Grace in the Water

By Liz A. Darnell

An inspiring story that shows heavenly connections, Liz shares that with God we can face any trial life may bring when we learn to conquer fear. With a desire to guide others, she shares examples of life lessons and prayerfully helps readers reach a new level of strength through Faith in Christ. Liz shares a new confidence and self worth that's discovered through God's helping hand. Inspiring hope through paving a new way, we can learn to trust the Father above with all things. With all of life's glorious plans unraveling, she shares stories from her journey and a tiny portion of all that is available with the assistance of God's Grace.

 

Starting with an experience that occurred at the ocean, life was about to lead to an anointed connection with a little girl as Liz was sitting in the water. That fateful day inspired the writer to pick up her pen almost twenty years later. She was about to find life moving to a less convenient place that seemed to hold unfavorable finances and a ticket to nothing but the unknown.

 

Divine destiny was about to show Liz. Even when we try to steer our own desired direction, it can't always get us out of our God chosen path. Two precious souls were about to collide and it was going to lead to a labor of love that would take precedence over any other work in her entire life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Liz A. Darnell
• Release date: Mar 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781393694908

Book preview

Grace in the Water

Liz A. Darnell

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Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Copyright © 2017 Liz A. Darnell

ISBN: 978-0-578-51909-8

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic mechanical recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author.

Some people and incidents in this book may be composites created by the author. Names and details may have been changed and any similarity with names or stories of individuals described in this book known to readers is purely coincidental.

Published by Liz A. Darnell, Edgewater, Florida, U.S.A. 2019

Third Edition - 2019

Printed on acid-free paper.

BookLocker.com, Inc. 2017, 2018 - Publisher First Edition and Second Edition ISBN: 978-1-63492-006-3

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To reach the author:

www.lizdarnell.com

Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Excerpt from Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul Used with permission of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.

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Ephesians 4:7 - But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my family and parents. It's for all of my blood line and siblings through Christ. To the people who started it all in the very beginning. To the people who are unknown to me even the ones in my future. To the hand selected few chosen by God that will assist with His desires until the very end.

Each generation that prayed for me and helped me get to where I am today. To the ones that assisted in guiding me to this very moment in my life. Without them I would not have an ounce of the glory that I'm experiencing here today. I am discovering more of God's grace daily. He grants me a love that's filled with abundance. Every single day passing me by He holds me. God loves me and gives me a joy everlasting. He showers me with blessings every moment.

To my children who give me so much pleasure and delight. Thank you for allowing me to take part in your life. Thank you for allowing me to watch you as you grow. Thank you for blessing me with the presence of you in my life. It has been the greatest honor I could have ever been given. Helping you along the way has been more than enough. I hope I leave to you more. More knowledge more hope more strength and financial gain. I pray that you will never lose sight of God and how He is protecting you in your life.

Proverbs 13:22 - A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

To my future grandchildren and all of the Greats to come I pray for you daily. I pray for the entire chain of people that I can never possibly know while I'm on the earth. I am sowing into my future like all of the generations before me. I feel them sending me the hope just as I am sending it to you.

Mostly my dedication goes to my Heavenly Father above. He showers me with His Grace daily. He replenishes me overwhelmingly. He gives me an indescribable love each and every day. He is my provider my love my joy and my life. He, my God, is my every single thing.

Table of Contents

About the Author

An Opening Prayer

Grace in the Water

The Number of Grace

Grace Sees Inside

Protection Through Grace

Web's Covered By Grace

Grace When We Mourn

Grace Makes Me Good Enough

Grace When We Dream

Grace In July

Grace Covers Bad Chapters

Grace When We Trust

Grace Cancels My Shame

How Do I Know that I am a Child of God?

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About the Author

Liz Darnell is the fifth and youngest daughter born in a military hospital in the state of Virginia. Moving with her family from port to port her Father completed his career in the Navy and they settled in Florida for most of her life.

She loves to decorate and assist customers that are looking to find or sell their homes in residential real estate. She resides in Central Florida.

She is a Christian (God will always come first), a wife, a mother, a Realtor, a writer, a dreamer, a lover of nature with animals and beauty.

She is a mother filled with gratitude blessed with the opportunity to serve her bloodline. Above all she is renewed and restored. She is a glorious victor that resides under a royal blood line. There's a royalty that has been granted from her Holy Father above.

When I was writing this book I came to the end. I had a very deep feeling in my heart to close my writing with a prayer. After I wrote the ending prayer, I felt an even stronger desire to come back to my beginning. I wanted to open the beginning with prayer as well.

The thing I want mostly to show with this book is how God has given me His love. How He has provided me with His blessed assurance. His abundant Grace is always open and ready to wash us clean. He can help to erase the pain of our past. He helps us become more blessed every single day.

An Opening Prayer

It seems only right that I go to a prayer that the Apostle Paul wrote. I can't find any greater words that would speak to you much clearer. Few words of my own can show you something higher. The hope that I have for you as you read my own written words; they resonate so truly among Paul's. He wrote this prayer so many years ago. The words speak volumes to my heart. I pray that they will to yours too.

Ephesians 3:14-19 - For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."

Thank you for blessing me with the time that you're taking reading my words. I know your time is valuable and I feel so deeply honored. You have stopped for one moment along your own given journey. You've already provided to me merit and value. My words get to speak to your beautiful life.

Matthew 11:28-30 - Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

Grace in the Water

As I open my writing, I hope the following paragraphs will bring feelings of love and joy to anyone that reads them. I'm praying what I write on these pages provide help and guidance to a portion of your life. I pray these words leave you feeling a deep and tender love.

An ordinary day like many others I was reading a book. In the book I was referred to another book. This is happening more lately as I'm reading someone else's book. It's like I'm being guided to read something then almost every single time the book leads me to another book that the author is describing.

It's like a beautifully braided rope directing me on my journey. It fascinates me looking back. I get to observe an intertwining in my life and its direction. It's a gentle unraveling that I feel so blessed to observe. I love to ponder the connections that have happened along the way.

Months before my most recent beach stay, I had a dream. I was with my sisters, and we were on the sand. We were walking together close to the shoreline. Water was coming from the east towards us but also from the south. The tides were both coming in it seemed at the same time. It was like we were at a connecting line somewhere in the ocean. We were somehow on the shore of a town. The beach had two directions of water lines that were coming in upon the sand. One shore was to our left and the other was straight in front of us.

Together we continued to walk upon the sand. We could see the sun's rays as they danced on the water. The suns reflection seemed to float for miles. The glare was slowly drifting off into the horizon. I knew we were walking by the east and the south lines of the ocean. Somehow two tides were coming in at exactly the same time. It was calm outside. It was a beautiful day. The sun filled the blue skies and radiated down upon our skin.

One of my sisters turned to me and said loudly almost in a panic, Look Liz! There's no water in the east. It's no longer there. The water on the east side had disappeared. Almost instantaneously it was gone. It was like it had just vanished in the blink of an eye. I turned my face to speak to her. I asked her loudly, What do you want me to do? I can't do anything about it. I began to walk straight ahead to the water in front of me. More water was coming to the shore moving in from the south.

A huge wave was beginning to form in front of me. It was starting to roll in the distance. I could tell it would soon tower over us. It was going to happen at any moment. The wave began to roll stronger. It was coming straight towards me. It was like the water from the east had pulled back and moved over. Somehow it joined with the water in the south. They had combined and were now moving quickly towards the dry sand. My sisters ran as fast as they could. They wanted to get away from the wave that was coming. I turned around and looked at them. I watched them as they ran away. They were behind me now and running as fast as they could.

My body was motionless. I only turned my head to watch them run. I could tell they wanted me to run. They wanted me to catch up with them. They were desperate for us to get away from the water. I turned back and looked at the wave. It was like a tsunami wave now. I stayed by the water. My feet did not move. I was standing still in front of it. I was now staring at the wave. It was growing bigger with each passing second. I could hear my sisters. They were screaming now. They continued to run. They were behind me. I could see the wave about to roll above me now. I could see its monstrosity. It now covered the sun. I knew it was going to fall on me. I knew it would probably swallow me. I still did not move. I was not afraid. Right before the wave was to fall on me, I woke up.

Psalms 107:29 - He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

I tell you about my dream because I think it has to do with fear and learning not to run when we are afraid. Learning to be still and conquering fear. When we gain the inner knowledge and know who we are with Christ. When we know He will always protect us as we're learning to conquer our fear. In this life people can say or do anything to us. How we respond to them reveals who we really are deep on the inside.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

The water and sand have held major connections to my life's journey. Really incredible things seem to unfold there for me. I almost never recognize the moments until I am safe and back home. Relaxed calm and settled I reflect more on my life and events. Deep inside, peace starts to prevail. Hindsight and the quiet provide calmness to my soul. I can unravel the connecting threads deep within reflection.

Weeks after my dream I was preparing to go to the beach and celebrate Memorial Day. We were planning to stay there for several nights. We really wanted to get away for a few days from our lives and the trials it sometimes holds. It's always a great place for us to drive to and relax. Everyday trials seem to release and slip away when we are sitting on the shore.

I had just finished reading a book and had downloaded another one recommended by the first writer. I decided before I opened the newest book, I would take a break from my reading. I would start reading the new book when I returned from visiting the ocean. It was a good breaking point for me, and I was ready to focus on my husband and think of only him and me for the next day or two.

We had been planning our trip for quite a while. I always look forward to the time that we get to spend by the ocean. I really enjoy the pace of life and escaping by the water. We arrived at the beach early that day. We decided to drive to the sand and shoreline to wait for the check-in time at our hotel.

The county allows people to drive on the sand and park their cars if they want. We decided to park our car on the sand so we could be closer to the ocean. We pulled onto the sand and continued to drive. We were looking for just the perfect spot. We were going to stop for a few hours and sit by the water. We were ready to soak up some rays coming from the sun.

We found a place to park, and I noticed there was a mini-van that had just parked next to us. The people in the van were unloading their car. They were moving their beach towels and chairs. We got all of the things we would need from our car. We walked down to the shore to sit in our chairs. I didn't notice anything unusual with the people we decided to park by.

I remember there were three or four ladies. One of them was holding a newborn child. The baby couldn't have been more than six or seven months old. They were getting their umbrella set up and arranging their towels and mats on the sand. It seemed they were setting up their home base and just getting things ready for their day.

We walked to the water carrying our chairs. Minding our own business, the hours passed by. A few hours later I noticed a younger boy. He seemed about four. He was standing by the same ladies that we had seen before. Up to this point I never noticed he was there. It seemed like he might be starting to act out with his behavior. He was kicking the sand and speaking with a loud tone. It seemed like he was trying to get someone to notice him. I could tell he needed someone close to give him some attention. He seemed desperate for one of the ladies to give him one-on-one time.

When our own boys were younger, we would take them to the beach on the weekends. My husband would bring a shovel and they would dig a big hole. They would play inside the hole for hours at a time. They loved to make it every single time we went to the ocean. It gave them quality time with a man and father figure. It also gave them something to build and to gain a sense of satisfaction upon completing.

They loved to contribute with the digging. They anxiously awaited the final results of their labor. The goal would be to make the water come inside the hole and fill up their little pool created from sand. The water would fill to just the right level. Not very long into digging they had built themselves a beautiful pool. It became a really cherished tradition for all of us when they were younger. Our boys are both older now and live outside of our home. They are now thriving on their own and living with friends. They are now attending college.

After a few minutes of watching the boy act out in front of the ladies I asked my husband, Do you think you could show that boy how to build a pool with the sand?  I noticed there were no other men around the little boy that day. It seemed like none of his male figures were showing up for him this holiday.

My husband went over to the boy. I could see them interacting together and soon they began to use a small shovel and build the sand pool. It was nice to watch them dig and making the hole together. I could see my husband. He was showing the little boy how to dig deeper in the sand. Soon the water began to flow from the ground and filled the hole. The circle was filling, and the little pool was beginning to form.

I was still sitting in my chair all alone. I was watching the pool being formed from the ocean. I enjoyed observing the boy and my husband together. They kept digging by the shoreline. The water was starting to roll in. High tide would be happening soon. The water was starting to cover my chair now and it was moving higher and closer to my knees.

Suddenly a little girl walked over to me. I was still sitting in the water. It was the little boy's sister. She had walked over to me just