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Grace and Truth

September 25, 2024 By 0

Grace & Truth - a weekly linkup for Christian bloggers

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

Meet Your Hosts

Satisfaction Through Christ BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Arabah Joy BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Being Confident of This

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Busy Being Blessed BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Sharing Redemption’s Stories BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

4.) All links are randomly sorted - feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

In order to be featured next week:

5.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.

6.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.

8.) By linking up and leaving your email address, you agree to link-up reminder emails.

Join the link-up below!

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Filed Under: Grace and Truth

Does God See and Care? {Grace & Truth linkup}

September 18, 2024 By 0

This has been quite a week and I approached this feature spot looking for something that would really encourage me. And I found it in Lisa’s post, “When You Need to Know Whether God Sees and Cares“.

Lisa relates a story about a question that her daughter asked. While it seemed a silly question, Lisa knew she needed to answer. The process of answering her daughter’s question led her to consider the way God reminds us (again and again) of His love and care for us.

Does God see us? Does He care for us? We know the answers - we really do.

Sometimes, though, we need to be reminded of His love, His care, His intricate care for us. Lisa gently walks us through those reminders. This post was so encouraging after a long, weary week. Thank you, Lisa!

Does God See and Care

Feel free to grab the button:

Grace Truth featured button
Now it’s time to linkup.

Grace & Truth - a weekly linkup for Christian bloggers

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

Meet Your Hosts

Satisfaction Through Christ BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Arabah Joy BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Being Confident of This

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Busy Being Blessed BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Sharing Redemption’s Stories BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

4.) All links are randomly sorted - feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

In order to be featured next week:

5.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.

6.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.

8.) By linking up and leaving your email address, you agree to link-up reminder emails.

Join the link-up below!

 Loading InLinkz ...
Filed Under: Grace and Truth

How to Survive When He Tells You He’s Leaving

September 17, 2024 By 21

So he just spoke the words that you’ve dreaded all your life. Maybe he said them quietly, perhaps he unleashed them with a vengeance:

“I don’t know that I’m going to stay with you.” Or maybe even, “I want a divorce.”

Your heart drops and you’re suddenly very aware of the feeling in the pit of your stomach - the one that threatens to rack your body.

And your immediate response is, “What will I do?”

I never wanted to be someone who had the answers for you - meaning, I was so sure my marriage was rock solid, until the day it all came crumbling down.

And so since I now have some answers, I want to share them with you, in no particular order.

PRAY
Yes, of course this is my first response. It sort of goes without saying. However, I’m saying it because prayer will change your life.

FEEL YOUR FEELINGS
Please know that whatever you are feeling on any given day, it’s legitimate. If you need to cry, do it. If you need to unpack your feelings of anger, that’s ok. I would recommend calling a friend, a pastor, a trusted mentor. Maybe you’re having a good day - that’s awesome! Enjoy it! Whatever you’re feeling, please take time and sit with your feelings.

SEEK WISE COUNSEL
You will probably need someone to talk to. I’m the one who can plow through and fix anything, and even I needed a professional to help me talk through my feelings. This is one area where you may say, “No, I don’t need this.” Please, make time for this one. It just may save your life.

DECIDE WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE
I don’t know the specifics of your situation, but I don’t need to. Wherever you find yourself, decide what you can handle. Will you be able to deal with one more knock-down drag-out fight? Can you put up with the yelling? Determine your boundaries and make them clear to your husband.

And when the line gets crossed?

PLAN YOUR ESCAPE
Where can you go quickly and easily if you cannot stay at your home? Maybe you just need to be out for the night, away from his anger. Maybe you are feeling too explosive and you need time to cool off. Determine where you can go - to parents? friends? your church?

Maybe you feel like you don’t have a safe place. You will need one.
You will also need a few trusted friends.

CHOOSE YOUR TRUSTED FRIENDS WELL
Not everyone will be able to make this journey with you. We have seen so many friends walk on out of our lives. And today, almost 2 years later, I can tell you that it’s okay. God is so faithful - He will bring you just the right people, just the right sisters to gather round and pray you through.
I promise.

MAKE YOUR PLANS
Consider what will happen if your husband does leave you. What will you need? And who can help you? Here are a few thoughts:
*Who will you call if/when your hot water heater breaks?
*Who can provide emergency childcare or run to the grocery store for you if you are sick?
*Who can help you change a tire?

What about finances? What will you need to keep on going?
*Will you need a job? full time or part time? Let’s get going on this because it will alleviate panic and stress if you can get working toward steady income.
(Ok, I know you want to lay in bed, pull up the covers and cry. That’s ok; you can still do that. But there will come a moment when you can be brave, even briefly, and take a step out in faith. Do it.)
*What can you cut immediately if your husband leaves?
*Does your church offer any help?
*What resources are available to you through your county or state?

BE OKAY WITH CHANGES
I’ll admit - this one is hard for me. I was not okay with changes. I wanted my marriage to work. I wanted my family to stay together. But a wife is only one part of a marriage. You can’t control what your husband does, and neither can I control what my husband does. If he ultimately chooses to leave, you’re going to need to find a way to eventually be okay with that.

Maybe this will be your time to learn something new - go back to school, take a class, learn a new skill, do something you’ve always wanted to do. This may help you transition into your new life with a little more ease.

MAYBE YOUR MARRIAGE HASN’T ENDED YET,
AND YOU’RE DETERMINED TO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK.

Prayer is going to need to be your complete heart attitude. Maybe it already is. Trust me when I say that this situation you’re walking through will drive you to your knees. You’ll find yourself in your car, or walking down the street, or folding laundry and you’ll realize you’re praying. Keep at it. Pray specifically. Trust God with your biggest requests.

PUT ON YOUR ARMOR
Ephesians 6 tells us about the full armor of God. Take some time to really study this passage. The enemy is going to go to work on your life, especially if you decide to try to stay and work it out. Learn about the armor and then get up and get dressed in your armor, intentionally, every day.

Sisters, this is a battle for your heart, for your husband, for your marriage. Believe me when I tell you that the enemy is going to fight you at every step.

I once read a short post from Leslie Parrott that has changed my life, my story, and my approach to battling in the spiritual realm. You can read it in full here, but I’ll just share a bit with you.

They shared their story of successfully standing up against the trafficking of girls in their community. I asked how they had the courage to do this. One mother pointed to the desert landscape and simply said that someone had to be the first drop of rain, even though you may be small.

Inspired by the story of these women, Leslie Parrott wrote a book called “The First Drop of Rain” and the description says everything that I long to put into words about this journey:

“Have you ever felt plucked out and suddenly dropped by the hand of God into the wasteland?
Have you felt desolate, dry, and fragile? No sign of God, no sound of water?”

I don’t know just where you are in your journey. I only know where I have been, and I know where I am now.

I have listened to God, I have begged for restoration and redemption for my marriage and for so many others.

I have listened to God as He said, “Do not move,” and I have longed to run away.

I read the very short blurb above, about the women who dared to trust God for the safety of their children.

And I stood up.

I stood in the wilderness where not many dare to trust or fight for their marriage. I planted my feet, and I did not move.

The enemy has tried, over and over again, to tear things apart. I’m sure he’s gotten angrier at every glimpse of me waiting on God, because he has fired what I believe to be some of his very sharpest attacks in my direction.

I want to make it incredibly clear:

I am PRO marriage.
This marriage stuff can be so hard, though….

I want to share what I’ve learned, especially with women, because we are so emotionally tied in to our relationships.
And that’s not a bad thing.
In that manner, you can say I am PRO woman.

But more than anything, I get up every day - every single day - and I stand my ground. I believe God for the promises that He has given to me. I stand waiting for answers for the requests of others struggling within their own marriages.

And I stand, waiting for even the first drop of rain, because I believe that my God is stronger and mightier than any attack the enemy can send.

I am PRO redemption.
Yes, even from the ugliest of sins.

If you are here, maybe it’s because you need these bits of advice. Maybe you need hope. Maybe you’re praying for redemption.

I can’t take the journey for you, but I can promise you that I’m on the same journey - a fellow traveler, a sister, a friend. I am standing here, reaching out my hand, hoping you will take it and join me in fighting FOR the restoration of our marriages.

By the grace of God, my marriage is improving dramatically! God has been so faithful to us in this journey.

I am praying for you. If you would like me to pray specifically for your situation, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email. ( [email protected] ) I will gladly pray with you and for you, trusting God to send the rain.

photo source

sharing at Grace & Truth

Filed Under: marriage

Trusting God When You Can’t Go On

September 13, 2024 By 3

If you’ve been in the Christian community in the last year or so, no doubt you’ve heard Hillsong United’s “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”. It’s truly a beautiful song, with a deeply personal meaning for a lot of people. It’s a great testament to faith, to answering God’s call.

This week I had a very different perspective on this song.

Yes, the song is about God calling us out to Him, to follow, to obey, much like Peter asked Jesus to prove Himself by calling Peter out onto the water.

In Matthew 14, we read the account of Jesus coming to the disciples in the storm.
In verse 28 Peter asks Jesus to call him onto the water if it’s truly Jesus out there.
In verse 29, Jesus simply says, “Come.”
And in verse 30, we read that Peter noticed the wind, his faith faltered and he began to sink.
Verse 31 finds Jesus reaching out his hand to Peter, saying, “You of little faith…why did you doubt?”

He gave up trusting God when he noticed his surroundings.

Let me be very honest and straightforward here: Sometimes life is just plain hard.

I fully believe God knows that. I truly believe that He calls us all to hard places at times, and I’m aware that none of us may fully understand the path of another.

Over the past few years, I’ve found myself in trying, desperate situations not of my doing. Life has been just plain hard.

It's hard to trust God when you're in a storm. Here's one way, just one, for trusting God when you can't go on, even in your marriage.

Like Peter, I’ve found myself noticing the winds around me - being caught up in the storms.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

I’ve found myself “where feet may fail and fear surrounds me”.

I’ve always considered this song from Peter’s perspective - with part of his body above the water, looking up at Jesus.

Recently, though, my perspective has changed a little.

I’m sure you’ve seen the image on a TV show or movie, where a person is caught in the crash of a huge wave. For a short time the person is under the water, having to ride out the surge. Sometimes they frantically fight the wave, desperate to get above the water.

Other times, though, they give up on the fight and just ride out the wave, trusting that if they are to make it back up to the top, they will.

And it’s in that ultimate giving up that we truly open ourselves to what God has.

That’s where I’ve found myself.

I’ve stopped fighting the storm, I’m letting the wave carry me.

And do you know what?

I can still look up.

I can…

keep my eyes above the waves.
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine.

The hand of Jesus is still there. He is still in control. He is still guiding my life for His purposes.

Sometimes the storms come and we can realize that our faith needs to be strengthened.

Other times the storms and waves come to wash something out of our lives, to renew us and make us clean.

And still other times, the storm may serve to move us from where we are to where God wants us to be next.

I don’t know why He sends the storms. I don’t know why we have to deal with the battering of yet another struggle in life.

But I do know this:

God is the One who will make a way. He is faithful - He has been and will continue to be.

What if, just for today, you stopped fighting?

Stop fighting to get back above the surface.

Trust God. Trust the One who created you.

Trust that He has a plan for your life.

Then just lie back and let Him hold you.

And just like Peter and the others in the boat, we’ll be able to say, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

photo source

Filed Under: having faith in God

The Only Sure Way to Effect Change

September 11, 2024 By 3

This has been a week of extreme ups and downs for me, personally. It’s so hard to experience some of those highs and then turn around and right into the path of the 2×4 that’s just about to knock you out. That’s how this week has felt.

My kids started back to school recently, and while it’s been a good start, we’ve had some different circumstances creep in that just seem to pull at our schedule, and vie for our time. And it’s hard when things don’t go just how you’d like them to.

My marriage is never perfect and I feel like we fight sometimes more than we get along. From talking with many of you, I know that’s not uncommon. Maybe you’re in such a season - or have been in such a season. A friend shared of a deep hurt this week, and my heart goes out to her. It’s hard to have a great marriage when neither partner is perfect (as much as I’d like to think I am perfect…).

I guess that’s why I kept coming back to this post this week. It showed up in my Inbox, in this linkup, in my news feed on Facebook, in various groups I’m in.

It’s because prayer is really the only way that we can effect any change - in ourselves, in our situations, in the lives of those we love as we take them before the Father and pray for their needs.

Kaylene is offering some prayer cards - for wives to pray for their husbands, and for husbands to pray for their wives.

I have heard from a lot of you, that your marriage is frustrating, at best; that you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Can I be real? I am right there with you. In all of it. Good things happen and I get so overjoyed because it looks like things are finally going to be smooth-sailing, only to turn around for the next attack from the enemy.

And that’s really the key isn’t it? Kaylene reminds us that yes, while we may be disagreeing with our husbands, not getting along, whatever the case may be, it’s not truly a fight against our husband.

It’s a battle with the enemy.

And that’s why I want to get you to her blog to check out these prayer cards she has.

Kaylene has such a heart for fighting for your marriage, in the very best way: through prayer.

And maybe your knee-jerk reaction, like mine, is that your husband won’t use the prayer cards.

That’s ok.

I know you long to be prayed for in the same way, with the same energy, that you put in to praying for your husband. You’d like that man in your house to pray that way for you. And he doesn’t.

Friends, you have the Holy Spirit interceding on your behalf. Never forget that. Never forget that God knows you. He knows right where you are. He has you in the palm of His hand.

Be bold - step out in faith. Grab these cards and pray for your man and see what God will do.

So take a few minutes, go grab these cards and commit to praying for your husband. I promise you it will make a difference.

Thank you, Kaylene!

Scripture Prayer Cards for Husbands and Wives

Feel free to grab the button:

Grace Truth featured button
Now it’s time to linkup.

Grace & Truth - a weekly linkup for Christian bloggers

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

Meet Your Hosts

Satisfaction Through Christ BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Arabah Joy BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Being Confident of This

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Busy Being Blessed BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Sharing Redemption’s Stories BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

4.) All links are randomly sorted - feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

In order to be featured next week:

5.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.

6.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.

Join the link-up below!

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Filed Under: Grace and Truth, marriage

Pilgrimage (Grace & Truth)

September 4, 2024 By 4

This time of year is always my favorite. Labor Day weekend signifies the transition to fall for me. That’s been on my mind as we’ve started a new school year. With my crew, it can sometimes seem like quite a labor of love to get them to, and through, another year. I think that’s why Kathryn’s post really hit home for me.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
Psalm 84:5

Kathryn takes us on a journey through Psalm 84, looking at 4 characteristics of a pilgrim. The first one - “They long to dwell in the house of God” - really caught my attention.

That phrase has come up in various conversations lately, as a reminder that this world isn’t our home. We are her for a reason and a purpose, but our ultimate goal is Heaven. This is just preparation and our opportunity to bring with us as many people as we can.

I love how Kathryn takes us through this psalm, focusing on the pilgrimage and setting our hearts toward home.

I hope you’ll take a few moments and hop over to read her encouraging words, especially as we begin this new school year. Thank you, Kathryn!

Pilgrimage (Grace and Truth linkup)

Feel free to grab the button:

Grace Truth featured button
Now it’s time to linkup.

Grace & Truth - a weekly linkup for Christian bloggers

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

Meet Your Hosts

Satisfaction Through Christ BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Arabah Joy BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Being Confident of This

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Busy Being Blessed BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Sharing Redemption’s Stories BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

4.) All links are randomly sorted - feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

In order to be featured next week:

5.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.

6.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.

Join the link-up below!

 Loading InLinkz ...
Filed Under: Grace and Truth