He giveth more grace!

So yesterday (Monday) was the first day I actually overslept my alarm. After a week of teaching (and then preaching yesterday), I was feeling pretty drained. So I scarfed down some yogurt, and we ran out the door. After hoofing it to the Cultural Center, I settled down in my little nook, waiting for Divine inspiration to enlighten my teaching plans.

Well, it did not come. Sleep came, but no inspiration. I fought off the sleepies all morning, and anticipated an afternoon of the students doing the same.

And as I sat, weary and undone, I dreaded going before those students, those who had given up their day to sit and listen to me. I felt like the leader of a bankrupt soup kitchen who looks out the window, and sees the hungry crowd lined up in front of the building. It is not a pleasant thought to realize you’ve traversed ten times zones, only to appear empty-handed before those you have come to minister to. But God retrieved a hymn (entitled, He Giveth More Grace) from my memory banks and put it in my heart:

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

So instead of berating myself for feeling dry and empty, I simply began praying. And when class began, instead of me praying for the group, I asked them to pray for me. I won’t say I saw heaven open and the Spirit descending like a dove. But I will say it was by far the deepest and best discussion time we have had yet.

This “grace” thing; it’s not bad.