Welcome

After making 627 posts on my first blog, I think I'm ready to start a new blog for 2011.  Welcome to "Abounding in Grace" or http://mysoapboxjournal.blogspot.com/.  I am starting this new blog to provide a place for me to journal about four of my favorite passions:

1. Faith
2. Family
3. Freedom
4. Fitness

As I begin adding posts to this blog, 4 buttons "should" appear at the top of the blog so that readers can click on whichever topic may be of interest, or readers can just scroll through my entries in reverse chronological order from the home page. Hopefully, this new format will keep this blog more organized than my first one while providing accountability for me and perhaps encouragement for others.

My initial thoughts for what may be included in each category are as follows:

Faith 
This category will include meditations, thought-provoking quotes, and Scripture verses.  It will be a place where I can work through the lessons the Lord is teaching me while implanting God's truth in my mind and on my heart.  I also want to keep a record of God's mighty works that I can pass down to our children.

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”  (Deuteronomy 4: 9-10)

Family
As in my previous blog, I will continue this section to keep our friends and family updated on our family.  Travels, homeschooling, milestones, and daily funnies are some of the topics that may be included.

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have 

passed at home in the bosom of my family.  ~Thomas Jefferson

Freedom  

I'm still framing this category in my mind, but I hope to use this category to discuss what it means to be truly free.  I will discuss common areas of bondage many of us may face at some point in life.  I also hope to share about my deep desire to see those who are oppressed set free.   

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, (Luke 4:18)

 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Fitness

I have a passion for physical fitness and have been pushing my body to its limits for the past 20 years.  I have learned so much about God's marvelous design for the body.   I hope to share tips, tricks, and reminders for myself and others, so that I may encourage myself and others in the pursuit of fitness while avoiding the mistakes that cause injuries.  I will probably do some product reviews as well. 

 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Please share any topics or ideas you may have for the new blog.