~ Only Grace ~

I have a new song for the kids to turn up real loud and yell "Mommy, here's your song!" ~ Only Grace sung by Matthew West.

Grace - it has turned into one of my absolute favorite words - it has even passed Chai Tea and c-h-o-c-o-l-a-t-e!! Wow - now, that should say something!

Seriously, Grace - have you ever truly stopped for a minute and thought about His Grace? How many times do we mess up and yet, He still loves us and takes us back over and over and over again - as if we never strayed or disappointed him.

Time for a little peek into my little mind :)

I sit here typing as one who has wasted too many minutes of my life worrying, and lost way too much precious time with my children because my mind was on some other seemingly hopeless situation. I have spent so much energy worrying, fretting, or carrying loads that were not of my doing or for sure not within my power to change. And, I think, I have come to realize, that in my "thinking I can fix the world" burden - I have offended, or at least hurt, Him in failing to turn to Him and rest.

Do you try to fix it all? As a mother, do you think you should protect everyone or have perfect children? As a wife do you think you should bear it all and be all for him? What extra weight do you carry as a daughter - friend - sister - neighbor - employee? Yeah - I'm right there with you ~ I put too much on me too. And, don't you think satan rejoices when we loose sleep at night? Can't you just hear his chuckles in the corner as we feel unworthy to sit at our Savior's feet to pray feeling undeserving of His blessing? - That is exactly how satan works in our lives as women.

But, there is GRACE ~
And, at times, that is all we need

~ Grace for those times you were short with your children
~ Grace for the last 5 nights you have fallen asleep while trying to pray
~ Grace for that little white lie you told to your co-worker
~ Grace for wanting perfection from others
~ Grace for expecting perfection from yourself
~ Grace for the extra cookie you took, even though it was gluttony
~ Grace for the $10 bottle of nail polish you charged on your credit card just to "make you feel better"
~ Grace for the temper or lack of expressing your true feelings
~ Grace for that envy of your friend who seems to "have it all"
~ Grace for the words you said, words you watched or words you listened to
~ Grace for ~ wow - I could go on and on....

But, there IS Grace
And, that IS all we need

So, pick yourself back up, ask for His forgiveness, lay it all down, and leave it at His precious nail-scarred feet. He came to save you from your sin and burden as much as He came to save every other soul. Don't let satan keep you from another minute....no, not another second, from enjoying the life Christ has set before you.

Read these lyrics to Only Grace, download it if you can - it is only 0.88 - It is worth a million times that if you can wake up tomorrow with His grace covering you, a lighter burden on you and a deeper peace within you.

Only Grace
by Matthew West and Kenny Greenberg

There is no guilt here
There is no shame
No pointing fingers
There is no blame
What happened yesterday has disappeared
The dirt has washed away
And now it's clear

Chorus
There's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy
And believe me it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
There's nothing left now
There's only grace

You're starting over now
Under the sun
You're stepping forward now
A new life has begun
Your new life has begun

Chorus
There's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy
And believe me it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
There's nothing left now
There's only grace

And if you should fall again
Get back up, get back up
Reach out and take my hand
Get back up, get back up
Get back up again