So What IS So Amazing About Grace?

If you have been following my blog posts, you can see that I am not perfect. In fact, you may sense a theme through all of them by now. Reading back through them, I'm starting to catch it myself. It's simple, really. I am nothing without His grace. Today, I am thinking about...no, I am reveling in...this Grace.

Most of us know about God's grace. We hear about it, we logically understand it, and some of us could even break it down in a great theological discourse. But it's funny how quickly the theology blurs when we screw up and the crap hits the fan. Every instinct in us wants to fix our own mistake as quickly as possible. Put the band-aid on it, brush it under the rug, make excuses and then go along like everything is fine.

For years of my life I have been okay with myself, and for the most part, its really not bad. I am a pretty competant and capable person with a great life, a beautiful family and things are good. But then something happens and just 'okay' is all of a sudden a very scary place to be. Scary, because come to find out, our dependence in our own capability and even on God, stretched only as far as our own control and understanding. 'Okay' shows itself to be only a facade.

We become sick of breathing in and out, using every last bit of strength, and 'okay' ends in an agonizing moment when we have a choice. We can shut down, or with this strength we have left, we spew out our surrender. Surrendering, I believe with all my heart, is one of the most beautiful places to be. I'm certain that it is here, in this moment, the heavens rejoice. Because, completely aware of our own ugliness, we are shocked at the beauty of what we see before us. Loving us. Forgiving us. Even reflecting back the beauty in ourselves.

Grace. Undeserved, unearned, incomprehensible.

The Grace that stretched out His arms, heart overflowing with love for me, and died to save me. The Grace that knew I would screw up and try to fix it on my own and still choose to die for me, even for this very reason! "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8)

I have been a Christian since I was a child. I didn't understand Grace until I saw that I didn't deserve it. And I'm certain that I still only understand 'in part'. For me, it took hitting the bottom, the end of the rope, whatever you want to call it, to see this. Of course, I have never deserved it, but I was blind.

I think when we allow ourselves to be clothed, or cloaked (I imagine like a force field) in grace, only then can we move forward and move mountains, make waves, conquer giants...or, love our neighbors, how we should. Outside of His divine grace, we are powerless, helpless and the trail we leave behind is fruitless. On our own we are nothing, but covered in His love and grace, our potential is endless. To me...that's pretty amazing.

I challenge you to read 'What's So Amazing About Grace?' by Philip Yancy. It was outstanding and a life changer for me, coming from a pretty religious and legalistic background.

Wherever you're at in your journey, may the sweet sound of His Amazing Grace find you.

I will leave you with some lyrics...

Grace
She takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name...

What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things...

-U2


And of course...

Amazing Grace
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.

-John Newton
1772

The Art of Moving

Our family has turned Moving into a sort of art-form. We have changed homes like some change their lightbulbs. Moving. 'It's what we do' I told someone the other day! I really have to make light of it at this point because we've moved more times than I care to divulge. I could make a very good case for each situation, as I can (and will) for this one...but the bottom line is that we move a lot!

I have considered writing a book on moving, maybe I will someday. I could charge money for the priceless tips on moving, that I, The Moving Expert, have learned, and only could learn had I not moved more times than I have toes. Ahh, I am laughing.

To be serious though, if you need to find us, we will be in the lower portion of the Carmody home. They have turned it into a gorgeous apartment, roughly the same size as the house we just moved out of, for nearly half the expense. It gets us much closer to our goals, Rich works less and we get to be close to our family that we love. A win-win-win, you could say! Really, this move is a God-send. But that is beside the point of this particular blog post.

My goal for this post is to tell you my Top Ten Highlights of Frequent Moving. Why? Because I am stressed and overwhelmed and sick...and I think it would be funny. I take life too seriously sometimes, and need a good dose of laughter to ease those tense muscles. So here goes:

10. You create your own witness-protection program.

9. The frequent garage sales and trips to Salvation Army keeps you bared down to the essentials. None of this pack-rat business.

8. Keeps you humble. Builds character, right?

7. Comfort food truly becomes COMFORT food.

6. The satisfaction of the 'Final Cleaning' of a home. You get to clean a home, walk away and not have to re-do it in an hour!

5. Change becomes the primary un-changing factor.

4. Appreciation for home-cooked meals sky-rockets, while at the same time, fast-food chains experience increase in sales.

3. Personally getting to find all the best 'hot spots' for wireless internet in Anchorage.

2. You have neighbors all over town.

1. You discover the true meaning of Home, and that it's not the house at all really. It's the family.