Tag Archives: grace

Grief Extended

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The second anniversary of Ron’s passing  (August 22) and I woke the day after, with these thoughts.

“Now it is year three. How will I ever get through another year?”

But I know that I will, because God gives me grace and my friends and family give me patience and listening ears…

Brenda J Wood

July 4. Independence Day.

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July 4. Independence Day. Celebrate with joy and thanksgiving!

It’s time to dwell on these words in “America the Beautiful”:

America! America! God shed his grace on thee.

Grace is the infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill shown to humankind by God.

God still gives it freely to everyone.

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. (Ephesians 2:8-10, MSG)

Prayer- Lord, may all our hearts turn toward Your Grace, the riches you offer us through Christ. Amen.

Firsts Keep Showing Up.

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So this week-end I attended both a funeral and a fiftieth wedding anniversary. Not a great combination. Thankfully found myself surrounded by good friends/family at each occasion. I saved my worst reactions for home alone. Still recovering in some ways.

And there is nothing to do but just keep walking forward into the pain because if we don’t, God can’t get a grasp on it to sooth it with his grace.

Oh  but for the grace of God, what would ever we do?

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17-  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,  comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

Brenda J Wood