"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointedme to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me tobind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedomfor the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaimthe year of the LORD's favorand the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."~fromISAIAH 61 Bible verse for this Blog
APOLOGY to READERS who followed a SEARCH to HERE & didn't find it
On July 18, 2017, I drafted almost 3000 blog posts that I had published since 2008 when I began blogging, rather than edit each one. So if you clicked here from somewhere else and ended up with the post unavailable or error, I am sorry but this is why. It'd be too much work for me to go back and fix them. There's an explanation on7/19/17as I'm still learning.
When I came back online (after Lent, besides the time offline at the beginning of the year), I really did not think that I'd be writing that many blog posts this year, not even the weekly 6 pm SONday ones, but here I am again. The biggest reason has been because of "The Blue Book" and its weekly One Word choices, Scripture & Reflection Readings really have been speaking to me personally that are inspiring me to share. As I look ahead to the upcoming themes for May, in particular, I am sure that this will continue ... especially the next one. How could I not?
The GRACE of God
{after all, it's my CHOSEN Blog title}
Actually I felt it was given to me
by God
way back when I started .
aMazing GRACE
which was added to
Mazes, Messes & Miracles
which I decided summed up my life journey
a recurring series of events
that fit or transitioned
throughout
my walk
whether it was through a Maze,
or a Mess, that ended in
a Miracle by God
reminding
me
constantly of His
aMazing GRACE!
"GRACE is God's best idea"
~Max Lucado~
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So even before I begin Monday's new chapter in "The Blue Book" by Jim Branch, I thought I'd share the next few weeks of May with these upcoming themes:
15. The GRACE of God 16. LOVED by God 17. UNDONE 18. The CROSS
Once again, we are being led back to The CROSS
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Of course, it's at The CROSS that
The GRACE of GOD
is poured out
on us
GRACE
is defined as
"unmerited favor"
"The Hebrew word for “grace” is cḥēn, pronounced like “hen.” This word is commonly translated as “favor,” which means acceptance and goodwill regardless of whether we've earned it. In other words, grace is undeserved favor. Grace can't be earned; it is something freely given to us by God." from Compassion International
One of the most well-known acronym for GRACE that I learned quite awhile ago is
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense
so once again, we come to The CROSS
One can never express
just how really
aMazing
God's GRACE truly is
{at least I can't}
I found another acronym quote by Stephanie Cacioppo that says GRACE stands for:
Gratitude
Reciprocity
Action
Compassion
Energy
I understand the first 4 but not too sure of the last one. I like it, but I think I prefer the original well-known (or used by pastors & authors most) and then there's the following one of the 5 elements of GRACE from a book by John Baldoni (having more GRACE in a crisis) with almost the same words for each letter:
Generosity
Respect
Action
Compassion
Energy
Whichever acronym choice, we know that GRACE is/was greatly shown by Jesus Christ - all the way to the Cross. I also found an 8 page document on "The Principles of GRACE" but just saved it rather than read it now. I will trust that by the time I (we) read in "The Blue Book" this week that we will be saturated by the goodness of God's GRACE. Meanwhile, I believe that Jesus Christ's GRACE encompassed all God's Riches and definitely had sufficient portions of Generosity (and we should have much Gratitude for the GRACE of God); that there's much Respect & Reciprocity received & given in moments of GRACE; and that GRACE takes our ACTION and our COMPASSION just as Jesus showed us; certainly maintaining & reflecting Jesus' GRACE will take alot of Energy for us humans, but since we are made in God's image, it's available in us so let's be aware that we all need more GRACE and we all need to offer more GRACE in our daily interactions. I have always been aMazed by God's GRACE and after a week focusing on the GRACE of God, I know that I will be refreshed by His GRACE once again. It is not through anything that I have done, and as I already have written, it is not earned or deserved by any one of us. So much can be written about the GRACE of God, in fact most of us are aware of one of my favorite author, who has written many books already on GRACE - our dear Pastor & Author Max Lucado. One quote by Pastor Max is shared in the Readings for Reflection and it's one that we can immerse ourselves in, over & over:
"The more we immerse ourselves in GRACE, the more likely we are to give GRACE." -- In the Grip of Grace (1996)
I have quite a few of Max's books, but not on GRACE
(more are on being CALM, not anxious)
Perhaps if I had a few more on
"GRACE
for the Moment"
or
"In the Grip of GRACE"
I would be more focused on God's GRACE
and have much less fret and worry in me,
with my firm grip on
GRACE
I'd know much more on how
truly
aMazing
the GRACE of God is
so my blog would not have the
rest of my subtitle of
Mazes, Messes
but
wrapped in all the
Miracles
found in His
GRACE
{but still I really do realize just how aMazing GRACE is & has been in my entire life}
I recall being immersed frequently in
the GRACE of God
According to Pastor Max
"Grace is simply another word for God's tumbling, rumbling reservoir of strength and protection. It comes at us not occasionally or miserly but constant -ly and aggressively, wave upon wave. We've barely regained our balance from one breaker, and then bam, here comes another."
[celebration of Mexico's victory over the 2nd French Empire at their Battle of Puebla (1862)]
<><><>
and adding a
Blessed & Happy Mother's Day!
[because at the end of this week's reading will be Mother's Day]
remembering our mothers fondly
🌹🌹🌹
Such the right time
to beginning that next week on Monday with
LOVED
by God
&
our mothers "loved by God" and
vessels of His Love
&
our love for them!
{the good and not so good}
but nonetheless they are our moms
we're all human yet still
LOVED by GOD
💓
ADDING THIS HERE later in the week from an important email from Women of Welcome:
Towards the beginning:
"Immigration headlines can feel overwhelming, and the conversations are often complex. But Scripture calls us to love our neighbors and speak up for the vulnerable—and that includes our immigrant and refugee neighbors. That’s why we’ve partnered with our friends at Be the Bridge to create an updated guide to help you speak up with both confidence and compassion. Using Your Voice: For Our Immigrant Neighbors answers the most common questions Christians have about immigration and equips you to engage conversations with biblical clarity, truth, and grace."
[You're invited to download a free copy @ https://womenofwelcome.com/use-your-voice/ ]
" —and take the next faithful step toward LOVE in action!"
If you know me at all through this blog or in person or somehow, you know that this
issue touches my heart & life deeply. I appreciate your prayers and "LOVE in action" as the Women of Welcome & Be the Bridge encourage us
... and the final part:
"... As we celebrated Mother's Day this past week, we reflected on how often love looks like sacrifice. Like a mother’s brave steps toward an unfamiliar border. Like holding tight to faith when everything else feels uncertain. To the migrant mothers making unimaginable choices out of deep love—we see you. To the moms sacrificing their time to welcome and to teach their children the way of biblical hospitality, your faithful efforts are seen by God. Thank you for loving in small, Christlike ways every day, ladies! {and men}
More in the Comments [Let's Pray Together] What a wonderful way to show others that we ALL are LOVED by God! There are no borders in being LOVED by GOD.
from Women of Welcome email: "Let's Pray Together: Please join us in prayer for the 400,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela whose humanitarian parole protections are under review by the Supreme Court. These protections have allowed families to seek safety and stability, and their potential revocation could jeopardize work permits for nearly 2 million people. Pray for wisdom and compassion in the decisions ahead, for peace and protection for vulnerable families, and for our leaders to uphold dignity and opportunity for all who seek refuge.
We grieve recent reports of U.S. citizen children being deported alongside a parent, sometimes without informed consent or full due process, and in some cases, despite the other parent legally residing in the U.S. These heartbreaking stories remind us that true compassion honors both the law and the dignity of families. Please pray with us for the protection of vulnerable children, for just and humane processes, and for our leaders to act with wisdom, care, and accountability.
"Holy God, Your presence transcends all human-made borders and your love crosses all boundaries. Help us join you at the borders and help us to extend some hope to those who live without a future and dignity at the border. We pray that you help us to promote laws that protect the rights and dignity of everyone, especially those most vulnerable." -Presbyterian Church USA
Grace upon Grace (and so much more when it's "Love in action...") as you are and have been "the hands, feet" and sweet voice of words (written in comments to me) of Jesus! As I have told you often, I met good people in the churches I attended who were this to me (and even tried with Sam) and our kids often; yet YOU are the one that comes to mind when I think of someone who is the "hands & voice (not sure about feet) of Jesus" since we met here in blogland; there might be a few more but not have stuck with me or have been as consistent as YOU! I cannot thank you enough ever! But Women of Welcome take this a step further with unknowns & probably very many uncomfortable places & language barriers possibly to be a Light & a Bridge in the darkness & lack of comfort of so many heart breaking lives - being humane shows so much more GRACE and the Love of Jesus & is what is needed so badly by so many in our country that don't grasp that other people did not receive the bountiful blessing of being born within our borders or the choice of destiny - it's nothing we did or they didn't do, but now even people born here are being questioned & considered without rights. I'm having a real hard time with people feeling they're superior (when they have nothing to do with the privilege & GRACE God has given us). I know that you know how much this impacts me & tears at my very being & soul! We don't deserve the GRACE of God that is so aMazing and the stanzas in the hymn (you shared at YV) that are meant to convict yet sadly others never understand the depth of that aMazing Grace - -undeserved yet freely given by Jesus Christ (even ones who claim to know & belong to Jesus)! Well, I'll get off my 'soapbox' for today but daily news makes me so aware of the devastation throughout the world & now within our homeland (country) robbing others of God's Love, Law & Living like Jesus, rather they're contradicting the very essence of compassion & GRACE as they justice their cruel actions & injustices galore are being served to others not thought as having the same rights as they & free choices (sigh) "where evil abounds" may "GRACE abound much more" (Romans 5:20 (?)kinda! I'm so thankful for God's mercy & GRACE!
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from Women of Welcome email: "Let's Pray Together:
ReplyDeletePlease join us in prayer for the 400,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela whose humanitarian parole protections are under review by the Supreme Court. These protections have allowed families to seek safety and stability, and their potential revocation could jeopardize work permits for nearly 2 million people. Pray for wisdom and compassion in the decisions ahead, for peace and protection for vulnerable families, and for our leaders to uphold dignity and opportunity for all who seek refuge.
We grieve recent reports of U.S. citizen children being deported alongside a parent, sometimes without informed consent or full due process, and in some cases, despite the other parent legally residing in the U.S. These heartbreaking stories remind us that true compassion honors both the law and the dignity of families. Please pray with us for the protection of vulnerable children, for just and humane processes, and for our leaders to act with wisdom, care, and accountability.
"Holy God, Your presence transcends all human-made borders and your love crosses all boundaries. Help us join you at the borders and help us to extend some hope to those who live without a future and dignity at the border. We pray that you help us to promote laws that protect the rights and dignity of everyone, especially those most vulnerable." -Presbyterian Church USA
🙏🏻 Thanks for sharing all this, sis! So convicting ! Love in action and be the hands and feet of Jesus...
ReplyDeleteGrace upon Grace (and so much more when it's "Love in action...") as you are and have been "the hands, feet" and sweet voice of words (written in comments to me) of Jesus! As I have told you often, I met good people in the churches I attended who were this to me (and even tried with Sam) and our kids often; yet YOU are the one that comes to mind when I think of someone who is the "hands & voice (not sure about feet) of Jesus" since we met here in blogland; there might be a few more but not have stuck with me or have been as consistent as YOU! I cannot thank you enough ever! But Women of Welcome take this a step further with unknowns & probably very many uncomfortable places & language barriers possibly to be a Light & a Bridge in the darkness & lack of comfort of so many heart breaking lives - being humane shows so much more GRACE and the Love of Jesus & is what is needed so badly by so many in our country that don't grasp that other people did not receive the bountiful blessing of being born within our borders or the choice of destiny - it's nothing we did or they didn't do, but now even people born here are being questioned & considered without rights. I'm having a real hard time with people feeling they're superior (when they have nothing to do with the privilege & GRACE God has given us). I know that you know how much this impacts me & tears at my very being & soul! We don't deserve the GRACE of God that is so aMazing and the stanzas in the hymn (you shared at YV) that are meant to convict yet sadly others never understand the depth of that aMazing Grace - -undeserved yet freely given by Jesus Christ (even ones who claim to know & belong to Jesus)! Well, I'll get off my 'soapbox' for today but daily news makes me so aware of the devastation throughout the world & now within our homeland (country) robbing others of God's Love, Law & Living like Jesus, rather they're contradicting the very essence of compassion & GRACE as they justice their cruel actions & injustices galore are being served to others not thought as having the same rights as they & free choices (sigh) "where evil abounds" may "GRACE abound much more" (Romans 5:20 (?)kinda! I'm so thankful for God's mercy & GRACE!
Delete{either a part is missing or near the end of my above comment should say after "GRACE as they justify ... "} it just does not make sense (sorry)
ReplyDelete