Ordinary Time

Pause

Nobody ever wants grace until they reach that point where they don’t just want it, they absolutely need it. Grace always comes undeserved and often unexpected. But when grace arrives, there really is nothing sweeter.

Welcoming God’s grace is an act of trust. Extending God’s grace is an act of mercy. They are two sides of the same coin. When the opportunity arrives to welcome grace, only a fool would pass it by.

Listen

"Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

Matthew 10:41–42

Think

How wonderful it is to be wrapped up in the grace of God! We quickly forget that God made us for relationship and that the primary relationship we are called to acknowledge is with God.

Everything else flows out of that.

When we honor the relationships we have with God and neighbor, we welcome new possibilities to unfold in our lives.

David Schaefers

Pray

The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. Help me, God, to accept your mercy, claim your forgiveness, and accept your grace daily. Place your vision within me, so that I may trust you along the journey. Send me out, again and again, so that I may be closer to you through your ministry. Amen.

Go

God knows that we are not perfect! We are on a journey that has peaks and valleys, but the important thing isn’t the destination, it is our traveling partner. God extends grace to us, sometimes when we know we need it; sometimes when we don’t know. Welcoming the grace of God is the first step along the path to a new life.

God knows that we learn from our mistakes. We grow wiser with each day and with each new experience. By the grace of God, we grow! Thank God for that and step out into uncharted adventures, where God’s grace abounds.