Grace in the Mess: Celebrating Love, Mercy, and the Beauty of 'Better, Not Best'
Grace: A Gift Freely Given
Grace is not something we earn or deserve; it’s a gift freely given.
It shows up in the messiness of our lives, not in our perfection.
Grace is the love and acceptance of God that meets us exactly where we are—imperfect and human.
Grace reminds us that we don’t have to strive endlessly to be good enough.
Grace says, “You are already loved.”
Grace in the Letting Go
Grace is in the moments when we let go:
Let go of our shame.
Let go of our need for control.
Let go of our fear of failure.
It’s trusting that God’s mercy is bigger than our shortcomings and greater than the world’s problems.
Grace invites us to be open to better things:
A better us.
A better world.
A better way of communicating.
Even the smallest baby-step of “better-not-best” is held in grace.
Rest in Grace Today
Take a moment to rest in grace.
Breathe a little.
Let go of the pressures of expectations or ideals.
Simply allow God’s love to fill your heart.
Trust that you are enough, just as you are, in God’s unending grace.
Can you believe that grace is celebrating you at this very moment?
Grace in Every Moment
You made it through another day.
Maybe you said something stupid, or maybe you said something kind.
Maybe you met all your marks, or maybe you fell short.
Grace is here—
with you, for you, starting right where you are.
It nudges you to take one micro, mini step in a new direction:
A step with mercy.
A step with love.
Grace for EPC
Grace is here for Emmanuel too.
Something sweet is happening among us.
We may not have an ironclad plan to build the greater, grander, worry-free, award-winning, people-helping, people-saving church-of-all-time we might wish for.
But grace reminds us:
God loves EPC. Grace is here with EPC.
By grace, we have traveled this far.
And by grace, we will continue.
Thank God for grace.
Reflection Questions
Are you judging anything about yourself or your life?
Can you let grace in?Are you happy or grateful about something?
Take a moment to realize:Grace is throwing a little party with you about all the good things.
Grace is hatching plans for even more.
