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Episode 59: The Gift of Margin

the valley of grace podcast
Healing Our Brokenness Podcast Series
Episode 59: The Gift of Margin
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Podcast Outline:

  • What is Margin?
  • Why is Margin considered a gift?
  • Benefits vs. Burdens

Bible Verses for Reflection:

Zephaniah 3:17 (CEV)
The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.

Matthew 11:28-29 (GNTD)
“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.”

Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Reflection Question

For starters, what is one thing that you can take away from your schedule to allow yourself 30 minutes of free time per day?

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Completion

The Completion

He died.

Upon that tree.

He moaned. And groaned. Then bent the knee.

He said his last words.

Through the earth and through the nation, the completion was heard.

“It is finished.”

Yes, he said it.

It was for you and for me.

The conniving and all the striving…

The shedding of blood…

Broke it free.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

John 19: 28-30
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Episode 57: Are We Expecting Too Much?

the valley of grace podcast
Healing Our Brokenness Podcast Series
Episode 57: Are We Expecting Too Much?
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Do you expect too much of other people? What about yourself ? Did you know that expectations are tied into limitations? In case you missed our last episode, you can catch it here: “The Gift of Limitations”. Click down below to listen to this week’s episode to see how you fit in.

Reflection Questions:

What areas are you expecting too much of yourself?

What areas are you expecting too much of others?

What areas are others expecting too much of you?

How can you tie in limitations to your unreasonable expectations?

Bible Verses for Meditation:

The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

1 Kings 19: 15-18
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His Will

Sometimes life is just hard. We often find it difficult to understand why God allows certain things to happen. Sometimes he gives us the answer. Other times, he decides that it isn’t going to be revealed on this side of Heaven. We can always rest assured that God is always Good. He always Loves Us. He never changes. He will never forsake us. We can take all of these truths to the bank when everything else fails, and we don’t understand “His Will”.

His Will

It is his will.

We know it is.

Though anger swells.

And darkness stills.

It is his will.

When we can’t make sense.

Of the brokenness and loss that engulfs us like a fence.

It is his will.

That is pushing us to grow.

In devotion to him,

And the blessings he’ll bestow.

It is his will.

That we dream, and dream again.

He’s the Alpha and Omega.

The Beginning and The End.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

Other poetry: Our Stories

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Episode 56: The Gift of Limitations

the valley of grace podcast
Healing Our Brokenness Podcast Series
Episode 56: The Gift of Limitations
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Do you ever get mad about not having the ability to do whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it? How does the word limitations make you feel? Limitations is often thought of as a weakness. What do limitations teach us? Take a listen to this week’s podcast to find out more.

Thoughts:

  • Martha’s Limitations as Hospitality Director
  • Elijah’s Limitations as Prophet of God
  • Moses’ Limitations as Spokesperson and Leader for God

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Our Stories

My theme for the last few weeks has seemed to focus on our stories. It is so important to gain freedom from telling and owning our stories. I came up with a poem that I would like to share with you all for reflection.

Our Stories

Our Stories.

No, they don’t define us.

Our Stories.

God’s Word Realigns Us.

Our Stories.

Takes Us Back to the Beginning.

Our Stories.

Helps Us Sift through all the Sinning.

Our Stories.

Gives us Depth and Relation.

Our Stories.

We Are God’s Own Priestly Nation.

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Episode 55: The Gift of Community

the valley of grace podcast
Healing Our Brokenness Podcast Series
Episode 55: The Gift of Community
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Are you involved in your community? If so, what do you do? Are you living in community? It sounds like the same thing, but it isn’t. Today’s podcast episode deals with the gift of community. Maybe in our everyday world, we might not think of community as a gift. However, it is. Let’s tune in to the episode and take a listen.

Take Away Points from the Podcast

  • Eyes off Self
  • Show off Jesus
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Integration

There are a lot of things involved in integration. The main thing required is taking the bits and pieces of our lives and allowing the pieces of our quilts from our story to be sown together. The poem, “Integration” is my own reflection of the pieces of the quilt that I loss when I either changed churches or loss contact with friends along the way.

Integration

Flashes of the past.

Friendships gone.

New ones last.

Recreating community.

Origination-the trinity

Bonding with sisters and brothers.

Loving strong and caring for others.

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I Can’t Sleep!

Sleep is one of those things that we can’t live without. But what happens when lack of sleep starts to get the best of you? Read the poem below to find out.

I Can’t Sleep

I can’t sleep! I can’t sleep!

Do I pray or do I weep?

sleep deprivation, trauma, PTSD, insomnia, waking up, living with and healing from trauma, brokenness, emotional health, mental health, psychology, katina horton, blogger, lifestyle
Photo by Shopify Partners

Let the music play in your head.

Rest in Jesus while in your bed.

This lack of sleep, all part of trauma.

Give him your fears and all your drama.

I can’t sleep! I can’t sleep!

“I know my child.

My grace runs deep.”

Other poetry

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Our Burdens and Grief: His Plans

I am often amazed at how we think we have our days all planned out down to the minute, and then, out of nowhere, things get shifted around.  Oftentimes, it comes down to one phone call, a text, or an encounter with someone that changes our plans to God’s plans.  Our focus shifts over from our plans to our backpack of burdens.


For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

 

About a year and a half ago, I had a day of fighting with grief off and on.  I decided that after not feeling any better, I needed to take a walk, get fresh air, and get out of my own thoughts.  Walking to the beach to watch the sunset seemed like the perfect idea.  After walking a few feet, I ran into my neighbor, and after our encounter, God pressed upon my heart to write this poem, dealing with our backpack of burdens.

Christianity, backpack, poetry, burdens, prayers
Photo by Tobi on Pexels.com

 

Providence

 

Lord, what did my plans look like for tonight?

It was watching your sunset with a ton of delight.

As I walked out the door, the sky grew dark.

Should I walk to the beach, or fly home like a lark?

 

I walked a few feet and ran into a neighbor.

Then taking my bag of grief, you whispered, “No labor”.

Catching up on life, we talked for a while.

A bless you, a wave, and it ended with  a smile.

 

Lord, what did my plans look like for tonight?

Sharing my backpack of burdens, making my load ever so light.

 

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

(Galatians 6:2, KJV)