Wednesday, March 23, 2011

But.


The word, but, is a great word, especially when the stuff of life is difficult and down-right hard. But, is the clause in the messes of life . . . a promise of something more . . . rather than a dead-end result.   John records one of the best stories of the power of "but" between Jesus, a group of self-righteous religious people, and one woman that had been caught in adultery.  It was the law to stone a woman, involved in adultery, to death.  But. God's grace was powerful as well as tender, changing the outcome of her life.
Consider.
 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."  Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground (John 8:6-8, NASB). 
Can you imagine?  You know life is over.  You are facing certain death.  But.  There is a moment, when the goodness of grace is clear, when God’s voice is tender and powerful at the same time, when you are able to release your breath, let down the walls of your heart, and be free of your wrong-doing. And.
When you allow the grace of God to work in your life, when you live in the freedom of Christ, when you are able to see life from the perspective of the life God has planned, you've experienced heaven and earth colliding.  
But.  We choose whether or not we will live in the power of grace, with more awareness of His presence and love and ability to do more than what we will ever think, ask, or imagine.

Take time today to reflect on the power of grace in your own life.

Learning to Kickstart the day in and through grace,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)