Grace and Fear

Grace, grace, grace... the word is used, abused, and misused repeatedly, depending on the intent and agenda of the user. We can pour out grace and mercy on others, the unearned kind, yet we struggle to accept it for ourselves in similar circumstances. Grace has been called costly, cheap, and even free. So why do we have such trouble with it?
A recent reminder I received pointed out that our God of grace is also a vengeful God who is to be feared. This is true, but should that fear be based on the retribution He may hand out, or should it be a fear of how incredibly loving and powerful God is, so powerful and loving that we will never fully understand even the smallest fraction of that love and power, thus leading to a fear of our own ignorance? Yes, we may live in fear of the unfathomable grace of God, so deep that one may be afraid of falling in and sinking to quickly and too deep. This fear may subside as we float down into the comfort of God's love, yet may reoccur as we again realize the true depth of God and His love and grace for us.
Now is the time to embrace the fear of what we don't understand about God, and to use it to compel ourselves to work towards a deeper, stronger relationship with Him, always moving towards Him,always in reverent awe. Thus, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Do You Really Mean That....?

I sit here today, wondering if it would be prudent to post my opinions about certain topics, or just let sleeping dogs lie. It seems to me there are a lot of negative things wandering around, unchecked on all the social media, and the more you try to comment, the more out of control it can become. Simple statements can be misconstrued, taken out of context, flipped and twisted so as to make any point the reader wishes. So that is one reason I do not respond to many of the things I find on line. They seem like they are designed to lure someone into a discussion (or in many cases a long, diatribe lambasting the responder as intolerant, non compassionate, or just plain in error). So, my friends, this post serves as my comment on all that comes to me. I already know how many of you feel and think about certain things, and I feel I'm not in need of a constant daily reminder of those views. I, too, have strong views, and any disagreement we may enter into will only serve to strengthen what is already thought. I don't like it when my mind is forced to close down. As for me, I will try to build you and others up. Please know I see all of you as God's children.