Women of Grace | Grace Community Church

Grateful for Life

  

The young woman behind the paint counter darted toward us and nearly knocked my husband over as she got his attention.  We were on a weekend trip to the hardware store when we encountered the saleslady.

"Do you remember me?" she asked my husband.

Eating Worms

 

A  refreshing breeze blew in through the open window over the sink as I washed the dishes. I watched my two preschool daughters playing in the grass below. The beautiful day and view of my children made me a happy mama.

The peaceful scene was disrupted by a wail. "I'm going to tell Mommy on you!"

"Okay, okay, you didn't really eat a worm." The oldest started the damage control fast to keep from getting into trouble. 

This tale is a family favorite from twenty years ago and it still brings a chuckle. But, I've often wondered how my four-year-old convinced my two-year-old that she ate a slimy, disgusting worm. Wouldn't you know something like that, for sure?

Then I wonder how often I actually swallow some of the disgusting half-truths and flat out lies served to me by Satan--the Father of  Lies. I am afraid, more often than I should.

I am so quick to believe:

• I'm not pretty enough
• I'm not spiritual enough
• I'm not skinny enough
• I'm not a good enough parent

And the list goes on and on.

It is at these time that I must ask God to let me hear His truth. Let me see myself as He sees me. I want to know how He feels about me. The only way to do that is to dive into His Word and arm myself with His words to me.

For starters, I reread Zephaniah 3:17--Gods own love letter to all of us.

The Lord your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will take great delight in you;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

That is a message that I can swallow and it beats eating worms.  

Rhodema Cargill attends church in Lindale and helps coordinate Write With Grace and writes regularly at MommyLife

The Fingerprints of God

 
Sometimes a fast trip through a museum can teach us as much as a long, lingering visit. Last week I went to the Museum of Natural History in New York City. With only one day on the schedule for this stop, I had to make every moment count. 

I looked over the museum map after buying my ticket and found the nearest employee. "How long will it take to go through the whole museum?"

Without looking up, she said, "A month, if you want to see every item." She obviously got this question often.   

The urge to meet the challenge took over. Checking my watch, I started off at a fast pace, wishing for roller blades. I wanted to see it all. My husband and teens were left in the dust.

Random Recipient

I pulled up to the drive through window and tried to hand my  $12.47 to the cashier. He held up one hand, smiled and said, "The car ahead already paid for you." I glanced up to see only tail lights disappearing around the corner.

I was the recipient of a random act of kindness. I had heard of these but never thought much about them.

It's Not About You

 I heard a voice say, “I can do that” and realized it was my own!

 

It shouldn’t have been a surprise that I would volunteer to lead a Crown Financial Ministries’ small group study. After all, I was sitting there in the leaders’ training class.

The Glass Half Full

 

A recent electrical storm did a number at our house in the country. In the week after the storm we kept discovering gadgets and appliances that had been destroyed by the lightening strike.

I was exasperated not only with the mounting financial cost but the time it was taking waiting on repairmen. After the third workman showed me scorch marks along with a melted phone jack,  I decided that I should begin measuring our "catastrophe" in a different way.

Queen of Good Intentions

 

I adjust my sash, straighten my crown...no, I'm not a beauty queen, but thanks for the boost to my ego.

 

Don't you recognize me? Surely you have seen me before, perhaps even in your very own mirror.

 

I, my dear friend, am the Queen of Good Intentions.

The Offering

 

Do you ever feel that all you have to offer God is a big, tangled mess?

 

 

Whether it is relationship conflict, family issues or financial failures, we all feel at times that the only thing we can do is crawl into God’s presence and lay the confusing jumble at His feet… and wait for a blast of harsh words in response.

KNOWING THE FATHER

 

The little girl clung tightly to her mother as they entered the room. Her demeanor wasn’t like the other children who smiled and laughed. She was quiet and withdrawn and kept her head on her mother’s shoulder. She appeared to be about four years old and I assumed she was just bashful.

 

Just another Pretty Face

 

Have you ever realized the things that we take for granted? I don’t mean things like we have more money and more food and more jobs than most of the world. I mean, little tiny things. Things like, your eyes open and close when you blink, or sleep. You can chew your food and give someone a huge smile. I know that sounds crazy, but just stick with me for a minute.