Amazing Grace

I attended my churches women's retreat this weekend. I can sum up what I learned with the very last words spoken at the retreat. We all, as Christian sisters, stood side by side, some hand in hand, some tears streaming down their cheeks, some sitting with so much emotion, some raising their arms so high, as to reach Jesus and say, pull me up with you. We stood there and sang Amazing Grace. It was so pure. So clean. So amazing, just as the name of the song. We talked so much about the grace that He has given us. The undeserving grace, that no one earned, that no one could even know how to ask for. We talked about the grace bestowed upon each of us. We talked about the grace we, as Christians, should give each other. That we should be reminded of Jesus and how he scooped us up. We need to be Jesus on Earth to others. Especially within our church.
Lisa Harper was the key speaker this weekend. She is such a great speaker. She brings the Bible and the stories to life. In a way you won't forget. A way you feel like you were there. You feel like the character she is talking about. Or you feel like the character she is teaching us not to be. That is the painful part. She reminded us of this story in John 8

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."


That is so powerful. I have read this before, but they way she read it and illustrated it, the Lord was talking to me about something different from the story. A few things I will take from Lisa sharing this story are
1) In the second part of verse 6, you see that Jesus bent down... He bent down to speak to her, to shade her body from the crowd. To show that He doesn't think she is under him in anyway. This is a man you is sinless. He is the sparkling water among the sewer. And He bends down to her. That is the first sign of grace right there.
2) He of course says in verse 7 that if anyone has not sinned, they may cast the stone. I love that it is so clear in this verse that we have no right to judge, but yet we do. Especially when we say, 'I'm not judging them...but..'. Who are we kidding. Ourselves. That is who. We have no right to judge. Jesus doesn't say, if you have not committed adultery..he says sin. When you meet someone that is falling down because of their lack of following the Lord, that is when we need to reach out to them and show grace. Not judgement. Look into your own heart. Did you pass judgement? Did you gossip about someone that day? What sin have you committed that maybe only your Heavenly father knows of? And he does know. Save your judgement for dinner....is it good? or bad?
3) This is the biggest visual of grace for me. In verse 11 He says, "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Ahhhh. He doesn't say, repeat after me. He doesn't say, commit to church every Sat, Sun and Wed. He doesn't tell her to go and memorize a prayer. He doesn't tell her to confess all of her sins. He give her grace and instructions...'Go now and leave your life of sin.' He is telling us that the grace given to us, that we didn't earn, bc we are not capable of earning that kind of grace, is freely given by Him. Then he is telling us, walk away from the sin in your life. Go forward...

I know we will continue to sin every day. We are not Jesus. We are not without sin. And I think if you look at your week and say, "Oh I was so Christ like this week and didn't sin!" Then the enemy is just sitting there with you like a puppet. But what we can do is try so hard to strive and be Christ like. And when we fall short...and oh we will fall short...recognize it..ask for forgiveness from Him and from the person we may hurt. That is what He wants.

It was such a great weekend! I am so blessed to get to go to PBC retreat!

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see. "

Easter

When I hear the word Easter, the first thing that comes to mind Jesus and what He did for us. The next is the song we sang every Easter growing up, in church. It is just refreshing...uplifting.. reminder that we all can have a new life in Him. Just reminds me of innocents of childhood and not seeing the "real" world around me!

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning from now on!
Ev'ry day's resurrection day, the past is over and gone!

Good-bye guilt, good-bye fear, good riddance! Hello, Lord, Hello, sun!
I am one of the Easter People! My new life has begun!

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning from now on!
Ev'ry day's resurrection day, the past is over and gone!

Daily news is so bad it seems the Good News seldom gets heard.
Get it straight from the Easter People! God's in charge spread the word!

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning from now on!
Ev'ry day's resurrection day, the past is over and gone!

Yesterday I was bored and lonely; But today look and see!
I belong to the Easter People! Life's exciting to me!

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning from now on!
Ev'ry day's resurrection day, the past is over and gone!
Ev'ry morning is Easter morning,
Ev'ry morning is Easter morning,
Ev'ry morning is Easter morning,
From now on!

Trip to Denver

Chloe had a ball in Denver. Flying with Ninny, Ally's 3rd birthdya party! Lots of hockey with Evan and Grant. Playing with sweet Camdyn and the best.....Her amazing Aunt who let them have green hair on St. Patrick's Day! Not to mention go out in the snow with no shoes!!!!!

While Chloe spent last week in Denver with her cousins and Ninny, we spent the week with a family of 5. It was so different. Anytime I was getting people ready, making lunch, getting in and out of the car...I thought...this is a breeze! But I sure missed my Chloe!

We did get to do some stuff with just the little kids. We went to the park a lot. It was fun to see Laurel and Anabelle playing with each other non stop. They didn't have Chloe to run after... And they actted like Corbin was such the "baby brother". It was a really fun experience. We took Laurel and Anabelle to see Horton Hears a Who! They were so cute. It was a cute movie..but watching them watch it was even cuter. Hearing Anabelle say, (about the Kangaroo)"She is mean" at the top of her voice, was darling...only in a kid movie though. Popcorn was the best part about the movie..oh and the M&Ms. They told me, "We are like Chloe!" She is their idol! Well, here are some pics! of course!

We prayed for snow!!!!!

We got just a little bit of snow 1 week ago. Just enough to say it snowed in Dallas. Just enough to get a little bit to make snow ice cream for the kids. Just enough to think it might be Christmas time! Then Wednesday night rolled around. I was saying prayers with Chloe when she said, "Mom, I think snow is my favorite season." At this point I had not bothered to look at the news, and we had no idea what the weather prediction was to be. We said our prayers...we thanked God for everything we have, our friends, family and our hearts that love Him, for the way we are like Him each day..the ways he has given us and taught us to make him joyful when he looks at us. We asked for his forgiveness when we sin...we talked about the sins we each experienced that day..disobeidence...unkind words, selfishness, for the times we are not following His word. Then we asked him to watch over us..to give us strength to love the friends that are hard to love, to give us courage to help others, to give us help with the areas our heart doesn't follow Him. Then lastly, we quietly and with big smiles both said...'Lord, please, if you have time...let it snow again."
Not thinking about our prayer again, I took the kids to school the next day. By noon I was bundling up and heading up to school to get the kids early. By 2 we had the most beautiful snow flakes. I thought none of it was going to stick. Then Fred calls that he is on his way home, around 3. By 5 we had so much snow. It was the best Thursday ever! I was making some snacks for the kids when Chloe ran into the kitchen and said, "Mom, we prayed for it..God is so good!" I said, "You are right!"
That is all she could talk about the rest of the day! She was so thrilled!
We all stayed a little cold going in and out.. she went to a hill and got to sled! The kids made a snow man. But it was cold and wet outside. The next day, we still had some snow, but the evening came in warm and melted it away. Our snowman lasted through the weekend. All we had left today were 2 celery arms laying in the grass! Hey, we had to use what we could find! Anyway, Friday night when we were saying prayers again...Chloe said, "Mom, I think we shouldn't pray for snow tonight...some people might be too cold already." I told her, "You are probably right. We should stick to prayers tonight to really help people."
Anyway, it was great! I am so glad we had our snow. Now, I am ready for flip flops! Winter is complete for me....

Williams Wedding!

Well, Ginny and Neal are married! It was a beautiful wedding and they are so happy! Enjoy some pics I put together of the weekend!

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Laurel and Anabelle had their last Ballet class today. They were so cute and proud. Laurel definately loves Ballet. Anabelle just seems to love doing something that is busy!