Thursday Writing...3/28/19...

Good morning,

The theme of today's writing is that anything we hope to achieve in our life is due to the free gift of Grace from God. Included as a factor in Grace is the fact that we have Salvation, but it is not from ourselves. Corinne wrote, "God had an assignment in mind for every person He created. Maybe it could be motherhood, or teaching, or a writer, or any of the thousands of occupations in which people end up." 

Bloom where you are planted (by God)

Blessings

Corinne

Today's Devotional 

"Time of Grace Starts Now"
Written by
Corinne Mustafa

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but be a new and different person
with a fresh newness in all you do and think.

Romans 12:2

"Our behavior gives us reason to wonder. We are strong one day, and weak the next. Devoted one hour, flagging the next. Believing, then unbelieving. Our lives mirror the contours of a roller coaster, highs and lows." quoted from Max Lucado from his book, Grace, Pg. 132

This reminds me of the writing of Paul. He laments the fact that he does what he does not want to do...things he knows he should not do and does not do what he wants to do...things he knows that he should do. As blessed as he was by God and the ministry he was given, he saw how much he fell short of who he wanted to be.

We are all beset by the knowledge of our shortcomings and weaknesses. We tend to berate ourselves and feel humiliation. Some of this has to do with the things we have been told throughout our lives. It also comes from our practice of comparing ourselves with others. This is a shame because God has made each person unique with her own gifts and talents. Yes, some may be more well to do, or smarter, or prettier. We need to remember that the Creator of the universe sculpted us just the way He wanted us to be.

"God had an assignment in mind for every person He created. Maybe it could be motherhood, or teaching, or a writer, or any of the thousands of occupations in which people end up." There is a great quote that I love, “Bloom where you are planted.”(by God) In addition, we need to remember that most of God’s choices to carry out His wishes were “ordinary people.” Would you fit into this definition?

The important thing to embrace is that we receive Grace from God…a free gift that helps us to be the best we can be.

Because of His kindness, 

you have been saved through trusting Christ.
And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. 

Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, 

so none of us can take any credit for it. 

Ephesians 2:8-9
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"GRACE WINS"

Sung by 

Matthew West

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is what is means 

to be people of Grace.

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you

 by the Devotional Writers and the Monthly Writing Staff

 of Women's Focus Ministries.

Blog Writers:

Jan Andersen, Sandy Billingham, Carol Steficek,   

 Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,  Karen Bennett, 

Bre Miller, Cathy Friberg, and  Corinne Mustafa
Betty Espindola,  Lynda Kinnard
Amie Spruiell, and Debbie Rodriguez

Occasional Contributors:

Kathy Bireley, Terri Baker, Beverley Napier,
 Kelly Dobyns, Glenna Williamson,  

Amie Spruiell, and Lisabeth Lipp.