Grateful for God’s Grace

It’s been a long, but God made day. Getting out of the bed before 6am was extremely hard for my body. However, there was no way I was missing today’s Christmas Eve Services. I knew I had prepared myself as much as possible. I also knew the only way I could make it was relying fully on God’s grace.

Thanks to my new tens unit the severe muscle spasms in my shoulders calmed down completely. However, I still can’t lean forward at all without instant pain in my lower back. Something is bound or broken in there. I was so grateful for those who prayed with me before both morning services. I needed to shed some tears and I desperately needed God’s grace.

Over 200 people got to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ today. From one broken soul to another I shared what God put on my heart. My brokenness did what it always does at this level. It forced me to rely entirely on God grace. If not for the grace of God I simply don’t know where I would be.

I’m just like everyone else despite being a pastor. God has to often break me to get my full attention. To change me from the inside out. To teach me to rely fully on His strength and not my strength. I thank God for His continued grace even in my brokenness.

Jesus himself was totally broken and became the perfect offering for our sin. Praise God for his birth, death and resurrection. Praise God for the grace and eternal promise He gives to all who choose to believe in His son Jesus Christ.

“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” Isaiah 53:5