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Planting Seeds of Forgiveness…

When Joseph’s brothers saw their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”  So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’  Now please forgive the sins of the...

Choices & Grace

Two words have been wandering around my brain these past few weeks.  Choices and Grace.  Because of one we are in desperate need of the other. CHOICE…the act of making a decision These past few weeks have forced us to make choices we were not prepared for AND there are many more on the horizon.  Do I stay home?  Should I get out to buy groceries today?  How do I manage homeschooling along with work?  How soon can I get...

A Few Lessons We Can Learn….

We had just received a package from my sweet mother-in-law of Texas Tech face masks for our entire family that she had sewn with love and expedited to our house in Tennessee.. Of course, we all put them on, took a family selfie (see below).. And Karis looks up at us and asks us why we had to wear the masks.   I was shocked.  She knows things are different right now.  She hasn’t left the house, hasn’t gone into a...

Brave–Make it the “in” thing….

But __________ gets to do it? Why can’t I?   If you haven’t heard those words come out of your child’s mouth, the time will come.  For most of us, we have experienced it.   The fact is our children–from the time they hit school-aged to the time (well, let’s be honest here–adults)…this is a battle we will face.   The fear of rejection. The fear of not fitting in.   The fear of missing out.  (FOMO) It is real.  Satan knows how to...

Finding the Quiet…

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...

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

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)

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...

What Matters….

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….

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

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...