It's Sunday..... and it's still all about Grace....

and here I am on my own computer - first time in a few days.  By the time I get home between 7:30 and 8:00PM, I don't want to look at another computer after staring at two screens at work for 12 straight hours. 

Didn't get to sleep in yesterday; got up early and was at Market on the Move by 5:30AM - they had asked us to be there at 5, but, well, long story short, I didn't make it.  I did stay until 10AM and helped man the tables.  Or is that 'woman' the tables. 

Regardless, by the time I got home yesterday I was pretty tired after such a busy week at work.  Didn't do much yesterday afternoon and we watched a movie last night before heading to bed.  I did sleep sound last night - all night - and woke up at 6AM this morning.  I could have gone back to sleep but I realized as I awoke that I did sleep for 8 hours straight, so I got up to get some quiet time in before Tom woke up and before time to get ready for church.

After church this morning we had our annual business meeting then headed over to the activity center to celebrate our children's director and send she and her husband on their way on a new journey.  I believe they are heading to Spain for awhile.  Not sure what that is about; he is a musician wanting to further his career.  Perhaps it is a vacation or a missionary trip.  I don't know.

Anyway - after we had eaten I saw this young man I have been praying for over the past few months.  At a leadership meeting about six months ago he was in my '3-people' group where we share lives and ask for prayer. He had shared some things and I have been praying for him.  Periodically I would run into him at church and ask how I can pray for him.  Today I saw him and we talked for about 20 minutes I think, him sharing how his life has bubbled over with the Grace of God.  I won't share details; but all I can and will say, God is amazing in His forgiveness and love.  For me to feel a kinship with this young man is so wild - he is a bit on the wild side - or used to be I guess.  Me, I've never desired a tattoo or jewelry in places they shouldn't be - but God has put us on a prayer path together for whatever reason.   That in itself is amazing.

Grace.  We all need it.  We all want it.  What does Grace consist of?  Forgiving when the world would shut you out.  I think that is a good way to say it.  God has taught me about Grace.  I never understood Grace until that moment I received it.  And my young friend said basically the same thing to me today. 

Can you recall a time when you received Grace?  Forgiveness without punishment?  Forgiveness without being shut out?   There is a story about Grace.  Let's see if I can remember the story enough to share it.....

"If a young man is killed through some random act of violence and the father tracks down the guilty person and kills him, we would call it vengeance.  However, if the father calls the police and the murderer is arrested, tried, convicted, and executed, we’d call that justice.  If, at the trial, the father pleads for the guilty man’s life to be spared and the judge and jury consent, we’d call that mercy.

Let’s take it another step.  In addition to pleading for the guilty one to be spared, the father actually appeals to the judge to release the murderer into his custody and care, and miraculously gaining approval, the father takes the young man into his heart and home, adopting him as his own son……that would be grace."

 

God's Grace is better than anything you will ever receive.  But He gives us many opportunities to give that Grace to others.  Do you need to offer Grace to someone?  Do you need to receive it?

 

I'm going to let you ponder on that today.  I had said I would work from home for a little while today and since I don't want to be on here most of the day, need to get started. 

 

Hope you have a Grace-filled day.

 

Blessings!