Grace

My niece's name is Grace. She is absolutely that. Wonderful, unexpected, amazing and sweet about sums her up. Her smile, her laugh, her cute little voice and especially her song, "We will, we will ROCK YOU!!" just make you want to melt.

It is truly amazing how similar she is to what Grace really is. Grace can be described simply as God's undeserved favor or love for mankind. The key word is undeserved. God gives us grace not because we deserve it or who we are or strive to be. God gives us grace because of who HE is.

This time of year I am overwhelmed with the number of impatient, rude, get-out-of-my-way people in our world. Christmas has a way of bringing out the worst in people. Somehow the stresses of the earthly holiday overshadow the real reason we celebrate. Nothing new said here I know.

I was just thinking about things that have been said to me, about me and things done to me lately. The only thing I can do to is ask God to help me extend grace. You see, it is never our job to condemn. The bible says that, 'There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." We have been freed and we are to look upon others in light of our freedom. Our pastor recently challenged us to be grace extended this holiday season. When we are wronged and we respond with grace we are allowing God's love to flow through us and not become stopped up in us. I think if we lived life focused upon what is right with God and less upon what is wrong with other people, we would all be happier.

I am thankful that God's word says that we have a "High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses." That means that God knows we aren't going to be perfect. He understands our flesh. My prayer is that I would remember to "sympathize" with others in what I perceive as their weaknesses. (Something keeps reminding me of a story of a plank and a splinter!!) We all fall short. We are all desperately in need of grace. I find that I live by grace every moment. The longer I live the more I find that I am going to flub up, make a mistake, hurt someone etc. every day of my life. I need a flood of grace. I pray Lord, that this flood of your grace that I swim in on a daily basis would overflow to those around me. Help me not to point fingers but to offer grace and point people to Christ.

Risk

I am not a gambling woman. Not a surprise to any of you I am sure. I am a terrible risk taker. I could never bet it on a chance. I am a have-to-have-all-the-details-before-I-decide kind of woman. I ask questions or surmise things in situations that my husband just laughs and says, "Are you kidding me that that actually crossed your mind?!" All of this being said, I am not saying that taking a risk is a bad thing. Gambling is bad. Real life risks can be good.

I took a risk this week. I'd love to tell you that I went base jumping or something exciting like that. In a way though, I had the same butterflies in my stomach. I was able to be completely vulnerable and eat crow with a good friend of mine. Eating crow is a hard thing to do and it never tastes good. I do know that it feels good to be humble. It feels good to say, "I blew it." No excuses. Just, "Please forgive me."

It is amazing how time changes our perspective. God has been challenging me in ways that I never really acknowledged that I needed to be challenged in. For instance, selfishness, insecurity and a critical spirit. Yep. A pastor's wife that isn't perfect. That describes me to a T. I need work. When we acknowledge our weakness, we don't have to pity our selves or feel bad about how far we have to go. We get to rejoice in the strength of Almighty God to change us. He does the work, we do the believing.

My risk didn't necessarily result in a miracle. It did begin a change though. I know that I have done what God let me to do. The results are up to Him. I think with each risk or step of faith we take with God it gets easier. Not easy but easier. I had a second opportunity to take a risk this week. I had the same butterflies. I had to humble myself again. It didn't feel good at the time but I feel closer to God as a result. Not because He moved closer but because I know that I can't go through this life with my weaknesses without a Warrior God to come in and rescue me...mostly from myself.

Dear Friend of mine, if you read this blog, please know how much I appreciate your willing heart to listen and forgive. You made eating crow a graceful thing. May God bless you for your heart of compassion and understanding.

By the way, Body by God has become a little bit more like Body by Chocolate to me lately. I made Cranberry Almond Bark yesterday. Not a good thing to do when you are tyring to avoid sugar. But, today is a new day with new grace and another chance to eat less sugar...or not.