Imparting Grace

Thursday, March 10

Grace at Home No. 459

Hello and welcome! I'm so glad to have you here for the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty.

With all that's going on in the world, it does my heart good to remember the words usually called "The Serenity Prayer":

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

There's so much we can't control, but we can control how we act in our own homes, and it does my heart good to try to make my home a place of grace and beauty.

Here are some features from last week's party I think you'll enjoy.

Need some home decor inspiration? Then you'll want to take a tour of Renae's house at French Country Farmhouse.

If you just want to make a small decor change in your home, why not start with some new throw pillows? Ann at The Apple Street Cottage shares a full tutorial for an easy sewing project. I'm going to follow her instructions!

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner. If you'd like to add a bit of St. Patrick's fun to your home decor, check out this post from MaryJo at MasterPIECES of my Life.

Want to make a simple treat to serve on St. Patrick's Day? Try one of these!

Marshmallow Pops from Crystal at Crystal and Co.

Shamrock Rice Krispie Treats from Jody at Premeditated Leftovers

Shamrock Pretzels from Drugstore Divas

Looking for some fun activities for kids on St. Patrick's Day? Try one of these.

St. Patrick's Day bingo from Lindsay at ArtsyFartsy Mama

Leprechaun Letter Search from ABC's of Literacy

Need a healthful new main dish recipe? I do! So I was glad to get this recipe for Balsamic Glazed Salmon from Carol at Comfort Spring.

Last but not least, you'll be challenged and comforted by answering the question, "How Well Do We Know Him?" posed by Barbara at Stray Thoughts.

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

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, March 6

Prayers for the week IV

I am being blessed by following a rhythm of posting little "pauses for prayer" for each day of the week. I hope that it's a blessing for you, too! I'd love to have you join me in short prayer every day.

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, you are all-powerful, but you never abuse your power. Instead, you are near to the broken-hearted. Your heart is ever inclined to the suffering. Help us to become more like you: to eschew power, to love selflessly, and pour ourselves out for others. Amen.

Monday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as we begin this week, we ask for grace to do our work well. Help us with our priorities: show us what is most important and what can be done later, given to others, or left undone. Strengthen us to do what we must and to trust you with everything. Amen.

Tuesday

Pause for prayer: Lord, we are grateful that we can bring everything to you. Thank you for caring for us so lovingly, no matter what we’re concerned about. We want to become more like you, so that we can care lovingly for one another. Help us, we pray. Amen.

Wednesday

Pause for prayer: Lord, even as we remember that we are dust, help us now to live—not with heaviness of despair, but in understanding the weight of glory we hold as your image-bearers. Help us to make the most of the time we have to love you and to love one another well. Amen

Thursday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as we survey the landscape of constant conflict, we are tempted to cynicism or despair. But you offer us a different way: a way of faith, hope, and love; a path of righteousness, peace, and joy. Thank you for your grace. Help us walk with you. Amen.

Friday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as this week ends, we know we need rest. Yet the world is filled with so much unrest, it’s hard to settle our minds and spirits. We ask your blessing on the hurting and the vulnerable. Show us how to help them. Help us to trust you in all things. Amen.

Saturday

Pause for prayer: Lord, in the words of your friend Trevor Hudson, "thank you for being the Light that shines into the darkness and has not been put out. Shine your Light into those dark places of our lives and our world that we may live in the surrounding darkness with faith, hope and love." Amen.

I love to picture in my mind's eye all of us pausing to pray these prayers at some point during each day. Won't you join me?

Grace and peace to you this week!

Thursday, March 3

Grace at Home No. 458

Friends, I'm so grateful to greet you today. . . and I can't help but think what a difference a week makes.

If you follow me on Instagram (and I'd love to see you there!), you might have seen this picture:

This is a 17th century bronze cross from Kyiv. It was given to me a number of years ago and is one of my prize possessions. It takes on new significance for me now.

I hardly know how to pray for all that’s going on in the world today. In the face of senseless violence and destruction I feel terribly helpless. But I trust that God is good, so I ask for help, especially for the most vulnerable. Be with them, Lord. And I ask that God will show us the way—the way to help, the way to respond to need, the way to think clearly and act faithfully.

Father have mercy. Jesus have mercy. Spirit have mercy.

And then this weekend I was stunned—although not surprised—by the news that one of my oldest blogging friends, Paula Skulina of Sweet Pea, died. I'm sure many of you knew Paula. You may have seen some of her projects featured here, since she was a regular participant in the Grace at Home party. I first "met" her online more than 10 years ago, and then we met at a Haven conference, where I found her to be just as kind and generous in real life as I knew her to be online. Here's a wonderful photo of Paula, from back before her cancer diagnosis:

Please join me in praying for Paula's husband Dave and Paula's mother, who is now battling cancer herself.

I am grateful for this blogging community, where we support one another in countless ways.

Here are a few highlights from last week's Grace at Home gathering.

Are you ready to decorate your home for Spring? Carol from Blue Sky at Home can help you create a springy entry in 11 easy steps.

If you're feeling crafty, you might like to visit Denise at My Home of All Seasons, who will show you how to make this spring wreath.

Looking forward to Spring Break with your kids? Dave and Jamie from PhotoJeepers have some road trip ideas for you.

Amanda at VeraVise Outdoor Living has Spring Break inspiration to share as well.

If you're like me, you've noticed a real jump in food prices. I'm making a concerted effort not to waste food, so I was glad to see this post from Melynda of Scratch Made Food for Hungry People. I had no idea you could freeze celery!