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.