New Beginnings

“My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you” 1 Peter 5:12 (NLT).

For the past two years Stacey and Kelly C have pushed, motivated and encouraged me to start a blog. I absolutely love to write; however, I fought this idea over and over again. So, what changed?

On July 25, 2018 before going to bed I read 1 Peter 4. For the next eight days, I had been ignoring the Spirit’s promptings to read 1 Peter. I finally obeyed the Holy Spirit and read not just 1 Peter 4 but I read all of 1 Peter in one sitting. To make a long story short, when I came to 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well” (NLT) I started journaling prayers about using the gifts the Lord has given me well. Out of nowhere I wrote, “Lord, if I am to start a blog, I ask that You help me to step out in faith and begin TODAY.” From the moment that I wrote that prayer, I felt restless that God was doing something but I was not sure what/why/how. God’s clarity came in 1 Peter 5:12, “My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in that grace.” Where Peter ends his letter, is how I begin this blog, which is confirmed by my life verses:

Vertical- “my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it to finish the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus- the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

Horizontal- “I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some” (1 Cor 9:22b) and “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (Heb 10:24).

I have NO idea if what you are going through is from God or from personal choices. What I do know is that God is willing and able to see you through your situation. It is my hope that this blog will help/motivate/encourage you in average, everyday life to “stand firm in [God’s] grace.”

Father, I thank You for this opportunity. I ask Lord, that You will meet this dear reader right where they are. I ask Lord, that as You have encouraged, empowered and emboldened me to step out in faith, that You will do the same for my fellow brothers and sisters. Father, I ask that You will use this site to be a place of encouragment for average, every day life. Far too often, we seek Your gifts and not You as the Giver. Lord, make us sensitive to You. Make us aware of the needs of those around us. May we use the time that You have given us on earth wisely as You prepare us for eternity, in Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.