greenvalleygrace

It's 2026

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 22:38:23 GMT

It's 2026, and I'm still learning about grace.

God has been teaching me this.

I tend to offer grace to everyone while I try to carry everything else on my own.

Perfectionism.

Performance.

Pressure.

This year, I’m choosing to release those things and rest in God’s promises.

Freedom.

Peace.

Joy.

May my weaknesses remind me that it’s not about me anyway, and that God will meet me there with his strength and his power, for his glory.

And, since he is perfect, I don’t have to try to be.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭

Happy New Year 2025

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 22:29:20 GMT

Happy New Year, 2025!

Happy New Year!

One of my prayers for 2025 is to get even closer with Jesus. To know His peace, His joy, and His great love. Oh how my heart rejoices in His goodness! Let this year be a year we fall in love with Him all over again.

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭63‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Go listen to this song: "Psalm 63 (Live)" by Jeremy Riddle. It's one of my favorites.

Do you really know Him?

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:19:34 GMT

Do you really know Him?

I will look to the Lord and His strength! I will seek His face continually because I long to be in His presence! There’s no better place to be! Nothing compares to knowing Him!

You may be saved - glory to God! But do you really know Him? Do you look forward to meeting with Him? Have you developed an ongoing conversation with Him, talking to Him as you would a friend? Do you open your heart and share your needs and fears and deepest longings? The good news of the day? Your dreams? He wants to hear it all! What a wonderful mystery that the God of the universe wants to spend time with you and with me and with all of His creation! What a Father, what a Friend.

Praise Him!

Thank Him!

He is everything!

"Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."

1 Chronicles 16:11

The Bible in 90 Days

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 19:08:47 GMT

Why I'm reading the entire Bible in just 90 days

For the last several years, it has been my habit to read through the entire Bible in 90 days, beginning in January. I cannot think of a better way to start a new year, or to prepare my heart for Easter, than to spend time prioritizing God’s Word by reading the whole narrative, from beginning to end (in chronological-ish order). You may be surprised to know that this can be accomplished by spending 45 minutes to an hour of reading each day. This is not a deep-dive or in-depth study season. This type of Bible plan offers a different objective. Every Word, the creators of the reading plan I’m following, explain the reasons and the process much better than I can, so I will link to that information below. One of the organizers, Molly Sawyer, explains it this way:

“Reading the Bible chronologically in its entirety in such a short amount of time allows you to uniquely perceive the panoramic picture of God’s redemptive plan – beginning in Genesis, through every book, to Revelation. It allows you to comprehend and retain the greatest and biggest story of all time. The fast pace allows you to remember details and themes making connections throughout Scripture.”

If you have never read through the entire Bible, or if you have never done so in a short period of time, I encourage you to try it! YouVersion has a coordinating reading plan that is easy to follow, and there are many days when I use the audio Bible feature (usually when I go for a walk). There are no hard and fast rules, and if it takes longer than the 90 days, that’s ok! The point is to read the Word! This yearly practice has been absolutely life-changing for me. God’s Word never gets old, never disappoints, always fills me up and meets me right where I am. Will you join me? Have you done this before? I’d love to hear from you!

https://www.everyword90.com

There are several 90-day reading plans in the Bible App. This is the one I am currently following:

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/17142-every-word-a-readers-90-day-guide-to-the-bible

Waiting

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 22:12:12 GMT

Waiting...

I don’t like to wait. It feels like wasting time, like there’s someplace else I could be, doing something else that’s productive and bringing visible results.

But, if I wasn’t forced to wait, I would miss so many things like growth and reflection and rest.

Rest is productive. It’s restorative. It also isn’t easy. I must constantly be reminded to rest in God’s provision, trusting in His goodness, and waiting in His presence.

He never fails.

And He is always right on time.

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭

His Strength Is Perfect

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 21:58:17 GMT

His Strength Is Perfect

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Feeling weak and powerless? Inadequate? Unable or unsure or just a little frustrated? There’s grace for that. In fact, God promises us his strength. When we are weak, he is strong.

Remember that old Steven Curtis Chapman song? I found myself singing it today…

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone

He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on

Raised in his power, the weak become strong

His strength is perfect, his strength is perfect

Go listen to it. I think it will bless you.

Thank him for his grace and strength. Oh, he’s a good God!

Writing As Worship

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 21:45:06 GMT

Sometimes worship looks like a blog post...

...even if it is a super short one.

It’s time I view writing not as something to accomplish, taking a results-oriented approach, but as an act of worship and obedience - a chance to slow down, tune in to God’s presence, and create without worrying what it might look like.

“Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭AMP‬‬

I Have No Idea What I'm Doing

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 21:12:09 GMT

What am I doing here?

I have no idea what I'm doing.

Have you been there? You've stepped out to try something new, and then found yourself wondering what you've gotten yourself into...

I had this great idea to start a blog to help me on my writing journey. The problem is, I don't know what to write or who to write it to. Most of my writing consists of private words in my journals between me and God, or random song lyric ideas stored in the notes app on my phone. But I committed to this. Not that anyone will necessarily ever read anything I post here, but it would be nice if it could at least be helpful or interesting in case someone happens to come across this page.

But how does a lost person give directions? I'm fumbling around in the dark, trying to find my way, hoping I stumble across something that allows me to switch on the light and pursue my dreams with clarity. I have hope, though. There's this sense deep down in my guts that this is what I am supposed to do. Somewhere in me there is a writer, and I'm listening for her voice. There is always a chance I will be able to inspire someone along the way, shining a light on the path and leaving signposts that point others in the right direction. Then maybe we can walk this journey together.

Hello Imperfection

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:49:54 GMT

Hello, imperfection.

Perfection is the unattainable goal I continue to strive for. It steals my joy, my peace, and my confidence. I'm working on it. It's a daily decision, sometimes hourly or by the minute. I don't know why I continue to do this to myself, knowing it only leads to disappointment. With God's help, I'm figuring out how to be faithful while resting in His grace, trusting Him with all the imperfect parts.

I have planned to start a blog space for a few years now, and this, dear friends, is my first post. It's embarrassing to admit. I've started to write and then stopped dozens of times. Something has to change. What's so special about today? Nothing really. I'm just tired of what has been, so it's time to try a new approach. It won't be perfect. In fact, this website looks quite unfinished. It will get there eventually. (I also take comfort in the fact that I can delete anything I want later.)

I have no idea where this is headed. It is definitely a work in progress.

Well...Here we go...