Another scripture I could have wrote! :)

Psalm 40:1-5, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” (NIV)

That is one of my "life scriptures"...as I have and am living every word of it.
Every time I read it, my heart overflows with gratitude.
I am so thankful.
Last Sunday I led a song in worship that I wrote...it is somewhat of an anthem song for me. The chorus simple states....

I live my life as an offering
I live my life as an offering
For I, am thankful
For you, restored my soul
For I, am thankful
For you, are so wonderful

God is really teaching me two things right now...and it will may be awhile before I fully grasp it...if ever :). But He is working on my thinking in two very specific areas.

First, God is changing my thinking from the attitude of working for Him, to realize I work with Him. We are co-laborers in Kingdom work. He is not only for me...He is with me.

Second, He is teaching me much about Grace. I thought I knew a lot about grace...afterall it is the mark of my life...His grace. But, I am seeing that I know very little about grace. I still get caught up in works at times, and trying to please God and do do do. Often trying to "get it right". I am learning that as much as He loved me when I was yet in sin that He rescued me....how much MORE does He love me now that I am a daughter...I am part of the family. I easily grasp how much He loves us while we were yet sinners, that He sent His beloved Son...but sometimes I think now that I am His child that He is like "OK, we need to work on this, change this, fix this, do this"...like He is just waiting and watching to come down on me when I don't get it right or something. How silly is that? But, I am HIS now....I am His child...how much more does grace abound now...how much more is His love poured out now! Grace!! :)
He is with me, He is for me, and He loves me.
Yet sometimes I still try to go back to bondage and put myself under the law again. Because I think that we have to have a list of "do's and don'ts" or we have to earn God's favor or something. I know in my head, in my intellect, that is not true...but I don't always live it out. So, I am on a journey to really grasp grace in my life, and to learn to walk in it, and to rest in it.

I'm sure there will be more to come on these two issues as I continue to learn and process the things that God is teaching me on them.

Grace and Peace to you! :)