrance of Grace,
the moment of Grace,
the promise of Grace.
He gives me the faith to stand in His Grace. (Romans 5)
In my weakness, His power is perfected and I know the sufficiency of His Grace. (2 Cor 12)
Grace and Peace - like sunshine and warmth.
Peace that allows rest, certain of God's sovereign hand
in illness, and arguments
wayward children and empty bank accounts.
His Grace brings no condemnation; no need to ruminate the past.
He covers my regret, my grief, my lack with one scarred hand
With His other, He takes hold of mine and leads me
Leaving behind the shadows of the familiar
blinking into the promise of bright tomorrows
"The idea (many Christians) have of grace is this: that their conversion and pardon are God's work, but that now, in gratitude to God, it is their work to live as Christians and follow Jesus... No wandering one, as it was Jesus who drew thee when He spoke "Come"... so it is Jesus who keeps then when He says "Abide." The (past) grace to come and the (future) grace to abide are alike from Him alone." - Andrew Murray
I do owe my all to the Grace that God gave, gives and will give freely to me, through His perfect and holy Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ, for His Glory.
And I will rest in the comfort and beauty of His grace-filled promises, and do the things He puts in my way, and there will be Peace because He is faithful.
"Faith in future Grace, not gratitude, is the source of radical, risk-taking, kingdom-seeking, obedience." - John Piper
