Finding the Quiet…

  • March 3, 2020
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A few weeks ago, I was home alone. The entire night—I was home alone.  I can’t tell you the last time that happened; it was probably over 12 years ago.   The boys went on a trip to New Orleans for the Saints playoff game and Karis was asked to spend the night at a friend’s house.  I came home to an empty house (with the exception of three donkeys, two cows, two dogs, and 20 chickens) after coaching a basketball...

Unfriended…Can we have a conversation please?

Unfriended.  My offense?  A political comment had been posted and the thread was going south quickly.  The potential for hurt feelings was very likely and the fallout could affect relationships.  I commented “you may want to consider where this thread is headed, the potential for divisiveness is high and there could be some badly hurt feelings”. For the Christian, there is absolutely no place on social media for divisiveness of any kind.  The world is watching…and often what they see...

Friendship–Who is leading the navigation? (Part 2)

  • February 10, 2020
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As a continued post from last week https://shelteredingrace.com/index.php/2020/02/03/nobetterfriendthanjesus/ We need each other.  That is a fact. But friendship is hard.  Relationships are hard. Satan knows the power of “each other”, and he does everything to try and separate. Two are better than one though.  And our greatest friend we should have is Jesus.  Every celebration.  Every tear.  Every heartache should be brought to Him–FIRST.  He will never fail you. And He, while leaving his heavenly home and came here on earth,...

Friendship–No Better Friend Than Jesus (Part 1)

  • February 3, 2020
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Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, Two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes...

Fear is a Liar

  • January 21, 2020
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When I first heard the song on the radio, “Fear is a Liar” by Zach Williams, it resonated in my soul. Fear is the great enemy of our human condition. Fear is written by the father of lies himself, Satan. Fear creeps in on its belly as the ancient evil one did. What are your fears? Loneliness? your health? your children? your marriage? sobriety? I could type a hundred more reasons for you and me to fill in the blank....

What Matters….

  • January 13, 2020
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What matters.  As I dig more into my ONE WORD for 2020 which is CONTEND, what matters tends to be the basis in every area of my life.   In my relationship with God…what matters? In my marriage, what matters?   In my home, what matters?  Within my church family, what matters?  In my work as a teacher, what matters?  I think that the “preacher” sums it up in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:   Fear God...

Vulnerable….

  • January 7, 2020
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2020…thank you for coming.  I’ve been waiting for you, new year..new beginnings.  This will probably be one of the more “open” blogs I’ve written.  2019 was a hard year.  In fact, things are just beginning to settle.  It was a year of goodbyes, sadness, exhaustion, feeling out of control, and questioning.  It was also a year of faith building, hope, trust, perseverance and growth. Each year I choose a word to focus on, study and strive to plant into my...

Focus…with ONE word

  • January 1, 2020
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The “Resolutions of New Year” are quickly approaching.  It is a time for a fresh start or a “clean” slate. When the clock changes from 2019 to 2020, you want to do “things” better in the New Year. We want and desire change.   Resolutions though do NOT have a high rate of success.  As a matter of fact, research has shown that only around 10% of adults keep them after a few months.  I know for me personally, I fall...

When Advent meets Emmanuel and cries Maranatha

  • December 18, 2019
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The Christmas of 1986 will always be my foundation of faith. I can’t ever remember not believing in God as a child. My grandmother made sure I was in the pews in her arms. I was a member of the youth group, went to a Christian college, married a strong Christian man and by December of 1986 had two beautiful babies and a third on the way. Life was really good and in hindsight going to change into something I...

The Game Plan…

  • December 2, 2019
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The time to hit the hardwood has come to Middle Tennessee.  It is the “best” time of the year (coming from a basketball coach 🙂 ), and throughout the season we will endure growth, setbacks, and many opponents on the road to a state championship.   Our Christian walk is very similar in the fact that we will also ensure growth and setbacks as we press on to the goal, but one thing we need to remember is the only opponent...