When you need more grace

Originally published Friday, 01 August 2014.

An earthly father expresses love for his children; it is no different with our heavenly Father; The Eternal shows His love for those who revere Him. Psalm 103:13 (NLT)

When I think of God’s grace I think of my father.

I think of my father picking my brother and I up from school with hot meat pies. Telling us once again that my mother’s heart condition had landed her in ICU. In my mind I see my father driving us between hospitals to visit my mother in one hospital and my little brother in another. And in the midst of all these hard things, I remember him taking time out of work to take me to a school for the deaf so I could learn sign language for a grade 4 speech on languages. 

I think about how God’s grace has made my father who he is today. 

My father has taught me that God has time for me (even with all the other crazy things going on the world). (tweet this)

When I think of God’s grace I think of my father.

I think of the time at nineteen when I called him at 8am in the morning to tell him I had written off his car. A car my brother’s and I had borrowed for a skiing trip. I recall standing on the side of the road and telling him we had been in an accident and hearing him ask only how we were, only if we were okay. 

I think about how God’s grace has made my father who he is today. 

My Daddy has shown me that I am loved because I am his daughter, not because of what I do. (tweet this)

When I think of God’s grace I think of my father.

I think of the time when we argued over who I should marry. When we laid our hearts out before each other and tried to find a way forward in brokenness. I think of how he told me if I married Xylon he would never attend my wedding. I think about how God’s grace has taught us to forgive each other. And then I remember the day my father walked me down the aisle and led Xylon and I in our vows. 

I think about how God’s grace has made my father who he is today. 

My father has shown me that fears only hold us back if we don’t have the courage to trust God with our futures.

When I think of God’s grace I think of my father. 

I think of how my dad gave a woman he lectures a second chance to pass, and hope when she had none. I remember seeing the rings under his eyes after spending the whole night sitting up with his dog who is terrified of storms. I think of conversations with my dad about his bucket list and how his involves changing other's lives and not just doing cool things for himself. 

I think about how God’s grace has made my father who he is today. 

My dad has shown me that God’s grace isn’t just for him, or me, but for us to share with everyone we meet. (tweet this)

Ponder: How has your relationship with your father positively or negatively affected your view of God?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you that you always have more grace for us. 

[A note from Wendy: I have a great dad. I often struggle to write about him because I know there are many others who have had father’s who hurt them, abandoned them or even abused them. I wrote this post for my dad on Father's Day because I wanted to honour him for the role he has played in my life and for the example he has given me of what it looks like to be a Godly man. My father isn’t perfect but he’s been the best example to me of how God loves me.] 

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- This was orginally published on my site in June 2014 to read more devotionals like this go to ilovedevotionals.com

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