My Place of Grace

Courage thought for today: Faith, that quiet certainty that God keeps His promises, fuels the Godly courage within us... God is who He says He is. He does what He says He will do. He finishes what He has started. His word is always true. Putting our faith in Him We will not be led astray, But taken on an amazing journey, Take hold His hand today. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When indifference and complacency silently creep in, The evil one gets cheering and sin declares the win. There’s nothing more that liar wants, than to see us desensitized, To the broken things that this world brings, right before our eyes. He prowls about like a roaring lion, waiting to devour, The unwitting soul whose love grew cold, Drained of all it’s power. Be alert! Don’t get caught, by the snares of the enemy. Be aware of your surroundings, Ask God for His eyes to see. We must stand firm upon God’s Word Wielding His truth as if a sword. Taking on His strength and courage, Putting on the Armor of our Lord. Come ready for the battle God will fight for us All He asks is we show up, And in Him, we place our trust. So step out mighty warrior! All we are given is today. We’ve been entrusted with God’s power And we’ve got enemies to slay! “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” ‭‭ 1 Corinthians 16:13 Stay alert! Watch out

Sometimes fear pecks at me, Tries to keep me from being who God made me to be. It is then I need to remind myself, Of my Creator and His great truth. I am made in His image, To be His reflection To a darkened world, Full of rejection. Let me not hide behind my fear, But boldly stand, as if a mirror. To reflect His colors, thru His light, And shine them into the dark of night. Lord, in You, I need not be afraid... When I choose to live my life, thru the lens of faith.

This is how I wish for all the world to be... Caring for one another, Loving unconditionally. So everyone would know, That when they’re going thru a storm, Someone will come along, And walk with them, as it pours. It doesn’t take special skills, Or costly education, Just a tender heart, and will to help, Is the only job description. ❤️

Sooooo, I was making a grilled ham and cheese sandwich for a lady I take care of, and as I pulled apart the ham slices, I saw them! Two hearts, as if a reflection! I thought of this quote from Mother Teresa-“We cannot all do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Caring for others is one of the ways we can truly make a difference in someone’s life. Being present in the small mundane  activities of day to day life and doing them with great love, can have great impact and is a powerful reflection of Gods love. ❤️ “A new command  I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  ~ John 13:34-35

Therefore encourage one another  and build each other up,  just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Investment and Return There is no telling what you can do When someone takes time to believe in you. It changes the way you see yourself. You gain courage, strength and confidence; To set a goal and take a chance, Till you're on your way to achieving success. Knowing someone’s beside you, cheering you on, Boosts your motivation to get things done. Two is definitely stronger than one. We were never meant to do life alone. So if you see someone struggling, Needing a hand, Hold yours out and help them stand. Be a source of their encouragement. I guarantee , it’ll be time well spent! And don’t forget to celebrate! Each milestone met, and goal achieved. Soon the one you’ve helped, Will be helping someone else, And so it goes, on and on, A chain reaction, gaining traction, Moving steadily along. Empowerment at its best, Let’s put it to the test

There are so many situations we cannot understand, But God is always near, Lending us His hand. He knows us, and our needs, Even when we don’t. He rescues when we’re drowning, Keeping us afloat. He comforts us in our sorrow, He guides in our confusion. He listens to our cries for help, and shows up when we seek Him. He is a faithful, loving God, Who meets us where we are, Gives grace for the journey, Offers us His care. Nothing can escape His gaze, He stays with us all our days, Always worthy of our praise, El Roi- The God Who sees. Genesis 16:13-14

I never noticed this yesterday when I hurriedly tossed my bags in my bedroom to keep them safe from our crazy pup. But this morning, as I reluctantly climbed out of my bed, it caught my eye. A heart, right there! ❤️ Oh God, in my weariness and reluctance, You remind me of your presence, and my purpose, and my weariness and reluctance is turned into praise for another day to serve in Your Kingdom. Today is all we are given. Lord, help me to live it well...for Your glory! I thank you for the promise of eternity with you, our sure hope!  Amen!

Thought for today: We are made in the image of God. He tells us to be courageous. He has planted courage in each one of us. Part of our mission is to reflect Him in this broken world. Courage gains its strength in the struggle as,step by step, we move in faith and love, for the greater good of God’s mission. And in holding confidently to that faith, we emerge strong and victorious in the light of truth. “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the  Lord , the Maker of heaven and earth.~ Psalm 121:1-2 Sometimes it’s hard to see beyond the stormy clouds. When we’ve become enveloped in a sea of grey. It’s consummation, a distraction, as we go about, With automatic motions, thru our day. We forget  to look around, for the little signs of hope, That God has placed with care along the way. Like this rainbow of color, tucked into the sky, A reminder of Gods promise, That He never leaves our side. He is always near. He’s there to lead and guide He lifts us up when we stumble, But we must lift our eyes! “Look up! I, your God am here. I am not far off, But always very near. Look up, my child! Seek and you will find, That I will meet your every need. You won’t be left behind. Fix your gaze on Me, As you go through out your day. I’ll supply the color that will chase the grey away.” God

Throughout life fear will come, change and uncertainty are inevitable, but we have a God who never ever changes and when we put our faith in Him, He bolsters our courage and cheers us on, and together, we move thru it. Our faith in God is fuel, for the courage in us, to rule... Courage that is founded in faith. Will take us to that destined place That God has planned just for us, for such a time as this. Reach out and take His hand today He’ll protect us along the way, Never will He leave us, or forsake. Daniel, Joseph, Mary, Ruth Just a few who clung to truth Trusting God and His promises, to bring them safely thru. When fear rears it’s ugly head, Don’t shrink back, wield faith instead God gives us the courage, For His glory and our best.

This Poem by Maya Angelou, expresses the life I want to live, and to encourage others to live.  Lord, build my courage to continue in Your word, and work in my time here on earth, to make this world a better place, changed and different because I came, and in doing so may it bring glory, honor, and praises to Your name. Amen “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”~ Galatians 6:9 CONTINUE: a poem Maya Angelou By Maya Angelou My wish for you Is that you continue           Continue To be who and how you are To astonish a mean world With your acts of kindness           Continue To allow humor to lighten the burden Of your tender heart           Continue In a society dark with cruelty To let the people hear the grandeur Of God in the peals of your laughter            Continue To let your eloquence Elevate the people to heights They had only imagined           Conti

Courage thought for today:  It’s God, in His infinite love and faithful grace, in whom I trust, that makes me brave. “You call me out beyond the shore into the waves.”...”No fear can hinder now, the love that made the way.” As I go thru this day, Lord, help me remember that You have already made the way, You are always near, to help with conquering my fears, as I trust You with every step I take.  Amen https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=MCvcvO5Aa2Q

God’s Grace,  A gift to us.  Evidence of His great love, Thru His son, Jesus. Sealed by the Spirit A Power within A protection in place For conquering sin.  Grace makes it possible To resist falling prey To the wiles of the enemies Trying to lure us away.  Grace covers mistakes It’s a net to catch falls A rope to grab hold of A boost scaling walls. Grace sees possibility Grace gives a way out Grace sends a message Of hope to those God cares about.  God’s Grace A lavish gift Given freely To Us by Him. God’s Grace is in everything, every moment of every day. It is for us to take hold of.  Lord help us to be aware and always looking to see Your Great Amazing Grace as the gift that it is, at work in our lives. Thank You Lord, for this gift!

Focusing on these 6 C’s this morning... Christ, Courage, Confidence, Colorful, Calm, Creativity. Thinking about Psalm 23 -The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need...He gives me rest...He leads me...even when I walk thru the darkest valleys I need not be afraid, He is with me. He comforts me. He gives me courage and confidence to sit at the table He has prepared for me, in the presence of my enemies and still enjoy His presence. He anoints me, calls me special and desires me to walk in His goodness, and love, dwelling with Him forever. Wow!  Lord, let me live in this courageous confidence that you assure me of.  Amen💜