GRACE ... More Than We Deserve; & LOVED by God

Update added at the End & reposted

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

The Greek word
"charis"

One of the most well-known acronym for GRACE that I learned quite awhile ago is
God's  RichesAt  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:

GratitudeReciprocityActionCompassionEnergy
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:
GenerosityRespectActionCompassionEnergy
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"GRACEfor 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 trulyaMazingthe GRACE of God isso my blog would not have therest of my subtitle ofMazes, Messesbutwrapped in all theMiracles found in HisGRACE
{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."

Here's a page with quotes just from 
"GRACE
More than We Deserve
Greater than We Imagined"
by Max Lucado
{I guess I would choose this book from all of Max's GRACE books}
but I'm sure I've surpassed my quota of books & ebooks for this year
BUT
it was that very first quote 
shared from that book by Max Lucado
that really got to me!
[so the 3.99 Kindle Limited deal got me his Award winning GRACE book - my 1st]
{I knew I was too weak to resist}
More
GRACE
please
so now let's turn 
In the Word of God, the Bible
where there are more than 400 verses that contain GRACE - which is more than enough for one a day the whole year!(this is really all we need)
Max is good, but God is greater!(plus He inspires Max too)
I just couldn't believe that with all the books I havethat I did not have one onGRACEhoweverevery time I read any books by Max LucadoI am filled with more from Godincluding His GRACE(if that's even possible)
I do have quite a few books on GRACE just not by Max.One of my recent sample ones: "Aging with GRACE" not gotten yet
GRACE
"I Can't Get Enough!"

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We'll start by looking at Psalm 32 for this upcoming week and here are the other Scripture Readings for each day of this week: 

Monday: John 1:14-18 Tuesday: Ephesians 2:1-10 Wednesday: Titus 3:1-7 Thursday: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Friday: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 Saturday: Romans 3:21-26 Sunday: Luke 7:36-50

There are more than 400 verses that contain GRACE - more than enough for one a day!

The background history of the hymn 
"Amazing Grace"
by 
John Newton
shines a light on just how
aMazing
GRACE
is!!!
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Although this song is not this hymn
and it's titled "Amazing Love..."
it also has "Redeemed by GRACE"

from Timeless Hebrew Tunes
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A
HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO
for Monday
May 5th
[celebration of Mexico's victory over the 2nd French Empire at their Battle of Puebla (1862)]
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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.