While We’re Becoming — Matt Wertz

Hello friends.  If you know me you know I am a major music lover, and this week one of my favorite singer/songwriters Matt Wertz released a new EP titled “While We’re Becoming.”   This is a must if you want some music to end your winter blues and get you in the mood for spring and summer.  I have been a fan of Matt since his Young Life days and his albums have always been among my favorites in music, and this EP is no different.  As a fan I have enjoyed the progression and maturity of his music over the years and it has only gotten better with time.  “While We’re Becoming” is a familiarly refreshing album that gives long-time fans the classic Wertz sound they have come to love, while providing them with a new and fresh side to his music.  If you want some new music this album will not disappoint.

Song to listen to: Sing My Lonesome Away

Trusting Him in the Road Ahead

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”  ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust is something we all struggle with from time to time.  I know for me it is hard, especially when I do not know what is ahead.  I am a planner by nature, and I like to know exactly what is going on.  However, God has reminded me lately to rest in Him and not to stress or have so many questions over what is ahead. I will graduate in one year from seminary, and I already have a myriad of questions running through my head — “What am I supposed to do following graduation?, Where should I look for a job?, What type of ministry should I get involved with?, etc.”  As these questions have gone through my mind God has reminded me of the past and how through every season He has been faithful to guide me.  It does not matter if I do not know what to expect in my future, but what does matter is that I stay obedient to the Lord and trust in His daily guidance.  It is comforting to me during times of the unknown to know that Jesus loved me so much that He died on the cross so that I might have life.  Trusting in that great love can never lead me wrong and that is the only consistent thing that brings peace in all of my uncertainty.  I pray that wherever you are that you can trust God today with your uncertainties and that you can find the peace that comes with resting in Him.

Wishing For a Snow Day..

I am currently sitting at my parent’s house trying to think of something to blog about. However, the only thing I am thinking of at the moment is how I hope to wake up in the morning to a winter wonderland. I feel like such a little kid..haha! I cannot think of a better way to start my Christmas vacation than for it snow. However, if I do not get my wish I will have to settle for pictures of the snow that were taken this past March..I have shared one of my favorites for your enjoyment! I hope to spend more quality time writing on here over break so I will return soon with hopefully some deeper food for thought and of course some updated pictures of the SNOW!  Merry Christmas friends! 🙂

Encouragement from the words of Helen Keller

“I thank God for my handicaps for through them I have found myself, my work, and my God.”

~Helen Keller

This is one of my favorite quotes that always inspires me. Every time I read it I am reminded once again that God does use our so called “handicaps” whatever they may be to mature us as a person, and grow us closer to Him. Helen was a remarkable woman who did not let her struggles of being blind and deaf define her life. Instead of drowning in self-pity she allowed her disability to make her stronger, and it became a blessing in many ways rather than a curse.

I can relate to this in my own life. I have grown up with a disability called Cerebral Palsy. Because of my CP, I have dealt with numerous challenges throughout my life, and recently been reminded of those challenges more than ever. However, as I look back on the struggles I have had I am thankful for them because they have helped mold me into the woman I am today. Even though my life has been hard at times due to CP, it has been during those struggles that I have truly matured and most importantly grown closer to Jesus! Some of my biggest revelations in life have come in part to the struggles I have dealt with. Do I believe that Jesus rejoices in the suffering of His children? No, but I do believe that He will work everything out for His good, and will use our experiences to glorify Himself (Romans 8:28).

We all have our own set of “handicaps” we struggle with, and it is often hard to have a good perspective. Recently, that has been difficult for me. However, the Lord has reminded me of His faithfulness throughout my entire life, and no matter what He allows in this life I can find joy because He is my Savior. It is not about me and my desires but about Him and His. Once we drop the selfish attitude is when we start to learn from what He is doing whether it is good or bad. No matter what struggle you are facing right now be encouraged that God does love you and wants to work in you. He can make something good come out of the worst of days. So just like our friend Helen Keller take some time to “thank God for our handicaps for through them we can find ourselves, our work, and our God.”

Francis Chan – Praying Proverbs 30:7-9

This video speaks for itself so watch this, pray this, and be encouraged! Happy Sunday everyone!

What are You Delighting in Today?

One of my favorite verses in the Psalms is Psalm 37:4, which states, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Many think this means that God will give them what they personally want. However, what the verse really means is that when we seek the Lord and make Him our everything He will give us His desires. Although, if we are honest, that is not what we want to hear at times. We want God to give us what we want, at the time we want it. We want God to send us our future spouse now, to allow us to have a baby now, get the job that we want now, or to be healed of a sickness now. None of those examples are bad desires, and are God given ones, but where we so often miss the mark is when we put those desires before our desire for Jesus Christ. As I was reading this verse the other day I was convicted that I too often get wrapped up in what I want instead of sitting at the feet of Jesus and simply asking, “What do you want from me today Lord, show me your desires.” It’s a choice we have to make daily. Are we going to delight in the Lord and seek His face because we love what he loves, or are we going to continue to dwell on what we want?

God wants the best for His children and He desires for our desires to be fulfilled. However, He wants us to seek Him first and trust Him to do what He thinks is best. When we do that our desires will be His, and only then will we be truly content. Who are you delighting in today? Yourself or Jesus? I have attached a song to this post titled “Choose” by Christy Nockels. Listen to it and make it your prayer for today. Spend some time with the Savior and ask, “What do you want Jesus?”

Why My Walk of Grace?

Hello friends and welcome to my new blog. If you know me and have visited my blog before you will notice that some changes have taken place including the change of name, and that my previous posts are no longer here. I love to write, and share my story and the Lord has been leading me to be more purposeful in doing that through my blog. The name “My Walk of Grace” originated with the help of my friend Renee (check out her awesome blog at: http://devotionaldiva.com). I chose it because it describes my life both spiritually as well as physically. I am so thankful to be saved by the grace of Jesus Christ, and humbled to receive that grace everyday. I also have a disability called Cerebral Palsy that requires me to use arm-crutches to assist with my walking, It is only by His grace that I am able to get up and walk each day and there is not a day that goes by that I do not thank God for giving me that ability. I hope that you will continue to visit my blog as I continue to share about “my walk of grace,” and I look forward to learn about yours as well.

Summer is here!

Hello friends and family –
Sorry for my lack of updates these days. Life has been crazy busy with all that school has to offer. However, I am thankful to say that I finished my first semester of seminary with great success. I am taking summer classes starting in July, but until then I am enjoying visiting with my parents and I am going to help out during training at Camp Cedar Cliff (the camp I have worked at the past two summers). I am looking forward to that. It will give me a chance to see camp friends and enjoy Asheville, which is one of my favorite places to be! 🙂
Also, as many of you may already know, my dad lost his job of thirty years in March. He started a temp job around a week ago, but is not the best work environment and it is different than anything he has ever done. However, it is a job and we know that God works out all things for His good. Please continue to pray for dad as he is working this job and that God uses him to be a light in such a dreary place. Also, pray that God will provide another job in his timing if that be his will. Thanks so much for praying! Please let me know if there is anything I can be praying for you about! You guys are amazing! I love you all! Will write again soon–I promise! 🙂

He Has Done Great Things!!

” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”  ~Psalm 126:3

As I think back over the past year, I marvel at the great things the Lord has done in my life.  He has taught me so much about Himself and who I am in Him.  He has also guided me into what is now a new season in my life.  One year ago I would have told you “Absolutely Not” if you asked me was I considering futhering my education immediately following  my undergraduate degree.  However, over the past six months the Lord slowly began to change my perspective, and gave me the desire to pursue my masters in counseling.  Counseling is a field that has been an interest of mine since high school, but not something I felt led to pursue until now.

So here I am months later getting ready to move back to Wake Forest, North Carolina where I also spent a year of my undergrad, to pursue my masters in Biblical Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.   I am excited about this transition, and know that it is exactly what the Lord wants me to do.  The Lord has confirmed in so many ways that I am doing the right thing, and has so graciously provided me the means to do it.    He has allowed me to receive a full tuition scholarship, and a scholarship that also provides for part of my housing.  Thanks to all  of you who prayed with me regarding that.  Without this provision I would not be able to continue my education.  I am in awe of how God provides for His children in His time and that it is always enough, and that I should never doubt that God is in control of every detail of my life.

As we are now in the beginning of 2009, I look forward to all God has in store for me in the upcoming year.  I am excited about being back in WF reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, and most importantly serving Him daily!  Thanks to my friends and family for your continued support and prayers during this time.  You guys are awesome and I love you!  I will do my best to keep you updated via the blog.

Since I did not post before Christmas I hope you all had a good holiday and are beginning this new year refreshed, and that you take some time today to thank God for the great things He has done in your life!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🙂