Monday, January 4, 2010

GOD'S GRACE

Throughout my life I have heard many sermons about God's grace. As a child I thought the pastor was talking about the blessing, as in "saying grace." It wasn't until I was older God's Grace took on another meaning. Many times the word grace is mentioned in the Bible. My dictionary defines "grace" as liking or favor. My Bible defines "grace" as unmerited favor, unearned benefit, undeserved kindness. God's amazing gift of forgiveness of sins and power to live with dignity in the present and with hope for the future. God's amazing gift. So when people say to me "God's Grace is sufficient for me," what are they really saying? I'm not sure what they mean, but when I say God's Grace is sufficient for me, I mean, it's enough. I mean I am learning to count on God's Grace every day. My husband asked out Sunday school class what the worst day of their lives had been. They are teenagers, and I was surprised at some of their answers. He turned to me. I have tried to not think about bad days, but focus on good days. But one day that came to mind was one many years ago. I was working three jobs at the time. It was in the middle of the winter and I had worked all weekend, thirty-six hours. When I came home the furnace was off. Upon inspection I realized there was no more propane in the tank. I had twenty three dollars in my purse. The temperature inside the house was a cool 34 degrees. A guardian angel paid the six hundred dollars to have the tank filled in a few days, and I was warm again. Like the Israelites when Moses led them out of Egypt. They complained every step of the way. They didn't have meat to eat, not enough water. Didn't like their surroundings. There enemies were bigger than they. But through it all, God's Grace was sufficient. I try to remind myself every day. All the blessings I have. The joy in my heart. And yes, God's Grace is more than sufficient for me.

8 comments:

Karen Lange said...

His grace is sufficient for me too:)
Thanks for the reminder; I needed it!
Blessings,
Karen

David Ebright said...

The Israelites - though witnessing the daily miracle of manna from Heaven - were (as most of us tend to do) always looking to see what was ahead & dwell on what they didn't have. They were forbidden to collect more than a days' worth of "food" because God wanted them to depend on His Grace for their survival. Their constant grumbling certainly didn't make them deserving recipients.

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Karen, isn't that a good feeling :D
Hugs Katt

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Dave, isn't that the truth! And except for the weekend when they were allowed to collect two days---that didn't collect magots! The rest of the week they were instructed to depend on God's Grace---it was sufficient for them too---they just didn't know it! Thanks so much for your comments!
Hugs and blessings
Katt

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Thank you, Katt for such wise words. I needed them badly. REally badly.

Bless you.

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Joy, don't forget, God loves you and so do I!

Carol J. Garvin said...

No matter the circumstances, it's so comforting to know that even when we don't deserve it, God heaps his loving kindness upon us. It's a pretty awesome message: "Amazing grace... that saved a wretch like me." Thanks for the reminder, Katt.

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Carol, He does always love us. I get lots of comfort from that too! And I love Amazing Grace--it was my grandmother's favorite song. It was years before I could sing it without tears----Hugs to you
Katt