Grace

I have been thinking a lot about grace lately. God's grace given to us in the person of Jesus Christ.
Grace given to me.

What does grace mean? ..."the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God. The influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them. A virtue or excellence of divine origin". (dictionary.com)

There are so many things in my life that are slaves to the "law" only it's not God's law...but man's. There is this whole set of "should's and should not's" that are constantly being created and reinterpreted in my life. Burdens are heaped that God never intended that be carried. As a follower of Christ I follow God's word, I stand on that 100%. I should aspire to be the best (wife, mother, friend....) that I can be.

It just seems to me that there is too much emphasis placed on getting it all "right". On how "good" we are, or how "good" our children are, how "good" we are as wives, or how organized, crafty, thrifty, holy....(you insert your favorite adjective here.) Yet, these ideas are often based more on self than on God. More based on the idea of what some leader, speaker or author thinks is the right way than on what the Creator thinks is right. Sadly, they are more based on works and earning our way to God than on grace, faith and mercy.
It seems that if we don't measure up to "Suzy Super Christian's" idea of the perfect helpmeet and homeschooling mother then we are lost (according to some). If we don't use all the proper "holy" curriculum, or attend the right conferences...we might as well throw in the towel.
There is a fine line being laid down for Christians to follow these days, and let me tell you...it is mostly man's design.
That is a bold statement huh? That's just me!
I have tried and failed to have the perfect family, homeschool, children etc. Thank God!! Now that I am done trying to walk that ever changing chalk line, I can look to God's plumb line.
Enter Grace.

These days I am seeking less to have the perfect family by man's standards and instead seeking God's idea. Mercy, love, relationship...not forced obedience that leaves the heart hardened or demanding that every page of this or that lesson gets completed before we can cuddle and play.



More smiles, less scowling. Instead of seeking LAW...I am seeking Grace, In my walk, in how I teach my kids, in how I treat them. In how I treat others, Christian and non. There is so much freedom in not trying to get it all perfect. Jesus came so that He could change me. If I could do it alone, his death would have been in vain.
Jesus is my grace. He loves me even when I get it all wrong!

For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17

Shaking out the cobwebs!

What a beautiful day! I woke to today feeling so good! After being sick for over 3 weeks, the fog has lifted! I got up at first light and jumped out of bed ready to start my day! (7 a.m. is still considered the first light, right?) And by jumped out of bed, I mean that my dh put both feet on me and pushed...but still, I got up and was not sick!!
What a blessing to feel better. Just that simple thing. Feeling better. Wow. Today was very productive. In addition to the standard laundry, cooking, cleaning and tending to my arrows, I cleaned and organized all the drawers and most of the cupboards in the kitchen. Dh cleaned and organized all 3 bays of his shop and the little "bonus room" in the garage! Everything is still covered in a thick layer of sawdust (dh is a woodworker) but we can actually move around in that space now! A task that was LONG overdue, even though we have only lived here since last August. He set up my treadmill in there too yeah! I am more than ready to start using it again.

(here is that bonus room...wish I had a "before" Imagine no space to walk! )

How do we collect so much stuff? Papers and magazines were crammed into the "junk drawer" to the point of over flowing. Things that I had intended to read and never got around to. Pencils, glue and markers were in the wrong spots and kitchen utensils were scattered among the silverware. Rubber bands, sewing pins, GI Joes...all things that somehow ended up in my kitchen!
It was time to set things straight. Not unlike my heart and mind. After weeks of feeling so ill and grumpy and tending to sick kiddos...I was ready to reorganize my head as well! Today I have been singing praise to the Lord! God is good, all the time!

Now if only I could get the rest of the house cleaned for more than 5 minutes!

So, I decided to jump into the blog pool!

This being my very first blog and all...all that I have to say is WOW...there are sure a lot of neat gadget's, widgets and what not's to add to these blogs! How fun! My oldest son and I had a blast trying to wade through this new world together!
I am excited to start blogging! I have been so blessed by the blogs of friends, I hope mine will give you some enjoyment as well!