Tag Archives: ministry

sweet grace newsletter

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Wow!  I knew working for God had its fair share of challenges.  What I didn’t know was just how much I had to learn! I possess about a thimble full of knowledge on technology.  Patience is not always my strong suit, and it shows while I have been sitting on my news for quite a few weeks – while hinting at it in a blog or two.  Today, I am ready to announce that sweet grace ministries is on its baby steps to becoming a real part of my life as well as the life  of my friend, ministry partner, and sister in Christ.  We have prayed for a long time, and now, we are putting in the sweat equity (too bad that wasn’t sweet equity because that would have been awesome) to put the hands and feet and ideas (which we have A LOT) to what God has called us to do.

The plan is to provide uplifting talks whether that be small events or whole weekend retreats.  The heart of our ministry is  Real Women~Real Lives~Sweet Grace where we would have the opportunity to share God’s love and grace with everyone by focusing on women.  There really is truth to the old saying, “If momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.”

Using our lives’ stories to give back and invest in women, we are hoping that we are small pebbles in God’s pond.  The blessings that we hope to offer can have a rippling effect long after we have shared.  We can also be found at Twitter @RealSweetGrace.

Please check out the link to our new magazine newsletter and I hope to have more similar announcements coming very soon.  Next up: Facebook Page and finishing touches on our website.

http://issuu.com/sweetgrace/docs/magazine_sweet_grace?mode=window

How sweet tea saved the day

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sweet teaFor true followers of this blog, you know that I have been on a roller coaster ride with Mother Nature this spring.  At some points, like during the three day snowstorm in April, she and I were not even on speaking terms.  During one of those days, it became apparent that we were in for the long haul, and our menu was in a rut.  What does a wise and frugal mom do when you have your children home?  You make freezer meals – which roughly translated in kid speak is forced servitude, but nevertheless we had fun.

We did need a few supplies to round out our chosen meals, and I coaxed our newest driver into being my second. (Of course, it didn’t hurt that he is a lineman and could push if we got stuck, and undeniably he scrapes windows so much better than I.)  Before we left, I told him that I needed to get something to make sure we were prepared for our journey to roll-back price land.  He assumed (rather incorrectly) that I needed some cold weather preparedness item.  Pshaw!  Nope! What I went back for was the one thing that always makes my day brighter – iced sweet tea!

I didn’t just grab any glass. Oh no! I needed a Tervis tumbler so that my tea stayed nice and cold.  (I know what you are thinking. A blizzard in April wasn’t cold enough?) The shopping trip was successful, and I was never parched. Years before, I would have been eyed as rather odd carrying a glass of sweet tea through a foot of snow (uphill both ways).  Alright, I’m stretching it on the snow, but not the eyeballing.  I’ve carried Southern-style sweet tea with me for as long as have I owned my own cups, but it wasn’t until Uncle Si that people  stopped thinking it was weird.  It took loveable ol’ Si Robertson of Duck Dynasty and his trusty Tupperware cup and tea pitcher for people to realize that sweet tea isn’t just a beverage – it’s a way of life.

Recently, that sweet tea saved me (and my friend) from making a colossal mistake.  We are in the process of launching a new ministry, and we had decided on a name that we thought would represent our hearts desire (but more importantly God’s plan) for women – to know that they are not alone and that His grace covers every hurt.  We even launched a newsletter featuring that old name.  Then our marketing team said in a kind and gentle way, “Nuh-uh! You do not want to do that. You need something more personal and dynamic.”  Stunned! Where do we go from here?

Divine intervention actually came to me while thinking about that crazy trip to the store in the snowstorm. What is something signature about me?  Right there in that glass of orange pekoe and sucrose was the answer – sweet tea.  Thus, God granted me an epiphany into how amazing grace really is – it’s SWEET!

Amazing grace – how sweet the sound!

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

Watch in the coming days to see just how good He really is! I promise it will be sweet!

A new beginning

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christmas angel

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

. . .  a time to plant Ecc 3: 1, 3a (NIV)

 These verses in Ecclesiastes have been some of my favorites for years.  Today they couldn’t be more fitting.  I am happy to announce that I am following a dream that God planted, watered, and tended in my life.  But just like any great garden, I am starting out small and building from there.  Starting today, Kandy Noles Stevens Ministries and “got grace? events” begins.

This dream began about this time a year ago, and more details on how it came to fruition can be found in my newsletter released today on Facebook.  This is an exciting time in our lives, and it also one that we want to be very careful that we cling close to the hem of Jesus’ garments to know that we truly are following where He leads us.

What does this change for my family?  Right now, not much other than I will be taking some weekends away to spend writing the books that have been slowly coming together.  It will also mean some travel as several churches have called asking for me to come and share my stories.  My blog will continue to be my thoughts and family’s experiences. The reality is none of this would be possible without friends speaking God’s truth in my life and praying that I would be smart enough and bold enough to take the first step.

I’m still me – the girl next door who loves her kids and husband, who laughs at herself, and who loves wearing floppy hats in the garden.  I love watching a good football game, snuggling puppies, and donning jeans and baseball hats, but I can pull off pearls while sipping iced tea on a porch with Southern charm.  But above all of that, I am just a girl who LOVES Jesus and who appreciates all He and His dad have done for me.

So even though this is not at all how I pictured my life, clearly they have a much better plan than I ever did.  With each day, my excitement builds as I learn slowly to let go and see what blessing is around the corner.

Since right now, this is a very small operation consisting of myself and a dear friend working as my assistant, ministry partner, and sister in Christ, we just ask for prayers.  Please pray that we are earnestly seeking God’s direction and that we are obedient to his plans.

It took us at least 5 months to settle on a name, and I want to share how much of a family operation this is.  When he was in the 4th grade, Sawyer was working on his God & Country supplemental badge for Cub Scouts.  There are a series of faith activities that the Scout and his family complete together.  One of those activities involved dissecting the verses from the second chapter of Luke.  We worked on this side-by-side, talking through each one.  When we got to Luke 2:52,

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (NIV)

I asked him how did Jesus grow?  You could almost see the wheels turning in his head.  (Remember he was smaller than me back then.)  His answers went something like this:

“Mom, he got smarter! And, he got bigger. And . . . and . . . (now with a perplexed look on his face) he got grace?”

That moment took place over six years ago, and I still haven’t forgotten it.  That same favor extended to His one and only Son is available to everyone.  Even in the deepest, darkest, moments, He is there simply waiting to be asked in.  The comforter, healer, and friend is a big part of my story.   Yet, that is the amazing thing about my story. It is only through the  abundant, lavish,  grace of Jesus Christ that I have been able to take my mess and make it a message. 

Thank you for being a part of the journey.

Kandy

If you have not already received the newsletter and would like to receive one, please e-mail us at mominmn75@gmail.com.