A Wretch Like Me part 2

Romans 3:23-24

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Hi Friends! Here is part two with my guest blogger, Katie, from Saturday. She is my pen pal incarcerated in western PA. She has rededicated her life to Christ since she has been in prison. I believe you will see from her blog her heart and focus are now in the right place. Since everyone of us has been forgiven by the grace of Jesus, I believe you will enjoy reading her story, and learn something too!

Most people believe that the English language is the most difficult to learn and retain because of the numerous variations and meanings of the same word. The weird ‘rules’ involving consonants/vowels. English is rather complex but sometimes the smallest simplest words have the biggest meaning. The word “all” is easy. It’s only three letters. It’s comprised of only two different letters. The word “some” is four different letters and it’s definition leaves question for amounts. It’s kind of vague, depending on contest. But the meaning of “all” is definite. No question. Romans 3:23-24 says; “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, And ALL are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came from Christ Jesus.”

Not certain sinners, not certain sins, not some, ALL!

The majority of the human race is walking around living life haunted by our sins. Some more than others, some with a bigger conscience than others. Despair in the earth is at it’s highest. I grew up having memorized Romans 3:23-24 from early childhood. I have spent years and years able to recite it without thinking. And now, I think while reciting it! “Old” dogs CAN learn new tricks. I just turned 36 and I see now. I’m still struggling. Some days I still hurt badly. Like your breath away kind of bad. And while a small portion of the world is still in conflict and question about my situation, myself included, it is starting to get a little lighter, All have sinned, so get up off my pity pot, I’m not the only one. Stop comparing the facts, lies, the half truths and questions because I’m no better nor no less than anyone. But all are redeemable through the asking and receiving of grace that’s utterly amazing. The kind of grace only God can give.

Grace doesn’t always come in the form we want it to. My sentence was not the outcome multitudes of people prayed for. I’m painfully separated from 3 young daughters and a decent size family. I’m missing so much. But they don’t have to sit there and try to remember what my voice sounds like. I’m alive so I can call, occasionally get visits, they can still hear my voice. It’s hard. They hurt. But I believe they’re O.K. with this having to be the way they have to have me, because once upon a time they feared they’d be burying me. I’m alive by the grace of God and by the grace of God I’ll gradually learn how to be an important role in my family’s life, even from prison.

The grace of God enables me to regain my footing time and time again after all those times I fall and fall short. And I’m disturbingly really good at that! But the grace of God is the gift that keeps on giving, even when our human nature doesn’t recognize it right away. Grace has shown me the way through even the darkest days, that this too shall, will pass. Realistically I will eventually break down and cry off and on in the next 16 + years, but this life on earth is and always has been so temporary. I’m living in a temporary housing unit within an already temporary home. For every hurt and fear to come here on earth, God’s grace gives me a tear less in forever to forward to. Through the Bible God told us: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” It’s taken me an earthly-like hell and all this time, but I can finally say that I’ve found that grace. And it is enough for me.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,” (more amazing than mere humans could express)

“That saved a wretch like me.” (the lowest of low, full of sin and shame).

“I once was lost,” (looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places).

“but now I am found.” (He never left me all the while).

“Was blind,” (to the monster I’d become),

“but now I see.” (because of grace sufficient for even a wretch like me).

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of god–” Ephesians 2:8

I trust you were touched by Katie’s story like I was. Pray for her and the 400 plus women in Erie prison. They are suffering even more than we know. She has a long road ahead. With God by her side, and all of our prayers, she will make it, and be better for her trials!