Today’s sky was a watered silk gown of vanilla and gray hues stretched across the horizon, fanning out in the fall breeze, like a young bride’s wedding veil. The beauty in the sky was the layers of soft subtle colors intermingling on the clouds as they floated slowly through the sky. Some might not see the beauty in an overcast sky but I was entranced by the colors late afternoon, sewed together like a man’s expensive herringbone tweed jacket. The bridal veil had floated away and as dusk crept up, Father Sky was knitting a tweed coat in the sky with his pastels. I love the names of the colors in a tweed coat — distant gray, silver sage, lichen stone, French canvas, and white river, barley brown, royal charcoal, and country green. Such a handsome sky as the day’s light faded.

My pansy blooms stood up straight and tall late afternoon like soldiers ready to salute knowing rain sprinkles were falling in the counties west of us, saying their prayers, hoping the clouds would drop the silver rain drops here to cool their blossoms and water their roots. The rain finally came, a few big drops that polka-dotted the sidewalk and porch tile and then hurriedly moved on. Chance for rain on Sunday, we’ll pray for raindrops then.

Ephesians 2:8 reads, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Grace is not something we earn but something given freely by God. Grace is the basis of our Christian faith. Grace helps us form a relationship with God. We are saved by our faith through the grace of God. If we have grace filled hearts we’re compelled to share God’s love with others.

Ephesians 4:7 says, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

Charles Stanley wrote, “God’s grace is immeasurable, his mercy is inexhaustible, his peace is inexpressible.” God loves us as a father loves his children and he will never forsake us. Biblical scripture says grace is a gift from God that can transform our hearts. God’s grace gives us forgiveness for our sins. God’s grace helps us spread the gospel and love our neighbors. God’s grace gives us power to do good work for God, using our time and talents to praise him. God’s grace makes us kind and compassionate and forgiving. Grace transforms our desires and our behavior as we live our lives as Christians. Grace is a bridge that links us with God.

“What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace; knowing that his grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God.” — Rick Warren