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
