With God's Grace.,,,,,it's free!!!!!

Wow, I look at the calendar on the wall and as much as I want, I just seem to struggle with the reality that 2013 is upon us. It may seem hard for some of you that know me , but I can still remember when my parents got their first color T.V. set.1969,yup I’m dating myself, but I’m ok with that. Over these years I can’t begin to recall how many times I said “this is going to be the year of change’, only to fall back into the same old routine, oh there was change, but it was short lived. I always seemed to have a valid reason to for my lack of commitment, or so I thought it was valid. After all life was hard and I knew God would understand, right?
I believe that our pride often prevents us from giving credit where credit is due. Rather than saying God has blessed us in a certain situation we often say something like this, it took a lot of hard work but I finally did it. It may be true that we worked hard but God made it possible. God gave us the abilities to think and act the way we needed in that situation. God gave us the skills needed to accomplish the task, the determination to see it through, the inspiration and encouragement to believe it could be done, and the grace to allow all the circumstances to fall into place. In many cases all we have to do is suit up and show up. God is behind every good thing in our lives—we fail to honor God when we take credit for what He has done.
” One of life's most bittersweet moments is when you finally realize you don't have it all figured out. It hits you like a hammer and there's a crushing period of discouragement, but there is an up side. By the process of elimination, you've gotten rid of what doesn't work. Now how do you find out what does? Have you ever tried to run with your arms full? It's hard, and the more things you're carrying, the harder it becomes. Jesus says, "Come, follow me," Mark 1:17, , but Jesus walks fast because he has a lot of ground to cover. If you want to follow Jesus more closely, you have to throw away some of those things you're carrying. You know what they are. The more empty your arms, the closer you can get to him. Surrender to God and obedience to his ways brings what we want most in life. That's the only way we can be right.
This past Sunday in church Pastor Troy encouraged us to give those things that have been hindering us to God, what ever they are, unforgiveness, death of a loved one ,lets call them “ The crevices we try to ignore”
We're not even sure what those crevices contain. Is it unforgotten sin? Is it doubt? Is it the memory of some good we might have done but were too selfish to do at the time? These crevices prevent us from being right. We can work and try all our lives, but we can't seem to reach them. Every day we see people trying to get right on their own. From miserable celebrities to self-destructive politicians to greedy business people, the harder they try the worse their lives become. We can't get right on our own

I read this poem and would like to share it, it says so much in such a simple way, the author didn’t want to share his name,
Walking by Your strength,
With increasing length,
Of extravagant, brotherly love.
And when one displays a bitter shove,
To turn the other cheek,
Having a heart that’s meek.
This is how I pray,
In Your everlasting ray.
Teach me, oh Lord, forevermore,
Lets make 2013 the year that we make a change, and lets make it the year that we apply gods grace to our lives as we make that change. God’s Grace is amazing as John Newton so accurately stated in the song he wrote because he knew his life was evil and out of that life he lived he saw God’s AMAZING GRACE! The song goes like this:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found. Was blind but now I see.‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed!Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come; ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, Than when we’d first begin.
God’s Grace is so amazing because we truly don’t deserve it and that is the point, that is Grace, God’s unmerited favor towards us, not because of who we are or what we have done, but because He has freely given it to us through Jesus Christ! And that Grace is extended to all, all can receive it but not all will and that is the tragedy! It is a free gift that is found in Christ and even up to the last minute of a persons life, they have a chance to receive it, that is GRACE! Blessings