I hope you can enjoy the stark whiteness of this page, with the darker colors of the wreath.It reminds me of winter in the vastness of these two characteristics. Everything outside right now is bright white as the sun shines on the snow.

 The trees are varying shades of grey and tan, but are always changing as the sun changes its degree of dominance. The evergreens against it  makes for a painter's palette. In a hour all of the hues change as the sun makes its way across the sky. I live on a beautiful Island. If it were warmer these tress would not dig down deeply into the soil in the harsh winter.

We can't have everything in one place, at least not on earth. Forgive me for my tangent. Grace is what I planned on sharing with you. 
" The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."  Psalm 145:8

Grace is different than love, or mercy and is found in God alone. We can extent grace to someone, but only because it has already been extended to us in Christ. This is similar to love. The bible says that "God is love." 1John 4:8 No one can show love unless it is first given to them from God.

 Mercy is what God showed to us in sending Christ to die in our place, and pay our debt. Only after a believer is "in Christ"or "In Him" Ephesians 1, can the grace of God flow to them. I found this quote in the Unger's Bible Dictionary, page 430. "Knowledge of and faith in this glorious "in Christ" position is the key that makes it actual in the believer's everyday experience."

 " Grace thus rules out all human merit. It requires only faith in the Savior. Any intermixture of human merit violates grace." {Also from Unger page 430.} Grace has to be in the purest sense all that we rest in. Chapter one of Ephesians is all about being in Christ. 

There is no other place I'd rather be. This is the place of blessings, safety and stability.This is where change can come. This is where I 
can abandon all insecurity and fear. From this perspective, I can see God, in his holiness and perfection. Not completely, because I am still in this frail body, but just a taste is enough to long for what's to come. I hope that you are longing for more of him too.