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God's Words For US
by Cecelia Lester
“Life itself is Grace”
My title is from a quote by Frederick Buechner from his book, Now and Then. It was quoted by Bob Benson, Sr. and Michael W. Benson in their devotional book, disciplines for the inner life.
I recently injured myself in a nasty fall in our basement. In trying to wait until I could see my doctor or her staff, I was maintaining my practice of devotions in my mornings. On some mornings this was not exactly easy but I did make the time to do them. My devotional book for this year is the book by the Bensons. I found it through a very saintly lady who was in our old church. I return to it on a regular basis.
My discovery this week is part of a quote from Mr. Buechner. The message Mr. Buechner gives in a nutshell is this: “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than the excitement and gladness: touch taste and smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments and life itself is grace.” Mr. Buechner states this as a summation of what he says as a novelist and as a preacher.
Grace—we talk about it; we experience it; we request it for ourselves and for others. We receive it from God. Hymns have been written about it. Early in our spiritual walk, we learn that grace is a gift from God. We cannot earn it. God bestows this blessing of kindness on us because He loves us so much.
We hear that grace is getting what we do not deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve. God gives His children life, abundant life—grace. He keeps us from the eternal fires of the enemy—mercy. Reading that ‘life itself is grace’ makes me stop and think about how friends of mine and I chose to surrender our lives to God and He, through grace, has fashioned our lives to reflect Him.
In our lifetimes, God gives us all we need to live:
1.) Sunshine and rain to grow the food we need.
2.) Snow to allow the ground to rest and the winter wheat to grow.
3.) Family—to be there when we need each other.
4.) Friends and neighbors to pray for us and help us when we, ourselves, are in need.
5.) Houses to keep us safe from storms.
6.) Food, whether we get it from a grocery or a community food pantry.
7.) Clothes to keep us safe from disease and the elements.
8.) Funds to pay our bills—earned through work, pensions, or disability payments.
9.) Durable medical equipment-(assistive living devices) canes, walkers, wheel chairs, power
chairs, lifting devices, and lift chairs.
These are just some thoughts I have had on this sunny spring day as I await God’s healing.
Dear Lord God: Thank You for each thing You give us as a part of Your grace for us. We may not always think of these as gifts of grace but, deep in our hearts, we know they are and we celebrate Your grace each time we give thanks. We give You all the glory. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN
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Cecelia Lester has been serious about her writing for over two decades..
She composes Christian essays and posts them to her blog quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/
She has served in a faith-based organization, Grace In Action by writing two newsletters and searching for possible grants.
In July 2017, she published her first book, 'Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy.'
She and her husband of 54 years live in central Indiana. They have one grown son.
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