"Through the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ, we shall be saved"

I began my journey back to the light about 10 months ago. I feel that it is important to tell you now a few things before I continue on. I want to make this blog an uplifting and inspiring one. In order to learn from the past, however, I may have to make mention OF my past. I will try and do so without divulging too much information because I feel it is better to 'look forward with an eye of faith' (Book of Mormon; Alma chapter 5, verse 15) than to look back on the many wrongs that I have done. In looking back, I have done so many things that I regret. I have done things that make me ashamed, embarrassed and afraid. Sadly, for many out there, people feel like there is no way out of those awful things they have done. They may feel, as I did and still do often, that they are too far gone. That they have done too many things that now define who they are and who they will always be. How blessed I am to know about grace. I do not know if everyone has a bible dictionary in the back of their scriptures, but I do. In it, there is a whole definition of grace and what it means and what it does. Grace, as defined in the bible dictionary is "a word that occurs often in the New Testament, especially in the writings of Paul." This makes sense to me. We may or may not know of the rebellious life in which Saul was accustomed to before his miraculous conversion and his eventual ministry as Paul. If anyone needed the grace of Christ, it was Paul. So it makes sense that once Paul experienced this awesome gift of grace, of course he would want to share it in his writings. That really doesn't tell us much about what grace is, though. The bible dictionary continues, "The main idea of the word [Grace] is divine means of help or strength...it is through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means" I love this definition. It tells me that grace is offered freely, but we must make a way for us to receive that grace. It is not enough to just say "I'm saved." (I think of in The Office when Michael Scott walks into the office and says "I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!" as if he thinks that is all that needs to be done to be bankrupt) It requires faith and repentance. The wonderful thing, though, is that Christ even helps us WITH repentance by giving us grace in order to be forgiven, if that makes any sense. After we have done all that we can do; after we have shown a commitment, visible to God and Christ, that we are struggling for that grace that He offers; after that effort is exhausted, Christ makes up the rest and pays for the difference. In the Book of Mormon, a man named King Benjamin taught his people this concept of being eternally indebted to Christ, "therefore, he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?" (Book of Mormon; Mosiah chapter 2, verse 24) In the Bible, Isaiah mentions this debt as well, "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy wall are continually before me." (Isaiah chapter 46, verse 16) So grace then, is something that is given to us that we can never hope to repay. That does not mean we do not show our appreciation for what Christ has given to us. I try and do good works all the time so show how grateful I am that I can have a new life. Christ made it possible for me to not focus on my awful and sordid past, but that I can be made totally and completely clean and that, by his grace, I can maintain good works and a great future. Because Christ has paid the price for us, we can rightfully assume that grace is offered to us right now! We do not have to wait for our death bed repentance to be made right with God. We can start today! We can start now! How awesome is that! The challenge for me will be to have that faith that Christ really can, after I do all I can do, make up the difference and can make me a new person. I would like to share, in future posts, the blessings and the tender mercies that the Lord has poured out on me in abundance. In doing this, I may almost assuredly be mentioning my "past life" as I call it. Again, I will try and use discretion and sensitivity in discussing things that once were a part of my life that are no longer a part of my life. I will not be mentioning these things for shock value or so people will think 'ooooh, what a rebel you are!' but I will be talking about these things with a desire that those who are in a similar situation can look at the many blessings that God will give to you if you repent and try and come back to Him. I just want this to be SOOO positive and so happy and a way for you to learn with me and love the Lord more deeply with me. So keep reading! And keep the perspective in mind: "This is possible for me, too! This is possible for everyone. All thanks to Christ."