Take Five

There is so much to be thankful for each and every day. I just miss it sometimes a lot of times. I make myself busy and forget to stop and admire God and all his goodness. I miss the laughter of my children, the needs of others who are less fortunate than me, and selfishly I cause God to be sad and his smile slips away as he waits for me to turn around.

Everything around me doesn’t click. I become anxious and begin to think only of the next task to complete. I weaken instead of grow into the full purpose for which God created me. And then it happens…it’s like God throws a shoe at me and it hits me right upside the head. He reveals himself to me loud and clear and I realize I need to take a seat and listen in silence for the sweet whispers of the Holy Spirit. There is no need to pray. I don’t need to sing. I just need to sit and dwell upon the goodness of Jesus and what he has done for me. Even if it is just five minutes…it’s five minutes I wouldn’t have had with him otherwise. After a few days of silence for five with my King, an amazing thing happens…I desire crave more solemn time with him. It becomes an ache deep within to meet with my Savior. The inertia of God’s love becomes greater through these quiet moments and causes me only to resist the state of busyness and relinquish my whole being to a state of restful peace with my Abba.

Strange as it may seem, my eyes become open and I see with his eyes. My hands become his hands working through me. My ears become more aware of information he wants me to hear and heed his call of action as a result. The life and body he gave me becomes an extension of him reaching down from heaven to touch the lives of those who don’t know him and need his love. I have turned around and now see him smile in return.

Indeed, my Redeemer lives!

Beauty for Ashes

As I checked out some of my most favorite blogs this morning, the title of one caught my eye. It read, “Meaningful Beauty”. I loved how the two words rolled off my tongue, but most of all I loved what it made me think. The wonderful cross etched itself quickly in my mind’s eye. Actually, it wasn’t a pretty site at all. The picture contained the image of my King beaten, bruised, and bleeding beyond recognition. Did the crown of thorns bother him more than his nail pierced hands?

I pondered the thought for a few moments and then a Bible verse I had memorized many years ago began to speak softly deep within me…

“And provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”

~Isaiah 61:3

When Christ rose from the grave, the ashes fell and a crown of life appeared to take the place of the black soot of unworthiness. He replaced mourning and despair with joy and praise for a Savior who paid the ultimate price to give abundant life to all who choose His ways. As God’s children we become like a tree planted by the water, unmoved, not shaken, and standing on the precious promises of our Heavenly Father. We are the display of His splendor!

Now that’s “Meaningful Beauty”!

As of Late

As of late I've been...
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Enjoying pumpkin spice coffee from Dunk'in Donuts.
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Thinking of changing the color of my car to canary yellow and in black letters write TAXI on the sides.
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I love watching my kiddos march in the band, play football, and run cross country.
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Writing ALOT!
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I have been wondering if there is going to be any canned pumpkin available in the stores to make pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Has anyone found any on the shelf in their local grocery store?
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I've been excited to watch Steeler football on Sunday's after church and hoping Pittsburgh and the Rooney's decide to get rid of Ben Rothleisberger.
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So as of late I'm...

Enjoying...

Thinking...

Watching...

ALOT...

Wondering...

and

Excited...

to see what the Lord has for me next!!!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace...

how sweet the sound...

that saved a wretch like me...

grace...something I don't deserve!

I become overwhelmed as the notes play and tears come quickly. This unmerited favor of God is freely given to me from my Sovereign Lord! I don't deserve it, but He gives me a full measure each day with compassion and tenderness. He always meets me right where I am at, no matter how sinful, and accepts me granting forgiveness once again. He is so precious to me, yet, I am more precious to Him.

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Thank you Jesus for loving enough immensely giving life and hope to all through your solemn act of kindness upon the cross. I pray for those who don't know you and for those who do, but have not accepted you. Please bring them to the realization of just how much you love them and desire to call them your child.

 Amen

A Fall Front Porch

Can you smell the crisp Autumn air? I can and it's got me itching to do some more decorating! Today was the front porch! Enjoy the pictures!

Bring on Fall

I love fall! I like decorating for Autumn probably more than I enjoy adorning the walls and mantle for Christmas. The weather has started to change slightly with cooler days and dreamy nights. I have not been able to stop myself from becoming excited to pull out all my fall decor...and so I did. Not only did I have fun remembering and forgetting all the fall pieces I have, I got ambitious and decided to craft some new ones.

I got all my supplys ready!

Even the kids helped! The wooden circle only $1.19 at AC Moore!

This awesome wooden letters only cost .50 a piece at AC Moore! Can you guess what the letters spell?

Here is my finished pumpkins garland draped across my fall decorated hoosier.

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I free hand painted three of these awesome circles...Havest...Moon...Reflects!

The newly painted circles became part of my garland on the the upper staircase.

I added sephia tone prints cut with pinking shears to remember our summer memories.

Lead me O Lord!

I just love how the circle art turned out!

One of my favorite pictures!

I loved the sephia tone prints so much I added them to the hoosier shelves as well!

The finished hoosier!

Please click on the following link to get more great ideas!

http://theinspiredroom.net/2010/09/07/welcome-to-the-3rd-annual-fall-nesting-party/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20wordpress/woWq%20(The%20Inspired%20Room)

Sweet Grandma

I’ve been missing her again. I’m not sure why my mind has wondered to memories of my sweet grandma, but it’s comforting. The thoughts of her bring such warmth to my soul and often I just close my eyes and remember…remember her hands…olive Italian skin, her Bible open on her kitchen table, and yes…her wonderfully scrumptious molasses cookies. But most I remember her prayerful heart. I like to think she taught me how to pray as she penned many heartfelt letters to me over the course of my life. She prayed me through my life in those letters, shared Bible scripture which I still hold onto dearly, and most of all…she loved me…she truly loved me through those letters. It was if her hands reached out from the pages and hugged me.

I get homesick to see her. Do you know what I mean? This house I now live in is not my true home. Home to me is heaven and I know that’s where she is at this very moment. And…well…I get homesick for heaven because I know I’ll get to see her again. Even though she is not here on this Earth with me any longer, she brings me closer to home when I think about her. I dream of what it must be like for her to be with Jesus and the embrace we will have when we are reunited. But for now, I will look forward to the day when I see her again and I’ll continue to be happy for her because she is home.

One Solemn Moment

Today was a simply beautiful day. The sun rays were warm enough for me to wear a t-shirt, but the cool air convinced me to don a pair of pants. I sat outside for awhile enjoying the beauty God created. I leaned my head back, eyes closed, and legs extended forward as my arms rested effortlessly on the sides of the chair. I breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly quietly thanking my Lord for the moment of peace. The breeze brushed across my face and reminded me of the nearness of my God. The sun peeked from behind the clouds and the shadows disappeared from behind my closed lids. The heaven sent rays warmed my skin and I couldn’t help but think...God touched me in His own way. The sound of my voice softly began to sing the old hymn, How Great Thou Art. It became an intimate solemn moment of worship just between my God and I. Silenced filled the air again and I recognized He is closer than I realize. I just need to take the time to sit awhile with Him. I’m glad I choose to “be” with my Savior today instead of “doing” another task on my list. It was precious…so precious indeed!