Category Archives: Grace

‘Bless those who curse you’

Posted on November 12, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

As a teenager Lizzie Velasquez, horrified, watched a YouTube video titled ‘World’s Ugliest Woman,’ including comments that said: ‘What a monster’ and ‘Why didn’t her parents just abort her.’ The video was about her. Lizzie was born with a condition … Continue reading →

Posted in Blessings, Forgiveness, Grace, Mercy | Leave a comment

Unconquerable hope

Posted on November 11, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

Booth Tucker was a Salvation Army officer in Chicago. One evening he preached a sermon about the sympathy of Jesus. Afterwards a man said to him, ‘If your wife had just died, like mine has, and your babies were crying … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Despair, Faith, God with us, Grace, Heaven, Hope, Hope of Glory | Leave a comment

Handfuls of grace

Posted on November 9, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

When I was a small boy there was a shop that would sell kids a handful of lollies for a penny. The shop was owned by a married couple, and of the two the husband was by far the most … Continue reading →

Posted in God's faithfulness, God's pleasure, Grace, Prayer | Leave a comment

Grace does not depend on what we’ve done for God

Posted on October 13, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

Over the years there have been so many extras that have been added to the teachings of Jesus that He wouldn’t recognize much of what most people think Christianity is. Heading the list would be the common assumption that to … Continue reading →

Posted in God, God's love, Grace, Gratitude | Leave a comment

The story may start with prejudice … but

Posted on September 21, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s a tendency to discount the Bible because of odd verses in the Old Testament that don’t fit modern ideas. But one of the basic rules of understanding is that you have to look at the whole story, not just … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Bible, Bigotry, Bitterness, Goodness, Gospel, Grace, Jesus | Leave a comment

Don’t people say grace in this place?

Posted on November 5, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Celeste Sibley got an insight into the effect of childlike faith when she took her children to a diner for breakfast. It was crowded and her eight-year-old daughter Mary had to sit alone at the far end of the counter. … Continue reading →

Posted in Childlike faith, children, Example, Grace, Prayer | Leave a comment

No taking a bath on the main street during banking hours

Posted on June 29, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

In a classic Frank and Ernest cartoon, the two of them stand facing hundreds of books in a Law Library. Frank says to Ernest: ‘It’s frightening when you think that we started out with just Ten Commandments.’ And so it … Continue reading →

Posted in Grace, Laws, Legalism, Loving God, Loving other people | Tagged | Leave a comment

No difference

Posted on March 10, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A doctor in Missouri was driving between hospital calls one evening, exceeding the speed limit. Suddenly a police car appeared behind him, signalling for him to pull over. So the doctor picked up his stethoscope and held it up for … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Grace, Impartiality, Sin | Tagged | Leave a comment

The night the Queen left her crown at home

Posted on February 10, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

At a reception for Sir Robert Mayer on his 100th birthday, Lady Diana Cooper, who suffers from failing eyesight, chatted to a friendly woman who seemed to know her well. It wasn’t until she peered more closely at the magnificent … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom from self, Generosity, Grace, humility | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

‘Man sees the deed, but God sees the intention.’

Posted on January 4, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

I remember my little daughter once deciding to buy me an ice-cream with her own money. But on the way back from the Mr Whippy van the ice cream started to melt. So she began to lick the sides of … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Failure, Faith, Forgiveness, God, God's faithfulness, Grace | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment