What 3 hours could do for you..

I decided it was about that time to do another craft...
This is what I came up with!

Covering all the letters in fabric with decoupage glue took quite some time, and a few needed to be redone, but i am content with the end result! 

I love it!

Thankfulness

   Today, i sat on my sofa, opened up my book to read a bit to try to focus my mind on something that is more important than the thoughts of discontent and sadness that have been grazing my thoughts for quite some time.

   The three of us arrange ourselves comfortably.
   I sit somewhat sideways, legs covered by my favorite cozy blanket. My first baby, cat of old age LJ, has one paw and his head resting on my arm that is holing my book at the most perfect angle for me to read. And my second, somewhat independent cat, Kitten (yes, that is her name), snuck quietly under my blanket to use my legs as her resting place.

   I open my book, take a deep breath and start reading.

   I pause half way through a chapter...I look up and start to become distracted by what needs to be cleaned, dusted and taken care of today.

   Then I remind myself to....STOP!
   I listen to the clocks fluttering the sound of seconds passing by. I remind myself to focus. I need to focus on what is at hand...my book.
   I read more.

   It is so easy to read and not let things, words, sink in, to become part of your thoughts.
   'In one ear, and out the other.' My mother would say. I don't want these words to become 'that' for me. I want to relish in the meaning of these words, sentences and paragraphs that have been so carefully constructed onto paper for me and others to read.

   I re-read a few sentences and carry on through the rest of the chapter.

   The first couple of chapters......Thankfulness.

   What does it really mean to really be thankful? Thankful for what, little things? big things? What does being thankful, truly, look like for me? Not my parents or siblings or even my husband, but to ME?!

   As of late, I have felt so empty, without purpose. How does one define having a purpose? If you feel as if your without purpose, is it possible to be thankful?


Pur*pose
[pur~puh s]
noun; verb


-noun
1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
2 .an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
3. determination
4. the subject in hand; the point at issue


-verb
1. to set as am aim, intention, or goal for oneself 
2. to resolve (to do something); He purposed to change his way of life radically


dictionary.com


  
   Now, is it really me creating places to be, relationships, or simply making things to accomplish throughout my existence? Who's to say? Or is it solely God guiding us without our knowledge of where or when our purpose(s) will be served or fulfilled? Or....is it both?

   This is me, here, now, trudging through my day to day life finding the things, purposes, that are meant to fill the gaps in my life that feel so empty and worthless and not worthy to live the life that has been set before me.

   We, as God's people, have been given different paths that all lead to an ultimate prize. It is how we follow the path, blindfolded...torn...hurt...anchored in the wrong places at times, and always seem to come through. Every time stronger and with more agility than the last.

I want to find my purpose, while also learning to be a humble disciple, and to be thankful as i journey through it all. 

Something new

Last Sunday, April 10, 2011, my new baby sister, Olivia, was born...

My hopes and prayers for her are that she feels loved everyday, that she is allowed to try new things and expand her knowledge daily and that she knows God the way I know God! May He be the focus and joy within her.

Baby Olivia, may your life be full of love and hope. I pray protection over your tiny heart and soul that it does not become damaged. Welcome.

Love you so much already. 

Shaking in MY SKIN

God really knows when and how to shake things up...

Life is constantly changing and moving and yearning for you to play your part in it. So what or how are we going to contribute to this world and it's daily happenings?

I am trying so hard to hold my tongue and to learn to be more compassionate with people, especially customers at work. Being in customer service can ultimately harden your heart for people....... or you can choose to move forward and treat people as Jesus did.

I want to display LOVE, real love. I want people to see God in me. I cannot do that if my flesh is constantly angry and resentful.  I want to act the way God yearns for me to act.




Ephesians 6:10-18

       ...Be sTrong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the Devil's schemes. 

For our STRUGGLE is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers (government), against the authorities (bosses/parents), against the powers of this dark world (drugs/alcohol/addictions) and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to STAND your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

 Stand firm then, with the truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness, that comes form the gospel of peace. 

In addition to all this, take up your shield of FaITh, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

Take the Helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirt on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for ALL the Lord's people.... 

i don't want to ever be content where i am in life. 

i want to be moving and learning and experiencing...

i want to shake in my skin at the grace of my God and what He uses me for throughout my time on this earth.

i need your armor daily Lord. Consume with thoughts of you so I can, then, love others. 

back to my roots

Play this as you read the words...really take it in.

Where you go I go
What you say I say, God
Where you pray I pray
Where you pray I pray

Jesus only did

What he saw you do

He would only say

What He heard you speak

He would only move

When he felt you lead

Following your heart

Following your spirit

How Could I expect

To walk without you

When every move that Jesus made

Was in Surrender

I would not begin

To live without you

For you alone are worthy

And you are always good

You are always good

Yeah...

Where you go I go

What you say I say, God

Where you pray I pray

Where you pray I pray

Though the world sees and soon forgets

We will not forget, who you are,

And what you've done for us

You are my God, you are my God, you are my God

Where You Go I Go
By Jesus Culture




He is in our bones.
We were born with living for HIM in mind.
I will not deny my purpose, I WILL NOT!
JESUS bring me to my roots.


If this song doesn't give you chills and bring you to tears.....




God has so much in store for you.

Those Days

Do you ever have those days where you tell yourself....

I AM GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE!!!

Well, I am sick of just thinking it and not really pursuing it.

Time to REALLY make a change...

I will update as i daily make decisions to change things in my life for the better.

Selfless

Self-less

   1.having little or no concern for oneself, especially with regard to fame, position, money etc; unselfish.

How do you become selfless when we are born into a selfish world?

How do we, as God's children, find our way out of this addiction that runs thought the entire human race?

Every person is entitled to their feelings and emotions, right.

So what does it mean to really be selfless?

To care about others more than yourself, or maybe to provide and bless others with things that they are in need of.  Maybe it's just devoted prayer for others on a consistent basis.

Jesus was a very selfless man.

Healing, caring for, praying for, providing for, dieing for...

But He ALWAYS made sure that He had enough time for Himself and his father, the God that gave him the strength to do all of the above, and more.

Jesus never masked His emotions, because that's what He felt and what He felt was real.

So, I guess the answer to my question would be,

to be selfless does not require us to ignore our emotions

(pain, sadness, anger, remorse, etc.).

It means that even when we are having a hard time in our lives, that instead of dwelling on it or letting it fester in our minds, to turn into something worse than it already is, to pray hard and long to the God who will save us from the worst of our emotions.

To give it to Him, and He will bless us with the strength and tools to get by.

In whatever season we may be struggling through, or whatever situation where every second is tearing you apart.

He is here waiting for us to give it to Him, to help us get through, so we then can be selfless.

Painting

So I have picked up painting. I just went to the store not knowing anything about, well, anything. I grabbed up a few things to get started... 

A few canvases...

a few paint brushes....

and some paint...

So far this is what I have done...

and another...

I am not quite done with this one, but it's coming along.

I am also trucking along with a third.

We'll see where all these end up,

On the walls or in the closet.

Haha.

Let me know what you all think.

Photos...

Right or Wrong?

Everyone is different.

Thoughts,

The way they see things,

Experiences,

Everything.

How do you know if what YOU think is right or wrong?

You can't always assume your constantly correct about everything in life, 

otherwise we would never learn or grow or experience.

If your heart hurts for people,

mostly it means you love and care for each and every one of them,

dearly.

How do you express your love?

When you see hope, potential, movement and grace all encompassing.

And they don't.

It almost hurts.

Trying to love like Jesus loves is hard.

He loves so deeply, so dearly, and yet we reject it daily.

Or don't know how to accept every part of it.

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 John 4:11

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also, ought to love one another.

Dear Loved One,

  I am sorry if I have ever offended you. Just know that I love you dearly. I pray for you often. I see so much potential in you. I have cried for you, in prayer and in awe of where i see you going in life. I am consumed by my efforts to love without any judgment, and i can only hope you feel the love I have for you.

Sincerely,

Me

Thoughts passing by...

The last couple of days I have been feeding my brain with words from a book called:

The Year of Living Like Jesus

By: Ed Dobson

 livingjesusly.com

Hence my longing to be a disciple of Jesus.

In this book, the first few chapters he talks about what Jesus ate and wore. He then goes on to compare it to living in today's society and his decisions he must make for himself to LIVE as Jesus lived.

So far it is very interesting. I personally wouldn't go as far as saying I am going to dress and eat like Jesus did.

I am steering more towards his actions:

I want to Love

Have Patience

See the beauty in everyone

And

Learn how to speak how He spoke.

Have compassion

Not judge

And

Pray like he did, diligently. 

I feel like I may be a little over my head,

for the mere fact that I am human, and

I like to laugh when people trip and fall, not very Christ-like, ha ha.

(I make sure they're okay, I just can't help laughing)

We will see how I do on a daily basis, especially having to deal with customers that thoroughly enjoy giving me a hard time.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Verses I need to be reminded of often:

Matthew 12v37

For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words will you be condemned. 

James 1v19-21

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. 

Because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 

Therefore,  get rid of all moral filth and evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,

which can save you.

Cameras

So, one of my kind of recent passions are cameras, learning new things about them and editing. So thought my blogs I will be posting random pictures from my 35mm camera! 

Enjoy!

Matthew 16:24-25

Jesus said..., "Who ever wants to be my disciple must DENY themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for ME, WILL FIND IT."

                                                 Matt. 16v24-25

Disciple

  One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.

A disciple is not simply an accumulator of information or one who merely changes moral behavior in regard of the teachings of Jesus Christ, but seeks a fundamental  shift towards the ethics if Jesus Christ in every way, including complete devotion.

            
          http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Disciple+%28Christianity%29 

I am the furthest thing from being completely

devoted to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

But I am here on this beautiful place we call home, for now, to give it a try.

So, how do we deny ourselves for someone we can't see or feel?

That....is one of the BIGGEST questions that I have.

But I am here because i would love to find out what someone, who loves me entirely way too much, has in store for someone, a sinner at that, like me.

How do I become so absolutely selfless, without letting people take advantage, run over, or consume all of who I am as a person, but also be in the will of God.

It almost hurts to try and even scratch the surface with questions that consume every part of my mind.

Only because God will only answer the ones He wants at the times He wants.

For the mere fact that God IS,

He probably just laughs at the tiny worries that we have in our incompatible brains.

 Well, it's time to embark on this journey that a special someone has promised us all.

This is my time, my life, and my calling to see where I am led.

Jesus, help me to lose my own life for you, to find the best one waiting from you, for me.