When Grace Cradles Faith

Today I saw

Grace cradle Faith…

Wonder and awe at the newness of life

Faith cradled by Grace

Sweet sisters...

Tender lullabies whispered gently...

a prelude of things to come...

giggles under blankets...

talks heart to heart...

Faith resting

Grace holding

Hearts bonding

Love growing

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1 TNIV

 God's grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ.

Your salvation doesn't come from anything you do.

It is God's gift

Ephesians 2:8 NIRV

Faith - expects much

Grace – gives abundantly

Faith – believes expectantly

Grace – delivers sure

Faith – builds up

Grace – holds together

Faith – reaches out

Grace – pours down

Ruby Faith

May 20, 2011

8 lbs. 15 oz.

21 1/2 “

Embrace faith and rest in His grace today...

Simple Joys – Letting Go and Stepping Out

Please visit Jan at

Simple Joys in Our Life

Is there anything much cuter than watching a baby learn to walk?

The wide legged stance

Intense concentration

Elbows bent and drawn in closely

That GRIN!!

My youngest granddaughter started walking this week. She had been standing alone for a while and taking one or two tentative steps before dropping to a crawl.

Her balance had been good for some time, but her confidence was lacking.

This week she decided she could do it on her own.

One step...two...then three and four...and now...

There is no stopping her...

Her delight at this new discovery is her family’s joy...

Can you imagine our Heavenly Father’s joy when His children finally take their first steps?

After providing His Word as our support system, He patiently waits for our confidence to build...

He watches as we take a hesitant step or two down the path He has made for us...

He cheers us on with encouragement from our brothers and sisters in Christ...

Then, finally, we realize that we can walk...then run...down that path...because we know He is always there with us, waiting to catch us in His loving arms if we lose our balance or fall...

There is elation in those first steps...but the greatest joy comes from a continued walk with our God...

Nothing can stop us now...

Simple Joys Saturday – Honeysuckles, Soccer, and a Safety Pin

My Australian friend Jan has begun a new meme for Saturdays that celebrates the simple joys in life. Please join her to share what she describes as “the little joys and blessings that uplift our week.”

I enjoyed a sweet memory this week in the form of a scent from childhood. While speeding down the highway towards my home, the aroma of honeysuckle vines filled my car. When I was a child, on lazy summer evenings, my sister and I took joy in plucking honeysuckles from the vine. We would gently remove the flowers and lick the nectar from the bottom of the stem. Simple times, indeed...

My grandchildren were here one afternoon, and my grandson wanted to play soccer with Nanna. Being the athletically impaired grandma that I am, we still had a fun time. Noah was a gracious young man, and spared Nanna the humiliation of being totally annihilated by a 5 year old by changing some of the “rules”...he is such a sweetie...

My granddaughter did not want to go outside since there were no flowers to plant, so she asked to have a safety pin instead. Okay...so why do you want to play with a safety pin? Nanna just doesn’t think sometimes. As she brought to me her preferred “baby” for this visit, in the form of a stuffed young Simba...Katie had a paper towel in her hand and asked, “Will you make me a diaper for baby Simba?” She then proceeded to use her imagination for the rest of the afternoon being the “best mommy”...

Simple joys...great contentment...

Won’t you join us and share one(or more) of your simple joys?

Rhythm of Heaven - A Special Day

Happy 1st birthday

to our little

Kaidence Divinity!

Your name fits you well...

You are a sweet melody to your family

and a little taste of heaven on earth!

We love you!

Nanna and Poppa

Friday Funnies - Georgia Snow

Now all you Northerners may want to skip this post, but we Southern bred gals will understand this completely...

Our state had some snow yesterday and last night. With colder than normal temperatures, it will stick around for a few days instead of melting right away.

Last night my grandkids enjoyed a roaring fire, hot chocolate, and good family time...although they couldn’t “marsh” any marshmallows since the fire came from a fire log...

Anyway, when my 7 year old granddaughter looked out the window this morning, she proclaimed,

“Oh my goodness, Antarctica is here!”

LOL

Enjoy your Friday!

UPDATE

I heard this story second hand. My DIL just gave me the scoop in a comment.

"Actually, (I hope this doesn't spoil it), she said "Manarctica is here!" Which is a name she made up for a Barbie that can throw out popsicles everywhere! I guess like a super hero!? Ha ha! She has her daddy's imagination!"

This just makes it even funnier to me!

The Meat Inside

Did you know that a tiny bag of fake straw will expand to about fifty times its normal size when handled by a 7 year old and a 5 year old?

Did you know that messes left until later will still be there, and every second wasted on cleaning up means less time with the grandkids?

Did you know when we turn around they will be grown?

Why is a pumpkin patch a great place for an October birthday party?

Why is it that a windy day will blow around birthday decorations, hair, and wrapping paper, but the kids will not even notice?

Is there any thing cuter than a baby learning to crawl?

Just how many things can a 6 month old get into when she starts to crawl?

How many times can sweet baby cheeks be kissed?

Does anything smell better than a baby?

Is there anything worse than a proud Nanna?

Is there anything more important on earth than my family?

Are there ever enough hours in the day to hug enough, kiss enough, or love enough?

Are there ever enough words to tell God how much I thank Him for these blessings?

PS...Another piece of nutmeat to follow...

Growing UP! Monday

Yesterday I had the pleasure of having three of my grandchildren over for an afternoon and evening at Nanna and Papa’s house. This was the first time in a while that these three were together just playing and hanging out, instead of at a family get-together with a bunch of grownups.

Two girls and one boy...

All so adorable...but yet so different in personalities

All so loving...but expressing that love in various ways

All so special...each one with distinctive gifts that make them unique

All three so loved by their Nanna...

but not one loved any more or less because of what they can or can not do...each one bringing joy by just being themselves...

I have been reminded this past week that God loves us just as we are...

Not by what we think we can do or not do...

Not by which talents we possess or don’t possess...

Not by how we show our love, but just that we show it ...

He just loves us...period...

In my inbox this morning was this quote that summed it up nicely...

He loves each one of us, as if there were only one of us.

~ St. Augustine of Hippo

I am linking this to Joanne at Growing UP! Monday.

Friday Funnies

Is there any comedian greater than a young child?

My son shared this conversation he had with his 7 year old daughter...

“Guess what I did today, Daddy?”

“I don’t know sweetheart, why don’t you tell me.”

“Me and my friend made a trap for boys!”

“You did?!” How does it work?”

“You take crackers and hand sanitizer and mix them together.”

“Okay...and then what do you do?”

“You bury it and catch boys!”

I am also sharing a favorite clip from the “Carol Burnett Show”.

Have a great Friday!

God STOP Sunday – A New Life

One of the best examples of the Savoring The Observable Presence of the Lord is...holding a brand new life in your arms. Science can talk of cloning and test tube babies all it wants, but the bottom line is...God creates life and no amount of research, government funding, or geniuses can breathe into the dust of the earth and create a living soul. Created by God, in the image of God, and for the glory of God...Amen!

So let me tell you, sisters, when I held my NEW BABY GRANDDAUGHTER today, I was savoring, observing, and proclaiming the Observable Presence of God!

Please welcome Kaidence Divinity!

19 ½ inches

8.76 pounds

Her name means Rhythm of Heaven...does that mean we have another singer in the family?

Please visit Carrie at Thoughts, Ponderings, and Musings for more God STOP moments.

Fun With My Sweeties

What can I say about making graham cracker houses?

More sweets in the floor than on the houses...
More sweets in the tummies than on the floor.....
And the sweetest memories I could have for Christmas eve eve.....

Thank the Lord for Grandkids!!

Of Green Beans and Grace

Yesterday my 4 year old grandson informed me that his sister, who is 6 years old, could jump really high because she ate green beans. I commented that green beans were good for you and that eating them would make you stronger. He replied, “But Nanna, I never eat green beans and I can jump way higher than Katie”. This statement is coming from a child that (in the words of his Dad) only eats foods that are white or yellow and still has the energy and stamina of an Olympic athlete. What type of rebuttal will work in a battle of wits with a 4 year old? “Well, maybe if you would eat some green beans you could jump even higher!” He rolls his blue eyes as if to say “Yeah, right”, but then asks, “Would I jump high enough to reach the ceiling?”


I think we sometimes limit God by not accepting His abundant grace in every facet of our life. We accept His wondrous grace for the salvation for our soul...For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV


Then the time comes when God wants us to do something for Him that maybe we don’t feel quite “qualified” to do. Like Moses, we are full of excuses……


But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11 NLT


But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” Exodus 4:1 NLT


But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Exodus 4:10 NLT


Just let someone else eat the green beans because I don’t like them and I am getting along fine without them and someone else can eat them and someone else can jump all they want cause I can jump just fine without them……


God does not call us to do something without supplying the right amount of grace.


God does not allow us to go through trials without supplying the right amount of grace.


God does not make mistakes.


And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

Nanna's Two Little Blessings

Tonight I was visited by the prettiest Tinkerbell and the coolest Buzz Lightyear on the planet. My grandkids, Katie and Noah, stopped by for a quick visit on their way to a Halloween party. I love being a Nanna!