Grace

Acts 20:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

During my performance review for work my boss commented that I do not give myself grace. When I take on new tasks, I don’t give myself time to learn, I just expect to be able to do it with excellence from the outset. She pointed out that everyone has learning curves and that I would be less frustrated if I just gave myself some grace.

For days now I have been thinking about what she said. When I evaluated how I did on my February goals, that thought was with me. When I taught my classes, that thought was with me. As I dealt with my family members, that thought was with me.

I even mentioned it to a friend and she said, “If we’re not growing in grace, we should be concerned.”

Colossians 1:6
All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Although I still fully believe we should strive for excellence, because we are fallen beings living in a fallen world, we also need to exemplify God’s grace, the one thing that saves us from our sin. Grace is so intricately linked to forgiveness: we need to forgive our family member’s offenses, we need to forgive the disobedience of students, and we need to accept our own failures and seek to please the Lord by focusing on Him and not ourselves.

It’s so easy to get caught up in striving in your own strength, but it’s not fruitful. Allowing God alone to reign releases the Fruits of the Spirit within our lives – peace, gentleness, self-control, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness. I'd rather be a picture of God’s grace versus one of my own excellence any day.

Lord, may you grow a spirit of grace in my life. May I fully realize your grace given to me and may I, in turn, offer it to others as a pleasing sacrifice to you. May I offer grace to myself, forgiving my sin that you have already covered. May I remember that I am being perfected in You, but that in this world and lifetime, I will not reach perfection. May your spirit of grace abound in me. Amen.

From Rest to Rejoicing

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV) This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

I've had a very quiet week, one that brings rest to my soul - quiet from running to different activities, quiet to enjoy projects and family, quiet to begin spring activities at the farm - prepping the ground for a garden, holding baby chicks, grooming and feeding the horses. It's been peaceful and refreshing. Then today happened. I awoke with the anxiety of the upcoming week where I will be running to town more days than not, with presents to buy, projects to finish within deadlines - a busy calendar. The quiet seemed to rush out like a whirlwind. My blood pressure went up, my words became short, and my tone unpleasant. It felt like all the refreshment and peace had vanished. Can you relate? :) Then the Lord brought Psalm 118:24 to mind.

I have a choice. Will I rejoice and be glad in the respite I had, but also rejoice that I have many ways to enjoy my family and friends in the upcoming week. The tasks will get done, maybe not in the timeframe I desire, but the important stuff always gets done. My biggest challenge is to enjoy the journey. Remembering that He is in control (not me? not the calendar?!) and choosing a joyful response to the daily challenges is my responsibility. The world reflects self (impatience, intolerance), but we reflect Christ! That looks completely different. We're called to reflect His love and light with rejoicing and gladness. A thought I needed to remember today!

Secrets Until April

Uh, there's something you should know about me.

I HATE keeping secrets.

I'm terrible at it.

I can keep them, but just barely.

I don't like waiting when I think someone else will enjoy a surprise.

I just want it to happen NOW.

I want to tell them how great it will be, but then...I can't.

Ugh!

I decided that for each corresponding day in March I would prep my April A-Z Challenge posts so I won't be caught off guard next month. Tonight I sat down to plan my "C" posts.

You know, the whole plan ahead thing.

Something else I don't often like to do.

But since I figured I will struggle writing 52 posts in one month (26 each blog), I figured some prior planning would be a good idea. I made a micro-spreadsheet to keep track of what my plans are. I've written down the topic of each post and some details I want to be sure to include. And guess what?

I hate not being able to tell you what I'm planning. It's a secret! Ahhh!
It's killing me and I'm only on "C."

It's going to be a LONG month, I think. :)

Have you joined the Challenge? There's still time!

Knowing or Knowing About

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Have you noticed in your spiritual life that if you haven't been in the Word or in prayer that there is a greater struggle to reflect the Lord's glory? Sometimes I spend a little too much time reading books or devotionals ABOUT God, but don't spend the time WITH God - listening for the Spirit's voice as I read Scripture or talking with Him in prayer. KNOWING ABOUT God is vastly different than KNOWING God!

For example, Joel Rosenberg, the novelist, and I are friends. I might read someone's interview of Joel, but if I'm not interacting with Joel he has very little influence over me. It ia also be like looking at a photo album. You may sit in your friend's living room and look at their family pictures, which may tell you something about your friend, but you are not being transformed by perusing the photo album. You are changed by being in relationship.

An active interplay between two people - you and God, is the ONLY way to have growth and power. Sometimes I get caught up thinking ABOUT God, but I don't spend the time interacting with Him. It's no wonder we're lacking at these times.

I encourage you today to spend time WITH God. Thursday night as a storm rolled through at sunset I was amazed at the fierceness and beauty displayed in the sky. I was standing on my front porch waiting for the dog to do his "thing" and I started singing "I Love You, Lord" aloud. The dog ignored me, thank goodness. I then just stopped singing mid-chorus and said a few things to Him as I watched His majesty pass by. Spending time with the Lord doesn't have to be a formal quiet time (although I'm a big fan of that too), but I've had life-changing interaction with the Father at many different times, even while folding laundry.

He's always available and eager to spend time with you. Why not seek Him out today!

2 Chronicles 15:2

He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

Hodgepodge Leap

Time for the Hodgepodge with Joyce.

1. The Hodgepodge falls on the last day of February this year, a leap year. How will you spend that extra day?

 It will be just like any other Wednesday - homeschooling & homemaking!

2. What has recently required a leap of faith on your part?

I joined a quilt swap in February. By mid-March I am making a mini-quilt for another blogger. I only have a few weeks to get it done and I'm so nervous about it that I haven't even started. Maybe that's what I should be doing on Leap Day!

3. We're one week into the season of Lent...are you marking these 40 days in some way? Giving something up or adding something extra to normal life? How's it going so far?

No, I am not participating in Lent. I have been working on goals for the year and I've been tracking them daily/weekly. I'm doing well on some; others not so much.  I'm trying to give myself grace in light of the progress I've made and I'm trying to learn/change in the areas that still need help.

4. When was the last time you sat beside a fire?

The last time I ENJOYED a fire was at my parent's house Feb 11th. It was toasty!

5. Surf and Turf is on the menu. Do you order as is or do you ask for just the surf (lobster), just the turf (steak), or a menu so you can select another option?

Hmmm. I love both surf and turf, but I usually never order it because it's too much food to eat at one sitting.  If I have another choice I usually go with seafood. Love seafood.

6. If you could have any television program back, not in reruns but in new episodes, what program would you choose?

I just liked this show...time travelling newspaper reporter.

(aired in 2007)

7. They say an elephant never forgets. These days would you say your memory is more like an elephant or a gnat? 

Honestly, now that my life has slowed down because of living out on the farm, my memory is more like an elephant.  I do have this weird tick though. If I forget what I was wanting to do, I say aloud, "What's my name?" and immediately I will remember what it was I wanted to do.  Need therapy, you think?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Since I'm participating in Joyce's Hodgepodge, it has me thinking about the A-Z Challenge that she suggested/that I joined.  I have the month of March to plan my posts and I'm trying to think of a theme that my readers might enjoy. I've been leaning towards organizational tips, general helpful tips or Pinterest A-Z.  I've also thought about doing a photo A-Z challenge, but to be honest, I'm hoping to increase my followers by participating in the challenge so I want to draw reader to the daily posts. What short post would you come back to read every day?

Project 365-Week 7 & 8

Time for a P365 update with Sara.

Sunday, Feb 12 -

Scrappy Challenge color for Feb is green. Log cabin blocks done!

Monday, Feb 13 -

The Chums in Awana made thank you bags

for staff and volunteer leaders.

Included were some sweet treats and a thank you card. Nice surprise!

Tuesday, Feb 14 -

Katie, Tara and I made flower lollipops to give as Valentine's to their friends.

Wednesday, Feb 15 -

We used up some leftover candy canes to make Valentine lollipops.

Thursday, Feb 16 -

Biscuit trying to nap on the chair,

which she knows she's not supposed to do.

Friday, Feb 17 -

Mark gets a new truck, just what a farmer needs!

Saturday, Feb 18 -

I'm determined to get my paper under control.

Here's the first stage: getting those piles organized into like groups.

Sunday, Feb 19 -

The girls and I ate at our favorite Chinese restaurant and they brought Katie a very full berry smoothie.

Crazy cross-eyed sipper!

Monday, Feb 20 - 

A snowflake project - using puffy paint and glitter glue to make snowflakes.

Tuesday, Feb 21 -

The puffy paint ones became window clings. so cute!

But the glitter glue ones were not sticky so they became buffet decorations.

Wed, Feb 22 -

My Dad has been sending me old photos.

I'm on the left (era: 1970's) and Katie's on the right.

Like mother, like daughter!

Thursday, Feb 23 -

Sunset from my porch. Breathtaking.

Friday, Feb 24 -

Got some books recommended for reading with the girls.

Oldies, but goodies!

Saturday, Feb 25 -

Finished up the Scrappy Challenge color for the month of Feb!

A-Z Challenge

Oh, Joyce, my bloggy friend, what have you gotten me into? Ha!

This morning I went to check out today's post by one of my fave bloggers and Joyce shares that she will be participating in an A-Z Challenge (26 posts!) during the month of April. I clicked on the Challenge Link and checked it out. It looks like a lot of fun!

I've wanted to be more consistent with my postings and maybe a little planning ahead is the answer. Life often gets in the way of blogging, you know.

So...if you'd like to join the other 771 one of us in this challenge, click here. I'll noddle on a theme and use March to prepare.

BTW, I've also decided to participate in the A-Z Challenge on my cooking blog, Angie's Home Cooking, as well. That poor blog has been living on fumes for months, even though I have pictures and recipes to share. I just never seem to get around to getting them posted. I'm hoping prior prep and the challenge will breathe new life into that blog. Plus, spring usually puts me in the "new recipe" mood so now I'll be doubly motivated!

If you sign up for the challenge and visit here, you could win some swag.

What are you up to today?