Our children's pastor has filled in several times for our senior pastor (vacation, etc.) and one sermon I remember pretty well is where he told "big church" how he explains the difference between mercy and grace to the children. It basically boiled down to mercy is NOT getting something that you DO deserve (punishment for doing something wrong) and grace is GETTING something that you DON'T deserve (forgiveness for our sins).
That definition has stuck with me for years because God gives us BOTH. His mercies are renewed every day. Can you imagine the control it takes to not look down on this earth and just wipe out humanity? How bad must people have been in Noah's time and how much further must we go before we reach that level? How mind-boggling is that we haven't reached the end of God's rope yet?
So - today, I write with Iris. I am just so thankful for God's grace and mercy. I am also grateful that Jesus accepts me as His Bride. He loves me so much that I am not left "just" a bridesmaid. It is humbling and startling so because the world tells you humility is a bad thing but that is a warped, wrong impression. It is so overwhelming that I can't even sit and type without tears in my eyes. It is beauty indescribable and I thank the God who created such beauty because I know no human could have come up with it.
Have a gloriously blessed Thursday!
4 comments:
Such a lovely post, bless you.
The bridegroom/bride has always overwhelmed me! Beautiful the way you tie it in with HIS Mercy and Grace. Almost too much to hold onto.
Happy Thankful Thursday!
Hi Bonnie, Thank you for stopping by this afternoon and reading about Jake. I'm thankful he is blessing so many.
The definitions for mercy and grace are marvelous ones. Good to remember to share with children and adults alike.
Also, thank you for bringing to my attention the DVD series giveaway at Melinda's. I'm going to go over there right now. Even if I don't win, this would be so beneficial for my ministry to at risk teens and women. We're actually going to open a crisis pregnancy center out of our facility in 2009 because we don't have one in our county.
Blessings to you this day.
What a GREAT way to explain the difference in mercy & grace!
Have a HAPPY, belated, "Thankful Thursday!" and a WONDERFUL weekend too! =-)
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