♪A Note of Thanks ♪ Grace, Mercy, Peace and Strength
“Grace, mercy and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” 2 John 1:3 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…in our ministering…he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:6-8
Grace is what God freely gives that we don’t deserve. God extends to us his favor.
Mercy is what God withholds that we do deserve. God extends to us His kindness, compassion, forgiveness and love.
Peace is what God brings to us. God extends to us His freedom from disquieting feelings with a calm serenity.
Strength is what God gives us so that we can endure, even in our darkest hour. We become stronger because of Him.
Do you experience days when you think you just can’t go on, yet somehow you make it? It is a result of God’s Grace, Mercy, Peace and Strength that spurs us on. How do we go on when we lose a loved one? How do we go on when we are the caregiver for our loved one who has Alzheimer’s? How do we make it, when a spouse, child or dear friend suddenly gets cancer or becomes ill with a serious disease? We sometimes become overwhelmed and ask God, Why?
“Why me Lord? What have I ever done to deserve this?
As God’s children, He bestows on us His Grace and Mercy resulting in His Peace and Strength to help us endure and persevere. As the church, we can show others His Love by being their friend, assisting them and further which is sometimes difficult to do, forgive them. As a by-product of this, we will have Peace that passes all understanding, strength, God’s strength, to help us go on with life. Another important facet of this process is that we will have thankful hearts, even in the midst of the storm. God has given and continues to give us huge amounts of grace, mercy and peace. We should ask Him for these qualities, so we can have them and extend them to others. When we realize how much we need grace and mercy we won’t have trouble giving it to others.
TILL THE STORM PASSES BY
In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,
While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.
'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.
Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try,
For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by"
But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise
Where the storms never darken the skies.
When the long night has ended and the storms come no more,
Let me stand in Thy presence on the bright peaceful shore;
In that land where the tempest, never comes, Lord, may I
Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by.
Chorus
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.
-by Mosie Lister
“He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.”
-Flint
Dear Lord, thank you for your wonderful mercy, grace and peace. Thank you for Your strength to help us through difficult times in our lives. Increase these qualities in us. Help us to show mercy and grace to others. Forgive us for the times when we have not. Increase our faith and strengthen us with Your power to radically show Your Love to others. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
Grace, Mercy and Peace as we serve along-side each other.
I remain your friend, Mark David Jackson
