All stories have a beginning. We each have our own story of love and grace. When we look at our own stories, we can trace the lineage and the lines that weave our own beginnings of grace. The connections that make us family wind through intricate patterns that eventually wind together or break as love and grace enters or departs.
Adam and Eve mark our passage into grace laced with the sin of eating the forbidden fruit. The roots of the family tree are frayed with death and vengeance when Cain kills his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Genesis 4:2-5
We see how easily our lives can change. How in one heartbeat, life as we know it looks so different. Cain is not happy that the Lord does not approve of his offering. Cain’s one moment to shine is overshadowed by jealousy and anger. As the story unfolds, we find how easily sin enters our lives and changes our family history. Click here to read more of the story.
I cannot begin to comprehend the whys of death, destruction and broken families. I CAN begin to understand grace and the remarkable way it heals and makes things whole. We all have a story of grace. One of brokenness made whole or one that still needs healing. Our families are made of broken people seeking to be made whole. Advent is a time to seek grace, understand its place in our lives and to prepare for an acceptance of the love that was born in a manger on Christmas Day.
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This Advent we are walking into story. The binding of God’s story with our own. The unfolding of God’s grace gift and the receiving of this beautiful gift as our own.
Come join the journey of the beginnings of grace, the beauty of story and God’s love poured out for all.
Blessings along the way!
Mary
Blessed to be linking with:
Our brokenness caused the need for the birth of our Saviour…
Thank God for this season to reflect on God’s immeasurable grace.
Thanks for sharing Mary, do have a super blessed day!
Love
I love having this time to step back and learn all over again of God’s amazing grace. Advent has been a huge blessing to me. I pray that this season reaches many others as they learn how to navigate through the busyness and find the gift of love through Jesus. Thank you for being here! Blessings!
Mary,
So comforting to know that God’s grace, that was present way back in time, is here with me today. His grace brought healing to brokenness then, and can do so in my life today. Celebrating His grace with you this Advent.
Blessings,
Bev
Yes it is! God takes our mess (I know I have plenty just with myself) and makes it all new with His grace. That is true love! May we all celebrate grace this Advent knowing that when we let God be our focus, we will have all we need. Hugs and blessings!
Great post Mary. Thankful for His grace. I’ve learned how one heartbeat can change our lives can change. Grace is something I’ve learned to give back so easily now that I realize the grace I’ve been given. I love you taking it back to Adam and Eve. Love this love story you’ve shared.
So blessed to have you here, Debbie! I love how you are able to give grace easily. I seem to be able to give it to others, but I am not good at extending it to myself. I am a work in progress with a God who loves that I need Him for everything. Blessings to you as you finish up your week.
Yes! Sometimes I struggle with all the negativity and destructiveness in our world and not just there–right in our own families. But you’re so right, God’s plans are the bigger picture–one that we cannot see and may not ever understand until we meet in Heaven. I love this “binding of God’s story with our own.” And that’s where faith comes in! Blessings to you!
God is the author and His story is the center for our own stories. He has provided the legacy to build our future and it is all in His word. It is such a beautiful truth to hold onto in this world of brokenness. I am praying you feel blessed during this season of Advent and enjoy the gift of grace that God gives so graciously in the birth of His son.
Broken people and brokenness are words that have been rolling around in my heart and mind a lot lately, Mary. We truly are all broken people–no matter how well we navigate life’s challenges and wounds. I believe God is always binding up my wounds, especially as I turn to him like a little child would turn to her parent for comfort. I’m really enjoying your series here and look forward to what else you have to say about God’s grace in this advent season. Hugs to you!
Brokenness as a people recurs often in my heart too. I know I am broken and it is only by God’s grace that I am healed and made whole. During this season we look at the bright lights, joy on every TV channel and happiness on people’s faces and we forget that inside many are broken and in need of redemption.
I am praying we all feel God’s grace and His healing redemption in our own lives. Blessings to you on the rest of your week!
“This Advent we are walking into story. The binding of God’s story with our own. The unfolding of God’s grace gift and the receiving of this beautiful gift as our own.” <– So Much Yes and Amen to this right here! Love it, Mary!
You are so sweet! God’s grace is so good and I am blessed by it everyday. May we all receive the gift of grace today and everyday. Hugs to you!
Everything to the name of your blog to this beautiful article of grace and the advent season! I might h e to subscribe. Thank you for giving another thing to ponder on this advent season.
So blessed to have a new friend visit my little blog home. Thank you for your kind words and I would love to see you again!
The beginnings of grace indeed!
Amen! Grace wins every time! Hugs and blessings!
Yes! “Our families are made of broken people seeking to be made whole.” So often we just see the broken part and don’t look deeper to the seeking part. May we see beyond the facades this season and realize our kinship in our journeys!
You have been a beautiful example to me of what family looks like in spite of pain, brokenness and hardship. God is the healer of brokenness and we are blessed by His grace when we invite Him to be part of the story He so carefully created for each of us. Blessings and thank you for being here.
Brokenness made whole by healing grace, both in our personal lives and in relationships. Beautiful hope-filled post, Mary. Thank you for pointing us to God’s story of love and grace.
You’re welcome and thank you for being part of this community. God is the healer of the broken and messy. His gift of grace is one we all can receive and give to others today and everyday. May we all look to God for His gracious gifts of love and grace.
It’s a beautiful story of brokenness made whole, isn’t it? I love how you’re gradually drawing us deeper into its meaning and wonder. Advent is a truly special time to ponder the gifts of God and His awesome grace. Thanks, Mary! Blessings and hugs to you. Xx
Grace is a gift that we receive as well as give. Advent is the time we can spend learning how to accept the gift of grace for ourselves and how this grace has played a role throughout all of history. Blessed to have you here and for your words of encouragement.
I was pondering this just this morning. God wasn’t taken by surprise when Eve bite into the apple. He had already made a way . . . for me, for you. A way of redemption, paved with grace and wrapped in swaddling clothes. It’s pretty amazing when you think about it. Thank you for this offering, Mary, it’s a lovely place to dwell for a bit today. Blessings, my friend.
It is awe inspiring how God knows every moment in time before it happens. Every event fits together according to God’s plan and our place in this legacy has been perfectly crafted.It was no accident that Eve took a bite of the apple and it is no accident that we are here in this place right now. May we all know that God has the perfect story for us and believe that each chapter of our own story is no accident.
Mary, what a beautiful post. And grace is so important in the healing of people and relationships. Thank you for this reminder.
I so appreciated this: “Advent is a time to seek grace, understand its place in our lives and to prepare for an acceptance of the love that was born in a manger on Christmas Day.”
I’m trying to get my boys on board with being intentional about meditating on Advent this year. Unfortunately, I didn’t start the practice when they were still little, so it seems a little foreign to them now. Sigh. It’s never too late, and I take comfort in the truth that God’s word never returns to Him void. 🙂 His grace can speak to their hearts through His word in ways I never could.
I was not good at being intentional during Advent when my sons were younger, but somehow God still has taught them so much. They are now in their twenties and both spend time in God’s word, which to me is such a gift. They chose that on their own. They have followed a path to God and have been ahead of me for about ten years. I love how they have led me. Advent is a time to take time and if you start small to help them to think how this season can look different than just finding the best present, I am sure they will be grateful. Jesus is the best present, hands down!!! Love when you join me here!
Dear Mary … without that awesome grace our lives would be a mess, our families a disaster for all eternity. I’m thankful for His intervention which has come repeatedly over the years. Where would we be without Jesus …
God has intervened and continues to do so as we come to Him in humility and forgiveness. We are a blessed people when we see the world through God’s truths and promises and know that we can help promote His love in our own lives. Thank you for being so faithful in visiting and encouraging.
Mary, I hadn’t thought about grace tracing all the way back to Cain and Abel. Your are so right. Their story demonstrates how easily sin enters our lives, and illustrates how much we need grace. I am thankful for grace today. Blessings, friend!
We are a very self-centered world and we don’t look much beyond ourselves. But the legacy of our stories began when the world began. Unfortunately sin has been present almost from the the world’s inception. God has been around from the beginning too. Instead of thinking that things are worse now than years ago, we need to take the time to seek our Savior and hold His truths and promises as the hope we need. Blessings to you, Kristine!
I’m celebrating advent along with you, Mary. I love the Jesse tree concept since it covers God’s whole story, creation to Christ, in one month. I’m thanking God that He’s broken in and changed our stories, redeemed our lives by His grace!
I almost feel that Advent should be longer than four weeks. There is so much we can learn in this process of waiting and longing. It is a beautiful hope to know that God does redeem our messes and is willing to extend grace over and over. Our stories become His when we let Him into our lives. Blessings!
Love this! Walking into story. Celebrating a beautiful Advent with you, Mary! ♥
Let’s all walk together into story this season of Advent. My hope is that in searching for God, we find more of ourselves. Blessings and thank you for being here.