From Steadfast Hope… to Empowerment

"So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure,

be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work..." 1 Corinthians 15:58 

 
Last year (2014) my word was steadfast. This year’s has been hope.

Steadfast kept me going forward, not giving up, pressing on, unwavering, resolute, committed… and I did. By the strength of the Lord, the stresses of moving twice in 18 months and losing two brothers—mine & my husband’s—within 3 days, I did not fall completely apart.

However…

Moving Back to Normal Not-Normal

 

Then Jesus said to the man,

 “Stretch out your hand!”

He stretched it out,

and it was restored to normal...”

Matthew 12:13 nasb

Me: “I wish life would get back to normal.”

My neighbor: “There is no such thing as normal.”

Me: “Yeah, but I’d just like to get back to a more normal not-normal.”

The Grace Impact by Nancy Kay Grace

It's my privilege to introduce you to Nancy Kay Grace, speaker and author. I met Nancy a few years ago at a Called To Write conference in Pittsburg, Kansas. She is a woman captivated by God's grace and loves to share about embracing His grace in everyday life.

In her book, The Grace Impact, Nancy Kay Grace gives her readers a closer glimpse of God’s character, a loving heavenly Father who lavishes His grace on us through His Son. (Grace, the unmerited favor, undeserved kindness, His divine gift to those who receive Him)  In all things at all times, His grace covers every detail of life, not just the good things, but the difficult, sad, and complicated things. That knowledge can give us the ability to walk confidently through life knowing our heavenly Father is with us every step of the way.

Here’s an excerpt from The Grace Impact

Make it Personal

Have you ever personalized scripture? It’s not a new concept, by any means, but this week the Lord laid a twist on a favorite Bible chapter on me. 

I have personalized 1^st Corinthians 13: 4-8 often by replacing the word “love” with my own name—causing profound conviction.  I’ve also seen it used by people examining questionable acquaintances.

Get a Life

“A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy,

but I came to give life—life in all its fullness.” 

John 10:10 ncv

Recently, a single friend moaned that she has “no life.” Between caring for her aging mother and bi-polar daughter, and working two jobs—one which is a 4:00am conference call with people in India and the other, a new business she opened—she has no time for a “life.” She has no time to do anything for pleasure or with other people who don’t need her—dining at nice restaurants, going to movies or concerts, or long walks on the infamous beach.

As I listened, I wondered what she might do differently so as to have a social life. I wondered what her “life” once looked like or how long ago she’d had one.

Straining to Stay the Course

 

“…straining toward what is ahead

... trying to reach the goal

 ...get the prize

for which God called me

through Christ to the life above.”

Philippians 3:13b-14 ncv

 Straining, making extreme efforts, pushing and pulling…because “Livin’ Out Loud for Jesus” is not easy.

HOPE Revived for 2015

“You will feel safe because there is hope;

you will look around and rest in safety.” Job 11:18 ncv

Happy New Year!!!

In 2014, God gave me the word “steadfast” to lead me…and boy, did I need His steadfast love to endure it?! For 2015, I’ve had a strong sense of His giving me the word “hope” to take me through the upcoming year…and I am so excited to receive it!