GRACE…and Grace

The View From Above: Thoughts to Help With Everyday Life

September 3, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

GRACE…and Grace

I can’t speak about and remember Israel Sarabia without thinking about GRACE, I mean grace AND Grace.

Grace for the love, patience, and care that God shows all of us who are unworthy and undeserving of the incredible grace and unmerited favor of God.

Ephesians 2:8–9

“For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the GIFT of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Grace is the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them, and preserves them through faith.

Israel Sarabia benefited from God’s indescribable and incomprehensible grace and favor.

What did Israel do to earn God’s grace…What did he do to motivate Jesus Christ to die for his sins?…the answer?

Absolutely nothing!

Nothing?!…That’s right, nothing, other than the fact that every sinner, every unbeliever is the object of God’s gracious, boundless, and immeasurable love.

So, there you have it…grace upon grace for Israel Sarabia that has been manifest in his life, and now he is experiencing the ultimate.

Now, what I really want to talk about is?…Grace.

What an appropriate name for his wife of 57 years.

I’m not the only one who was ready to give up on Israel…no hope, he’ll never change, time to move on with your life.

That was never Grace’s disposition.

Always and only love, hope, and faith. Believing that one day a miracle can happen…She believed, she prayed, she hoped…

Grace was being an extension of God’s grace.

I wonder how many people might end up lost because we give up hope on them ever being saved, and sometimes, for what we think are good reasons.

Israel Sarabia one day experienced God’s grace, because of Grace.

He’s gone now, he has departed for his eternal destination. Grace has to learn to live the rest of her earthly life separated from her beloved husband, and she will.

She will because?!…Of God’s grace.

It’s not an easy road…but it will be filled with love, with help…Grace is going to experience reward in this life for the love of God that she expressed toward her husband, even when he was most unlovable.

Never completely unlovable to God…nor to his wife.

Grace, if I can give you a word…A great season of blessing, favor and, yes…GRACE is in your future.

God looks at your life and the years you have left until Jesus returns for us all and wants you now to feel the full weight of a life rewarded and blessed by God.

Grieve, we are grieving with you…express sorrow and we are sorrowing with you.

You are not alone and you are going to feel and sense the presence of God in a new, powerful and refreshing way.

You have been an example of how far God’s grace can be extended to reach one desperately lost soul and for that I am indebted to you.

I’m going to do a lot less giving up and express a lot more hope and faith for those that are desperately lost.

Psalms 30:5

“His favor (grace) is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”

Thank God for His grace, and God bless Grace Sarabia!