God’s grace is truly amazing! We all need it. In fact, we would be utterly lost without it. Scripture reminds us that there has only been one person to live on this earth without any 
sin. I have to confess – his name is not Brian! Jesus experienced all things just as we do, and yet without sin – without dis-obeying the Father – without messing up (Hebrews 4:15).
We have a tendency to look for the bad in others but when it comes to ourselves, we often only see the good. But, if we take a closer look – an honest look – we will see those things we have hidden on the dark side of our hearts. There are those things that we think no one knows.
But we know.
We try to forget. We work to hide. But that sin is there – creating a division at our core between ourselves and God.
This season, moving toward the cross, our focus turns toward the sacrifice Christ made for us. He made that sacrifice so that there would be no division – absolutely no separation -between my heart and the Father. He made that same sacrifice for you as well. Grace is nothing we earn, or it wouldn’t really be grace. Grace extends to the dark side of the heart to cover over the sins lurking there.
All we must do is accept that grace. Open your heart to God’s grace today. Confess those things to Jesus that you want to think he doesn’t already know.
Lay those things down and live into his liberating grace.
This morning I am spending time in prayer and reflection, and my attention is drawn to the window. I gaze out of my office window at this view. I see the wind blowing out of the north on this chilly February morning – well of course I don’t see the wind but I see the white caps created by it.
This coming Sunday we will be discussing the importance of sharing. I remember as a child, I was taught to share. The lessons weren’t always pleasant because there is something inherent in us to want to keep things for ourselves. I would like to think that as we grow up, we get better at sharing. But sadly, I think that we just get better at masking our selfishness. It is a constant battle to put other people’s interests above our own. But that is what we are called to do as believers.
Our world would tell us that there are many different ways to God. Depending on what you want out of life and the experiences you may seek, the path you choose will wind around but eventually they all end up at the same place. I don’t find that idea in scripture at all. In fact, the truth about the path to God is very directional. If I leave the city going south, I will never end up in San Antonio. If I head north west toward San Antonio, I will never get to the Rio Grande. The same is true of finding our way to God.
enough to run as it was)? Do I slow down as I get to him and try to befriend him? Do I run past and ignore him in hopes that he wouldn’t notice the huffing and puffing of what must sound like a water buffalo with asthma?
Clay in the Hands 