Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas Grace

Linda has often said that grace walks through our door over and over as people bring meals and other blessings into our home. She is referring, of course, to God's grace in tangible form. How we thank God for His many evidences of grace in our lives, often time delivered by you in the form of a kind word of encouragement! Linda is with us and feeling well - God's gracious gift to us. All of our family has been with us, though Brian and Autumn just left for New York to see one of the last showings of Les Miserables on Broadway. That's OK, since our good friends (who are also Brian's parents) Ron and Debbie Stafford are here with us - and will be all week. Michael, newly engaged to Laura Hall and set to marry in late April, is here, as are Ben and Liz with the three grandchildren - Laurel, Judge, and Willow. All this on top of a blessed Christmas Eve Service with my church family. It has been a wonderful, gracious Christmas.

I have repeatedly been amazed by God's grace this season. His blessings to me come for no reason at all. My fleshly heart seeks to identify the reasons God is "rewarding" me, but I find only failure and unworthiness, leaving no doubt that every good and precious gift in my life comes down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no changing at all. It is grace - all grace. I trust you are tasting God's grace today with your loved ones. Merry Christmas! Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose first coming we celebrate on this day. We love you!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Brad,
Thank you for your mini-message - God's grace is amazing. I, like you, feel I am so unworthy of His grace- but am truly thankful for the God He is.
Thanks also for sharing your family times with us. Tell Linda I said Merry Christmas and I love her.
Eva

Anonymous said...

Grace is wonderful and God is so good to us. I am thankful Linda is at home and doing better at the time of the writing. We, too, take it one day, one hour at a time with our family. Continuing to pray for all the family. Merry Christmas to all and may God give strength as you need it. Ann Martin

Anonymous said...

Brad,
I just wanted to tell you that all of you are in my heart and I love y'all. I'm so happy to hear that your family had such a lovely Christmas together. Happiest that Linda is home and feeling well. Please hug her for me.

~Cousin Devon

p.s. I didn't know Liz has THREE kids! She has a little girl named Willow now? I love that name! Must get her email address from you soon.

Anonymous said...

Hi Brad,
I am writing from Texas (x-aunt). I wrote once before but didn't hit the right buttons to go through. just wanted you to know how much your faith has touched my heart. Devon told me about your blog and even though it is hard to read sometime because it makes me cry, it is such an inspiration and testimony to the Grace of God. Linda is in my thoughts and prayers as is your entire family. I had the best holiday in NC this year due to his Grace, especially with my granddaughter Hayley. I still care about the Talley family even though I am far away. God bless you during this time and I know we all ask Him for a miracle.
Dottie