Generosity and Grace: The Ultimate Pair

As I write this post, I just want you to know that I am writing it to myself just as much as, if not more so, to you. If I had a dime for every time I have ever been impatient with someone, thought the worst of someone, or assumed the other person’s motives, I’d be rich. And I hate that. It is a part of my humanity that I am constantly fighting.

How is it that we cannot get over ourselves and think of others more? Learning to be generous by showing grace radically to others should come second nature to us, especially since we have been shown such grace from God.

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:9 NLT

But if 2020 did anything, it showed us just how raw and real our humanity can get. And I’m not talking about non-Christians, I’m talking about those of us who are brothers and sisters in Christ. We treated each other awful last year and 2021 really hasn’t started off much better. I pray we heed the wake up call that has been dealt to us and that we rise –together!

By the way, the next She Steps Forward conference will be themed “She Steps Forward with Grace.” God has given me a specific message for this conference concerning the 5 things a woman who walks in grace has. Want to know what they are? Then join us March 26-27th for our virtual presentation of She Steps Forward! We have 8 speakers and 2 worship leaders pouring out themselves for you. They are being generous and graceful all at the same time and I don’t want you to miss it!!! You can get more details HERE.

Having said that, I would like to take a few moments to really thank those who have been a part of Transforming Love Ministries and the She Steps Forward conference over the years. I started this ministry in 2016 and for a long time, I did everything! I went and did speaking engagements, I blogged, and I attempted to mentor other women along the way. But nothing is sweeter than when a group of women come together and share their gifts!

So thanks to those of you who have done several things over the last few years. I promise, none of it went unnoticed by me or God:

• You’ve been my friends, encouraging and cheering me on!
• You’ve opened up your homes or participated in different events TLM has held.
• You’ve volunteer hours to make the first She Steps Forward conference happen.
• You’ve wrote blog post after blog post, pouring out your hearts so that others could relate.
• You’ve been on my inner team advising, counseling, and presenting beautiful ideas.
• You’ve gone out and spread the word about the ministry, inviting friends and family (and even a stranger or two).
• You’ve been with me in person, on social media, and in spirit.
• You’ve prayed for me.
  
  

And I thank you for all of it!!! I’m so grateful to have you in my life.

None of us are ever meant to walk this earth alone. We were built for community. God didn’t necessarily need us to experience love and communion, He already had that in the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The fact is, He wanted us! And so, we should want to be in relationship with each other. The apostle John states it best:

We love each other because he loved us first. 1 John 4:19 NLT

And that love should translate into grace! With so many people helping me over the last few years, I have learned a few things about being generous and showing grace. I have learned that many times it is not others that need to speed up, but I that need to slow down. I have learned that silence is not always one being ignored, but actually a silent cry from the other person that something might be wrong in their world. I have learned that people aren’t perfect and neither am I. I have learned that my timeline is not God’s timeline and to stop holding people so tightly to mine. I have learned that people come into your life for a season and prolonging that season isn’t good for either party. I have learned to give without expecting anything in return and have gotten so much more back. And I have learned that no matter how graceful I think I am being with people, there is always someone who is more graceful than me that I can learn from.

I hope you make 2021 your year to walk in grace. I hope your level of generosity in showing grace grows and grows. And I hope you surround yourself with grace walkers! You, daughter of God, can do it!!!

Blessings to you and yours!