A Place Called Grace by Phillips, Craig, Dean

I Samuel 2:1-10

Heart Cries

Come Thou fount of every blessing. Tune my heart to sing Thy grace. Streams of mercy never ceasing. Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet. Sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it. Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer (stone of help-tangible point of remembrance of the Lord’s protection and help). Here by Thy great help I’ve come. And I hope by Thy good pleasure. Safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger. Wandering from the fold of God. He to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood. (Precious blood)

Oh, that day when freed from sinning. I shall see Thy lovely face. Clothed then in blood-washed linen. How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace. Come my Lord, no longer tarry. Take my ransomed soul away. Send Thine angels now to carry Me to realms of endless days.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor. Daily I’m constrained to be. Let Thy goodness like a fetter (chain) Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above. Here’s my heart. Oh take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above

Prayers of a Faithful Heart

I was recently listening to a radio program and the speaker asked the question, “When was the last time you prayed like this?” This was the heartfelt prayer of Robert Robinson in 1758 at only 22 years old and was spoken anew as a prayer for the Bride today. It is a hymn of my childhood. My granddaughters do not even know the words or recognize the tune. It is a song/prayer that moves us beyond our own selfish wants and needs to agree with Jesus for the concerns of His heart. It is a recognition of His Amazing Grace in His Courts above: A place called grace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTCTzF5Yj8I

Amazing Grace

Grace is a word that has been ringing in my mind for weeks now. I wondered what the Lord was attempting to teach me. What grace to do with the Bride of Christ? It has EVERYTHING to do with His Bride and as His Bride, it focuses my attention on all that is important to my Beloved.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain: Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, Threaten the soul with infinite loss; Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide; What can we do to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide, Brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive?

These lyrics were penned by Julia Johnson, in 1920. Her question is mine to you today.

Grace

Let me see if I can sift this very deep word of Scripture down into a concept we can wrap our small minds and impure hearts around. This concept will be vital to your understanding of a part of the wedding celebration known as Yom Kippur (period of confession and receiving forgiveness) later. To me, this is the most beautiful part of the wedding and sends me to my knees in eucharisteo, gratitude.

Hebrew Grace

The word grace is found in several Hebrew words but the root is in the letters of the Jewish alphabet: chet and nun. It is a picture of a pitched tent. Not just a tent but tents pitched in a circle that forms a wall of protection, a surrounding of love, a picture of separation. Think about a wagon train circled up for the night to protect weary travelers from enemies. It stands as a form of forgiveness for unless you sought permission to come in you would be cast out unceremoniously on your backside.

The letter chet represents a fence which is not a keeping out but extends a sense of clemency or pardon: An inclusion. The letter nun represents growth, a sprouting: Life action. Together it forms the word chen which is favor, elegance, charm and is the root for the word chanan or marriage or the intense form of chen. Grace is the foundation of marriage!

By looking at grace from this exegesis point of view (Jewish culture/linguistic) we don’t so much read ourselves into the story (isogesis), but dig deep for the meaning being conveyed by the Father. It becomes more about what He is saying than what I am wanting, needing, seeking.

Heaven-Place of Grace

Heaven is indeed a place called Grace! It is the Father’s House where the Bride will live with Jesus, the Bridegroom, forever! Listen again and really let the words sink into your aching heart! Love, acceptance, protection, and mercy are yours for the asking and you will be left with heartfelt awe and gratitude!

Yvonne H. Jones

Other reading about God’s grace

Grace: Words to Ponder