Held in the Hands of Grace....

I am reminded today of God's glorious Grace as I watch the news and wonder why God puts up with such a state of discord. How much longer will He watch as we self-destruct as a nation and as a people. What would our futures look like without God's grace the freely given, unmerited love and favor of God upon his people. It often strikes me how good God can be when we so do not deserve this favor.

Isn't it funny how Paul writes the book of Philippians with the words "Grace and Peace to you from God our Father." What's funny about this is that Paul was writing from prison, chained and bound....most likely sitting in human excrement, assuredly already having sustained much torture in his preaching and teaching, hungry, thirsty and tired. But yet Paul makes note to impart Grace and Peace from God on those reading his letter. Paul goes on to say that we all share in God's grace with him. Most of us don't think about the chains that bind us on a daily level....but be sure that at some point in your life you've had the chains bound to your wrists bearing you down. What carried you through those moments? Who carried you through those moments?

I am a very visual person....describe something to me and I already have this picture in my mind. I can see Paul sitting on that prison floor as he penned the letter, my mind wanders as I can't help but think...how could Paul not have gotten distracted by his circumstances? We get distracted by our circumstances every day and we aren't sitting on a cold damp prison floor. But Paul had an upward focus...he didn't even see his circumstances. He saw beyond them, he saw the opportunity in them, he saw advancement of the kingdom through his circumstances.

I want to not see my circumstances.....I want to look beyond them and see what God can accomplish in and through my circumstances. I want to hang onto the fact that God's grace is sufficient and I so don't deserve it but yet he gives it so freely and though many times I find it hard to except a gift that I don't deserve...I humbly bow at his feet, cup my hands and accept the gift that is freely given to a sinner such as me.