This week I attended Student Life Camp for Kids along with 5 other adults and 19 children. (An AWESOME week!) I wanted to share one of the illustrations that Adam Robinson (the camp pastor) used to teach about grace and mercy. A lot of children (and adults) hear these terms, but many times have no idea their true meaning. Granted, this is probably not a theologically exhaustive definition, but one that our children GOT.
Adam told the story of a little boy who had been out playing in the mud. His shoes were caked in it. He walked straight through the living room and got mud all over the carpet. His mom was in the kitchen, but it did not take her long to discover the mud all over her precious carpet!! She was not happy about the situation, obviously! She called her son into the kitchen, pulled out a knife...and cut the little boy a huge piece of chocolate cake!!! The little boy was in awe! He sure did enjoy that delicious cake his mom made for him! Now you know.....grace is like chocolate cake. Grace is getting what we don't deserve, and Mercy is NOT getting what we do deserve (in this case, punishment for muddying the floor). Adam went on to say that many times we receive grace, not instead of punishment, but just because God loves us. I wish I could tell the story like Adam did! But, I think you get the main idea.
love this verse.....
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Eph. 2:8-9
This was the scripture I kept referencing to describe Lincoln's ordination experience. Like our salvation, it was a gift from God, not the work of Lincoln, that carried him through all those exams. No one—not even the Speeces—can boast!
ReplyDeleteGlad it was a good week for you and the kids!
Brianna loved this explaination. She was ready to go back again as soon as she got h
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