Category Archives: Life

Grace to Grace

Posted in Faith, Life by

Over the last couple of weeks God has been reminding me how perfect His plan is. I have been reminded how detailed He is and how much more He has prepared for us. I have been reminded that Christ didn’t just die so that we could have a happy/normal life, attend church and repeat, but so that we could actually live, live with power, purpose and a whole heap of supernatural glory.  That I am called to carry His glory where ever I go, and that even my shadow can bring him more glory than I can really comprehend.

I have been reminded that regardless of all this, while I am still human, there is gap between Him and me that has been filled by Jesus… regardless of how big or small… and I have been reminded, that Jesus didn’t just love us, which He does… but that He knew there was more to come, something that we can not yet see, something worth keeping and saving us for… something we can all have because of His grace.

So this Easter I am not just thankful that Christ died for me, although I am thankful for that.  I am thankful because grace is more than just afterlife salvation, it is 100% salvation now, restoration to who we are in Him, strong, powerful children of God, living in the wonder of his Grace. That for God, we were worth the sacrifice of Christ… even though we might not feel worth. Let me leave you with the lyrics of a song Hillsong released this Easter that puts some of these thoughts of mine, much more eloquently.

IMG_1480If love endured that ancient cross
How precious is my Saviour’s blood
The beauty of heaven wrapped in my shame
The image of love upon death’s frame

If having my heart was worth the pain
What joy could You see beyond the grave
If love found my soul worth dying for

How wonderful, How glorious
My Saviour’s scars, Victorious
My chains are gone
My debt is paid
From death to life
And grace to grace

If heaven now owns that vacant tomb
How great is the hope that lives in You
The passion that tore through hell like a rose
The promise that rolled back death and its stone

If freedom is worth the life You raised
Where is my sin, where is my shame
If love paid it all to have my heart

How wonderful, How glorious
My Saviour’s scars, Victorious
My chains are gone
My debt is paid
From death to life
And grace to grace

When I see that cross I see freedom
When I see that grave I’ll see Jesus
And from death to life I will sing Your praise
In the wonder of Your grace

Dear Valentines Day Haters

Posted in Life by

Dear Valentines Day Haters,

I get it, I really do… But I think you are wrong. I know that it is an invented holiday, and that it can be expensive. That it can be cheesy, and that it can pressure people into meeting a worldly status quo, buying exorbitant gifts of teddies and heart shaped chocolates to say something or express feelings that they should be able to be express any day of the week. That the love celebrated on Valentine’s Day is the same the day before and the day after… And that we should celebrate love everyday. I get it. And to all of that, I agree, but here is the thing… We live in a world where bad things happen all the time, where people hold in their feelings and don’t tell those they love, that they love them. Where we take each other for granted and sometimes life just gets in the way of quality time, or celebrating life together.

Sometimes we need permission to stop and just have some time with the people that we love… Sure you can do this any day of the week, but we don’t… But today on Valentine’s we have an excuse to stop, to reflect, to be generous and to love those we love. I love Valentine’s Day… I don’t get or buy heart shaped chocolates, but I do stop to go out or do something special and I don’t feel guilty about all the things I need to do at home, or that we are wasting money… Because it’s Valentine’s Day and that’s what you do. I have a great reason to put into words how I feel about my husband and to stop and tell him. Even though I tell him everyday, I make a point to tell him today… And even though it is a silly holiday… I like it… And it’s not going away… So why not embrace it… And love those you love. You don’t have to buy into the commercial side of it… But you can take a minute and hug those you care about… Because the love is the good bit… It’s what we need more of… It’s how we be Christ to each other…