Well it's been several days since I've posted. I have a tremendous amount of stuff to blog about. I went on a journey...a spiritual journey to be exact . AND, I agreed to go on this journey without computer/internet and cell phone--YES I said cell phone (oh, and a watch). Well needless to say, Thursday evening there was a bit of a technology withdrawal but I managed to suffer through it. :-) I must say it was pretty incredible. I'm sure I'll be spending the next several weeks using illustrations and revelations I received this weekend in future postings.
Tonight, I'm overwhelmed by God's overflowing grace. Most of us are familiar with grace described as God's unmerited favor but what does that really mean? I was given a good example this weekend. Say you before a judege for a speeding ticket--you were traveling 100 miles an hour in a 45 miles an hour zone.--that pricey! So, you plead your case with the judge (even though you are guilty) and the judge bangs the gavel and says GUILTY. But then, he says, I have paid your bill--you are free to go. Grace is unmerited favor AND so much more. It's a gift. It is by grace that you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—Ephesians 2:8
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 Grace comes from Jesus. We can not be graceful on our own. It requires Jesus Christ.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38 Grace is like a waterfall--it is a continual flow. It is truly amazing how the water just continue to flow. There are incredible waterfalls in Ecuador--I love traveling in the mountains-- there are a ton of waterfalls along the mountain sides.
God's grace is everflowing and never ending. I truly enjoyed this weekend reflecting on God's grace in our lives--the sacrificial love that is demonstrated. I've made a mess of my life--I'm not always an example of Christ in my daily life. But God, in his infinite wisdom, provided the blood sacrifice of Christ on the cross so that I could have a relationship with Him! Woa! Even with all the bad things I've done, He still paid the price--why would I keeping wanting to pay for it when it is free? Jesus paid it all so for me to not live under grace is bizarre at best but that's exactly what I had been doing.
Let me just tell you, if you think you can work your way into heaven....forget it. Adam and Eve had a 'perfect' situation and they sinned. God desired to have a relationship with us so He provided grace through Jesus Christ--accept His FREE gift, and live under GRACE every day forward.
