Grace Abounds

Ever find yourself asking the question, "What now?" I feel like I've asked myself that a lot lately. The past 12 months have been marked by so much change I keep asking God, "what's next?" sometimes out of excitement and sometimes out of exhaustion. There have been times when He's answered quickly and other times.... well I'm still waiting for some answers. But one thing stays the same, He's always with me through the change. Sometimes I beg Him to answer me right now, and other times I'm thankful that I can rest knowing I'm not in charge. 

I've been repeating this phrase to myself: "Let me soul look up with a STEADY hope and my will be LOST in Thine!" 

I want to be steady in my hope in Christ and I want to be so strongly seeking after His will for me that mine is lost! 

Working on this... thankful for grace... it's a daily fight...

(Just some jumbled thoughts for you- He's working on me!)

Some blessings:

Tuesday: 

1. Small group

2. Hot tea

3. Slippers

Wednesday:

1. Meetings - can you believe this is my first job with meetings? I love them!

2. My cozy, cozy home 

3. A hot dinner 

Thursday:

1. It's a small world 

2. A successful night of rehearsals

3. Brain storming session

Friday:

1. Pumpkins

2. Laughter

3. Good friends

Saturday: 

1. A slow morning- coffee and cinnamon rolls!

2. A cozy night in with Steph 

3. The quiet

Sunday: 

1. His love endures, forever!!

2. I am nowhere near perfect, but grace abounds!

3. The Winklemans are on their way into town! 

Happy Sunday, dear friends! 

And ps- there's a comment box for a reason, I love to hear what God is teaching you and what you're thankful for! :)

God is Good

Tuesday:
1. Soft sweaters
2. Warm Boots
3. A kitchen full of fall smells

Wednesday:
1. A day off
2. An email away message :)
3. A day full of laughs with Amanda

Thursday:
1. Laughter at work
2. The ability to stop at home for dinner
3. Anticipation

Friday:
1. A short to do list
2. The most amazing weather
3. A fun bonfire with dear friends

Saturday:
1. My mom for stopping by
2. God's grace to make it through the hard days (just one day at a time)
3. Closure.

Sunday:
1. My dear friend Jeri - Always there!
2. A quiet afternoon
3. A time to pray for the nations

Today:
1. A slow morning
2. Encouraging words
3. Hot peach tea

God certainly knows what I can and cannot handle. I am so thankful for how He walked with me this weekend, for the people He has placed in my life, and for the grace He continues to give. It was one of those weekends that just didn't go according to my plan, but definitely His. God is good, my friends, God is good ALL the time!

Oh So Near!

Tuesday:
1. Fall snacks: freshly picked apples and warm carmel dip.... mmmmm
2. Pastors that take the long view and look at the big picture
3. A quiet night to re-charge

Wednesday:
1. Lunch with a dear friend - outside in the sunshine and cool breeze
2. Spontaneous movie night
3. Grocery stores

Thursday:
1. Pumpkin waffles
2. A long dinner break with Jeri
3. Fun, new worship music - Build Your Kingdom Here!


Friday:
1. Encouragement for the future
2. A busy afternoon
3. A well made movie, a well told story

Saturday:
1. A party-planning lunch
2. Laundry all done!
3. My quiet, cozy home

Sunday:
1. A smooth, encouraging and convicting start to a month long conference
2. The technology to create and clearly communicate powerful messages.
3. He is here, so very near

Today:
1. PERFECT weather
2. A kitchen full of fall smells
3. A relaxing Monday

This week I am particularly thankful that my Savior is so near. I am thankful that He is in every detail of my life, every detail! I have been meditating on Psalm 61:2 "When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." I have the tendency to stay in my overwhelmed state, so I've been working on turning my fear, sadness, or loneliness into rest in, reliance on, and fellowship with my Savior. It's a learning process, and a slow one at that, but I am so thankful that in this learning process, He is oh so near!!

It's Fall :)

A bit of catch-up 

Wednesday:

1. Chipotle shared with life-long friends 

2. Snuggles with baby Kate Staley

3. That Wednesdays at work are always relaxed

Thursday: 

1. Birthday dinner with dear friends

2. The hymn "I Need Thee Every Hour" 

3. Thursday night worship 

Friday:

1. Countless birthday wishes 

2. A scrumptious birthday dinner

3. Jack's joy and the joy he brings to others 

Saturday: 

1. A Lazy Saturday morning with mom and Erin

2. Rain, rain, rain

3. An afternoon of playtime with Jack!

Sunday:

1. Tear-filled worship

2. Powerful testimonies - one after the other!

3. Baptism - "You came down to lift me up!" 

Today: 

1. Free water softener repair

2. Fall, fall, fall - I love fall!!

3. Consignment stores 

What's your favorite thing about fall??

Shoes

Tuesday:

1. Options, almost too many, I so often take this for granted!

2. Dale Shaw - more specifically God's gifting in him to memorize scripture. He recited the book of John to us this morning, it was beautiful, inspiring and powerful. So thankful for this man and for his faithful pursuit of God's word!

3. Apple Cider, oh how I love it! :)

Side note: have you heard of the organization "Sole Hope"? If not, look it up! I went to my second Sole Hope shoe cutting party last night and I left so encouraged and so challenged! I love how God used one women's heart for children's feet to bring countless others to faith in Him and to inspire so many to action! It's caused me to stop and think about what I'm doing with my time, how am I advancing His kingdom? 

Do you have a minute? Go read about Asher's journey to put shoes on children's feet and God's love in their hearts. 

God is alive and working! Praise the Lord!