• Tend and care for that which is of value • Work for nourishing results • Warmth and caring are like the sun’s bright rays • Positive influences bring out the best in us • Aim for results that are helpful and usable • Becoming better at something takes time • Change comes through life’s experiences • There are many responses to changes and challenges • Patience during the process of growth and life is hard • Sometimes we feel dried up and empty • Pruning unhealthy thoughts and actions opens doors for grace • Celebrate often, noticing the big and small fruits • Stay connected to the Vine for health and strength • God is our source, bringing forth the best in us
Crash! “Oh, no! I didn’t know that was there!” “Goodness gracious! What happened now?!” Responding with good grace we cleaned up the mess together.
Ever been in a situation like that? … I was thinking about how we use the words grace and gracious in so many ways. Handy for many circumstances! “Grace” is the middle name we gave our daughter and “gracious” is literally “filled with God’s grace”. They are beautiful words rich in meaning.
What thoughts or pictures do these two words bring to your mind? Perhaps you think of love, kindness, goodwill, forgiveness, generosity, and maybe a certain ease or elegance…
Can you think of some positive uses of these words? Maybe you have another saying or proverb. Here in the south, we “say grace” when we offer thanks to God before a meal. We are grateful when we have “gracious plenty”, whether that is something physical, emotional, or spiritual. A person’s “saving grace” is some quality about them that balances or makes up for not-so-great qualities. Responding “with good grace”, with patience and politeness, is a good attribute to pursue! Whom of us have not appreciated a “grace period” for some overdue or forgotten responsibility or chore? “Goodness gracious” fills many a need for expressions of surprise, dismay, or awe… Sometimes there are just no other words.
What about some other phrases that express our needs or mistakes?! “By the grace of God” acknowledges our own need for God, as well as our humility and our compassion for others who are in difficult circumstances. We all “fall from grace” at times, losing favor or the liking of others, whether it is a word misspoken or unsaid, miscommunication, or any number of perceived or real shortcomings.
I can relate to Paul as he talked about grace in his letters to the church in Corinth. He said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect” *(1 Corinthians 15:10). He reminds us that it’s God’s grace that brings life and that we need to extend that grace to others. Paul called this the “grace of giving”. Isn’t that a wonderful way of putting it?!
But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7
My prayers for us all is that even as we receive God’s awesome gift of grace, we will also excel in this grace of giving.
• Consider what ingredients are important in life • What is put in the mix affects the outcome • We pour out ourselves in offering and service • Timing must be considered • Watch for the bubbles to rise before turning • Patience and a steady hand are needed • Use a little oil and keep it hot • Remember that splatters can burn • Following directions improves results • Toppings can sweeten the meal • Enjoy the plain and savor the taste • The Recipe-Maker forms the batter
The Still Small Voice 