earned grace??

so today started week 2 of my new job. i am really enjoying it, which is such a blessing, and the people in the office are great. we really seem to be getting along and meshing well together.

i also followed through on my quiet time during lunch. i think this could be really awesome. today i read ephesians 2 and some of blue like jazz in prep for tomorrows bible study. the really neat thing is that they kind of related to each other.

ephesians 2 talks about grace versus works.
"⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast."

then in blue like jazz he talks about accepting grace freely. its hard to accept that we don't do anything to deserve forgiveness. it not a matter of God scratches my back and i scratch His. its just a free gift that we have to learn to accept, and that's the hard part.