Women of Faith - Magnificent Grace: Savoring the Greatness of God

MAGNIFICENT
GRACE

MAGNIFICENT
GRACE

EMBRACING THE
GREATNESS OF GOD

Margaret Feinberg

Foreword by Patsy Clairmont

2012 Thomas Nelson

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4185-4931-2

Printed in China

11 12 13 14 15 16 RRD 1 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

M y husband Les and I moved into our home in Franklin, Tennessee a year ago. In Michigan, our birth state, our small town held a handful of church choices; but in Franklin there are a plethora of steepled offerings. The street corners literally chime with glorious hymns and rhythms of faith. As weve church shopped in this land of plenty, it has been delightful to visit various congregations and to see firsthand what God is doing in the extended body of Christ.

Recently someone asked where I attend. As I rattled off the churches weve visited, it sounded like every church had the word grace in its name. With a laugh I quipped, Tennessee has too much grace. But, really, can one be offered too much grace? I think not.

Grace makes space for frail humanitys faults... without passing judgment. Really stop for a moment and dip your life-weary heart into those still waters. Rather than eye-rolling, finger pointing, or balling a fist over our mess ups, grace extends open arms and pure intentions. She allows us room to breathe deeply, calming us all the way down to our tippy-toes and all the way up to our churning thoughts. What relief to exhale our tension and inhale Gods hospitality! Grace doesnt revel in shaming; instead, she delights in redemptions quiet workno matter how long it takes. Offering peaceful boundaries, sound counsel, and deep comfort, grace is a lady with her wick trimmed and her lantern lit.

We all long for the companionship of grace, for our journeys can be arduous. Wait, did I say can be? I meant they inevitably are. We cant skip through this life without tripping over trouble, skidding into scandal, or sinking into the muck of lifes tedium. And when we are up to our eyelids in sadness, sorrow, and regret, only grace can walk in and make space for us at the table of restored hope and dignity.

My dear friend, Carol, when diagnosed with breast cancer initially responded as many would with tears and much trepidation. But then grace appeared. Carol knelt and sipped deeply from the grace cup and then rose up to move through her journey with unexplainable courage and deliberate gratitude. Not gratitude for the disease, but for those who extended kindness to her in the midst of the battle: everyone from nurses aids to the neighbors who brought casseroles throughout her ordeal benefited from the transformation.

I remember when Carol chose to shave her head before cancer took that choice away. She was brave. She was beautiful. She stayed close to laughter, to her faith, to her family, and to purposed conversations of love. Even her last breath was full of graces legacy.

I dont know the map of your story, but like mine it probably leads up mountains of great joy and through valleys of despair. The good news is grace signs up for the whole journey, empowering us to do more in heartbreaking places and everyday spaces than we could have imagined.

Can one be offered too much grace? I think not!

PATSY CLAIRMONT
JUNE 2011

Introduction
Grace Like Rain

Grace is the gift of Christ, who exposes
the gulf which separates God and man,
and, by exposing it, bridges it.

KARL BARTH,
THEOLOGIAN

W hen was the last time you felt the first light pitter-patter of cool raindrops on your skin? The sensation probably sent you looking for the closest dry area you could find. If there wasnt one nearby and the drops began to multiply, you may have found yourself drenched.

In some ways, grace is a lot like rain. Sometimes it catches us by surprise. We find ourselves sprinkled with grace when we least expect it. Other times it falls in an outpouring that drenches us in the reality of Gods goodness and love. Like rain, grace can be both life-giving and cleansing.

The grace God gives is not meant to stop at us; its meant to be poured through us as we become more grace-filled and graceful. When we receive Gods magnificent grace and realize the wonder of the gift, we cant help but extend it to others.

Grace gives the strength to face imperfections and faults, knowing that Gods provision is greater than human lack. Grace gives the ability to extend kindness when circumstances might tempt us to withhold it. Grace welcomes us into a deeper relationship with Godno matter where weve been or what weve done in the past. Indeed, grace is amazing!

Throughout this study, well look at different facets of Gods grace in our lives. Well consider the abounding grace God gives us, though sometimes its hard to wrap our minds and hearts around such a lavish gift. Well examine portraits of grace from throughout the Bible, focusing on people who not only experienced Gods grace but exhibited it in their attitudes and actions. Well also look at demonstrations of grace in our lives, marveling that God can send grace like a summer shower that catches us off guard with refreshment and replenishment.

My prayer is that youll find yourself rediscovering the wonders of Gods grace throughout this study. I hope that as you do, youll find yourself encouraged to extend grace to others.

Blessings,
Margaret Feinberg

Abounding
in Grace

Grace has a way of catching us by surprise. God extends
this amazing gift to us, His children, in countless ways
so that we will abound in grace in every area of our lives.

One
Sufficient Grace

No one is safe by his own strength, but he
is safe by the grace and mercy of God.

CYPRIAN,
CHRISTIAN WRITER

F rom the beginning, God lavished us with His grace. In Genesis we read of Gods creation of the earth, the moon, the sun, and the heavens. God placed each star in the sky for our enjoyment. He designed beautiful flowers and unique animals for our wonderment.

Then, at the peak of creation, God made man and woman in His likeness.