Grace is such a small, beautiful word, holding within it’s five letters the meaning, power and might of God’s bountiful gifts bestowed upon both the faithful and faithless, the deserving and undeserving, those in need, and those with enough.
As I finished the last chapter this weekend of Philip Yancey’s What’s So Good About God, I burst into tears while reading about a policeman named Van De Broek as he recounted the horror of his crimes against humanity at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. Years after shooting and burning the body of an eighteen year old boy, he then went into the teenager’s home and burned the boy’s father to death on a woodpile after pouring gasoline over his body – in front of his wife. When this courageous woman and mother was given the chance to speak at the Commission, she asked for two things. One request was for Van de Broek to go to gather the ashes of her husband to give him a decent burial. The second request was that twice a month Van de Broek visit her in the ghetto where she lived, because she said she had a lot of love still to give, and so that she could mother him. She also told him and that he was forgiven by God.
Yancey goes on to say, “Some in the courtroom spontaneously began singing “Amazing Grace” as the elderly woman made her way to the witness stand, but Van de Broek did not hear the hymn. He had fainted, physically overwhelmed by grace.”
We stand in awe of grace, the shepherd of forgiveness, the deliverer of mercy, the shining diamond of God’s provisions, the heart of God’s character. Multi-faceted, profound, unexpected, grace sweeps into the heart of the human soul, wiping clean the grime, softening the edges of sorrow-filled hearts, appointing us new roles, offering free tickets to participate in creating heaven on earth.
“To each of us grace has been given as Christ appointed it…some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers”, each of us called to use our gifts to serve others “as faithful stewards of God’s grace.” Ephesians 4:10-11
“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.” – Acts 6:8
What gifts of grace have you been given? How are you using these gifts? Or what steps can you take to use your gifts?
St. Paul, once a murderer of Christians, called by grace “to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God”, helped spread the word of God to Gentiles that blasted throughout the centuries.
I think of ministers of grace visiting prisoners in crowded cement cells, speaking words of truth into hardened hearts, where sprouts of redemption break through parched souls, purifying and transforming lives. Grace– the hope that shines upon our prodigal sons and daughters shape-shifting the souls of God’s wayward, clothes them in robes of splendor where parents waiting with outstretched arms cry out, “Let us eat and be merry! For this my son was dead, and is alive again, he was lost and is found!”
Alcoholics, drug addicts, criminals, adulterers, transformed by Amazing Grace, receive divine instruction to live new lives:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; No to ungodliness and worldly passions and live self-controlled Godly lives.” – Titus 2:12
The law condemns the best of us; but grace saves the worst of us. – Joseph Prince
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. -Reinhold Niebuhr
I watched a documentary last night by Michael Moore where the cameras document children in a German classroom as a teacher instructs them to put into one small suitcase what they would bring if they were from a Jewish family when the Gestapos shows up to take them away, allowing them only one suitcase. Teaching the reality of the Holocaust is required in German schools so the horrendous crime won’t happen again. Grace paints compassion on the faces of these young Germans, also drenching their young hearts with the gift of repentance, peace and love to carry into a new generation.
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it.” -1Corinthians3:10
Throughout the Bible and our own life, showers of grace have rained upon us – upon a broken humanity in need of wholeness, unity, peace and building heaven on earth.
The greatest gift of grace, of course, is the gift of Christ, Christ whose grace is sufficient for living a rich life — Christ who assures us we’ll be clothed better than the lilies of the field, and provided for much more than the birds of the air.
“For it is through grace we have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8-9
A life in Christ is a graceful life where we rest in the assurance that “my God will supply every need.. according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 9:8-11
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work…You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8-11
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” -Hebrews 4:16
“The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” -1Tim 1:14
Where are you being graced in your life right now? What enormous grace has changed you?
Who in your life needs grace who you can pray for? How can grace help you be a shepherd of grace for them? How can you allow grace to lead your way in difficult areas of your life? How can you surrender today to it’s magnificence?
WE LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!
God’s grace has enabled me to persevere and raise my family while dealing with debilitating illness. My daughter said she knows I have been sick and in pain all of her life but she never thinks of me as sick because I have always been there for her no matter what.
Amen Norma. What grace, and surely much courage. And your daughter’s beautiful comment is a testimony to the abundant love grace provides.
Such a blessing you stopped by!
It’s only by God’s grace that I can freely give grace to others. But I’m not so great at letting it flow through me and empower me to exercise it fully for others’ benefit. Thank you for your post.
Thanks for your thoughts Melinda, I know for myself it’s taken time to really understand that most
often my human flaws block the flow of grace working through me to benefit others.
Goodness GRACIOUS this is my absolute favorite piece of yours to date. Oh Kathy, your words and the stories you shared and His Truth you offered- it all just poured into my heart with a stream of soft sanctification- pulling me into the presence of His mercy and His love. Wow wow wow. I’m just so deeply moved by everything you shared here.
I need to read that book. And watch that documentary.
Grace. It’s my favorite word and what saves us all- oh the power of grace! If people don’t believe in a loving God and the saving grace of Christ, when they witness others offer unbelievable mercy- how can they NOT believe? Surely, they must realize that level of forgiveness must come from the glory of God.
Thank you for this gift you shared- your words blessed me so very much. Sharing this everywhere- so others can also be blessed and inspired.
Dearest Chris, oh you have no idea how encouraged I am by your encouragement, and how moved I am by how the post moved you, and your deep knowing of the power of God’s grace never to be taken for granted.I love what you say “surely, they must realize that level of forgiveness must come from the glory of God”. Thank you for sharing with others!So blessed by you!
What beautiful stories about grace :). The thing I have to remember is that I need to extend that same level of boundless grace to others–and I will be the beneficiary.
It’s a beautiful thing Anita how grace blesses all involved. Thanks for visiting!
Oh my goodness, Kathy, you had me all teary-eyed with this one! I know for certain that I do not deserve the grace God has showered me with. Yet, when I read the story of the elderly woman extending grace to the officer, I felt that not only was it amazing, but also that I could never do such a thing! Wow!
Thank goodness that God is still working on my heart and that his grace abounds where mine falls short.
Beautiful piece!
Can you imagine such grace and power in that woman. Only an omnipotent God could help anyone have such strength and forgiveness! Always love when you visit..always feel your sun, sparkle and shine coming this way!
I hadn’t read the verse from Ephesians as how we are called to grace. Rather I had read it as a verse on spiritual gifts. Yet, it is evident that it also says we have all been gifted grace and are to be ‘faithful stewards’ of this gift God has given us for our freedom and His glory. Often I am trying to learn grace, what it is, yet it is already within me! Maybe it is more about accepting the grace, rather than trying to find it. God is good, isn’t He? Sometimes we make it so much harder than it needs to be when embracing all His gifts, mercy, and love.
Hi Lynn, I also just realized Ephesians was a call to grace as faithful servants– not just receiving spiritual gifts. A whole different perspective! And I love your thoughts about the fact grace is already within us, it’s not something we need to seek or intellectualize. How our lives can change with that simple acceptance. So much appreciate your deep thought on this Lynn!
There is Amazing Grace in your writing
This blog is my new fav too.
Incredibly timely for me as I sit here trying to figure out what to write to my daughter who is being bat mitzvahed in a week . Such great questions you put in front of me to ask my lil one .
And the documentary also perfect since we have been working with “hope in a suitcase ” making suitcases for foster care kids the parallels are perfect.
I especially love the twist on the serenity prayer it’s always been one of my favorites but I like this new version more.
Combining Judaism and Christianity and spirituality – I’ve struggled seemingly wanting to define it
Grace is a perfect word encompassing all! Thank you
You know I love the way you write – God has graced you with a gift
Namaste my dear friend
Susu
Susu, thank you so much for your encouragement. I love your thoughts on how you are struggling to work within your
family regarding Judaism and Christianity, with grace ‘encompassing all’. That is so beautiful! I so happy to know this writing about
grace will infuse you with ideas for your daughter’s bat mitzvah. I would love to hear about the experience for you and for her.
You blessed my day!
This is powerful and rich indeed, my friend! Thanks so much for these good words. You are so right! This post was a blessing of grace as well! Have a beautiful weekend rich in His grace and love. I always enjoy our connections.
Pam
Thank you so much Pam for your kind and beautiful words!
Beautiful! God’s grace enables me to persevere right now as my dad’s caregiver. I need to seek it daily as I learn how to walk this journey as a caregiver. I also am learning how to extend grace to myself to drop my perfectionism and embrace the beautiful imperfect me. Thank you for these words.
So lovely to hear from you Mary, and how grace is blessing you as you care take your dad. Grace truly is a
gift for caretakers, it such a tough job on so many levels, emotionally and physically — but grace offers
the spiritual strength to help us all through these life courses. I’m glad you are extending the grace to
allow the gift of imperfection! Blessings Mary!
i can fail by offering myself more grace than say, my husband or friend. (after all, they should know better or love better…) so it’s a process of receiving God’s grace – setting back in it, as I’m sensing these days, and in so doing, allowing it to overflow to anyone (even the man-in-plaid, especially the man-in-plaid) so as to bring cold water from Jesus to a thirsty soul. thanks for the lovely post holyvacationqueen. (: the title always brings a smile.
I love the way you tell this little story of your experience of grace! Especially ‘the man-in-plaid’, and
setting back in grace so it overflows to another..I’m so happy holyvacationqueen makes you smile, I know it’s
sort of quirky; but it seems we are soul sisters in that way! Blessings!