under grace

Good morning! It's so funny what I consider to be morning now instead of the middle of the night. Maddie woke up needing a diaper change around 4:20 and I fed her and she fell back asleep. I hadn't even looked at the clock yet but I wasn't super tired so I got up and got a drink of water. When I saw it was 4:40, I thought, oh, it's almost time to get up! I was oddly excited to just stay up and not go back to sleep. 

This time to myself in the morning has been so great. It is about the only hour of the day that I'm not taking care of someone else. I never realized how important that can be. I've always been someone who just likes to take care of other people. I need to be needed. Is that needy? lol

So as you all know I've been looking for a location to start my non profit. So far I have not had much luck. A friend offered me a space and it was in a great location to be seen but the space she has available just would not work for the long term. It would be enough to get started, but I don't want to get all set up and then have to move in 3 or 6 months because we've outgrown the space. So I'm still looking, waiting, listening, and praying.

Yesterday I talked with a potential landlord for a downtown property that is totally adorable and would be pretty ideal for the ministry. It's about 400 a month more than I wanted to pay. The plus side is that it has 3 stories. The main level would be used for the retail part of In A Pinch. There is a full basement that would be used for the In A Pinch Kits. And there's a 3rd floor that is gutted, which could be converted into living space. If it were turned into 2 apartments, the monthly payment for the building would be covered, and then some, with rent income. I ended the conversation letting her know the property was probably more that we could afford but that I would call her if I decided otherwise. So I'm praying the Lord will provide for that to happen, or for Him to show us something even better. Here is the building she has available. It's very adorable.

Probably not going to happen, but who knows what God has in store...

I'm trying so hard not to make any of the decisions about this thing on my own. I am a dreamer and a doer. I like to get stuff done. So with these opportunities I am just trying to get out of the way and let God speak. With this property I'm talking about, I'm trusting that Jesus will send the money if that's where he wants me to be. I started a ministry online fundraiser thingy last night and I told God that if it is fully funded by Saturday night that I will assume that is a green light on this one. So we'll see. The first donation came through about 3 minutes after I posted it, which blew me away! Since then there have been over 30 shares of the fundraiser but no more donations. Do your thing, Lord, if this is where you want me!

The same property is also available for purchase, which is a much better deal, but I'm not sure that is an option for us at the moment. Who really knows.

Anyways! Yeah! Here is what I read this morning, I hope you enjoy it:

Romans 6:12-18
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

I particularly like v. 14. Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. That verse is so freeing! Thank you Jesus! The NIV says "14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."

Do you ever feel like sin is your master? Once you're into something it's hard to stop. Like swearing.. or smoking... or being critical... (Not condemning anyone here, just giving examples of what people may wish to change about themselves!) It can be a habit that is hard to break. The action itself may not be a sin, but the root of the action is what is the problem. And once you're used to criticizing or thinking critically, that mindset can consume you! But thank goodness, sin is no longer your master, because you're under grace!

Thank you Jesus for your never ending grace, even when we don't deserve it, even when we don't ask for it, and even if we don't think we want it. You go before us, You know what is happening even if we don't tell You, You know what is best for us, and You love us. Please help us to see with Your eyes and hear with Your ears today. Amen.




If anyone is interested in giving to the fund I mentioned earlier, the link is here.