In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Ephesians 1:5-6) The next verb is "given," and it has all to do with grace—"Grace which he has freely given us in the One he loves."  In Greek, this particular word for given and the word for grace come from the same root word, which means that "given" here is really just a verb-ish way of saying grace.  It's grace in action.   And in the original Greek language it comes with force, energy, and volume.  We are graced by grace in such a way that we are left drenched in it, washed over by it, and transformed in the process.   Paul uses variations of the word grace all over the place.  And each time it's filled with a different nuance and meaning that washes over us as we slowly come to terms with the sheer largeness of God's gracious gift of grace.   To say God is a gracious God in some way is to also say that God is a giving God.  Almost the picture of a Father who enjoys spoiling His children with His Goodness.  It is more than we can ask or imagine.  He gives us grace in Christ—the gift of a new life we didn't deserve.  He graces us with spiritual gifts.  He graces us with His presence and with an inheritance.  So many graces to behold throughout this torrent of words in the first chapter of Ephesians.   What's that like?  Well, this past Saturday, our family went hiking in the Dundas Valley.  In the rain.  We thought it looked to be a light misty drizzle outside.  But it wasn't.  Whether under the trees or under the sky, we were simply drenched.  There was no place to hide from the rain that found us from above, and began flowing below in little streams toward our toes.   The water was everywhere—but so was the beauty.  The Fall colours were deeper and more vibrant.  The sound of a million raindrops on a million leaves was powerful, but soothing.  And actually—with our coats on, we were not overpowered by this drenching—we were refreshed.  Gifts abounding in the strangest of circumstances. So it is with God's grace.  It is a powerful torrent of gifts that flows our way.  It can be disorienting at first to receive such unconditional goodness at such a volume—we have a hard time receiving it.  It may even make us uncomfortable, worried, or afraid.  But when we stop and put our hands out, open our eyes and ears in the drenching of God's grace and simply receive it—the gifts slowly become apparent.  We are not destroyed in this deluge, we are graced.  Filled, refreshed, made new.   So: open your eyes to see the beauty—your ears to hear the music.  God's grace is all around you.  Receive it and let your life be refreshed!  

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