GRACE-PACE!

There's always much to learn on a "Teaching Tuesday." Today was a time of reflecting on a re-learning that needed to occur based on a recent faux pas.

My hurry-scurry "get it done" pace trampled my grace-pace. Reflection was needed for learning. Reflection takes time. Time adjusted from self-centered, people pleasing accomplishments to God-Centered time. 

I am yours, O Lord. May nothing touch my heart more than your love and acceptance. 

I need a breather from "doing." A lesson in mercy-math requires time.

Recounting God's acts of goodness and mercy, even severe mercy, were my "Teaching Tuesday" focus. 

Re-learning, has me remembering that the Lord loves me the way that I am, and all work is his work. His grace in me and through me fulfills His purpose for me---not self-aggrandizement or personal peace without interruptions. 

Yesterday, as I walked by the practically empty office on our new pastor's first day, "on the job," I peeked in to say, " welcome"....or was it more like barging in to interrupt his time of peace and reflection?  Regardless, he jumped right up with a smile on his face. 

Lesson learned from this brilliant, thoughtful, energetic, kind and courteous young man.

Lessons of grace from Pace to this old lady. 

His Grace-Pace shows how much I have left to learn about responding first to others over self.

LANGUAGE OF GRACE!

Is the language of grace a foreign language to you? 

Regardless of the translation, it is a much needed language of life for a Christian.

Grace-based. Grace-laced. Full of Grace.

Sing with me now.

Grace, Grace, God's Grace. Grace that is greater than all our sins 

Speak grace. How? Christ's example---That answer is found in God's word..

*THOTS: three types of grace: prevenient grace, which is God's active presence in people's lives before they even sense the divine at work in their lives; justifying grace, through which all sins are forgiven by God; and sanctifying grace, which allows people to grow in their ability to live like Jesus.

His Grace Is Sufficient for Every Need! 

• 2 Corinthians 12:9. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ...
• 1 Corinthians 15:10. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. ...
• 1 Peter 4:10. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.
• 1 Peter 5:10. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself r2 Timothyestore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

His Grace Is Sufficient for Every Need! 

"Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.? (2 Timothy 1:2b)

*THOTS--Trusting Him On This Subject

G is for……………Gifts of Grace

12/14/09
Popeye, the comic strip character (which began 80 years ago) gave us lots of food for thought---mainly about spinach. But I also remember him saying, I “yam” what I “yam.” I could say that about myself and the connotation would be derogatory. “I yam what I yam”…..apart from God’s grace, what “I yam” is not a pretty picture. Today "I yam" tired, grumpy and "down." But God......continues to bestow grace on this undeserving old lady.

I learned years ago that grace is "unmerited favor" from God. This gift of grace is a description of the character of God---His gift to humanity. We just have to receive this beautiful gift all tied up with His love---open it up and use it. What a gift----and we can never use it up!

Theologian, J.I. Packer, describes grace this way, “New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves.”

Here’s a gift of “grace scriptures” for you today---open the scripture that appeals to your heart and use it in your life---that’s what meditation does. Open the Bible, accept the Word and use it for yourself and to bless others.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:10 (THOT---the gift does, in fact, go on)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2 (THOT---Grace always precedes peace in the salutations (I found 16) of the epistles ----God’s grace must be present in order to experience His real peace.)

Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. (Romans 5:14-16)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— (Ephesians 2:8)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (I Corinthians 15:10)

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (John 1:16)

I hope you chose your gift of grace carefully and prayerfully and will continue to delight in it throughout the week.