Amazing Grace

I should probably start off by saying this is my first time to write a blog entry, so please bear with me. My name is Shelby, and I have known the one and only Sareta Fulcher since 2013. I love that she has started her Bible Study Girl blog series and am so happy to contribute! 

When Sareta asked me to do this, I thought a lot about what am I truly thankful for. Yes, I love my family. Yes, I love my job. Yes, I love my house. Yes, I like my closet…. a lot. I am very thankful for all of those things because they do bring some happiness, but the one thing that has stood out in my mind is God’s grace and forgiveness because I do not deserve a thing. 

If I am being honest, I do not know a lot of scripture.  I did grow up in church, but was not as active in my teenage years and as an early adult.  The fact that Gods grace and forgiveness is what I am most thankful surprised me too, but a  few years ago when life got hard is when I started to really have a relationship with God.  I completed two bible studies called “God’s Promises When Life is Hard” and “God’s Promises When Life is Difficult”.  Both of these series truly changed my life. 

So, when I sit and think about being thankful for Gods grace and forgiveness, it is because I am so incredibly undeserving.  I do not deserve anything God has given me, but His love is so unconditional.  I am not a perfect mother, and He still gave me two beautiful, amazing girls. I am not a perfect wife, and He still sent me a hardworking, loving husband who makes me feel more protected than I ever have in my entire life.  I am not the perfect daughter, and He gave me two parents who taught me more than they will ever know. I am not the perfect friend, but He has blessed me with a group of women who have never left my side. 

I have more than I could ever need in my life.  It sounds so cliche, but for the first time in so long, I feel truly content. For a long time, I yearned for nicer things. A nicer house, a nicer car, the nicest clothes and recently all of that doesn’t matter as much to me as it once did. My house has no shiplap and my shoes are out of style, and I can really say I do not care. Maybe it’s the season of Thanksgiving that has made my heart so full, but I like to think it is God’s love that has made His way in and brought me true happiness.  Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!  I hope you feel God’s love and blessings in the same way soon. #wepreach