September Twenty-Nineteen

September Twenty-Nineteen

"Grace is a muscle that gives strength and vigor to our faith. Grace must be exercised. It’s not enough to hear the theology of grace dissected in a sermon. It’s not enough to sing about it. Grace must be exercised if we are to stay alive in Christ. To live in grace is to be committed to the work of remembering that we are God’s beloved children. Moreover, the exercise of grace is the work of continually reminding ourselves that every person around us is also dearly beloved." -  Breanna Randall

"Henri Nouwen calls hospitality 'the creation of a free and friendly space where we can reach out to strangers and invite them to become our friend.' He goes on to suggest that the most important guests, the most important strangers we get to entertain in our homes are our children.  When they are born, we don’t really understand who they are or who they will become.  They are guests we need to respond to, not possessions we are responsible for."

-Christine Sine The Gift of Wonder 

"Stay close to the cracks, to the broken places where people weep and cry out in pain.

Stay close to the cracks, where God’s tears fall and God’s wounds bleed for love of us.

Stay close to the cracks, where light shines in and grass pushes up through concrete.

Stay close to the cracks where weeping wounds open unexpected doorways to healing and wholeness and life."

-Christine Sine The Gift of Wonder 

"I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude." -Brene Brown 

"You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things." 

-Mother Teresa.

"My angry words spilled out. I spoke too soon. Morning got the best of me.

But I didn’t let guilt consume me like I used to.

I said I was sorry and asked to begin again.

That’s progress.

I am closer than I was before.

My inner perfectionist reared its ugly head. I compared. I criticized. I told myself it wasn’t good enough.

But then my heart spoke up and said, “Stop. That’s not what matters.”

I looked past the mess and the mayhem and saw the flowers instead of the weeds.

That’s progress.

I am closer than I was before.

My day was too packed. I overscheduled. I underloved. I was too rushed, too hurried, too frenzied.

But then I stopped in the middle of the chaos and removed the ticking clock weighing heavy on my soul.

I touched the fading summer freckles on my daughter’s nose and felt the pressure wane.

That’s progress.

I am closer than I was before.

Every second is not grasping what matters, but now I have awareness I didn’t have before.

I am only human.

I am learning too.

Love, forgiveness, and grace will be the fiber that holds this day, this family, this one precious life together when it threatens to come apart at the seams.

That’s progress.

I am closer than I was before."

- Rachel Macy Stafford Only Love Today