Happy New Year to all! Starting a new year is a time for
looking back so we can focus forward.

We have been talking about Grace a lot this advent season.
When we get God’s Grace, we get God’s favor. How do I get
that? It tells us in John 1:17 That the law was given through
Moses; Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. We simply
must trust in Jesus Christ.

How do we see God’s Grace in our lives? We must be very
observant. I now pay attention to things like this. After spend-
ing the last few years getting to know God better, I have seen
Him all over my life. And you can too.

This past year I went back to work full-time. I felt God tug-
ging at me to do something different. So, I started looking for a
job. One day I contacted a friend of ours who works at PA Ca-
reerLink. His staff helped me with my resume. I kept telling
myself, do what you can, and God will do the rest. It says in 2
Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one
approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who
correctly handles the word of truth. In other words, do every-
thing you can and leave the rest to God. So that’s what I did.

In my line of work as a graphic designer, you usually have a
portfolio that shows your work. Though the people helping
me didn’t think I needed one, I decided to do mine. That way, I
would do all I could. The staff sent me this one job which
sounded perfect in every way for me. It looked too good to be
true. So, I told God I didn’t want this job unless he wanted me
to have it. I wanted to make sure this was His will and not
mine.

Long story short, God showed up, and I got the job. They
said it was because of my portfolio that I got it. One gentleman
helping me loved my portfolio so much that he called the em-
ployer. He told them they needed to consider me for the posi-
tion and see my portfolio. God is so great, isn’t He? God made
it, so I looked really good. I was hired with no in-person inter-
view. I’m sharing this to let you know God’s Grace is there for
you. Just keep your eyes open for Him. I love what I do now; I
haven’t had a job like this for a long time. I struggled to find
work in my field for years, but now trusting in God has paid
off. I’m so grateful and will do this job as long as He wants me
to. Trust in God for what you want because He’s the one that
put it in your heart. It’s when you’re willing to give up what you
want that God steps in. It’s not always easy, but it’s so worth the
journey.

We just celebrated Jesus’ birth. To me, you can’t talk about
His birth without talking about His death. Jesus was sent to be
our offering, the perfect Lamb for our sins, and He went will-
ingly to the cross and took ALL our sins away. This act of love
and kindness is how we receive Grace daily. It says in Ephe-
sians 2:8 For by Grace you have been saved through faith. And
this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Meaning by
believing that Jesus died for our sins, God grants us His Grace
for our belief. It’s His gift to us every day.

Love the people you come across in life, forgive often, and
be ever so thankful every day and in every way. Grace is a
gift; once you receive it, you never want to let go, but it does
come with a price, to trust and have faith in our Lord. Amen.