Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 1:2
 
Do you know grace?
 
Grace challenges and shakes us. Grace keeps the world out of balance. By his grace God gives your what you don’t deserve, what you could never earn, and what you never dreamed would be possible. By grace you receive God’s riches at Christ’s expense.
 
Grace is that God-designed sunrise that cracks the troubled, cloudy sky while you’re still popping your snooze button. Grace is that God-prompted text message from a friend who was thinking of you and praying for you while you were still brushing your teeth. Grace is that God-spoken phrase from Scripture that jumped out to you and filled the air with ozone and lightning and reminded you that we live in a world where God is present whether we’re paying attention to him or not.
 
Grace doesn’t like to be defined or turned into acronyms, though it will submit to that if that’s what you need.
 
Grace to you. And peace.
 
Do you know peace?
 
Peace does more than pacify. Peace restores order. Peace sets everything and everyone aright. Peace folds the laundry in your soul (and carries it up the stairs and puts it away!).
 
Peace cascades and ripples and shockwaves from center to center to center. Peace throws open the door and welcomes you in; peace puts a ring on your finger, kisses on your cheek, and a new robe around your shoulders. Peace tells you that you’re wanted. You’re known and you’re still wanted.
 
God the father who welcomes you and Jesus the prince who loves you send grace and peace to you every minute of every day. Grace and peace come rushing toward us, making the trees dance with delight and the clouds twist and spin as God’s grace-and-peace-giving Spirit blows into town.
 
These aren’t throwaway preamble words. They bring abundant life.
 
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Who can you bless with grace and peace today?