Quite a few years ago, an album was released, by Nat "King"
Cole, and the blind jazz pianist, George Shearing. One of the songs
on the album has a line which says: "I pick myself up, dust myself
off, and start all over again." That's a great line on several
levels. First of all, we've all fallen, picked ourselves off the
ground, dusted off our clothes, and continued on our way. That
happened to me, as recently as a couple of weeks ago, when we had
a bad snow storm. I slipped on some ice, and fell. After getting
up, I wiped the snow off of my coat, and went on my way.

     This is just as true, spiritually. First of all, sinful man is
in a fallen condition. But, upon receiving Christ, God picks us up,
dusts us off and sends us on our way, forgiven, renewed, as new
creatures! That's what His grace is all about; we don't deserve it,
can't merit it, but it's freely given to us! Hallelujah!!

     Want an example of God's grace in action? Look at the life of
St. Peter. Peter is probably my favorite apostle, because he's so
much like you and me! The same man, who so boldly preached Christ
on the day of Pentecost, also denied him three times. The same man,
whom Jesus named "the rock", received the stinging rebuke, "Get
thee behind me, Satan.". No matter how low Peter fell, God was
right there, forgiving, comforting, restoring, and sending him on
his way, to do great things, in the spreading of the Gospel. And,
you know what? it's the same with you!

     The fact is, God loves you! Psalm 103 says it best: As a
father pities his children, so the Lord loves those who fear Him;
for, he knows our frame, and knows that we are just dust. What a
comfort it is to know that, as the song-writer says, we can always
lean "on the everlasting arms." Truly, Nat "King" Cole and George
Shearing were talking about all of us, in more ways than one.  
Amen.