Grace

So I haven't written in several weeks, not because I had nothing to say, but because every time I sat down to write, I blanked. I don't know why. The remainder of my Christmas was great- filled with wedding planning and turning 25=)

God has been teaching me a lot lately. One of the things that He has placed on my heart is grace. By this, I mean not only to say that He continues to bestow grace on me, but He's been teaching me about grace. Due to things going on in my life, He has reminded me of the countless number of times that He has given me grace and spared me from certain situations. Somehow, I had managed to turn a blind eye as I processed through things. Yesterday in church, Aaron spoke about God giving us grace (and peace). All of the sudden, it all clicked. Why this truth didn't click before yesterday, I don't know. It seems to simple, yet profound and enormously complicated to actually put into practice- God gives us grace, therefore we need to extend grace to other people. We have a responsibility to to be gracious to others.

We sang a contemporary version of Charles Wesley's "Arise, my Soul,Arise" yesterday in church:

Arise, my soul, arise,
shake off your guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice,
in my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Surety stands,
Before the throne my Surety stands,
My name is written on His hand

My God is reconciled;
His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child;
I can no longer fear
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And "Father, Abba, Father," cry.

I love this verse. Wesley knew his theology that's for sure. But I can have confidence in my Abba. I can approach His throne knowing that there is surety. What an amazing thing to think about. Praise God for His grace!

In His Mercy...