Imparting Grace: April 2022

Sunday, April 24

Prayers for the week X

Hello, friends! Thank you for joining me here for prayer.

I like to start every day with the Lord's Prayer, and I pray throughout the day for various needs. But sometime during my workday, I like to pause and just spend a moment apart—a little time to re-orient my thoughts, a brief respite to center my thoughts once again on God.

If that sounds like something that would be nourishing to your soul, too, I'd love for you to join me. Here are small prayers to share for each day of the week.

Sunday

Pause for prayer: Lord, we worship you alone. So many things in this world clamor for our attention, tug at our hearts, commandeer our time--but you and you alone deserve our worship. Thank you for being a God who is so worthy of praise. Amen.

Monday

Pause for prayer: Lord, you tell us to love you with our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We acknowledge that this is the good and right way to live, but we need your help to put these words into action. Help us to trust you and obey. Amen.

Tuesday

Pause for prayer: Lord, when we’re stressed about all that needs to be done, we are so grateful that our standing as your beloved children doesn’t depend upon us. Thank you for your care for us and for the promise that nothing will ever separate us from your love. Amen.

Wednesday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as we reach the midpoint of this week, we are awed to think that we'll never, never get to the end of your love for us. No matter what stretches out before us, your love reaches even farther. Help us to receive it thankfully and share it joyfully. Amen.

Thursday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as we move through this day, we remember that it is only in you that we “live and move and have our being.” Help us to let go of anxiety, recognizing that we are held and loved by you. You hold everything together; help us to trust you. Amen.

Friday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as the week winds to a close, we remember that you are with us, and you’ve been with us every moment, even in those times when we felt desperately alone. Thank you for your presence. Help us to rest secure in your embrace, confident of your love. Amen.

Saturday

Pause for prayer: Lord, you are good. You are good. You are good. We say this over and over—not because you need us to sing your praises, but because we need to remember the truth and live in it. Thank you. Amen.

In my mind's eye, I like to picture all of us pausing to pray these prayers at some point during each day. Isn't that a lovely thought?

Grace and peace to you this week!

Thursday, April 21

Grace at Home No. 465

Hello friends!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter Sunday and that you're enjoying a beautiful Easter season. In addition to a beautiful church service, here was the highlight of my Easter Sunday:

Yes, this is my grandson Jackson! Wow, what fun it is to share a special day with a little fellow.

Now to share a bit of the backstory with you. Jackson and his mommy are here visiting Grandma and Grandpa because Jackson's daddy, my oldest son Will, is currently deployed. Will is a pilot with the U.S. Navy, and he left for deployment a few weeks ago. Jackson is currently 15 months old, and his daddy will be gone for six months.

If you've ever wondered what it's like for military families, I can tell you that there are many, many positives regarding service in the U.S. armed forces. In times of volunteer armed services, these men and women sign up for their jobs. They work hard but receive good compensation and benefits. But there's no way around it: long separations really are hard for everyone involved. Our daughter-in-law and grandson are spending some of Will's deployment visiting family. They'll be with us about a month.

So. . . things have been hopping around here! So much so that I haven't had a chance to choose features from last week's Grace at Home party, but I still want to give you the opportunity to link up this week!

Here at the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your space with truth, goodness, and beauty. I invite you to link posts about

DIY projects
decorating
recipes
hospitality
homemaking tips
parenting
marriage
faith
self-care
soul care

Whatever you do to make your home or sphere of influence a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it. Here's what I ask of you. Please include the permalink to your post, not your blog's home page. Please let people know that you've linked up. No more than three posts per person, please. Note that if you link a post here, you are giving me permission to share your post, including a photo. And visit at least one of the other party participants--that's what really makes it a party!

Sunday, April 17

Prayers for the week IX

A blessed Eastertide to you!

I pray that your Easter celebration is full of joy and the wonderful knowledge that Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed!

And now it is a special joy for me to share some daily prayers with you.

If that sounds like something that would be nourishing to your soul, too, I'd love for you to join me. Here are small prayers to share for each day of the week.

Sunday

Pause for prayer: Lord, you are so good. You alone are worthy of our worship, and today we fall in worship at your feet as we contemplate the fact that you defeated every enemy, even death, as you provided for our eternal adoption into your family. Thank you! Amen.

Monday

Pause for prayer: Lord, some days life is so hard. On those days especially we thank you for your loving kindness toward us—love so great that you would stop at nothing to make a way for us to enter into your eternal circle of life and love. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Tuesday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as we consider all the work that faces us, we are reminded that you chose to be a humble servant, and you invite us to a life of service as well. Help us to turn away from pridefulness and to join you in loving people exceptionally well. Amen.

Wednesday

Pause for prayer: Lord, no matter how broken and messy our lives may be, you come to us as a friend, accepting and loving us. Thank you for your constant presence and your enduring love. Help us to share your love with others just as you've shared so freely with us. Amen.

Thursday

Pause for prayer: Lord, we are overwhelmed by your goodness and generosity and all-encompassing love. Thank you that we can never be separated from your love. Help us to follow your example of humble sacrifice and service rather than grappling for power and position. Amen.

Friday

Pause for prayer: Lord, we owe everything to you. Not just forgiveness of sins, although we are grateful for that. But you’ve done much more than that. You’ve included us in your eternal life and love. You’ve made us your children. You are so good to us, and we thank you. Amen.

Saturday

Pause for prayer: Lord, you are good--so good that we struggle to find words to express your goodness. So we fall back on the old phrase that's been around for so many years and say "God is love." Help us to believe it as well as proclaim it. Amen.

In my mind's eye, I like to picture all of us pausing to pray these prayers at some point during each day. Isn't that a lovely thought?

Grace and peace to you this week!

Thursday, April 14

Grace at Home No. 464

Hello, friends, and a blessed Holy Week to you! I pray that today finds you in a spacious frame of mind for contemplating all that this week represents.

I'm so glad to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. It's been especially delightful to see the ways you all are preparing for Easter. Now here are some highlights from last week's party.

Do you need some inspiration for decorating your home for springtime? Don't miss Coco's home tour at The Crowned Goat.

Still need some things (other than candy) to fill an Easter basket? Alison at Organized Motherhood can help you!

Want some ideas for setting a beautiful Easter table? Check out this lovely tablescape from Lori at Dining Delight.

Want to do some special baking for Easter? Try these hot cross buns, courtesy of Lois from Walking on Sunshine Recipes.

Or tell children the Easter story in a special way by making "Resurrection Rolls." Joy from Artful Homemaking shares an excellent recipe.

Easter is the most beautiful part of springtime, but Spring can also bring terrible storms. Lazy Budget Chef shares some advice for preparing for severe weather in budget-friendly ways.

Find yourself struggling to rest even when you know you should? Please read this post from Michele Morin at Living Our Days.

Lastly, if you find yourself in need of an aid as you prepare your heart for Easter, I'd love to give you a collection of readings and hymns I've put together; simply click here.

Thank you to everyone who joined last week! Now for this week's party. Here at the Grace at Home party, you can link up any post you've written that demonstrates how you're filling your space with truth, goodness, and beauty. I invite you to link posts about

DIY projects
decorating
recipes
hospitality
homemaking tips
parenting
marriage
faith
self-care
soul care

Sunday, April 10

Prayers for the week VIII

Blessings to you, my friends! I'm so glad to welcome you to pray with me each day.

If that sounds like something that would be nourishing to your soul, too, I'd love for you to join me. Here are small prayers to share for each day of the week.

Since this is Holy Week, you may find yourself wanting to have some additional inspiration. Click here for a free download of a collection of readings and hymns I've put together.

And now for our brief shared prayers.

Sunday

Pause for prayer: Lord, we worship you. We call your name blessed. Help us to do more than to go through the motions of worship, though. Move our hearts to welcome you into our lives. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to recognize you as King of Kings. Amen.

Monday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as we begin this new week, help us to remember that we are not alone. Thank you for presence with us. And thank you for the privilege of working with you to bring love and healing to a hurting world. Give us strength to do the work appointed to us. Amen.

Tuesday

Pause for prayer: Lord, thank you for being with us. Help us to know that, although we may feel alone, you are never absent from us. Teach us to live in assurance that you are with us and for us, and help us to extend the grace and friendship you give to those around us. Amen.

Wednesday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as we consider that this week is half over, help us to take heart. There’s so much to do, and we often feel inadequate, but your grace is sufficient for us. May we draw strength from your strength, love from your love, and joy from your joy. Amen.

Thursday

Pause for prayer: Lord, we are rushing through days, weeks, months. Help us to slow down. Teach us that we don’t need to scramble to perform and impress, but that we can just do our best while we live in assurance of your love for us and your presence and patience with us. Amen.

Friday

Pause for prayer: Lord, the week is winding down; help us finish it well. The world feels so unsafe right now, so we ask for your help. Strengthen us to do what we can to protect the most vulnerable, and teach us to rest in the knowledge that we are forever safe with you. Amen.

Saturday

Pause for prayer: Lord, thank you for your love for us. So often we feel unacceptable, yet you accept us completely, just as we are. Sometimes this feels too good to be true, yet it is true. Help us believe this truth and allow it to shape our hearts and minds for good. Amen.

In my mind's eye, I like to picture all of us pausing to pray these prayers at some point during each day. Isn't that a lovely thought?

Grace and peace to you this week!

Thursday, April 7

Grace at Home No. 463

Hello, hello! March is over, which means March Madness is finally over, and all of us here in the North Carolina Triangle can breathe a sigh of relief. Congratulations to all you Kansas fans--what an amazing finish to a wonderful season.

I'm so glad to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Here are some features from last week:

If you've done any furniture shopping lately, you know it's hard to find just what you want without waiting weeks or months for your items to arrive (thanks, global supply chain issues!). Used furniture, then, is the way to go, but if you need to change the look of what you can find, you're going to be inspired by Angela from Simply Beautiful by Angela.

Want to create a quick Easter craft? Lisa from Fresh Vintage by Lisa shows you how to make these darling bunnies from vintage hankies or other squares of fabric.

Are you planning to host an Easter dinner? You'll love the table inspiration provided by Pam from Everyday Living.

If you are planning an Easter dinner, you might want to make a lamb cake—but how? Carol from Comfort Spring Station shares 16 different ways!

If you want an even simpler treat that kids will love, Lois from Walking on Sunshine Recipes can help—check out these darling chocolate pudding peeps!

Do you need a super-fast and easy meal idea that kids will eat? Cassie from The Lou Lou Girls can help: kids will love these pigs in blankets made in the air fryer.

In addition to Easter, springtime also gives me renewed energy for caring for this beautiful planet on which we live. Sometimes the environment-friendly ideas offered are almost ridiculously expensive, but Lisa from Condo Blues offers some great zero-waste ideas that are also budget-friendly.