The devastation in Alabama is heartbreaking and like most of you I want to help! Thanks to Robin, a friend of the Grace post we have the opportunity contribute. She is from Alabama and has teamed up with a church in her home state. Robin will be taking donated items to be distributed while she is there. Would you help us fill her car? They do not have stores to shop, let’s help Robin take the store to them.

We will be receiving donations tomorrow at my house. To let me know you are coming and for directions Contact me keri@thegracepost.com

Here’s what they need:

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Premixed baby formula (the liquid, not dry.)
  
• Sunscreen with bug repellent in it
• Tarps
• can openers
• feminine hygiene products
  

DEADLINE to donate is 9pm! I hope to see some of you tomorrow!

Adorable Family!

This week I sat down with my friend Jean. We met in a small group ladies’ Bible study. In the year that I’ve known her she has been raising funds, along with her husband, in order to be missionaries to the Middle East working with Muslims. Since our Bible studies are relatively short, the story of how Jean became called to minister was a mystery to me until now.

In 2004, her husband went on a mission trip with his church to Peru. He loved it and told Jean that she should go next year. Since they have two small children they set up a rotation. They decided to take turns every year ministering to people.  In 2005 when it came to be Jean’s turn she was gone for just a week but came back changed. She told Stephen “I can’t go again because I won’t want to come back.”

Stephen said “You’re crazy.”

Jean said “I’ll pray about that.”

The call on Jean’s heart was real and unwavering. Another year passed and again it was Stephen’s turn to go. The same call that was so pronounced on Jean’s heart was now in Stephen’s as well. Together they prayed about what the Lord would have them do, spoke to their pastor, and decided to move forward into missions.

The process of becoming a missionary is arduous. They participated in a week long interview with the Mission Society which was accompanied by a 25 page application detailing their theology and aptitude. The Mission Society assured them that they would be “great because you know nothing about missions.”

I asked Jean how they decided on the Middle East. Her response was that they were going to go to the 10/40 window.  They wanted to reach those who were not being reached with the Gospel at all. 95% of new missionaries go to fields where there is already an established work. That leaves just 5% to minister to a world that remains mostly untouched. Because they both felt called to be part of that 5% it limited where they would go. Through the process of determining where the Lord would have them serve both Jean and Stephen both felt a specific calling to work with Muslims. Not only do they love them, they have researched their needs and culture.  Reaching a Muslim with the Gospel is a lengthy process and one that requires patience and respect. Discipleship of converts is a critical part of their ministry training. In Muslim culture if a man becomes a Christian he then can tell his brother and his father and share the Gospel that way. They are purposeful in their approach which is a slow spread of truth throughout the Muslim community in which they will live.

In addition to reaching the lost, they will also be teaching converts things we take for granted like teaching a Sunday School class or leading a Bible Study.

One of the areas of concern that has come up with Jean at Bible study, and came up in our interview was how hostile some Christians are toward Muslims. Some don’t think they are reachable and they try to discourage Jean and Stephen and what they are trying to do. This shocks me. Did God not call Jonah to preach to the Ninevites? He calls us to preach the Gospel to all. Praise His name that this family heard God’s call and answered “yes!”

I often wonder how will I know if God calls me to do something? Jean’s story like so many others confirms that when God calls He makes it clear. No doubt Jean and Stephen will be blessed for their “Here am I!” attitudes.

God has blessed me with a friend like Jean. I know she will be a blessing to those in the Middle East who she loves and ministers to. Please pray for their family as they prepare to serve in the Lord ministering to Muslims. If you would like to donate you can do so by visiting www.themissionsociety.org/go/give and entering their number 392.

You will have an opportunity to hear Jean speak in May at our next Women of Acts event. Details about this will be coming soon!

So where does this leave the wife and children who are beaten and abused? Does the Bible say anything to them?

I believe He gives some instruction through the story of Abigail.

Conflict and Chaos

Nabal was a wealthy and powerful man. He owned land, three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. David, once a lowly shepherd, is now anointed King of Israel. While he was in Nabal’s land he and his band of men had helped protect the sheep and servants. In those days there were not corner markets to get food and supplies. People were dependent on the kindness of strangers.

It was an egregious affront to David when Nabal begain to hurl insults at him and refuse to help him and his army. David is infuriated and decides to kill Nabal and all his men.  Yikes!  What David plans to do shocks us, but it would not have been shocking given his culture.

Enter Abigail. She is a beautiful and strong woman. The servants come and plead with her to do something so they are not all annihilated. Obviously, these servants and people knew what kind of man Nabal was and went directly to Abigail to make her aware of the situation. She leaps to action and gathers breads, wine, and meat to try to change the mind of this man who would kill her people. She does not ask her husband. She just protects her people.

Wait a minute!

Isn’t she supposed to be submissive in all things? Isn’t she supposed to say “lord, lord,” like Sarah? What Abigail does seems to fly in the face of that teaching.

I assure you it does not. Women I beg you. I am pleading with you. If there is a man in your life who is going to harm you or your children you must do the Biblical thing.

Stop him.

Submissive in Spirit

Here are a few reasons to think about what Abigail does and the motivation behind it.

1.       She knows her husband well. She does not doubt what the servant tells her because she knows her husband’s pattern of behavior.

2.       She leaps into action. She gathers food for David and rides down to meet him herself.

3.       She asks for protection for her family.

Abigail has done what was necessary to protect her people, but the story does not end there.

She goes back home and in the morning tells her husband what she has done. I think that is clear evidence of a submissive heart. The Bible does not tell us that she yells and screams at him. She does however communicate the details of the day.

Abigail remains in a submissive spirit even to her foolish husband. Certainly in our day and age of constant communication it would be simple enough to give an explanation of why you left and won’t come back until he gets help in a safe environment.

Protected and Blessed

God protects Abigail. As she tells her husband his heart fails and he turns to stone. Nabal would never again harm her or her family. When he dies 10 days later she is left a widow. In our culture being left a wealthy widow is sad but not financially devastating. She can go on and live in a financially comfortable state. That is not the case in this culture. All property and wealth has to be held and go through a man.

By marrying Abigail, David protects her from this most sure ruin. As much as I find myself cringing at the idea of him having more than one wife, it was an act of kindness on the part of David.

I am in no way saying that if you leave an abusive husband, the Lord will immediately punish him and you will be destined to marry a king.

I am saying that if you are forced to leave an abusive husband, God will take care of you. He will not forsake those who protect children.

Most people (I think) thought of this as cute denial.

My candle of choice...Thanks Joanna!

29 & 4/2…doesn’t have quite the adorable ring to it. It sounds more like an grown up in desperation.

So here I am.

Thirty-one.

That is a scary age for me.

When I was 24 I had my first baby, Ethan. I knew my life was changing but it was a purposeful choice to have babies in my twenties and then restart a career in my thirties.

Ethan Sweetness!

When I was 27 I had Micah and then I knew exactly when my grown-up life would start, 32.

For 6 years I’ve been home caring for small children and I have been looking ahead to 32. I have watched with some envy as many of my friends who know exactly what they were put on this earth to do.  When I was in my twenties I thought “when I’m 30 I’ll know what I’m going to do with my life.”

Wrong.

So, 31 scares me because I see 32 staring back at me and I have no idea what I’m going to do when it gets here.

Thirty-one is also a happy age because I know change is coming, and I’m excited to see what God has for me next.

For brevity, I focus here on my disagreements with Shepherding a Child’s Heart—its application of some Scriptures and its overall emphasis. My main concerns are these:

1. The book’s focus on requiring obedience as the primary component of the parent/child relationship and emphasis on parental authority as the right to require obedience.
2. Tripp’s teaching that spanking is the means the parent must use in order to bring a child back into “the circle of blessing.”
3. Tripp’s interpretation that the “rod” in Proverbs equals spanking, that spanking is even for young children, that spanking is the God-ordained means of discipline (which parents must obey) and that use of the rod saves a child’s soul from death.
4. His portrayal of any other style or method of parenting in a derogatory manner and training parents’ consciences that failure to discipline as his book teaches is disobedience to God.

These points are the heart of Tripp’s teaching, and while his book contains many truths, it does not communicate the full truth of gospel-oriented parenting, as he claims it does.

1. Is obedience the primary component of the parent-child relationship, and is it right for parents to mainly exercise their authority as the right to require obedience?

For several reasons, I see the obedience emphasis as a frustrating, and even false, paradigm for the parent/child relationship. The truth of the gospel is that my child will never obey me or God perfectly while on the earth. I, an adult, will never obey God perfectly on this earth. The essence of the gospel is that perfect obedience to God’s standards is only achieved by Christ—and in Him, we are free from this exacting burden.

So emphasizing obedience as the primary component of the family relationship, as Tripp does, distorts the gospel and puts our focus on ourselves and our sinfulness—not only because we will always fail, but also because our works are not praiseworthy; they are only acceptable insomuch as they are the Spirit’s work. The gospel focuses us on Christ’s obedience and His complete sufficiency for us. And the deeper we understand and accept that truth, the more we are transformed into His image (i.e., the more we obey). Obedience is the fruit, not the object. Obedience is our joyful freedom, not our punishable law.

Martin Luther wrote:

Therefore the first care of every Christian ought to be to lay aside all reliance on works, and strengthen his faith alone more and more, and by it grow in the knowledge, not of works, but of Christ Jesus, who has suffered and risen again for him, as Peter teaches (1 Peter v.) when he makes no other work to be a Christian one….

Then comes in that other part of Scripture, the promises of God, which declare the glory of God, and say, “If you wish to fulfil [sic] the law, and, as the law requires, not to covet, lo! believe in Christ, in whom are promised to you grace, justification, peace, and liberty.” All these things you shall have, if you believe, and shall be without them if you do not believe. For what is impossible for you by all the works of the law, which are many and yet useless, you shall fulfil [sic] in an easy and summary way through faith, because God the Father has made everything to depend on faith….

Now, since these promises of God are words of holiness, truth, righteousness, liberty, and peace, and are full of universal goodness, the soul, which cleaves to them with a firm faith, is so united to them, nay, thoroughly absorbed by them, that it not only partakes in, but is penetrated and saturated by, all their virtues.¹

A better rubric for parenting is developing a loving relationship (which does entail teaching obedience) which prayerfully prepares a child’s heart so that it is favorable to receive the good seed of the gospel. Again, teaching obedience is one part of this. Tripp’s emphasis is wrong and his methods are limited—he claims that communication and the rod are the only “biblical” methods of discipline.

Second, on the subject of authority as the right to require obedience, Tripp writes:

Authority best describes the parent’s relationship to the child. (p. xix)

When your child is old enough to resist your directives, he is old enough to be disciplined. When he is resisting you, he is disobeying…. Rebellion can be something as simple as an infant struggling against a diaper change or stiffening out his body when you want him to sit in your lap. (p. 154)

Yes, loving parenting authority does require obedience, but the extent to which Tripp emphasizes this is mistaken. Though he mentions other aspects of servanthood in authority, his main thrust is authority as requiring obedience, and he goes to great lengths to teach parents exactly how to exercise authority in this manner. Tripp’s book makes this the main factor in the parent/child relationship in a manner that is not consistent with Scripture.

For example, God’s relationship with us as His children is characterized by many things other than His right to demand obedience from us. He emphasizes lovingkindness, rejoicing, longsuffering, compassion, and sacrifice. He meets our true needs, helps us to will and to do His good pleasure, has compassion on us, blesses us—and much more. Tripp gives little attention to how these apply to parenting.

We want to model the entire nature of God—not mainly God’s exercise of authority over us to command obedience. Communicating to my child that God can be trusted because He always is acting in wisdom, righteousness and truth toward us is the more godly path to obedience.

Again, Martin Luther understands:

This also is an office of faith: that it honours with the utmost veneration and the highest reputation Him in whom it believes, inasmuch as it holds Him to be truthful and worthy of belief…. What higher credit can we attribute to any one than truth and righteousness, and absolute goodness?

Thus the soul, in firmly believing the promises of God, holds Him to be true and righteous…. In doing this the soul shows itself prepared to do His whole will; in doing this it hallows His name, and gives itself up to be dealt with as it may please God. For it cleaves to His promises, and never doubts that He is true, just, and wise, and will do, dispose, and provide for all things in the best way. Is not such a soul, in this its faith, most obedient to God in all things?

In His dealings with us as His children, God does nothing like reaching down and spanking us each time we disobey. Sin has natural consequences, but God bears them with us, redeems them, and works in the secret places of our hearts transforming our beliefs and understanding about Him. Greater obedience results. His graciousness is not permissive, but it is very patient—training yet not demanding.

2. Does spanking bring a child back into the “circle of blessing”?

Shepherding a Child’s Heart connects spanking with blessing:

The rod returns the child to the place of blessing…. The rod of correction returns him to the place of submission to parents in which God has promised blessing. (p. 115)

The disobedient child has moved outside the place of covenant blessing. The parent must quickly restore the child to the proper relationship with God and the parent. As the child returns to the circle of blessing, things go well for him. He enjoys long life. (p. 135-136)

The Bible does not support Tripp’s teaching that spanking brings a child back into the “circle of blessing.” Spanking is not endued by God with such spiritual power, nor, in fact, is a parent endued with the power to restore the child. Biblically, confession and repentance restore our fellowship with God and others. Let’s cling to this promise: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (NASB, 1 John 1:9). Tripp’s made-up “circle of blessing” teaching goes beyond what God says.

Also, the command to obey was given to the child. Just as husbands are not told to make their wives submit and wives are not told to make their husbands love them, parents are not told to make their children obey.

I taught my daughters to obey—starting when they were small—because I wanted their hearts to be sensitive and trained in the things of God. But teaching obedience is only one facet of my parenting.

3. Has Tedd Tripp correctly interpreted the “rod” passages?

Tripp teaches that the “rod” in Proverbs equals spanking, that spanking is even for young children, that spanking is the God-ordained means of discipline (which parents must obey) and that use of the rod saves a child’s soul from death.

God has commanded the use of the rod in discipline and correction of children. It is not the only thing you do, but it must be used. He has told you that there are needs within your children that require use of the rod. If you are going to rescue your children from death, if you are going to root out the folly that is bound up in their hearts, if you are going to impart wisdom, you must use the rod. (p. SACH, 108)

The rod … is the parent, as God’s representative, undertaking on God’s behalf what God has called him to do. He is not on his own errand, but fulfilling God’s. (p. SACH, 109)

Tripp’s use of Proverbs 23:14 (NIV: “Punish him [a child] with the rod and save his soul from death”) is faulty. Only the grace of God saves us from death and from our sinfulness. It is unbiblical to assert that spanking is God’s “means of grace” for saving children in any way. We diligently teach our children to obey, but spanking them is not salvific in nature. In fact, it is usually unnecessary. There are many godly ways we can teach our children to obey: by our example, by physically helping them fulfill our instructions, by meeting their internal and external needs, by teaching that choices have consequences, etc. God does these things for us as His children.²

The book refers several times to this conversation:

Father: “I must spank you. If I don’t, then I would be disobeying God.” (p. 31)

And again, “Dear, you know what Mommy said and you did not obey Mommy. And now I’ll have to spank you.” (p. 103)

In reference to the mother’s actions, Tripp explains that “the issues of correction transcend the present. All earthly punishment presupposes the great day when destinies are eternally fixed” (p. 103).

The conversation Tripp describes suggests parents who are controlled by a parenting formula rather than by the Holy Spirit: “I must spank you.” And linking earthly punishment to the day of judgment is a distortion of God’s relationship to us. As His child, my eternal destiny was decided already, because He punished His Son, not me.

As His children, He does not consistently punish us when we sin. He trains and disciplines us consistently but He is not obligated to punish us. By teaching parents that they are required to spank, Tripp teaches children (and their parents) that—contrary to the gospel—God does punish us consistently for our sins. Because Christ was punished for us, God is free to use whatever methods of discipline He wishes in order to train us and bring us closer to Himself.

Luther’s words are helpful once again:

When I say, such a Person [Christ], by the wedding-ring of faith, takes a share in the sins, death, and hell of His wife, nay, makes them His own, and deals with them no otherwise than as if they were His, and as if He Himself had sinned…. Thus the believing soul, by the pledge of its faith in Christ, becomes free from all sin, fearless of death, safe from hell, and endowed with the eternal righteousness, life, and salvation of its Husband Christ.

Tripp errs gravely in asserting that spanking is God-ordained, that God’s methods of discipline are limited to communication and spanking, and that parents must spank or they are sinning.

The book also lacks adequate attention to age differences and stages of development—a great aid in child-rearing. On this point, Sally Clarkson writes:

The unfortunate thing is that many parents, in the name of faithful discipline, do not understand the differences between babies or toddlers or young children or even teens with all of their hormones, and they exhibit anger and harshness toward their children, act in a demeaning way, while neglecting the cues of the child at each stage. These parents have no perspective for the children themselves–they use a rule and formula no matter what–and often wonder why their children do not respond to them.³

4. Is Tripp correct that any other methods of parenting are ineffective and disobedient?

Finally, Tripp consistently describes other methods or styles of parenting or discipline as ineffective and undesirable. This is a weakness in his argument because other godly methods of biblical training do exist and have been used effectively for many years.

For example, a daughter of Puritan parents, Mary Fish (1736-1818) writes: “They were very watchful over us in all our ways, and they had such a happy mode of governing that they would even govern us with an eye, and they never used severity with us at all.”⁴

These summarize several of the major errors in teaching and emphases that I have found in Shepherding a Child’s Heart. The book includes several good teachings, but the overarching errors concern me to the point that I do not recommend the book to parents. Those considering promoting this book and its teachings seriously should give these topics a lot of thought.

**This review really made me think! What about you?**

So after this initial introduction their conversation continues. The wise woman goes on to tell him “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?” I find it interesting that she appeals to his sensibilities. She gives him advice to calm down and stop terrorizing peaceful people. She asks him to think of the peaceful people he is going to victimize. Isn’t that just like a man, so focused on the goal that he loses sight of the other things around him? I realize that is a generalization, but since I’ve already committed the sin, isn’t it just like a woman to be concerned with the innocent people in her town?

He in turn responds “”Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bicri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.” It is clear that Joab does not want to destroy innocent people; he just wants to capture and kill Sheba.

Without hesitation she responds “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.” She was authoritative in her response to Joab. She had brokered a deal for peace and she was happy with the arrangement.

So the wise woman instructs the people of Abel and they cut off Sheba’s head and throw it over the wall to Joab. Her wisdom is welcomed by the people of the town and they follow her instructions. I’m sure the people were happy to oblige Joab’s request and spare their city. It’s still astounding to me at their reaction to her wisdom. Apparently they willingly capture and kill Sheba, all at the voice of a woman.

This story excites me! Not only does this woman save the King, she also saves her city from the attack of Joab. The result of her wisdom was peace. The Lord could have used anyone but He chose a wise woman. I tend to think this woman provided balance to what could have been a disastrous situation. God created women to complete the man. I love the interaction between this man and woman. Both of their strengths are easily viewed by the reader.

As women, sometimes I think we hear two messages. One tells us to be submissive and meek in all areas of life. Another message is that women should rule the world and tell their husband’s what to do. Obviously both of the messages are flawed, and this wise woman is one more example from Scripture. This story just illustrates the great influence women can have among God’s people when she is wise and follows God’s Word. That means living in submission to God’s authority while being completely available for His use. God used a nameless woman to save a city and a King. Wouldn’t it be great if the Lord would use one of us to change our city? We never know when God might call on us to do something extraordinary.

Something else I want to point out, this is the third time in the Bible where we find a woman actively saving the life of David. Michal covered for him as he fled from King Saul. Abigail intervened on David’s behalf and eventually married him. This wise woman delivered the head of a man who would kill him. I realize this is a side track to the original message but when I thought of this it added to my amazement at God’s use of women.

Ultimately, the question I think of is “are you living in such a way that God can use you?” While God may not call you to save the world, are you daily living in such a way that He could? I believe God has a special plan for all of us. God is waiting to use you in a mighty way. Strive to be a wise woman so you can be ready when you are called on to serve Him.

While some religions debase women, our God does not. The opposite is true. In Scripture we see the Lord uses women in many incredible ways. Even though many heroes in the Bible remain nameless, their stories are timeless and encouraging. God loves using ordinary women to do extraordinary things. That is exactly what happened with the wise woman in 2 Samuel 20.

Let me set the stage for the story. Absalom has just caused havoc and been killed; now David has a new enemy named Sheba. The passage tells us that he was a man of Belial (Satan) and was of the tribe of Benjamin. He rallies the people of Israel to go against King David. While the rest of Israel goes against David, Judah remains firmly with their king. While this coup is going on, David sends Amasa to gather troops throughout Judah to stop Sheba. In the meantime, Joab pretends to befriend Amasa and kills him instead. Joab becomes a man on a mission. His sole focus is Sheba and he does not care what happens except that Sheba is dead.

On his tear throughout the country he comes to Abel. He and his troops decide that Sheba is in Abel and they are ready to take over the city and do anything to finish him. I can totally see this picture can’t you. A huge gang of men raising up against a city. The Bible tells us :“While they were battering the wall to bring it down, A wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.”

He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he answered.

She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.”

“I’m listening,” he said.

At this point in the story I’m already hooked. Can you imagine a woman doing this? Joab’s response is even more amazing, he listens to what this wise woman has to say. Her reputation among the people of Abel must have been above reproach. She requests a meeting with him and he obliges her request. The truth and wisdom from this act teaches a great lesson. The Bible tells us to ask and we shall receive, It also tells us to go to the person who has offended us and speak with them. Both of those passages were written much later than this story, yet the principle is already seen here.

I can think of times when I have felt oppressed and intimidated by people before, I’m sure you have too. I felt like there was nothing I could do, or that even if I spoke up they would not listen to me anyway. While all those feelings may turn out to be accurate, if I do not speak up and voice my objection, how can I hold the other person accountable for things I thought they would do?

So what I learn from this wise woman is to just speak calmly and clearly to the person who is offending me. If you feel intimidated, ask the Lord for wise words to say and approach the problem with humility. The Bible tells us nothing of this woman except that she is wise, and her wisdom is obvious right from the beginning of the story. Asking specifically for what we want and working toward peace with others is wisdom you and I can put into practice today.

The story does not end here, but my post today does. I will post a conclusion later on this week

This is what I encountered on my way to set up for the Women of Acts event yesterday morning.

We must be local traffic, the Inn is right around this corner.

Seriously?

Panic does not begin to describe the way I felt as I took the suggested 20 minute detour to the Inn I was only .2 miles away from when I met the sign. Panic because I had already annoyed everyone with too many e-mails with directions taking them down this exact road. Panic because I knew this detour was nuts and there was a quicker way. Frustrated that I had no idea the road was closed ahead of time.

You’re getting the picture. It was quite a trip.

There were other various and crazy road blocks to the day. Kylee described  it as “quirky” and think that is a most fitting description.

Even with the quirks that were bringing my mood lower and lower, and the stress higher and higher, something amazing happened.

An amazing event

• Photo Booth Entertainment made the night special. I think everyone had their picture made more than once. What girl doesn’t love to dress up and make pictures? David was so much fun to have at our party. I am grateful to call him and his family my friends.
• All of the coupon deal sites that sponsored us! They were so helpful to an event they could not even attend. These are women I have never met but supported us.Please check out their sites which are right on our website. They can give you all the tips, tricks, and deals to spending your money wisely.
• The week of art camp from the Bob Jones Museum and Gallery was so much fun to give away.
• Steve our accountant came and counted the receipts for us. Thank you!
• Molly and Brynn, came and helped us with serving and welcoming girls to our party. I love their servant hearts.

All these things are wonderful and had a huge impact on the evening. The part that brings the most joy and gratitude to my heart are all the women who came. Each one that came through the door added happiness and light to the event. Without each one our party would a dull and boring and quite frankly, not much of a party.

The result of this event blows my mind and some of the girls who couponed to get their food are just amazing!

Jessica Cary won our couponing contest {drum roll please} $124.04 for just $3.69!

Kylee, my partner in crime, brought $300 for $30!

Are you as amazed as I am?

Here is the photographic evidence of what we gathered. I was told that one of these giant boxes holds about 300 canned goods. 33 women filled 4 of them.

Full to the brim.

Incredible.

{I hope you enjoy the following pictures to give you a glimpse into our evening.}

Some of the Giveaways!

Goody Bags including a cookie and $25 to either Soby's or the Lazy Goat!

Thank you so much for Real Deals for this gorgeous decor!

Cupcakes

However this is one face lift I am thrilled to have happen! I just love how the Grace post looks now! I had nothing to do with it…Daniel did this redesign for me. This got me thinking about all the things he does for me. My marketing for Women of Acts would be nigh unto impossible without Daniel doing all that website work for free.

To help out with the Grace post though is more than I deserve. This is closer to a hobby and he has spent hours making my hobby more fun and pretty.

I am grateful for Daniel taking my ideas and making them a reality.