Redux means to revisit, bring back, re-release.  This last week of 2014, we—the bloggers here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour—are each ‘revisiting’ a blog we wrote earlier this year.

We would love to share with you just a bit about how very good God has been to us!  He has given us all so much grace and mercy, blessings and provision, protection and guidance!  He has led us and taught us through His Holy Spirit so many incredible things!  He has molded, and chastised, and encouraged us to be daughters with humble hearts who are dependent upon Him.  And He has helped us to be strong, committed, and faithful women  who love Him and desire to bring Him much honor and glory and majesty.

We pray that our words would encourage you also…and draw You deeper into relationship with the One Who loves you so!  Here are my dear friend Cynda’s words.

❦

This is one of the first songblogs I ever wrote.  I re-read it again today because this song has been very much on my mind.  I am still amazed at the words God gave me to write; they still hold true for me today.  His great grace surrounds me.

In the last 12-18 months I have experienced mountaintops and valleys.  We celebrated our youngest daughter’s wedding along with their first anniversary.  We celebrated the birth of our first granddaughter. However that celebration was bittersweet, knowing we would lose her in a matter of days.  We experienced the weeping and sorrow that comes with the death of a loved one—especially when that death comes way too soon.  Psalm 30:5b (NLT) reminds me that

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

As you read my previous blog (posted below), consider these Scriptures:

Great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all.
Acts 4:33b AMP

But even greater is God’s wonderful grace.
Romans 5:15 & 17 NLT

All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people,
there will be great thanksgiving.
2 Corinthians 4:15a NLT

But He gives greater grace
James 4:6a HCSB

God’s great grace. His amazing grace rests richly upon each of us.

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

It’s there in the newborn cry
There in the light of every sunrise
There in the shadows of this life
Your great grace
It’s there on the mountaintop
There in the everyday and the mundane
There in the sorrow and the dancing
Your great grace
Oh such grace

From the creation to the Cross
There from the Cross into eternity
Your grace finds me; yes, Your grace finds me

It’s there on a wedding day
There in the weeping by the grave side
There in the very breath we breathe
Your great grace
The same for the rich and poor
The same for the saint and for the sinner
Enough for this whole wide world
Your great grace
Oh such grace

There in the darkest night of the soul
There in the sweetest songs of victory
Your grace finds me
Yes Your grace finds me
Your great grace
Oh such grace
Your great grace
Oh such grace

So I’m breathing in Your grace
And breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me

Singer / Songwriter Matt Redman (with Jonas Myrin)

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

“And the most beautiful thing about the grace of God
is that it always finds us where we are.”
Matt Redman

I have an acronym that I use to define God’s grace:

• G – God’s
• R – riches
• A – at
• C – Christ’s
• E – expense

Bible dictionaries define God’s grace as His ‘unmerited favor and undeserved mercy’.  But recently I saw a post about grace that completely captured my attention.  It said that grace is like water – it always flows down to the lowest point.  Wow!  So simple but completely true.  As Psalm 145:9 says, “The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation.”  No matter how high we are or how far we fall—from the peak to the pit—God’s grace will always find us. From creation to eternity, God’s great grace is available to us. Doesn’t that just make you smile?

We all struggle…just with different things at different times. I have a temper. I despise confrontations. I battle with insecurity and my pride is easily wounded. I have a hard time making friends and a harder time keeping them. I don’t do relationships well. I’m sure each of you has a similar laundry list of struggles. But Hebrews 13:9 NLT reminds us: “Your strength comes from God’s grace….” And Joshua 1:5 AMP states, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.” That’s why the bridge of this song is my favorite part.

“So I’m breathing in Your grace
And breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be”

When my temper is ready to flare…when harsh, hurtful words are on the tip of my tongue…when I wonder why I am not enough, not good enough—I can breathe in His grace and breathe out His praise. My focus shifts to Him and I hopefully avoid doing something I truly would have regretted. Hiding in His favor and mercy, forever I’ll be.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Abba, thank You so much for the amazing gift of grace that always finds me wherever I am, be it sunlight or shadows.  Thank You for the strength I find in Your grace.  Allow me to see Your grace in everyday life.  To notice it, appreciate it and praise You for such great grace.  In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen—so be it.

It’s there in the newborn cry
There in the light of every sunrise
There in the shadows of this life
Your great grace
It’s there on the mountaintop
There in the everyday and the mundane
There in the sorrow and the dancing
Your great grace
Oh such grace

From the creation to the Cross
There from the Cross into eternity
Your grace finds me; yes, Your grace finds me

It’s there on a wedding day
There in the weeping by the grave side
There in the very breath we breathe
Your great grace
The same for the rich and poor
The same for the saint and for the sinner
Enough for this whole wide world
Your great grace
Oh such grace

There in the darkest night of the soul
There in the sweetest songs of victory
Your grace finds me
Yes Your grace finds me
Your great grace
Oh such grace
Your great grace
Oh such grace

So I’m breathing in Your grace
And breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me

 Singer / Songwriter Matt Redman (with Jonas Myrin)

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

“And the most beautiful thing about the grace of God is that it always finds us where we are.”
Matt Redman

I have an acronym that I use to define God’s grace:

• G – God’s
• R – riches
• A – at
• C – Christ’s
• E – expense

Bible dictionaries define God’s grace as His ‘unmerited favor and undeserved mercy’.  But recently I saw a post about grace that completely captured my attention.  It said that grace is like water – it always flows down to the lowest point.  Wow!  So simple but completely true.  As Psalm 145:9 says, “The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation.”  No matter how high we are or how far we fall—from the peak to the pit—God’s grace will always find us. From creation to eternity, God’s great grace is available to us. Doesn’t that just make you smile?

We all struggle…just with different things at different times. I have a temper. I despise confrontations. I battle with insecurity and my pride is easily wounded. I have a hard time making friends and a harder time keeping them. I don’t do relationships well. I’m sure each of you has a similar laundry list of struggles. But Hebrews 13:9 NLT reminds us “Your strength comes from God’s grace….” And Joshua 1:5 AMP states “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.” That’s why the bridge of this song is my favorite part.

“So I’m breathing in Your grace
And breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be”

When my temper is ready to flare…when harsh, hurtful words are on the tip of my tongue…when I wonder why I am not enough, not good enough—I can breathe in His grace and breathe out His praise. My focus shifts to Him and I hopefully avoid doing something I truly would have regretted. Hiding in His favor and mercy, forever I’ll be.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Abba, thank You so much for the amazing gift of grace that always finds me wherever I am, be it sunlight or shadows. Thank You for the strength I find in Your grace. Allow me to see Your grace in everyday life. To notice it, appreciate it and praise You for such great grace. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen—so be it.