Grace and Gratitude

God’s grace is amazing. I am thinking of his undeserved love and provision for us. Let us think about some of the many ways his goodness and grace makes our lives better.  

God created this wonderful world (Genesis 1:1), and created us with our senses to enjoy the beauty he created.  What are some of the smells you enjoy? Tastes? Sights? Sounds? Textures?  I think about the food I get to eat.  Much of the time, the food engages most of my senses.  It smells good. It tastes good. It looks very pleasing to the eye, and there is a texture to the food that feels good in the mouth.  And sometimes there are even pleasing sounds as the food cooks or is eaten.  It is not gray tasteless mush. By his grace we are blessed.  Thank you God for the good food we get to eat!

I really enjoy the outdoors and the mountains (Psalm 95:4-5).  To walk along a cascading stream or a babbling brook with green foliage is a wonderful experience.  To see mountain peaks covered in snow is majestic.  Also, to walk on the beach with the sound of the waves gently breaking gives me a sense of peace.  By his grace we are blessed.  Thank you God for the beauty and wonder of your creation!

I think of how unique Earth is.  It is the right distance from the Sun for life.  It is not too hot or too cold.  And I especially think of water.  Water vapor helps keep the heat in so that it is warm enough.  And most solids sink in their liquid form, but water freezes and floats unlike most elements. If ice did not float in water, Earth would be an ice ball with a thin layer of water on top.  Also earth has a large moon to stir up the oceans that helps life to exist. These are some of the things that made Earth unique.  By his grace we are blessed.  Thank you God for this wonderful planet.

I am also thinking of friends and family, the people God has put in our lives.  We all need to have people around us, even for strong introverts like me. They help keep me grounded, especially my Christian friends and family.  I am encouraged by them (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  I learn from them and I grow with them.  And I get to worship God with them (Hebrews 10:24-25).  I think especially of my wife, Gail, who has been a real blessing to me.  By his grace we are blessed.  Thank you God for my family and friends.

Even when things go badly and turn out for the worse, we can thank God, because he is good (Psalm 145:9) and he is in control (Ephesians 1:11).  God is with us and he understands what we are going through.  We do not see the big picture like God does, but he is good and he wants us to become more like Jesus (Romans 8:29). He desires the best for us and will work things out for our good (Romans 8:28).  By his grace we are blessed.  Thank you God for working everything out for our good.

God wants to be in a relationship with us.  He loves us so much that he sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16) to live the life we could not and to take our punishment upon himself by dying on the cross (Romans 5:6-8).  On the third day he came alive again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), and he lives today.  Jesus died for us all.  Those who believe in him become his children (John 1:12).  By his grace we are blessed.  Thank you God for saving us.

Since we have been saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), the Holy Spirit enables us to live a life empowered to do good and live for him (Ephesians 2:10).  We look back and remember all God has done for us.  We give thanks for all that, and we look forward, knowing that the blessings we have received will continue because God is faithful and good (Lamentations 3:22-23).  We are inspired to do the good God wants us to do and improve the world.  We have a certain hope (Romans 8:18-25), the expectation that one day God will make everything right.  By his grace we are blessed.  Thank you God for a wonderful life and for everything.