Tag Archives: God’s grace

Feb28

365 Moments Of Gratitude – Thankful For Honest Conversation

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In the same thought process of yesterday’s post, I’m grateful for honest conversation. Sometimes it isn’t easy to say what needs saying. It can be very difficult to reach deep inside yourself and pull out the courage it will take to do the right thing. Having a meaningful, honest conversation won’t always be easy, but it should always produce results. The results that come as a result of said conversation might or might not be easy to deal with. However, living in the shadows, in a shell of who you really are – all because you are afraid of what the truth looks like – is no life at all.

Take time today for yourself. Take time today to search deep within. Take time today for some honest conversation. It’s time. It’s refreshing. It’s life-changing.

I’m thankful today (and always) for honest conversation – no matter how much it hurts, or how much it heals. Sometimes the hurt is what turns into the healing.

A little public service announcement — I’m not talking about having honest conversation that hurts someone’s feelings because you’re rude, disrespectful or not speaking in love. I’m talking about the kind of conversation where you share God’s heart, in love. As I said yesterday, sometimes His will isn’t easy, but it is always worth it.

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Feb6

365 Moments Of Gratitude: Thankful That God Never Gives Up

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I’m still so very much a work in progress. But, I’m thankful to be His work in progress. Thanking God today for never giving up on me…and for helping me love like He loves, and for never ever seeing anyone as a lost cause.

I recently had a conversation with someone. They were talking about a “friend” who they literally see as a lost cause – even to God. I was very quick to note that NO ONE is truly a lost cause.

I’m grateful beyond words to a God who does not ever give up on ANYONE – not you, not me, and not that person you cannot begin to offer grace to because…Yes, even them. God loves each and every one of us – His precious creations.

Thank you, God, for not ever giving up on us!

Jan27

365 Moments Of Gratitude – Thankful To Have A Story To Tell

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Today at church, our pastor spoke about having a story. Each and every one of us have a story to tell. It is ours, and ours alone. The good, the bad, the beautiful and even the ugly make up who we are and the life we live. Our past, present and future comprise our story. It is this story that people will see whatever we are a witness of.

As Christians, God gives us a story. He doesn’t erase the “bad” parts and keep only the good. No! Instead, He redeems us, and allows every part of our story to share grace, hope and peace with others. The things in my life – the ups and downs, the peaceful moments and struggles alike, will be a living testimony of who Jesus is – through us.

Something I have said before, and that was mentioned today is that we are very well the only Jesus some people will ever see. As I was explaining to my husband, there are many people who do not know Jesus. They don’t attend church, and the Bible is nothing more than “just another book” in their eyes. To that person, I (as a Christian example) may very well be the only church, the only Jesus, and the only witness of who He is that they may ever know.

I want my life to be a witness of who He truly is. The life change and personal transformation I have experienced – and continue to experience every day – is something I want every living breathing human being to come to know. When people experience even a fraction of the love He has for us, life change happens.

I want to live my life in such a way that my story – my experiences in life that brought me from where I was to where I am today – speaks for itself. It is my desire that my story share the same amount of peace, grace, hope and love that was shared in such a real way with me. If anything I have been through in the course of my life (good or bad) can be used to share Him with another human being – to share grace, peace, hope and love — it will have a purpose greater than I could imagine.

I am one person, with one story – and it is with that story that I want to share gratitude and thanks to God for giving me. It’s my story. I am the only one with this story. I am thankful for my story – for all of it – for it is what has made me who I am.

Nov14

Beyond A Diagnosis

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****I want to share this part of me with the world. This is something I have not ever shared openly – online or in person. However, the more and more I figure out how to accept myself as a child of the Most High God, I realize that this is something attached to a stigma, but not who I am. I am more. To those of you who know me in real life, and will find these things out for the first time, please understand I have had many reasons for keeping this to myself. Not many people – until today – know what I am about to share. It’s not a secret, nor is it anything I am ashamed of. My story is something I pray God can and will use to share His love and hope with the world. If you have ANY questions, please do not hesitate to ask. It is my desire that my transparency show you His love is real, and hope truly is real. I’m honored to walk through life with each of you. Please feel free to post below or to send me a message via my “contact me” page.****

The idea that I am worthy of grace simply because I’m alive seems sometimes foreign to me. Yet it’s what I’m coming to understand more and more each day. Inside me is a kid who was hurting, a teen who questioned too much, a young adult who explored and got lost, and ultimately a human being in need of grace and forgiveness.

My life has had good times, and bad times, and really bad times. The value of my life, to others and to God, never made sense to me. I wasn’t suicidal, but I also didn’t care if I lived or died.

One day, I realized the need for tangible help. I visited a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I did not like – nor want – this diagnosis. And yet, there it was. I learned to cling to it. It explained why things were how they were. It became who I was. I was told I would need medications forever. My life would never again be med-free. It quickly consumed me, and became what I saw when I looked at myself.

But, it wasn’t me. It was a diagnosis. A shoe size. A hair color. A condition. But not me.

I finally came to realize that no diagnosis would define me. It may be a part of who I am, but it is not all I am. God’s grace and love defines me more than a disorder ever will.

With the help of people who let me know I mattered, I was able to see hope – one day (or hour) at a time. And today, when it sometimes feels like my heart is breaking into a thousand little pieces, I listen to the message and words of hope and I truly know that my life matters. God’s grace is sufficient to reach even me.

To anyone else who is hurting – please know that there IS hope. Don’t ever give up. Don’t ever accept a lie and be labeled something you are not. You are important, and you matter. You are not a past. You are not a reputation. You are not a diagnosis.

You ARE a child of God.