Tagged: shade of grace

Shade of grace 2

Encouragement

SHADE OF GRACE — AS A LIFESTYLE

GOD’S INVITATION TO SHADE Life is hard. We are all damaged—ravaged by the sins of others and the consequences of our own sinful choices, a broken world, and the enemy’s schemes. Things break—glasses, cars, hearts, all the things. The heat is on. Challenging circumstances, pressure, disappointments, relationship struggles, unexpected diagnoses, anything, and everything threatens to zap our strength, steal our joy, and distract us from knowing and enjoying God.  All of it—the hard, broken, difficult things in life can be redeemed if we will do one thing—come to Jesus.  Come out from the oppressive heat into the shade of God’s...

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Encouragement

SHADE OF GRACE — PART FIVE Be Still

THE RIGHT DIRECTION I was headed over to one of my mother’s rental properties to open the recently vacated apartment. Instead of turning onto the street where the duplex is located, I decided to circle the block.  Approaching the stop sign the thought of heading straight came to mind. A street at the top of the hill has charming older homes with gorgeous landscaping that never disappoints.  When I stopped at the sign I heard, in my spirit, “Turn right”. Without hesitation, I did. The next intersection required me to stop and yield to traffic. When I looked left, sandwiched...

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Encouragement

SHADE OF GRACE —PART FOUR Help In Times Of Trouble

Help In Times Of Trouble DIRECTED STEPS After lugging my terracotta pots to the truck, I went back inside the house to see if my friend was finished at the estate sale. When I didn’t see her, I decided to check out the kitchen again. My first run-through was brisk. The thought of missing an antique bowl or passing up a rolling pin left me eager for a second look. As I stepped into the small kitchen, I noticed another woman perusing the sea of cooking utensils. After a few moments, she spoke. One of those passing comments about estate...

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Exhortation

SHADE OF GRACE—PART THREE There Is A Plan

There Is A Plan HOPE My soul was shriveled. It had been a long, hard, 4-year cancer journey with my husband.  While God had proven exceedingly faithful and I was surrounded by friends who shared my burdens, the desire to process life with a therapist surfaced again. I had reached out to a counselor I respected months before, but his waiting list was over the one-year mark at that point. Watching our cancer journey unfold, I knew I could no longer wait to sit with someone to process my heart. I prayed, then checked out several websites for counseling agencies...

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Teaching

SHADE OF GRACE — PART TWO Trusting God Brings Perfect Peace

Trusting God Brings Perfect Peace The Shade A few weeks ago I was in the backyard under the shade of a towering pecan—thinking. The contrast from previous weeks with their cooler temps and overcast skies made the shade a welcome refuge. Lingering under the canopy of youthful leaves provided relief from the piercing sun and stifling heat. As I sat there enjoying the blissful respite I began considering shade. Then it dawned on me—shade is all grace. It is a refuge from the intense sun, a covering of coolness, and a place to rest. Immediately the thought of God’s Word being like...