You're listening to Encounter, a simple daily podcast of sacred and mindful meditations

to help you encounter the divine presence of God all throughout your day.

If you want to have free access to the entire library of 500 meditations, I encourage

you to download the Encountering Peace app where all the meditations are free, as they should be.

God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food. Amen.

Those words framed every breakfast, lunch, and dinner when I was a child,

around our tiny wooden kitchen table, saying grace. What was your meal time prayer of grace?

Well, grace is more than a prayer for a meal, as a way of life. We are living by grace and

receiving something that we don't deserve. Unmerited favor of God. But how do you accept it?

And do you show it to others, especially when you feel pushed and shoved? When the world pushes

against you, do you show grace and return? If you struggle to receive and show mercy,

then you aren't alone, and you're in the right place. This meditation from Matthew 6 will help

you remember to be mindful of your actions so that others see the mercy and grace of God in all

that you say and do. That when the world pushes against you, that you show grace and return.

But for now, to begin, whether at first morning light or the last shadows of evening,

allow the next 15 minutes to be a sanctuary to rest in the presence of God, the God of grace,

and the Lord of mercy, allow your breathing to become gentle and your eyes to close,

to settle deeper into wherever you are, and start to center on this safe place.

This time of mercy. In a few moments of silent reflection, believing in the grace of God.

Continue now in this time of divine awareness by listening and then responding to this passage

from Mark chapter 11, and as I lead us, respond, Heavenly Father, your will be done.

May the Lord bless the hearing and reading of His Word.

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