Come as You Are – Taste the Grace

Greetings Dear Reader,

Recently I was spontaneously invited to join a friend for dinner.  The mom cooks for seven every day.  It is part of her nature to prepare food well.  There was plenty and the conversation was rich.  The food had that particular quality that is only attained when it is served by a professional.

It was the combination of company and cuisine that made the evening so delightful.  The excellence of the food carried with it the love of and devotion to others that this host has for others.  Things were not just prepared well.  There was love in this meal and one could taste it.

We are forced to use metaphor and other devices to describe feelings and conditions of the heart and soul.  We are asked by God to taste and see that he is good.  Tasting is an experiment.  It tells if something this desirable or not.  God assures that if we truly “sample” him we will see that he is good.

Grace is a sampling of undeserved favor from God.  Too many see God as harsh and demanding.  In truth he longs to fill us to satisfaction with grace and love.  He wants to satisfy our inner hunger for grace and acceptance.  He wants us to know his love for us to a depth that fulfills all our needs.

Taste is so deeply significant for me.  Last night I tasted summer in the state-fair quality corn dogs that this same mom sent home with me.  Yesterday I tasted kindness in the words of your comments Dear Reader.  I taste grace every morning when I awaken with music in my head that reflects how much the Father loves me. 

I can come to Christ completely as I am with no other credential than that I need the grace offered me.  It is my insatiable daily need for that grace that keeps me coming back to the table.  It still amazes me that Christ would offer such a rich delicacy so freely.  It is only in that grace that I find the courage to come to Christ as I am.  It is only by grace that I can come.  

Amazing Grace – John Newton – Performed by Celtic Women

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His Word my hope secures;

He will my Shield and Portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we’d first begun.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."  ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)