Hi Brian!


There are actually two words for this week! They are both used in the song I wanted to share with you! The words are "grace" and "avalanche"! Grace in the New testament is the Greek word "charis", which means: acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, liberality, and pleasure according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: that which affords joy, pleasure, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good-will, loving-kindness, favor, thankful. I've heard a few clever descriptions over the years, such as: God's unmerited favor, God's Riches At Christ's Expense. It is God's free gift to us and it is GOOD! Here are a few of the many Scriptures that refer to God's grace:


John 1:17: For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.


Romans 6:14:  For sin shall not [any longer] exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves], but under grace [as subjects of God's favor and mercy].


2 Corinthians 9:8:  And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation}.


Ephesians 1:6:  [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.


Titus 2:11:  For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.


There are many more verses, which I'm sure you've seen in your own study! Then, for the word "avalanche", I had to go to the dictionary! Of course, we all know that one of the meanings is a fall of large masses of snow, sand, rock, etc. But the other meanings are: a massive or overwhelming amount, a flood, to overwhelm, to inundate, to come down overwhelmingly upon, to overwhelm with an extremely large amount of anything! We're speaking of an avalanche of the grace of God! He overwhelms us with His grace, power, presence, anointing, peace, joy, love and on and on and on! When we spend time in His presence through praise and worship, prayer, study, meditation, or just intimate fellowship, we become more aware of this great grace! This song from Hillsong United really says it all! It's called, appropriately, "Like An Avalanche"!

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!