Hello Friends,

God's grace is on full display during this time of year.  We have entered into the Lenton season, and my heart is filled with God's grace.  As I sit in a church service yesterday contemplating all of which God had forgiven me, I was astounded at the gravity of my sins against Him.  No, I hadn't committed robbery of material goods that belonged to someone else, but I realized I had robbed myself of some joy and perhaps others of the same.  You may ask how?  The simple answer is by harboring negative thoughts in my heart towards others.  Likewise, I have never physically murdered anyone, but I have had moments of intense anger and perhaps hate towards another and this, my friend, God says is murder. 

As tears rolled down my face, I quickly realized that there were so many sins that Jesus not only forgave me for but also is still forgiving me for.  They aren't even noticeable by others and unfortunately, they often go unnoticed by me. But I am certain they don't go unnoticed by Him.  

The rejection, the hurt, the accusations, the neglect, and the belittling that Jesus faced on the cross I am afraid He still faces by those who call themselves His children.  My life is seemingly in check.  My walk with Jesus is deliberate, intentional, purposeful, and filled with time around His throne and in His Word.  Yet these unnoticeable obstacles of my faith creep in, take up residence and fester until one day they surface.  And on the day, they surface I am faced with a decision, a big decision.  I can feed them and watch them grow or go to Jesus and ask Him to not only forgive me, but to also take them away.  It is the latter choice that results in a close, personal, effective, and blessing filled walk with God.  

I was struck how looking back at the cross forced me to look back at my life and how looking back at my life, I could see the abundant amount of grace that daily God bestows upon me.  It urged me to distribute the same kind of grace to others.  I love Jesus, yet I fail Him.  I want a close relationship with Jesus, but I sometimes let pride, anger, unforgiveness, and the need to be right detour me.  It doesn't mean that I don't love Him.  It means I have momentarily taken my eyes off what is right.  It means I have lost my sight not my love.  It means I have made a wrong choice, one choice, not a lifestyle choice.  

So, today as I start my day, I want to show more grace to others.  I want to live knowing that one choice doesn't paint the whole picture.  I want to forgive because it was a mistake not the truth of how they feel or who they are.  I want to shower others with grace because I truly need to be showered myself.

In His Service,
Kimmy