Monday Morning Encouragement - One Year Later His Grace Still Amazes Me


Happy Monday, Cottage Friends,

This morning I'd like to encourage you in a little different way. It's been a little over a year since I moved into this home. Fifteen months since my divorce. Honestly, if you had told me eleven years ago that I'd be where I am right now, I would have declared, "No way!" I didn't remarry after the death of my first husband with the idea that I would only be married ten years. I doubt that anyone thinks that way when they take their wedding vows. Otherwise, why would they marry? It wouldn't make sense.

I haven't shared the details of my divorce for a very good reason. This is not the place to air dirty laundry. Suffice it to say there were things that needed to change, and when the other person isn't onboard with that, well. . .it's very difficult to continue in a relationship. And while I won't share any more details about the divorce, I will share that during that marriage I experienced years of depression and feelings of despair. 

And now, today, I'm sitting on my front porch sharing my heart with you in the place I call "home", and I'm so very grateful to God for bringing me here. It's comfortable, affordable, and with His help I'm refashioning it into a dwelling that reflects my taste. And that process has helped me heal. 

I'm in a good place emotionally, physically, financially, and most importantly spiritually. I'm closer to the Lord now than I have ever been. I'm more in love with Him today than I have ever been. I'm more assured of His love and grace today than I have ever been.

It's God's grace, though, that I'm most keenly aware of these days. I thought I understood that grace pretty well before my divorce, but since my marriage ended I've encountered a profound grace from God that has blown me away. Really. I know now beyond a shadow of a doubt that His love and acceptance of me has nothing to do with how I perform. It has nothing to do with what I do. It has everything to do with Him. With His character. See, God's love never changes. He's not put off by our failures. He doesn't turn away from us in disgust because we don't measure up. He opens up His arms wide and says, "Come to Me." 


All this is possible because of Jesus Christ. It is His sacrifice on the cross that paid for my sin, my failures, my mistakes, and opened the door to God's grace and forgiveness. Christ has freed me from shame. How could I not love such a marvelous Savior?


The number of my days are in the hands of my loving Heavenly Father (Psalm 139:16). He knows the number of hairs on my head (Luke 12:7). My name is engraved on His hands (Isaiah 49:16). Even though I can't fully wrap my brain around this kind of love, I'm convinced it's real. It's true. The peace and contentment I have cannot come from any other place. The assurance I have that no matter what life throws at me I can endure it because of the faithfulness of my God can only come from Him. This is the abundant life Jesus talked about (John 10:10). He's not speaking of earthly riches, He's talking about the abundance of knowing God intimately. Of resting daily in the assurance that He's got this.


I'm sharing all this with you today because I want YOU to know this kind of love, too. I want you to place your trust in Jesus Christ. He loves you so much. He died to redeem you from sin and death. He's got His arms open wide and He's saying, "Come to Me." Run to Him, and if you can't yet call Him Savior, then confess your sins and repent. Just turn away from everything that has kept you from God and enter into the arms of our loving, merciful Savior. His grace is truly amazing.


I pray this song Your Grace Still Amazes Me from Phillips, Craig and Dean will open your heart fully to the God who loves you and gave His life for you.

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying that you will surrender your life to Jesus.

Hugs,


 

10 comments

  1. Being in a place of freedom and grace is like taking in fresh, mountain air! I'm so glad God has brought you to this place. Thank you for your inspiration and encouragement. This song is on my playlist that I enjoy during my early morning walks. His grace DOES amaze me!
    ~Adrienne~

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  2. I truly believe God designed us to have a life of contentment and enrichment.
    Some times the path to those are rocky and have unexpected pitfalls. That is
    why Jesus is with us at all moments, to help us through. I am glad you have
    found a place of peace you were meant to have. And I try every day to appreciate
    what is in my life because I know I have all only because God created all.

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  3. One thing I learned Nancy through some hard years myself is that if you keep the faith and believe in God he will see you through. Being human is hard some days and sometimes during a rough life journey you feel abandoned, depressed and lonely. Turning to God and having faith he is with you makes that journey a little easier. God is you lifeline in the deep waters. I think there is a lesson to be learned in everything we encounter in life. Some good and some not so good but in the end we learn something about ourselves. I am glad you are at a good place now. Going through a divorce no matter what the circumstances are that led you there is hard. It is a loss and grieving process. I am glad you could come to this wonderful new place in your life.

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  4. One of the things that I appreciate most about growing older, is the chance to look back at the many, many acts of God's love and grace in our lives. Your story encourages us to never give up, no matter what happens, because our God is with us and He loves us more than we know. Nancy, I pray that He will continue to bless you and use your story to help others.

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  5. Nancy,
    What a precious gift given by God through Jesus to you! The knowing personally of his unconditional love!
    What you've written here made me think of an episode in season 2 of The Chosen. You'll know when you see it.
    Blessings to you my friend.

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  6. God has brought you to a wide place: one of rest, healing, growth, deeper relationship with Him. i continue in prayer for you, dear lady. hugs.

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  7. I think God brings us into seasons of "aloneness" so that we can hear His gentle whispers of "Come to me". I know that's how He drew me back to Him during the lockdowns last year. I'm so happy that you have drawn closer to Him, too. We need Him more than ever. What a friend we have in Jesus! God bless you, sister!!!

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  8. Daily amazed! I'm thankful to read of your release and peace.❤️

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  9. I love that statement, "He's got this!"
    Yes, He does and knowing Him and His love can change and soften the hardest of hearts. Every time we talk through a hard time in our lives and give it all to Him, He is there . He never will forsake us, His arms are always open and ready to welcome us into them.
    The other day I was thinking about Steve's hugs and missing them. He was a big man and when he wrapped his arms around me, I felt so safe and so loved. Then my thoughts turned to Jesus and how it will feel when we go home and He is standing there to greet us and wrap us into His loving arms. I thought about Steve's hugs and the way they made me feel is only a fraction of the love I'll feel wrapped in the arms of my Savior. The thought of this bought with it an emotion that makes me cry with joy. I can hardly wait! I want to be found with oil in my lamp and ready to meet my Lord. Knowing that this is my future, it's hard to get too worried about this world and what might be our future in this earth home. There are better times ahead :)
    Thank you for a lovely and very inspiring post. My prayer is that someone will read it and give their heart to Jesus.
    I am so very happy to hear that you are getting along and that your needs are being met and that you are running the race . . . with your eyes on the perfect prize :)

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  10. So positive and inspiring, Nancy. It makes me happy to see you in such a good place.
    Amalia
    xo

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Your comments bring me joy! Thanks for stopping by.