by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Not once have I listened to this song that my heart did not explode with gratitude or the tears forget to flow. Not once.
The title says it all. Were It Not For Grace, by Larnelle Harris. It’s old-school but few songs move me as much as this one does. Perhaps it’s because I know how barren my life was at the age of 27 before that night in the tiny duplex when I fell to my knees and “gave up” the mess I’d made up to that point. Oh, the freedom that flooded my soul in those moments…and in the years to follow.
I can’t imagine where I would be today, or my boys, if not for the glorious intervention of grace.
I pray my eyes will never remain dry when I think of all Christ accomplished for me, my family, and the world, that glorious Easter morn. Thank You, Jesus!
Were It Not For Grace
Time measured out my days
Life carried me along
In my soul I yearned to follow God
But knew Id never be so strong
I looked hard at this world
To learn how heaven could be gained
Just to end where I began
Where human effort is all in vain
[Chorus]
Were it not for grace I can tell you where Id be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me I know how that would go
The battles I would face
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace
So here is all my praise
Expressed with all my heart
Offered to the Friend who took my place
And ran a course I could not start
And when He saw in full
Just how much His would cost
He still went the final mile between me and heaven
So I would not be lost
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Now to live like it…
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… 1 Peter 1:3
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Still undecided about attending the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference next month?
Fellow Word Weaver and dear friend, Mary Denman, posted a terrific article on BRMCWC’s site April 3 (scroll down) that may help you gravitate towards the neon green post-it. (I hope so!)
New friendships, fresh encouragement, and first-rate insights await. Umm…and so does Cloud 9 Coffee Shop. Need I say more?
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
In celebration of Good Friday, here’s one of my absolute favorite videos. It could possibly be the most powerful few minutes you’ll spend today.
Writing prompt: Spend three minutes writing down specific reasons you are thankful for this day…and remember…
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Each of us will leave a legacy—but what kind?
I was incredibly blessed to be able to spend much of my life with all my grandparents, but today’s post celebrates my grandmother Knighton, who would’ve turned 97 today.
Grandmother wasn’t perfect, but she did certain things that left an indelible mark on my life:
- She not only spoke of God often, she walked with Him. And she, like my other grandmother whom I recently blogged about, also prayed for me daily.
- She loved unconditionally. No jumping through the hoops required.
- She encouraged me not to grow up too soon. Early on, I faced adult situations but she insisted that I enjoy my childhood and she gave me ample space to do so, sparking creativity in this only child’s
playground mind.
- She taught me how to pause. Not every moment had to be filled with a “to-do”.
- She encouraged creativity. As a child, I loved to pretend being a teacher, a dry cleaning clerk, a grocery clerk, and a hairstylist. She provided paper, groceries, clothes, my grandfather’s old calculator/cash register, and even her own hair for practice.
My list could go on for days, but here’s the point: We are impacting others through our words, actions, and decisions every single moment—whether we realize it or not.
- How do you and I want to be remembered?
- Is there someone in our lives that needs to know our love is a “no-hoop” zone?
- Are we teaching those around us how to be, and not only do, based on our own schedules?
Writing prompt: Imagine your granddaughter/grandson/niece/nephew posts a blog about you 10 years from now, based on your current words, actions, and decisions. What would they share? Be as specific as possible. Is there anything you would like to change about their future post? Go!
