Giving Grace

When I was a little girl, rarely a day went by that I did not go next door to visit my grandparents.  One day I would help them pick up pecans under the tallest tree in their yard, a tree that towered over me like an enormous giant with an infinite number of sprawling arms.  Sometimes, I would wheel my little red wagon down to their house, either full of baby dolls or carrying my cat Morris or my pet rabbit Speckles.  Another day, we would be inside, making Grandma Ethel’s famous chocolate pound cake (which I still make in her memory to this very day) or Papa Joe’s mouthwatering homemade ice cream.  I always loved this activity because they always let me lick the paddle when the ice cream was ready to eat!

But it wasn’t these fond childhood memories that make the top of the list.  And it wasn’t the cherished moments I spent with my Grandma, listening intently as she taught me to play the autoharp.  It wasn’t even the trips to town in Papa Joe’s blue and white Ford pick-up truck, where we would ride with the windows rolled down, singing at the top of our lungs, “In the Good ‘Ole Summertime.”  What makes the visits to Papa and Grandma’s house special in my storehouse of memories are the many ways they showed their love for me and love for God.

One thing I distinctly remember is the way they always made sure we said grace whenever I was sharing a meal with them.  We would hold hands, bow our heads in reverence to the Almighty, and then pray together.  They, along with my parents, taught me at a young age the importance of being sincerely grateful for my food and asking God to bless it.  While I now say a prayer in my own words, I will always remember those timeless words that my Grandma, Papa, and I would say in unison:

God is great, God is good.

Let us thank Him for this food.

By His hands, we are fed.

Give us Lord our daily bread.

Amen.

Such a simple prayer, yet it is one that embodies such a complex meaning.  As a child, I knew we were to be thankful.  I knew we were to say grace.  I knew we should pray.  But only as an adult have I discovered that grace is much more than a prayer recited at mealtime.

Grace is one of the most precious gifts ever given to us by God.  Through grace, a lost soul can be found.  Through grace, a broken heart can be mended.  Through grace, a shattered life can be restored.

For decades, congregations have gathered together in one accord to join their voices in song as they joyously sing the beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace.”  Just the melody of this song can produce goose bumps on your arms and cause a chill to run gently up and down your spine.  But it’s not because of the singer, the musician, or even the writer of this cherish tune.  It’s because of the priceless meaning that is held within the lyrics of this powerful and anointed song.  John Newton must have had a direct connection to the Heavenly choir of angels when he penned the following lyrics:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Grace.  It has been sung about, written about, and talked about for thousands of years.  But just as this beloved hymn states, we shall be showered with the goodness of God’s grace forevermore if we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, His Son.  God will not only bestow upon us His matchless grace, but He will also fill our hearts with peace if we come to Him with grateful hearts.  Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [emphasis added].”  You see, God wants us to be happy and to have no worries or cares.  Much like my grandparents and I always said grace, we should always be thankful for everything God.  If we give grace for what God does for us, the grace He gives in return will be greater than you or I could ever imagine!

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

Sweet Talk

Do you really think about the words you speak?  Has someone said something that really bothered you or maybe hurt you?  Or did you hear someone making inappropriate comments behind someone else’s back?  As Christians, we need to ensure that our speech is sweet.  The words that come forth from our mouth should seek to encourage, uplift, and share the love of God.  We need to not only walk the walk, but talk the talk as well.  And when we do talk, we need to build others up instead of tearing them down, bless instead of curse, and love instead of hate.  Inevitably, we need to ensure our lips do not bring sourness; instead, we need to make sure our words are sweet like honey.

I’m sure we have all heard the old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  In reality, this statement is entirely false.  Bones will eventually heal, but broken spirits and crushed hearts may never fully mend.  Proverbs 12:18 (NIV) states, “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”  I am sure none of us desire our words to act as swords.  Still, it is so easy to fall into that trap where you are tempted to say something that would best be left unsaid.  We need to guard ourselves against this reckless behavior, and do our best to bring wisdom and healing through the words we say.  If you have been the one on the receiving end, being pierced by the words of another person, do not hold a grudge.  Instead, pray that they will find the sweet talk that comes from knowing Jesus.  You’ll be amazed at what God can do when we ask Him to intervene!

This past weekend, I received a tweet containing a quote from Lisa Whelchel, who was speaking at the Women of Faith Over the Top tour in Billings, Montana.  Lisa was quoted as saying, “Pay attention to how someone talks to you about other people.  That’s probably how they talk to other people about you."  When I read this statement, I took a moment to think about what it meant.  Quite often, I have people tell me things about other people.  But, I typically have little thought as to what they tell others about me.  Wouldn’t it be nice to be a fly on the wall, able to hear everything that was said about you?  Of course, this could be a negative thing, since the knowledge of every word spoken about you could cause you to become sad, discouraged, or downright angry.  Be careful what you say and listen carefully to others.  And separate yourself from conversations that may bring harm to others.  Words truly can be hurtful, and we need to think before we speak.  Not only that, but we need to think about who we are speaking to and who we are speaking about before we utter the words.

Proverbs 11:11-13 (NIV) says, “Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.  A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”  In our relationships with other people, we need to maintain a level of trust.  Trust is an integral part of a friendship.  If you cannot trust your friends, your friendship can only go so far.  But if you have a solid foundation of trust, you will find that your friendship will be long-lasting and completely worthwhile.  As Christians, we should strive to be supportive, loving, and trustworthy friends, as opposed to being  gossiping, hurtful, and untrustworthy companions

Many times, it is so easy to just blurt out whatever pops into our head.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that should not be said, at least not to everyone around us.  Part of being a good parent, sibling, or friend is to know when to speak, what to say, and who to share it with.  God has given us the precious gift of speech.  We need to respect this gift and use it wisely.  God wants us to love our neighbor.  In order to show compassion for others, we need to ensure that our words are filled with the love of Jesus.  The words we speak should be carefully considered, so that we can avoid offending someone, putting someone down, or causing grief for another person.  So, the next time you hear someone engaging in sour words, pray for them.  And the next time you find yourself being painted into a corner, getting ready to share something you really shouldn’t, pray that God will help you hold your tongue.  Do not allow your words to be bitter.  Stick with Jesus and let your talk be sweet!

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer