One of my favorite parts of the morning is...

...opening up the egg carton and seeing this bible verse every. single. day. What a reminder!

A Metaphorical Shelf

I have many childhood memories of playing dollhouse with my sisters. We had huge imaginations. We always had new stories to capture through our dollhouse people. And when we weren't playing dolls we would pretend we were princesses, spies, cashiers, mommies, waitresses, and babysitters. We had picnics, frilly dress up clothes, fort houses, too many dolls, and too much fun. We were girls. We've grown up and our childish play has been put on a metaphorical shelf. We kept memories of our youths in our hearts and we've kept the dollhouse. 

Now that our two-year-old sister is old enough we took the dollhouse out again. Since she has three older brothers we weren't sure what she would enjoy playing with. Some have said that she'd be a "tomboy"; tough and ruddy. Although she's always been determined even through her traumatic birth she's a very happy, healthy girl. She learns fast like Abby, is neat like Maggie and loves dolls like I used to. She'll sit for hours putting together her house. Positioning everything just right. It's so neat to see her mommy instincts show through. She brings her babies to lunch and to nap time. She pretends like my sisters and I used to. She loves to prepare pretend food and clean the dishes. We're so blessed to have her to brighten up each day. You could say that we have encouraged her to be a mommy, not giving her a chance to "be herself". But that wouldn't be the whole truth. She's a girl, because that's what God made her.

³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴ so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:3-5 NASB

Christ is Risen

 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

              John 11:25-26 (NASB)

Let The Scripture Speak...

Cinnamon Rolls

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised. 

   Psalm 113:3

Hello June

Job 36:28 
The clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers fall on mankind.

Rain drops and showers have been reviving each plant in my mom's garden. It's beautiful seeing all the life thrive all around our yard. June is a refreshing month. Not only do the plants grow but I find that I too am growing. Less distractions make for more time to think. But with more time there is more time to waste. Summer is approaching and with it comes more fun things to do. Let us not forget (let me not forget) to lay all our activities before God and constantly be renewing our minds in His word, praising Him, and growing in Him- even through the summer.

Job 37:2-6
²Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
³ He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.
⁴ After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
⁵ God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
    he does great things beyond our understanding.
⁶ He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

What do you like best about Summer?

A heartsy kind of day...

 A day of celebration. The celebration of love.
May this be a day to dwell on family, friends and most importantly God's love. His grace and mercy toward us. Let us turn our hearts to our Creator, to remember the blood He shed for us. The pain He bore for us. We are white as snow because of our loving Savior.

 Entering this one in Shelley's giveaway.

 Inspiration for decor from here and here.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
 I will sing the LORD’s praise,
   for he has been good to me. 

Psalm 13:5-6

Happy Valentine's Day!...

Heeding God's Word...

 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word. 
 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 
 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You. 
 Blessed are You, O Lord! 
Teach me Your statutes. 
 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth. 
 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches. 
I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways. 
I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
 Psalm 119: 9-16 

Beauty

Source: Pinterest

Again I write on appearance. It's something I struggle with. I find myself thinking far too often if only I had so and so's nose or so and so's eyes, then I'd be beautiful. But honestly beauty is not just on the outside. You can't measure it. You can't buy it. There is no definition or equation that makes somebody necessarily beautiful on the outside.

I keep coming to grips with the truth. Beauty is more than skin deep. And most importantly, God creates true beauty. 

 Battling the lies of false beauty

1. God created me and you. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Even my freckles, eyebrows and nose. Beautifully made outside and inside. My heart, my lungs. The breath I just took. Who but God could create something so complex as humans?

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14

2. Beauty is more than lipstick and eyeshadow. It's a quiet spirit, a humble spirit. It's inward. It's selfless. Beauty is pure. No matter how hard we try to dress up our appearance, a grimy, neglected heart can't hide.

Only by cultivating our inward spirit, our heart, and our relationship with God can we find real beauty.

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3: 3-4

3. Why do we feel inadequate, not pretty enough, and maybe a little ugly?

Well, it stems from sin. We're selfish---I'm selfish. We want to feel good enough and worthy. We want praise and acceptance... for the wrong reasons. Instead of being sufficient in Christ, we've taken it upon ourselves to try and feel accepted. But without Christ we can't be adequate. We fail. Then we may try and blame it on things that can't be changed, like appearance. (And if you think about it, we're really blaming God for making us the way He did) So instead of trying to stand out by ourselves, we need to lean on Christ, examine our hearts, and take a step backward from our sinful motives.

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As a side note, I do not have anything against makeup or looking pretty. I am merely pointing out that we can get caught up on only the outward. Thanks for reading!

................................................................

What does beauty mean to you? What are your thoughts?

Making History

                                                       Source: agoodyarn.net via C.j. on Pinterest

It comes once every twelve months. The beginning of a year. The end of the previous. Memories, adventures, many experiences, lessons learned. It makes me realize... everything that I think, every action, every word that I say, effects the future.
It might sound scary in a sense. It might sound exciting. Every choice made, makes history. That's why it's so important to take every thought (2 Corinthians 10:5) captive. (Because a thought becomes a word, and then an action.)  So my question to you is...
What do you want history to say about you?

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3: 20-21 

 ...Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas...

 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

Holiday musings...

Only three more days...until Christmas...!

 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. 

Romans 5:1-2

What are your Christmas plans this week?

Little Pitchers Have Big Minds

 It was one of those days.
Everything drags. The house is a mess. And an ominous gray cloud floats above my head.
I was in a sour mood. Grumpy at best. I had a few chores left to do and I wasn't pleasant.
Not that I mind chores...Usually. The anticipation of work is the worst of it to me. But when you get down to it it's not bad. (It's amazing how much thinking time you have while cleaning)
I got the vacuum out.
I plugged in the vacuum and was getting ready turn it on.Then my four year old brother walks over and asks, "Can I help?"...
I smiled. How could I be angry with the best brother in the world?
Not only did he help me, but he basically did the whole job. (Of course with a little supervision.)
Not only did he do the whole job. He did a great job.
And best of all? He asked to help. He enjoyed it too.

 It's amazing how unexpected little children can be. And very observant. One thing we've been striving to do is making helping fun. Encouraging work, encouraging help, encouraging learning.
Work can be fun. With the right attitude.
Kids notice an attitude. Sometimes I am not in a good mood and my two year old brother will look at me and ask, "Are you happy?" They notice when I don't want to do something. And when I change my attitude they often do the same. If I put on a smile they get excited about the task ahead.
The main point: attitude counts.  Not just that though. Attitude and our heart. Putting a smile on is important. But making that smile come from our heart is even more important.
I'm learning sincere gladness:

Light is sown for the righteous,
         And gladness for the upright in heart.

 Psalm 97:11

I'm learning that work by itself may be tedious, but with a friend, -even a four year old, it can be enjoyable and rewarding:

Two are better than one,
      Because they have a good reward for their labor.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Both of these lessons I'm learning from little children.

At that time Jesus answered and said, 

"I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent 

and have revealed them to babes.

Matthew 11:25

What are you learning from children?

Doors Knobs, Keys, and Roots

  I begin this post with a (sort of) thrown together title. 

In a hope that I'd draw your attention. 

Although what I write in this post has most likely been said before,

what I am writing is something that I am learning and discovering.

I sit on a hard, rough bench. The room damp and dark.

I see the door that is keeping me in to this room.

The door is marred with dents and scratches. I rattle the door knob. Only to find it is locked. 

I rest my ear on the door trying to hear what is on the other side. 

I look through the key hole on the door knob.

I can only see a faint, but bright light. 

I pound my fists on the door, hoping it will open. 

  

This is how I feel sometimes when looking for an answer....

...We all have flaws.

I often try hard to overcome, and correct my own faults. I struggle to let go of selfishness, impatience, pride and anger. To unlock the answer to overcoming. They can all be stitched into a web.

A web that I wage war with.

Some days it’s easy to win the battles.Patience, humbleness, joy overshadow my struggles.

But some days it takes so much work (and battling) to get my anger and other faults controlled.

So, I ask myself over and over how to win the battle...

The desire to keep fighting my sin is there. (Sometimes more than other times)

However sometimes I miss the real reason that I am trying to fight my sin.

One thing that God emphasizes many times in His word is love.

I might want to be a better person. But love should always go hand and hand--

---or rather be the center of my goals. Love for God. Love for my neighbor.

It might seem a simple concept. (It might even be easy to ignore.) But, it might be hard to follow through.

Always loving. Kind. Never hating. Not boastful, not selfish.

³⁴ Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:34-40

Did you skip that verse? You should read it.

I never truly took this verse to heart until a few years ago as our pastor preached on it. All the commands of the bible are connected to loving God and loving our neighbor. If we love God, we’re not going to have any other gods, we’re not going to have idols. We’ll keep the Sabbath. We’ll honor our parents. We will not murder, commit adultery, steal, lie or covet.  

That’s an amazing concept. Love is the root to obedience. 

It’s the key.

 Your thoughts?

Life On Hold

 {via}

 The adventures of life are so numerous. The memories are too many to ponder. I am learning that every minute of the day is a minute to serve God. It might seem simple. But my mind seems to wander from the big picture far too often. Other things seem to take up my motivations and goals. I have to constantly retrace my steps. Remembering who I am, where I am, and why I am here. God teaches so many lessons if we'll only listen to them. My desires and my thinking get in the way of God's perfect plan. I am learning how important it is to take God's word to heart. Ponder it. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Taking away all the distractions and living life all for God. One verse that I am constantly turning to is:

...The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit.... 1 Corinthians 7:34

It's a steadfast reminder for my life right now. Singleness. This time in my life is not just for waiting around until life suddenly unfolds. My life is for God always. For His glory only am I living here at home. Serving my family through the hands of my Maker. My life isn't just on hold. I am not waiting for life to pick up the phone. It's already started. If I truly want to be active in a God honoring life, I can't miss the adventures happening right in front of me.

Your thoughts?...

Content In A Greater Plan

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

I can never focus too much on contentment. Being content is an important part of my life. It's something I'm working on; something I am continually trying to be. Not just being content with the blessings God gives me, but striving for it in the hard times of life. While moving, while waiting. Being content.
Often I think too much about the future. Ten years from now... where will I be? What will I be doing? How can I prepare for the future without knowing where God will be leading me in the future?
My mind races with thoughts...when God clearly says to trust in Him. Not to worry.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34

To be content in Him.Christ will provide! His plan is far greater than any plan I could create.

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
   that can succeed against the LORD. 
Proverbs 21:30

 And that should be something to be content in. God's word is such a comfort. 

 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Your thoughts?

The Reflection in the Mirror

 Often times I'll look at my friends and try and copy what I like in them. Maybe their magnetic personality, maybe their quiet calm voice, maybe their vibrant smile, maybe the way they dress, maybe the way they can tell a joke ( And I can't)... or whatever it may be. I sometimes do it blindly with out stepping back and realizing how wrong my thinking is.

God made me the way I am.
My freckles, my smile, my laugh, my temper, my nose, my voice. He created me the way He saw fit.
And yes, He expects me to improve on my character, my flaws and my quick temper. But what ever is left in my personality He created it there for a reason. I can change my attitude, but I can't change the way I look or even the way I laugh.

It's sad that I should try to copy the people around me when God wants me to turn to Him for the example. He wants me to learn from the scriptures. Although their is nothing wrong with admiring my friends and learning from them, I need to look at my motives and turn my gaze to my Savior. I need to be happy with the way God created me.

Because in all I do, when I look in the mirror, I need to reflect Him.

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20


What are your thoughts?

A Garden

 Once there was a garden. It started with the deep rich soil, the seeds and the water. 

Buds began to sprout, plants began to grow. There were flowers of all kinds, there were vibrant fruits and cheery vegetables, small thin trees and thick strong oaks. There were neat rows of beautiful plants.  

This garden was not like any other. Much of the garden was healthy and wise, but outside of the garden there were thick ugly weeds and bulky hideous trees. Outside of the garden were patches of fenced up ground and dirt surrounded by sharp barbed wire. 

The garden and outside the garden was the mind of a person. 

The glorious garden was taken care of by a skilled caring Gardener who shared His love for the person by giving beauty and wisdom to the fruits and trees. Outside the garden, the person had shut out the gardener's love and locked out the health within the garden. The Gardener longed to care of all of the plants and trees, but the vile roots had dug so deep that the person could not let go of the locks and chains. 

Are you letting God take care of all of your garden? 

Sometimes I feel that I haven't given my whole garden to God. Parts of my mind are locked up, chained and fenced off. Some of my garden is being cultivated. The more I give over to God, the more will be grown and pruned and trimmed to His image. It's a beautiful picture. The master of our garden shaping and caring for us with His ultimate love. Pouring out His wisdom on our fruits, vegetables, flowers and trees. His roots are digging deep into our mind. He's pulling out the harmful weeds and roots that are holding us to our sinful heart. 

John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

    

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

I am reminded of my Gardener every time I plant a seed or water a sprout. 

Knowing that every second I'm here, He's growing me.

Easter Sunday

...Tissue paper flowers.....

 ....and bright colored eggs are such fun to create,
       but not compared to the price that our dear Savior payed.


On Easter we remember and celebrate the rising Christ our Lord. His awesome acts shine bright and we praise His glorious deeds!

 

See what a morning

See what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes,
Tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce Christ is risen!
See God's salvation plan, wrought in love, 
Borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, for He lives:
Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, 'Where is He laid?'
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope,
Bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit
Who clothes faith with certainty,
Honour and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned
With power and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won,
Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!  
Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music

 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 
 Romans 6:8-11

Baby Esther is Born!

 Our baby sister was born on the 5th! ( Our Dad's birthday!)
Unfortunately the birth had to be an emergency c-section. Our mom was induced on the 4th and she was having contractions and then (we think) she had a uterus rupture. She was in a lot of pain and had to be given 3 units of blood after and surgery.

Esther was without oxygen for about 16 minutes after the uterus ruptured and because of that had to be given oxygen and went through cooling treatment for 72 hours.
The cooling treatment helps reduce any brain damage that might of occurred, because of the lack of oxygen. Her treatment went well and we are praying that there is no serious problems.
Esther is breathing on her own, she is moving all her limbs, sucking on a pacifier and at this point we can't tell if and how much damage was done.

Our Mom was able to try breast feeding today with Esther and within twenty seconds Esther latched on and started sucking!  They will be doing a MRI, Monday on her brain. (Later on an ear and eye exam.) It has been a difficult, faith growing, experience and God has given us much hope and comfort. Our mom was in a lot of pain and is slowly recovering from the rupture and surgery.

God has been so good to us and we are so blessed to have our precious baby Esther!

Our friends and family have given us lots of support and prayers, which helps so much.
We keep counting all the beautiful blessings God has showered upon us through this trial.



  Commit everything you do to the Lord.
      Trust him, and he will help you.
                 Psalm 37:5


This bible verse has been a great reminder to our family. This is a true statement of our faith.
With every situation we should commit to Him, trust Him with the results, and He will help us.