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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Love and Grace (09/11/14)
Grace. What a beautiful word. It is exactly as it sounds. The forgiveness that God rains down on us every day. The miracles He pours upon us that we don’t deserve. The sun that comes out in the winter to warm us through frosted window panes. These are just a few examples of grace.

Blossoms that bloom in the spring to brighten our moods after a cold, cold winter are ours by the gift of God. Every good thing that occurs in our lifetimes is a touchstone of God’s passion for us. We are His children, and as sure as we give good things to our children, even when they misbehave, He does the same for us.

We are given grace only because God loves us so much that He forgives us, time and time again. When we commit our lives to Christ and try our best to live life by His standards, He grants us mercy.

At times, we stumble, but Jesus is constantly there to pluck us up. His love for us is everlasting, and He will never leave us in times of trouble. Only He knows our true hearts, and only He feels our pain. When we struggle, He gives us the strength to fight the good fight and persevere.

We all are sinners. The Bible has told us so. Psalms 51:5 Born into a world of sin, we grow up only knowing what we are told by those around us. The things I was told by others had nothing to do with God. However, God has a way of reaching out to us from within.

I wasn’t a church goer. I’m sad to say my most members of my family were slackers in that area. However, one summer I did have the opportunity to go to Bible school, and Jesus spoke to me through the voice of a Sunday school teacher.

That teacher told me that Christ lived in my heart. I was only five years old at the time, but I have never forgotten the feeling I received when she showed me a picture of a heart with Jesus in the middle of it. She told me it was my heart. I remember the warmth that spread throughout my body. I felt loved for the first time in my life.

What are the chances that a little girl from a family of abusers and alcoholics would get to go to Bible school? Jesus was working in my life, even then. I don’t remember that teacher’s name, but I will never forget her. Christ spoke to me through that special lady.

Jesus never left me. Throughout a lifetime of sin, He was always there, even though I didn’t recognize him until I was 58 years old. He came to me when I was dying, and I knew Him at once. The grace and love he showered on me is still hard to comprehend.

Jesus healed my body and saved my soul. I poured out my heart to Him and begged His forgiveness. My past was definitely checkered. I owed debts to God that I could not afford, but Jesus knew my heart. He knew every trial and trauma I had gone through in my miserable life, and He reached out and touched me. I knew at once I was saved. He allowed me to live, and I now live for Him. I have never been happier in my entire life.

Why would God do this for a sinner like me? The answer is very simple. He sacrificed His only begotten Son for me, and He is a God of grace and love.
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This article has been read 773 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
09/18/14
Oh my goodness! This was so moving and touching and a homage to the great Sovereign and loving God we serve.

Your tesimony and your poetic words of love are mesmerizing, uplifting and inspirational. You my friend, are God's design...gracious, and filled with love.

Thanks for sharing this. I pray the judges take note of this moving testimony.

God bless~
Lindsey Ruby 
09/21/14
"I owed debts to God that I could not afford, but Jesus knew my heart."

Beautiful string of words and so true! Great job!
Verna Cole Mitchell 
09/21/14
Such a beautiful witness you've presented for God's love and grace.
Bea Edwards 
09/21/14
I really liked the way you highlighted how He showers us with aspects of His grace everyday-if we would only pay attention.
What really spoke to me in your piece was when you wrote- "Jesus never left me. Throughout a lifetime of sin, He was always there, even though I didn’t recognize him..."
Yup me too-- me too dear sister. Always there-Praise God for His loving grace and mercy--The 'Hound of Heaven' never lost sight of us!
Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
09/21/14
God's grace and love are inseparable. Beautiful testimony . . .
Noel Mitaxa 
09/22/14
"God loves us just as we are - but he leaves us too much to leave us as we are."
Thanks for honestly sharing how you have discovered this truth
Sheldon Bass 
09/22/14
Beautiful example of a life touched by God's faithful love and changed through His awesome grace.

Joe Moreland
09/23/14
Great job of highlighting God's patience with us. Even if we live to be 100 before we recognize that He is where we belong, He still receives us with open arms.

No matter the sin, no matter how long we wait - He is always there, waiting.

Great message!
Robert Douglas Brown
09/25/14
It is hard to talk about the past in many ways for most folks. I admire your courage and how you have overcome so much.

I know this is Christ living in you no doubt. I thought I had read your current article, and apologize for not doing so sooner. I look forward to reading your article each week.

I am sure you will do just fine in the Master level.

God Bless!