January 18, 2024 • 22 mins
Has the deliberate pursuit of grace ever become an effortless part of your daily existence? Join Ebony Gilbert and myself, Carri Richard, as we reflect on a year's worth of soul-enriching experiences that have seen us embrace grace in ways we never thought possible. In our heartfelt conversation, we celebrate the personal growth that comes from walking through life's hurdles with an attitude of grace. Together, we examine how these challenges have reshaped our perceptions, leading us to a state of inner peace and diminished judgment - a testimony to the power of grace in action.
Our dialogue extends beyond personal triumphs, venturing into the true meaning of success. Here, we ponder the scriptural teachings on contentment, taking inspiration from the apostle Paul's wisdom (Philippians 4) in finding satisfaction in the here and now. Ebony and I also delve into the profound impact of sharing grace with others, and how the wisdom gleaned from life's twists and turns can be applied for a deeper, more enriching life experience. By the end of our exchange, you'll feel a sense of upliftment and inspiration, possibly finding yourself eager to join us in spreading the transformative gift of grace in the everyday moments that define our human journey.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Grace Among Us, the podcast where we
unearth the many faces andplaces of grace and share
stories of the power of grace inour human lives.
Our desire is that this willinspire you to see grace in your
own life and share it withothers.
Ebony Gilbert (00:22):
My name is Ebony Gilbert and I get to work
alongside Carri Richard to talkabout Grace Among Us, and it is
about to be a new year, so I'mexcited to be here with you
today.
And, Carri, who are you?
Carri Richard (00:41):
Ebony Gilbert.
I am Carri Richard.
I'm a mindset coach.
I help people make space andenjoy the ride, and this is my
very favorite topic and one ofmy very favorite people I get to
speak to about grace.
So yeah, it is almost a newyear and actually, when this
(01:04):
comes out, it may even be thenew year.
Ebony Gilbert (01:11):
So, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year.
Carri Richard (01:14):
Yes, Merry Christmas.
Happy New Year, here's to anamazing Grace-filled 2024.
Ebony Gilbert (01:23):
And here's to an amazing 2023 that blew my mind.
Carri Richard (01:28):
It did, (Ebony - it did).
Yeah, give me something thatblew your mind.
Ebony Gilbert (01:39):
Personal growth.
Personal growth I think you andI were talking yesterday a
little bit about.
I was telling you that some ofthe things you asked me how was
work and how was life I wassaying how some of the same
things I've been going throughin the last two weeks, some of
the same situations I've beenencountering.
(01:59):
If I had encountered thosesituations a year earlier or two
years earlier I probably wouldhave reacted very differently.
But now I can laugh at them,now I can kind of literally let
it roll off my shoulders and forthat type of peace I can call
it growth, I can use a bunch ofself-help words.
(02:19):
But for that kind of peace tojust organically flow.
I'm not having to channel it,I'm not having to take a pause
and go oh, act in grace.
I'm living in it in a way thatfeels very natural.
(02:40):
That is mind blowing to me.
And even the things that do getnext to me, I'm not losing
sleep over it and I'm a lot lessjudgmental internally because I
would never voice those things.
But now I don't even think them.
(03:01):
My mindset about some thingsare a bit different.
So for growth, the growth, thepeace, the grace, and I'd be
silly to not attribute some ofthat to what we're doing here.
I'm talking about it on aregular cadence.
I'm not waiting for anopportunity to present itself
(03:23):
and then I'll get my cup filledrandomly at the gas station, if
somebody asked me.
No, this is very intentionaland it's like watering, it's an
irrigation system.
This podcast has been a graceirrigation system and it comes
on with a timer and it watersthe seed and it keeps me
(03:43):
positive and it keeps presentingin a way that my peace is
growing and my relationship withGod is growing and is getting
me to a point where I'm proud tosay I'm a child of the King and
I'm representing Him in a waythat's not forced and I'm
excited about how that looks in'24, because '23 felt
exponential to me.
(04:04):
So I don't even know what toimagine for '24.
I'm not talking aboutpromotions.
I'm not talking about things.
I bought those trips, I went on, those things were great.
I'm talking about the internalcondition of my heart and soul.
Carri Richard (04:21):
It's just a good place.
I love him, I love him.
Ebony Gilbert (04:25):
That was a long answer.
Carri Richard (04:26):
It was a beautiful answer and I, to be
honest, I was like man.
She took mine.
Ebony Gilbert (04:34):
Well, let's hear it in Carrie's words oh my God.
Carri Richard (04:38):
OK, I give up judging my own words against
yours.
Yeah, that, that peace thatsurpasses all understanding and
access to it.
And I, what I heard you say was, you know, I didn't have to
work, not work for it, but itwasn't an effort.
(05:01):
It's become like a more regular- just part of life.
There's that concept of thingsbecoming second nature, like I
don't think about how I brush myteeth, I don't think about how
I put my shoes on, I don't thinkabout how I, you know, step out
(05:21):
of bed or if I'm walking up anddown stairs, things like that.
And you know, these sweetlittle brains and minds, like we
talk to it with repetition, itunderstands repetition.
So, to your point, beingwilling to continue to have
(05:42):
grace as a major focus, it Idon't think it's.
I think it's impossible not tolive like, begin to live more
into grace.
I have a dear friend who saysit's just walking further into
the kingdom and that just bringsme so much joy to think about
(06:05):
that.
So, yes, to your point.
There are things that occurredthis year.
You know - the word I had forthis year was freedom.
I had no idea what I was goingto be freed from, and there were
situations that were highlyuncomfortable and in the past, I
(06:26):
probably would want to go hidein the corner for a while and
lick my wounds right and, byGod's grace, there were
different solutions.
It's almost like those graceglasses go on and things get
right sized.
Or my perception is different,and that's not to say that I
(06:50):
didn't cry, I didn't get angry,I didn't have all the feelings.
This isn't a bandaid, but it's,oh my gosh, I can't, I am
amazed.
I can walk through this withgrace and it just, you know, it
(07:11):
inspires me to keep, keep, keeppracticing, because, to your
point, who knows what 2024 isgoing to look like?
Ebony Gilbert (07:23):
Yeah, yeah, so I can be excited about 24.
I'm also a little I don't wantto use the word anxious, but a
little anxious, Because I knowevery round goes a little bit
higher and once you went throughthis time prepares you for the
next time.
So and there's continued growth.
Like you don't just stopgrowing, We're not going to get
(07:43):
stagnant.
So I know the next mountain tobe a little higher, I know the
next thing to be a little bigger, and that gives me a little bit
of anxiety.
But I feel so equipped and thatwhich I don't have, I know I
will when I need it, and I haveso much confidence in that.
Carri Richard (08:00):
I love that word equipped and to your point, I
may, I may not, I am not, mostlikely, I am not equipped for
something that's going to happenin February, and I don't need
to be, (Ebony - because Februaryis not now).
Exactly, exactly.
There's a there's like a buzzstatement that goes around the
(08:20):
"inner webs, you know, new level.
It's new level, new devilDevils, and I think I don't, I,
you know, that's what I hearwhen you're speaking about that.
Ebony Gilbert (08:33):
Yeah, and I'm okay with that.
Carri Richard (08:36):
Yeah, you know what excites me about that.
And I get the anxiety.
I'm not saying I'm all gung-holike, bring it on, bring it on.
Although I am a little bit.
What excites me about that is Iknow what it feels like to walk
through it and get to the otherside of something like that.
(08:58):
And so when I am in the middle,in the hall walking through it,
sometimes it's just reflectingback on a time when I've come
through something reallydifficult and trying to touch us
for a minute, to touch in onthat, that feeling of you know
(09:21):
sometimes, sometimes popping outthe other side Like it's, like,
holy crap, you wake up the nextday and it's like, oh my gosh,
I'm on the other side, (Ebony -I made it!) Exactly and I
couldn't have made it any faster.
Ebony Gilbert (09:36):
I don't know.
I'm on time.
Carri Richard (09:38):
Exactly, and I have no control over that time.
Ebony Gilbert (09:43):
Yeah, I like what you said being able to look
back and say, hey, I made itthrough before.
Yeah, I can do it again.
Carri Richard (09:54):
You know what?
I'm 100% successful in makingit through.
Ebony Gilbert (10:01):
How about that for statistics?
Those are good odds.
That is an amazing battingaverage.
Carri Richard (10:07):
Yeah, because here we are, Say that again.
That kind of that felt good.
I am 100% successful at makingit through difficult situations.
Ebony Gilbert (10:23):
There was no failing.
Carri Richard (10:25):
No, because I'm sitting here.
I got my coffee, actually it'swater.
Now I've got my water.
I'm talking to a dear friend,I'm breathing, it's warm in here
.
I have all I need in thismoment.
That means I'm 100% successful.
Ebony Gilbert (10:50):
That is.
That's not just goodperspective.
That's fact.
That's not fru fru"or through.
That is truth.
And for all the scientificfolks who struggle with
reconciling the stuff with thestuff that satisfies both.
Carri Richard (11:15):
There is a scripture and I can't access it
right now.
Ebony Gilbert (11:23):
I'm going to paraphrase it and see if you can
access it.
Carri Richard (11:26):
It's not a test.
Just to say I think it was Paultalking about the power of just
being content with what we have.
That's not a lot to go on.
Ebony Gilbert (11:44):
To be abound and abased.
To be that - you're talkingabout that one.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
It's.
Ebony Gilbert (11:52):
It's Philippians Okay, Philippians 4th chapter,
and Paul's talking about.
He's in jail, basically, andhis friends hadn't come to see
him and he's - am I passing thetest?
And he's talking about.
You know, I've learned to becontent in whatever
circumstances I'm in.
Yes, is that what you'rehitting on?
That's it, and we'll referenceit in the notes.
Carri Richard (12:13):
Yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (12:14):
That's the chapter.
Carri Richard (12:16):
That chapter 4 is a really good chapter.
If you were just to read onechapter for the next month, read
that.
Ebony Gilbert (12:27):
Yes, I've learned to have and have not.
I've learned to be in need andnot.
You know it's that.
And he ends it with no matterwhat.
I know I can do all thingsthrough Christ.
Yes, I can make it in thedesert, I can make it in the
flood, I can make it.
Carri Richard (12:42):
He's 100% successful.
Ebony Gilbert (12:44):
Absolutely.
That's good stuff.
That's a good reference, goodstuff.
The thing about that verse Inormally hone in on the I can do
all things.
I've learned that I can make it.
But the part that resonateswith me right now, in this
moment, is I've learned.
He had to matriculate throughthis thing Like it wasn't - I
(13:09):
woke up and it just dropped inme and now I'm good.
No, I had to learn this.
There had to be some training,there had to be some practice,
and now I can say that I'velearned it.
Carri Richard (13:21):
Yes, I love that.
It's all the way back to yourpoint of how being amazed in
2023.
Right, this isn't.
This isn't.
It's not quick fix.
This is lifetime stuff.
Ebony Gilbert (13:42):
It's not - I recently, like last week,
completed the coursework for adegree program I was going
through and I did it because itwas affordable and I guess I
needed something to do.
I don't know.
But I went into it thinking I'mnot going to learn a lot, this
will just be some check boxesfor me to get another degree on
(14:03):
the wall.
The stuff I have learned that isjust part of conversation at
work now, where I'm folding itinto different conversations
with people has been mind-blowing, and that wasn't even
deliberate.
So if I put a little bit offocus on learning, man, the
(14:24):
things you can walk away fromand they become part of your
life this peace I talked aboutin the beginning I've learned
that through the intentionalityof us talking about it, through
talking to Jesus, you know, likemy prayers aren't just in
morning and night, throughoutthe day, I'm like " hey, Carri,
let's pray.
Hey, let's, let's call insomebody to pray.
Like it's so much more.
(14:46):
It doesn't feel as weird.
I was going to try to find away to say it profoundly it just
doesn't feel as strange.
Carri Richard (14:52):
I like.
I like "it's not weird.
Right, it's, it's not weird.
It's not weird to me either.
And you use the word learnedand, as you were speaking,
especially like with all theknowledge that you got for this
degree program.
It's that application.
That's what transforms it intowisdom, or discernment, or
(15:20):
perspective, or you know,whatever you want to call it.
It's the application.
Ebony Gilbert (15:27):
Yes it is.
yeah, I like that, I like thatI like that.
(Carri so I am 100% successfulwhen I apply)
Carri Richard (15:41):
what grace is teaching me.
Ebony Gilbert (15:45):
Is it our responsibility to apply those
teachings or is it just a bonus?
What's the expectation with allthis knowledge and wisdom?
What's the expectation withthis?
Is it just for us to feel goodand that's it?
Carri Richard (16:01):
Oh, that's a big question.
That's a really big question,so I'm going to pick it apart.
Do we have a responsibility tograce to apply it?
Absolutely not.
We do not.
Grace is free all the time, nomatter where we are.
Ebony Gilbert (16:25):
Okay.
Carri Richard (16:30):
Do we benefit from the application of it?
Every time, every time.
Now, if you speak of applyinggrace as giving grace to others,
then we absolutely areresponsible for that.
(16:51):
We have a responsibility.
Ebony Gilbert (16:53):
So we don't have to do anything to get it
necessarily?
(Carri No, I don't think wecan).
We just got to be in the family- and we get to carry the name.
Yeah, and then from there wedecide.
Carri Richard (17:15):
(Ebony - Or not) yes.
Ebony Gilbert (17:17):
And studies.
Carri Richard (17:18):
And studies show, my life study shows when I
freely share what I'm beinggiven, everybody benefits.
Ebony Gilbert (17:28):
Does it benefit you?
Carri Richard (17:32):
It does Not always immediately.
I just know from practice thatit does.
Ebony Gilbert (17:42):
So let me ask you a question.
We didn't prep for thisquestion, so I'm putting you on
the spot.
Go with it, (Carri - that'sfine).
Have you ever freely shared itand it didn't feel good
immediately?
You felt drained?
You felt like it took somethingout of you?
Carri Richard (17:57):
Yes, absolutely.
Ebony Gilbert (18:01):
How long do you wait before you say, okay, I'm
bitter.
Why did I do that?
Like, does it correct itselfalong the way?
What do you do with thosesituations where you're sharing
and you're doing it for the good- there's no ill intent here
involved and it doesn't feelgood to you?
Carri Richard (18:21):
You know what.
You know what?
That's a great question.
So what came to mind?
I'm not going to get into thespecific details or people, but
somebody immediately came tomind and, just like Grace is
(18:41):
available to me all the time,right, and I can accept it or be
in the position to be open toit, or I can do this, I can
block i it.
If I'm giving grace to someoneand they do this (block it), it
(19:07):
never feels good.
And I can keep doing it and Ican keep getting this (block)
and at some point, what bringsme comfort right, wrong or
indifferent is - I'm going toredirect this to someone else.
(19:31):
Because, exactly because it's.
It's like a it's live.
We talk about living waters.
Right, it's a flow and it'slike beating my head against a
wall.
Ebony Gilbert (19:46):
I love it.
Carri Richard (19:47):
So yeah, that doesn't feel good.
Ebony Gilbert (19:49):
Yeah, you're right.
I wouldn't have known toarticulate it that way.
But that's when it doesn't feelgood, when you know it could go
so much further.
You know if it landed it'd beso much more effective.
And it does not land becausethere's an arm up or there's a
barrier.
Carri Richard (20:04):
And what was?
Can I just say one quick thing?
And sometimes, it's continuingto give grace because it's
chipping away at a wall.
It's not a one and done, itjust depends.
Does that make sense?
The levee doesn't break afterone rain.
(20:25):
Right, but after 10, it mightbe time to kick the dust off
your shoes and get to movin'.
Ebony Gilbert (20:36):
Yeah, so that's good, that's good.
I'd like to think of this askind of our year in review, kind
of.
We've been in the hall, we'vehad controlled burns, we've had
grace glasses and I'm going todrop a plug here we're going to
have a retreat in 2024.
Yes, we are in March.
(20:58):
We're going to do some stuffface to face.
Carri Richard (21:02):
Yeah, so if you all are interested, stay tuned.
There's more to come and thisis an opportunity to apply all
of this in a very concentratedfashion in a very beautiful
(21:23):
community and really have itserve as a catalyst for some
amazing, amazing things in 2024.
Ebony Gilbert (21:37):
I'm excited, me too.
All right, Carri, I think wedid it.
We did it.
Carri Richard (21:45):
Not alone.
We did not do it alone.
Ebony Gilbert (21:50):
I'm not just talking about this podcast.
We did 2023.
We did it.
Carri Richard (21:55):
Successfully, absolutely.
Ebony Gilbert (21:59):
We love you.
We're here for you.
We want to hear from you.
We'd love to see you in a fewmonths.
Until then, Grace out.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Grace out.
Thank you so much for joiningus.
If you enjoyed this episode,please let us know.
We love to hear from you andshare it with a friend.
Also, please be sure tosubscribe so you're notified
when a new episode is posted.
We hope you're leaving withanother pointer to grace, a new
perspective that will light itup in your own life.
Until next time, be well, bebold, be kind to yourself and be
(22:33):
on the lookout.
Welcome to Grace Among Us, the podcast where we
unearth the many faces andplaces of grace and share
stories of the power of grace inour human lives.
Our desire is that this willinspire you to see grace in your
own life and share it withothers.
Ebony Gilbert (00:22):
My name is Ebony Gilbert and I get to work
alongside Carri Richard to talkabout Grace Among Us, and it is
about to be a new year, so I'mexcited to be here with you
today.
And, Carri, who are you?
Carri Richard (00:41):
Ebony Gilbert.
I am Carri Richard.
I'm a mindset coach.
I help people make space andenjoy the ride, and this is my
very favorite topic and one ofmy very favorite people I get to
speak to about grace.
So yeah, it is almost a newyear and actually, when this
(01:04):
comes out, it may even be thenew year.
Ebony Gilbert (01:11):
So, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year.
Carri Richard (01:14):
Yes, Merry Christmas.
Happy New Year, here's to anamazing Grace-filled 2024.
Ebony Gilbert (01:23):
And here's to an amazing 2023 that blew my mind.
Carri Richard (01:28):
It did, (Ebony - it did).
Yeah, give me something thatblew your mind.
Ebony Gilbert (01:39):
Personal growth.
Personal growth I think you andI were talking yesterday a
little bit about.
I was telling you that some ofthe things you asked me how was
work and how was life I wassaying how some of the same
things I've been going throughin the last two weeks, some of
the same situations I've beenencountering.
(01:59):
If I had encountered thosesituations a year earlier or two
years earlier I probably wouldhave reacted very differently.
But now I can laugh at them,now I can kind of literally let
it roll off my shoulders and forthat type of peace I can call
it growth, I can use a bunch ofself-help words.
(02:19):
But for that kind of peace tojust organically flow.
I'm not having to channel it,I'm not having to take a pause
and go oh, act in grace.
I'm living in it in a way thatfeels very natural.
(02:40):
That is mind blowing to me.
And even the things that do getnext to me, I'm not losing
sleep over it and I'm a lot lessjudgmental internally because I
would never voice those things.
But now I don't even think them.
(03:01):
My mindset about some thingsare a bit different.
So for growth, the growth, thepeace, the grace, and I'd be
silly to not attribute some ofthat to what we're doing here.
I'm talking about it on aregular cadence.
I'm not waiting for anopportunity to present itself
(03:23):
and then I'll get my cup filledrandomly at the gas station, if
somebody asked me.
No, this is very intentionaland it's like watering, it's an
irrigation system.
This podcast has been a graceirrigation system and it comes
on with a timer and it watersthe seed and it keeps me
(03:43):
positive and it keeps presentingin a way that my peace is
growing and my relationship withGod is growing and is getting
me to a point where I'm proud tosay I'm a child of the King and
I'm representing Him in a waythat's not forced and I'm
excited about how that looks in'24, because '23 felt
exponential to me.
(04:04):
So I don't even know what toimagine for '24.
I'm not talking aboutpromotions.
I'm not talking about things.
I bought those trips, I went on, those things were great.
I'm talking about the internalcondition of my heart and soul.
Carri Richard (04:21):
It's just a good place.
I love him, I love him.
Ebony Gilbert (04:25):
That was a long answer.
Carri Richard (04:26):
It was a beautiful answer and I, to be
honest, I was like man.
She took mine.
Ebony Gilbert (04:34):
Well, let's hear it in Carrie's words oh my God.
Carri Richard (04:38):
OK, I give up judging my own words against
yours.
Yeah, that, that peace thatsurpasses all understanding and
access to it.
And I, what I heard you say was, you know, I didn't have to
work, not work for it, but itwasn't an effort.
(05:01):
It's become like a more regular- just part of life.
There's that concept of thingsbecoming second nature, like I
don't think about how I brush myteeth, I don't think about how
I put my shoes on, I don't thinkabout how I, you know, step out
(05:21):
of bed or if I'm walking up anddown stairs, things like that.
And you know, these sweetlittle brains and minds, like we
talk to it with repetition, itunderstands repetition.
So, to your point, beingwilling to continue to have
(05:42):
grace as a major focus, it Idon't think it's.
I think it's impossible not tolive like, begin to live more
into grace.
I have a dear friend who saysit's just walking further into
the kingdom and that just bringsme so much joy to think about
(06:05):
that.
So, yes, to your point.
There are things that occurredthis year.
You know - the word I had forthis year was freedom.
I had no idea what I was goingto be freed from, and there were
situations that were highlyuncomfortable and in the past, I
(06:26):
probably would want to go hidein the corner for a while and
lick my wounds right and, byGod's grace, there were
different solutions.
It's almost like those graceglasses go on and things get
right sized.
Or my perception is different,and that's not to say that I
(06:50):
didn't cry, I didn't get angry,I didn't have all the feelings.
This isn't a bandaid, but it's,oh my gosh, I can't, I am
amazed.
I can walk through this withgrace and it just, you know, it
(07:11):
inspires me to keep, keep, keeppracticing, because, to your
point, who knows what 2024 isgoing to look like?
Ebony Gilbert (07:23):
Yeah, yeah, so I can be excited about 24.
I'm also a little I don't wantto use the word anxious, but a
little anxious, Because I knowevery round goes a little bit
higher and once you went throughthis time prepares you for the
next time.
So and there's continued growth.
Like you don't just stopgrowing, We're not going to get
(07:43):
stagnant.
So I know the next mountain tobe a little higher, I know the
next thing to be a little bigger, and that gives me a little bit
of anxiety.
But I feel so equipped and thatwhich I don't have, I know I
will when I need it, and I haveso much confidence in that.
Carri Richard (08:00):
I love that word equipped and to your point, I
may, I may not, I am not, mostlikely, I am not equipped for
something that's going to happenin February, and I don't need
to be, (Ebony - because Februaryis not now).
Exactly, exactly.
There's a there's like a buzzstatement that goes around the
(08:20):
"inner webs, you know, new level.
It's new level, new devilDevils, and I think I don't, I,
you know, that's what I hearwhen you're speaking about that.
Ebony Gilbert (08:33):
Yeah, and I'm okay with that.
Carri Richard (08:36):
Yeah, you know what excites me about that.
And I get the anxiety.
I'm not saying I'm all gung-holike, bring it on, bring it on.
Although I am a little bit.
What excites me about that is Iknow what it feels like to walk
through it and get to the otherside of something like that.
(08:58):
And so when I am in the middle,in the hall walking through it,
sometimes it's just reflectingback on a time when I've come
through something reallydifficult and trying to touch us
for a minute, to touch in onthat, that feeling of you know
(09:21):
sometimes, sometimes popping outthe other side Like it's, like,
holy crap, you wake up the nextday and it's like, oh my gosh,
I'm on the other side, (Ebony -I made it!) Exactly and I
couldn't have made it any faster.
Ebony Gilbert (09:36):
I don't know.
I'm on time.
Carri Richard (09:38):
Exactly, and I have no control over that time.
Ebony Gilbert (09:43):
Yeah, I like what you said being able to look
back and say, hey, I made itthrough before.
Yeah, I can do it again.
Carri Richard (09:54):
You know what?
I'm 100% successful in makingit through.
Ebony Gilbert (10:01):
How about that for statistics?
Those are good odds.
That is an amazing battingaverage.
Carri Richard (10:07):
Yeah, because here we are, Say that again.
That kind of that felt good.
I am 100% successful at makingit through difficult situations.
Ebony Gilbert (10:23):
There was no failing.
Carri Richard (10:25):
No, because I'm sitting here.
I got my coffee, actually it'swater.
Now I've got my water.
I'm talking to a dear friend,I'm breathing, it's warm in here
.
I have all I need in thismoment.
That means I'm 100% successful.
Ebony Gilbert (10:50):
That is.
That's not just goodperspective.
That's fact.
That's not fru fru"or through.
That is truth.
And for all the scientificfolks who struggle with
reconciling the stuff with thestuff that satisfies both.
Carri Richard (11:15):
There is a scripture and I can't access it
right now.
Ebony Gilbert (11:23):
I'm going to paraphrase it and see if you can
access it.
Carri Richard (11:26):
It's not a test.
Just to say I think it was Paultalking about the power of just
being content with what we have.
That's not a lot to go on.
Ebony Gilbert (11:44):
To be abound and abased.
To be that - you're talkingabout that one.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
It's.
Ebony Gilbert (11:52):
It's Philippians Okay, Philippians 4th chapter,
and Paul's talking about.
He's in jail, basically, andhis friends hadn't come to see
him and he's - am I passing thetest?
And he's talking about.
You know, I've learned to becontent in whatever
circumstances I'm in.
Yes, is that what you'rehitting on?
That's it, and we'll referenceit in the notes.
Carri Richard (12:13):
Yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (12:14):
That's the chapter.
Carri Richard (12:16):
That chapter 4 is a really good chapter.
If you were just to read onechapter for the next month, read
that.
Ebony Gilbert (12:27):
Yes, I've learned to have and have not.
I've learned to be in need andnot.
You know it's that.
And he ends it with no matterwhat.
I know I can do all thingsthrough Christ.
Yes, I can make it in thedesert, I can make it in the
flood, I can make it.
Carri Richard (12:42):
He's 100% successful.
Ebony Gilbert (12:44):
Absolutely.
That's good stuff.
That's a good reference, goodstuff.
The thing about that verse Inormally hone in on the I can do
all things.
I've learned that I can make it.
But the part that resonateswith me right now, in this
moment, is I've learned.
He had to matriculate throughthis thing Like it wasn't - I
(13:09):
woke up and it just dropped inme and now I'm good.
No, I had to learn this.
There had to be some training,there had to be some practice,
and now I can say that I'velearned it.
Carri Richard (13:21):
Yes, I love that.
It's all the way back to yourpoint of how being amazed in
2023.
Right, this isn't.
This isn't.
It's not quick fix.
This is lifetime stuff.
Ebony Gilbert (13:42):
It's not - I recently, like last week,
completed the coursework for adegree program I was going
through and I did it because itwas affordable and I guess I
needed something to do.
I don't know.
But I went into it thinking I'mnot going to learn a lot, this
will just be some check boxesfor me to get another degree on
(14:03):
the wall.
The stuff I have learned that isjust part of conversation at
work now, where I'm folding itinto different conversations
with people has been mind-blowing, and that wasn't even
deliberate.
So if I put a little bit offocus on learning, man, the
(14:24):
things you can walk away fromand they become part of your
life this peace I talked aboutin the beginning I've learned
that through the intentionalityof us talking about it, through
talking to Jesus, you know, likemy prayers aren't just in
morning and night, throughoutthe day, I'm like " hey, Carri,
let's pray.
Hey, let's, let's call insomebody to pray.
Like it's so much more.
(14:46):
It doesn't feel as weird.
I was going to try to find away to say it profoundly it just
doesn't feel as strange.
Carri Richard (14:52):
I like.
I like "it's not weird.
Right, it's, it's not weird.
It's not weird to me either.
And you use the word learnedand, as you were speaking,
especially like with all theknowledge that you got for this
degree program.
It's that application.
That's what transforms it intowisdom, or discernment, or
(15:20):
perspective, or you know,whatever you want to call it.
It's the application.
Ebony Gilbert (15:27):
Yes it is.
yeah, I like that, I like thatI like that.
(Carri so I am 100% successfulwhen I apply)
Carri Richard (15:41):
what grace is teaching me.
Ebony Gilbert (15:45):
Is it our responsibility to apply those
teachings or is it just a bonus?
What's the expectation with allthis knowledge and wisdom?
What's the expectation withthis?
Is it just for us to feel goodand that's it?
Carri Richard (16:01):
Oh, that's a big question.
That's a really big question,so I'm going to pick it apart.
Do we have a responsibility tograce to apply it?
Absolutely not.
We do not.
Grace is free all the time, nomatter where we are.
Ebony Gilbert (16:25):
Okay.
Carri Richard (16:30):
Do we benefit from the application of it?
Every time, every time.
Now, if you speak of applyinggrace as giving grace to others,
then we absolutely areresponsible for that.
(16:51):
We have a responsibility.
Ebony Gilbert (16:53):
So we don't have to do anything to get it
necessarily?
(Carri No, I don't think wecan).
We just got to be in the family- and we get to carry the name.
Yeah, and then from there wedecide.
Carri Richard (17:15):
(Ebony - Or not) yes.
Ebony Gilbert (17:17):
And studies.
Carri Richard (17:18):
And studies show, my life study shows when I
freely share what I'm beinggiven, everybody benefits.
Ebony Gilbert (17:28):
Does it benefit you?
Carri Richard (17:32):
It does Not always immediately.
I just know from practice thatit does.
Ebony Gilbert (17:42):
So let me ask you a question.
We didn't prep for thisquestion, so I'm putting you on
the spot.
Go with it, (Carri - that'sfine).
Have you ever freely shared itand it didn't feel good
immediately?
You felt drained?
You felt like it took somethingout of you?
Carri Richard (17:57):
Yes, absolutely.
Ebony Gilbert (18:01):
How long do you wait before you say, okay, I'm
bitter.
Why did I do that?
Like, does it correct itselfalong the way?
What do you do with thosesituations where you're sharing
and you're doing it for the good- there's no ill intent here
involved and it doesn't feelgood to you?
Carri Richard (18:21):
You know what.
You know what?
That's a great question.
So what came to mind?
I'm not going to get into thespecific details or people, but
somebody immediately came tomind and, just like Grace is
(18:41):
available to me all the time,right, and I can accept it or be
in the position to be open toit, or I can do this, I can
block i it.
If I'm giving grace to someoneand they do this (block it), it
(19:07):
never feels good.
And I can keep doing it and Ican keep getting this (block)
and at some point, what bringsme comfort right, wrong or
indifferent is - I'm going toredirect this to someone else.
(19:31):
Because, exactly because it's.
It's like a it's live.
We talk about living waters.
Right, it's a flow and it'slike beating my head against a
wall.
Ebony Gilbert (19:46):
I love it.
Carri Richard (19:47):
So yeah, that doesn't feel good.
Ebony Gilbert (19:49):
Yeah, you're right.
I wouldn't have known toarticulate it that way.
But that's when it doesn't feelgood, when you know it could go
so much further.
You know if it landed it'd beso much more effective.
And it does not land becausethere's an arm up or there's a
barrier.
Carri Richard (20:04):
And what was?
Can I just say one quick thing?
And sometimes, it's continuingto give grace because it's
chipping away at a wall.
It's not a one and done, itjust depends.
Does that make sense?
The levee doesn't break afterone rain.
(20:25):
Right, but after 10, it mightbe time to kick the dust off
your shoes and get to movin'.
Ebony Gilbert (20:36):
Yeah, so that's good, that's good.
I'd like to think of this askind of our year in review, kind
of.
We've been in the hall, we'vehad controlled burns, we've had
grace glasses and I'm going todrop a plug here we're going to
have a retreat in 2024.
Yes, we are in March.
(20:58):
We're going to do some stuffface to face.
Carri Richard (21:02):
Yeah, so if you all are interested, stay tuned.
There's more to come and thisis an opportunity to apply all
of this in a very concentratedfashion in a very beautiful
(21:23):
community and really have itserve as a catalyst for some
amazing, amazing things in 2024.
Ebony Gilbert (21:37):
I'm excited, me too.
All right, Carri, I think wedid it.
We did it.
Carri Richard (21:45):
Not alone.
We did not do it alone.
Ebony Gilbert (21:50):
I'm not just talking about this podcast.
We did 2023.
We did it.
Carri Richard (21:55):
Successfully, absolutely.
Ebony Gilbert (21:59):
We love you.
We're here for you.
We want to hear from you.
We'd love to see you in a fewmonths.
Until then, Grace out.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Grace out.
Thank you so much for joiningus.
If you enjoyed this episode,please let us know.
We love to hear from you andshare it with a friend.
Also, please be sure tosubscribe so you're notified
when a new episode is posted.
We hope you're leaving withanother pointer to grace, a new
perspective that will light itup in your own life.
Until next time, be well, bebold, be kind to yourself and be
(22:33):
on the lookout.
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