Last week, I spoke with a friend who was having a rough day. We've all been there! Our conversation switched from the day's difficulties to the blessings we receive daily from our loving Heavenly Father. We both agreed that God's grace is bestowed daily on each one of us. And His grace IS sufficient each and every day as we ask Him for help to carry our burdens when we feel we are overburdened and just can't! I know He's made the difference for me many, many times in my weakest moments.
Today, I’d like to share my #SundayMessage from June 6, 2021. I hope you all see God's love and grace in your lives today! Have a wonderful Sunday, and remember, I love you all!!!!
Marie’s Sunday Message
June 6, 2021
The other day, I had the opportunity to perform and be interviewed on a TV show called “Grace Notes,” which is on BYU-TV. I was happy to be on their show to thank them for filming my recent concert at Tuacahn. I must say, though, I was more than delighted to be able to do an interview and have it be all about my love of God. When we spoke about grace (a principle I feel is often not contemplated upon or understood enough), I thought it would be a good topic for today’s Sunday post. Over the years, I have enjoyed studying the principle. A wonderful friend of mine, Valerie Dimick, wrote these words that I love:
“Years ago, I did a word study across all scriptures and discovered the simplicity of what Grace actually is. Here is the simple definition: ‘The gifts and power of God.’ I found that if you supplant the words ‘the gifts and power of God’ with ‘grace’ each time you find it in the scriptures, you will begin to truly see the beauty of what God has done for us! For example, ‘It is by grace that we are saved’ restated, ‘It is by the gifts and power of God that we are saved.’ Another example, ‘Christ grew from grace to grace’ restated, ‘Christ grew in the gifts and power of God—to greater gifts and power of God.’ When we understand this definition of grace, we can begin to comprehend what it really is. We aren’t saved by getting life right enough, or doing things perfectly enough, or even being right enough. It is through HIS gifts and power that we are saved, that miracles come into our lives, that His tender mercies abound, and that we are ultimately able to get through this life’s challenges because of His grace and return to His presence! What greater joy and peace could there be? We are here to experience life, to fall down, but most importantly, to get back up and to joyfully continue to move through life. And it’s all because it is through God’s gifts and power, HIS grace, that we are saved.”
Don’t you love this?
I have met so many people who, after “falling down,” feel they cannot be forgiven and will experience personal turmoil forever. But God expects us to make mistakes. That’s why He provided us with our Savior, Jesus Christ. We came here to learn and grow through those mistakes, to make better choices the next time. As we taste the bitterness of feeling alone, we can comprehend the sweetness of the incredible gifts God provides us. All we have to do is ask for His grace! Grace is a gift that is sufficient to change us with its enabling power. We all have places in our lives we want to improve, places we want to be more like the Savior. His grace will give us that power, and Heavenly Father’s grace will ALWAYS bring us peace as we focus on the Savior.
I chose to perform this song from my album, “I Can Do This,” on the show “Grace Notes.” I performed the vocal simplistically, keeping one focused on the lyrics and not the vocal acrobatics 😂 because the words are so beautiful, and I hoped people would feel the Spirit. I loved doing this show because we focused on why I’m thankful that God has been such an essential part of my life. I hope as you watch, you’ll remember today that I am also thankful you all are in my life. You will always be important to me because we are all God’s children going through this magnificent journey called life! God Bless You! #HappySunday