In the Spirit of grace

Contact Publisher - Dee Kreidel

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 11:04:36 -0400

Don't forget to update your RSS feeds & more features available!

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 11:04:35 -0400

Just another reminder that In the Spirit of Grace is moving! If you are subscribed to the RSS feed, please make sure to update your feed information. The new RSS feed is at:

http://inthespiritofgrace.com/?feed=rss2

At the main site (http://www.inthespiritofgrace.com), you will also find easy to use quick link buttons so that you can subscribe via MyMSN, MyYahoo, Bloglines, & newsgator! Scroll down a little bit, and look on the right hand side of the page.

Finally, if you aren't quite sure about using a feed reader, but, would rather have *email* notifications of when the site is updated, that is available on the new site as well! Simply scroll down, and you will find an subscribe via email form underneath the calendar on the right hand side of the new site!

I am very excited about the new system, and know that you will be too! Make sure to stop by and check it out:

http://www.InTheSpiritofGrace.com

All new posts will be at our new location, so make sure to update your feed and bookmarks, today, so that you don't miss a beat!

Dei gratia,

Dee

[COMMENT]

We are moving!

Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:05:12 -0400

In the Spirit of Grace is moving! This decision was reached after quite a bit of prayer, and was a result of several things.

I am so excited about this move, I can't wait to get settled! I am currently moving old posts over to our "new home", and plan to have that completed within the next week.

Our new home comes with beautiful "decoration" - providing you a gift to your senses (no more stark white!) while you read your favorite posts, along with easier archive access.

Please update your feeds & bookmarks! The new URL for In the Spirit of Grace is:

http://www.InTheSpiritOfGrace.com

For now, we are simply posting the old posts from here along with their original publishing date, however, in the future, we will be going through and actually "time stamping" the old posts to their appropriate dates.

Unfortunately, the comments will not be moving with us! If you have a favorite post that you would like to comment on, please visit our new site, and add your thoughts!

See you there!

Dei gratia,

Dee

[COMMENT]

Terrible

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 08:00:05 -0400

"I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked,
And I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible."

~Jeremiah 15:21 (NKJV)

This morning, as I watch the fifth day of devastation and utter chaos in the hurricane torn south, my heart aches. The Spirit has blessed me with a compassion that seems to have no end. But, even in this, as I pray for the people in the south who are suffering. As I urge you to donate to a reputable relief organization, Jeremiah rings in my mind.

God will redeem these suffering people from the grip of the most terrible. Please allow the Spirit to work through you for God's purpose.

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
or ministry, let us use it in our ministering;
he who teaches, in teaching;
he who exhorts, in exhortation;
he who gives, with liberality;
he who leads, with diligence;
he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."

~Romans 12:6-8 (NKJV)

Do whatever you can do to ease the suffering. Don't turn a blind eye. Don't get involved in the blame game of who is responsible for why things aren't going according to what you think they should go. Don't waste your time. Don't waste your energy. Don't let the evil one distract you from the important work that uses your precious gifts.

For your convenience, here is a short list of charities that need your help for these souls in the south:

UMCOR - While this is a denominationally related charity, it is my first choice for giving because 100% of the donations are given to disaster relief efforts.

Salvation Army

American Red Cross

Operation Blessing International

Dei gratia,

Dee

[COMMENT]

Day of Prayer - August 31, 2005

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 08:40:18 -0400

This morning, the Louisiana governor, Kathleen Blanco, called for a Day of Prayer in the state of Louisiana. To quote governor Blanco,

"As we face the devastation wrought by Katrina, as we search for those in need, as we comfort those in pain and as we begin the long task of rebuilding, we turn to God for strength, hope and comfort.
I have declared August 31, 2005, a Day of Prayer in the State of Louisiana. I am asking that all of Louisiana take some time Wednesday to pray. Pray for the victims and the rescuers. Please pray that God give us all the physical and spiritual strength to work through this crisis and rebuild.
Please pray for patience for those anxiously waiting to hear from family members or to get word about their homes. Pray for the safety of our hard-working rescuers and those they are bringing to safety.
I know, by praying together on Wednesday, that we can pull together and draw strength we need; strength, that only God can give us.
In my prayers, I will also thank God for the strong and resilient people of this state and how they are working to meet this challenge."

Whether you are in Louisiana or not, I would like to see you join in this day of prayer for every single person who was affected by Hurricane Katrina and continues to be affected by the hurricane itself and its massive after effects.

Dei gratia,

Dee

[COMMENT]

At Last!

Sun, 07 Aug 2005 08:00:00 -0400

We've made it! The blogathon is officially over...and we made it through the 24 hours! Do you remember yesterday morning when I said that it would be a miracle if I made it the entire 24 hours since I was operating on no sleep?

Guess what.

You just witnessed a miracle.

Only through the grace of God did I make it this far....and I am so very thankful....praising His name!!

I didn't ever get a "third wind", however, Heifer International is such a worthy cause - I'm happy that the Lord carried me through the last 12 hours.

And, I want to thank you, my readers, for reading and sticking with me.

Finally, sending a special thank you to all the sponsors participating in Blogathon 2005, and the sponsors of In the Spirit of Grace in particular. Thank you so much for giving!

Remember, you can still sponsor In the Spirit of Grace's campaign for Heifer International through/to August 9th! If you've enjoyed any of the posts - and hopefully the majority of them, I would really appreciate you becoming a sponsor - even if it's just $1.00! Simply click on the link on the right side of this page that says "In the Spirit of Grace/Heifer International" under the Blogathon banner.

As an aside, my regular writing/posting will resume tomorrow, Monday, August 8 for In the Spirit of Grace.

Dei gratia,

Dee

[COMMENT]

Stirrings

Sun, 07 Aug 2005 07:30:00 -0400

Te just went out....Fia is stirring, and the house is beginning to show signs of life (well, not the house...but, you know what I mean!). My brain is sleeping, but, the rest of me is still here....counting down the minutes.

30 minutes left!

Stay tuned...because you are about to witness a miracle!

Dei gratia,

Dee

There is still time to sponsor our campaign for Heifer International. On the right hand side of this page, simply click on the "In the Spirit of Grace / Heifer International" link below the blogathon banner. Sponsors may donate through August 9th.
[COMMENT]

Sleeping through the storm

Sun, 07 Aug 2005 07:00:00 -0400

Do you remember that violent, vicious storm that came up one night, while Christ and the disciples were out on the ship? As the disciples freaked out and ran around fretting....Christ slept.

I'd bet they were thinking - why won't He get up and SAVE us?? Look, He's sleeping like a baby!!

But, I say, He was just showing us the way. Sometimes, life with become a violent, vicious storm that suddenly comes up and threatens to swallow us, sweeping us out to sea.

What we must do, when that storm comes, is sleep. Alright, I'm not advocating going back to bed and pulling the covers up over your head when things are rough. In this sense, our sleep is rest. When that storm comes, we must rest on the Lord....knowing that He will take care of us - and fully trusting that He only wants the best for us. He always acts for good and not evil.

Then and only then will we be able to fully rest in the Lord during the violent, vicious storms of life crash into us. Then and only then will we be given the peace to sleep through every storm.

See you in 30.

Dei gratia,

Dee

There is still time to sponsor our campaign for Heifer International. On the right hand side of this page, simply click on the "In the Spirit of Grace / Heifer International" link below the blogathon banner. Sponsors may donate through August 9th.
[COMMENT]

Blessing

Sun, 07 Aug 2005 06:30:00 -0400

Having some problems putting a sentence - or even a string of words together at this point. So, in an effort to keep momentum right up to the end, I am giving the floor to our brother and "famed" writer....Saint Paul with a blessing from 1 Thessalonians.

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calles you is faithful, who also will do it."

~1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NKJV)

See you in 30....hopefully, I will get a "third wind" and be able to actually put a few intelligent words together by then.

Dei gratia,

Dee

There is still time to sponsor our campaign for Heifer International. On the right hand side of this page, simply click on the "In the Spirit of Grace / Heifer International" link below the blogathon banner. Sponsors may donate through August 9th.
[COMMENT]

Morning has broken

Sun, 07 Aug 2005 06:00:00 -0400

There is this pretty hymn that we sing every so often at church that goes something like:

Morning has broken, like a sweet morning....dah da da da dah, dah da da dah.

Ok, I can't remember all the words. But, as I hear the morning sounds outside, and morning breaks, that hymn comes to my mind, and I quietly hum that hymn.

After the long dark night of blogging every half hour for Heifer International, we are almost to the goal! Morning has broken, and we have persevered through the long dark night.

See you in 30!

Dei gratia,

Dee

There is still time to sponsor our campaign for Heifer International. On the right hand side of this page, simply click on the "In the Spirit of Grace / Heifer International" link below the blogathon banner. Sponsors may donate through August 9th.
[COMMENT]

Who gets his/her due first?

Sun, 07 Aug 2005 05:30:00 -0400

"And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it. But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house; so he finish all his house."

~1 Kings 6:37-7:1

Solomon had his moments. He was a man after God's heart - but, he had his moments when he turned away and did things he knew was wrong.

But, one demonstration of his commitment and reverence for God was when he built the temple. Solomon had a great deal of wealth at his fingertips. He was "heavy" with the precious metal plated items and large, custom cut stone when building.

He probably could have hired enough workers to have his house finished without it interfering with the completion of the temple.

Yet, he didn't.

He made sure that the temple was completely done - perfectly - just as the plans laid out. And, then....and ONLY then, did he go about finishing the building of his own house.

Sometimes in our need-it-now society, we forget who should be given due before us. We just want what we want and we want it now. Or we need what we need...and that is our highest priority.

Yet, Solomon, a man of means, was able to understand that the Lord's house must be completely before his own house. He must serve God before he served himself.

At least in this example, his priorities were in order. What a great example to keep in the fore of our minds when making decisions now and in the future.

Dei gratia,

Dee

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