Thursday, May 9, 2024

Grace is...

 

This past week two things in my world collided to bring together this current post. 

First, each Wednesday I receive a "Wednesday's Word" written by Paul David Tripp. Behind by a week or two, I caught up and read a beautiful piece of prose describing what "grace" is all about. 

Titled, "Grace is," Tripp expounded on this "thunderous, expansive, powerful and life-altering word."

Other than the word God, he goes on to say, "there is no more important word that the human mind could consider and the mouth could speak."

So, he tries to clarify this by describing grace as many things...

A rainbow of every shade of mercy...

A fountain, an ever flowing stream...

 

A symphony, each instrument one of redemption...

A forest with oaks of righteousness...

These are just a few of an entire page of lovely metaphors.

Secondly, I've been challenged by a friend, who writes books for writers, to engage with her writing group in creative writing skills (just for fun and as fodder for her next book). 

One of our assignments was to take on a different form of writing that is uncommon to each of us, simply for the purpose of stretching ourselves out of a comfort zone of personal style. 

She, also, threw wide open the windows for topic choice. 

As I reflected on Paul Tripp's lovely piece of prose, I randomly noted that he left out one significant metaphor. 

It seemed important to me, since I recently found myself incorporating this particular figure of expression in several of my retreat sessions. 

So, I played around with the thought further, as the result of my assignment.

The writing is rough.

I am no Paul David Tripp.

But, I'll share it here, simply for the purpose of pondering your own journey with grace.

Grace is a journey.


A journey 


That begins at the cross...



At calvary


Where the gospel story unfolds.


There, with Jesus’ shed blood


Running down red


Puddling the ground


I bow, surrendered.


There, I find salvation,


Forgiveness,


Freedom,


Joy,


Peace,


Hope,


Eternal life.


There, as He lifts me up


Out of the blood-formed-clay


Where I fell,


He plants my feet

 

On a new way -


A path of adventure -


Not safe*


Never safe...


Yet, His magnificent Presence


Is always about me.


And, He is good.


Never anything but good.


So, I embrace this path,


This new ground 


Unexplored, 


Holy-ground.


For where He is 


It is holy!


A sacred place


A pilgrimage


And adventure with Jesus 


Into the unknown 


Yet always destined for the throne...


And, those who set 


Their hearts on Him


Will find their strength in Him.


There is a for-sure-blessing 


Beyond measure.


He, Himself, will lead me on...


Where the path is straight


To Heaven’s gate...


On this journey called Grace.



*Safe. Our journey isn't safe as in the definition of "protected from trouble and trial." Safe IS connected with the biblical idea of safety, meaning "encompassed about for the purpose of strengthening." In this way, our journey as we step heavenward in grace is sure. God, Himself, encompasses around us with His sweet presence, for the purpose of strengthening us in our need. 

3 comments:

  1. Life changing! Eye opening! Spectacular grace 💜
    Thanks for sharing Peg.

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  2. One of our volunteers shard about Grace this week from Ephesians 2:8 - 10. Later I was thinking of that old Sunday School song “Deep and Wide.” I’d never associated it with God’s Grace but that seems the most fitting 🩷how our minds often run on similar courses friend! Bonnie

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  3. "Encompassed about for strengthening"
    Safe ...like my tulips which are surrounded by wire so the deer don't eat them. They have never been more lovely!

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