Paid in Full: The Beauty of Grace

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you."

Sufficient. Adequate. Ample. Complete. Satisfying. Lavish.

A grace that covers. A grace that counters rebellion, pride, failure, imperfection. A grace that is unconditional.

This is the gift we are offered.

This is the beauty of the gospel.

This is what knocks quietly at my heart when I fail time after time to get it right on my own.

God says of grace, “It's sufficient for you, my child. You cannot earn it. It’s already been lavished upon you with the utmost care, without any action on your part. The grace I offer you came at a great price, but I was willing to pay it for you, my beloved. I gave up my best for you, even when you offered me your least. Take my sufficient grace, and run. Run further and faster. Tell everyone you know about this free gift I have given to all humanity. Do not let anything stop you; not the emotional walls you have built up, not the fear of rejection, not racial boundaries, not great, big, blue oceans, not your selfish pride. Rest in my grace, dear one, and delight when you fail to do it on your own because then my all-sufficient grace will cover your failure; my mighty power will work through you. Take the free gift and be satisfied in its ample blessings.”

Let’s rest in the grace of Jesus. Let’s take seriously the promises of His grace. Let’s embrace the fact that we are obligated to share this grace.

Ephesians 2:8

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith—and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God”

Titus 2:11

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”

Ephesians 1:7

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

Sideline Christians Anonymous

I'm a great pretender; no really, I'm the best. For years I put on a show of what seemed to be "good Christianity." But what was on the outside didn't reflect what was happening on the inside. Deep in my heart, I ignored God. I turned my back on Him and instead decided to focus on my outward appearance, to wear down my body in a dangerous way, and to downright fake the life of a good Christian girl.

But God saw fit to keep pursuing my pitifully lost heart. He set up my life circumstances in exactly the right way, the way that would lead me to pursue Him fearlessly. My family moved to Ohio, and there, I met some of the most spiritually strong young women you'll ever see. At first, I was intimidated by these "spiritual giants," but after a while, I soon realized that what these ladies were living out could be mine to. I didn't have to go through the motions; I could live out the same passionate love for Jesus that they did.

So I decided to give up. I decided to let go and let God. This was just the beginning...

I went to Africa, and everything changed.

I saw people who love the Lord with every fiber of their being. I saw people whose lives will end if they don't rely on God's power each and every day of their existence. These people, these precious, precious sons and daughters of the God Most High showed me how to love God.

I talk all of the time about how God broke my heart for orphans and the oppressed while I was in Africa, but something else happened there too. When I came back from Africa, I ceased to be a girl who is content with going through the motions of Christianity. I stopped being a girl whose life only differs from a non-Christian because of my Sunday schedule. My days as a sideline Christian stopped dead in their tracks.

God revived my sick and dying heart.

I hope people notice how different my life looks, not for my sake, but as a testament to God's redeeming work in each of His children's lives. I hope people see through my "God-story" that God doesn't give up on us when we turn our back on Him. He pursues the lost and the broken, and there's no level of brokenness He won't pursue. Trust me; I've been there. There's no games or gimmicks. It's not rocket science or a magic formula. I simply let go and let God.

Your God-story isn't going to look the same as mine; most of you won't go to Africa, although I hope you do! To be honest, I think it's more of a testament to God's power that all of our stories are different. The vast lengths and diverse ways God will go to captivate your heart are astounding.

Please consider letting go and letting God without holding anything back. You might have to let go of things daily (I know I sure do), but don't live your life as a sideline Christian. You'll be missing out on something AWESOME!

An Eternal Perspective

Life is stressful. It's messy and tiresome. Rarely do things work out the way we want; in fact, they usually go the exactly opposite to how we had pictured.

But in these moments, when people die who weren't supposed to yet, when two year olds get cancer, when decisions weigh heavy, when the work piles up, we have a greater hope.

This is not our home.

In the grand scheme of eternity, is that exam really going to matter? Are you going to care about workplace stress when you're in heaven? Are the worries of this life going to effect you as you stand in the presence of Jesus?

The answer, plain and simply, is no; it's not gonna matter.

But, sometimes, it's hard to let the abstract idea of heaven comfort us in hard times. So this is when we look to the blessings around us, God's mighty presence woven into the very fabric ofour lives.

Here are some of the blessings God's given me

An unwavering support system: God's blessing of family.

A Papa bear who understands, a momma bear who nurtures, a brother who makes me laugh, a sister who shows me how to compassionately love, a brother who shows me fearless determination.

Spiritual Strongholds: God's blessing of friends

My Soul Sistas, who helped set my heart on fire for Jesus and encouraged and challenged me when I wanted to give up.

African brothers and sisters: God's blessing of passion

God provided for this trip to Africa. He broke my heart for orphans and the oppressed. He sent my heart on fire for Him, gave me a vision for the future, and made a place for me to join in His redeeming work of this broken world.

Love: God's blessing of a best friend

Four years ago, I met this handsome fella, and I've not quite been the same since. All I can say is God's timing and planning are perfect. I've been blessed to run closer to God with him running right by my side.

These past two weeks I have been so overwhelmed; overwhelmed with the heart ache of this world and overwhelmed with the amount of things I'm supposed to get done. Foolishly, I didn't turn to my Bible or to prayer; instead, I cried and moped and complained, probably to the chagrin of all those around me. But in the last couple days I've realized that in the grand scheme of my life and in the grand scheme of eternity doesn't matter. What's more, I'm BEYOND blessed, so really I don't have much to complain about.

So, to all of you out there, when your life get's so stressful that you feel like you just want to crawl into bed and never come out, if you're facing something that seems unconquerable, make a list of all of the ways God has taken care of you so far. Remind yourself that in the grand scheme of eternity, what you are facing will be gone in the blink of an eye.

If you're feeling ambitious, I'd encourage you to memorize John 14:27; it's not long, and you can use it as your secret weapon for the times when this life get's too hard.

Rest in God's blessings, dear friends, they're all around you.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 14:27