Back on the porch this morning, perched in the swing. It’s noticeable cooler and less humid. Amazing how a ten degree change in temperature changes things. The sky is beautifully overcast in cigar smoke grays and melted vanilla ice cream colors, blue pastel sketches peeping through in spots. Late afternoon the sun broke through revealing that gorgeous summer blue sky detailed with fluffy white clouds. I’ve had a few butterflies in my yard today. I watched an eastern tiger swallowtail stop and do a little dancing on the one zinnia bloom in my side yard.

I quickly set out to capture the dance routine and it patiently waited till I got a photo. The eastern tiger is Alabama’s official state mascot. Didn’t know that till I read about them today. After I took its photo a monarch butterfly came for a visit. He’s the state’s official insect. Butterflies are so glorious when you can get close enough to see all the colors and intricate work on their scales and tiny hairs. A yellow sulphur butterfly danced all around the yard but never lit on anything so he escaped being photographed today.

My dearest friend gave me the most beautiful little devotional book on my last spend the night visit. Never been to her house that I didn’t have a sack of prizes on my bed. The book is titled Everyday Grace for Friends. I love it! I’m making myself only read one each night. I want to read it all at one time but it’s daily devotions about friendship. Friendships are such a wonderful part of my life and I’m grateful for all of them. Francis Bacon said, “Without true friends, the world is but a wilderness.”

Been thinking about God’s grace as I sit quietly in the swing at dusk, my new wind chimes playing soft hymns, the sunset exploding in magnificent colors across the horizon, layers and layers of watercolor brush strokes of pinks and yellows and purples and mauves. I feel God’s presence and I see his glorious handiwork. God’s grace is unmerited love and mercy bestowed upon those that have faith and believe in God. His grace is given freely. It’s not something we earn or deserve. Grace is a gift tied up with salvation and forgiveness. Psalm 145:8-9, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Allen Snapp writes, “Grace needs to be in the air we breathe, the atmosphere we live in, whether in church or in the home.” Gratitude helps us apply God’s grace to our lives. God transforms us through the power of the Holy Spirit and shows us how to extend grace to others treating them with kindness and respect. We offer forgiveness to those who have hurt us just as God forgives us. 2 Corinthians 9:8 reads, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

We have to realize we are all imperfect in our journey through life. Eugenia Price writes, “We are told to make love our aim, and we are given the grace and insight to do it by the God who created our minds, and who demonstrated love before us all on His cross.” God will provide us with what we need spiritually and materially and we are bound by his grace to live a life of service to others. Ephesians 2:10 reads, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We are empowered by God’s grace to live a life of generosity and service to others.

“Grace comes into the soul, as the morning sun into the world; first a dawning; then a light; and at last the sun in his full and excellent brightness.” — Thomas Adams