Grace

Lately I've been thinking about grace.  God's grace for us and how we should give grace to others.  Giving grace to the ones we love may be easy at times but giving grace to the difficult people in our lives or strangers is not as easy.

I watched a movie the other night with my family.  It was called, The Grace Card.  There were moments that I saw some of us in the room fighting back the tears in their eyes (yes I was one of them).

The movie is about grace and forgiveness.  It touches on prejudice, loss and grief.  The movie reminds us that each day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal deep wounds by extending and receiving God's grace.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; 

it is God's gift.

I think about a few people that I have came across in my life, they were hard to be around.  Right now in my life there are a few people that I find hard to love.  But it is those people that we should struggle with because within that struggle with God's help are life changing things for both people involved.

Grace is an amazing gift to give someone.  God gives us grace over and over again.  Things change when my perspective changes when I catch a glimpse of the purpose with Christ.  God's grace is always there to carry us beyond all that we go through and encounter in our lives.  God gives us the grace to handle it.  Therefore we can give grace to others.

Grace is real.  A gift with a power to change our lives and others.

Give grace.....

The power of Grace...

The Grace Card:  

 I promise to pray for you everyday. 

Ask you for your forgiveness.  

Grant you the same.  

Be your friends always

Wow! powerful words.  I want to give someone in my life the grace card.

I know and I thank you

I was looking through a pile of notebooks and papers in the closet today and I came across a folder that had sheets of papers in it.  It was a folder that I had started to collect things that I had written during a rocky phase of my life.  I looked through the folder and began reading the things I wrote ten years ago.  Wow ten years ago seems odd because as I read some of them I'm taken back to what seemed like just yesterday.

I found this that I had written on November 3, 2001.  It has more meaning to it now than when it was written because now I can look back and see God's hand in my life when maybe at the time I didn't know he was there as much as I know now.( and want him there)  I've grown spiritually since that day but just the same I think it speaks so much and wanted to share it here with you.

11-03-01

I know...and I thank you

I know you are there

You have given me your knowledge

I know you are there

You have given me your strength

I know you are there 

You have given me your protection

I know you are there

You have given me your hope

I know you are there

You have given me your kindness

Your joy

Your love

I know you are there

You have given me your life

Thank you

I know you are there Lord and you have been with me in my life when I...didn't know it....when I didn't think I needed you....and when I really needed you.  Thank you Lord for never leaving me and always being there.  You are my rock and I lean on you for all my needs. 

I know you are there.

My Baby is 9 years old!

I asked Sara when she was 3 years old to not get any older.....and you see how that worked out :)

I made these little guys for her sleep over party.....toothpicks come in handy for all sorts of things

There were 8 girls piled in the living room watching a movie

It was a busy Friday night.  The energy they all had, I wish I could bottle it up and sell it.  I liked watching them interact with each other and watch their little expressions as they talked.  I think they all had a good time.  It was a lot to keep up with them but it was worth the pictures and the memories that were created for Sara.  It all was good and fun but I'm thinking that this sleep over will go down in history for the last one....

Encouragement In Each Day

Today I felt encouraged and filled with more hope after spending the day with someone that I care about deeply.  While caring and loving for this person hasn't been easy and the road has had many bumps there is hope, and I won't give up.  We spent time running some errands and talked about various things.  During our conversations there were things said that offered great encouragement.  I believe that we are on a new road of hope, with God in between us as we walk along.

I think if I were to stop and look back on each day before going to bed I would find little things that offer encouragement in each day every day.

Sad Endings but New Beginnings

Before my grandmother left for El Paso she went to visit someone.  It was hard for her to do.  She lost this someone almost two years ago.  My mom and I went with her to the cemetery.  I watched her as she stood on top of his grave in silence as she chocked back her tears.  Her life in Flagstaff was ending but she would be starting a new beginning in El Paso with my mom.

I began to walk around and look at the other sites around me.  Close by there was a huge dried up rose bouquet, it was beautiful.  It was then I started to think about other people that had left sad endings behind as they said good-bye to their loved one before they walked away in a new beginning.

Both my grandpa's are buried in that cemetery.  My mom's dad, Jack Davis died when I was twelve.  My mom's step-dad Melo Sanchez died almost two years ago.  I didn't know my Pa very well but I remember playing with his hair.  I'd run my hand on the top of his head because it felt funny against my hand.  It was a short buzz cut.  My grandpa Melo was a delight to know.  He was so funny at times.  He was very thoughtful and giving. 

I couldn't help but take pictures of the moment that my grandmother was taking with her husband and the dried up bouquet of roses close by.  I think it was my way of preserving things and a reminder of how things end and begin again.

Its so comforting to know how God can take the "old" person of each of us and create a "new" person in us.  And that no matter where we are at on our journey in life He is there with us every step of the way.

My Grandmother's House

It's been six days since my grandmother has left Flagstaff.  She headed to El Paso Tx with my mom and step-dad.  After 31 years of living here in Flagstaff AZ she has started a new chapter in her life.  My grandpa Melo died Dec. 27, 2009 and my grandmother has been  a little lonely without him.  I think its great that she will be with my mom but I will miss going over to her house to visit with her on Tuesdays after ladies bible study.

My family and I when I was young would visit Flagstaff.  I remember walking down town and browsing at all the shops, driving up to the snow bowl without any snow on the ground.  I remember hearing stories of how much snow they would get during the winter months.  I never thought my children and I would live here in Flagstaff and have the opportunity to be around my grandmother often.

My grandmother's house is behind the Furniture Barn.  As a young girl I would get so excited to see the Furniture Barn because I knew we were close to arriving at her house after such a long drive.  My brother and I would walk to the park that is close by to play.  Sometimes we walked to Dairy Queen for a treat.

My grandmother's house is small but it was always full of so much life.  Family and friends going in and out.  I haven't driven by the house since she left but if I ever end up in the area my heart will be warm with wonderful memories that existed in that little house.

my grandmother always had flowers planted

down the street you could see the trains go by, as I kid I loved hearing them go by (I still do)

Little Faces God's Perspective

Today was a MOPS morning. (Mother's of Pre-schoolers) On the way there this morning my mind was heavy so I wasn't really in my happy cheerful mood as normal.  My outlook on the morning got worse at first when I was informed that we would be combining two classes and that the project involved paint.  I immediately  thought negative thoughts....oh no too many kids running around, being patient to paint with them, will we have enough help.....dread dread is all that I focused on. I even told a worker that I didn't have enough patience to sit with them and try to do the project that I would just take them to wash their hands. 

It bothered me the way I was thinking but I continued taking each child to wash their hands. Within a few minutes the room was filling up with children.  I started to stress a little but went with the flow of things.  Then a 3rd worker walked into the room and eventually a 4th one.  Before too long I noticed how smoothly it was all going.  The children were all busy playing so calmly and nicely together.  The painting was going well and each worker pitched in where needed and it all was well.  I thanked the Lord for things running so smoothly and said I was sorry for walking in with a  funky down mood in the beginning.

I enjoyed coloring with some of the girls.  I opened boxes of toys for some.  I helped some wash their hands.  I helped finish their projects so they could take them home.  I read them a story.  I watched their little faces while they watched a Veggie Tale movie.  I watched how they interacted with each other.

There was  two year old in the room, she was the youngest but she was a delight.  She was my little shadow.  I loved it.  I was smiling inside.  She sat on my lap and watched the movie.

I also noticed how much the children were so excited that it was snowing.  Several of them went over to the window and climbed up on some of the stacked chairs to kneel and put their little hands on the cold window with their little faces peering out the window watching in great fascination the big white fluffy snow flakes falling down on the ground, covering everything in a white blanket.  It was a simple joy that brought so much life to their little faces. 

They weren't worried about driving in it and getting home safely.  They weren't concerned about how much snow we would get and how the snow would inconvenience their lives.  They were simply excited that it was there and that meant they could play in it.

By the end of the morning I was excited to look out the window and knew I would get home safely and not to worry.  I left feeling much lighter in my thoughts than when I started my morning.  All I needed were little faces with a simple reminder of  God's perspective.

 Thank you so much for a wonderful MOPS morning.