Titles

I decided today that I needed to update the title of my blog. It's always been pretty boring. I'm never any good coming up with titles...I constantly get "feedback" that I am not very creative. Which is funny, because I actually think of myself as creative, just in a neat and orderly manner (I realize the irony of that statement!). Anyway, I have been trying to think of a new name for my blog for a few weeks.

Titles are funny things. I am someone's daughter, sister, friend, aunt, granddaughter, roommate, boss, employee, colleague, teacher, student, mentor, mentee (is that a real word?), running buddy, confidante, godmother, customer, project, etc. I also have an "official" title at work. It is very long...BTES BTCP Fixed Equipment/Inspection Section Supervisor. I kindof have a title at church...Group Navigator. I could also be called a Chemical Engineer or an MBA grad. I was once a summer missionary and still consider myself a volunteer. All of those things describe what I am to other people or the things that I do, but they don't describe who I am, I don't think. So, how can I describe who I am? Well, I would most likely use a lot of those titles above, which isn't what I want to do. Do you really want to read a blog entitled "Deep Thoughts from the BTES BTCP Fixed Equipment/Inspection Section Supervisor"? That's just not an appealing read!

Today in church, I decided that "By Grace" is a good new name. Not because this blog is written by someone named Grace. It's written by me, Jenny. But because I am learning more and more about grace and I think that that's the theme of my life. I saw the movie Amazing Grace last weekend and it is a wonderful story about abolishing slavery in England in the 1800's. It's called Amazing Grace because there are somehow ties to the man who wrote the song, John Newton, who was a slave trader at one time. I am also studying a book, What's So Amazing About Grace? by Phillip Yancey, with my small group. This book is absolutely wonderful and I think that everyone should read it. It not only opens your eyes to the grace that you've received, but also to how we should be expressing that to other people. It is phenomenal!! In the majority of sermons I have heard lately at church, we have talked about grace or forgiveness or acceptance in some way. So, grace has been all around me lately.

Often, the old saying "There but by the grace of God go I" runs through my head. I don't know where I picked up that habit. Maybe my dad says it alot? I'm not sure. When I see someone obviously struggling through life, whether it's in poverty or illness or just troubles, I am thankful that I have, seemingly, avoided such hardships. But, really, that applies to every instant of my daily life. Without God's grace, my life would not be so rich and full and privileged. I wouldn't have a job that I love and a family that is wonderful and friends that brighten my day all the time. I wouldn't be able to run or watch fun movies or buy clothes when I want to because I don't deserve those things.

The Webster's online definition of grace is "unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification." My definition is one that I heard somewhere, although I don't know where. To me, grace is getting something favorable you don't deserve. And I am quite certain that I don't deserve such a wonderful life. So, "By Grace" is my new title because I think that it says more about who I really am than all those other titles. I don't like the word "lucky" for some reason. It implies that there is luck, which means that life is full of randomness or fate. I sometimes use the word blessed, which is a good word to use. Just yesterday, I was rambling out loud about how blessed I have been lately to live somewhere with beautiful weather. But that word is kind of overused. In my recent reading, I have come to appreciate the difference that real grace makes in my life, so "By Grace" it is!