A fresh look at Grace

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Image Source: Bryan Minear

Today I listened to an episode of the Writing Excuses podcast. The topic of discussion was how to generate new ideas for stories.

The authors encouraged listeners to start with ideas that already exist. Listen to stories. Watch TV. Read widely. Look at things that are already in existence and then use your imagination to invent new ideas or expand on previous ideas in new exciting ways.

Many new aspiring authors believe that new stories need to be fresh ideas that have never been thought of before. But some of the best stories are just imaginative takes on already-existing stories.

For example, the reason that stories like Shrek have done so well is that it has taken well-known fairytales and created exciting, new stories using the original stories as their inspiration.

I believe that we have a similar ability to see God's grace in the ordinary and comfortable.

What we seek, we shall find.

If we go about our lives not expecting to encounter God's grace in the normality of our lives, chances are that we will miss a lot of what God is doing. On the other hand, if we intentionally seek out God's grace in every aspect of our lives, there is a good chance that we will come face to face with it in ways and places that we would never have thought possible before.

Does God want us all to worship Him in the exact same way? Singing the same songs and saying the same prayers?
Does God not care more about our heart and our motive for worship than the manner in which it is done?

"Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth."
- Psalm 96:1

P.S. This is one of the main reasons why I started writing a blog. I want to challenge myself to see God's grace in more unique ways in the world around me and encourage others to do the same.

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