No Day without Grace

Only Grace was the song that captured my attention and my heart over 5 years ago today, when I knew God was planning on using the not so great choices that i had made leading up to that day.

I was driving to Red Wing on my way to church service at Cornerstone Community Church.

I will never forget it.

God took my hand and my heart that day and said "it's going to be okay, I'm going to use this. And you shall name her Grace."

Grace - The Free and Unmerited Favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

Yes, that is what he shows me daily. Believing that His Grace is truly enough has only lead me to grow in understanding of God's Love for us.  Through His Grace, He has shown me incredible Mercy and how important it is to share that Mercy with others.  He has shown me Faith that can and will continue to move mountains. Hope and Peace that Pass All Understanding.  And a Strength that can Only Come from Him.

Unmerited Favor is an understatement, i deserve none of the blessings that he has showered me with over the years, but it certainly has kept my eyes fixed on Him.  He is my Savior, My God, My Father in Heaven and My Husband.  Growing in Love for Him and others daily is a blessing beyond all blessings.  Thank you Father for your Unending Love and Amazing Grace.

Only Dared to Dream

Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to make the best choices i can possibly make for the Greater Good of serving and loving you whole-heartedly.  Help me to Know the direction in which you want me to Move. Lord, I pray that your guiding hand is ever present and felt to me Now more than ever and that my walk with you increases daily as i know it has been the past five years. I know it's a process, and it's an exciting one, and I know Lord that I tend always to jump ahead, and I know that Waiting with Joy and Hope has truly been your call to me this past 5 years. I just pray that my heart and my mind and my eyes and my hands are open to receiving your Will for me, today and every day.
Katie Davis is truly living the dream i only Dared to Dream in my youth.
i Know i can't undo the choices from my past, but i always know that keeping my eyes fixed on you in the ever-present, i will be lead by your Loving Hands with your Grace and Wisdom. Amena.

Small Load - Part 2

I just picked up "A Man worth Waiting For" a book that, while good has taken me an absurd amount of time to complete. 
I just had to share a quote from the place i just happened to dive back into it tonight:
"There is a community life of the Christian - one of fellowship, sharpening, and serving - that each of us must be a part of. We must be willing to rub up against one another if we are ever going to be changed into the people God wants us to be. Did you know that a washing machine gets clothes clean because the clothes rub up against each other? Clothes become clean with a little bit of soup and a lot of rubbing against each other. The Lord has put us in a washing machine called the world and given us the one thing that can make us clean: the Holy Spirit. It is only when we interact with each other and the Holy Spirit that any sort of cleanliness can occur. "

Small Load

I am truly a believer in God's ability to talk to us in whatever way he chooses. If you've ever seen Bruce Almighty or Evan Almighty, you'll get what i'm saying here. He used everything in his power to get the attention of "Bruce" and "Evan".  I believe He does the same with all of us.
On Sunday I was exhausted, and while I would like to believe these are few and far between in my life, I was on a little pity pot for a while during the day.  I felt overwhelmed with chores I hadn't had time for and irritable due to lack of sleep and womanly issues.  I was on the 2nd load of laundry when I sank my elbows onto the washer and folded my hands in prayer, looking straight ahead at the 6 descriptions of laundry types you know - delicate, regular, perm. press etc.  the Only One that was written in bold was "Small Load"  My eyes welded in tears because I know my cross is not too big to carry, i know my burdens are small.  And even when they feel heavy, i do know that God is there to carry them with me, always and he does send help.  My sister took Grace for the evening and I took an extremely relieving half hour power nap and got a few other chores done. The work will always be there, but God sure showed me Grace (as he does daily) through it all.  All your Ways are Good, Oh Lord, My God.

A pedicure, A porcupine, and a pink bandit

Another full weekend!~ Drove to Shevlin Friday night basically went right to bed when we got there. In the morning played a lot with Peyton, Ethan and Grace outside, it was a gorgeous 70's day all day.  Lori made bacon and eggs and after brunch we got ready and her and I went to Classic Cuts. Lori chose a pedicure and I was in desperate need of a fresh cut and style. We had a great time and met up with mom at the patio over looking lake Bemidji. It was really relaxing and a good opportunity to spend time with Lori.  We even got in a round of mini golf which was fun and i'm still not sure who won.
Got back to Matt's just in time for the party to start. The kids were being entertained by a bounce house and the guests quickly began to arrive. We stayed until about 7:30 p.m. and I rounded up Cerisa and Grace and left for home. Arrived (after almost hitting a porcupine and make a pit stop or two) about 11:15 p.m.  We were all exhausted and i just put the girls right to bed in my big bed, did a couple small things around the house and crashed myself. In the morning got a few things done and we got ready for the 11 oclock. It was just what I needed, we sang Jesus Loves Me as a congregation, it was good. we left promptly at 12:00 to head to Orchestra Hall for Peter and the Wolf. It was great with the exception of Grace's mood for the first half of the performance. Thankfully she perked up during the Peter and The Wolf acting. she loved the oversized wolf head and i loved the birds wings. Graciously my sister took Grace home with them and she pampered them with food and fun and a bath with pedicure and manicure treatments to top it all off. God, All your Ways Are Good. Thank you for blessing me with an abundance of Love from and abundance of family and friends.