The Grace of God

birds-112083_640I’ve been cherishing the topic of the grace of God, lately, in my prayers.

Grace is a word used in Christian denominations and it is also a universal quality that belongs to everyone.

In addition to thinking about grace as the unrequited love of God, I also like to think about grace as humanity exercising, or expressing, divine Love.

Exercise involves activity. How about trying to exercise divine Love—or grace—with every thought: at work, in taking care of kids, running errands, etc?

This is no easy task. The self-justification, criticism, judgement and opinions of the carnal mind, or evil, slip in. Even when I consciously make it my objective to fill my consciousness with grace and have that motivate me for the whole day, these sneaky thoughts come in (as the Bible says, the serpent— a metaphor for evil— is sneaky and cunning).

We need to always be on guard and defend ourselves from these negative emotions and thinking, which would pull us down and try to spoil our good motives and thoughts for the day.

Grace is potent and valuable! It can elevate, heal and resolve any situation! No wonder evil would try to come in and take away those moments to feel graceful.

Thoughts and actions that are graceful also feed and replenish the body, giving you health, freedom and energy! They counteract sickness and fatigue.

Paul wrote encouragement to the new Christians in Rome: “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Rom 8:37 NIV)

Community prayer is so powerful! Let us all pray that we can preserve grace and express divine, unselfish, unconditional, beautiful love in all that we say and do (and think about one another).

 

The transforming power of Christ

I’m reading this book about Jesus’ disciples (it’s written as a personal story from the perspective of each disciple).  I am moved by the transforming spirit of the Christ to completely change the lives of these 12 men, plus many others that were around them.

They were willing to drop everything (even change their names in a couple of instances) and adapt this whole new way of life. It reminded me of my personal story of being transformed by Christ. After spending several years looking for happiness & satisfaction through material means (partying, drugs & unproductive relationships), I finally glimpsed the Christ through a trying experience. I was struggling & searching for healing, so I decided to read the four Gospels. I found a translation that made sense to me, and I became so engrossed with it, I couldn’t put it down.

Jesus lived a fearless life and I so wanted to live that way, too. The message of Christian Science taught me that all the “works” that he did and what he taught can be applied and lived today. God’s transforming, healing power can save us in any situation.

Well, I dove in to this message, took up the study and practice of following Christ (through Christian Science), and I haven’t looked back!

Isn’t it interesting that this healing power, which has existed for thousands of years (well, for eternity actually) is still as powerful, beautiful and transforming today? There is nothing in the world that can give you that kind of guarantee! I am still in awe of the permanent transforming power of Christ.

Do you have a transforming experience you’d like to share?

Reblog — Teen suicide: prayer that helps

Teen suicide: prayer that helps

By Judith Hardy Olson (via CSMonitor.com)

…The suicides of two of my friends’ teenage sons were a wake-up call to me. Comforting and consoling parents and schoolmates wasn’t enough for me. Deep in my soul I prayed, “Father, how can I best help troubled teens know that they’re needed?” I listened. What came was a sweet, strong assurance that Life and Love are inseparable, for God is both. Pondering Love as the only creator, I reasoned then that our entire being has to be (and is) just as lovely and loving as God is. God’s promise in the Bible that because we’re precious to Him we’re honorable and He loves us (see Isaiah 43:4) came alive to me. It said to me that each of us is because we’re precious. Why, of course. A God who is Love couldn’t, wouldn’t, create a single idea that’s not purposeful, precious, needed, wanted… Read more