Melted by Grace

Christmas joy continues. I'm still opening a few late-arriving cards. Did you receive any gifts this year that melted you? Something that made your heart leap? I did. It wasn't a Hyundai. (Although I think their commercials are clever.) Not a cruise or a iPad. It wasn't even one of those how-did-you-know-it's-what-I-always-wanted gifts. It was a small gift from someone I knew doesn't really have it to give. In fact, it was someone who was on my "I'd really like to help them out" list. The thing that melted my heart was that, I failed to do what I was prompted to do. And I missed it, a golden opportunity. But their small gift reminded me of what grace is...when someone gives you something that costs them a lot and you really don't deserve it.

Someone said, "We are never more like God than when we are giving."

You Never Graduate from Grace

It's all about grace. The apostle Paul begins his letter to the Thessalonians: "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thes. 1:2 ASV) And he ends it with...you guessed it: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." In fact, most of his letters begin and end with grace.

That's a good reminder for me. I never graduate from grace. I need grace:
...to love my wife
...to forgive myself
...to accept myself
...to love my enemies
...to not think too much of myself!

You get the point. It's all about grace. Begin your day and end your day with gratitude for grace.