One of my son’s vocabulary words this week is “sentimental”.
As the hormotional component in this marital equation, I could wax sentimental about A Lot Of Things, but I’ll spare you.
Instead, my mind instantly went to the fresh new ways God has shed His abundant grace on me, lately. So. Many. Ways.
I blew it, and big, this very week, in fact.
And, once again, El-Channun (the Gracious God) showed up. And big!
I committed to being a part of an amazing team of women with servant’s hearts and a willingness to do a Great Thing each day, online. As a member of this team, my commitment required one time slot over each of four days, over the course of a few months, to do my part in this Thing.
For the last few weeks, I dropped the ball.
And my gracious Team Leader covered my shifts.
I told her and myself, “I will not drop the ball again!”. And I meant it.
But I did.
And the guilt I felt as I heaped ashes on my head.
- Letting someone I care about down.
- Not keeping my word.
- My inability to be consistent now revealed
I let my mistakes become monumental in my mind.
But she poured out grace, instead. God showered me in grace through her.
- Recognition and praise
- No condemnation
- Love poured out
Undeserved. All.
In this final week of my time studying A Confident Heart by Renee Swope, I came across a couple of words, mid-sentence on page 200 that spoke right into my heart:
He cannot love me more. Tears wash my dirty cheeks as I realize, afresh, how very much this God I long to be more like, loves me. Despite myself.
He loves me no less for the times I snap at the ones I love. Or whisper wrongly. Or step forward too quickly. There is nothing I’ve done, not a thing, that He didn’t already know. There’s not a single thoughtless word or deed that He didn’t already willingly agree to be nailed to the cross for.
God’s love is bigger.
And that is something to get sentimental about!
Yes indeedy.
Thank you for joining me on this journey through “A Confident Heart” by Renee Swope. Please consider joining us over at Proverbs 31 Ministries’ next Online Bible Study of “Made To Crave” by Lysa TerKeurst, beginning January 19th. Sign ups are here. If you’d like to read some of the other thoughts participants had on these final chapters of “A Confident Heart”, please click the button below.
Missindeedy 
Missy, your post is always so good. I blew it big time this week! I tend to speak or yell before I think and it wasn’t pretty! My husbands answer to me yelling wasn’t pretty either. It cut me to the quick! I asked for forgiveness and I asked God for His Grace, AGAIN. I’m glad we can be so transparent with each other.
Thanks Missy, once again your writings have touch close to my heart. Just love reading your posts.
Thank YOU so much for encouraging me. 🙂
Oh, Missy-this is such a beautiful and heartfelt post. Thank you for sharing your guilt and your grace. May God bless you abundantly.
Jennifer N
OBS Core/Teaching Team
Thank you SO much, Jennifer! I love when hearts are connected over the issue of God’s grace. I am so encouraged by this community!
Wonderful Missy! Thank you for so transparently sharing your walk with us! Grace indeedy!
Thank you Nancy! I don’t think I have a choice in the transparency thing. Sometimes, I wish I did. 😉
This week, I have blown it in many ways. Thankful for this post and that His grace covers us. I just got the book you have been talking about to take with me on my trip. I can’t wait to dig in!
Ally girl, you will be so mightily encouraged! I can’t wait to be able to talk about it with you when you get back! ❤️
Beautiful, beautiful Missy. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on grace with us. Loved it. Debbie W. (OBS Facebook Group Leader)
Aw, Debbie, my Encourager! Thank you!!!
Missy, this is so great! I appreciate you being open & honest in your writing. I know it is hard to out stuff out there like that! Thank God for His grace!
It is! But, this community is a safe place to explore the way God’s grace can cover over it ALL! Thank you, Tonya.
HI! I am so glad that I read your post today! I had a big moment yesterday morning when I really blew it and yelled at my 17 year old. My yelling also upset the other 2 kids and it didn’t help matters at all. It is so comforting to know that God loves me still. He’s got me covered.
Jeanne, exactly. You put it beautifully. He’s got us covered!
Hi Missy
This is something that always brings me so much peace; the fact that our Pappa acts “Ek Theos”. He can never change otherwise He would not be God and out of His own character of Love, He loves us. His love is not dependent upon anything we might or might not do! That is just the best love story ever.
Blessings XX
Mia
Oh Mia, I stand in awe of your intimate knowledge of the names for our Father God! And His grace certainly flows through you, friend. XO