"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."
(John Newton - 1725 - 1807)
What is grace?
The dictionary describes it as, "favor, or goodwill; a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior; mercy; clemency; pardon."
The Bible says...
"being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
Romans 3:24 (American Standard Version)
"for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;"
Ephesians 2:8 (American Standard Version)
"Grace"
Late last year my beloved Persian cat Holly, died. She was 16 years old, and died of Chronic Renal Failure (CRF). It was hard to temporarily say "goodbye" after all those years. Personally, I believe that I will see her again in Heaven.
I decided to adopt a kitty from the local animal shelter, as so many are needing homes now, partially because of the economic situation in our world. It came to me that her name would be "Grace."
I visited the local animal shelter the next weekend. It was a rainy day. As I neared the shelter, the clouds seemed to open up directly over it, and the rain stopped.
They took me to the cat room, and there in stacks of cages were cats waiting for someone to choose them to take home. But there were very few kittens. A volunteer went directly to a cage and pulled out a 5 month old black and white kitten, who was hiding in the back of the cage, and handed her to me. She stayed in my arms, as I spoke to her quietly, and petted her. She was scared because of all the commotion going on there. I held her for quite a while, and she started purring.
I knew that this was the one...
this was "Grace" (or Gracie, as I would nickname her). I told them that I wanted to adopt her. The volunteer went to the cage, and couldn't find the card with the information on her. Then she spotted it...it was hidden behind another. No one knew that she was there! It was as if she was being held for me. They told me that I could pick her up the next day, after she would be spayed. I wondered what she must have thought, with me leaving her there, and going through what she did afterwards. I came for her the next day, and took her home. She has turned out to be the most loving cat I have ever had. She truly is happy in her new home, and loves me and her little friend Mandy, my other cat.
One night, I had the movie, Jesus of Nazareth on. I was about to give Gracie some treats (when she is about to eat treats, anything could be going on around her, and she pretty much wouldn't care...the treats are the priority). All of a sudden, before eating the treats, she stopped, turned around and saw a closeup of "Jesus" on the screen. It was the scene in which He says "Lazarus, come forth!" She kept staring at Him. Then she started walking towards the screen, "talking" to Him...the way she does to her favorite toys...kind of a coo-ing. She got to the TV armoire, and stood up to the TV, still looking at Him and coo-ing. I wondered, "Has she seen Him somewhere before...why did she recognize that this person was different from others?" She has since looked at the TV and saw other men on it, but kept on walking, paying no attention to them.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him; and without Him was not anything made that hath been made."
John 1:1-3
"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth."
John 1:14
"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
John 1:17
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
(Words: J. Johnston/Music: D. Towner)
Update 12/23/2012...
Gracie has a new friend. Her name is Noel (which is another word for Christmas), as she was adopted four days before Christmas. The person trying to find a home for her and her litter mates was desperate. They tried, as a last resort, to to take them to an animal shelter, but there was no room...they were filled up and refused to take them.
This reminded me of the One for whom Christmas is celebrated...when He was about to be born there was no room at the Inn. The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords was born in a humble stable, with animals in His company to witness the birth of the Creator of the Universe and Savior.
Sweet little Noel is "Home for the Holidays" and celebrating her first Christmas! Praise the Lord.
Until He comes...
