In the beginning...

...there was a little girl called Grace. She had a loving family and amazing friends, went through school (primary and high) reasonably unscarred, and was generally blessed in her circumstances. However, she couldn't help but feel that there was something missing, something not-quite-right, something she wasn't getting...

All this became clear in December 2003, when the Parents decided that the school holidays were too long and off to a Christian camp Grace, the younger Sister and the older Brother must go. After much groaning and moaning (and maybe, perhaps, a little bit of foot-stomping), the Parents put THEIR collective feet down, and the Siblings found themselves by the registration tables in sulky resignation. But much to Grace's surprise, the camp wasn't half-bad.. And the people there WERE Christians, but they were also cool, funny, nice, kind... normal. Which didn't really tie in with her previous misconception of Christians as nice but geeky, sweet but wussy, wallflowers. What's more, they seemed to have a REAL relationship with Jesus.

Anyway, as the week unfolded, Grace thought about this more and more, until one of the talks on the second last day grabbed her. This can be seen as a testament to her egotistical self-centeredness that it was a talk about grace.. but not a talk about her, but rather about God's undeserved gift of mercy to those who have rebelled against Him.. How Jesus had paid the penalty for our sins, and how we can be made righteous in God's eyes if we accept this gift! YAY FOR JESUS!!! And at that moment, Grace realized that there was a God-shaped hole in her heart, but that God graciously offered Himself to fill that hole.

Since that moment, my life has been one of certifying the validity of this truth, and working out what this means for the way I live. Like the apostle Paul, "I know whom I have believed" (2 Timothy 1:12) not only through objective, external historical facts, but through a personal, subjective, internal experience with Jesus Christ. I have plugged in my brain and my heart, and that is why I wake up every morning and recommit myself to a life trying to live like the child of God I am.

However, whereas God is good, kind, faithful, just, and holy, I am a wretched miserable sinner who is still trying to look out for myself first, instead of glorifying God in everything I do. But God is gracious, and His power is constantly working in me to make me more like His perfect Son! I have had many struggles, many wrong-turns, many lapses, but God is teaching me so much... If only I didn't have to go through so many learning curves!! However, I've started this blog as a chronicle of my struggles and lessons learnt in the prayerful hope that my fellow sisters-in-Christ (and brothers, if they're interested) will encouraged to carry on! I'm going to give this blog-thing a bash for 6-12 months and we'll see what happens!


Soli Deo Gloria

Grace


A little more about me:

My name really is Grace, and I'm currently studying in a little town in a wonderful country of this temporary home we call Planet Earth.

Till I get called to my permanent dwelling with God, I am standing strong, not in my own power, but in the grace that is in Christ Jesus! "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:11-13).

Why should I be reading your blog?

I don't know. Why are you?


Another other questions? Drop me a comment...