"I don't deserve it....do you?"

Grace. . . simply put by a friend - "Grace is a gift of undeserved and unmerited favor."

Although I suppose today's message could have been about Peace and although I did not agree with the definition given for such. . . the word that caught my attention was GRACE. By the way, it's quite alright to NOT agree with the Pastor as it has taken me MANY years to accept this fact. Just a little tid-bit of advice for free. :)

Grace. . . like so many things God gives us is so undeserved. And yet He gives it willingly, gladly, completely and with no strings attached. We all know that grace is given for the sinner at the time of salvation. Once he was empty and now he is full....full of God's grace, forgiveness, mercy, healing, love. But sometimes we forget that grace is also for the one who has received Christ. For those of us who know too well the taste of failure, it helps to remember that even the great ones of the faith failed, yet God continued to use them, often in a deeper way AFTER their fall. Some of David's greatest psalms came AFTER his greatest mistakes. God calls him a "man after his own heart" 1Samuel 13:14. Peter, who was the very head of the disciples, denied even the very knowledge of knowing Jesus not once but three times. And yet we see God lovingly giving grace, pulling him back in and restoring Peter so that he could continue his work for the Lord. Abraham lied to save himself and yet he is the towering example of faith and is called "God's friend" James 2:23. The very disciples themselves, who walked, talked and loved Jesus would doubt, fail, sin, have weaknesses, as well as deny Him in public were still loved, forgiven, accepted, healed and made right with a loving God. And they were led to continue on even after their failures. God knew they would fall - - and yet - - He loved and forgave them still.

It is those who have lived in the depths of failure that God gives the call to shepherd others. This is not a call given only to the gifted, the highly trained- for without a bitter experience of their own inadequacy and failure they are quite unfit to minister God's genuine forgiveness and grace. I mean who really wants to listen to someone who has never had children before tell/advise/lecture you on how you should raise your child?? Therefore how much MORE meaningful it is when God can use us through our own mistakes and failures to reach out to others who are hurting as well?? We see here that nothing and I mean absolutely NOTHING is ever wasted in God's kingdom of work!! Our weaknesses, our sins, our missing the mark, our failures are ALL used to accomplish in us something far more bigger than we could ever understand....how awesome is that?!!! We also see that when we have experienced failure...we began to be more patient with others who may also be slipping in one way or another.

I read in my devotions that too many times we live in a quid-pro relationship with God such as; "I've been faithful to you, I've worked hard, so please give me this or that."  OR, "I've failed again, I can't expect any blessings." We FORGET that our whole life is all about GRACE: a gift of undeserved and unmerited favor! Too many sincere Christians,  facing their failures, berate themselves unmercifully and keep asking God for forgiveness. Each of us should memorize, hang on the mirror, and repeat daily: "There is therefore now NO [repeat NO] condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1. Not only does He NOT condemn us; He even brings blessings from the ashes of our failures! Now who else could do that but GOD Himself?!?!? :)

My friend. . . God has an eraser unlike any that has ever existed. Man made erasers may wipe away the mistake, but sometimes can leave a smudge. God's eraser works perfectly everytime....no smudges, no wrinkels, no tears left! God wipes away ALL things we so bitterly regret!!

This would be a short blog for me....some may say "It's about time!"
I write to encourage others, to give hope to others, to strengthen others, to motivate others and to share always the Good News of what Jesus has done for me and for YOU.

So I leave you with this thought I read: "I do not ask for mighty words to leave the crowd impressed. Just grant my life may ring so true my neigbor shall be blessed." That says it all for me! :)

Be blessed.....for your living a life of GRACE, my friend!