OBSERVATIONS FROM THE SECOND FLOOR

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. NIV

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

...who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. NIV

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. NIV

And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. NIV

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. NIV

Parents who are afraid to put their foot down usually have children who step on their toes” Chinese Proverb

We need never be ashamed of our tears. Charles Dickens, - Great Expectations

Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore? ~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." - James Baldwin

I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use. --Galileo

“Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted.” (Garrison Keillor)

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you? (William Ward)