😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you. I’m sure most of us have the experience of needing to hear something multiple times before it sinks in or really hits home. Actual Grace is a temporary grace that God offers each of us, in different ways, that will enlighten and strengthen our will to make wise choices and turn away from evil. Actual Grace is for a specific situation, a fleeting moment in which we can choose to accept God’s offer of Actual Grace or we can choose to deny ourselves that gift of grace. Actual Grace is like a God nudge, encouraging you to take a positive step forward for the good of others and your relationship with the Lord.
Actual Grace is the 4th of 15 talks on a Cursillo weekend. This talk really got me thinking about the multitude of Actual Grace moments the Lord offers us every day. Then I started thinking about how many of them that I choose not to accept. “I’m too busy.” “That’s out of my way.” “Mybe if I didn’t need to do this thing first.” Any excuse will do, right?
During one of our long breaks that Cursillo weekend, I went outside to walk the beautiful grounds. I came to a basketball court that had a ball sitting, just waiting for someone to pick it up. So, I grabbed it and played some basketball. During one of my missed shots, the ball bounced over to the grass. I bent over to pick the ball up and noticed there were a ton of three leaf clovers. Without thought, I immediately started searching for a four leaf clover. That’s when God spoke. All those three leaf clovers, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are the Actual Grace opportunities I offer you. The four leaf clovers, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and you, are the Actual Grace opportunities you actually accept. The three leaf clovers far out number the four leaf clovers. That was extremely convicting, because it’s true.
Since that moment, I’ve been working on recognizing and accepting more of those Actual Grace opportunities. I’ve also started noticed Actual Grace opportunities that other people are choosing to accept. One of which happened on Sunday when I was filling up two 5 gallon gas containers, so I could finish mowing the lawn. I was at the gas station, had both containers full and was tightening down the caps. A gentleman about as tall as me and thin, I would guess in his late 70’s, that was pumping gas next to me, came over and asked if I would like some help putting the container in my car. He said, “I’m not real strong, but I would like to help.” That was an Actual Grace moment that he accepted and it made me smile.
When I got home and started mowing along our property line, God made me smile again. He was sitting on my neighbor’s swing, waiting to have a conversation. I even took a picture to share with you. So, as I continued to mow, I did have a conversation with Him.
Be on the watch for your Actual Grace opportunities and remember the three and four leaf clovers. You get to decide if it will stay a three leaf clover or become a four leaf clover.
Bless others and be blessed.
Shelly :0)
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#TaurenWells – Breathe On It
Third Day Devotions 