tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034302346804708530.post108609276660495623..comments2011-08-12T08:56:20.664-04:00Comments on For Gates of Hope: Receiving graceMark Beckwithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02680937603681281705noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034302346804708530.post-52371181812197524352010-12-07T15:12:38.577-05:002010-12-07T15:12:38.577-05:00This is why we give our Thanks to God. Our God is...This is why we give our Thanks to God. Our God is an awesome God and loves us so much He sent Jesus to us so we may see that to live in the ways of Jesus are to live our lives abundantly<br />and be raised from those things which cause death to our souls.Deacon Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16203618758039516972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034302346804708530.post-23586784111225813372010-12-07T11:00:27.115-05:002010-12-07T11:00:27.115-05:00Dear Reverend,
Thanks for the post. I still stru...Dear Reverend,<br /><br />Thanks for the post. I still struggle with the concept of grace particularly after watching a few hours of Harold Camping. <br /><br />I'm of the mind that grace demands faith, watchfulness, sobriety, vigilance, engagement and acceptance. <br /><br />I believe grace is visited upon us a million times each day. Yet we perceive, understand and grasp very few moments and opportunities to live into that grace because we fail to be present as a witness and recipient of its manifestation. When it appears we need to recognize its restorative potential and accept the gift to correct our path and become whole.<br /><br />I wonder about Paul on his way to Damascus. He gets struck by a lightning bolt of grace. Yet if he had no faith as he was struck could he receive grace? Perhaps the lightening bolt was not grace but revelation. Can one receive revelation while not being in a state of grace? Certainly a question better left to medieval theologians. <br /><br />Paul certainly made up for lost time and grabbed the opportunity to live into the grace offered. His poetic apologetic "your grace is sufficient for me" has always deeply resonated within my soul as a conscious state of grace to which I aspire. <br /><br />http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians+12&version=NIV<br /><br />As Paul states understanding our imperfections and weaknesses allows us to accept the blessings of grace. Hubris and pride are the avowed enemies of grace. Accepting grace keeps us rightsized in due proportion to the shortcomings of mortals standing before and reaching out to the perfection of the divine.<br /><br />Happy Holidays Beloved.<br /><br />peace and prayers,<br /><br />Riskrapperriskrapperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15651028125373402982noreply@blogger.com