This Weekend~May 17~Release explanation expectation

This Weekend~Easy Weekend Activity~May 17~Release the Need for an explanation…

Explanation Expectations…they are what generates little goblins of trouble, you know.

one of the tugs at peace, contentment, and gratitude is my need for demand for an explanation. This demand is the tar that keeps this baby stuck in anxiousness, stress, and tight-neck-ville.

When something goes wrong in life, I ask, “Why is this happening to me, God? Why did you allow this to come to me, God?”

“to me,” “to me”…I will “me-me-me” all the way to the looney bin.

Release the Need for an explanation…

So, instead, this weekend… I am releasing my need for an explanation. Perhaps you might do this with me? I am replacing what I know to be true instead. Perhaps you might do this also?

You are God’s masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10)
You are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)
You are a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17)
You are strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10)
You are accepted in Christ (Ephesians 1:6)
You are loved with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3)
You are overtaken with blessings (Deuteronomy 28:2)

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Previous Weekend Activities

Get Well or Get Even

If you’ve been hurt by someone else, whether it’s physical or emotional, you’ve got a decision to make. You can use your energy to get well or get even.*

But you can’t do both.

When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. ~Psalm 32:3

Revealing is the beginning of healing: Because of Grace, we can talk to God about our hidden wounds until we can face our feelings in renewed health and energy…and, Because of Grace, He hears!

As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. ~ Psalm 138:8

*Quote from Rick Warren in this post

Monday Words for the Soul~May 13~Incredible Change

“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.” ~Steve Maraboli

thank you, Garrett Eastman, for this quote from this post.

A Word from The Sponsor~May 13

Reblogged from Because Of Grace:

Hannah's Prayer~~A Mother's Prayer

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has answered my prayer made to Him.
1 Samuel 1:27

Hannah prayed and prayed for a son.
She named her son Samuel which means, "I have asked him of the Lord"

I hope you have many "I have asked of the Lord" moments today!
Moments where He reveals Himself to you and you know it!

Read more… 63 more words

When Happy Mother’s Day Isn’t~Reblog

When Mother’s Day is not how you thought it would be…

That first Mother’s Day spent without your own mom is tough. The first Mother’s Day spent without your adult child, your young child, your baby child, or your unborn child is brutal. And if you can just get through the first Mother’s Day, then all the ones after that will be…

Bruisingly tough.

Angie Smith is one of my heroes. In 2008, Angie Smith and her husband Todd (lead singer of the group Selah) learned through ultrasound that their fourth daughter had conditions making her “incompatible with life.” Advised to terminate the pregnancy, the Smiths chose instead to carry this child and allow room for a miracle. That miracle came the day they met Audrey Caroline and got the chance to love her for the precious two-and-a-half hours she lived on earth. In her blog, Bring the Rain, http://angiesmithonline.com/ Angie writes achingly and with hope and faith.

Sometimes I think it’s harder to believe the way I do, because I believe with everything in me that He could have changed the story. This line of thinking inevitably brings me to the question, “Why didn’t He?” Many people have written me with the same question, and I want to tell you that I have thought it through many times, and I have come up with a great theological explanation that I want to share with you.

I have absolutely no idea.

What I do know is this:

The Lord walk beside me and He walked beside Moses, and He knows me by name. He loves me, and I love Him. I pushed my baby through the reeds, and never saw her again. And yet, here I am, worshipping the God who allowed it.

Angie is the author of I Will Carry You.  I Will Carry You tells the powerful story of a parent losing her child, interwoven with the biblical story of Lazarus to help those who mourn to still have hope—to find grace and peace in the sacred dance of grief and joy.

[originally posted on May 6, 2011]

This Weekend~Hug A Mom~Twice

This Weekend~easy weekend activity~Hug a Mom~twice!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Source: vtwonen.nl via Pinkfiesta on Pinterest

Mid-week Question of the Week~What if it’s Not?

Ask yourself “WHAT IF?” as often as you can. And sometimes, when you are making plans and making goals and dreaming dreams and all of it seems too big and unattainable, turn things around…

ask yourself …

“what if… it’s not?”

If you’re going over something scary in your mind, over and over and over, ask yourself “what if that really did happen?” and then let the whole situation play out — worse case scenario. See yourself dealing with every little part of it and see that even if the thing you feared most really did happen, you would make it, so you can let go of fear.

Asking “WHAT IF?” releases all limitations, and makes anything possible. When you find yourself stuck, whether because you think your goals are too big, or because your strength is too small, push past those limitations and really be honest with yourself. You will learn so much from this tiny little question.
“what if… it’s not?” from Brave Girls Club

Because of Grace…what if it’s not?

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Additional Questions

May you have an Ephraim Day~Monday words for the soul

Joseph named his second son Ephraim. Ephraim was given to him after he had been delivered from his suffering of 13 years. Joseph said that he named him this because God had made him fruitful in the land of his suffering. Ephraim means “twice fruitful.”

Joseph was fruitful in two instances. He was fruitful during his time of adversity and in his prosperity. When God brings us into a time of suffering, it can be a fruitful time. It’s rare for us to see the fruit during the suffering period. But know that the roots are going deep into the spiritual soil of our soul because of our pressing in to God during our time of suffering. This is producing a work in our character that cannot be seen until it finishes the process. Such was the case for Joseph.

If you find yourself in a time of suffering, now is the time to press into God. Let your roots grow deeper. Whenever there is a famine, tree roots are forced to drive deeper into the soil to find water. These times are designed to create such a deep-rooted faith that our natures will be changed forever. ~Os Hillman

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More Monday Words for the Soul

A word from The Sponsor~May 5

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
~ John 3:30

Although originally spoken by John the Baptizer, these words apply to me too…

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

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Additional words from The Sponsor

This Weekend~Come Home to Yourself

Today would be a great day to decide that no matter how long the road is, you are going to come home to yourself and reflect the grace-filled life that is meant for you.
~Adapted from the Brave Girls’ Club

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More weekend activities

Monday words for the soul~April 29~Perception

I’m still humming Change Your Mind from Friday’s post.

You know, it can go either way, those lyrics…either change your mind to embrace what Grace says about you, or change your mind away from what Grace does not say about you.

So grateful for you and the perceptions we can embrace and change and receive and share…

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More Monday words for the Soul

A word from The Sponsor~April 28

Colossians 2:2

Additional words from The Sponsor

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This Weekend~April 26~Change your mind

If you want to be somebody else,
If you’re tired of fighting battles with yourself
If you want to be somebody else

Change your mind…

:D

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Other Weekend Activities

Mid-week question of the week~April 24~Effort

What is your best? What is our best?

What if, more effort does not yield your best?

Is striving a quintessential component of our best?

What if striving is a seducer promising control over something that was never part of the plan of Grace?

Monday words for the Soul~Faith is like WiFi

Picture Source

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More Monday words

A word from The Sponsor~April 21

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. ~ Psalm 19:14

This Weekend~April 19

Take Note

Previous Weekends

Wholehearted Living: A Story from the Pavement

On some Thursdays, there are Because of Grace Wholehearted Living Stories:

Jennifer Dukes Lee at Monday’s Boston Marathon  http://jenniferdukeslee.com/where-was-god-in-boston/

A  stirring perspective from the Boston Marathon by Jennifer Dukes Lee:

I stood shivering and bouncing among 8,000 runners that cool May morning when the gun shot off.

My dad stood at the starting line, pumping his fists in the air. And he would be there again, with my mom and sister, at mile four, and again at mile seven. I remember how proud they were for me, even though I scooted along at the back at the pack.

Bob, a pastor-friend, told me a few days before the race to pay attention while I was running because the half-marathon was more than a race. It was an opportunity to see God. 

And so I saw… Click here to read the rest of Jennifer’s story

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More Wholehearted Living Stories

Pray for Boston

Usually, there is a post involving a mid-week question of the week.

Right now, the only question I have is “Why?”

Perhaps it is better to focus on the good: Boston: Stories of compassion in the wake of tragedy

A word from The Sponsor~April 14~Grace

the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you… ~1 Peter 1:10

Grace turns veers alters changes transforms rotations revolves, rotates twists spins circles twirls rolls your life around