Hello everyone and welcome to the Graceology with Gwen Smith podcast. I'm Gwen Smith and I am so glad you've joined me today.

Around here we have fun, faith-focused, grace-filled conversations, all to help you know and trust God more.

Our discussions are honest, often humorous, and always practical,

and they're going to encourage you in meaningful ways to live out and lean on the grace of Jesus

in the midst of cluttered messy days. You got any of those? I know I do, and I can't wait to get

to today's conversation, which is all about the art of

everyday worship.

Today, my guest is Ruth Joe Simons, and she and I have a powerful conversation about the

ways grace intersects our everyday lives.

Because, as Ruth says, the grace of God has to matter in our everyday, ordinary, slightly boring,

sometimes disappointing lives, or it's not real at all. Many of you have heard Ruth speak

at if gatherings across the country, but she's so much more than a speaker. She's also an incredibly

talented artist, the founder of Grace Laced Company, a wife,

a man-cub mama, and the author of several books, including her beautiful, brand new one,

Beholding and Becoming. Charles Spurgeon said it this way. Nearness to God brings likeness to God.

The more you see God, the more God will be seen in you. Ruth sums it up this way. We behold what we become. Every day is an opportunity

to be shaped and formed by what moves your heart, drives your thoughts, and captures your gaze.

Is it any wonder that where you direct your eyes and your heart matter drives your thoughts, and captures your gaze. Is it any wonder that where you

direct your eyes and your heart matter in your day-to-day? We become what we behold when we set

our hearts and minds on Christ and his redemption story here in the details of our daily lives. Not just on

Sundays, not just on holidays, not just when

extraordinarily hard or wonderful things happen, but today. I am super excited for you to

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