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One Comment» Continue ReadingThis is meeting my heart with humility and conviction: “A temptation in ministry is to think that just because we prepared a Bible study, a sermon, or a discipleship appointment (or wrote a book like this!), we are deeply engaging with the God of the universe. But that’s not necessarily true. It’s easy in ministry to live more as a ‘pipe’ than a ‘reservoir.’ That is, it’s easy to live merely as a conduit to others of the transforming truths of God’s Word, rather than as a changed and transformed reservoir who overflows with lived-out gospel truth. You wouldn’t imagine cooking meal after meal for your family without sitting down to enjoy that nourishment, would you? To paraphrase James 1:22, let’s not merely be hearers or speakers or counselors of the Word, but doers, first and foremost.” Be blessed as you go into your weekend…and may it be filled with […]
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» Continue ReadingOur little mancub is five months old and has been enthusiastically chowing down for weeks now. He loves green beans and butternut squash. He thinks apples are a bit tart. He told me so. What’s it going to be today, Mama? And, since store-bought baby food is just not economical, I’ve been pureeing my own, made with a little LOVE. Mancub #5 eats 3 hearts with some cereal, so I remember to thaw some out in a reused container… …so it’s all ready to go!
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» Continue ReadingThe company we keep as adults are often in the thoughts on which we linger, the hobbies we savor, or the habits we form. Who are your closest companions, so to speak? Is it truth or is it lies, that you cozy up to and find ease with? If Proverbs 13:20 is correct: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm,” then we should assume that we are becoming who our companions are influencing us to be… The Christian gospel is a message of freedom through grace and we must stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. But what shall we do with our freedom? The Apostle Paul grieved that some of the believers of his day took advantage of their freedom and indulged the flesh in the name of Christian liberty. They threw off discipline, scorned obedience and made […]
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» Continue ReadingWe were long overdue. You know how it is–when toys, pencils, empty water bottles, and the like come tumbling out of your car when the kids open the door. Unfortunately, it had been that way for awhile, and I could stand it no longer. I called the boys to task, and gave them the job of cleaning out the SUV. I had to assist them with a paradigm shift: believing this chore to be a game (preparation of a military aircraft!), and not a tedious chore they had to accomplish before riding bikes for the afternoon. The boys bought into the paradigm shift, and cleaned out their “aircraft.” They did a great job…though The Preacher and I had to come and clean up the “runway.” I’m thankful for my clean vehicle, and am glad to have given the boys an opportunity to help out…the way boys do.
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» Continue ReadingMany think of homemade mac and cheese as comfort food. I admit that I am not one of them. Spicy, nood-ly, soupy, fishy are some of the words that I’d use to describe foods I’d consider comforting. So when the boys were inspired to make baked mac and cheese with me, I decided to make one batch with leftover ham and freshly roasted green chile. I was converted. Green chile makes anything comfort food. I know most of you do not live in states where the aroma of roasted green chile lingers in the air this time of year. Check the frozen aisles of your grocery store for Bueno Roasted Hatch Green Chile, and if all else fails, buy the stuff in the can buy a plane ticket and come visit for the Balloon Fiesta coming next week! Baked Green Chile Mac and Cheese Adapted from recipe by Alton Brown 1/2 […]
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» Continue ReadingMany aspirations in life bear very little immediate or even recognizable fruit. Efforts to train your children, to memorize scripture, to lose weight, to disciple a young believer, to….let’s say, grow a church or develop a school…these are the marathons, not sprints to the finish line. Quite frankly, these are not ultimately Do-It-Yourself jobs; instead, they are Do-It-With-God jobs. And boy, am I glad that’s how it is. If you are like me, though, sometimes it just feels good to simply complete a project–to see something to completion. To experience some instant gratification if you will. The Preacher and I found opportunity to flex our DIY muscles recently in the remodeling of our guest bathroom downstairs. Tiny little bathroom=weekend project, right? Not quite. Not with 5 kids. So, I will be posting our progress as we go along. So far… …an unconventional travertine and pebble floor… …a Pinterest-inspired stencil for the […]
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» Continue ReadingI served lunch yesterday on behalf of our church, to sixty or so college students at the Baptist Student Union at our University. While composing mounds of build your own nacho/taco salads for hungry “kids” in their late teens and early 20s, a realization fell gently but heavily upon me: I’m a grown-up. It was like a light rainfall that’s refreshingly welcomed, and yet leaves you dripping and soaked. The thought was lucid, as I recalled my days in their shoes, giggling and flittering about, believing the inconveniences of school, work, and relationships to be the most trying, most dramatic life choices I would ever have to face. I thought that then because that’s all I knew. Life looked so different yesterday from the other side of the nacho bar. The 15 years it’s been since college has proved to be faith-proving, love-deepening, and foundation-crumbling, then foundation-firming. Yesterday’s rainfall washed away any […]
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» Continue ReadingNumber 2 entered the State Fair this year for the first time with an oil pastel drawing. After the disappointing incompletion of the art contest this summer in Ouray, our sweet seven yr. old determined to finally have the experience of a competition by entering the State Fair. He and the family were all so proud to find a lovely Honorable Mention ribbon hanging on his entry. My big boy named his drawing, “Dear At Dawn.” ****Update: I just noticed that there is a “No Photography Please” sign posted just under my son’s artwork! How embarrassing…I was too excited to notice–oops!!****
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» Continue ReadingThere’s not much introduction needed here. If you saw yesterday’s post about the baby shower I threw over the weekend, and if your mouth was watering, then you are a Fall-flavors kindred spirit. Butternut squash is quintessential Fall. You’ve seen it in that amazing quinoa pie recipe, and now you can have this hearty gourd as a main course soup…Fall is here…savor it! Butternut Squash Soup with Ravioli 2-3 lbs butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into quarters 5 cups chicken broth 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste 3 tablespoons butter pinch ginger pinch cumin pinch nutmeg 1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 1 package frozen cheese ravioli (2-4 ravioli per person/serving) salt and pepper to taste molasses for serving (optional) In a large pot, cook quartered squash, broth, and cayenne pepper, covered over medium high heat for 20-30 minutes, or until squash is very tender. Carefully ladle small […]
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» Continue ReadingThis past weekend, I had the pleasure of hosting a joint baby shower for two friends who are due within a week of each other. A laid-back, Fall-themed gathering was enjoyed by all on this brisk September evening. We savored conversations over rich and much-anticipated flavors of Fall and caught up with old friends and new by firelight. With no other agenda but to relax and be refreshed, both guests and expectant moms experienced the best of what a baby shower can offer: Blessing.
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» Continue ReadingSponsors make it possible for me to have this little piece of cyber-space. I am so grateful for these local and web-based businesses to choose to advertise with this blog, and to support GraceLaced. If you are a blog, an etsy shop, a web-based business, or a local business and would like exposure to the GraceLaced readership, please contact me for more information about sponsorships. I am so pleased to introduce the sponsors of GraceLaced for the month of September. Please take advantage of the discounts that some sponsors have offered to GraceLaced readers for this month. ********************************************* Please visit their website here. Mention this post, and enjoy 10% your total purchase in the month of September! ********************************************* Please visit their website here. For in-store purchases, please save and print above image for $10 off purchase of $50 or more in the month of September. ********************************************* Please visit their website here. Please […]
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» Continue ReadingEvery mama is proud of her cutie-pies. I’m no different. Enjoy!
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Hello, friend...I'm Ruth. Welcome to GraceLaced, where you will find my imperfect, but grace-filled musings on the Gospel, motherhood, crafting, art, domesticity, cooking, and the often-times overlooked joys of finding grace in the everyday of life. Read my full profile here.
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