Meditation Mondays - We are United in Purpose!

We are united in purpose!!!! Rally around God's purpose! Yesterday church was amazing. The students took over and lead worship, prayer, and then the high school pastor did the sermon. One thing that stuck out in my mind is how God gave his life for us who don't deserve it. He wants us to lay down our life for each other like He did for us. Think about that. Are we willing to put aside our want and needs and be willing to lay down our life for our friends? I am sharing a couple scriptures that were read in church. 

John 17-20-23

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 15:9-17

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.
Another thing that really hit me hard today was part of a song that was sung. 

Nails couldn't keep you down
The grave couldn't keep you in
Hell couldn't keep you out
You reign, You reign!!! 

How awesome it is to know that you are God of all and reign forever? 

So I leave you with this. Are you willing to go and live your life for Christ? 

Blessings and Shalom,
Grace Mae

Meditation Mondays - Dealing with Disappointments

So one thing that we all face and deal with is disappointment. Church yesterday was about dealing with disappointments and so I thought it would be a good idea to write about this for my blog. 

God wants us to trust Him with our disappointments. Now I know that is a little harder then it sounds. I struggle everyday with disappointments as living with a chronic health issue I can't do everything I may want to because I don't physically or emotionally feel up to it. 

Some people don't understand that a change of plans or when I'm looking forward to doing something and then things change I get disappointed more then maybe I should. To them it might not be a big deal but to me it's a big deal because I'm never sure when I will have a good day or a bad day. That's part of living with a chronic illness.

I have a hard time being honest with my feelings. I've been hurt and been disappointed by more friends or who I thought were my friends. Really, I should be able to tell God my feelings and be completely honest with Him because He already knows what I am feeling. The main thing about dealing with these disappointments are not setting your expectations to high. 

So whatever you may be dealing with, or struggle with I encourage you to be honest with God. 

Blessings and Shalom,
Grace Mae

Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels Concert

On August 2nd I was able to go with my mom to see Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels live in concert. Let me just start by saying WOW!!! It was amazing! Honestly it felt more like a big praise and worship time then an actual concert. God was definitely moving and you could sense His presence there.

With everything that has been going on lately it was just what I needed. Praising God and lifting my voice with others was so wonderful.

Some of the songs that they played were, Waterfall, How Great is Our God, Our God, At the Cross (Where your love ran red), Waiting Here for You, and God's Great Dance Floor.

You know how everything happens for a reason and nothing surprises God. Well we were blessed to run into some friends that we hadn't seen since around 2011. I thank God because He must've known that I needed to have these two wonderful Christian girls back in my life right now. Even though we hadn't talked much or hung out for a long time we were able to just pick up where we left off. Love you girls so much! <3 <3 <3

So I will leave you with this......Continue to worship God and love Him with your whole heart.

Blessings and Shalom,
Grace Mae

Meditation Monday - The Struggle is Real

So as I was trying to figure out what to write about for my first post since I came back to the blogging world I thought I would write about something that I think we all go through at one time or another.

The Struggle is Real! What do you think that means? Everyone is struggling with one thing or another. Whether it is a relationship, health issue, finances, lost of a loved one, or just wondering what you are suppose to do.

It's so easy to pretend and act like everything is fine on the outside when truth be told you're falling apart on the inside. You may tell yourself, no one will understand, or do they really care? I have been like that and I'm working on it. Some of the struggles I am facing right now are really hard for me. Not only physically but emotionally as well. At times I feel like everything is happening to me. When I'm out and about in the world it's easy to act happy but when alone the struggle is real.

I saw a quote the other day and it is so relevant.

"sometimes I keep my feelings to myself because it's hard to find someone who understands."

But one thing is that God wants us to bring our struggles to Him. I've been learning that a lot lately. I thought that I could handle everything on my own. I didn't think anyone would understand, I built walls around me and didn't want to let anyone in because of the fear of getting hurt again or what others would think. When I finally realized that I can tell Jesus my Father what I'm going through He is there for me and knows exactly what I'm going through and truly understands.

So now I'm not saying that a friend wouldn't understand or cares as I have several great friends that are like sisters to me, and I talk to them which is awesome, but what it all comes down to is God is the only one that can get me and you through whatever it is we are struggling with.

My prayer is that whatever it may be you are going through right now that God will help you.

Blessings and Shalom,.
Grace Mae  

Long Break....Welcome Back!!!!!!

Hey Everyone,

Long time since I last posted anything on this blog. Truth is life has been crazy and I have been suffering from a lot of health issues.

Let me just start by saying, I have Lymes, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Bartonella. All these have affected my life. I have joint pain, headaches, brain fog, affected my hormones, and more. I am getting better but because it took over 10 years to figure this out it's going to be a long road to recovery.

I'm so glad I am back to posting as I have missed blogging. I have prayed about returning and what the future holds for my blog. I would like to continue with Meditation Mondays. As far as when I will post other things it all depends on how I feel.

One thing by starting this blog back in September 2013 I wanted it to encourage other young women in faith. I'm really praying that through this blog Jesus will shine through me.

Thanks for reading and I hope you will come back.

Blessings,
Grace Mae