Fall  2015

EVERYDAY IS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving Family & Friends!

I can’t wait to taste the pies, cakes, dressing, mashed potato and gravy, potato salad, greens and homemade cranberry sauce!  This is like the best time of the year where there are no gifts expected, just good food and conversation.  Thanksgiving is our guilt free eating day.  I can come up with many reasons why I have to go back for a 2^nd and 3^rd time, ok sometimes 4.

Here in the US we celebrate one day of thanksgiving.  But in reality every day is a day of thanksgiving.  Each day is a gift and a celebration of life.  Even in our sorrows and darkest moments we can find something to be thankful for.

We are all one family, yep I said it!  (Genesis 7, Genesis 9:19). Don’t let the outer covering of our bodies fool you.  Our God created masterpieces and he had a sense of humor.  The outward beauty that we possess was created by God and gives us something to talk about.  The inside body function is Gods perfection at work.  We are one Family!

My prayer is that we all have the best Thanksgiving ever and that we love each other as one family!   I would love to hear your thoughts about Thanksgiving or about being one family.  Let's talk about it at:

finelivin@blogspot.com  or  joann@whisperedgrace.com

What Piece of the Puzzle are You?

by Jo Ann Chevalier                              May 2015

There is one human race, similar to a puzzle, made up of so many different people and cultures.  Each person trying to figure out where they fit in and how they will figure out their life’s purpose.

For some it will take years to figure out their piece of the puzzle.  Others will get it really fast and are able to live this life with purpose, prosperity and love.  But what happens to those who are still trying to figure things out?  Who do they turn to and where do they search for answers?

I remember a bible story about the Good Samaritan.  People kept passing by a person in need and didn’t bother to help. Finally a Good Samaritan stopped, took care of the person in need and paid for his shelter. I had to ask myself this question, am I the Good Samaritan or the person just passing by never stopping to help someone else?  What part of life’s puzzle am I?

Am I the corner of the puzzle that reaches out in only two directions to help others?  Am I a middle piece that extends and reaches out to many people?  Or am I that last piece of the puzzle that is still trying to figure out where I fit in even though there is only one spot left to fill?

Life can be like a puzzle, living each day, trying to put all the pieces together.  When life seems to fall apart you choose another piece of the puzzle to find your way again.  You may not be the corner piece or the middle piece. The point is that you figure out your own puzzle pieces of this life and live it with a purpose to the best of your ability!

I love putting puzzle pieces together and admiring the finished product.  It is even better to have a group of people working on the same puzzle and of the same mind.  Life could be so much simpler if we joined together as puzzle pieces and helped each other fit into their own unique spaces. I long for the day when we can all work together as one and live life as one beautiful complete puzzle masterpiece.  

Create in me a pure heart O God……………………………………………………..……….Psalms 51:10

Challenge:  Figure out what type of puzzle piece you are?  Ask God to help you complete/recognize your life’s purpose and then help someone else do the same!

                                                                                               

  Work of Service  

Let’s all remember to help those that can’t help themselves….sometimes we just need to look around with an open heart and give to those that are less fortunate.

Hear Romans 10:17*Believe Hebrews 11:6*Repent Acts2:38*Confess Romans 10:9-10*Baptism Mark 16:15-16

I Surrender

                      Whisperedgrace.com
                              January 2015

Goodbye 2014 and Hello 2015, I totally surrender to all things good.  I love saying the word surrender.  It frees my mind and opens me up to all things that bring comfort, peace, happiness, joy, contentment and love. 

Years ago I remember walking on the beach and feeling like I was drowning in distrust, negativity and uncertainty.  I continued to come back day after day to ponder where I was headed in life and how I could make changes in myself and the future.  While watching the waves come in/out over and over again I finally stopped and just threw my hands up!  At that point I realized that I was my own problem.  On that day I totally surrendered to my God and his will for me.  I realized that I could not move forward until I moved myself out of the way.  I had to free myself from all things that did not provide a positive outcome.  Since that day I have lived my life differently and in total surrender to the one that created me. 

When I surrendered to God I had to embrace love and learn to give it away each day.  Love took hold of me and showed me a new way.  Love controls my every move and compels me to act in ways that help achieve positive outcomes.  This love allows me to say I’m sorry.  This love allows me to forgive over and over again.  This love shows me when to speak and when to be silent.  This love frees me and I willingly totally surrender to it.  My hope and prayer for everyone reading this newsletter is that you’re able to throw your hands up, SURRENDER and let LOVE consume you.

Monthly Challenge

Let’s all try to help 1 person or family in need each month.  It could be a care package of food, homeless packet or fulfilling a specific need.   If you need ideas feel free to contact me. 

Have an Extraordinary Quarter!

joann@whisperedgrace.com

www.finelivin.blogspot.com

                            Hear Romans 10:17*Believe Hebrews 11:6*Repent Acts2:38*Confess Romans 10:9-10*Baptism Mark 16:15-16 

                                                         

Message in a Bottle!

I am a wonderful dreamer with a great imagination.  I have imagined myself being on a desert island with everything that I need to survive and without fear. The island is smog free and the water is pure.   My mode of transport is leaping from tree to tree barefoot and I eat only fruits and vegetables.   O.k. go ahead and laugh, but this is my dream!

My imagination has taken me deep into the rainforest where I sat still for hours in silence.  I am surrounded by walls of green plants and the presence of God’s goodness is all around me.  I allow the large drops of rain to fall on me and I breathe in the freshness of the air.   This actually came true when I vacationed in Puerto Rico.   It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.  It was one of the few times that I didn’t care about my hair or make up.  So where does your imagination take you?  Your imagination can be a gift and used in so many positive ways.  You can let your imagination help to create your work of service.

Imagine putting a message in a bottle.  What would the message be and where would you send it?  For me, my message would be 2 words, unconditional love.  I would want this message in a bottle to travel to each seaport.  The bottle would be opened/closed over and over again until it traveled the world. 

Unconditional love would bring no judgments, no arrogance, no hunger, no war, no hate, no jealousy, no envy, no cheating, just one LOVE! Impossible dream? Maybe, maybe not. In Philippians 4:13 the bible states that all things are possible with God.  Imagine a whole world with God and unconditional LOVE!  I have not reached perfection in this area but I wake up each morning with a new start.  Each new day allows me time to try and get it right.  My challenge to each of you is to imagine your own message in a bottle that would help change the world.   What would your message be?

Bible Study       1 Corinthians 13

           

Random Acts of Kindness:  Let’s never forget how God has blessed us with so much.  If you can, please join me this holiday season by surprising someone with a random act of kindness.  If you need some ideas please feel free to contact me at:                             joann@whisperedgrace.com

Whispered grace               Newsletter         2^nd Quarter 2014

Love and Mercy found me…..            By Jo Ann Chevalier

We were led in song at church a few weeks ago and the words of this song stood out as we were singing.  I couldn’t get it out of my head.  We sing this song often and for some reason five words of this song touched me like never before.  Love and Mercy found me were the words.  It is true that because of God’s Love and Mercy we can be found.

We are not perfect people and sometimes we may stumble but guess what, Love and Mercy can find us if we are renewing our minds every day.  When I have said negative things that don’t lift people up, love and mercy finds me.  When I have done things that were not always positive, love and mercy finds me.   When I participated in events where Christianity was not the priority, love and mercy finds me.  When I was silent and said nothing to defend someone’s character and honor, love and mercy found me.   When I lost hope and forgot to keep my eyes up above, love and mercy found me.  Believers get this wonderful “gift” of love, mercy and forgiveness of our sins.  Life is so amazing!  God created this earth and allowed us to live in it in any way that pleases him.  His amazing love and mercy is endless, you can read about it in the bible.

The title Love and Mercy found me coincides with why I love to spend so much time at the beach watching the waves come in.  It reminds me of how many times God forgives me, over and over again.  To have peace in your life you must allow Love and Mercy to find you.  My prayer for you today is that you let Love and Mercy find you, as I have.

     How are you livin?

A New Beginning.......love the sound of it!  Let's talk about how you are living?

Beauty at it's best!

We enjoyed so much walking in the rain forest in 

San Juan, Puerto Rico.  We carried no umbrella

and allowed the rain to pour on us..What an amazing 

experience of  God's goodness....how are you living?

For every hour that you spend in a "pity party", make sure you spend the same amount of time working on your dreams......how are you livin?

I dare you to dream!!!

Don't let life pass you bye!  Why are you spending so much time in negativity when you could give more time to living a successful abundant life.....let's talk about it.....how are you living?
Now is the time for fine living!  Just let people know that it can sometimes take 500 practices just to get it right....

Don't just look, use your Vision!

When your vision is clear, your purpose is revealed!!

I have love and forgiveness in my heart what about you?  Let's talk about it and how you are Living!

http://lulu.com/spotlight/jchevalier

joann@whisperedgrace.com

At your best, you are Love!

Are you a positive motivating force within your life?   Love this song by the Isley Brother's.  Well are you?


When life throws you sour lemons do you make lemonade?




Let's have a conversation about the positive motivating force in your life, how are you livin?