I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing in God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week was so much fun. I enjoyed coffee with a friend at church on Sunday, and then we went to a neighbor girl’s bowling birthday party! Of course, when we returned home, Lydia wanted to play with the neighbors who just went to the party!

I bought myself an indoor recumbent bike (like at a gym) and it came this week. I like riding my other bike outdoors, but the weather will only cooperate so long in Fargo! Plus, I can’t go for an early morning bike ride without Lydia. So, I am thankful and look forward to many years of use. (My treadmill is going on ten years old, so it is nice to have another option too!) I was also proud of myself for putting it together all by myself!

The new indoor bike prompted me to reorganize the downstairs workout area. Most of my equipment is inexpensive and has been acquired over the years since college. Still, I have already enjoyed using each item more than before. This works well for me as a single mom because it would be a challenge to find a babysitter each time I wanted to go to the gym (or go for a solo run or ride). It also saves me a gym membership.

For the last six months, I have had a friend living with us. She simply needed a place to stay while she figured out her next steps. My guest room downstairs provided adequate space; she even had her own bathroom! She moved out this week into a new apartment, but we really enjoyed our time with her. She was a big help in watching Lydia and we became even closer friends. I’m so thankful we had the opportunity to help in her transition. It was both a joy and a win-win. Praise God for good friends and His provision!

My mother-in-law came to visit this week, which is always fun! She went with us to buy school supplies and a new backpack for Lydia. Then, we went to a local farmer’s market, a donut shop, and specialty tea shop. We also ran a few errands and ate at some yummy restaurants. I appreciate the special attention she gives to Lydia!

Today, a friend came over to help hang some new garage lights. After several months, I am happy to finally cross it off my to-do list! I already did what I could on my own, that is putting in as many new bulbs as I could. A neighbor helped me earlier this summer, but back then, I still had to buy replacement lights for those that no longer worked. Three of the four-foot lights needed replaced, and even with a ladder, it was too much for me to do. So, I was very thankful my friend could stop by! It was a big help!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!