Falling Short

As I was reading about the grace of God and how immeasurable greater He is than my failings, I thought of the verse, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

     Next, I pondered how I had fallen short in just a very few days of the new year, 2026. It just takes little, very little things to fall short. But thankfully God is patient and loving over the many little things as well as the big things. 

     In fact, I fell short in just the early morning hours of the very first day. I was cooking my traditional black-eye peas and cabbage, busy stirring around in the kitchen and had completed forgotten about checking the peas. When I did, I found they had boiled dry. No! Not just dry, but the bottom layer had scorched to the boiler. It just popped out! My first ugly word in 2026! It was just a little thing, but had I fallen short?

     The second day started off with thoughts of what I would do, maybe something good for someone else. I noticed an unopened Christmas card sticking out of my purse that needed to be delivered to a close relative at the assisted living facility. That would certainly cheer her up! However, when I got dressed, I dressed for yard work instead of visitation purposes. Why not? It was the first beautiful, warm day we’d had in while. The card could wait until tomorrow. I wanted to be outside! Had I fallen short? You know like, my desires over others! It was just a little thing and my excuse was that visitation could wait until tomorrow. 

     Little things and big things- I am so glad God is patient and loving with me. It reminds me of the verse, “My grace is sufficient for you, ...in your weakness.”

 

 

 

 

Atticus

A few weeks ago I wrote about Grace which is God’s unmerited favor and unconditional love and which, by the way, is the name of my favorite granddaughter. 

     Today, I would like to take a few moments to think about Atticus. This name has ancient Greek origins, meaning “of Attica.” According to research the name represents intelligence, wisdom, and thoughtfulness.  Although not actually named in the Bible, many think Atticus was a strong follower of Paul during his mission ministry. One reference about Atticus stated he was a Roman citizen and suggested that Atticus came from a lineage of Greek Kings like Zeus and Thesuesu and was believed to have spent his childhood years in Italy and Greece. 

     The name Atticus is rather unique and uncommon which makes it stand out. Actually, Atticus is my favorite grandson. 

     So, I could actually start out by describing Atticus as the grandson of Mary. He not only is good looking and complies to set rules and standards, but he is considerate, intelligent, and thoughtful, just as his name implies. Being also the son and grandson of the Jameson lineage, he is of noble descent. 

Grace

I have a granddaughter named Grace. I think it is a beautiful name given to an out-going, bright and talented granddaughter. But, more than that, Grace is given by God. It is His unmerited favor and unconditional love; it is undeserved but bestowed. Grace is:

Grace is  Generosity

Grace is     Respect 

Grace is for  All

Grace is          Compassion

Grace                Endures   

Grace

 The In Touch devotional today listed four things we receive through God's grace. They are: 

"1. Forgiveness
 2. Peace
 3. The Holy Spirit living within
 4. Accèss to God through prayer"

     I thank God for forgiveness of my sin. By coming to the Father and asking for forgiveness, I am able to be restored and refreshed daily. It helps to take away my guilt. 

     I treasure the uplifting peace God bestows in my heart; His peace calms my soul. 

     How could I ever live and make righteous decisions without the Holy Spirit guiding me every day! He intercedes on my behalf. 

     Access to God is what keeps me going; God is my strength, my assurance, and my hope. I strive to start and end each day with prayer while keeping it on-going throughout the day. Prayer is the way to the renewal of my heart; it is the way to set my eyes toward Jesus.

Adopted

      I often like to joke around. In doing so, I make misquotes for which I am sometimes repentant. I realized one such misquote this morning.  It was a while after I lost both my parents when I made the joking statement, "I am an orphan now." I pledge never to make that statement again, for when I was born again, saved by Jesus' grace, I was adopted into the family of God. I will always have a Father. I will always have a heavenly home assigned to me.  My Father is the One who keeps the entire universe functioning, and He is the Father who holds me in the palm of His hand, always watching over me and keeping me safe.  I will never be an orphan. I will never be alone.

   

Grace

 Grace is a term used to describe God’s unconditional love. We don’t earn His favor.  He created us. He knows our faults and failures, but He loves us anyway.  I broke it down for me as follows:  

                           G od’s enduring love

                           R edemption  

                           A ll knowing but loving anyway

                           C anceling debt by His Son’s death

                           E ven in sin-filled life, God loves 

"He is merciful and tender toward those who don't deserve it; He is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love.  He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever.  He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for His mercy toward those who fear and honor Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.  He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.  He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic to those who reverence Him. For He knows we are but dust and that our days are few and brief, like grass, like flowers, blown by the wind and gone forever. But the loving kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting to those who reverence Him."  Psalm 103:8-17 TLB

I Owe It All

Though life we always need to give credit where credit is due.  Without Jesus, I am nothing!

I Owe It All

In the Cross! In the Cross!

I owe it all to Jesus;

My life,

My health,

My wealth.

To you, Oh Lord, I owe it all.

I owe it all to you, who died, yet lives!

A king upon your throne;

A force within my life.

In the Cross!  In the Cross!

I owe it all to Jesus; 

My family,

My friends,

A love which never ends.

To my Lord, I owe it all;

My salvation, 

My very life, 

   Protection through calm and strife.

I owe it all to Jesus; 

My dwelling place, 

The Word and the promises I can embrace.  

The Spirit which fills my space.

Glory, Glory, Glory. Hallelujah!

My joy is in your Grace, and in the Cross. 

                            Mary Crisp Jameson

The Full Rainbow

     The Full Rainbow

     I am all about descriptive terms.  The adjectives we use give us a fuller picture of people, events, and happenings.  And I love the descriptive terms for my Christ given in Isaiah 9:6b, "And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  To have such a wonderful Father in Heaven who reveals His presence daily is the best gift that can and was given to mankind.
     The author of the Ephesians series on Joy of Living I am currently reading went on to tell in descriptive terms how God is manifest daily in my life.  He is in "all the hues of life - in our golden moments of glory, our green pastures of contentment, our red hours of anger and passion, our blue days of depression, our black days of grief.  His many colors of wisdom are all aspects of His character.  We cannot always see the full rainbow of His wisdom and love toward is, but it is always there."
     My "pot of gold" is truly the grace of God!
     
     

GOD IS LOVE

    God is love!  1 John 4:8,10  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love ...    Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God's love is:
  Deeper than the deepest ocean,
    never slumbering, stirred in motion.
  Greater than the strongest wind,
    unhidden, tender, kind.
  Bigger than the world we know,
    incomprehensible, setting the heart aglow.
  Brighter than the moon and stars at night,
    freely given in delight.
God's love is:
  Shrouded in the blood-stained cross;
    a victory over loss.
  Showered through amazing grace,
    found in God's embrace.
God's Love is:
  A planned sacrifice, a Son's willing part,
    alive in His people's heart!
                          Mary Crisp Jameson
               

Gift of Life

     In this first week of 2017, I am still thinking about all the effort everyone makes with gift giving at Christmas time.  There is so much shopping, so many excessive bills created, so many cardboard boxes to throw away, and so much shredded wrapping paper.  Many of the gifts go unused, hidden away in closets, returned, or even some broken within weeks.  Often, we are not even told we got it wrong, which means no second chance this year to give that one gift our loved ones will love forever.
     The important thing to remember about gift giving and Christmas, is that we do have a God of second chances.  He never gets it wrong.  When God sent His Son to die on the cross to save us He gave us the greatest gift of all - one that cannot be returned once accepted.  He gave us the gift of grace. 
     With this gift, we may become broken in tribulation, but God is always with us.  We may once again sin because of our sin nature, but God's grace forgives.  The amazing thing about His gift is that, because we are His children, we are motivated to serve Him.
     In considering the gift of grace I came up with the following acronym.

G -race - gift of eternal life to those who believe in Jesus and His death on the cross for us
I -nheritance -gift of abundance of God's blessings and His promises
F- aith - gift of peace and comfort by believing in God and His Word
T- hankful- gift of peace and joy, knowing God's love surrounds us daily.

     In my reading of today's devotional in In Touch, the writer gives Romans 5:2 and makes a quote which I would like to share:  "Through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God." 
     The writer states, "This is no puddle of mercy that barely wets the toes, but rather a mighty ocean."