Imparting Grace

Thursday, April 14

Grace at Home No. 464

Hello, friends, and a blessed Holy Week to you! I pray that today finds you in a spacious frame of mind for contemplating all that this week represents.

I'm so glad to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. It's been especially delightful to see the ways you all are preparing for Easter. Now here are some highlights from last week's party.

Do you need some inspiration for decorating your home for springtime? Don't miss Coco's home tour at The Crowned Goat.

Still need some things (other than candy) to fill an Easter basket? Alison at Organized Motherhood can help you!

Want some ideas for setting a beautiful Easter table? Check out this lovely tablescape from Lori at Dining Delight.

Want to do some special baking for Easter? Try these hot cross buns, courtesy of Lois from Walking on Sunshine Recipes.

Or tell children the Easter story in a special way by making "Resurrection Rolls." Joy from Artful Homemaking shares an excellent recipe.

Easter is the most beautiful part of springtime, but Spring can also bring terrible storms. Lazy Budget Chef shares some advice for preparing for severe weather in budget-friendly ways.

Find yourself struggling to rest even when you know you should? Please read this post from Michele Morin at Living Our Days.

Lastly, if you find yourself in need of an aid as you prepare your heart for Easter, I'd love to give you a collection of readings and hymns I've put together; simply click here.

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, April 10

Prayers for the week VIII

Blessings to you, my friends! I'm so glad to welcome you to pray with me each 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.

Since this is Holy Week, you may find yourself wanting to have some additional inspiration. Click here for a free download of a collection of readings and hymns I've put together.

And now for our brief shared prayers.

Sunday

Pause for prayer: Lord, we worship you. We call your name blessed. Help us to do more than to go through the motions of worship, though. Move our hearts to welcome you into our lives. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to recognize you as King of Kings. Amen.

Monday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as we begin this new week, help us to remember that we are not alone. Thank you for presence with us. And thank you for the privilege of working with you to bring love and healing to a hurting world. Give us strength to do the work appointed to us. Amen.

Tuesday

Pause for prayer: Lord, thank you for being with us. Help us to know that, although we may feel alone, you are never absent from us. Teach us to live in assurance that you are with us and for us, and help us to extend the grace and friendship you give to those around us. Amen.

Wednesday

Pause for prayer: Lord, as we consider that this week is half over, help us to take heart. There’s so much to do, and we often feel inadequate, but your grace is sufficient for us. May we draw strength from your strength, love from your love, and joy from your joy. Amen.

Thursday

Pause for prayer: Lord, we are rushing through days, weeks, months. Help us to slow down. Teach us that we don’t need to scramble to perform and impress, but that we can just do our best while we live in assurance of your love for us and your presence and patience with us. Amen.

Friday

Pause for prayer: Lord, the week is winding down; help us finish it well. The world feels so unsafe right now, so we ask for your help. Strengthen us to do what we can to protect the most vulnerable, and teach us to rest in the knowledge that we are forever safe with you. Amen.

Saturday

Pause for prayer: Lord, thank you for your love for us. So often we feel unacceptable, yet you accept us completely, just as we are. Sometimes this feels too good to be true, yet it is true. Help us believe this truth and allow it to shape our hearts and minds for good. Amen.

In my mind's eye, I like to picture all of us pausing to pray these prayers at some point during each day. Isn't that a lovely thought?

Grace and peace to you this week!

Thursday, April 7

Grace at Home No. 463

Hello, hello! March is over, which means March Madness is finally over, and all of us here in the North Carolina Triangle can breathe a sigh of relief. Congratulations to all you Kansas fans--what an amazing finish to a wonderful season.

I'm so glad to welcome you to the Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace and beauty. Here are some features from last week:

If you've done any furniture shopping lately, you know it's hard to find just what you want without waiting weeks or months for your items to arrive (thanks, global supply chain issues!). Used furniture, then, is the way to go, but if you need to change the look of what you can find, you're going to be inspired by Angela from Simply Beautiful by Angela.

Want to create a quick Easter craft? Lisa from Fresh Vintage by Lisa shows you how to make these darling bunnies from vintage hankies or other squares of fabric.

Are you planning to host an Easter dinner? You'll love the table inspiration provided by Pam from Everyday Living.

If you are planning an Easter dinner, you might want to make a lamb cake—but how? Carol from Comfort Spring Station shares 16 different ways!

If you want an even simpler treat that kids will love, Lois from Walking on Sunshine Recipes can help—check out these darling chocolate pudding peeps!

Do you need a super-fast and easy meal idea that kids will eat? Cassie from The Lou Lou Girls can help: kids will love these pigs in blankets made in the air fryer.

In addition to Easter, springtime also gives me renewed energy for caring for this beautiful planet on which we live. Sometimes the environment-friendly ideas offered are almost ridiculously expensive, but Lisa from Condo Blues offers some great zero-waste ideas that are also budget-friendly.