Carey C. Bailey on Hope

Today, I like to introduce you to a dear friend, Carey C. Bailey.

 I met Carey last October at Relevant.

Our conversation began in one of the sessions and continued over coffee 

at the {In}Courage lounge.

 We had a great time sharing our Journey and the way God is working in our lives...

...the hopes, dreams, and prayers deep within. 

It is a blessing to call her friend and continue those conversations today!

Carey is a wife, mom of two precious children, and host of an online community:

Cravings: desiring God in the midst of motherhood.

You must check out her devotional!

She loves God with her whole heart and has some HOPE to share with you today!
{Which is pin-able!}

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Carey C Bailey – Bio

I am a lover of grace through Christ, a wife to the hilarious Mr. Bailey, and a mother of two precious children of God. I host an online community for moms called Cravings: desiring God in the midst of motherhood. After having kids, I realized I had to make a shift in my personal devotional time. The days of chillin in my comfy chair reading my Bible, journaling, and sipping hot tea were gone. I had to make it easier. Not less meaningful, just easier.  So I created daily devotional flashcards that help moms get their God time “on-the-go”. Cravings is a place of inspiration, encouragement, and community. I want you to be able to walk in and out of each day satisfied because The Bible, not cupcakes, has filled you up.  

With Joy, Carey 

Online Contacts:

Web-site: www.cravingsonline.net

Blog: www.cravingstheblog.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CravingsOnline

Twitter: CareyCBailey

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/careycbailey/

{Thank You so much for sharing Carey!}

*All opinions about Cravings the Devotional are purely mine. I was not paid nor sponsored for the mention. It really is fantastic!

Gift...{Weekend Thoughts}

"Where you are right now is exactly where God wants you to be. And it is good. It is gift."

---Ann Voskamp

Relevant 11

{Unexpected...}

I walk the room, watching them work diligently on their project.

Soft piano music playing in the background.

When out of the corner of my eye I see it...

Soft, white, fluffy flakes dancing down from the sky.

Dancing to the tune of the piano.

A hop here, a skip here, a twirl there.

Soft flakes that fall and warm my heart.

Soft flakes that fall and quench the earth of its drought.

Like Grace that flows from the Father.

So do these flakes dance into my heart.

Like the white, bright truth of the Father who holds us tight and loves us fast.

The Father who promises us He will never leave nor forsake us.

Who makes our sins as white as snow.

...His Words dance in my heart and my soul.

With each falling flake from the heavens above I am reminded of Him and His goodness.

My students race to the windows.

Awe and wonder stretching a mile wide.

Joy radiating of their faces and it is here...

...Here where I see, 

Where it is so clear,

the truth I have always known.

Even in the Unexpected,

the Unexpected of life,

God still longs for me to come to Him as his child.

Awe.

Wonder.

Joy.

And with that...

the flakes dance in the sky.

...STOP...

Joining Lisa- Jo and Five Minute Friday today.

It was so wonderful to hear her speak at Relevant and learn how
to write for the Glory of God.

Thank You Lisa!

Praying that God's truth dances in your heart and
falls upon you like the soft, snow from the sky.

I am looking forward to another day of teaching, of putting pen to paper, and celebrating those who serve.

What are you looking forward to?

By His Grace,

Cole

{Memory...}

Soft breeze blows,

the scratchy bench beneath my legs. 

Strong, silent, pauses. 

The flood gates open, he begins to cry.

Deep, racking, sobs.

I grab his hand of years lived and lives touched.

A moment, a piece of time where peace comes.

A talk cherished forever.

Fast Forward...

New Earth, dirt blows.

I kneel, touch the cold stone sunk into the earth. 

A memory of that moment of peace comes to mind and I am reminded...

It Is Well With My Soul.

Grandpa.

Strong, 

true, 

loved,

missed.

A memory forever in my heart.

And then...

The soft, breeze blows.

{Remembering my Grandpa and all those who have served.}

This post was written during Relevant. 

Where pen met paper and God met hearts.

And I am thankful.

By His Grace,

Cole

Remember {5 minute Friday}

I dig down deep, eyes focused, heart open, flooded by the truths voiced by others.

His messengers, His hands and feet.

Grace floods my soul and my eyes are open wide.

Open to the gifts He has poured out on His daughters.

Open to His heart for us.

Blessings in the life here and now and I

cry...

I remember, 

remember the the Becoming...

Becoming with eyes focused on Him.

Becoming to His will and this place where...

...pen meets paper...

...fingers to keyboard...

Becoming open, moldable.

Remembering the truths spoken at Relevant.

Remembering truths spoken to my heart.

"Where you are right now is exactly where God wants you to be. And it is good. It is gift."

---Ann Voskamp

"Your identity is in the whose you are, not the who you are."

---Ann Voskamp

"Be a voice in the wilderness...Be thunder in the dessert."

---Ann Voskamp

And it is with these words and many more that I remember...

The Journey is still Becoming...

Stop

Where does your journey lead you today?

By His Grace,

Cole 

Joining Lisa-Jo and 5 minute Friday.

Becoming {A Relevant Story}

Searching, Seeking, Walking.

Listening to His still, small voice.

Heart beats, feet shuffles, move.

 

Uncertainty, hope, excitement,

I pause...

 

Change direction, 

heart beating faster,

open door,

soft couch,

 

I sit.

Arms open wide, heart open wide.

Searching, Seeking, Walking.

Becoming mold-able.

Becoming new.

Becoming who I am made to be in HIM.

Hello Dear friends,

I hope this Monday is gracing you with many blessings!

 

I am back from a wonderful, in{couraging}, Relevant weekend.

I can't wait to share more with you about it, it will come in its sweet time.

The above is something I wrote while there, experienced there. 

God is moving, shaping, and sifting my heart in great ways.

The story isn't over...

it is still Becoming.

It was so good to see the wonderful smiles and soft voices of my students this morning.

 

How was your day?

By His Grace,

Cole