Saturday, August 3, 2024

Reflection - Nurturing The Inner Life - Grace And Graciousness

Source (book): "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Chapter 28, "Grace And Graciousness", Page 149.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


 The skinny schoolboy labours through his homework at midnight, dark rings around his eyes.
PHOTO: The skinny schoolboy labours through his homework at midnight, dark rings around his eyes. He cannot understand many things but his parents are too busy to help him. Why does his teacher demand so much?

The busy executive winces as a sharp pain slices through his abdomen, not for the first time that day. He cannot do much about it. It is very tense at the office. No allowance is made for an mistake, even if one is unwell. Why is this so?

The beleaguered pastor steps into the meeting with trepidation. He knows it will be a difficult one. So do a few other attendees, who share the pastor's sentiments. The meeting drags on, draining the energies of all present. Much unhappiness sits around the table. What is missing?

GRACE LEADS TO GRACIOUSNESS
Many societies long to be gracious. Terrified by increasing youth delinquency and violence at the turn of the millennium, the British government called for a return to traditional values and better manners. In Singapore, there was a campaign for people to smile more.

Graciousness, however, is not an invention of the secular world. It is a very biblical concept. Graciousness has to do with grace. We can be gracious because we have received grace ourselves. That was the point of the parable of the unmerciful servant, which Jesus told His disciples (Matthew 18:21-35). The servant had not apprehended the gravity of the forgiveness the king had graciously granted him. Because he did not truly understand grace, the servant could not be gracious to his fellow servant. What a shame!

We can be gracious to others because God is gracious to us. And may I venture to add that whether God's grace continues to transform us depends to a very large extent on whether we ourselves are gracious to others. Our lack of graciousness can cripple the movement of divine grace in our hearts.

GRACIOUSNESS IN THE MARKETPLACE
So, are we gracious? Am I? Are you? We live in an age when graciousness is increasingly in short supply. Our schedules are bursting at the seams and our spaces bulging with possessions, the latest knick-knacks from the marketplace. Many of us have moved dangerously close to the crowd of consumers jostling for the goodies of this world. It is difficult to be gracious when on a shopping spree. When our eyes are glued on things, it is easy to ignore people. When we don't notice people, we cannot be gracious, for graciousness is all about people.

WHEN GOD BECAME "LESS OFFICIAL"
Have you noticed how we can become less gracious when we become too formal and "official", clinging to our man-made rules? The Pharisees are a case in point. They made a big show of defending the Sabbath, to the point of neglecting the urgent needs of the suffering (Matthew 12:1-14). There is nothing wrong with rules and regulations. Order is necessary for us to function as a community. But sometimes, out of fear or laziness, we hide behind our official masks to avoid practising graciousness. For us, it is too much trouble.

Not so with God. He could have been very "official" dealing with us. That way, we would all have remained condemned sinners headed to hell. But God removed His royal robes and came to be with us and save us (Philippians 2:6-8), Such is grace. If we want to be a gracious people, we must pray fervently and meditate on the example Christ gave us.

PERFECTIONISM AND GRACIOUSNESS
People with perfectionistic tendencies may find it much harder to be gracious. They can be very demanding and less inclined to suffer fools. Shouldn't we be perfectionists, however, since God himself is perfect? True - God is perfect, but I do not think He is perfectionistic. He allows us to make mistakes. The fact that He forgives our mistakes shows that He is prepared to live with imperfect beings. If God who is perfect is not perfectionistic, why should we who are imperfect try to be perfectionists? Expecting perfection from others makes for mutual misery.

Society demands perfection. We are to produce perfect outcomes. Schools push for perfection. Churches push for perfection. There is nothing wrong with such aspirations, provided we do not forget who we really are. We are but forgiven sinners who still sin to varying degrees. Unfortunately, we live in an age which has taught us to market ourselves. Our public images have become very important. We try to look good, even at the expense of others. This is the origin of many ungracious acts.

A life of repentance and frequent confession of our sins would remind us who we really are. Being conscious of our sinfulness and God's forgiving grace would prepare us to tolerate others and be more patient with them, thus making us kinder and gentler people.

BECOMING MORE GRACIOUS
Still, being gracious in our fast-paced and demanding world can be a tall order. We are dealing with and overarching worldview and a common way of life around us. What can we little Davids do to tackle the Goliaths in our world - the things which make us snap and be unkind to others? Well, we have our sling and also our little stones. Here are a few:

1. Let us make confession to God a habit. Regular self-examination in the light of God's Word and the Spirit's promptings will keep us humble. Humility restrains grumbling at imperfections. We live in a messy world, and should remember that we ourselves are messy. Confession to God reminds us that we are sinners, preventing us from deluding ourselves that we are little gods.

2. Let us confess our sins to one another (James 5:16). John Wesley, the Methodist founder, designed a model for accountability known as the class meeting. The genius of his class meetings was the time given for group members to mutually confess their sins. The more we hide behind our masks, the less gracious we will be. But if we confess who we really are, including our fears and failures, we would be set free to be gracious to one another.

3. Let us become part of small groups in our churches. One purpose of Christian community is to build one another up. However, we often hear of Christians, including pastors, feeling burnt out. Instead of building up one another, we burn out one another! Why is this happening? Perhaps we lack graciousness, even among ourselves. We demand from others what is unreasonable. As the Catholic writer Henri Nouwen puts it, we need to relearn how to practise Christian hospitality even as we give up habits of hostility. [1a] We need to graciously give one another space. It is in this space, I believe, that God will transform us and make us into one redeemed people.

4. Let us set aside space and time in our lives to focus on people and their needs. It is easy to get caught up with endless tasks and projects, even ones that have to do with helping people - but only impersonally so. Instead, let us find moments to directly touch an individual person's life. Learning to be gracious to people around us, one by one, can be very redemptive, making us more human. Let us becomes pockets of graciousness in a world that is rapidly losing its memory of grace and graciousness.
Picture posted by Chu Chup Hinh, Pexels - Two Woman Hugging Eachother
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDXV4RavXj0OkqT1BXU5-YCSNbYKVEWgkZubRO_ylXTZU6xgjxjg7pWcf9E0Nmg010tEqZexruG4DFu097nQDJNIaP599neoHIWtErPoQWw2EeWi58m6hKJRyiaILvUWIUPIxRkhdmyalG0QyLljGMHNziw-AoVdl63vpB68bXgNRKItn2qYaYEpLfqU/s5472/pexels-photo-1139647.jpeg
https://images.pexels.com/photos/1139647/pexels-photo-1139647.jpeg
https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-woman-hugging-eachother-1139647/


The skinny schoolboy labours through his homework at midnight, dark rings around his eyes. He cannot understand many things but his parents are too busy to help him. Why does his teacher demand so much?

The busy executive winces as a sharp pain slices through his abdomen, not for the first time that day. He cannot do much about it. It is very tense at the office. No allowance is made for an mistake, even if one is unwell. Why is this so?
 

 The skinny schoolboy labours through his homework at midnight, dark rings around his eyes.
PHOTO: The skinny schoolboy labours through his homework at midnight, dark rings around his eyes. He cannot understand many things but his parents are too busy to help him. Why does his teacher demand so much?
Picture posted by Siyi Zhang on 06 April 2021 at 23:38:02
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoLFlTy9TdXgZnDrOodVIdUcr66141Aeh31KyAHPBQpdIUwVW6Tpxs-Hzld9GNpJCd0OMDi0DBa02snlBcmGGF4BzKug7yygG46Gmvs5PkNVbC_HTn4ms21kSlN7wXlAkbtMdejatW4PcTyeKgW_A2BjXl1HbFiFjFeZqJaGFA8cCy3KQpT1_py1JH18/s2500/1617809916725631.jpg
https://cdn.jmdedu.com/jmd-en/dev/ueditor/php/upload/image/20210407/1617809916725631.jpg
https://en.jmdedu.com/Article/693


The beleaguered pastor steps into the meeting with trepidation. He knows it will be a difficult one. So do a few other attendees, who share the pastor's sentiments. The meeting drags on, draining the energies of all present. Much unhappiness sits around the table. What is missing?

GRACE LEADS TO GRACIOUSNESS
Many societies long to be gracious. Terrified by increasing youth delinquency and violence at the turn of the millennium, the British government called for a return to traditional values and better manners. In Singapore, there was a campaign for people to smile more.
 

 GRACE LEADS TO GRACIOUSNESS
PHOTO: GRACE LEADS TO GRACIOUSNESS
Many societies long to be gracious. Terrified by increasing youth delinquency and violence at the turn of the millennium, the British government called for a return to traditional values and better manners. In Singapore, there was a campaign for people to smile more.
Picture posted by Nguyen Hung, Pexels - Portrait of Woman on Meadow
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMBRrfPchUbUOcNcBaaUalTjaVJZZN9OLT1B33ss1abRTWafgKjeCshwqo41uhLFdxZiNkUamT4i-E-QTRPz2UdNe7Qp2GLe43_59J04QZqja5MRNwMssquPvrrXKCmwbrOjVV6tm4Q9Jg_QwL9cJ6JmyNQudcWKWzwNeidDtHzDIbI6V_lF5RCz9kkw/s5054/pexels-photo-5459257.jpeg
https://images.pexels.com/photos/5459257/pexels-photo-5459257.jpeg
https://www.pexels.com/photo/portrait-of-woman-on-meadow-5459257/


Graciousness, however, is not an invention of the secular world. It is a very biblical concept. Graciousness has to do with grace. We can be gracious because we have received grace ourselves. That was the point of the parable of the unmerciful servant, which Jesus told His disciples (Matthew 18:21-35). The servant had not apprehended the gravity of the forgiveness the king had graciously granted him. Because he did not truly understand grace, the servant could not be gracious to his fellow servant. What a shame!

We can be gracious to others because God is gracious to us. And may I venture to add that whether God's grace continues to transform us depends to a very large extent on whether we ourselves are gracious to others. Our lack of graciousness can cripple the movement of divine grace in our hearts.
 

 We can be gracious because we have received grace ourselves.
PHOTO: We can be gracious because we have received grace ourselves. That was the point of the parable of the unmerciful servant, which Jesus told His disciples (Matthew 18:21-35). The servant had not apprehended the gravity of the forgiveness the king had graciously granted him. Because he did not truly understand grace, the servant could not be gracious to his fellow servant.
Picture posted by Jehovah’s Witnesses
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6Qp_KSBl9OkEvc920Oz5WdOr5WStO55hyphenhyphenh0zWqmWUKcO7_4pTlYhYdDCog9ym5E32uWtXRWjvAj_XSDy5JVwmSoZaKFP0xm4YDSV6pMfBjvlmobJZH6EB2Ft-u25ih_gvzfMWE2xE-LI6TPDUDGtbIlZQJizRCLpc4TFf3cXS04zOrXRd6OvzCOgRh0/s1200/1102014667_univ_lsr_xl_1.png
https://cms-imgp.jw-cdn.org/img/p/1102014667/univ/art/1102014667_univ_lsr_xl.jpg
https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/jesus/ministry-in-galilee/forgiveness-lesson/


GRACIOUSNESS IN THE MARKETPLACE
So, are we gracious? Am I? Are you? We live in an age when graciousness is increasingly in short supply. Our schedules are bursting at the seams and our spaces bulging with possessions, the latest knick-knacks from the marketplace. Many of us have moved dangerously close to the crowd of consumers jostling for the goodies of this world. It is difficult to be gracious when on a shopping spree. When our eyes are glued on things, it is easy to ignore people. When we don't notice people, we cannot be gracious, for graciousness is all about people.
 

 GRACIOUSNESS IN THE MARKETPLACE
PHOTO: GRACIOUSNESS IN THE MARKETPLACE
So, are we gracious? Am I? Are you? We live in an age when graciousness is increasingly in short supply. Our schedules are bursting at the seams and our spaces bulging with possessions, the latest knick-knacks from the marketplace. Many of us have moved dangerously close to the crowd of consumers jostling for the goodies of this world. It is difficult to be gracious when on a shopping spree. When our eyes are glued on things, it is easy to ignore people. When we don't notice people, we cannot be gracious, for graciousness is all about people.
Picture posted by Veecteezy - Crowd of people on black friday fighting for promotional goods
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54hbK-Oqn5G27uabkIJe_FxQMJBWFYAJ-5BkU3gba4bJ3jgEw1W6v6tqr7b7YIGy22kol3mbVd6LkfmV3baZPFJpSEJfcRLuXDxqyTwI5opSLjl_v-R0sy71PcgXkHJ73YuMt9W0amNNc4kTpCGwhbJMU7kYxAlTGeuW0lbVNDCZu7P-t42-TZ-9fbSA/s2940/crowd-of-people-on-black-friday-fighting-for-promotional-goods-neural-network-ai-generated-photo.jpg
https://static.vecteezy.com/system/resources/previews/023/137/657/large_2x/crowd-of-people-on-black-friday-fighting-for-promotional-goods-neural-network-ai-generated-photo.jpg
https://www.vecteezy.com/photo/23137657-crowd-of-people-on-black-friday-fighting-for-promotional-goods-neural-network-ai-generated


WHEN GOD BECAME "LESS OFFICIAL"
Have you noticed how we can become less gracious when we become too formal and "official", clinging to our man-made rules? The Pharisees are a case in point. They made a big show of defending the Sabbath, to the point of neglecting the urgent needs of the suffering (Matthew 12:1-14). There is nothing wrong with rules and regulations. Order is necessary for us to function as a community. But sometimes, out of fear or laziness, we hide behind our official masks to avoid practising graciousness. For us, it is too much trouble.


WHEN GOD BECAME 'LESS OFFICIAL'
PHOTO: WHEN GOD BECAME "LESS OFFICIAL"
Have you noticed how we can become less gracious when we become too formal and "official", clinging to our man-made rules? The Pharisees are a case in point. They made a big show of defending the Sabbath, to the point of neglecting the urgent needs of the suffering (Matthew 12:1-14). There is nothing wrong with rules and regulations. Order is necessary for us to function as a community. But sometimes, out of fear or laziness, we hide behind our official masks to avoid practising graciousness. For us, it is too much trouble.
Picture posted by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQHa2FR-9hZaysQmbk_le3RoAnlqA7eRCMsyD90AwuyO5XAOPqhT2hXCVE4bhha8cIUmzEs-rNquZtPsvtm9Ih9PWu6ouB41ovVpRltMku0XcVOGWO1NctcpeXCIx5lItg0LdNElcFOM/s1600/502014188_univ_cnt_1_xl-1.png
https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/502014188/univ/art/502014188_univ_cnt_1_xl.jpg
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/kingdom-in-heart/
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/search?q=christian+donation
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/08/reflection-imitating-christ-in-our.html


Not so with God. He could have been very "official" dealing with us. That way, we would all have remained condemned sinners headed to hell. But God removed His royal robes and came to be with us and save us (Philippians 2:6-8), Such is grace. If we want to be a gracious people, we must pray fervently and meditate on the example Christ gave us.

PERFECTIONISM AND GRACIOUSNESS
People with perfectionistic tendencies may find it much harder to be gracious. They can be very demanding and less inclined to suffer fools. Shouldn't we be perfectionists, however, since God himself is perfect? True - God is perfect, but I do not think He is perfectionistic. He allows us to make mistakes. The fact that He forgives our mistakes shows that He is prepared to live with imperfect beings. If God who is perfect is not perfectionistic, why should we who are imperfect try to be perfectionists? Expecting perfection from others makes for mutual misery.
 

 PERFECTIONISM AND GRACIOUSNESS
PHOTO: PERFECTIONISM AND GRACIOUSNESS
People with perfectionistic tendencies may find it much harder to be gracious. They can be very demanding and less inclined to suffer fools. Shouldn't we be perfectionists, however, since God himself is perfect? True - God is perfect, but I do not think He is perfectionistic. He allows us to make mistakes. The fact that He forgives our mistakes shows that He is prepared to live with imperfect beings. If God who is perfect is not perfectionistic, why should we who are imperfect try to be perfectionists? Expecting perfection from others makes for mutual misery.
Picture posted by Angie Morgan Witkowski, Strategicchro Chief Executive Group
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDGes3mYmYJGoNT1C-tS9cd-ykHyn7zYDz87Zgb5mvIeNpL7SEa6OovhSwTt55eMLW0ppyu0OWwKX4oeI0Rdd3EYzP12QcVuxkCHuw9HboRQNMbdevzZhjtfJ_PXge1iJyrcN-Jee3hZ6VycNyKw2MmqkGwGkKq1FgAzv4ieJErFBRU0Lq14dGtU5blU/s1068/AdobeStock_364597827_11.png
https://strategicchro360.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AdobeStock_364597827.jpg
https://strategicchro360.com/is-perfectionism-holding-you-back/


Society demands perfection. We are to produce perfect outcomes. Schools push for perfection. Churches push for perfection. There is nothing wrong with such aspirations, provided we do not forget who we really are. We are but forgiven sinners who still sin to varying degrees. Unfortunately, we live in an age which has taught us to market ourselves. Our public images have become very important. We try to look good, even at the expense of others. This is the origin of many ungracious acts.

A life of repentance and frequent confession of our sins would remind us who we really are. Being conscious of our sinfulness and God's forgiving grace would prepare us to tolerate others and be more patient with them, thus making us kinder and gentler people.
 

 Society demands perfection.
PHOTO: Society demands perfection. We are to produce perfect outcomes. Schools push for perfection. Churches push for perfection. There is nothing wrong with such aspirations, provided we do not forget who we really are. We are but forgiven sinners who still sin to varying degrees. Unfortunately, we live in an age which has taught us to market ourselves. Our public images have become very important. We try to look good, even at the expense of others. This is the origin of many ungracious acts.
Photo Lab effect on picture at https://photolab.me/d/40227650
BECOMING MORE GRACIOUS
Still, being gracious in our fast-paced and demanding world can be a tall order. We are dealing with and overarching worldview and a common way of life around us. What can we little Davids do to tackle the Goliaths in our world - the things which make us snap and be unkind to others? Well, we have our sling and also our little stones. Here are a few:

1. Let us make confession to God a habit. Regular self-examination in the light of God's Word and the Spirit's promptings will keep us humble. Humility restrains grumbling at imperfections. We live in a messy world, and should remember that we ourselves are messy. Confession to God reminds us that we are sinners, preventing us from deluding ourselves that we are little gods.
 

 Let us make confession to God a habit.
PHOTO: Let us make confession to God a habit. Regular self-examination in the light of God's Word and the Spirit's promptings will keep us humble. Humility restrains grumbling at imperfections. We live in a messy world, and should remember that we ourselves are messy. Confession to God reminds us that we are sinners, preventing us from deluding ourselves that we are little gods.
Picture posted by Lim Chung Hee - ★ Have a blessed day today ★
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c55Ro2899uzg3yyyE0tyZrKVIZJmnX8dK2UBK6VHNyu7JHFUr9rQhEi66h2BIkX9_7iHhPx9iYSVzFW5an1jmI7B5SOWZR8wYBLOuKH7-PzvaptYU2mYK9F0-8ejBsr7GUCI6TTVTPrk7XJvE-LTbbX2SVKUA85OqNkG0GhYpzyqRRWK-9_rhvJKOLs/s1488/6786267b2f883d9c964f07b26f8edb5c.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/67/86/26/6786267b2f883d9c964f07b26f8edb5c.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/188729040627742349/


2. Let us confess our sins to one another (James 5:16). John Wesley, the Methodist founder, designed a model for accountability known as the class meeting. The genius of his class meetings was the time given for group members to mutually confess their sins. The more we hide behind our masks, the less gracious we will be. But if we confess who we really are, including our fears and failures, we would be set free to be gracious to one another.
 

 Let us confess our sins to one another (James 5:16).
PHOTO: Let us confess our sins to one another (James 5:16). John Wesley, the Methodist founder, designed a model for accountability known as the class meeting. The genius of his class meetings was the time given for group members to mutually confess their sins. The more we hide behind our masks, the less gracious we will be. But if we confess who we really are, including our fears and failures, we would be set free to be gracious to one another.
Picture posted by Meg Bucher, crosswalk.com on 17 February 2021
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIWt4bZn8OlDAqMi3kXHSAlbn6IsRuJbgtlRTz3mQH2oRLqdfJe2SrNkIK6Qcx1rfuF1PGGUnyiER1ng1tAVtkBGkqRs5K5usmNSlPpn-SiumGaDz2myn8C5aPAVYYhGzxfEn1zUAxrZDej1TimgccBq4q4lehKxkij9a2stwrkYOZCawEvO5mMLjIes/s800/17739-gettyimages-1214853812-mangostarstudio.webp
https://i.swncdn.com/media/800w/via/17739-gettyimages-1214853812-mangostarstudio.webp
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-does-it-mean-to-confess-your-sins-to-one-another.html


3. Let us become part of small groups in our churches. One purpose of Christian community is to build one another up. However, we often hear of Christians, including pastors, feeling burnt out. Instead of building up one another, we burn out one another! Why is this happening? Perhaps we lack graciousness, even among ourselves. We demand from others what is unreasonable. As the Catholic writer Henri Nouwen puts it, we need to relearn how to practise Christian hospitality even as we give up habits of hostility. [1a] We need to graciously give one another space. It is in this space, I believe, that God will transform us and make us into one redeemed people.
 

 Let us become part of small groups in our churches.
PHOTO: Let us become part of small groups in our churches. One purpose of Christian community is to build one another up. However, we often hear of Christians, including pastors, feeling burnt out. Instead of building up one another, we burn out one another! Why is this happening? Perhaps we lack graciousness, even among ourselves. We demand from others what is unreasonable. As the Catholic writer Henri Nouwen puts it, we need to relearn how to practise Christian hospitality even as we give up habits of hostility. [1a] We need to graciously give one another space. It is in this space, I believe, that God will transform us and make us into one redeemed people.
Picture posted by Kevin McConaghy, Watermark Community Church on 27 September 2021
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVNO1ecNHblV4U2qf-zovp4INRIOD5ov8smm4k3-PU_Rk_DPHjrhRSxrRlZ4nabgIiFGaipGsfJATqQiznz0rgEFFg2cfZEPPBo0ebdjo8jhRK9tPzJ-vISFVklcFXexkZY2ZemcqbrzXyf6-w-gDCHIqWeqXvz0KGxa2pFyaTpjSYhifF0e1Q9_HC8Y/s1920/LwlANW1W.jpeg
https://images.ctfassets.net/lwoaet07hh7w/7gAmKfIAUaAbCP49bZ1VXz/d3af14795efa1ba89f7f698471eed160/LwlANW1W.jpeg?fl=progressive&fm=jpg&w=1920
https://www.watermark.org/blog/why-we-confess-sin


4. Let us set aside space and time in our lives to focus on people and their needs. It is easy to get caught up with endless tasks and projects, even ones that have to do with helping people - but only impersonally so. Instead, let us find moments to directly touch an individual person's life. Learning to be gracious to people around us, one by one, can be very redemptive, making us more human. Let us becomes pockets of graciousness in a world that is rapidly losing its memory of grace and graciousness.
 

 Let us set aside space and time in our lives to focus on people and their needs.
PHOTO: Let us set aside space and time in our lives to focus on people and their needs. It is easy to get caught up with endless tasks and projects, even ones that have to do with helping people - but only impersonally so. Instead, let us find moments to directly touch an individual person's life. Learning to be gracious to people around us, one by one, can be very redemptive, making us more human. Let us becomes pockets of graciousness in a world that is rapidly losing its memory of grace and graciousness.
Picture posted by sint-z.com
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihP55HurIDJfBOhYbMaqdfps2I_55dYLGcTDHcOlIR0OrDDbFZi77gn0qFrdTo92hkYcya8NNxllLquWE1K7RnlVDIjo-zjsXbADBhAwH20WBqxAhrEv3e0G9CYvrAbW6IYIe3Q2UW2VQR5WQYr4Kv_fzCsAynhbtJcC4x4vIJXo3raZor_OovyiGfAa4/s1200/aid1904245-v4-1200px-Be-Gracious-Step-20.webp
https://i0.wp.com/www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/86/Be-Gracious-Step-20.jpg/aid1904245-v4-1200px-Be-Gracious-Step-20.jpg?ssl=1
https://sint-z.com/gracius
 

 Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we make confession to God a habit. Confession to God reminds us that we are sinners, preventing us from deluding ourselves that we are little gods.

Help us to us confess our sins to one another. The more we hide behind our masks, the less gracious we will be. May we confess who we really are, including our fears and failures, so that we would be set free to be gracious to one another.

May we become part of small groups in our churches. We need to relearn how to practise Christian hospitality even as we give up habits of hostility. May we graciously give one another space. In this space, may God transform us and make us into one redeemed people.

Help us to set aside space and time in our lives to focus on people and their needs. May we become pockets of graciousness in a world that is rapidly losing its memory of grace and graciousness.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Sabina 🙏❤🕯
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Reflection - Nurturing The Inner Life - Grace And Graciousness
Source (book): "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Chapter 28, "Grace And Graciousness", Page 149.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


Other Books (Links)

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html 


"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
 

"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
 

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
 

"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
 
 
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
 
 
"He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God",  © 2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Shelly Beach

 Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
 

"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html

 
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 46 - 90 (Links), posted on
Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 46 - 90 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 24 October 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/10/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-46-90.html


"Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 1 - 28 (Links), posted on Saturday, 04 August 2024
Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 1 - 28 (Links), posted on Saturday, 04 August 2024
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-making-all-things-new.html



Reference
[1] From "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon, Chapter 28, "Grace And Graciousness", Page 149.

[1a] Henri J. M. Nouwen, Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life (New York: Doubleday, 1975). Nouwen's second movement is moving from hostility to hospitality when, having discovered our own God-given space, we are able to give others their space.


Links
Other Books (Links) - https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-books-links.html


New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

James 5:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A16&version=NIV

Matthew 11:28-29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28-29&version=NIV

Matthew 12:1-14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A1-14&version=NIV

Matthew 18:21-35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A21-35&version=NIV

Philippians 2:6-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A6-8&version=NIV

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