salvation, mercy and grace

in my reading this morning i read something that jumped off the page and hit me right in the face! "salvation is not rooted in the merit of man, but in the mercy of god" and "if i am saved by grace, then i am kept by grace" i excepted jesus into my heart in my youth. i strayed far, far away for a long time. but now i understand that his grace always covered me, his mercy was forever present, and my salvation was still intact. only because of his wonderful mercy and grace was that true. i sin everyday, i guess we all do, and even in my sin, his grace is covering me....wrapping my heart around that one takes a bit of time. again, everyday in my sin his grace is covering me. wow! this isn't a new revelation to me, it is just now i really know this in my heart, much different than just in my head. over and over we hear "write these words on your head and on your heart". jesus loves me this i know! this i know! but jesus covers me with his grace, this i continue to learn. we have all been hurt, and hurt others, there is no reaction when it comes to gods grace, only the constant action of pouring it over us. oh, how i long to show his grace to others! to show his mercy, and in my feeble ability to give it from myself, i can only give it through him.

the following are lyrics from a song called "from the inside out"

"A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine
when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes
beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out"

o my soul cries out! let your soul cry out and experience salvation, mercy and grace.