Desert Rain

Desert Rain

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Forty Grace Gifts

    Some years ago I was introduced to the Biblical teachings of R.B Thieme Jr. In the course of study he consistently brought up the  Forty Grace Gifts by Lewis Sperry Schaffer which Col. Thieme had listed in the back of his publication, The Plan of God. Reading through the list, I was inspired at that time to do a personal Bible study on the Gifts and see how they fleshed out in my level of comprehension. It was amazing how the scriptures provided spoke to me and were so very relevant, encouraging and stabilizing.
     That was ten years ago.  Col. Thieme has passed away and his son Bobby, another gifted teacher,  has taken over the pulpit in Houston, Texas, but his publications and teachings are still available and there are other teachers out there, many ordained by the Col. himself that are teaching the Doctrinal studies and Forty Grace Gifts. I have thought for some time now it would be good to revisit that Bible study and take another walk through the Forty Grace Gifts with the new perspective, insights and hopefully, growth, that ten years has provided.
     I invite you to take this walk with me as I will be posting my thoughts on each point. This is not meant as a teaching experience on my part, but a refresher on God's Grace. Although we all experience His grace on a moment by moment basis, we rarely, if ever, acknowledge how deeply it is woven in the fabric of our life. This is an opportunity to be amazed by the grace we are given by becoming fully engaged in seeking how it works in our daily lives.
     If you decide to go on this adventure with me you will need some basic but specific gear; acquire a copy of The Forty Grace Gifts in some form, whether hard copy from the list in The Plan of God by R.B Thieme Jr.,  ( www.rbthieme.org where you can also download the book) or through Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries where it is in downloadable format,  and a Bible you can easily read. I use a New American Standard Thompson Chain Reference, a gift given to me by my friend and former Katy Creek Band member, Ray Jay Reno.
    This will be more of a stroll for me, a lingering here and there no hurry kind of experience. Getting to the next point eventually and even going back to the previous one for another look, perhaps like walking through a beautiful garden and returning to a favorite bloom or shade tree to enjoy it once again.
   Will you take a walk with me?