radaph (hebrew) - to pursue, follow or run after

Photo Source

God's grace has been coming up a lot this past week. Just in conversations, things I'm reading - so I'm paying attention. Grace has several definitions: a virtue coming from God; approval or favor; unmerited divine assistance (source). I don't know how many times grace is mentioned in the Bible, but it's quite a few. I found a good article that breaks down many of the times it's mentioned. One of my favorite verses about grace:

I just love the imagery of that! Unforced rhythms of grace. I think about waves gently rising and falling when I read those words. God's grace is so amazing. His grace is what saves us...and compels us to be more. We are so unworthy of His grace but He offers it. Freely. We just have to accept it. And then let it change us. It's humbling to think about. The song "Amazing Grace" tells just how amazing God's grace really is! So today, think about the beauty and wonder of God's grace. Let it wash over you as you go about your day. 

Photo Credit

One of these days I'd like to read the Bible through in a year but for now, I'm reading the New Testament in a year. Today's reading was in Romans and talked about Abraham. I thought it fitting since I shared about Sarah the other day. I love these verses because Abraham refused to give up on his promise. He maybe didn't understand how God would give him a son or when it would happen but he didn't give up. I love where it says "being fully persuaded" - to me, that says Abraham wouldn't be talked out of it. He knew God would keep His promise! And together, Abraham and Sarah have such a beautiful story. If we look ahead, we see unwavering trust when Abraham takes Isaac to the mountain, unsure why God would ask him to give up his son. But he trusted. And God provided a substitute sacrifice. I look at this couple and my faith is strengthened. I know that what God has promised He will do!

Whenever I think of the story of Abraham and Sarah, I've always looked at Sarah and thought about the impact of her impatience. Because she chose not to wait on God to give her a son, she sent Hagar to sleep with her husband, making her promise happen on her terms. But that caused more problems than Sarah could deal with and she sent Hagar and her son away. But I love how God took care of them despite Sarah! And because God told Abraham He'd bless his descendants, He made Ishmael's descendents numerous just as He did with Isaac. But driving to church yesterday, I realized I'm no different than Sarah. I've ran ahead of God on a promise and tried to make it happen on my own. My choices haven't had the ramifications that Sarah's did but I'm not any better. Yet God didn't forget Sarah. God gave her the son He promised. Even though she was impatient. Even though she messed up. So I'm looking at Sarah's story a little bit differently. I'm looking at her as human but God forgiving her and giving her what He promised. I'm encouraged by Sarah. I know God is working things out for me just as surely as He did for her. She received her promise at the appointed time (NASB). Whatever you're believing God for, don't give up on that promise! It makes me think of Habakkuk 2:3: If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time (MSG).

My reading pile never seems to stop growing. I have a bad habit of buying more books even though I've yet to make a dent in the stack of books I currently have. One of my goals this summer is to do some work on that stack! I've started Lisa Bevere's Girls with Swords and need to finish it! I'm only in the first chapter but even in the first pages, Lisa starts off strong. I hope her words encourage you as you begin your week!

Now is not the time to draw back in fear. It is a time when we must rise up and flourish in love...becoming who God created you to be is both your best offense and your best defense against the enemy's strategy. He obviously didn't stop you from drawing breath. It is now time to keep him from stifling the spiritual seed God planted inside you. When the enemy oppresses, it is always because he fears what we might become.

I'm taking a leap of faith right now. To make a long story short, I feel like women (and men too) need encouragement. I feel like the world tells us we're not enough or need to look a certain way to be deemed "acceptable." But that's not true. I want this blog to be a place where when you've had a long day or going through a season of waiting, you can find encouragement. You can connect with others and realize you're not alone in your story. I'm excited about this new venture and what all God will do with it!