(The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger
And rich in faithful love.
–Psalm 103:8, HCSB)
Oh God,
As I skim through the memories of six-plus(!) decades, I see much evidence of these attributes in my life:
Compassion
I praise you that you’ve always looked upon me with compassion, not condemnation. Not one moment of struggle in my life has slipped by your attention unnoticed. And with that attention has come your sympathy. You’ve completely understood every situation I’ve faced, and shared in the physical pain, emotional hurts, and spiritual battles as they’ve come.
How comforting to know that you see my circumstances and sympathize. But even more precious? Your love compels you to express that compassion with encouragement, strength, and support. Each day you bestow new mercies. You never give up on me.
Grace
Oh, how thankful I am that you are a God full of loving kindness. What relief to know your gift of salvation is not based on my effort but on your grace.
Your blessings flow continuously, not based on my faith, but on your benevolent nature.
Even more wondrous, you dwell within me, bestowing peace, joy, wisdom, and more—not because I am righteous and deserving, but because you are righteous and dedicated to my highest welfare.
Patience (Slow to anger)
One evidence of your grace is patience. As a parent and teacher, I’ve learned a little about the attribute of patience—mostly how difficult it is! Little ones can ask countless silly questions, frequently test the limits of acceptable conduct, and behave quite selfishly.
How shameful to admit I still demonstrate such traits. I, too, ask frivolous questions. When troubles assault, I want to know Why, God? I test the limits of your grace with my shallowness, failings, and stubborn streak. And as for selfish behavior, that tendency hasn’t died yet either.
Some Bible translators have used the word longsuffering in place of patience. You have suffered long as you’ve trained me! Step by laborious step you gently guide me toward maturity. And one day my character will be complete, lacking in nothing because of your great forbearance with me.
Love
How can I begin to thank you, God, for the treasure of your undying love? You brought me to faith in Jesus as a child, gave me a place in your forever family, and bequeathed to me an eternal inheritance in heaven. As I wait for that reality, I revel in your faithful love that:
- Expresses itself continually, day after day
- Attends to what will be in my best interest
- Willingly and patiently endures the pain of rejection and disappointment, because of my rebellion
- Disciplines me as any loving parent trains his/her dear children
- “Perseveres until it perfects” (Philip Yancey)
* * * * * * * * * *
I praise you, Holy Father, that day after day you manifest these attributes in my life. I am encouraged by your compassion, blessed by all facets of your grace, guided by your patient Spirit, and strengthened by the richness of your faithful love. I can never praise you enough for your magnificence!
(Art & photo credits: www.pinterest.com (3); http://www.dailytimewithgod.com; http://www.pinterest.com.)
From the Inside Out 
Beautiful and yes, we Praise our Father God for all of His awesomeness to us and to all. May the Ruegg family have a Blessed Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Janet! Small gathering this year, but everyone will be together for Christmas–looking forward to that! May you also have a blessed Thanksgiving. I’m picturing you with Mike and his crew–maybe more are able to gather?
Thanks Nancy for continuing to write the encouraging blogs… sometimes they might bring an Oh my… response but needed none the less. May the Lord Bless you. Sam Samuel L. Keifer
Thank you so much for joining us here, Sam, and for your encouragement to me. May you also have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Your blog is so timely. I have been practicing lectio divina and just this past week this has been the verse that I have savored. ABOUNDING IN LOVE – I kept coming back and back to that verse. God amaze me in his mercy and grace. Thank you for such a great perspective of this reading that has become so special to me this week. Happy thanksgiving
What fun that we both meditated on the same verse this week! And happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Jean!
Beautiful thoughts here, Nancy. I get so caught up in the busyness of living that I forget to stop and be still, to simply contemplate the attributes of my Father. Thank you, once again, for a timely reminder. May you have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow, filled with warmth and joy!
Thank you, Rebeca. I, too, can get caught up in the busyness of life. Blogging has been good for me, challenging me to meditate longer, dig deeper, and listen to my Father more intently. I’ll bet you feel the same!
Absolutely! I am not as consistent as I’d like, but I have found blogging to be a wonderful vehicle, driving my thoughts to the spiritual lessons that are always there to be had.
What a comforting post… I immediately zeroed in on COMPASSION. Just last Friday we lost my Dad’s only remaining and youngest sibling…his brother…my Uncle Paul. My Uncle was a wonderful Christian man and I know he is in Heaven with the Savior he loved and served. But still, I will miss him and the Lord shares my grief and sympathizes with me in the loss of my Uncle’s physical presence from this earth. The Lord shares our joys and our sorrows; and His love for me carries me through, not to mention the FACT that someday…through the gift of eternal life…we will be reunited with those who have gone before. I believe that the Lord engineered the timing of this post. Happy Thanksgiving dear friend!
I am so sorry about your uncle, Cheri. Praise God he was a strong believer, and now enjoys the bliss of heaven. The FACT (!) we’ll be reunited with our loved ones one day also offers tremendous comfort. To think that this post came at just the right moment for you gives me holy goosebumps! God is SO good!
Ah, thanks, Nancy. And God IS so good to His children!
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Thank you, Paul! I greatly appreciate your kind words.