Going, Going, Gone...

As 2016 draws to a close, I've been seeing a lot of tips about setting goals for the new year. Therefore, I've decided to come up with a few of my own:

1. Show up for your life everyday. Don't give way to discouragement.

2. Set realistic goals and don't beat yourself up if you fall short. 

3. Build a support system of people who will encourage and support you in meeting your goals. 

4. Don't fall into the comparison trap.

5. Take time to celebrate the small victories along the way. 

6. Practice gratitude. 

7. Allow room for life to happen because believe me, it will!

8. If you are recovering from trauma, accomplishing simple, everyday tasks can be overwhelming. Take breaks when necessary. Allow yourself Spiritual Whitespace. 

9. If you find yourself going through a difficult season, remember that this too shall pass.

Happy New Year!

sitting at His feet,

Valarie

Grace As a Love Language

"She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A

crown of glory she will deliver to you."

Proverbs 4:9 (NKJV)

I was reading this blog post on Incourage.me when this quote stood out:

"Justice is God's righteousness made right in the restoring of what is good in the same

way grace is His love language."

If your familiar with the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, he lists quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch as love languages. As we have so generously received the gift of grace, what if we were to adapt grace as a love language that we extend lavishly to others everyday?

Real Housewives of Samaria

"The greatest form of charity is to withhold judgment." ~ Jean B. Bingham

I learned something amazing about the Samaritan woman (John 4:4-30). She went to the well in the heat of the day to avoid the stares, the pointing. the chatter, and the gossip among the villagers. How many times have we avoided people out of shame or a fear of condemnation because of the mistakes or poor choices we've made? I know I have. Shame and the fear of judgment can paralyze us to such a degree that we stay inside all day with the shades pulled down. Like the Samaritan woman, we dare to venture out only when we're certain that no one else is around. We stay on the sidelines of living, never getting in the game....

What's interesting is that the moment she encountered Jesus, all of that fell by the wayside. Prior to her encounter with Jesus, she sought fulfillment in all the wrong places; but when she was filled with that which only He could give, she couldn't keep it to herself. She forgot about her sin and her shame and ran to tell the very people she use to go out of her way to avoid about Jesus. 

While we've all had our share of "at the well" moments, there have also been times when we've been like the people of Samaria, the "Real Housewives" of their day. If only we could offer one another the freedom that the Samaritan woman was offered that day...

sitting at His feet,

Valarie