"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." Luke 1:45 (NIV)
Thank you again, Jo-Lynne, for my button!
Blessings,
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Scripture Saturday
"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." Luke 1:45 (NIV)
Thank you again, Jo-Lynne, for my button!
Blessings,
Friday, January 30, 2009
Fashion Friday
I am sorry for being MIA this week. This was my daughter's first week of track out from school, and I have been in the final throes of helping to prepare for a ladies' event at my church this evening. I still have something I wish to share that God showed me last week, but, unfortunately, I do not have the time right now. I want to do it justice when I post about it, and more time is required in order to do so.
In lieu of that, I want to introduce something I will be trying to do each Friday. I have mentioned on here before my love for fashion, makeup, etc., so I thought it might be fun to post little tips here each week to help any of you who might be interested. Without further adieu, I give you:
Metallics are in vogue again. Here is a tip from Tim Gunn, host of Project Runway and his own show, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. "Metallics add a wonderful dose of glamour, but should be restricted to one item per outfit."
So for instance, let's say you have some cute silver, sparkly ballet flats you are just dying to wear. When doing so, they should be the only metallic on your body, including purses. This will give you just the right touch of glamour without going overboard.
Have a fabulous Fashion Friday, and thanks bunches to Jo-Lynne for my button! Look for another button from Jo-Lynne tomorrow.
Oh, and next week, look for a video on how to effectively cover up a pimple with makeup. Unpleasant, I know, but necessary sometimes. Think me this morning. *Sigh*
Blessings ya'll!
In lieu of that, I want to introduce something I will be trying to do each Friday. I have mentioned on here before my love for fashion, makeup, etc., so I thought it might be fun to post little tips here each week to help any of you who might be interested. Without further adieu, I give you:
Metallics are in vogue again. Here is a tip from Tim Gunn, host of Project Runway and his own show, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. "Metallics add a wonderful dose of glamour, but should be restricted to one item per outfit."So for instance, let's say you have some cute silver, sparkly ballet flats you are just dying to wear. When doing so, they should be the only metallic on your body, including purses. This will give you just the right touch of glamour without going overboard.
Have a fabulous Fashion Friday, and thanks bunches to Jo-Lynne for my button! Look for another button from Jo-Lynne tomorrow.
Oh, and next week, look for a video on how to effectively cover up a pimple with makeup. Unpleasant, I know, but necessary sometimes. Think me this morning. *Sigh*
Blessings ya'll!
Monday, January 26, 2009
It's Been That Kind Of Day
Sorry I did not get to the post I had planned for today. I have been going all day, literally, and simply did not have the opportunity to sit down long enough to share. I hope to have it up sometime tomorrow. Thanks for bearing with me.
Blessings,
Blessings,
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
I Am Still Here
I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. :-) Just been playing in the snow and buried in a book series this week. Will be back on Monday to share how God used this as an illustration for me this week. Love when He does that, but sometimes it isn't always so pleasant.
Blessings,
Blessings,
Friday, January 16, 2009
My Husband, My Best Friend
If you are visiting me from Amy's site today, welcome. I appreciate your taking the time to read the interview I did on her blog and for coming over here as well. If you have not read the interview, you can click on the link above to do so. It is a discussion about my life as the wife of a husband who does not share my faith.
I don't know that I have a whole lot to add to what I said in the interview. I would like to reiterate that I love my husband dearly. He is my very best friend, and my relationship with him is second only to my relationship with God.
We have fun together, and I truly enjoy spending time with him. He is a wonderful father and husband, and I feel so blessed to be married to someone who loves me as much as he does.
I love that we have been together so long that we share those little things that no one else knows about. You know what I mean. A phrase, a joke, a look, a hand motion. Those things that have no meaning for anyone else, but when one of them comes up, the other of you knows exactly what it is all about. They create an intimacy between the two of you that is shared by no one else.
I love that we have nicknames for each other, and how he uses his nickname for me sometimes when he sends me an email or when we are talking on the phone. It makes me feel special.
I love how he gives my daughter "train rides" in the mornings before he goes to work. This consists of her standing barefooted on his shoes as he "choo-choos" her over to the front door.
I love our date nights. We usually have dinner at a restaurant, where we can actually sit together on the same side of the booth, and then go to a bookstore since we are both avid readers. We retire to our respective sections to find a book, and then meet up at the coffee shop inside to share a dessert and read.
As I said in the interview, it is still hard sometimes, but God has brought me to a place of contentment with the situation. I don't ever stop praying or believing that Richard will one day share my faith, but in the meantime, I pray that God will love him through me thus enabling me to be the very best wife that I can.
I honor him as my husband, and I feel blessed to be loved by him. And I trust God to fill those places that Richard cannot. I believe that is what we should do whether our husbands share our faith or not. No man, or other human being for that matter, can be everything we need them to be. Only God can do that. We need only ask.
Blessings,
I don't know that I have a whole lot to add to what I said in the interview. I would like to reiterate that I love my husband dearly. He is my very best friend, and my relationship with him is second only to my relationship with God.
We have fun together, and I truly enjoy spending time with him. He is a wonderful father and husband, and I feel so blessed to be married to someone who loves me as much as he does.
I love that we have been together so long that we share those little things that no one else knows about. You know what I mean. A phrase, a joke, a look, a hand motion. Those things that have no meaning for anyone else, but when one of them comes up, the other of you knows exactly what it is all about. They create an intimacy between the two of you that is shared by no one else.
I love that we have nicknames for each other, and how he uses his nickname for me sometimes when he sends me an email or when we are talking on the phone. It makes me feel special.
I love how he gives my daughter "train rides" in the mornings before he goes to work. This consists of her standing barefooted on his shoes as he "choo-choos" her over to the front door.
I love our date nights. We usually have dinner at a restaurant, where we can actually sit together on the same side of the booth, and then go to a bookstore since we are both avid readers. We retire to our respective sections to find a book, and then meet up at the coffee shop inside to share a dessert and read.
As I said in the interview, it is still hard sometimes, but God has brought me to a place of contentment with the situation. I don't ever stop praying or believing that Richard will one day share my faith, but in the meantime, I pray that God will love him through me thus enabling me to be the very best wife that I can.
I honor him as my husband, and I feel blessed to be loved by him. And I trust God to fill those places that Richard cannot. I believe that is what we should do whether our husbands share our faith or not. No man, or other human being for that matter, can be everything we need them to be. Only God can do that. We need only ask.
Blessings,
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Desperation
I received this email devotion today on desperation. If this is the state you find yourself in today, and you are in need of some encouragement, then click here.
Blessings,
Blessings,
The Hope At The End Of The Rainbow
12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." (NIV)
This was the scene across from my home last Thursday. The picture does not really do it justice. It is not often that one sees the full rainbow. However, last week, I saw one not once, but twice. On Wednesday, the day before this picture was taken, I saw the most beautiful double rainbow I have ever seen in my life! I was traveling on the road and did not have my camera with me so was unable to get a picture. I can still see its beauty in my mind's eye, though.
I was on my way to meet my brother and sister-in-law for dinner as it was my SIL's birthday. The rainbows appeared just as I was leaving my home. As I turned off the two lane highway leading up to the four-lane highway I travel to reach the restaurant, I stopped at a stoplight and off to my left, the sun was an absolute ball of fire! I looked to my right, and I could see part of the double rainbow. As my daughter and I continued on our journey, we turned on to a major highway, and suddenly, the full arc of both rainbows was directly in front of us! Exquisite! I have never seen anything like it in my life! The colors were so brilliant that you could see every color of the rainbow. It stayed in front of us all the way to our destination. It looked as if we were going to drive right under it at any moment.
I have never seen a rainbow stay around for that long. Usually they are visible for a short time and then are gone. But this one stayed for at least 15 minutes. It was just beginning to disappear as we pulled into the parking lot at the restaurant.
I know I looked like a crazy person driving down the road scrunched down over the steering wheel trying to pay attention to where I was going while looking at the rainbow at the same time! I kept looking at all these people passing me seemingly oblivious to the glorious sight in front of them, and I wanted to shout, "What is the matter with you? Do you not see what God is doing here? How can you not be in awe of that?!"
Later, when I had some time alone and was able to reflect on what I had seen, I thought more about the meaning behind the rainbow and not just about its beauty.
The rainbow first came after the flood. The Bible says in Genesis 6 that God saw how great the wickedness of man had become and that every thought of man's heart was only evil all the time. Genesis 6:6 specifically says that God was grieved that He had made mankind. And verse 7, "So the LORD said, 'I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth...'"
In Chapter 9, we see that the rainbow came as a promise from God between he and Noah and every living creature that was and would forever come that He would never again destroy the earth by water as He had done with the flood.
Verse 16 of Chapter 9 says, "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."
When I thought about what the rainbow represents, I could not help but wonder what God is thinking and seeing when He puts them in the sky. Is it just me, or does it seem like rainbows show up a lot more frequently these days? I do not remember seeing them much as a child. I remember them being quite rare.
While I certainly appreciate their beauty and never cease to be amazed when I see them, I think I will always wonder now as I stare at their magnificence if God is seeing how far our world has fallen and is reminding Himself not to destroy us.
However, I will also see it as a sign of hope, for that is what the rainbow really is. A reminder of God's unfailing love for us. That His mercies are new each day, and that as long as we are still here on this earth, there is still time to fall to our knees in repentance and have Jesus come in and be the Lord of our lives.
May your next rainbow fill you with the hope of the God of all creation.
Sweet Blessings,
This was the scene across from my home last Thursday. The picture does not really do it justice. It is not often that one sees the full rainbow. However, last week, I saw one not once, but twice. On Wednesday, the day before this picture was taken, I saw the most beautiful double rainbow I have ever seen in my life! I was traveling on the road and did not have my camera with me so was unable to get a picture. I can still see its beauty in my mind's eye, though.
I was on my way to meet my brother and sister-in-law for dinner as it was my SIL's birthday. The rainbows appeared just as I was leaving my home. As I turned off the two lane highway leading up to the four-lane highway I travel to reach the restaurant, I stopped at a stoplight and off to my left, the sun was an absolute ball of fire! I looked to my right, and I could see part of the double rainbow. As my daughter and I continued on our journey, we turned on to a major highway, and suddenly, the full arc of both rainbows was directly in front of us! Exquisite! I have never seen anything like it in my life! The colors were so brilliant that you could see every color of the rainbow. It stayed in front of us all the way to our destination. It looked as if we were going to drive right under it at any moment.
I have never seen a rainbow stay around for that long. Usually they are visible for a short time and then are gone. But this one stayed for at least 15 minutes. It was just beginning to disappear as we pulled into the parking lot at the restaurant.
I know I looked like a crazy person driving down the road scrunched down over the steering wheel trying to pay attention to where I was going while looking at the rainbow at the same time! I kept looking at all these people passing me seemingly oblivious to the glorious sight in front of them, and I wanted to shout, "What is the matter with you? Do you not see what God is doing here? How can you not be in awe of that?!"
Later, when I had some time alone and was able to reflect on what I had seen, I thought more about the meaning behind the rainbow and not just about its beauty.
The rainbow first came after the flood. The Bible says in Genesis 6 that God saw how great the wickedness of man had become and that every thought of man's heart was only evil all the time. Genesis 6:6 specifically says that God was grieved that He had made mankind. And verse 7, "So the LORD said, 'I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth...'"
In Chapter 9, we see that the rainbow came as a promise from God between he and Noah and every living creature that was and would forever come that He would never again destroy the earth by water as He had done with the flood.
Verse 16 of Chapter 9 says, "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."
When I thought about what the rainbow represents, I could not help but wonder what God is thinking and seeing when He puts them in the sky. Is it just me, or does it seem like rainbows show up a lot more frequently these days? I do not remember seeing them much as a child. I remember them being quite rare.
While I certainly appreciate their beauty and never cease to be amazed when I see them, I think I will always wonder now as I stare at their magnificence if God is seeing how far our world has fallen and is reminding Himself not to destroy us.
However, I will also see it as a sign of hope, for that is what the rainbow really is. A reminder of God's unfailing love for us. That His mercies are new each day, and that as long as we are still here on this earth, there is still time to fall to our knees in repentance and have Jesus come in and be the Lord of our lives.
May your next rainbow fill you with the hope of the God of all creation.
Sweet Blessings,
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Not Just An Old Book
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
I have committed to reading the Bible through in one year with Wendy Pope and those who have chosen to join her on this journey. We began January 1, and are reading The One Year Chronological Bible, New Living Translation. I love this Bible because the readings are already set out for you by day, i.e., January 1, January 2, etc. And, I have always thought it would be cool to read the Bible in the order the events occurred.
On January 3, we had reached one of those passages about the descendants of So and So. Now, I confess that in times past when reaching one of these sections, I was more likely than not to skip over it entirely, or, if I did start to read it, the names gave me such a fit that I would quit before finishing.
So, I reached this passage, which was specifically Genesis 10:6-20 concerning the descendants of Noah's sons, Japheth, Ham, and Shem.
Again, my first impulse was to skim over it, but I thought to myself, "No, I committed to reading the ENTIRE Bible, and this is part of that. God obviously included it for a reason, or it would not be here, so I am going to read it all even if my tongue no longer works after trying to pronounce all these names!"
Ya'll, God honored my commitment! His Word leaped off the page at me. I learned things about Biblical history I had never known before, and I can not tell you how interesting it was! Seriously!
His Word is alive and active. If we will but seek Him and ask Him what He wants us to know, He will show us.
That is not to say that I believe there will be a "divine revelation" every time we open our Bible. That passage of scripture did not apply to any circumstance I was facing at the time, but God did use the lesson to show me I can trust His Word to be everything I need it to be. I learned things I had not previously known. On another day, God may use that passage to apply to something specific in my life. How? I do not know. But He does. The point is that I must be in His Word.
My job is to earnestly seek Him. To want to know Him more. And I do that through prayer and the reading and studying of His Word.
He sees my heart, and He knows that I desire more than anything else to know more of Him each day. That is all that is required. When I seek Him, I will find Him. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
May He be found by you today.
Blessings,
I have committed to reading the Bible through in one year with Wendy Pope and those who have chosen to join her on this journey. We began January 1, and are reading The One Year Chronological Bible, New Living Translation. I love this Bible because the readings are already set out for you by day, i.e., January 1, January 2, etc. And, I have always thought it would be cool to read the Bible in the order the events occurred.
On January 3, we had reached one of those passages about the descendants of So and So. Now, I confess that in times past when reaching one of these sections, I was more likely than not to skip over it entirely, or, if I did start to read it, the names gave me such a fit that I would quit before finishing.
So, I reached this passage, which was specifically Genesis 10:6-20 concerning the descendants of Noah's sons, Japheth, Ham, and Shem.
Again, my first impulse was to skim over it, but I thought to myself, "No, I committed to reading the ENTIRE Bible, and this is part of that. God obviously included it for a reason, or it would not be here, so I am going to read it all even if my tongue no longer works after trying to pronounce all these names!"
Ya'll, God honored my commitment! His Word leaped off the page at me. I learned things about Biblical history I had never known before, and I can not tell you how interesting it was! Seriously!
His Word is alive and active. If we will but seek Him and ask Him what He wants us to know, He will show us.
That is not to say that I believe there will be a "divine revelation" every time we open our Bible. That passage of scripture did not apply to any circumstance I was facing at the time, but God did use the lesson to show me I can trust His Word to be everything I need it to be. I learned things I had not previously known. On another day, God may use that passage to apply to something specific in my life. How? I do not know. But He does. The point is that I must be in His Word.
My job is to earnestly seek Him. To want to know Him more. And I do that through prayer and the reading and studying of His Word.
He sees my heart, and He knows that I desire more than anything else to know more of Him each day. That is all that is required. When I seek Him, I will find Him. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
May He be found by you today.
Blessings,
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
It's All In Your Perspective
I'm sorry I'm so late getting on here today, but it has just been that kind of day. Anyway...I just wanted to take a quick minute to share a cute story about how our attitude/perspective can affect us that was read to us tonight at my weekly Mary Kay success meeting.
Three Hairs (Author Unknown)
There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she did and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-M-M, " she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head....
"YEAH!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"
It's all in your perspective!
Blessings,
Three Hairs (Author Unknown)
There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she did and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-M-M, " she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head....
"YEAH!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"
It's all in your perspective!
Blessings,
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Focus On What Lies Ahead
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12 (NIV)
Yesterday morning, I was driving in heavy traffic to a hair appointment. There was a gentleman behind me who seemed to be in a very big hurry, and traffic was not moving quickly enough for him. Since we were on a two-lane road, there was no where for me to go to get out of his way and no longer be in front of him, which I was wishing that I was not.
His driving was erratic, and every time the traffic would come to a quick slow-down or stop, I feared he was going to rear-end me. I kept glancing in my rear view mirror anxiously watching him and wishing that he would not follow me quite so closely. I prayed, "Lord, please don't let that man hit me in the rear end." And then, ever so gently, the Lord whispered to my heart, "My child, you focus on what is in front of you. I will take care of what is behind."
By that time, we had reached four-lane traffic, and the man shortly moved out into another lane and away from my car. I then began to reflect on what God had just said to me, and I realized how that statement was the essence of what He does for us.
We can not change the past. Whatever happened or did not happen, we can not go back. However, we can LOOK back. But doing so can cause us to continue to stumble, for if we are looking behind, we can not see what is ahead.
The enemy would like for us to focus on our past. It is one way he tries to shift our focus off of God and the future He has planned for us.
But that is not what God wants for us. He does not focus on our past. When we ask for forgiveness of our sins and ask Jesus to be the Lord of our lives, the slate is wiped clean. And even as we walk with Jesus and sin, we have but to ask and all is forgiven again. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12
God also tells us in Isaiah 43:25, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My Own sake, and remembers your sins no more."
If the God of the universe, Creator of heaven and earth, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, forgets our sins, then we need waste no more energy focusing on them ourselves.
Let us focus on what is in front of us. God will take care of what is behind.
Sweet Blessings,
Yesterday morning, I was driving in heavy traffic to a hair appointment. There was a gentleman behind me who seemed to be in a very big hurry, and traffic was not moving quickly enough for him. Since we were on a two-lane road, there was no where for me to go to get out of his way and no longer be in front of him, which I was wishing that I was not.
His driving was erratic, and every time the traffic would come to a quick slow-down or stop, I feared he was going to rear-end me. I kept glancing in my rear view mirror anxiously watching him and wishing that he would not follow me quite so closely. I prayed, "Lord, please don't let that man hit me in the rear end." And then, ever so gently, the Lord whispered to my heart, "My child, you focus on what is in front of you. I will take care of what is behind."
By that time, we had reached four-lane traffic, and the man shortly moved out into another lane and away from my car. I then began to reflect on what God had just said to me, and I realized how that statement was the essence of what He does for us.
We can not change the past. Whatever happened or did not happen, we can not go back. However, we can LOOK back. But doing so can cause us to continue to stumble, for if we are looking behind, we can not see what is ahead.
The enemy would like for us to focus on our past. It is one way he tries to shift our focus off of God and the future He has planned for us.
But that is not what God wants for us. He does not focus on our past. When we ask for forgiveness of our sins and ask Jesus to be the Lord of our lives, the slate is wiped clean. And even as we walk with Jesus and sin, we have but to ask and all is forgiven again. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12
God also tells us in Isaiah 43:25, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My Own sake, and remembers your sins no more."
If the God of the universe, Creator of heaven and earth, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, forgets our sins, then we need waste no more energy focusing on them ourselves.
Let us focus on what is in front of us. God will take care of what is behind.
Sweet Blessings,
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Why We Need To Cleanse
Yesterday, I confessed that I do not like to wash off makeup and cleanse my face. Still do not know why that is, but it is a fact. I also talked about how we wear makeup to look and feel more beautiful, but if left on our faces while sleeping, makeup actually causes damage to our skin.
As I pondered this weird dislike I have for cleansing my face, God began to draw a parallel for me between external and internal cleansing.
We are all born as sinners. There is no getting around that. It is only through asking Jesus to come and live in our hearts and forgive us and cleanse us of our sins that we are made clean.
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
White as snow. Pure. Beautiful. I love this picture. That God sees me this way because the shed blood of His Precious Son made a way for me to be reconciled to Him in spite of my sin.
Still, even as one who has seen my need for a Savior and asked Him to be the Lord of my life, I sin. I always will. And left unchecked, my heart will become black and ugly the more mired in my sin I become. Dirty. Unclean. In need of cleansing. Causing damage to my heart and my relationship with God.
But, even then, forgiveness is mine for the asking, and I am washed clean once again.
Thank you, Lord Jesus.
Sweet Blessings,
As I pondered this weird dislike I have for cleansing my face, God began to draw a parallel for me between external and internal cleansing.
We are all born as sinners. There is no getting around that. It is only through asking Jesus to come and live in our hearts and forgive us and cleanse us of our sins that we are made clean.
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
White as snow. Pure. Beautiful. I love this picture. That God sees me this way because the shed blood of His Precious Son made a way for me to be reconciled to Him in spite of my sin.
Still, even as one who has seen my need for a Savior and asked Him to be the Lord of my life, I sin. I always will. And left unchecked, my heart will become black and ugly the more mired in my sin I become. Dirty. Unclean. In need of cleansing. Causing damage to my heart and my relationship with God.
But, even then, forgiveness is mine for the asking, and I am washed clean once again.
Thank you, Lord Jesus.
Sweet Blessings,
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Great Link
Just wanted to give a quick shout-out to my friend, Andria, who started a blog yesterday with this awesome post! You absolutely must check it out!
May you find the number you need today.
Blessings,
May you find the number you need today.
Blessings,
I Don't Like to Cleanse
I have a confession to make. I really detest washing off my makeup at night and cleansing my face! And me a Mary Kay Consultant, too! Crazy I know, but there it is.
The interesting thing about makeup is that we wear it to make ourselves look and feel beautiful, but if left on our faces while we sleep, it actually can cause damage to our skin. I went to a beauty party once (before I became a MK Consultant, and it was not a MK party), and the Consultant said that one night of sleeping with your makeup on can age your skin one week! Yikes! Who needs that? I'm aging just fine without any extra help, thank you very much.
And let's not forget our 'ole pal...Acne! Does anyone else still get the occasional zit at 38 years old! For Pete's sake! I passed puberty a long time ago!
Okay, coming back down from the rant, what is it with not liking to wash off the makeup and cleanse my face? As I began to ponder this question, God gave me a spiritual application as He and I are working on some internal cleansing as well right now. I will share more on this tomorrow.
For today, I wish you a very "clean" day inside and out! :-)
Blessings,
The interesting thing about makeup is that we wear it to make ourselves look and feel beautiful, but if left on our faces while we sleep, it actually can cause damage to our skin. I went to a beauty party once (before I became a MK Consultant, and it was not a MK party), and the Consultant said that one night of sleeping with your makeup on can age your skin one week! Yikes! Who needs that? I'm aging just fine without any extra help, thank you very much.
And let's not forget our 'ole pal...Acne! Does anyone else still get the occasional zit at 38 years old! For Pete's sake! I passed puberty a long time ago!
Okay, coming back down from the rant, what is it with not liking to wash off the makeup and cleanse my face? As I began to ponder this question, God gave me a spiritual application as He and I are working on some internal cleansing as well right now. I will share more on this tomorrow.
For today, I wish you a very "clean" day inside and out! :-)
Blessings,
Monday, January 5, 2009
When God's Presence Is Not Palpable
In Friday's post, I talked about my salvation experience when I asked Jesus to become the Lord and Savior of my life. I talked about how His presence was so palpable, it was as if I could touch it. I also mentioned that is not always the case.
There was a time in my life when His presence was not strong like that. Actually, it was difficult to feel Him there at all. I felt like my prayers were hitting the ceiling. When I prayed, I didn't seem to get an answer or response. It was a very lonely, desolate time in my life.
I knew God had not left me. His Word promises me in Hebrews 13:5 that He "will never leave me nor forsake me." (paraphrased) The truth is, though, I was steeped in sin at the time.
Looking back, I knew I was in sin. I justified. I rationalized. I felt the quiet conviction of the Holy Spirit telling me to turn away, and still I continued down the same path.
I continued to pray. I continued with Bible study. I continued to go to church. I continued to do all those things we as "good Christians" are supposed to do, and yet, my life was filled with sin, and I had never felt so far away from God. Feel His Presence? I was having trouble trusting He was still there. Of course, He was.
He never left me. He never stopped pursuing me. He never quit waiting for me to turn from my sin and repent so that our relationship could renew itself.
I'm so thankful He loves me enough to never let me go. To allow me to feel His gentle hand of correction when I need it. To convict me when I have wronged another. To demand I ask their forgiveness even though that is sometimes a very difficult thing to do. To extend forgiveness even though I'd rather not because I have been forgiven more than I could ever forgive.
This is not to say that when the "dry seasons" come that we are always in sin. I only know that the times in my life when I have felt the most alone and desolate were the times when I was not walking in His ways. At those times, while His Presence was not palpable, I know He was still there, and I am ever so thankful.
Blessings,
There was a time in my life when His presence was not strong like that. Actually, it was difficult to feel Him there at all. I felt like my prayers were hitting the ceiling. When I prayed, I didn't seem to get an answer or response. It was a very lonely, desolate time in my life.
I knew God had not left me. His Word promises me in Hebrews 13:5 that He "will never leave me nor forsake me." (paraphrased) The truth is, though, I was steeped in sin at the time.
Looking back, I knew I was in sin. I justified. I rationalized. I felt the quiet conviction of the Holy Spirit telling me to turn away, and still I continued down the same path.
I continued to pray. I continued with Bible study. I continued to go to church. I continued to do all those things we as "good Christians" are supposed to do, and yet, my life was filled with sin, and I had never felt so far away from God. Feel His Presence? I was having trouble trusting He was still there. Of course, He was.
He never left me. He never stopped pursuing me. He never quit waiting for me to turn from my sin and repent so that our relationship could renew itself.
I'm so thankful He loves me enough to never let me go. To allow me to feel His gentle hand of correction when I need it. To convict me when I have wronged another. To demand I ask their forgiveness even though that is sometimes a very difficult thing to do. To extend forgiveness even though I'd rather not because I have been forgiven more than I could ever forgive.
This is not to say that when the "dry seasons" come that we are always in sin. I only know that the times in my life when I have felt the most alone and desolate were the times when I was not walking in His ways. At those times, while His Presence was not palpable, I know He was still there, and I am ever so thankful.
Blessings,
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Scripture Saturday
I have joined with many other Siestas on the LPM (Beth Moore's) blog and have committed to memorizing scripture this year. This is a verse God has used to speak to me recently, so I chose it as my first one:
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished! Luke 1:45 (NIV)
Blessings,
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished! Luke 1:45 (NIV)
Blessings,
Friday, January 2, 2009
My First New Beginning
Happy New Year Everyone! Wow! Another year gone and another one just beginning...again.Where does the time go? I remember hearing people say that all the time when I was younger, and I just could not understand what they were talking about. I so totally get it now.
Since Christmas, and now New Year's as well, is over, I think I will just wait until next year to post on the meanings of more Christmas decorations. Now that I have the idea, it would be a great way to start the 2009 Christmas season.
So instead, as we are looking to new beginnings of sorts, I thought since I had never posted about my actual salvation experience, the day I made Jesus Lord and Savior of my life, maybe that would be a great way to start the 2009 year of my blog.
I actually wrote about this in my Beth Moore devotional, Jesus: 90 days with the One and Only, a few days ago. She was talking about when John the Baptist baptized Jesus (see Matthew 3:13-17). She asked us to recapture what it was like the first time we met Christ. This was my response:
I understand the overwhelming power of His presence. I still remember that feeling to this day that I had the day I asked Him to be the Lord of my life. I know for a lot of people their salvation experience is not in response to an altar call, and, for me, it was not either. I wasn't responding to a plea from a man of God; I was responding to the presence of the Son of God. His presence was palpable. He beckoned me "Come." I was compelled. For a brief moment, I stayed where I was, but only for a moment. In that instant, I wondered what people would think, and just as quickly, the thought was gone. Thrown off with an attitude of uncaring for other's thoughts. He was all that mattered. So strong was the compulsion, I practically ran down the aisle. I don't remember what I said. I don't remember what the pastor said. I only remember sobbing and being so glad I was standing there, that I had come when He beckoned me do so. I was in His presence, and I was completely undone.
Praise His Holy Name, His Presence is still sometimes that palpable. As if you could actually reach out and touch Him. And I am so grateful for those times.
However, that is not to say it is always that way, and we will talk more about that on Monday. Until then, I wish you a blessed day in His Presence, and if you have yet to meet Him for the first time but would like to know how, click on the Ready? button in my right sidebar.
Blessings,
Since Christmas, and now New Year's as well, is over, I think I will just wait until next year to post on the meanings of more Christmas decorations. Now that I have the idea, it would be a great way to start the 2009 Christmas season.
So instead, as we are looking to new beginnings of sorts, I thought since I had never posted about my actual salvation experience, the day I made Jesus Lord and Savior of my life, maybe that would be a great way to start the 2009 year of my blog.
I actually wrote about this in my Beth Moore devotional, Jesus: 90 days with the One and Only, a few days ago. She was talking about when John the Baptist baptized Jesus (see Matthew 3:13-17). She asked us to recapture what it was like the first time we met Christ. This was my response:
I understand the overwhelming power of His presence. I still remember that feeling to this day that I had the day I asked Him to be the Lord of my life. I know for a lot of people their salvation experience is not in response to an altar call, and, for me, it was not either. I wasn't responding to a plea from a man of God; I was responding to the presence of the Son of God. His presence was palpable. He beckoned me "Come." I was compelled. For a brief moment, I stayed where I was, but only for a moment. In that instant, I wondered what people would think, and just as quickly, the thought was gone. Thrown off with an attitude of uncaring for other's thoughts. He was all that mattered. So strong was the compulsion, I practically ran down the aisle. I don't remember what I said. I don't remember what the pastor said. I only remember sobbing and being so glad I was standing there, that I had come when He beckoned me do so. I was in His presence, and I was completely undone.
Praise His Holy Name, His Presence is still sometimes that palpable. As if you could actually reach out and touch Him. And I am so grateful for those times.
However, that is not to say it is always that way, and we will talk more about that on Monday. Until then, I wish you a blessed day in His Presence, and if you have yet to meet Him for the first time but would like to know how, click on the Ready? button in my right sidebar.
Blessings,
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