Grace Leads to Joy!

Well, I couldn't even catch the tail end of the month of October I feel like it just blew by! ( It really did with  a storm that sported 30+ mile winds during my tomato sauce cooking time- that started right when I was settling down to write this post-such is life) 

I so longed to share my heart over these 31 days and I am glad to have shared at least a few with you. although I was not able to maintain the writing part for 31 days, believe me these were 31 days of graceful becoming. Every single day grace was in the fore front and it carried and continues to carry me.

there was the day of no napping from my little guy in which grace poured out of me-not as easily as I want to extend it but growth was definitely experienced. 

or the long days spent working on a project for the girls ministry at church when Sam was at his grandma's house and all I wanted to do was nap. ( another grace moment within- oh what a blessing my sweet mother in law is! she has taken Sam at least once a week for the last few weeks and Giselle and I have been able to spend time alone...(sigh)...)  Grace took over those days in person through my friend and mentor who supports and prays for me and is not afraid to get in the trenches with me. 

how sweet to share the Grace of God through the Philippians bible study with the gals from work, those days have truly refreshed my soul! 

Oh my sweet husband how he extends grace to me everyday! a constant reminder of what it means to serve like Jesus! I pump in the mornings before Giselle wakes up ( i must insert another grace moment here for my champion sleeping beauty sleeps 12 hours everyday! ) so, my dear Josh makes sure that all of the supplies I need are cleaned and sterilized for the morning. wow! 

I know what your thinking...why is she up right now! actually I'm not so sure myself! 

one thing I am sure of: His grace is enough! 

I get to go back to work this Sunday, but I'm not ready.

I was expecting a longer time off-but God's timing is not mine thankfully because His is better!

I sound positive but at moments today I struggled. I wanted to question and stew but I decided to sing instead. The only way this happened was because of what I have been learning and living this month his grace enough! 

One trend I do see is that we were never created to experience grace on our own! 

We were created for relationship not only with our creator but also with our friends and family! Oh my what a beautiful community of friends has The Lord blessed me with! I love the way we can do community these days even when we are not close to each other! I have even participated in a cyber book club with dear Marie from baking chic! I have met new friends on Instagram by coming together to help others ( i am so excited about sharing more on this soon)! Truly the closer we draw to him the closer He draws to us just as he promised-and out of that the closer he brings to us those

we are meant to strive on this journey with! 

Many blessings and may the Lord's grace suprise you and overwhelm you as it has me! 

a glimpse into my life...

picture courtesy of Samuel Benjamin Photography

another graceful becoming reminder!

Grace brings peace

This graceful becoming is painful, challenging, irritating, and downright intimidating. After all, who wants to see that old self that constantly strives to take over again and burden with lies. It is in this struggle though that His grace is enough. Although, little voices clamor for my attention there is one a still small voice that states, " my grace is enough..."

"My Grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." 2 Cor. 12:7-10

What peace! Now I don't need to strive, I don't need to try harder, I don't need to look harder! I just need to rest in His word; that my strength comes directly from him and my limitations are merely a reminder to trust that his  grace is enough! A reminder that Grace is changing me without changing my individuality it is a graceful becoming more like Christ!

Grace Extended

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). [Prov. 3:34.] (James 4:6 AMP)

Now I know I was not able to post for two days but  I have meditated on the topic of Grace. I pondered  on this graceful becoming  journey that I've been called on. 

As a gift that was given to me freely enriching my life, I want to freely give it. 

I have discovered that the best place to practice and the one we most overlook is our family.

My prayer for today is Lord make us extenders of Grace just as have extended grace to us. 

Gracefully Daisy

Traveling Grace

It's 12:03 am October 4th and I am just now writing my post for the third!! So I ask you for some grace...

It has been a day of travel for our wee little family! We are tucked in and 3 out of 4 are asleep. I thought about grace during this trip especially because fall is in the air! I love fall and it always brings me back to grace which leads me to discovering joy in the journey! Fall has always felt to as a gift from The Lord directly to my heart which he created to find such pleasure in it. 

My family brings me so much joy as we daily practice the discipline of extending grace, now some days are easier than others. most of the time traveling in a cramped car for long hours is a difficult grace extending day. I am so grateful for the beautiful day (meltdowns included) of travel we laughed, we praised, we sang, & prayed! 

Gracefully daisy

Grace is sufficient today

Today wow what a day! but at the end of the day grace is more than enough!

2nd Corinthians 12:9

New International Version (NIV)

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Singing this song today, "your grace is sufficient for me..." By Shane and Shane 

http://youtu.be/kQ1jCPV_s_4