By the Grace of God

By the Grace of God.

This phrase is used so frequently in Christian circles. I am not sure I fully comprehend its significance. All I can muster is that because of God's grace (and ONLY by the grace of God) something happened.

If we assume this is the definition, it is by the grace of God that I have survived the past three weeks.

To start off, school is back in session, which means balancing homework and work and social life. On top of that, I was filling in for our baker at my workplace, while she was on vacation.

The first week was difficult to bear.

The second week was overwhelmingly filled with despair. I broke down into sobs more than any one person should probably in a given year let alone a week.

I was...
stressed
homesick
exhausted
forgetful
chronically late
clumsy
cranky
negative
hungry
hopeless

I was a complete shell of a human trying to accomplish both work and school.

But on Sunday I rested and planned. Planned for this week--a week that was filled with joy only by the grace of God. I still did everything I did the week before but I did it with much more grace than before. During one of my breakdowns, my mother prayed over me, and I remember her saying if I survived these crazy weeks, it would be through the grace of God.

I guess she was right. :)

~Beth

The Beauty of Rest

Psalms 127: 1

"It is useless for you to work so hard  

from early morning until late at night,

   anxiously working for food to eat;

      for God gives rest to his loved ones."

I love this promise.

As a senior in high school, I discovered this promise for the first time.

God wants us to work hard for Him, but he also gives us rest.

Rest is a precious gift from God.

I treasure it.

Last week, I spent all of the energy my body had been saving.

I worked a fundraiser for a non-profit in town.

At the end, I hit a very definite wall that I had not felt since high school.

The rest of the week, I lacked energy or motivation to do anything.

I was constantly irritable and moody.

Mold is my apartment did not help my lowered immunity.

My voice sounded like a young boy going through puberty the majority of the week.

Snot came out of my nose like an annoying leaking faucet.

I was drained of every ounce of energy, motivation, and joy.

But, then Friday, I drove home to Cape Girardeau, Missouri with my soon to be roommate, Mallory Roth.

There is nothing like a four hour car ride to get to know someone really well.
There is nothing like a four hour car ride with a new friend.
There is nothing like seeing beautiful rainbows on a four hour car ride.

It nourished my soul.

Picture from WeHeartIt

After I dropped her off in St. Gen, I drove to Cape
alone
with Sufjan Stevens on Mallory's ipod.
It was like I had jumped into a giant glass of mint tea for my spirit.
Through, Sufjan's soft, melodic voice, the gorgeous blue sky, and driving alone,

I found rest.
I found peace.
I found joy.

The rest of the weekend followed suit.
I enjoyed time with my family, my friends, and myself.
I lived spontaneously, even for just one weekend.

I can back to Springfield recharged and ready to tackle the week.

I hold firmly to God's beautiful promise that He will always grant His children rest.

GRACE

One of the songs I listened to on my drive...

My Middle Name is Grace

My middle name is Grace. My mom named me after herself. All my life I have wrestled with the concept of grace and what it is. Grace. It can describe a motion that is elegant and beautiful. It can mean to say a prayer before dinner. It can mean an undeserved gift.

I personally am quite clumsy. One look at my kitten heels and one would know that I tend to never look down at my feet when I am walking. I often joke after I trip, fall, or drop something, "My middle name is Grace you know".

Growing up in the Christian church, the word "grace" takes on a lot of different forms. It wasn't until I was older that I began to realize the fullness of God's grace and want that means.

This blog is going to explore all of these different definitions of grace and how I am learning to live in a more graceful manner each day.