Afternoon quotes and qualms

  This morning, I got to listen to an orchestra and missionary from Hungary tell their stories of grace. Again, I headed to church not really knowing what to expect and being met there and having God exceed my expectations. You see, I've finally finished the book of Jeremiah and went on to Lamentations, excited to reach one of my all- time favorite passages in chapter 3! It feels like I'm turning over a new leaf, like perhaps I am not really having a quarter life crisis after all. 
  Their stories of grace were sweet and refreshing. But what I appreciated the most and where I felt God really tug on my heart was near the end when the missionary gave a challenge for us to be reminded that we too are meant to be stories of God's grace. Maybe you're thinking "DUUUUHHHH! I thought you were a church girl, you should know that." It's true, I should. There are a great many things that I ought to know that God is retraining me in foundationally. For example, how trustworthy He is or how much better He is than any thing, person, view or dream. I find myself whining alot lately about how much I do not want to be an adult. About how being 9 and anticipating double digits were probably the best days to live. They must certainly be better than applying for a credit card or studying for the GRE or doing laundry ( can someone please invent affordable, adorable disposable clothing already?)
  Ah, I digress. The point is, that God doesn't need me. For anything at all. Children will go on learning, people will continue to reap and sow and grow. Songs will be sung, money will be made, His Kingdom will be built, the world will truly keep on spinning. BUT. He does want me.
  He wants me. He wants my story to be His story of grace. Grace in salvation, grace in the mountain peaks and valley lows, grace in each climb and every tumble. He wants me! And He wants me right where I am at. You too, you know. He is for you. He's sovereign over your end and your beginning and He will not slack off in the middle. He wants you to be a story of His grace. Could anything/anyone make a better offer? Hard to imagine.

I'm loving this song (above) and this quote (below).Praying we all see His grace in this week.

"Sometimes...grace is pain... If that pain brings us to the throne of God, if it brings us to our knees before the King of kings..oh, honey! There's amazing grace in that."

-Katie Ganshert