Ordinary Graces: A Book Review



About the Book

Everyone loves to receive a gift.

And God has given us many, such as his grace-the gift we don’t deserve and can never earn. Promises from the One who declares we are already loved, already accepted, already created in his image. The question becomes, will we truly receive that gift? Will the reality of it actually change the way we think and notice and reach out?

God’s Word will stand forever, in any season of life. These truths prompt us to respond with compassion and courage.

Through inspiring devotions, Lucinda Secrest McDowell reveals biblical blessings that remind us that: God’s promises give us strength, God’s grace can be most evident at our weakest points, a proper response to our abundance of blessings is simply gratitude, and the “more” we are all looking for is the same abundant life that Jesus came to give us.

Would you like to receive these gifts of ordinary grace? Join Lucinda in focusing on one word a day through devotional readings and short benedictions for any and every season to explore the many facets of Grace, Strength, Gratitude, and Life.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Are you ready to receive gifts of ordinary grace and abundant life from God and His Word? Join Lucinda in focusing on one word a day through devotional readings and short benedictions in her new book, Ordinary Graces. God has given us many gifts, such as his grace-the gift we don’t deserve and can never earn. Promises from the One who declares we are already loved, already accepted, already created in his image. The question becomes, will we truly receive that gift? Will the reality of it actually change the way we think and notice and reach out?

Celebrate the release of Lucinda’s new book and grace your holiday season with a $75 Etsy gift card giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A copy of Ordinary Graces
  • A $75 Etsy gift card
  • A grace bracelet
  • A set of Ordinary Graces greeting cards

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 17. The winner will be announced November 20 on the Litfuse blog.

 

My Review

This sweet little book arrived at just the right time for me. The gentle reminders to look for God’s grace in the ordinary of my day spoke to my heart during this very busy season of life. The small lessons fòr each day offer a simple example of God’s grace, an application story, supporting scripture and a brief prayer to center your focus for the day. Some of the stories are laugh out loud funny, some blink to hold back tears, all real and relatable.  It was written to serve as a daily devotional, but would also work perfectly to start conversation with a small group.  I plan on revisiting this book again.  Life has a tendency to pull me away from the value of God’s simple grace and often ordinary seems to small for God’s touch. But he speaks to me in the seemingly small and mundane. I think he speaks to you as well.

*I was generously provide a book from the publisher but the opinions are all mine*

Pumpkin Pumpkin Everywhere

‘Tis the season for all things pumpkin and I especially adore adding this Fall favorite to all my baking. The problem…the recipes always seem to call for one cup of pumpkin purée and my trusty can of Libby’s holds many, many more.  I am always on high alert for pumpkin flavored yumminess and when I saw this recipe for pumpkin cornbread, well, I had the frozen purée out of the freezer before the recipe was completely pinned to my pumpkin board.


The usual cast of characters 

Servings: 12 muffins

Ingredients
1 cup canned pumpkin purée (such as Libby’s)

1 cup low fat milk

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey

1/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1-1/4 cups yellow cornmeal-May I add a shout out to my beloved Bloody Butcher Red Cornmeal from Castle Valley Mill…it is the bomb!

3/4 cup all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cloves

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

The Steps to Glory

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray 12-cup muffin tin generously with nonstick cooking spray or grease with butter.( or use a cute pumpkin pan like me!)
In a medium bowl, whisk together the pumpkin purée, milk, honey, sugar and eggs.

In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.

Add the wet ingredients and melted butter to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not over-mix.


Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup full, and bake for 20-23 minutes, or until the tops are a golden-orange color and set. Let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then serve warm with butter or transfer to a rack to cool completely.


Delicious addition to a hearty Fall Dinner!


After a crisp fall afternoon!

Show and share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty.   Made by you. Metamorphosis.  You’re the star. Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Wow us. Talk of the town. Tuesday talk. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday favorites. Waste not. Dagmar’s house. . Friday features. Home sweet home. Feather nest.  Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at home. Pit stop. Morning cup of joe. Home matters. Sweet inspiration best of the weekend. Create bake grow. Sunday at home. Share it snickerdoodle  Simple Saturday. Silver pennies.  Create with joy.  Inspiration Monday. DI&DI. Amaze me. Smell good sunday Style showcase

Friday Favorites #396

How is it possible that next week my beloved month of October slips away into November. Not that I don’t enjoy November, but it seems to always be lost in the frantic busyness of the holiday season. My goal this year is to slow down the crazy and increase the intentional.  Will you join me? Enjoy all the Fall goodnesss this week…and let’s give November more than a fleeting glance!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

</p><br />
<p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/category/friday%20favorites/&#8221; target=”_blank”><img class=”aligncenter” src=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Friday-Favorites-Button.jpg&#8221; border=”0″ /></a></p><br />
<p>

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! Continue reading

Some New Old Stuff…The Red Edition 

Isn’t Fall the best! Especially when the air is crisp, the leaves are in full color and there is a college football game within walking distance of your house. We won’t talk about the result of yesterday’s Navy vs UCF game, however the excitement of a good tailgate, energetic cheerleaders and beloved hometown team makes for a memorial Saturday afternoon.  Also exciting, packages on my front porch…with French postmarks…holding treasures from far away.  So much new red for my home…let me show them off!


Just look at this gorgeous big pitcher.  I am completely undone for the French Lustucru design…

…completely undone…what can I say? Would you be able to resist this sweet milk jug?

Oh, the beauty of Victorian red work! I spotted this beauty in a local antique shop and just knew I could not leave it there. 


I know…the pumpkins are not technically all red but the eight sided enamelware tray holding them is a lovely red and white!


Another great Fall experience for the Princess is the discovery of cornhole. She is still on the basics…like correct playing distance.  

Show and share  inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Made by you. Metamorphosis. You’re the star. Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Wow us.         Talk of the town. Tuesday talk. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday favorites.                 Waste not. Dagmar’s house. Vintage charm. Friday features. Home sweet home. Feather nest.  Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday Grace at home. Morning cup of joe. Home matters. Sweet inspiration. Best of the weekend. Create bake grow. Sunday at home.      Share it one more time. Snickerdoodle. Simple Saturday. Silver pennies create with joy. Inspiration Monday. DI&DI. Amaze me pit stop.         Five things

Friday Favorites #395

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

</p><br />
<p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/category/friday%20favorites/&#8221; target=”_blank”><img class=”aligncenter” src=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Friday-Favorites-Button.jpg&#8221; border=”0″ /></a></p><br />
<p>

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! Continue reading

Way up High on the Apple Tree…

One of my favorite things to do in the Fall, and probably one of the highlights of my year, is our annual family apple picking adventure.  Nothing tops that first bite of a crisp, juicy apple you just picked right off the tree. We have several orchards in the Charlottesville Va area that we love to visit and each has its own special vibe, but I am particularly excited when we arrive at my favorite, Grelen Nursery and Market in Somerset Va. I love the relaxing and easily accessed Apple orchard, the beautiful gift shop and Nursery, outstanding food and drink and gorgeous scenery that I could gaze at all day.  Enjoy some snapshots of our special day and consider a trip for yourself to this magical destination…perfect every season of the year!

 

Show and share. Inspire me Monday Tuesday at our house. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Made by you. Metamorphosis. You’re the star. Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Wow us. Talk of the town. Tuesday talk. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday Favorites. Waste not.  Dagmar’s house. Vintage charm. Friday features home sweet home. Feather nest. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at home. Morning cup of joe. Home matters.  Sweet inspiration. Best of the weekend.  Create bake grow. Sunday at home. Snickerdoodle. Share it one more time. Simple Saturday Silver pennies. Create with joy. Inspiration Monday. DI&DI.  Amaze me  pit stop

Friday Favorites #394

img_1235

It is finally feeling like Fall here in Annapolis. The rainy, cooler evenings are just made for a good crockpot meal.  Tonight we are having Taco Soup, but I can’t wait to try the Pumpkin Chili from Crafting a Family…

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

</p><br /><p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/category/friday%20favorites/&#8221; target=”_blank”><img class=”aligncenter” src=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Friday-Favorites-Button.jpg&#8221; border=”0″ /></a></p><br /><p> 

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! Continue reading