Category Archives: Seasons of Change

Sadness Turned Into Gladness: Part 2

Continued from Sadness Turned Into Gladness: Part 1

By: Sarah Smith

So, here I sit…reflecting and remembering. I need a Bible verse to support where I am right now. I need to find strength in His Word. I type in several different word combinations to search for the right one and read several different pages with various verses…this one catches my eye.

Jesus knew that they wanted to question him, so he said to them, “I said, ‘In a little while you will not see me, and then a little while later you will see me.’ Is this what you are asking about among yourselves? I am telling you the truth: you will cry and weep, but the world will be glad; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into gladness.When a woman is about to give birth, she is sad because her hour of suffering has come; but when the baby is born, she forgets her suffering, because she is happy that a baby has been born into the world.That is how it is with you: now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you. John 16:19-22

This takes me back to when I was cherishing having Fisher all to myself in my womb. And, if you are a mom, you know that following delivery, all that matters is the joy of holding that newborn baby. It doesn’t matter if it’s a long, painful labor process or if it’s an easy delivery or a c-section – our hearts are filled with gladness when we hold our child. Continue reading →

Sadness Turned Into Gladness: Part 1

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”When a woman is about to give birth, she is sad because her hour of suffering has come; but when the baby is born, she forgets her suffering, because she is happy that a baby has been born into the world.” John 16:21

By: Sarah Smith

I was having a hard time finding inspiration for this week’s blog post. I’ve been so emotional lately…April is a hard month for various reasons and now it’s amplified because May 18^th is fast approaching…what is May 18^th? My oldest son will graduate from high school. Sigh…so hard to say that out loud, let alone type it, as if my silence could prevent it from happening.

So, imagine my delight when reading Dana’s post from last week, a beautiful reflection on her daughter’s first year and excerpts from a letter to be given to her at a later date. I decided to build on her idea and give a view from the ‘other side’ as my son is about to graduate from high school.

Continue reading →

Focusing on Who He Is Rather Than What I Am

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“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,  he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3

By: Kerri Young

This is a big month, and particularly an eventful week, for my family. My husband finished his job March 1, so we are now without significant income until we depart for our new home, Lord willing, in May. I am in the process of wrapping up my coaching job and passing on the mantle to my assistant coach. We are down to our last few days in our house and preparing for a big moving sale Wednesday through Friday to—hopefully—get rid of most of our belongings. We are moving across the world and cannot take it all with us. We are also gearing up for our going away party that will take place on Saturday. And, on top of all that, we are trying our best to give our children some sense of normality in the midst of our lives getting turned upside down.

I’m going to be honest with you….

I am overwhelmed…because there is so much that needs to get done in the next two weeks before we roll out of town that I’m just not confident we’ll get it all done.

I am exhausted…because for the few short hours I am able to lie in bed at night I find myself unable to sleep because my brain is constantly thinking of all the things that need to get done.

I am sad…because we have to say goodbye to the bed my daughter sleeps in that belonged to my granny, the dishes we’ve had since we got married and the kitchen shades I so painstakingly worked to find on ebay after they were discontinued at Pottery Barn…not to mention all my cheer peeps, our friends, and the church family we have grown to love here in Northwest Arkansas. Continue reading →

Accepting Help from Others:Roadblocks of the Prideful

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A couple week ago we posted this article about how YOU can be a champion for Grace. Today our post gives a first hand account from a graduate from the Saving Grace program. God is doing amazing things in the hearts of these young women!

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29:11

By: Kimberley A. Lane- Graduate of the Saving Grace program.

Saving Grace is a transitional home in Rogers, Arkansas for women between the ages of eighteen to twenty-four who have phased out of foster care or simply it is a safe place for women who are currently in an unsafe environment. I applied to Saving Grace in September of 2010 because my aunt had just kicked me out of her house and none of my friends or other family members had room for me. A pamphlet at a local church led me to Saving Grace. After I applied and interviewed, I was immediately accepted.

My first year in Saving Grace was a difficult one. Anger was all I felt for everyone around me. The staff, my mentors, and my RA’s were all my enemies. I felt as if no one in this world loved or cared for me because no one was able to take me in. I blamed the staff of Saving Grace for the pain I was feeling. Not only did I maintain a negative attitude, but I led several of the girls I lived with astray with me. We rebelled against the program and spoke openly about how horrible we were being treated. We lied to every person we came in contact with who asked about Saving Grace. Because of this behavior, the staff of Saving Grace wanted to ask me to leave. Several members of the board thought it was in the best interest of everyone if I were to no longer live there. However, Becky Shaffer, the founder of Saving Grace, saw something inside of me and refused to let me leave.

“God is keeping you here,” Becky had said to me, “I don’t know why, but you are still here because he wants you here.”

Soon after that, I decided to let God into my heart and to forgive all of the people who have caused me pain throughout the years. I started attending counseling regularly and participated fully in the program. My leadership skills were then used to help the girls in the house find out their own self-worth and to help them realize the value of Saving Grace. I then found a full time position at a retail store and have since then moved up to management. In February of 2013, I transitioned out of Saving Grace and now live in my own apartment. I still visit Saving Grace once a week to be involved with the girls and show them that I still love and care for them even though I no longer live with them.

Kimberley and two of her mentors

This program introduced me to a side of God I had never seen before. For the first time, I felt I was worthy of love. I lived in Saving Grace for two and a half years and was able to meet some amazing people. I have met women who walk into a room and God’s love radiates out of them. I have met others who have been through horrific events and yet hold their head high because they stopped their past from determining their future. I have met men who would die for their families and are determined every day to study God’s word and lead their families down the right path. No matter where God takes me in life, Saving Grace will always be my home. I know the women there will always be there for me. I have established friendships that will last a lifetime. Saving Grace helped me to trust God and to let him decide my future. Without Saving Grace helping me, I would be lost, hurt, and angry. I will forever be grateful to all those who support Saving Grace. May God bless your lives the way you have all blessed mine.

If you are in Northwest Arkansas and would like to learn more about Saving Grace, you can attend a fund raising event with us. Please contact comment below or Jennifer via our Facebook page for more information. If you simply want to donate to Saving Grace to help more girls like Kimberley, click here.

One Little Word:It’s Not Too Late to Choose Your Theme for 2013

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

By: Jennifer Mullen

On New Year’s Day my friend, Stephanie McCratic, at Evolved Mommy posted this amazing article about choosing your One Little Word for the year. The idea is that you chose a word that helps you focus your goals for the year. Or sometimes, like in my case, the word chooses you. Before I even finished reading the article, I knew that my word for 2013 was going to be transition. Having this focus has really changed the trajectory of my year because, I already felt like I was spiraling out of control with all the changes I knew I would face.

I must confess, I was really disappointed that my word would not look pretty on the necklaces that you can purchase to remind you of your One Little Word. Let’s face it, transition sounds like a word that you read in a technical manual, not that you would find etched on a beautiful piece of jewelry. I frantically searched the thesaurus for a more eloquent word, but there was no word that fit my situation better than the word that chose me.

I was so moved by this concept that I asked the MOMS on our writing team to share with you all their One Little Word. Enjoy!

Jennifer’s Word: Transition

I need to stop fighting the change and embrace the transition.

Transition out of the baby phase of motherhood: no diapers, no crib, no high chairs…
Transition to having a school aged child. My oldest starts kindergarten this year!
Transition how I study the bible, in what setting, and with whom. I have felt lead to pursue the LORD though other means beside my Thursday morning studies with my church. Once I gave in to the leading, the LORD has blessed me…that is a whole other post.
Transition back to working outside home. I took a part-time job and am loving it.
Transition with the blog…stay tuned!
Transition to other ministries as the LORD is leading me out of some beloved work into other areas.
Transition for my family as some close family members are preparing to move away.

Gretchen’s Word: Engage

My goals are to:

Engage my kids and husband in conversations. I want to be more present with them when we talk instead of always multitasking while talking with them.
Engage in the study of God’s word.
Engage in friendship. I want to talk to my close friends more. I need to be more intentional in all my relationships.
Engage in a healthier diet. Less sugar, more REAL foods.
Engage in exercise.
Engage in the present instead of always looking ahead.
Engage in my responsibilities and work as if working for The Lord.

Kerri’s Word: Breathe

This year I hope to…

Breathe when the changes all around me are overwhelming and I just want to curl up in a ball and cry.
Breathe in the laughter and sheer delight of my children as I play alongside them
Breathe in the new culture and language I will be living in.
Breathe when I’m doing sit-ups and lunges and training my physical body
Breathe in Scripture and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as my Source in my time alone with God.

Sarah’s Word: Intentional

In 2013 I will be intentional in the following areas –

Reading God’s Word – Bible Study – Daily
Prayer – Daily, Continuous, Focused.
Loving/Supporting my Husband - date nights, communication.
Caring for my health and the health of my family – exercise and healthy eating.
Loving my children – have fun, help them stay on task, be supportive, be kind
Caring for my home/finances – simplify, organize, upkeep
Homeschooling – prepare, participate, achieve.
Serving – as called by God to glorify Him and further his kingdom

Sarah was so intentional about this she even made this poster for herself to post around her house to be a reminder to be intentional.

Click here: Intentional

Melissa’s Word: Deliberate

I will be deliberate about planning time with each of my daughters.
My Bible reading and prayer time will take place – deliberately.
Character training will be deliberate this year.
I will continue to exercise deliberately.
Pictures will be organized and scrapbook albums updated deliberately.
I will encourage my husband and deliberately work at being his help meet.

And Introducing Dana! Look for her bio next week!

Dana’s Word: Abide

This year I want to:

Abide in Christ as I read, memorize, and meditate on His Word and maintain a running dialog of prayer throughout my days.
Abide in my relationship with my husband, making an effort to be truly present during our time together, to serve and encourage him, to “bring him good, not harm all the days of [my] life” (Prov. 31:13).
Abide in my new role as a mommy, allowing myself to make mistakes and learn from them, cherishing each moment with my baby girl as the days fly so quickly by us.
Abide in my home with happiness and contentment, making an effort to simplify, organize, and beautify our dwelling place so that it is our haven and a blessing to all who enter it.
Abide in my physical body, learning to love and accept my new “mommy shape” while striving to stay healthy and strong.

As Stephanie mentioned in her article, Ali Edwards is offering a great online workshop to help you creatively document your year with your One Little Word. It is not to late to sign up. Click here to see the details. Also, there is a Facebook group of women in NWA who are encouraging each other to work through the workshop. Message me if you would like to be apart of this group. They have been posting some great project ideas and are even planning some meet-ups soon.

Even though it is February, it is not too late to think about what you want out of 2013 and where the LORD may want to take you. I encourage you to consider identifying your One Little Word. Share with us your word and some of your goals. We would love to hear from you!