Grace and Good Coffee

Finding grace and good coffee to survive every day.

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radio roulette

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Several years ago when I was pinching every penny, I went online and purchased a refurbished radio/CD player. This was supposed to be a high quality brand that would last a long time, and end up being a better purchase than anything I could buy off the Walmart shelf.

Well, after a few moves and a misplaced remote, the CD player no longer worked and the radio decided to play whatever station it wanted. Radio roulette.

It should have been replaced a long time ago, but it hasn’t really been high on the list of priorities. And for the sake of this story, I’m so glad I held on to it.

Thankfully, when I first set it up in our living area after our last move, it landed on a Christian radio station and I left it alone. I liked hearing the worship songs playing in the background of everything I was doing, day or night. It was such a comfort in some of the darkest moments of uncertainty, which I’ve been battling the last couple of years.

But then one day, someone hit a button on it and all was lost. It would power up, but the radio refused to play. It acted like it was constantly searching for a station but could never find one. I pressed every button on the thing. I banged on it, shook it, turned it every angle. Nothing worked. After many many tries, I finally gave up on it and turned it off. And then I forgot about it.

Weeks later, on one extra dark and weary night, my husband was out of town for work. I had put our daughter to bed, but I was restless. I felt so alone and worried about so many things. I was pacing the living room filled with fear. I could physically feel the spiritual attack that was happening to me, and I needed help.

I walked over to the broken radio and turned it on. Just maybe it would work this time and go back to my Christian radio station I had enjoyed before. No luck. The power was on but the radio was still stuck in neverland, with no stations to be found.

So I turned it off again, and started to pray. I asked The Father for help. I asked Him to please send me some worship music to calm my spirit. (Sure, maybe I should have just grabbed my phone and found something on YouTube for the time being. But I wanted my radio back. I wanted to hear songs about Him playing in the background all day and night again.) I finished my prayer, took a deep breath, and turned on the radio again.

And there He was.

A soulful choir was singing the most beautiful worship song I had heard in a long time. And then when that song ended, another beautiful song began. It wasn’t the same Christian station that had played before. This was something completely different that I hadn’t even found in my car while driving in the area, and to this day, I still haven’t.

That night, my desperate prayer was answered. The instant I heard that worship music come on, I felt the fear begin to flee. Such relief filled my soul! I could no longer feel alone because The Lord had just pushed back the darkness right in front of me. He is SO worthy of our praise!

To some, it might seem like the smallest thing — a mere coincidence to be shrugged off. But to me, especially that night, it was nothing short of My Father showing up to say, “I’m here. I see you, and I love you.”

He is and always has been my greatest Friend and Protector.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 11-13

I pray that this short story blesses you, and helps you to see the “small” things in your life that His loving hand has touched just for you.

Love,
Emily

His ways are greater

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Well, this wasn’t the first story I had planned to tell about what God has done in my life, but it’s definitely the story I need to tell tonight.

Nearly two years ago in the summer of 2022, my family moved away from our beautiful coastal carolina town, to a few hours away where we have lots of family land to build on and room to grow all sorts of good things. At least, that was the plan.

But then, life happened. Inflation skyrocketed along with mortgage interest rates, making it a not-so-smart time to build. So our short term rental that was never ever going to be big enough for us has become the not-so-short-term sardine can that we still call home.

The temporary clutter of moving has turned into permanent box artwork and Rubbermaid fixtures. With no real room to fully move in, we’ve been surrounded by the constantly hanging hopes (and disappointment) of our unrealized farmhouse and homestead plans. And it has been rough. Nothing is settled, and tensions run high as we watch and wait for the right time to move forward.

Earlier this year, many sources predicted a fall in the mortgage interest rates, making it affordable for most to build again. But so far, we haven’t seen that to be the case. Being an election year, you never know what impossibilities will become reality, so here we sit — ever eager to make our dreams come true.

In the waiting, I have battled the most relentless depression. It has been incredibly hard to be back “home” when both of my parents are no longer in this world. Each road and every turn is a reminder. There are so many conversations I long to share with my mama and daddy, but those will have to wait a bit longer.

Even still, in my darkest moments… with red cheeks and turquoise water-filled eyes, I remember where my help comes from and I cry out to Him. Oftentimes, when my voice feels so small and words completely fail me, I quietly whisper “help” and He has heard me. He knows my needs and he fulfills them.

Because tonight, He showed up in a big, only-God way.

There I was, hastily driving my daughter to urgent care to get a small foot injury assessed. I was annoyed by the rain that was falling from a sunny sky, making it hard to see where I was going, and then out of nowhere — we round a curve to see the largest, most vibrant and perfect end-to-end double rainbow that I have ever seen in my life.

(The quick photo we snapped while driving simply doesn’t do it justice.)

My eyes immediately welled up with tears, because I knew this was the sign I had been watching and praying for. It wasn’t just a random coincidence. It was divinely appointed. God has not forgotten me; He hasn’t forgotten any of us. He keeps His promises, and His ways are greater than any obstacle we face. We simply have to trust Him, even in the valley.

Tonight, as He shows off even further with the northern lights visible in our southern states, I am reminded yet again that YHWH is still on the throne.

‘Give Him all your tears and sadness, give Him all your years of pain…” — He is present, He is listening, and He loves you.

Love,
Emily

“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” -Genesis‬ ‭9‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭

a living legacy

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I’ve been thinking a lot about my blog recently. It began as a project to share health tips and mom struggles with other moms. Later on, I felt led to talk about a lot more than just health-related topics or being a mother. I felt like God wanted me to use my voice to share HIM with others. So I began writing about Him. But along the way, my voice wavered. I became influenced by others’ ministries and what God had placed on their hearts to share. I started thinking maybe I should be sharing their words instead of mine. And then, I lost my focus and ability to write.

Do you sometimes wonder if God is shaking His head at us?

We say, “Use me, God! Send me!” So, He gives us a specific job to do, and we start out on fire for Him. And then somewhere along the way, the enemy creeps in with his whispers of doubt or shame, and when we’re not strong enough to withstand the adversary, we fail in the mission we were assigned.

God didn’t tell me to use my blog to share what He had given to someone else. God told me to share what He had given to ME. And when I stopped doing that, my writing withered away. Why?

Well, because I didn’t understand the assignment. Maybe someone out there needs to hear a specific story about something He’s done in my life. And in my fear of failure, I choked.

So now what? Well, I want this little spot on the internet to be where I share what God has done for me. I want everyone to know how my life has been blessed because of Him. I want YOU to see how AMAZING He really is. Because He isn’t some unreachable God in the untouchable void. He is real, He is here, and He is always with us.

Matthew 28: 20

Stay tuned. My personal rescue stories are coming.

Love,
Emily

stripped

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“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
‭‭- Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬-‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.””
‭‭- Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Let the word of God stand alone, for all with ears to hear. 🙌🏼

unconditional praise

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“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
‭‭-Psalm‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬


https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.42.1-11.ESV

a voice in the wilderness

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I’ve been silent. Struggling. I lost my voice.

But tonight!

Tonight, I was blessed with a Word from The Father. An obedient friend shared this Word, not knowing where I was and what I needed to hear.

But God!

He never stops reaching for us! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

He knew exactly where to find me and how to reach me. He reminded me that I have a voice. A voice that someone needs.

So let my voice be His tool. I will speak of His goodness, His grace, His Truth, and His never-ending love for us.

Let our first and greatest desire be to draw ever closer to Him. Let us not forget who we are and whose we are. Let us not be blind to the evil in the world, but to pray without ceasing and to be the light we are called to be.

Acts 20:24 (ESV)