My Place of Grace

God wastes nothing.—it was the day after Christmas, I dragged my sleepy eyed, weary body out of bed and headed to the kitchen to make the morning coffee, but was stopped in my tracks when I spied this small scrap of Christmas paper forgotten in our Christmas clean up the night before. Ahhh my heart! My reminder that my God never forgets me, He carries me at my weakest, and calms me at my craziest, He loves me deeply and comforts my hurting heart in real and tangible ways. He shows up when I least expect but in the most perfect timing. God, You are Amazing! Thank you.

Sitting here this quiet morning, thinking of that first Christmas so long ago. Calling to mind some words to describe that amazing day when Jesus Christ was born. My heart is swelling full with joy! The idea that God loves us so much, that He includes us in this miracle, He invites us to get to know Him. He gives us a place to belong. Jesus is the greatest gift anyone could ever receive. He is life. In Him hope is found. He shines light in the darkness. Redeems and saves. His truth is a roadmap when we’ve lost our way. All glory to God in Heaven above, For sending His Son as proof of His love. Let’s come to Him in celebration and praise, For the wonderful gift of His amazing grace. Let us rejoice with our voices raised, Hands held high, and hearts ablaze! For the King of Kings is here to stay! Emmanuel-God with us! Amen

Cutting a red pepper to add to my salad, that was still ok, but getting a little wilted around the edges, I noticed it looked like a heart. ❤️ It reminded me that when I start feeling tired out, overwhelmed, and plain old wilted, I need to take those parts of my heart to God so He can revive me and freshen me up so I can again be useful in service to Him. Its hard to be helpful to someone else if I’m expired. Praying all those battle worn and weary out there, take some time to rest and rejuvenate in Gods presence this Christmas season. God Bless!

Good Morning Friends! Wishing you joy and peace this Sunday before Christmas! I’ve just been thinking about that first Christmas and how amazing it must have been, how unsure those witnessing the angels and the bright star, must have felt, but that still small voice inside that told them THIS was definitely something worth investigating. ❤️ Angels singing Allelujah! Christ is born in Bethlehem! Came to earth to save His people For Love’s sake, so we might live! Bringing life, and hope, and glory, Setting all the captives free. Expected King come as a baby, Angels beckon...go and see. Shepherds in the fields are awe struck Sheep lift their heads in wonder, too! Such a jubilant sight that Christmas, Of Love Himself, born for me and you. Just as the shepherds kept their watch then, So must we keep watch today, Don’t want to fall asleep and miss Him, Jesus is coming back one day. Each of us are an inn keeper, Will you make some room for Him? The manger of your heart i...

Friends are a treasured gift from God, wether close by, or far apart, We carry them in thought and prayer, Etched forever in our heart. Walking life together thru the years, We share our joys, our hopes and fears, Precious memories, laughter, tears. Creating bonds of love that we hold dear.

JOY was my word for 2019. As I was thinking about the year, Christmas, and Joy, this picture and verse came to mind. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”-John 3:16 Joy is a gift to us, the Good News of Jesus! Rooted in God’s love, manifested in Jesus birth, life, death, and resurrection. A gift born from redemption. Joy is the fruit from a seed planted in our soul, cultivated by the Spirit, in the context of our relationship with God, thru Christ Jesus. Joy lifts us, holds us, and sustains us. Joy is jubilant praise, but also quiet contemplation. Joy is present in dark places as well as mountains high. Joy is expectant! May Gods JOY be received by you, fill you, and go with you in the new year.

Peppermint candy is a good way to share the Good News of Jesus! The color red is for the blood He shed for me. White shows that He washed all of my sins clean. Upside down candy cane makes a J, for Jesus my Lord, Right side up, a staff of my Good and faithful Shepherd. Jesus is the reason and the center of the season, He came to bring great hope, To all those who believe Him. So as we prepare to celebrate His birth, Know, that in His eyes and heart, you are of greatest worth.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " ~ John 1:14... Emmanuel...God with us. The most precious valuable gift we could never deserve, But will ever receive. He was here before the world, as we know it, began. He was woven into all creation, He breathed life into Man. He came to dwell among us. Yet we failed to understand. He never Lorded over us His status as The King, Instead, He walked alongside us, Caring for our deepest needs. His very life on earth, Exemplifies His love and grace. He gave us hope, from sins fierce grip, By the sacrifice He made. As we celebrate this Christmas, Let us remember this, He is right here among us, Don’t forget to invite Him in. Thank You Jesus!

For as difficult as holidays can be, and as complicated as life gets, there is Jesus. Simply Jesus. He cuts thru our complications and gets right to the heart of things. He is our Joy and we are His. The verse of the day flashed over the phone as I wrote this...Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory thru our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57...With Jesus we can confidently take each next step and know we will get thru. He is with us always. Always hold on to Him❤️ Thank You Jesus.

Today, let’s be intentional in all we do. We are here for a purpose, This is the truth! Our minds get so cluttered with things to get done, We robotically do them  But our insides are numb.  Let’s try something different! Take a step back. Let’s look at our day, With a new plan of attack. Intentions the word, To accomplish our tasks. Embrace what you’re doing,  If you have questions, ask! With every breath, thought, and motion Try to stay present in the moment.  Cause really, moments are all we are given, So let’s make the most of them,  With intentional living!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:8-12 A reminder that Jesus is the good news that brings joy for all people, everyone! When we seek Him we will find Him. 

Oh, most Holy and Mighty God, You are in our midst. You have given us love, life, light, hope, truth, mercy, grace, peace, and joy. In this season of Advent as we wait in joyful expectation for Christmas Day, may we be mindful of the immense gift given through Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. I pray my soul magnify You Lord, in all I do and say, in every interaction encountered thru each day. May this grand magnification of You, my Sovereign King, become a beacon of light for others, drawing them, like moths to flame. As Christmas Day approaches, let us rejoice and sing, the praises of our Savior, Lord ,God ,Almighty King. Here is the link to the song “He Who Is Mighty”, by Sovereign Grace. I pray for all, a blessed and joyful Christmas Season, reveling in our Mighty God and all of the miraculous wonders He has done. https://youtu.be/Jbo3tjoazww?list=RDJbo3tjoazww He Who Is Mighty Oh, the mercy our God has shown To those who sit in death's shadow The sun on h...

Seeing life thru the eyes of a child, Is an amazing gift indeed... Never a moment lacking wonder, They forge ahead full speed! Exploring every nook and cranny, Searching high and low... For treasures hidden along the way, Collecting as they go... Walking, running, jumping, Traversing new terrain... Never growing weary, of passing the same places over and over again! Their little eyes light with surprise, At everything they see... As their squeals of joy tickle my ears, Inviting out, the inner child, That lives inside of me. ❤️

❤️ my family and our adventures! We got this idea to go visit Koziar’s Christmas Village. (none of us had ever been there before)then come back to Am-Ma and Pap’s for dinner. Well...we got there, we had to park far far away from the actual attraction, we paid to get in, excited to see all the Christmas lights and attractions, but soon discovered it was soooo crowded, we could hardly move, the lines were long, and it was cold! So we cut our visit short and headed back to the car for our hour’s long ride home. Dinner didn’t go as planned either, but even so, it was all ok. Why? Because we were together. We sang in the car on the way down and back. We got to see things thru the excited eyes of a child,(who by the way didn’t care at all about any of the above inconveniences I mentioned.) we talked, we played, we shared snacks, and this Am-Ma was just so blessed and grateful for the gift of time given and spent together. Life rarely goes as planned, but really,It’s not the...

When I sit and think of Jesus, and all He has done, The darkness and death He has saved me from, My heart can’t help but leap for joy For the redemption of life that is now my story. And all the blessings He pours out, I just can’t help but give a shout To my Savior, Lord, and Mighty King! For I see His hand in everything! Lord let my thoughts, become my thanks Let them be lovely, pure, and true. Help joy in You, become my habit, As I dwell on all you are and do. I give thanks to You, Lord, because You are good! Your love endures forever! You conquered death, in my place You stood, Making a bridge from earth to heaven. You saved me, Life you gave me, I sing my unending praise To You! Amen

I was on my way to drop something off to a friend today, and I looked over and saw this heart. It just blows my mind sometimes, the perfect timing of our God, and the ways He lets us know He’s here with us. He promises when we seek Him we will find Him, if we seek Him with all our heart. Jeremiah 29:13 As Thanksgiving day approaches, I want to take time to thank God for His promises, His faithfulness, His grace, and His truth. He is the Great I Am. He Is. Amen

Holidays can be wonderful, but can also be so hard. I’m so thankful for these bracelets, each one holds special meaning, and  I put them on every day, as a reminder of Gods love over me. It’s good to have something to see, to remember He is there, and good, and watching over me. I pray in all the hustle and bustle of this coming season, to be sensitive to those I meet along the way. For they too, may be struggling, and need kindnesses and love, a little note of encouragement, a smile or a hug, an unexpected gift, a random act, in hopes to maybe give their day a lift. It also helps the grieving heart to give these gifts away. Kindness is a healing balm for the giver and receiver and should be practiced with intention every day. I pray for all those struggling, whose hearts feel sad and torn, that you feel Gods comforting presence and know you’re not alone. 💞 Amen

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 I had to read and reread this verse over and over again. How can we be thankful in ALL circumstances?? There are so many things I can think of in my own life, that at first thought, I had to ask God  how? How am I to be thankful for tragedies, deaths, abuses, injustices, illnesses and things that just plain old make my heart break? My answer came one day as I was reading thru the newsletter of a Christian author and friend. In the story she told, it said God doesn’t tell us to be thankful “for” all circumstances. He tells us to be thankful “in” all circumstances. That shift in words also shifted my perspective. Being thankful is an action we take, that is born out of an attitude or feeling of gratitude. That action of giving thanks is aimed at God, because of who HE is, rather than the circumstance we are facing. Being thankful “in “ all circumstances is a d...

Oh Lord, You're my provider, You give me all I need. Never shall I be in want, For I trust You'll intercede. You always satisfy me, Filling every empty space, With an overflowing, pouring out of your abundant grace. You put the bold in every step of this fearful weary heart. Causing peace to infiltrate, as I walk thru valleys dark. You are always by my side, Protection in the pain, Comfort in the downpour of life's torrential rains. Surely Your unfailing love and mercy over me, Follows every step I take, when I walk each one with thee.

I don’t always know why things happen. The road of life is rarely paved or straight. I’m often left to wonder, and often left to wait... The only antidote I know That’s tested, tried, and sure, That gets me thru the toughest times, is trusting in the Lord. To trust in Jesus with all my heart, Hold tight to my mustard seed faith. He always stands good on His word And comforts me in the wait. His promises are true. His timing always perfect. He’s working all things out, Even when I cannot see it. This I know. Of this I’m sure. Though I may not always feel it. God  holds me safe, so I’m secure, He won’t let my feet slip. He keeps me steadied on the road. He loves this ever wandering soul. He helps carry my heavy load. And never lets me walk alone. He is my God, my Savior, Lord... My Father, Friend, and so much more. Thanking, praising, loving Him, in joy, with all my heart.❤️ Amen.