It's By God's Grace Novels & Stories

Thank you, Goddess, for giving me this life. For the pain, the trials… and this perfect moment. I was finally home. And I was grateful.

"Call me if you need anything..." "Thank you, Ava. Thank you for being by my side, for believing in me, and for helping me make this miracle happen," Grace said, her voice filled with gratitude above all fear. "I can't believe I'm going to be a mother. It's the greatest gift I could ever ask for." She wiped her tears and Ava smiled warmly at Grace, her eyes shining with pride. "You deserve this, Grace. You'll be an incredible mother." "I'll take my leave now..." Grace said as she said goodbye to Ava. But why was she nervous? She didn't know what she was feeling as she hurried away. Caesar was not at his office. She knew that.

Head held down, impelled into compliance. "Heavenly Father, thank you that you for being the source of all true joy in life. Your word says that everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is blessed by the word of God and prayer. Please help us to receive all the good gifts you give us with thanksgiving and gratitude in our hearts. You have loved us and have freed us from our sins by Jesus' blood. To you be glory and dominion forever and ever. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen."

It was nice listening to them laugh instead of complaining; ever since she got here, I didn’t feel so guilty. “Whatever, let's just eat,” I said, grabbing my fork, and Amanah stopped my hand. “Don’t you guys say grace?” She asked, and I cocked my head to the side, confused. “Grace?” “Yeah, it’s a prayer of giving thanks before you eat,” she explained, and my mom put her fork down. “To whom are we giving thanks?” “God,” she said simply, and I smiled, understanding her. "The Creator." “Oh, you mean Ylil?” I asked her, and she looked confused.

Josh and Lydia, sweet and steady. This was what we fought for. This was what we almost lost. And this was what we got to keep. I closed my eyes for a moment and sent a silent prayer upward. Thank you Moon Goddess. Thank you for this life. For these people. For this love. For every tear that led me here. For every heartbreak that shaped me. For every moment of waiting that made this moment sweeter. Thank you for second chances. For forgiveness. For family. For home. I opened my eyes.

I snort. “No,” Grace laughs. “You'll be fine one day Hun, we all will. Life might not be great but we have each other, and most of all, we have God, he's watching Aurora, no evil done under the sun or moon will go unpunished. You might not want to accept this but I know that deep down, you acknowledge his existence, little Aurora knows God always delivers not so?”

"Still under God's grace, Victor." Zion nodded. "Indeed, we are justified by grace alone." They first sang some praise hymns and then prayed. Gideon was silent as he listened to Zion's prayer. It was full of love, gratefulness, and hope. So much different from his own that's full of constant self-blame and selfishness. Then they all shouted together, "Amen!"

“Luck was on my side.” “There is nothing like luck. It is just our way of explaining something we think we don’t deserve. Every great thing you achieve is based on your personal hard work compiled with the help of the gods. It is not luck that gave you that greatness but the motive, zeal, and plan in you that remained restless until you fulfilled it. You are talented, and when talents meets opportunity, we confuse the result with luck, which is not true.” “You are right, grandfather. Can I stand up?” Ibekwe asked. He had endured the hardwood several minutes and never complained.

"I didn't take Gaven." "You exist," she says. "That was enough." Behind me, I can feel his presence like a wall. He is steady and patient. Waiting for the moment I need him, but he doesn’t interfere, because he knows this isn’t about him. "You were supposed to be grateful," Grace continues. "Grateful for whatever scraps you were given. Grateful you weren't discarded entirely." "I was." "And now?" She snarls. I breathe slowly. Now comes the truth I never allowed myself to say. "I'm done being grateful for survival."

" Hm...." " Mia... We don't have to be strong... Paul said something which amused me when he asked God to remove the thorn of the flesh he was held down by. God replied to him by saying in 2 Corinthians 12. “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. " " If there's something I learned from that passage then it is, no matter how weak we might be... We don't have to be so worried about it... As then God can fully act a