Dear Ones,
May you have a grace-filled day! Al will be going to meet with a couple men and also preach at Assisted Living when he gets back. I plan to make Finnish pasty and go to my exercise class and crafts.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We have probably all sang songs about God’s grace, and although God’s grace is very costly, we may quickly sing the words without letting the meaning reach our souls. The first song that comes to my mind was written by a pastor’s daughter, Julia Johnston who lived over 100 years ago and began writing hymns at the age 9. Her words: “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured– There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.” The refrain: “Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!”

We may think first of all of His saving grace when someone comes to know the Lord and is set free of sins. That is the beginning, but grace is more than a ticket to heaven. We need grace to empower us to live for the Lord and let His life be infused into ours. The Lord doesn’t force Himself on us but often quietly whispers to us and waits for us to open our heart in response to His promptings.

Richard Foster said that grace is the action of God in our lives. Grace enables us to do with God what we could never do on our own. I like that! As I look back, there are many things in my life that were all grace and definitely not my strength, but only His power in my weakness. The more we make use of God’s grace, the more of it there is. Cheap grace is doing what we want, whenever we want because we know we can ask forgiveness, but not necessarily being truly being repentant.

Grace is a precious gift and when we think of it, grace is at work even to give us the desire and will to do what the Lord wants. Sometimes I have to pray, “Lord, I favor doing this, but I want your will more, so whatever is your will, help me to do it.” Paul said in Phil 2:13, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” May we receive His grace and trust that He will empower us and transform us to be more like Him.
Challenge for today: Let grace spill over in every part of your life!
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy