NOW
Is the TIME of
GRACE
Freely You Have Received
Freely GIVE
Matt 5:8
NIV
DEEPER GRACE XV
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Category Archives: OTHERs
DEEPER GRACE VII
The GRACE-ful Flow of Forgiveness
I can Forgive Others Because
I am Forgiven – By Him!
Garbage disposals only work because water flows in and through.
If there is no flow the pipes gets clogged.
Allow His GRACE to flow through you!
Into the lives of Others!
JimmyCat’s MondayMrng Musings
My sister Millye, my WW Nelda and I are driving to Carmichael this morning to spend the day with my brother Cliff, along with my other sisters, Naomi and Betty.
Doyle, we will miss U!
Cliff’s wife Susan recently “won” her battle with ALS. I must say it that way, because the disease DID NOT!!! defeat her. Yes, it stole her body, but EVERYTHING ELSE that Susan was remained intact.
Nelda and I agree, (as we do with most things) – Susan was the most amazing woman we know. Her journey through ALS served to expose and strengthen her core of deep faith, humor and loving care for others.
I remember at the beginning, her thought was “How can this struggle be used to help others?” I saw her embrace this new fight in the same way she approached every facet of her life. Through it all, her favorite phrase remained: “It is well with my soul!”
As an expression of her concern for others, she started a blog called “SusansSteps”.
We who followed her blog have been blessed, challenged, saddened, amused, loved, enriched and encouraged.
It is totally appropriate, and so much “Just like Susan” that in this last post, she declares that this is her GRADUATION.
SUSAN, You did it with the highest honors!
MASK-less Living
I like the “me” I’m discovering as I learn to live mask-less.
It’s a process… The more I learn to drop my masks, the more I like “me.”
..and U
I’m finding that when I drop my mask, it allows others to do the same.
Thought for the day…
God doesn’t love the person U’re trying to be… He loves (the real) YOU!
WEDNESDAY MORNING MENTATIONS
Today’s FB post: Blog Version
Been up since 5:45. Why? I have absolutely no idea. When I was working, I’d wake up’n get up “with barely enough time to get there.” Now that I could sleep till noon…, here I am, bright-eyed’n rarin’ to go! …well, I’m up!!
It’s a thoughtful morning. Quiet. The twin stormz are still asleep! There’s a cool breeze blowing through the open window onto my (bald) head. Hopefully, the breeze is blowing away the heat for the day. I’m wrapped in a blanket sitting in my morning chair. I’m listening to Kenny G. play the sax. The birds are chirping (’cause the feeders are empty) Life is good. (except for the birds) God Loves me, my wife likes me, and I’m content to be me.
It hasn’t always been like this:
Somehow, for most of my life, “I” was not OK. With me.
But – I’ve stopped trying to figure out how/why that happened. I’ve stopped blaming the people I thought had a part in making me that way. I’ve stopped trying to be who and what I thought others wanted me to be. I’ve stopped comparing (as much) my faults with the strengths I see in others. (D’ya know U always lose?) I’ve stopped trying to get God to love me – more! (He already does) and… His Son’n I are BFFs
It’s been a journey, into some deep valleys, in which I found myself standing at the edge of a cliff, and to majestic mountain tops. (Why can’t I stay here all the time?) But I’m finally walking a level(er) path. (most days)
For Today, Just For Today, I’m content to be who and where I am!
But! I’m still on my journey! And will be – for the rest of my life. There will still be ups’n downs. ‘n That’s OK! That’s life!
THE L.O.N.G VIEW
What if today’s difficulty is the one U look back upon
in 6months, 2years, 5years and recognize it as
THE M.O.M.E.N.T
that changed Ur life for the better?
The one God used to make U
“Just a little bit more like Him?”
We don’t get better(or worse) in one giant leap.
It’s baby step by baby step, repeated daily.
When we recognize God using our past for His Glory,
it changes forever how we see our PAST
it changes forever how we see our FUTURE
it changes how we see OTHERS
BUT – most of all, it changes FOREVER how we see GOD
This post was originally shared on January 14, 2014. (revised)
I shared this thought with “my Teen Challenge ‘Boys'” on Tuesday. Then I asked them about a “moment” in their lives that God is using to change them.
I won’t share details, but there were tears, laughter, gratitude, heartbreak, regret, resolve, prayer, even joy.
Most of the moments that change me are not earth-shattering. THE Moment was, and U can read about that here.
God is now able to use softer, gentler nudges to alter my path. (most days) He’s taught me, I’m discovering – He REALLY DOES care about me. and You!!…
In the words of Steve Brown, “God ain’t mad at me! (‘nU)”
#TeenChallengeTuesday@N.L.C. – My favorite day of the week!
Safe Harbor
One of my favorite personal recovery Truths is:
“A secret, a burden, a failure, a hurt – shared in a safe place with a safe person becomes less than 1/2 as heavy!”
I’ve experienced it from both sides of the table.
I’ve shared things with others and been set free from the power of the shame
I’ve been able to listen without judgement to the secret pain others carry and witnessed their journey into freedom
IT IS A JOURNEY!!
DON’T WALK ALONE!!
Ask God to bring that special person into your life who can be “The Safe Harbor.” Establish that safe place BEFORE the storms come. Expect the storm. See it while it is still in the distance. Make your way to the Harbor before it arrives! Resist the urge to stand strong by yourself.
The strongest person is always the one who knows their weakness and has developed plans in advance of the inevitable times of need.
Lord, You are my God.
I will honor you and praise your name.
You have done amazing things.
You have faithfully carried out the
plans you made long ago.
I will honor you and praise your name.
You have done amazing things.
You have faithfully carried out the
plans you made long ago.
…the hopeless have fled to you
and have been safe in times of trouble
You give them shelter from storms
and shade from the burning heat.
and have been safe in times of trouble
You give them shelter from storms
and shade from the burning heat.
Isaiah 25: 1.4
GRACE #45/50
• GRACE is not (only) a lake or reservoir built up behind a dam or a well to which we can go and dip out what is needed. GRACE is a River that looks for a valley to flow through. As the river flows, it cleanses, purifies, nourishes and deepens in ways that ONLY God can do. In order for GRACE to complete it’s work, it must Flow Through the valley into the lives of others.
(From #50ShadesofGrace, coming soon)
Not Another Excuse!
One of my definitions of Recovery is:
IDENTIFICATION, ACCEPTANCE and OVERCOMING EXCUSES
When I learned that progress in my RECOVERY required me to make amends for damage done by me to others, I began to be more careful of how I acted or spoke. It became a matter of self-accountability. It also “keeps my side of the street cleaner“.
I hate saying “I’m Sorry”! So now I try to act so I don’t have to say it. Because: “If I NEED to say it, I HAVE to say it.” PROGRESS in my RECOVERY requires it.
NAILED me!
TidBit o’Wisdom from my Daughter #37
The other day my Daughter described my codependency as:
“An addiction to being needed“
She said I “keep finding people whom I use to fix that need in me“
She NAILED me
“O.U.C.H.“
Thx, I needed that!
Do U have someone in Ur life that can tell U the things U need to hear?
Do U listen?
Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy
(Proverbs 27:6 NLT)
It Really IS Just That Simple 