grace |

Everyday Graces

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Carol

Sometimes a daily devotional strikes my soul to the very core because I think God knew I needed to read it that particular day. Has that every happened to you? I wanted to share Julie Clinton’s Everyday Graces with you today because too many times, I think we are so busy we forget to notice. Enjoy Julie’s message today. I know I did.

“From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.” John 1:16

Most of the time we refer to the gift of salvation as a gift of grace. But God’s grace also comes in tiny little packages marked “FREE GIFT” inside. Each day God presents gifts of His grace. Most of the time we take them for granted.

Take some time to appreciate some of these gifts:

freedom to be real
quiet moments
walking
a friend who listens
a sunrise
the brilliant colors of spring
knowing you’re loved
a child’s hug

Start looking at each of these as little dreams come true. God’s dream for us unfolds in thousands of little ways through everyday graces He places in our lives.

Too often we are just too busy to notice. Or, we are so eager to have the big dream come true we forget to watch for little things that are the dream coming true.

Most Christians can trust God for Heaven – Eternity with Him, but we can’t trust Him for everyday life. Start seeing and living differently…it will turn your life around!

Posted in Beauty, Blessings, God, grace, Trust, Uncategorized | Tagged Blessings, Christians, eternity, Everyday Graces, faith, free, free gift, freedom, gift, God, God's love, grace, heaven, hug, John 1:16, Julie Clinton, love, quiet, quiet time | Leave a comment

He Knows What He’s Doing

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Carol

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

In conversations with two different friends today, I was reminded of how big our God is and how we often forget that He is the One in control. Because I used to be the poster child for “control freaks,” I understand when I see others who struggle to completely trust God with all aspects of their lives.

It has been a journey of over 10 years–and I’m not there yet–but I have come to see life at age 58, as an adventure. His mercies are new just as the day dawns and brings hope. We can’t live without either…His mercies and hope.

In today’s rapidly changing world, many of us live in fear. Unemployment is high and so are gas prices. People have lost their homes. Families are relying on relatives and the kindness of churches and other non-profits to help put food on the table. Some don’t know when they will eat again. Life is uncertain.

Ben Franklin was once quoted as saying “but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.”

I would add that there is one more thing of which we can be certain. Our God loves and has plans for each one of us. He will take care of us and will not abandon any of His sheep. Our future is in His hands.

He knows what He’s doing. Do you trust Him?

Posted in faith, God, grace, Hope, Trust, Uncategorized | Tagged Benjamin Franklin, conrol freak, control, death, faith, faith over fear, fear, God, God's love, His mercies, Hope, Jeremiah 29:11, job loss, love, mercies, poster child, sheep, taxes, trust | Leave a comment

Dear God: I have a problem. It’s me.

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Carol

“The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’”–Genesis 3:12 (NIV)

Have you ever blamed someone else for your mistakes or problems? I have. I wonder why we blame others. Is it to save face? Is it because we don’t want to take responsibility for our words and actions. As humans, I think we all have the tendency to blame someone else when things don’t go quite right.

Think about the first finger pointing in Genesis 3 when Adam blamed Eve and she blamed the serpent for tempting her to eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. What happened next? God expelled them from the Garden of Eden, but only after He had prepared them some clothes. God was disappointed the two had disobeyed His instructions but He lovingly covered their naked bodies before He kicked them out.
I think when we blame others for our mistakes or shortcomings, we disappoint God. We don’t want to take the fall, especially when it might have severe consequences. When people try to hide the fact that they messed up by blame shifting, they only dig themselves a little deeper into an ugly situation. I’ve been there. There is nothing new under the sun when it comes to human nature. Buck passing has been going on since the beginning of time. Can you see how this problem has affected our country? I can. What can we do, as individuals, to end this problem? We can admit that we messed up and learn a lesson from our mistakes, instead of pointing a finger of blame like some little school child. If everyone just admitted his/her mistakes and confessed, “I messed up,” wouldn’t the world be a better place? If you agree, let me hear from you at carolaround@yahoo.com.

Posted in Adam and Eve, blame, God, grace, mistakes | Tagged Adam, Adam and Eve, blame game, blaming others, buck, buck passing, consequences, Eden, Eve, finger pointing, fruit, Garden of Eden, Genesis, God, lesson, messed up, mistakes, passing the buck, serpent | Leave a comment

Everything You Need

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Carol

I wanted to share the following devotional by Max Lucado because he is one of the most inspirational pastors I know and I love reading his books. I have been blessed to hear him speak at a Women of Faith conference and hear him preach at his home church in San Antonio. At left is a photo of Mr. Lucado with our 2008 Rio Bravo, Mexico mission team. (I’m on the right of Max.) We spent the night in San Antonio and attended church services at Max’s church before continuing our journey to Mexico.
by Max Lucado

Are you hoping that a change in circumstances will bring a change in your attitude? If so, you are in prison, and you need to learn a secret of traveling light. What you have in your Shepherd is greater than what you don’t have in life.

May I meddle for a moment? What is the one thing separating you from joy? How do you fill in this blank: “I will be happy when ________________”? When I am healed. When I am promoted. When I am married. When I am single. When I am rich. How would you finish that statement?

Now, with your answer firmly in mind, answer this. If your ship never comes in, if your dream never comes true, if the situation never changes, could you be happy? If not, then you are sleeping in the cold cell of discontent. You are in prison. And you need to know what you have in your Shepherd.

You have a God who hears you, the power of love behind you, the Holy Spirit within you, and all of heaven ahead of you. If you have the Shepherd, you have grace for every sin, direction for every turn, a candle for every corner, and an anchor for every storm. You have everything you need.

How would you fill in the blank? Respond to this post below.

Posted in God, grace, Hope, Jesus, joy, Uncategorized | Tagged anchor, candle, direction, discontent, dream, faith, God, God's love, grace, Holy Spirit, Hope, Jesus, joy, love, married, Max Lucado, mission trip, need, prison, promotion, rich, sin, single, storm, Women of Faith | Leave a comment

Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Carol

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage.” Proverbs 21:5

A new year, for the majority of us, means setting goals or making resolutions. The top resolutions made each year include losing weight, paying off debt and saving more money.

The beginning of a new year is also a good time to seek the presence of our Heavenly Father and His guidance for our lives. I came across these ten questions, posed by writer Don Whitney, and thought I would share them with my readers as the New Year approaches.

What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

If you choose one question a day for the next ten days and seriously seek the Lord in prayer to direct your steps in 2012, then share your replies by clicking on the comment link below. Happy New Year!

May you and yours be continually transformed by HIS love!

Posted in faith, family, God, grace, Heavenly Father, Hope, New Year, Prayer, resolutions, saving money | Tagged 2012, choices, debt, Don Whitney, eternity, faith, goals, God, losing weight, money, New Year, paying off debt, prayer, Proverbs, questions, resolutions, salvation, saving money, spiritual | Leave a comment