Grace. Mercy. Love. Peace. Hope.

There are some words we use so often in church that we can almost stop hearing them.

Grace.
Mercy.
Love.
Peace.
Hope.

We sing them. We pray them. We read them in the Bible. But what happens when we slow down and actually live with them?

That’s what we’re going to do during October.

We’re going to take these five familiar words and give them room to breathe.

Because grace is more than a theological idea. It meets us when we feel we’re not enough.

Mercy matters when we have got things wrong.

Love holds onto us when we wonder whether we are really worth loving.

Peace speaks into the noise and worry we carry.

And hope reminds us that the story is not finished yet.

Perhaps one of those words is exactly what you need at the beginning of this month.

Perhaps you don’t even know which one yet.

That’s all right.

For today, don’t rush ahead. Simply hold the five words for a moment:

Grace. Mercy. Love. Peace. Hope.

Which one catches your attention?

Which one are you longing for?

Which one might God want to make a little more real for you this month?

Carry this today

I don’t need to have everything sorted. I just need to be willing to make the journey.

Prayer

God,
as this new month begins,
help me to slow down
and notice what you want to show me.
Teach me again about grace, mercy, love, peace and hope,
not simply as words I know,
but as gifts I can live.
Amen.