Terribly Interesting

Trust my grace. I want to shelter you under the shadow of my wing. I desire to guide you into My blessings and My presence. Don't be discouraged by the voices that swirl around you. Trust Me to guide you. Lean in to My grace and walk with Me. You are Abba's child and you have value to Me. Trust that I care for you. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”   Ephesians 2:8-9 For more on this segment, see this post .

As many of you know, I have been on a personal quest to read all of the writings of Corrie ten Boom. Her display of Christ has done nothing short of changing my life. Every story I read of profound forgiveness and graciousness challenge me in every aspect. I reflect back and wonder how much I have lost by refusing to be gracious or see things for what they are. I have come to know that there are no coincidences in Christ. He is always purposeful. He has a heavy agenda of grace. Ours is generally self-serving and it is applauded by the general public. It is not what Jesus is calling us to. Through transparent humility, Corrie shows us what our lives should look like. She just as often shows us in defeat as she does in victory. This book is no exception to the gracious beauty Corrie ten Boom displays for us. Story after story reveals to the reader the power of forgiveness in the lives of those she met after the war. There are dozens of sections detailing the powerful way she saw p...

All of Denbigh's pies sold. Hello Friends of Gomer, I am happy to report that our first annual fish fry was a success. I have been wanting to do this for some time and every year it slips by. This year, even though I just had a baby a few weeks ago, I decided that we were going to get started. I am a planner and I like everything to be quite organized, but that did not happen at all. I had kind of prayed that at least twenty people would show up. Things kept going wrong, but God took care of it all. At the end of the day, with all the people who came and the art and pies sold, we pulled in a thousand dollars to help Gomer. More than that, God did some special things for me that day. I am constantly in awe of how people will come out and support this crazy adventure we are on to restore this house so we can  minister to others with it. It is humbling to say the least. I will admit to you that I teared up quite a bit throughout the day. I always find myself asking Jesus wh...

Let go of your striving to provide for your own needs. When you release your things into My hand, I am able to satisfy you with My abundance. I want you to know and have a depth of insight into My provision. Only I can sustain the things I have called you to do. I don't need your help. I require your cooperation with My methods. I want you to know that I have done it. I desire you to see and glorify My name. Open your hands. Release the burdens that clutter up your life. I have something for you. "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burt offering, my son." Genesis 22:8 For more on this segment, see this post .

Share the Bounty by Benita Long Finding God's Grace Through the Spirit of Hospitality Several years ago, my husband bought me a cookbook by Benita Long for our anniversary. You may not think that is very romantic, but when I perused the pages of Come to the Table, I was fully enamored. Not only was it filled with decadent recipes, the photography, scripture, and poetry delighted the senses. This book is truly something you have to see with your own eyes. When I saw that Benita was coming out with a new cook book, I jumped at the chance to review it. Benita's new cookbook is gorgeous. I have not seen any other cook book done so well. The food, like Fireside Soup, Heirloom Tomato Soup, Sunday Rib Roast, and Chocolate Coffee Pie, looks and sound delectable. The gorgeous photography gives you a great desire to cook everything in the book. Filling the pages are rich prayers and ideas for hospitality. This gift is definitely lacking in our culture today. We want others t...

Enjoy the precious life I have given you. Do not strive to perfect everything to your ideal. Enjoy exactly what I have given you. Don't miss the appointment I have given you because you are incensed at being interrupted. Listen to my Holy Spirit and you will see where I am working in your life. Your family is your ministry. Your neighbors are your ministry. Be open to how I ask you to serve each day. 1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. For more on this segment, see this post .

My girls and I were given the opportunity to review the new iPad app for the Beginner's Bible. At ages five and two, it is right up their alley. They loved the pictures and bright colors. The videos make all the stories they are learning come to life. The great part is that they both find the app engaging, even with their age difference. I call that a success. There is a pack of stories, puzzles, games, and coloring pages that come with the app. You can also purchase more packs for only $1.99. I think it's a great deal and an excellent resource in teaching the gospel to your children. Also, having several other Bible story apps, I would say that this one is above par. It's free right now. Try it out for yourself.

Denbigh and I love people. We love all the interesting things about what makes others unique. We enjoy rich character. Sometimes, in the midst of all the people that surround us on this planet, God reaches deep into recesses of our flawed hearts and gives us a special love for a certain people. I call this a Holy Spirit love affair. I cannot explain it any other way. I say that because I fully know our hearts are naturally wicked and selfish. Somehow, He gives this grace to love and go many extra miles to show love to these people. For some, this seems glamorous. Perhaps, they have been called to foreign missions. We seem to romanticize this for some reason. This call  came to us. God didn't tell us to pack our bags and head to Africa. He asked us to buy a run down mansion in a dilapidated town of very few people. He asked us to serve pastors and Christian workers who had been wounded like we had.  Sometimes, people think we must have money to do this or find this resto...

My healing touch will come into your life. Trust Me to use everything for your good and My glory. I will remove the dross from your life and you will be a perfected silver vessel for the smith. I am perfecting you in joy and in pain. Honor My choices by submitting to My will. "Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith." Proverbs 25:4 For more on this segment, see this post .