Laced With Grace

Yesterday, my husband and I tried a new restaurant. Well, it’s not really “new,” just new to us. All the restaurants around here are new to us since we just moved to the area. We’ve enjoyed trying them out and discovering which will be our favorites.

The one we tried yesterday serves fried fish, seafood, and Cajun dishes. I had grilled Tilapia and shrimp, Cajun fries and Cole Slaw. My husband had fried catfish. The food was delicious and well-priced. But I don’t know if we will eat there again. Why not? The service was probably the worst we’ve ever encountered.

The atmosphere was casual. They take orders at the counter and then bring the food to your table. I sat in our chosen booth while my husband ordered. It took a full 15 minutes to place the order. The employee was far from informed about the menu and knew less about the register. Thirty minutes later my food came, but Wayne’s did not arrive for another twenty.

We weren’t the only ones having problems. A family behind us had a similar experience. The husband’s meal arrived but the wife and son’s did not. Fifteen minutes later the waitress discovered their meals cooling off in to-go boxes on the counter. Then I heard another man asking why they would not honor the coupon he brought in. And someone else across the restaurant asked why they still had not gotten their food. It doesn’t matter how good the food and the prices are, if this kind of service continues the restaurant won’t be in business much longer.

We Christians have the best news, the best gift to offer in the entire world:

All of us are sinners and deserve death, eternal separation from God. But God offers forgiveness and eternal life through a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. And all this is free! A gift of grace and mercy from God!

So why isn’t the world jumping at the chance to accept this free gift? There are many reasons people reject Jesus. Sometimes though the problem is in the “service.” Sometimes we Christians give priority to other things. Sometimes, we don’t know how to share the Gospel message. Sometimes, we share the news with a self-righteous attitude. Sometimes, our lives don’t look like they’ve been radically changed by the Spirit of God.

Peter spoke directly to this issue:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 4:15-16, NIV

Here is a summary of Peter’s points:

• Make Christ your absolute priority.
• Know how to share the Good News about Him.
• Remember you are a sinner saved by grace.
• Share the Gospel respectfully and graciously.
• Live a godly life so no one can slander Christ’s name because of you.

Have any of these points struck a chord with you today? Is there one you particularly need to work on in your life?

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ~ Romans 5:6-8 (ESV)

One of my favorite things is to listen to other people’s story of salvation; I had shared my personal testimony several years ago on my personal blog. Sure mine is not ‘glamorous’; God has always been part of my life since I was a little girl. But God got my serious attention when I didn’t know where else to turn.

The full understanding of God’s grace didn’t come until I was well into my thirties. Although my parents taught us from the Bible, I disregarded God and His plan of salvation. I did not understand His full scope of love He had for me and all mankind (some days it still boggles my mind).

What helped me was when I read the Gospel of John from start to finish. Believe me, I could not stop reading. If you have never opened up the Bible, I suggest you start with the Gospel of John to find out for yourself the beautiful story of how the Word became flesh, about God’s love, how Jesus made a blind man see, and the most beautiful part, Jesus’ resurrection so that we may have life.

If you have received God’s grace, share your story. I would love to read what Jesus has done for you my dear friend.

Lord of Heaven and Earth. Thank You for Your love. Some days it seems that ‘Thank You’ is not enough. You have reached down to me so that I may have life everlasting. May my life always honor You and show others what it means to be loved unconditionally. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen.

Photo & Content Copyright © Iris Nelson

“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside.”  Job 5:9,10 (NIV)

On Easter Sunday my mother had shared that when my niece Laura, (who along with her husband are missionaries with The Masters Mission serving in Masai Mara,Kenya), was talking with the Masai women about her grandmother who is 88 years old; the women started saying that her grandmother is a “miracle of God”.  My mother thought it was funny, but I told mom that she is a “miracle of God”!

Mom is not just a miracle of God because she is 88 years old (and yes, those are weights mom is lifting!); or because she has NEVER been in the hospital except to have her children; or because she is healthier than her younger siblings and even her own children.  Although those reasons in themselves are miracles!  No, my mother is a miracle of God because she is a child of God.

There is a beautiful song written by Carlton Buck and John Peterson called, “I Believe In Miracles.”

Creation shows the power of God

There’s glory all around

And those who see Him stand in awe

For miracles abound

Oh I cannot doubt the work of God

It’s plain for all to see

The miracles that He has wrought

Should lead to Calvary

Chorus:

Oh I believe in miracles

I’ve seen a soul set free

Miraculous the change in one

Redeemed through Calvary

I’ve seen the lily push its way

Up through the stubborn sod

Oh I believe in miracles

‘Cause I believe in love

The love of God, oh power divine

‘Tis wonderful to see

The miracle of grace performed

Within the heart of me

So many times when we think of “miracles” we think of Jesus turning the water into wine; or when He fed the 5,000 with 5 little loaves of bread and 2 fishes; or when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.  Yes, those are wondrous miracles – but, each time someone trusts the Lord as their precious Savior – a miracle transpires!  The miracle that a soul bond for hell because of the bondage of sin is miraculously set free by the love of God and His grace performed within the heart of the sinner.  (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8,9)

Sometimes I find myself overlooking the miracles that God performs on a daily basis.  As the song says, “seeing the lily push its way up through the stubborn sod”; or each time I look at a sunset; the birth of a precious baby; the robin making a nest for her little ones; or even His protection every time we go to the store.

God’s glorious miracles abound if we just open our eyes and allow ourselves to see His miraculous works that point us to His greatest miracle of all that was accomplished on Calvary for you and me!

Dear heavenly Father, help me to see Your glorious miracles every day of my life.  May I always be appreciative of the greatest miracle of all – the precious gift of Your Son on Calvary so that I may have life.   In Jesus name, amen.