Grace

 

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…

I’ve been thinking a lot about grace, my daily need of it and how life can be at times a real struggle. I read that God’s grace is his unmerited favor. And boy I sure can corner the market on unmerited!

There is a country song out titled Need A Favor by Jason DeFord (Jelly Roll). It has this lyric: 

“Who the hell am I, to expect a savior?

If I only talk to God, when I need a favor?

But God, I need a favor.”

That is so me. Seems all I do is ask for favors. I give our great, loving and merciful God a to do list, but it seems every day I do need a favor.

It is during my struggles that I realize that my only true hope, my only hope is unmerited favor, that my only hope is the favor of God. And as I worry and fret it hits me that because of God’s love, because of Christ’s finished and complete work, because of grace, I am granted favor. Because of grace, I am saved. And that is good, refreshing, restoring news!

Hallelujah and thank you Jesus! And boy do I need a favor!

Grace and Peace!

Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all those providing mother relationships to the world. Moms, mom-in-laws, wives, sisters, daughters, nieces, cousins, aunts, friends, mentors, and neighbors…

Proverbs provides us a picture of these mother influences.

Proverbs 31:25-29

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

And in Isaiah we see the loving comfort of God and the loving comfort provided by our mother influences. 

Isaiah 66:12a, 13a, 14a

For thus says the LORD:

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you…

You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice…

This day I see and I am thankful and rejoicing for all the strong, wise, kind and caring mother influences in my life. 

Grace and Peace!