She turns the corner. Bent over and walking slow.. Weak and frail. Her body looks so small today. As always, her brown thinning curls sweep around the edges of her sweetly knitted hat. She has become like family as I have watched her comfort my mom each day in their independent journey of battling cancer. Fresh out of chemo, this Friday will be her last day of radiation. My mom will really miss her. Truth is, so will I. These two souls are gracious reminders of the power of understanding when no other heart can know but to walk your path. It is beautiful to sit back and watch their two hearts holding each other. They disappear together to prepare for today’s treatment. The last words I hear as they walk away like two schoolgirls arm in arm are…
“Oh for grace to trust Him more” as she points heavenward.
God’s promises in the frail and fragile moments of life speak so boldly of the need for extra measures of grace to those who witness this encounter. We all are refreshed. Families burdened and weighed down by the challenge of caring for their cancer-stricken loved one hovers strong in the room today. The furrowed brow with each gathered family member is telling. We all have learned to give thanks in knowing that there is always someone in a worse health position and in need of more healing than your loved one. Sad but true. #nomorecancer
The graying sky turns quickly into a strong spring rain. It awakens us all and is gone almost as quickly as it appears. Sunbeams just outside the window cast prisms of light inside. One of the most beautiful rainbows that I have ever seen seems to find its end right among us. Ha! And must you ask, no pot of gold. Inside of the room where brokenness, suffering, pain and fear are so present, the light of the world, reminds me, reminds us all, of God’s promises. He IS our very present help in time of trouble and the source of all comfort snd strength when we place our trust completely in Him. #sweetpeace
It had been a rough mid-day for me. I missed a most crucial detail of utmost importance and I have never been more heart-broken as its resolve may not be known for a few days. Not life or death, just the everyday messy that led to such disappointment in myself. It sweeps fully over me like an ocean wave and knocks me off my feet in a swell that overwhelms. I am ridiculously organized and efficient in my workplace. I do NOT miss details or drop balls. But in this matter today, I must fully place my trust in the sovereignty of God and surrender my frailty and lack back to the God who created, loves and knows me best. He sees. He knows and is very near. Being everywhere, everything to every person who needs me and juggling so many balls in my home life has consumed me over the past few months. Just hearing the word cancer can catapult the bravest of hearts to fear and trembling. Today, I could do nothing but surrender, confess and beg the Lord to be gracious in the midst of my circumstances… And in spite of myself, my weaknesses, I have found the path to boasting in God and His supernatural power to be greater than my best attempt at sinless perfection!
In the presence of God’s supernatural rainbow reminder this afternoon, my heart faced heavenward and I breathed long a whisper loud to God the words spoken just moments before…
Oh for grace to trust YOU more…
And as well, to get over myself and understand that apart from Him I can do NOTHING! Got it! 👍✔️✔️✔️♥️
Lord, I am listening. I hear and take to heart today Your love and goodness. My trust in you today has been so very weak and in this moment I know there is nothing more that I can do but boast in my weakness, run hard and fast to the Lord…… For when I am weak, YOU. ARE. STRONG.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 33:17
The beautiful life of my mom’s treasured new friend is currently in the battle of her life. She has set a standard for love, grace and peace. She walks boldly in humility as she likely faces death.
In her life. all eyes that witness her heart know so fully where her hope lies. You are drawn to her peaceful spirit, even as her body fails, she shines forth His love and light!
God’s Word confirms, “those who look to Him are radiant.” Psalm 34:5a
Sweet friends, at this day’s end, these words have so carried my heart. I can only pray that you, like me, at your weakest, the place of your greatest need and the reality that your challenging circumstances can bring power and glory, not weakness and defeat to your life’s journey.
Lord help us to practice that which will become our habit, to become more like you…. And this night we begin by speaking Your word back to You in all of its power…the power to change lives!!
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil….When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” Psalm 34
Are you looking for new ways to excite your children about memorizing Scripture? Get the new FREE printables of Scripture memory cards, progress reward chart, and coloring sheets based on the key verses from I Can Learn the Bible: 52 Scriptures Every Kid Should Know by Holly Hawkins Shivers.
Also, take advantage of a 40% discount on the accompanying devotional book that goes along with the daily Bible verse that your child will be learning.
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your (God’s) word.” Psalm 119:9
If you love chocolate, you will not want to miss this event!! Gather. Grow. Give. 2015 Motor Racing Outreach Ladies Summer Caution….. July 21, 2015 Charlotte Motor Speedway Club Ballroom
Each year at the Summer Caution, we are able to partner with one other non-profits to collect items that they use on a regular basis. All of the supplies given are used locally and even in other parts of the world. In years past, we have worked with Samaritan’s Purse, Samaritan’s Feet, Rhythm Church, Bright Blessings and more! It is our joy to highlight the work of other worthy non-profits and partner with women in the community to bless the groups.
In 2015, we are working with Coltrane L.I.F.E. (Living Interest For the Elderly) Center in Concord. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for frail and impaired adults and their families through specialized adult daytime services. They have been providing quality daytime care to older and disabled adults since 1974. We are so excited to highlight the great work they are doing in our area. And we’ll…
We buried my daddy’s sister today. Bittersweet, yet my soul swells with so many good and wonderful things. A life well-lived!
Willa Dean Tew, lived the last 20-plus years in a wheelchair after a stroke that left her paralyzed with speech impairment. She has been wonderfully cared for by her loving husband, Claude Tew, daughter Tracy Tew Reep, son Rodney Tew, Mike Reep and family.
The service was gracious and honoring, as her life had so beautifully spoken. Through all these years, her disposition remained alive and childlike in spite of her circumstances because love dwelled all around her. This light wrapped up tight in a broken body was and remains something to behold.
As many shared today, when spending time with Dean, words were not necessary as she communicated clearly with facial expressions that were easily read from the depths of those beautiful brown eyes.
We often watched from afar, there in the midst of the messy, difficult moments with unforeseen twists and turns…this family’s ability to find full joy in the enduring, and walk in the peace that passes understanding reminds us…. so. can. we.
Tonight, these things I remember. I was the first grandchild. She was my daddy’s younger sister, the only girl. I had her brown eyes and little upturned nose.
She would come and get me in the VW bug. First thing, Dr Pepper was our game! You know the one in the glass bottle? No matter where we went, everyone would ask, how old is your daughter? I just remember smiling all inside. I was a bit of a free spirit and she loved me even still. This I know.
Time and life move so fast….. Before we know it, the years have passed and lives can so easily move independently of each other, yet these moments of time stand still in our hearts as the memories remain. Some things your heart never forgets.
No matter what your story is tonight…. The good and the bad of this day…… There is always, always something to be thankful for and to trust with honest surrender.
Tonight I remember…… I pray for each grieving heart that will wake up tomorrow and navigate the world anew. May mercy rain and flood each life at its point of need through the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord hold them in the moments where they run to You for grace…..and extra measures. And peace Lord, remind them in the empty places that You are near…… Father, help us to live fully in your presence, for there we know that we find full joy….. above the messy. above the noise. amid the circumstances. in the daily…..
We all have stories of how life can challenge us, the valley of the shadow of death moments and the need to cling to something sure, true & trustworthy. The reminder that on life’s path, we are not alone!
That difficult journey you walked today: divorce, lost job, job searching, financial despair, separation, trust is broken, daily responsibilities, physical needs, cancer, emotional needs, sickness, infertility, brokenness, infidelity, spiritual needs, loneliness, anger, disease, fear…. That answer you received along that hard road that has washed over your life like a tidal wave…… “when sorrow like sea billows roll” Horatio Spafford
Life has messy places……filled with valley’s that challenge us to find the courage and a strength that is greater to hold on to and believe in.
And God is there. Oh, so very there……and I know it is true…….how??? Because I KNOW!
The platitudes about running to God in time of need diminishes the value of being held in complete surrender; to be fully loved and comforted by a gracious God.
God IS good. His love endures forever. God is trustworthy and sure and a place where grace is more than abundant and so very real. For every heart that aches this night with the guilt of overwhelm when your feet, though firmly planted, have caved in response to unexpected news……your are numbed and you will yourself to breathe…….
I stand with you tonight as my family faces a giant fight for life and prays hard and fast for supernatural answers, the miraculous, best case scenarios and a good path that will teach us about enduring love. We will look back and know more surely how to stand strong in HIS power and might.
I stood alongside of my mom this afternoon…..the words stung! Cancer, surgeon, treatment, serendipitous, benign, cancer found early, small, not much more we can say…. Yes? Words formed in my mind that I struggled to get my mouth to understand what to do next much less speak. Sure. We will make an appointment. Next Thursday. Perfect. Thank you? I think?
Monty Self and I are her caregivers…… My sister, Claudia does all she can to support us in caring for our mom. My flesh and heart shout in my spirit, we will just fix this. Let’s “get ‘er done”. Tonight my emotions have gone from there to…..oh sweet Lord, how am I, are we going to do this? I weep. Monty and I hold on tight to each other and we cry out to to the Lord.
“We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing Him directly just as He knows us!
But for right now, until completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:11-12
These things I know……
Trusting steadily in God…..Hoping unswervingly and walking held close by the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit! We will all together find the good path…..and God has already sprinkled moments Of grace…..
~”the smallest cancer I have ever seen.” Radiologist
~”we just happened upon the cancer behind the benign” “Serendipitous” No. A sovereign and providential God!!!
~”treatable according to her positive markers” I have no idea what that means,! #trusting #blindfaith
~”the best bad news that I can share with you”
~”Do you have a surgeon? Yes. Dr._________ ” Amazing, he is one of the three we use at the Women’s Cancer Center. Go God. He has performed all of my mom’s surgical procedures through the years
~ He can meet with you and an entire care team next Thursday. Your surgeon just “happens” to be available. Thank you Lord.
~”An answer to a long and fervent prayer answered. #thevalley The reminder that God sees, He knows, He hears the fervent prayer of His beloved and His perfect love is beyond any sliver of our ability to understand.
I will not belabor any more small and perfectly timed gifts of grace. Thanks for listening. Really.
Tonight, we come, all hearts encircled in prayer and with thanksgiving before the throne of God in prayer. We rest in the shelter of His wing.
#goodpath
Monday night, I literally cleared a path through the chaos of my office for the annual termite inspector to come, check and treat. I do not like disorder and this room is the arch nemesis of the chaos of traveling 24 weeks out of the year, dumping, retrieving, repeat……all in the name of Jesus and serving the NASCAR community.
This room haunts me as I prepare for the next season but I continue to learn about truly resting fully in today and responding to every day as it needs to be prioritized and this crazy space will be ignored and likely conquered before we leave for Daytona. #itwillnotbeatme
We rallied late to create a way for access to the entry to the crawl space under one portion of our house. I dreaded this moment. Yet Monty affirmed in my heart, that even in the chaos around me, the things that drive me crazy, frustrate and distract me were not a problem. He looked beyond this momentary, light affliction to say, “You have made a good path.”
Friend, tonight your messy place is very real. My heart longs to help carry your burden. And I will surely cherish your heart alongside of mine. Today, the Lord challenged me to remember and “as a way of reminder” to encourage you to find in each new day’s offering, the “good path” in the midst of life’s random and often unforeseen, unexpected pain, heartbreak, messy chaos and craziness.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Making my way, focused on the ‘good path’ today. Will you join me?
The waves and wind still know His name! It is well with my soul.
The annual MRO Summer Caution will be filled and brimming with grace in 2014. So grateful to provide this opportunity for ladies in NASCAR to gather for encouraging moments as we challenge hearts and provide a platform for service right where we live! Please consider joining us, as we present our broken beautiful lives to honor and serve God!!
We are so excited to finally share our Caution musician with you all! We’re also giving away a CD – enter at the end of this post!
-drum roll please-
This summer, at the 2014 Cup of Grace Coffeehouse, we’re excited to welcome singer-songwriter Ellie Holcomb!
Her first full-length album, As Sure as the Sun, was released in February – it is beautifully written with Scripture woven into the melodies. She has two previous EPs – Magnolia (2011) and With You Now (2013). She has previously toured with her husband Drew, as part of the Americana rock band, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors.
“My heart with this music is to sing truth into the darkness. I know that the world can get pretty dark some days, and I’d love to be sending out songs like little campfires to light up the night. When I write, I am…
Grace. A ready favor.
Sometimes it catches me by
surprise
…
I count it a great honor and joy of my life that I get to watch kids journey in their faith. I have a precious friend named Jack that I’ve had the privilege of getting to know for several years now. I wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate a victory that I witnessed in Jack’s life recently.
In Richmond, we studied about the life of Joseph and the life cycle of a butterfly, particularly about how it is a lovely depiction of the Gospel. After Bible Time, we actually got the opportunity to release butterflies that we’d grown. The kids were so very excited about this and each child was interested in the good of the butterflies. After our release, we noticed that quite a few hadn’t been able to fly away. At that point, Jack and a…
Bless mom with this beautiful necklace on a special day or any day! This beautifully crafted necklace sales for $8.49. A steal!! A beautiful expression of faith!
Message: grace and peace
Scripture reference on back: 1 Peter 1:2
Size: Chain: 24″ L with 3″ extender
Size: Pendant: 1 5/16″ diameter
Attached Charms: bird and “G” charm
Material: zinc alloy with antiqued gold finish, faux pearl on end of extender
Redeemed drawstring fabric jewelry bag included- Size: 3 1/4″L X 5″H
Shop Gifts for Mom!” title=”Mother’s Day Necklaces at Days”>Mother’s Day Necklaces at Days
Simple Life Heartenings 
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