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What Grace Looks Like

July 9, 2016

There’s no better time to look for grace than this week, when so many around us are thirsty for it.

And one of the grace-giving opportunities I have along this journey of faith and writing is to meet women at the Well who personify it. Women who pour out their hearts for us to feel and write out their lives for us to read.

So I’m applauding J.E. Berry for doing just that, and I’m also celebrating the launch of her book this week, The Truth About Happiness. Be blessed as she shares a dose of grace from her blog right here at the Well:

On a regular basis, we walk through life missing a good portion of things that make up the big picture. We get in the car to drive and don’t pay much attention to the engine under the hood, unless it doesn’t start.

We order our food in a restaurant and don’t give much thought to the process it took to get the food to the table, unless there is something in the food and then you wonder what the sanitary conditions are in the kitchen.

As a people, we become numb to a lot that happens around us if we aren’t intentional with our attention.

What about the doses of grace we receive all day, everyday? How close of an eye are we keeping on those?

As a mom, wife, redeemed soul, I have been taking glimpses at those every-day graces, moment by moment. In the moments when I count my children coming out of the grocery store and realize how much grace God has lavished on me to trust me with 5 children.

Or the moments when I look at my awesome husband and see God’s grace in the redemption of my purity through the marriage He planned for me. How time and time again His grace shows up and redirects me onto the path He laid out for me. These moments are the picture of God’s grace.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 ESV

Today I challenge you to slow down, and take a look around you. Look at every dose of grace that surrounds your existence. Look for every moment to give God praise for His undying love and never-ending GRACE.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Read more about J.E. Berry and her new book at J.E.BerrySpeaks.com, and don’t forget to see and share some grace today.

Comparison Lies

July 2, 2016

As we celebrate our country and our freedom this weekend, Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares how we can also celebrate our freedom in Christ that gives us freedom from comparison.

I sat with my back pinned against the back of the upright chair, legs crossed, assessing my choice of attire for the evening from the boots to the pants to the lace blouse, and finished off with the jewelry—never leave home without it.

Was my choice appropriate for the evening? It seemed to blend in sufficiently with Executive Ellen’s and Powerhouse Pam’s attire. I didn’t mean to, but I was in comparison mode. Oh how I hated that—I always ended up on the short end of the stick.

I spent the evening planning an upcoming event with other area ministry leaders, honored to be included but secretly wondering how I made the guest list.

It wasn’t so much what I wore on the outside that I was comparing with the others, if I was honest with myself. These were high-powered ministry women with years of successful ministry behind them that were more impressive than most ministry leaders I personally knew. Their impact for the kingdom was mighty. They each knew their call and they confidently lived and breathed it each day for decades.

As I sat listening to their suggestions for the event, and adding my thoughts when warranted, I fought to ignore another deafening voice. One that sought to mock me at every turn.

“Why are you even here? You don’t belong here.”
“What have you done for the Kingdom of God that even comes close to comparing to these other women?”
“Maybe God doesn’t trust you as much as He trusts these women to impact the Kingdom of Heaven.”

By the time the evening was over, I couldn’t get to my car fast enough. Thankful that dark skies fell early during these months, tears cascaded down my cheeks and no one could see them through my windows.

What had I done in my life that had any real significance for the Kingdom of Heaven? I wasn’t preaching revivals or teaching on a weekly radio or television program. I hadn’t even devoted my life to teaching children’s Sunday School (for which children should have been grateful! At least I knew where I wasn’t gifted!)

I’m not even sure how I saw through my tears to drive home that night, but by the time I arrived in my garage, I turned off the ignition, sat in the solitude of my parked car and wept.

Could it be true, Lord? That you don’t trust me to have a significant impact for the Kingdom?
Just the thought of it grieved my heart.

All I wanted was for others to see Jesus in me. To want to know Him. For me to one day hear the Father say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Continue reading God’s freeing words to Michelle at DrMichelleBengtson.com.

My Father’s Voice

June 17, 2016

My dear friend Paige, a precious mom of five at Tales from the Laundry Room, has about as many faith stories as she does loads of laundry. I love every one of them, and her recent tale of her daddy is no exception. Be blessed as you hear from her and your Heavenly Father:

Father’s Day is Sunday. It’s my second without having my dad to celebrate. I miss him terribly, but feel so blessed to have had him as my father. Perhaps I am biased, but there wasn’t a better Daddy in the world.

So in his honor (and in honor of good dads everywhere), I’m sharing one of my favorite stories about my father.

Throughout my childhood, my family kept a tiny flock of sheep in the backyard, as part of a 4-H project. It was not uncommon for the sheep to find a way of escape from the small pen in our backyard. It seemed we only became aware of their fugitive state whenever some neighbor telephoned to let us know our wooly pets were out wandering along the roadsides.

Whenever our lambs went for one of their strolls, my father always insisted we immediately go track down those sheep, and return them as soon as possible to the safety of the pen in our backyard. It didn’t matter if it was day or night. As luck would have it, our lambs were infamous for taking moonlit walks, the deeper into the night the better … or so it seemed.

I could tell many tales about these sheep-chasing escapades, but one time in particular always stands out in my memory. It happened on a humid night the fall I turned sixteen.

The ringing of our phone roused me slightly from my deep sleep. It was soon followed by my dad’s hard knock on the door of the bedroom I shared with my sister. “Paige,” he said, “get up! The sheep are out along the highway, somewhere toward the high school. Your brother and I are heading out now. You follow along just as soon as you get dressed. Meet us on the other side of the bridge.”

I heard the front door shut as they walked out of the house, and then their voices carrying softly as they walked across the front yard, headed toward the highway that stretched out in front of our brick home. A wave of jealousy swept over me as I looked over at my younger sister, snugly tucked into dreams instead of being forced to go on a midnight goose (er … sheep) hunt for a bunch of wayward lambs.

Continue reading the rest of the sheep story and hearing His voice at Tales from the Laundry Room.

The Best Way to Treasure God’s Word

May 24, 2016

School’s out, it’s already hot, the kids are home, and I’m already tired. So I need my fellow Women at the Well and God’s Word more than ever.

My faith-spilling-over friend, Betsy De Cruz, is giving us just what we need today, and it’s a treasure:

What comes to your mind when you hear “Scripture Memory?” Do you roll your eyes and groan? Maybe the last thing you need is one more item to add to your “Good Bible Study Girl” To-Do list. I don’t mean to take a flippant attitude toward God’s Word, but sometimes we have thoughts like this, don’t we?

When it comes to memorizing scripture, many of us have been there and done that. We remember reciting our verses in Sunday school to get the candy. Some of us gave up on scripture memory a long time ago because we can’t remember our phone number, much less memorize a Bible verse! Yet memorizing God’s Word is one of the most important things we can do to grow our faith.

I definitely don’t need one more box to check off of any list, but sometimes I do need something better to think about than my own whining thoughts. I need a way to take God’s Word with me when I go out into the world. I need weapons to fight against the lies and discouragement that Satan throws my way. That’s why I’m going back to scripture memory.

Memorizing Scripture is a Life-Giving Discipline.

Memorization is a practical way to store scripture in our hearts, treasure it, and keep it close. God’s Word grows our faith and strengthens us in the battle against sin.

Committing God’s Word to memory brings rich rewards:

It helps transform our thoughts and renew our minds.
We grow closer to God as we hide His Word in our hearts.
God’s word empowers us and gives us wisdom.
Scripture is our weapon against the lies and attacks of the enemy.
It gives us encouragement and hope to share with others.

Visit Faithspillingover.com to learn how to get started.

Memorizing Scripture is a Life-Giving Discipline.

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