Grace in the Midst

Blessings 1441. Cole and Avonlea falling asleep with me on the couch (different times but on the same day)...and the fact that I am truly treasuring these moments, as I know how quickly they will pass 1442. Looking over at Blake during Sunday's worship service and seeing him with a confused look on his face and his hand in the air (imitating members of the worship team)...what a wonderful teachable moment :) 1443. Avonlea imitating my smile over and over as the praise team sang 1444. Telling a friend who was starting a bible study that leaving my house regularly with my 3 little ones is just too tiring to commit to - and the next thing I new the bible study was in my living room 1445. Cole singing "Jesus loves me" as I type out ways that he loves me 1446. Daddy, Blake and Cole making snow forts for hours 1447. A thought provoking  sermon by Matt Chandler (who I've actually never heard of, but enjoyed the sermon because of a friend's recommendation) 1448. ...

Blessings 1435. Blake's giggles as he watched Daddy put tool stickers above his bed 1436. Realizing that when "I" go for a walk, there's 4 of us.  Sounds silly, but it just kinda hit me as I ventured down the street "by myself". 1437. Holding Avi close 1438. Telling stories to my potty training boy...and the memories it brings of my "big boy". 1439. A friend who has set up a two day adventure for my kids and I (babysitting and all) 1440. Turning to the word of God for confidence when I am feeling insecure Scriptural Blessings 1441. I am a receiver of THE CALLING 1442. Knowing that though I will never BE COMPLETELY HUMBLE AND GENTLE & PATIENT, that God is at work in me in all of those areas - and will continue to refine me (as I allow Him to) until the day I am by His side 1443. There is  Unity of the Spirit  - no matter how many doctrinal differences believers have - we all have the incredible gift of Jesus Christ - and the ability (if...

Blessings  1420. The electricity going off just in time for a candle lit dinner - and coming back just on time for clean up 1421. Catching up with a friend that I've really been missing 1422. Praying for a conversation that Matt needed to have with a friend, and God blessing the conversation abundantly 1423. The boys asking for more chores (so they could enter another X on the computer) 1424. Blake singing (at this very moment) "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine" 1425. The ability to pray to the God of all creation - with all of my heart, mind and soul - that He will work in Blake and through Blake and truly allows His light to shine Scriptural Blessings 1426. We can KNEEL BEFORE THE FATHER 1427. He is sovereign over EVERY FAMILY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH 1428. He is GLORIOUSLY RICH 1429. He STRENGTHEN'S us WITH POWER THROUGH HIS SPIRIT 1430. He offers his LOVE 1431. The love He offers is WIDER, LONGER, HIGHER and DEEPER than we could eve...

Blessings 1403. An evening walk 1404. 3 happy kids on a couch - and one proud daddy taking pictures 1405. An encouraging magazine 1406. A motivated hubby - fixing up old gym equipment with the hopes of using it 1408. Babysitting Grace and Titus 1409. The boys loving their "toy time" - they play separately by themselves for a half an hour each day...and they actually like it 1410. A fun "chat" with a good friend  who was trusting God in her husbands hospital room 1411. They were discharged 1412. The strength of another friend who was in the hospital all night with her little boy 1413. They are home too Scriptural Blessings 1414. The GIFT OF GOD'S GRACE 1415. HIS POWER 1416. HIS BOUNDLESS RICHES 1417. CREATION 1418. The WISDOM OF GOD 1419. The ability to APPROACH GOD WITH FREEDOM AND CONFIDENCE Ephesians 3:7-13 7  I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power .  8  Although I am less than t...

Blessings 1389. Avonlea is rolling over every time I put her on her belly (after not even being interested in rolling over for months) 1390. Lately, I'm not just talking/preaching to myself  about God's grace, I am genuinely feeling it 1391. The movie Courageous - and a hubby who brought it home and watched it with me 1392. The fact that Matt is such a good dad that I didn't even feel like he would need to sign a "resolution" as suggested on Courageous, he already lives that way 1393. Getting a little bit of tax prep done 1394. Google docs 1395. A writer's analogy comparing parenting with climbing Mt Everest - its amazing, wonderful, SOOO worth it - but sometimes its just hard...and thats ok! 1396. The fact that at this exact moment, I am enjoying the view Scriptural Blessings 1397. I HAVE HEARD about GOD's GRACE 1398. The MYSTERY OF CHRIST 1399. I am an HEIR 1400. Not by works, but THROUGH THE GOSPEL 1401. I am a MEMBER of ONE BODY 1402. We (if you are a...

Blessings 1375. Avonlea's cough is gone 1376. I believe God healed her (the fact that I believe this is a blessing in and of itself - even if it was actually just coincidence - I often and usually have doubts in the area of God as a healer...though His word makes it clear that He is) 1377. The sweetness of Avonlea's "talking" voice 1378. An unexpected sleepover (kids and all) with a dear friend 1379. Late night conversations 1380. Friends and their spouses that love the word of God  1381. Matt helping me take care of sick kids in the middle of the night - without even being asked 1382. Matt doing all the laundry caused by the sick kids 1383. The million and one other things I'd love to write down right now Scriptural Blessings 1384. I am not a FOREIGNER or a STRANGER to God 1385. I am a FELLOW CITIZEN with God's people 1386. I am a MEMBER OF HIS HOUSEHOLD 1387. My works (or lack thereof) are not the cornerstone of HIS HOUSEHOLD - but CHRIST JES...

Pondering: I am often tempted to fall into the false belief that if I do my absolute best for God, life will go smoother and I will find more rest.  Lately I feel Him calling me to do the opposite (or at least in the opposite order).   He seems to be whispering - Rest IN ME that I may do my best in you.  Living with guilt, feelings of failure, and an "if I just try harder" mentality is SO far from what He has for us.  And yet, for me, it is SO easy to fall into.  So today, if/when those feelings of failure creep in (which more than likely are directly from the enemy), I am going to ask Him to teach me how to Rest IN HIM that He might do His best in Me. 1372. The  January Joy Dare  suggestions: January 15 - one thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared...           My bath robe           My heart - first to my God, then to my husband           My thoughts...

1354. I was  FORMERLY ...SEPARATE FROM CHRIST  1355. Now I am included in the covenants of THE PROMISE 1355. I have HOPE! 1356. NOW I am IN CHRIST 1357. I am no longer FAR AWAY because I have been BROUGHT NEAR... 1358. By and because of the BLOOD OF CHRIST (Nothing I have done, will do, or will ever be worthy of...simply a gift of incredible sacrifice) 1359.The  January Joy Dare  suggestions: Yesterday - 3 sounds you hear...           The fan in my boys room - and quiet boys :)           The clock ticking           My fingers clicking away on the keyboard 1360.  The  January Joy Dare  suggestions: Today - 3 ways you glimpsed the startling grace of God...           Restored relationships           Someone telling me that I have made a difference in their life (so amazed that He uses me despite my MANY imperfection...

1354. I was  FORMERLY ...SEPARATE FROM CHRIST  1355. Now I am included in the covenants of THE PROMISE 1355. I have HOPE! 1356. NOW I am IN CHRIST 1357. I am no longer FAR AWAY because I have been BROUGHT NEAR 1358. By and because of the BLOOD OF CHRIST (Nothing I have done, will do, or will ever be worthy of...simply a gift of incredible sacrifice) 1348.The  January Joy Dare  suggestions: Yesterday - 3 sounds you hear...           The fan in my boys room - and quiet boys :)           The clock ticking           My fingers clicking away on the keyboard 1349.  The  January Joy Dare  suggestions: Today - 3 ways you glimpsed the startling grace of God...           Restored relationships           Someone telling me that I have made a difference in their life (so amazed that He uses me despite my MANY imperfections) ...

1339. God RAISED US UP 1340. We are WITH HIM - the same HIM who lovingly created the entire universe 1341. The RICHES OF HIS GRACE are INCOMPARABLE...Nothing can compete with our God's grace 1342. His KINDNESS 1343. Though my FAITH is weak at times, I do have FAITH - and because of that (and that only) - I have been SAVED 1344. My salvation, A GIFT! 1345. I, me, Val, daughter, momma, wife, sister, friend am GOD's HANDIWORK - and by the way - so are you! 1346. He has CREATED me to DO GOOD WORKS - so He will give me the strength 1347. I am PREPARED  by and in Jesus Christ - whether I'm confident, or not - (though I know it is truly possible to be confident in Him) 1348.The  January Joy Dare  suggestions: Today - something above you, something below you, something beside you...           My husbands (and God's cuz He gave me my husband) love...expressed through acts of service IE my pan rack :)           Along this s...

1324. Although we (believers) make mistakes - actively pursuing sin is not how we live, but how we USED TO LIVE 1325. Following the WAYS OF THIS WORLD is a part of our past, it is ok (expected even) to not fit  in and/or be "weird" 1326. ALL OF US lived among (and were) disobedient - pride should not be a factor (even though we may struggle with it) 1327. We are DESERVING OF RATH, BUT...BUT...BUT - So thankful for the "but" 1328. He has GREAT LOVE FOR US 1328. He is RICH IN MERCY 1329. He has made us ALIVE WITH CHRIST 1330. BY GRACE WE HAVE BEEN SAVED 1331. The January Joy Dare suggestions: Today - 3 yellow things that strike you as fresh mercy...           - Bananas           - The letter N (alphabet magnets)           - Blake's soft building blocks, a yellow one just happened to be left out last night 1332. Reading the first chapter of 1 Samuel and being so encouraged 1333. Knowing my husband i...

1300. Believing friends 1301. Their love for me & for their family in Christ 1302. Paul's example - He KEEPS ASKING 1303. Our GLORIOUS FATHER 1304. The giver of WISDOM & REVELATION 1305. We can continue to KNOW HIM BETTER 1306. He has called us to HOPE - when we feel it & when we don't 1307. We have no idea how incredible the RICHES of hi GLORIOUS inheritance will be 1308. I BELIEVE - and want to BELIEVE more 1309. He offers us INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER 1310. The POWER He offers us is the same as THE MIGHTY STRENGTH HE EXERTED WHEN HE RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD! 1311. Even when things feel out of control, Christ is ABOVE ALL RULE and AUTHORITY, POWER and DOMINION 1312. Not just today, but forever 1313. ALL THINGS are under Christ's feet 1314. He is the HEAD OVER EVERYTHING 1315. That includes me - He is head over me.  Though my growth seems so slow (and even feels like I'm shrinking sometimes) - He is head over me 1316. He is HEAD over my hom...