It is always fascinating to me that King David was called a 'man after God's own heart' (Acts 13:22). It is a unique title given to just one person in  Scripture.

Following part 1, I have derived a model from all the verses referencing both concepts in the Word. It remains fascinating to me that God has merged these seemingly opposing notions together in one wondrous package.

I have taken the root words of truth (emet in Hebrew and alētheias in Greek) as well as the ones for Grace and found the instances in the Bible that relate the two. 

I wanted to discover:
- How are they related ?
- In what context ?
- What do they describe ?
- Is there a relationship involved ?
- Can this be applied to me ?

These questions helped me create this model. You may find translated words for truth that share it's root (like righteousness, justice, faithfulness, knowledge...). The same for Grace (mercy, compassion).

Enjoy the model.

We often have the misconceived notion that God was a 'God of Truth or Justice' in the Old Testament and a 'God of Grace' in the New; as if he transformed in the 400 years between Malachi and Matthew. As such, we have often put in contrast Truth and Grace, as if they were opposed.  

Grace and Truth are actually complementary, not opposing, forces, interacting to form a whole greater than either separate part; in effect, a dynamic system. Everything God does in the Bible has both aspects, from his dealings with the fathers of faith, to the nation of Israel, to Christ, to us. Truth shows the standard and Grace helps us get there. Grace and Truth are two sides to the same coin. Randy Alcorn calls it the 'two wings on a bird'. 

In fact, Psalm 85:10, the author writes about this intricate, unique and special relationship: Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.

Here's how they are complimentary:
- Truth identifies the fault, Grace covers it
- Truth establishes God's holiness, Grace establishes God's love
- Truth declares the absolute, Grace reconciles me with it
- Truth is the road to follow, Grace is the transportation
- Truth gives the need for God, Grace gives the hope and the way to God through Christ
- Truth is the standard, Grace is the relationship
- Truth sends the judgement, Grace provides the shelter
- Truth hates the sin, Grace loves the sinner
- Truth is the 'what i say and live', Grace is the 'how I say and live'
- Truth is the content, Grace is the format
- Truth is the words, Grace is the tone
- Truth demands a sacrifice, Grace provides it
- Truth holds up the mirror and shows one clothed in sin, Grace changes the reflection and shows one clothed on Christ
- Truth shows us the right choice, Grace gives us the freedom to choose, and forgives us when the choice is wrong
- Truth does not shy away from announcing itself with conviction, Grace says it with love
- Truth condemns the sinner because of his sin, Grace saves the repentant sinner despite of his sin 
 
Grace and Truth truly have embraced.

A friend of mine introduced me to Brennan Manning. Since yesterday (April 12th, 2013), he is dancing with his Maker. His last book was untitled 'All is Grace' - a title I obviously was interested in.

The following is a quote from that last book posted by this friend of mine. Mr Manning certainly understood the scandal that is God's Grace.

"My life is a witness to vulgar grace -- a grace that amazes as it offends. A grace that pays the eager beaver who works all day long the same wage as the grinning drunk who shows up at ten till five. A grace that hikes up the robe and runs breakneck toward the prodigal reeking of sin and wraps him up and decides to throw a party, no ifs, ands, or buts. A grace that raises bloodshot eyes to a dying thief's request -- "Please, remember me" -- and assures him, "You bet!"...This vulgar grace is indiscriminate compassion. 

It works without asking anything of us. It's not cheap. It's free, and as such will always be a banana peel for the orthodox foot and a fairy tale for the grown-up sensibility. Grace is sufficient even though we huff and puff with all our might to try and find something or someone that it cannot cover. Grace is enough...

Sin and forgiveness and falling and getting back up and losing the pearl of great price in the couch cushions but then finding it again, and again, and again? Those are the stumbling steps to becoming Real, the only script that's really worth following in this world or the one that's coming. Some may be offended by this ragamuffin memoir, a tale told by quite possibly the repeat of all repeat prodigals. Some might even go so far as to call it ugly. But you see that doesn't matter, because once you are Real you can't be ugly except to people who don't understand...that yes, all is grace. It is enough. And it's beautiful." B.M.

This is a repost of 'My first Easter' composition. This remains what I have in my heart in contemplating the amazing Grace during this Easter season.

May it bless you.

---"Before we see the cross as something done for us, we need to see the cross as something done by us" 
- John Stott

I asked him to heal me and feed me without any intention to follow him
I tested his teachings and refused to let go of my beliefs
I expected him to liberate us from the Romans

I betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver
I broke bread with him at his last supper
I fled when the soldiers came to take him
I kissed him to show the soldiers who he was
I took him into custody and brought him before the high priest Caiaphus
I put him on an illegal trial with false witnesses
I brought him to the governor Pilate
I questioned him about the accusations
I brought him to Herod and returned him to Pilate
I let the crowd decide his fate and washed my hands of it
I wanted the liberation of a known murderer instead of his
I sentenced him to death to appease the crowd and my ego

I beat and flogged him multiple times with whips
I spat on him
I made a crown of thorns and placed it harshly on his head
I made him carry his cross up the mount and pushed him to the ground
I put his hands on the cross and nailed him to it
I put his feet together on the wooden block at the base of the cross and nailed them to it
I lifted the cross and slipped it in the hole
I divided his clothes and cast lots for it
I placed a sign above his head 
I give him vinegar to drink
I pierced his side and saw blood and water spill out
I looked on approvingly, content of his death
I mocked his lack of power, even while I was hanging on a cross beside him
I denied ever knowing him, three times
I doubted his messianic claims
I heard him say ridiculous words to his supposed father
I saw him draw his last breath

I took the limp body off the cross
I placed it in a tomb and rolled a massive stone to close it
I guarded the tomb and prevented anyone from reaching it
I kept the empty tomb a secret
I persecuted those who thought he was risen

I was there that first Easter. My sins did all of this. And yet, through faith, His Grace covered me.

- GraceGuy 

For the last months, we had been going through a very difficult time in our previous community of faith. Without going into too many details, God provided us with a front row seat to moralistic, unbiblical preaching as well as inviting on stage to experience first-hand a culture of judgment and lack of forgiveness.

I had written and erased dozens of blog posts pertaining to that time and the learning that it wrought. Some were vindictive, others were self-excusing, and most lacked the grace I am on a journey to learn and apply.

I believe God has provided the right words for me to express this ball of emotions and frustrations in a positive way.... from someone else's pen.

Thank you Jared C. Wilson for encouraging me to look to a Christ-filled future, where grace and truth live. Thank you for wrapping up my thoughts into a positive action plan for future use. And thank you Lord for providing these words to me.

Here is the original article, and below is a copy.

---
Cultivating a Gracious Climate in Your Church
Jared C. Wilson

As I’ve said before, a message of grace may attract people, but a culture of grace will keep them. What our churches need, not in exchange for a gospel message but as a witness to it, is a gospeled climate. But how do you get that? How do you develop in your church community a safe space to confess, be broken, be “not okay”? What are some ways to cultivate a climate of grace in your church?

1. Ordain totally qualified elders

We often do well to make sure our elders are solid in doctrine and confident in leadership, but too often we let the just-as-important qualifications slide. Or we skimp over them in assessment. Many churches fail their communities when they ordain the smartest guys in the building because those smart guys lack in qualities like gentleness, long-temperedness, or in shepherding their families well. Consider candidates who live in open, transparent ways, who distinguish themselves in hospitality and generosity, who have reputations for patience and meekness as much as intelligence and confidence. Examine their families. Do they lead their families graciously? Do their kids seem happy? Are their wives flourishing? There is a reason Paul puts the quality of husbanding and fathering at the top of his list.

This is one reason I am particularly fond of older men as elders, particularly men with adult or young adult children. A man may have prodigal children in spite of him, of course, not because of him, and so I want to take that into consideration, but if a man’s children are no longer walking with the Lord I want to know if it was because they grew up in an undisciplined, ungodly home or an overly disciplined, rigid, authoritarian, graceless home. I am not opposed to younger elders with younger children (I am one) or even single elders with none (Paul was one), but older men give you both the benefit of life experience and wisdom, and if they’ve been walking with Jesus for a while, they are often softer in heart than younger men. In short, what you want is not just elders who preach and teach well, but elders who love well, who shepherd well. You don’t want simply ruling elders, but gracious shepherds. Because whatever your elders are, your church will eventually be.

2. Go hard after doctrinal arrogance.

Most everyone who thinks they are right about a particular theological issue believes they came to it through growing in the Lord, not just reading information. Both the Calvinists and the Arminians in your church think that. Both the premillennialists and the postmillennialists think that. Most every one of us believes that we came to our particular view in the midst of our spiritual growth. (And we’re all right about that, sort of.) Thinking this way is only natural. But the danger in this thinking is equating our particular view with progressive sanctification. Doing so means believing that because I believe ______, I am more sanctified than you. The reason you don’t yet subscribe to my view on this matter is because you are more immature in your faith. Suddenly we are creating first and second class Christians in the community. And that’s gross.

Gently but firmly rebuke doctrinal arrogance and root it out wherever you find it. Factions develop over devotion to secondary matters quite easily if left unchecked. Be careful in preaching against sin that you don’t have “favorite” sins, pet sins to rail against. People guilty of such sins may be convicted and repent, but more often they do not hear the message of grace when their sin is repeatedly singled out but that your church is a safe place to have any sin but theirs. And there is an inverse danger in having favorite sins to preach against: it implicitly tells people who don’t struggle with that sin that they must be holy because they don’t struggle with it. By singling out certain sins for special treatment, you are helping everybody else embrace the arrogance of the Pharisee in the temple who was proud he wasn’t the tax collector.

Remind your people often that the demons have impeccable theology, that demons can be Calvinists and Arminians, millenniarians and amillenniarians.

3. Preach a whole gospel aimed at hearts, as well as minds

Preaching that takes the form more of lectures is great for creating information-glutted minds. Sometimes. But while every sermon should convey information — it should definitely teach — the purpose of a sermon is not primarily mind-informing but heart-transforming. Aim at the heart in two primary ways: 1) proclaim good news, not simply good advice, and 2) exult in your preaching. In other words, don’t just preach the text, as much as you are able, feel it. More often than not, churches don’t become passionate about what their pastors tell them to be passionate about but about what their pastors are evidently passionate about themselves. So if it’s clear from your preaching that what really fires you up is the imperatives of the Scriptures, and not the gospel indicatives, guess what? No matter how many times you tell your church to center on the gospel, they’re going to see that your zeal is reserved for the law.

And as you preach the gospel, preach to both prodigals and older brothers. Explain how the gospel is opposed to self-righteous religiosity. Entreat both “brothers” to embrace Christ, the legalist as well as the hedonist. Don’t give the impression that the gospel is just for those obvious sinners, the “lost” people, but for all people, including those in the pews every Sunday.

4. Establish limping leaders

From elders on down, don’t establish any leader who has no record of or reputation for humility. You will want to know if the leader has ever been broken, ever had his legs knocked out from under him. Don’t establish leaders who don’t walk with limps, because they often have no empathy for the broken, the hurting, the abused, or the penitent. Don’t empower any leader who has not confronted and wrestled with his own sin, who doesn’t demonstrate an ongoing humility about his sin and a grief over it. Leaders who do not personally know the scandal of grace set a climate in a church of gracelessness.

5. Promote hospitality, service, and generosity

What values, programs, initiatives do I most want to promote? The ones that are most conducive to closeness with each other and outwardness with the community. Church people don’t learn to be gracious with unchurched people if they are never in proximity with them. And often being in the same work environment doesn’t cut it. We want to facilitate and promote opportunities for growth that involve the opening of homes, the active service of people inside the church and out, and the giving away of money and stuff. Lots of things fit these bills, so you can get creative. But when church people spend a lot of time with each other in these sorts of settings — as opposed to simply classroom type settings or the worship service — they get to know each other in ways that build familiarity, empathy, intimacy, etc. And the same is true of spending time in these settings with unchurched folks, as well. A closed-off, insular, cloistered church is not conducive to a gracious climate. It runs out of air too quickly; people can’t breathe.

6. Take it personally

Most importantly, you I must be what you I want to see. So often as you are I am checking your my church’s pulse — which Bonhoeffer wisely says not to keep doing — we are I am thinking of all the people who need to get their act together, who need a big dose of humility. We may be right about them. But applying to others first is not the humble impulse of grace taken seriously. I need to keep a close watch on my life and doctrine. I need to outdo others in showing honor. I need to practice confession and repentance. I need to humble myself. As I am growing intellectually, I need to hold the fruit of the Spirit up to my heart and be fearless and honest about asking, “How am I doing in these areas?”

For each of us, a gracious climate begins with us.

Since the first pair of human legs walked in Eden, it's always been about one's self. From Eve's desire to be like God to my child's refusal to obey, 'Man has been dictated by a single focus : EGO. 

No matter the creeds, the cultures, the life experiences, and the relationships we had, we have all operated under the focused principle that we need stuff, that we want stuff, that we must work to get this stuff. 

The ultimate question we keep asking ourselves is : 'What's in it for me?'. In our base choices, everything we do is skewed towards filling our immediate or long-term hierarchical needs.

That is why the concept of Biblical Grace, God's giving without our personal merit, is in such opposition of everything sin has corrupted in our lives. It fills our deepest needs, and yet we can't work for it to acquire it.

A friend of mine has put together a list of the paradoxes of our time. It is a striking portrait of of how far we have come, but how little we have actually accomplished.

It is a devastating canvas where the prominent colours are ego, greed and covetousness. And the only colour that can ever renew this dreary canvas is Christ.

--
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgement  more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. 

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour  We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

I like control. 

I like to know what's going to happen, when and how I can influence it, tweak it, organise it or prepare for it. I could psycho-analyse myself and say it's a form of insecurity, or a lack of faith, or too much pride. Whatever it is, my natural tendency is to want to overly plan and control.

I know God has permitted certain life events to violently rip that control out of my hands a few times. And I'd like to think that I am (very slowly) learning. It's so easy for me to spew out the infamous five words of exhortation to others : 'Let go and let God'... but Oh so hard to apply in my own life.

Lyrics from a song from the David Crowder Band remind me to :

'Risk the ocean, it's only grace'. 

Somehow that line got to me. It's as if God is calling me to set sail, leave the control issues behind and go on the ultimate adventure of faith on towards it's infinite horizon of Grace. The idea of getting lost in the vastness and deepness of His Grace strongly convicts me, who likes his feet well planted on 'sure ground'. 

I like taking calculated risks in life. Always have. And yet, when I look back on how His Grace saved me, carried me, healed me, sustained me, built me and renewed me every day, this should be my easiest 'risk': 

To lift the anchor, to set sail, to get lost in the sea without a shore called Grace.

Some verses have the distinct capacity to knock me off of my feet, and to induce bouts of extensive meditation. It is often verses that I have read before, but life experiences, mixed in with a deeper understanding of Christ and my relationship with Him, create what some call 'lightbulb moments'. That verse is at the end of the post.

One of the greatest questions I have is the ever-annoying 'What is my purpose?' or 'What makes me special?' or 'How do I want to be valued?'. At my core, I want to find the ultimate metric by which to evaluate myself and see if I am doing a good job.

In those moments of solitude when I become introspective, I want to know which mirror to look myself in. The one of past mistakes ? past accomplishments ? present assets ? future dreams ? through the gentle eyes of friends ? through the condemning eyes of foes ?

Which one ?

Through a harrowing personal experience, I got to taste God's Grace. But I need an example to emulate. I need someone who had it all, but decided to give it up for the cause of Christ because of Grace. What did he give up ? How did he do it ? How did he verbalise it ? How did he evaluate himself ?

Enter the apostle Paul.

THE SETUP (the résumé)
In 2 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul is defending his calling and uses foolish absurdity (vv 16-21) as an argument to validate his credence. He is showing the church that if they evaluated people by the ridiculous 'past accomplishments' mirror, he would shine brighter than all.

'22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. 
Are they Israelites? So am I. 
Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 
23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labours more abundant, 
in stripes above measure, 
in prisons more frequently, 
in deaths often. 
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; 
once I was stoned; 
three times I was shipwrecked; 
a night and a day I have been in the deep; 
26 in journeys often, 
in perils of waters, 
in perils of robbers, 
in perils of my own countrymen, 
in perils of the Gentiles, 
in perils in the city, 
in perils in the wilderness, 
in perils in the sea, 
in perils among false brethren; 
27 in weariness and toil, 
in sleeplessness often, 
in hunger and thirst, 
in fastings often, 
in cold and nakedness— 
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.' 

He repeats some of his credentials to the church of Phillipi :
'If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 
circumcised the eighth day, 
of the stock of Israel, 
of the tribe of Benjamin, 
a Hebrew of the Hebrews; 
concerning the law, a Pharisee; 
concerning zeal, persecuting the church; 
concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.' (Phil 3:4-6)

Now that is quite a résumé. He could have left that as is. No more explanation needed. He shut them up. No contest. He had seen Christ on the road to Damascus, and then again later on. He had suffered more than all of them combined. He had done more for the cause than all those who criticised him.

But he didn't.

THE TEAR-DOWN
To the world the apostle Paul might have some self-esteem issues. Paul referred to himself as: 
the least of all the apostles (I Corinthians 15:9-10), 
the least of all the saints (Ephesians 3:8), 
and the foremost of sinners (I Timothy 1:15).

THE REAL MIRROR
The apostle Paul has repeatedly though his writings discounted everything that could glorify him personally. None of his credentials or past experiences had any sort of value to him. This is how he talked about his past:

• But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Phil 3:7-8)
  
• I have been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20)
  
• For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. (Gal 6:15)
  

There was nothing of value left when he looked back. His past was awash in Christ.

But beyond that, he did not rely on his own source of  strength to keep going. Every day, he reminded himself of what sustains him. This is how he saw his state, this is the mirror he looked into:

• it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal 2:20) Faith is what carries me every day
  
• For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Phil 1:21) Christ is my all, and death is nothing but gain
  
• But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 6:14) My sole reason to be proud is in the Gospel of Christ
  
• For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. (2 Cor 12:9) I have a clear conscience because I do it all through grace only
  
• For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:11-12) Grace is the only means I have to fight sin and stay strong in Him.
  
• Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ (Eph 3:8) Grace is what has empowered me to accomplish my mission
  
• That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil 3:10) My life purpose
  
• That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess 1:12) My purpose in my relationship with others
  

His present was based only on Christ and His Grace.

THE LEARNING
Paul, formerly known as Saul, murdered believers.  When his life was changed by the grace of God, what was not deserved, was given to him.  Paul led his days living and preaching under that grace.  What a testimony; lives can be changed and grace can overtake even the chief of sinners.

So, what makes me special ? Nothing I did, but everything He did. 
What is the only mirror by which I am allowed to look at myself through ? Christ's blood. 
What is the basis of my value ? Grace. 

That's it. 

THE VERSE
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:9-10)

I found these sermon notes From Charles Spurgeon, saw the wonderful parallel between Grace and rain, God's marvelous creation. 

May it fall all over you.
---

Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? Job 38:25-27

God challengeth man to compare with his Maker even in the one matter of the rain. Can he create it? Can he send a shower upon the desert, to water the lone herbs which else would perish in the burning heat? No, he would not even think of doing such a thing. That generous act cometh of the Lord alone.

We shall work out a parallel between grace and rain.

I. GOD ALONE GIVETH RAIN, AND THE SAME IS TRUE OF GRACE.

• We say of rain and of grace, God is the sole Author of it.
  
• He devised and prepared the channel by which it comes to earth. He hath “divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters.” The Lord makes a way for grace to reach his people.
  
• He directs each drop, and gives each blade of grass its own drop of dew, to every believer his portion of grace.
  
• He moderates the force, so that it does not beat down or drown the tender herb. Grace comes in its own gentle way. Conviction, enlightenment, etc., are sent in due measure.
  
• He holds it in his power. Absolutely at his own will does God bestow either rain for the earth, or grace for the soul.
  

II. RAIN FALLS IRRESPECTIVE OF MEN, AND SO DOES GRACE.

• Grace waits not man’s observation. As the rain falls where no man is, so grace courts not publicity.
  
• Nor his cooperation. It ”tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men” (Mic. 5:7).
  
• Nor his prayers. Grass calls not for rain, yet it comes. ”I am found of them that sought me not” (Isa. 65:1).
  
• Nor his merits. Rain falls on the waste ground.
  
• “Ah, grace, into unlikeliest hearts, It is thy wont to come; The glory of thy light to find; In darkest spots a home.”
  

III. RAIN FALLS WHERE WE MIGHT LEAST HAVE EXPECTED IT.

• It falls where there is no trace of former showers, even upon the desolate wilderness: so does grace enter hearts which had hitherto been unblessed, where great need was the only plea which rose to heaven (Isa. 35:7).
  
• It falls where there seems nothing to repay the boon. Many hearts are naturally as barren as the desert (Isa. 35:6).
  
• It falls where the need seems insatiable, “to satisfy the desolate.” Some cases seem to demand an ocean of grace, but the Lord meets the need; and his grace falls where the joy and glory are all directed to God by grateful hearts. Twice we are told that the rain falls “where no man is.” When conversion is wrought of the Lord, no man is seen. The Lord alone is exalted.
  

IV. THIS RAIN IS MOST VALUED BY LIFE.

• The rain gives joy to seeds and plants in which there is life. Budding life knows of it; the tenderest herb rejoices in it. So is it with those who begin to repent, who feebly believe, and thus are just alive.
• The rain causes development. Grace also perfects grace. Buds of hope grow into strong faith. Buds of feeling expand into love. Buds of desire rise to resolve. Buds of confession come to open avowal. Buds of usefulness swell into fruit.
• The rain causes health and vigour of life. Is it not so with grace?
  
• The rain creates the flower with its colour and perfume, and God is pleased. The full outgrowth of renewed nature cometh of grace, and the Lord is well pleased therewith.
  
• Let us acknowledge the sovereignty of God as to grace.
• Let us cry to him for grace.
• Let us expect him to send it, though we may feel sadly barren, and quite out of the way of the usual means of grace.

~ Charles Spurgeon