Grace to Others

I think it is easy to see grace as something that is very "floaty" ..rather ambiguous and even only of the spiritual nature.

I have been made aware in the past week of how God shows his grace to me (thank the Lord for wonderful study and soul level friendships!), largely through others around me. Grace, God's 'unmerited favor', is filtered through those who love us when we are not lovable, or when we are need of strength or blessing.

God shows us grace through an offering of prayer and blessing, and of a meal prepared by a mother who relates to your feeling overwhelmed.  Grace is forgiveness when its not deserved, and a friend allowing you to cry on her shoulder when you have wronged her...or you have been wronged. Grace is when you should be incapable, and yet somehow you have the words, the strength, the resources provided in ways you cannot explain.

Grace is what happens when you move with the rhythm of the spirit, and reach out to a person who others avoid. Or, you forgive someone who has hurt you deeply. Its being kind when someone has falsely accused you, or resisted slandering someone knowing they will not return the favor.

Grace strengthens us, often not by filling us with a supernatural strength in ourselves - but by instructing the hearts of those who are stronger than us to do the lifting for us. Grace teaches us, not always by some deep unlearned understanding but by the example of an older woman or man who have lived their lives for God. Grace provides our needs, when we are incapable or unable to do so ourselves ..and most often to a better and greater degree than we would have ourselves.

Grace is not something that is beyond our ability to experience, except on a spiritual plane ...not by a long shot. We see grace every day. Unmerited favor, extended to us by those in God's kingdom and who are acting has His hands in your life.

How much more important to be God's grace to others. To touch, forgive, cook, babysit, clean, assist, pray, empower, lift and deliver.

"And God is able to make a grace abound TO you so that in all things and at all times, having everything you need you will abound in every good work ....You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God"  2 Corinthians 9:8 and 11

Blessed to participate in ....

Grace

We wrap up five weeks of studying grace very specifically this week. By study, I mean we have read, we have written, we have rewritten, we have asked 'so what?' and then 'what else' ...we have pondered, prayed and meditated over scriptures that have enlightened and blessed us.

I can say in all sincerity that I have learned more of this precious gift than I ever feel like I knew before. Many of these lessons have been surprises, as I understand many familiar passages in totally new ways!

I have learned much of grace, and learned what a precious, precious blessing it is!

We have learned ..

* 2 Corinthians 12:8 ...that grace is power. It is sufficient to overcome any of my weakness, and its power is made perfect in my imperfections. Grace makes me strong.

* Titus 2:11-13 ...that grace teaches. It teaches us to say 'no' to ungodliness and gives us the wisdom, righteousness and HOPE for the days to come.

* Ephesians 2:8-10 ...that grace saves. It saves us, so that we can fulfill our purposes and do the things that God has planned for us ..in advance!

* Hebrews 4:15-16 ...that grace gives us confidence and boldness. Through grace, we are able to approach the throne of God with the knowledge that He desires to bless us with mercy and and grace at the right time.

*  2 Corinthians 9:8 ...that grace is all that we need. Its all we need to fulfill the good works God has called us to, and he gives us EVERYTHING we need to not only do well, but to 'abound' in those wonderful tasks!

Grace, is way more than simply "unmerited favor". Its more than a feel good, ambiguous offering of a God who is far away. It is real. It is an awesome gift that we continue to rely on, be filled with and we are utterly dependent on for any hope of being part of God's kingdom.

I have learned that grace is not something that is a vague and simply in the 'spirit' realm - but it is tactile, touchable, viewable and obvious. Grace is what happens to a person when they allow God to fill them up, and move their bodies, spirits and circumstances beyond the here and now and to a place of blessing and testimony.

Grace is what I see in active form when I see ...

* a young mother and wife whose husband has left her to follow the desires of his heart. Who nurtures those around her through the hurt that divorce brings, and is able to minister to her children, to his family and to all those who are touched by choices that arent her own.

* another young mother who is facing a disease that threatens to take her life, yet her family, friends and loved ones gather around and minister to her in beautiful and real ways. So that, regardless of the outcome she has the blessing of nurtured relationships with her husband and children throughout these precious moments.

* a couple, who 'should' be about to start a new phase of their life as 'empty nesters', instead move their life to a place where their nest will never be empty, and their 33 years of parenting experience will come in handy as they minister to God's children in another country.

* ministers of Christ's church who devote their life to teaching, correcting, loving and nurturing God's people with little or no reward this side of heaven.

* victims of the devastation of nature from the past few weeks as they start to put their lives back together, and yet continue to bless the Lord and his people by encouraging and uplifting others who have lost their physical blessings

* a mother who seeks to bless her children on a daily basis - with touch, with teaching, with nurturing, with guiding and unconditional love. Who can overcome lack of sleep, lack of physical reward, lack of recognition.

These, and so many more are examples of how God's grace is active and powerful amongst his people.

Have you learned of grace these weeks? Are you more aware of it as you look around and see his hand powerfully working? ...do share, and may God's grace bless you abundantly! 

{Welcome ifellowshippers! ..so glad you came by to visit!}

Week 5: 2 Corinthians 9:8

{And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things and at all times, having everything you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Cor 9:8}

Our last of verses we are specifically looking at in terms of the topic of grace ..this one is my favorite! 

I think it is because of all the weeks leading up to this point ..grace has a whole new meaning for me than it did five weeks ago, and so it means all the more to know this promise. 

It also means so much because how real it makes grace ...to be able to abound in good works, to fulfill my purpose, to fulfill the roles that God has called me to ..these are all things that can be felt and appreciated. You can know that God has fulfilled this promise right here and now! :)

Part of the reason that it is so clear, so because I am so aware of my weaknesses, my faults and my inadequacies. Its is because of that feeling of "I cant do this!" that creates an even deeper appreciation for what God can and does for me!

The wording ...."to make all grace abound TO you." implies such a separation from what I can do and what God does for me. I see outstretched hands, overflowing with blessings pointed in my direction. They are being blessed "to" me. Not through me, or from inside me but TO me. It leaves so little chance to take the credit! 

The context of this passage makes the promise that much more meaningful (as it usually does) when we realize that Paul is talking about giving to others. He is talking about being generous, and the challenging his readers with the blessings that come apart from sharing what God has given for this express purpose. 

He says in the preceding verses ..."Each man should give what he has determined in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves  a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."vs 7-8

Keep reading ..its gets better ..."He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. How he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge your harvest of righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result with thanksgiving to God." vs 9-11

If you believe that you a purpose in Christ, that He has chosen you for the purpose of His calling, that you are His and that you belong in Him - you are given everything you need to be all and do all that is included in that. 

He doesnt do it for you, but for the harvest of righteousness that your good works will bring. Your good works that are powered by His perfect plan (Eph 2:8 .."for we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do."), your good works that will result in bringing others to him through their awareness that only God can provide so abundantly. 

God's grace is all that we need, and its is abundantly all that we need! ..what a great and precious promise!

Week 3: Ephesians 2:8-10

{For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and its not from yourselves. It is a gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV}

For me, this has been a timely verse to study.  Mainly, because I believe that God has revealed some 'good works' that he has prepared for me to do ..and I MUST remember how works are simply a part of the plan that He has already set in motion when He covered me with grace.

I have nothing to boast about ..indeed! ..the work is only through the faith in Christ that I have chosen, that I have been given grace that has moved me to doing these good things. These good things are nothing without God's grace. 

I am so amazed with the active nature of this 'grace' we are learning about! 

How inspiring to consider how our faith in Christ leads us to the blessing of grace, which then leads us to a life of good works created for us by our Father! ..it resounds so beautifully with the 'power' of grace we learned about in 2 Corinthians and the 'teaching' we learned about in Titus!  Through faith, we have grace that gives us power (2 Cor 12:8-10) to say 'no' to ungodliness (Titus 2:11-13), and frees us up to do the good works he has prepared for us to do (Eph 2:8-10)! ..what a wonderful order of things!

If you would like to join about 100 women (not quite, but we are close) on a study of these wonderful words of God, please join us at Women of Grace, Hope, Peace and Faith on Facebook. We have already learned SO much, and would love to benefit from your insight as well!

Week 2: Titus 2:11-13

{"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ will be revealed." Titus 2:11-13, NLT}

Having had such a wonderful week last week of study in 2 Corinthians, I was near giddy to get to start on a new scripture this week for our Women of Grace, Hope, Peace and Faith bible study!

This one, though feels a little more difficult on the toes!

The wording in this scripture is so proactive, so "get out there and do it!".  Last week, we were encouraged to allow our weakness to be overwhelmed with the POWER of grace. This week, grace  is TEACHING us (NIV), INSTRUCTING us to actively bring to life our convictions in the form of rejection of ungodliness.

I love the common sense ...salvation is for everyone (including me!), so you turn away from ungodly things, replacing those with things of God, all the while waiting for salvation to have its pay off with His return! Very simple ..sorta.

Its HARD simple, but simple.

This week, my prayer for me is that I am instructed through grace to recognize the ungodliness around me, so that I am aware of those times when I am called to "turn from" those things. I must fully rely on that power of grace that he promised in 2 Corinthians 12 ("my power is made perfect in weakness" vs.9), because living in this world in" righteousness" isnt that easy of a job!

I pray the same for you, as you live in this "evil world."

Are you convicted by certain ungodliness in your life? ...if you are, then allow this place to be a place where you assert your resolve to live a righteousness life while you "look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ will be revealed!"