During this past year, God has been dealing with me regarding grace--grace for me, grace for others. You know the expression, "You can run, but you cannot hide." This certainly has been the case where grace is concerned. Aboout a year ago I felt that God was telling me this was a season of grace. It seems I was reminded at every turn about His grace--on billboards, in bible passages, everywhere--
Then the topic for the summer book study at my workplace was announced. I probably should have known it was coming! Grace! "What's so Amazing about Grace?" truly challenged me to reach out and share the grace that God had so generously poured over me. It was not always easy , but I felt a deep conviction that as I poured out the grace I received, it would allow me to be refilled in a deeper way. As grace was never far from my mind this summer, when I unexpectantly found my baby in August, I decided there would be no better name than Celia Grace as it means grace from heaven which is truly what this season of my life has been about.
Whew! Sharing grace has definitely been more challenging for me than receiving grace, so when I finished the book study, I must admit that I was a bit relieved that I would be able to move on to something else. While God's grace is free, giving it away was certainly a decision I had to make every day, every moment. I did not always meet the challenge, but my heart was in the game. Regardless, I was happy to end the study and move onto something more "uplifting".
Imagine my surprise when the pastor announced the next Sunday that we would begin a 6 weeks study on...GRACE! So grace it is. It is a place of freedom, not only to receive from God, but to be used by God to bless others. It is what we must embrace in one hand, with His love in the other, to be the heart of God in a desperate and hurting world.
I get it now. It is not just a song, it is a lifestyle.
I got an email from my adoption agency last night. Can you guess the name of my guide while I am in China? Of course you can. Her name is Grace.
3 comments:
I have chills. God is so good.
Me too. What a beautiful post.
Now isn't that something! I'm still praying that by the Grace of God we will have Mylie no later than next fall, but I sure would love it sooner than that.
Take care.
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