Lord, help me write about this... I want to remember this!

Last night a friend wrote some advice to me that worked off of some misunderstandings and assumed too much from that.  Naturally I wanted to be upset about that, but this is my friend, and I didn't want to lash out... and it didn't feel right to even entertain the desire to lash out.  I thought of simply not writing back, but I think You had me face it instead of ignore it... to find peace by going through it with You instead of finding peace by ignoring or forgetting it.  Thanks, Lord.

I went downstairs while my wife gave my son a bath, and prayed.  I didn't know what to do or how to pray.  I forgave, I chose to forgive, but somehow that wasn't enough or wasn't "it" this time.  Then You brought the words to me to ask You for grace.

That was new to me!  I had known and understood that You forgave us on the cross, that we don't need to beg You for forgiveness You have already given, and that You have given us all grace in Your Son on the cross.  But I had never seen "grace" as something You could give me for someone else!  This was new to me!

You reminded me of the words to that little cute book by Roy Lessin, "Whiter Than Snow" --

For each need, there is grace.
For each trial, there is grace.
For each task, there is grace.
For each step of obedience,
there is grace.
And for each circumstance
of life, there is grace.

Grace bears you up,
lifts you up,
and keeps you up.

Grace strengthens you,
empowers you,
enables you,
frees you,
equips you,
and motivates you.

Grace comes to you
freely and completely
by the good and
generous hand of God.
It comes to the
humble, the lowly,
the needy, and to all
who look to God alone.

In the past I'd asked for and received forgiveness for others and love for others, but I had not asked for grace for others or even known that I could.  It was a "substance" I had not recognized existed for giving and loving!  Thank You!  I'm still processing this, Lord!

But now this lights up new parts of the New Testament for me... "but He gives us more grace"... "the God of all grace"... "but God gave us grace"... and "My grace is sufficient for you".  You weren't only speaking of the gracious act of giving Your Son on the Cross (that is THE grace of all grace!), but You were speaking of a substance, a gift, a kind of love You give and can give that makes a difference for us and for others.

I was blessedly blown away when I read Philip Yancey's book ("What's So Amazing About Grace?") and the words to the U2 song ("Grace") which spoke of grace as a presence, as Your presence, Your forgiveness and love, Your presence that just walks into the room and changes everything, "graces" us.  Now, somehow, I learn (and am continuing to learn and want to learn more) that You can give us grace for others and for ourselves.  You give us a little bit of Yourself, and grace is passed onto others.

I can't even describe the times when this is necessary, when "grace" must be given, but it adds a new dimension to my life in the Spirit.  Thank You, Lord.  And for the first time (for me), it truly lights up that expression, "Grace be with you."  Thank You Father, in Jesus' name, amen.