grace.

grace: defined as unmerited favor.

right now Luke and I are reading the bible together. we're using this new style....

and as we read, we write our thoughts so we can process what we're reading together. get it... journaling while reading the bible together all in one. what a concept. [sarcasm]

we are 7% complete as of today. and we're using Youversion.com for our plan... it's pretty sweet you should Check it OUT.:)

i've been learning a lot about grace as we're reading.
we just made it through the stories of Jacob & Esau and Joseph & his brothers.

let's get a brief about Jacob & Esau. Esau gave his birthright to Jacob over a bowl of stew {insert ridiculous what-were-you-thinking comment here}. they went their separate ways for years and because of most of the wise choices that Jacob made... his life was full of blessing. but later on in life there was a point at which Esau and Jacob were supposed to meet. rightly so Jacob was scared. Esau deserved nothing from him and yet Jacob was so so so so so gracious to him when he met up with him and not only that.... he gave him a bunch of his livestock {think about it in our times... a car, a bunch of his food} Esau told Jacob, [in my own words] you don't have to give me these animals, really it's ok. and jacob said no, i really want to give them to you.

grace. grace. grace. grace. grace. grace. grace. grace. grace.
it's the only word that i can think of.
he decided to set aside the past and move forward and give unmerited favor toward his brother.
wow. what an example for us.

let's move to joseph and his brothers.
he was sold by his brothers, his father thought he was dead. he was imprisoned for years. and then when he was like the mayor of egypt and had a ton of wheat during a major famine his brothers came to buy wheat from him. not only did he give them wheat but he didn't take their money. [let's remember they sold him off because they laughed and mocked him and couldn't stand him and told his father he was dead]. and that's how he responded?

grace. grace. grace. grace. grace. grace. grace. grace. grace.
it's the only word that i can think of.
he also decided to set aside the past and move forward and give unmerited favor toward his brothers.
wow.
now it's becoming personal.

i can read that and completely separate that from my life or i can look at it as an example that is the major theme of the whole book. i am saved by GRACE; to give GRACE; and to learn GRACE; and to never forget that GRACE is the unmerited favor that died on the cross for MY sin.

i know that there's things in my life that don't line up with this. that's not a question. the question is how am i going to use this example to set the standard in my own life. and that is a complete challenge.

but i don't do it on my own. it's Christ IN me who does it. thank the LORD!
grace is amazing... how are you holding on to grace?

saved by grace, so i'm thankful for grace, so i want to extend grace,
kg:)