When You Want Your Heart to Stay Aware ~ Our Final Weekend Walk

We have made it!  

We’ve made it to the end of our fourth and final week in our summer series. I am so thankful for each of you that has been here with us, so many women from all around the world, taking time this summer to soak in His amazing Gift of Grace.

I am forever wishing that I could sit across from you and hear what God’s been doing in your life.  There’s a coffee shop near downtown Denver that’s one of my favorites, it’s in this great brick building that sits right on the river and overlooks the city.  There’s couches to sit on right outside… wouldn’t it be great if we could all plant ourselves there for a while and share what God has been stirring in us?

But since we can’t, let me just take a moment to say to you wherever you are today, thank you.  Thank you for being here with us, for making space in your busy world to spend time looking more deeply into this topic of GRACE.  I realize there are tons of studies, blogs, and places to study God’s Word, so please hear me when I say that I am so grateful that you’ve spent part of your summer here with me.

How’s the rest of your summer looking?

The remainder of this month is packed for us, two weddings, out of town guests, commitments for church on Sunday, and prepping for vacation.  Yesterday I was on the run with VBS, shuffling kids to the neighbors while I took one to a doctor appointment, running errands, grabbing fast-food dinners and picking up groceries.

Last night as kids got jammies on, groceries got put away, and teeth got brushed, I finally made my way into my youngest’s room and sat at the edge of his bed.  I bent over to hug him, (him and some extra legos under his pillow), and I sat back up and looked at his sweet eyes and felt like I was really seeing him for the first time that day.  Although we’d been together all day, in our attempt to get it all done, I hadn’t stopped to really see him.  I sat there and said,  “I missed you today,” and then just stayed and listened as he recapped all that had filled his summer day.

As we wrap up our series on The Gift of Grace, and take our final Weekend Walk, I want us to go away with this one simple thought:

Even on days when life gets busy and you can barely remember what you did, always remember His grace.

Always remember His grace.

Some days, this is easy, right?  There are days when you are so aware of God’s presence, days when you sense Him everywhere you go.  Every verse you read seems to speak directly to you and your situation, and you feel like life is just about you breathing in His grace.

Then there are days you find yourself flying with your hair on fire in twelve different directions.  Life is full of every single thing and the only thing trending is your to-do lists and deadlines.  

Can I just say this…neither day is wrong.  There are days I have the luxury of a slow and simple pace, easy decisions and intentional talks.  But there are some days when it is ON, and I have got to go and move and get it done.

But I don’t want to miss His grace.  I don’t want to get to the end of my day and realize that even though we’d spent the whole day together, I never really saw Him or was aware of His presence.  

So as we wrap up our series, this has become my prayer, a prayer of openness and holy desperation.  This is too important to miss…oh Lord, let me get this:  

Whatever my day looks like, Lord, let me be aware of Your presence and Your grace.  Every single moment of my day.  Whether I’m kneeling or whether I’m driving.  In the grocery line or in my kitchen.  At my computer or at my favorite coffee shop.  Lord, cause my heart to be so aware…of Your presence and Your grace.

Grace.

It’s so amazing, isn’t it?

And so this summer, as you do life on whatever kind of day finds you, continue to walk in Him.  Walk…around your home, around your parks and neighborhoods.  And BREATHE IT IN.

Be AWAKENED to His grace.

Open yourself up to RECEIVE it personally.

EXTEND His grace freely to those around you.

And GUARD it with all that you are, knowing that of all the gifts you’ve been given in this life, His great grace is the most precious one you will ever receive.

And as Paul closes out Ephesians, and we close out our study, I pray you will know this grace to the depths of your soul…and in Paul’s words, I offer up this same doxology for you…

Peace my sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.