Sunday, February 26, 2012

Getting out of the boat

Brokenness... Brokenness is what I long for, Brokenness is what I need.  Brokenness Brokenness is what you want from me.

How come when it comes to our walk with Christ we are so quick to embrace His love and faithfulness but squirm when He calls us to brokenness??? It is in those times of our brokenness that He remains strong and shows Himself most faithful.  We talk Him big... but walk Him small. 

In the passage in Matthew 14:22-33, it was the "church" that was hiding in the boat.  Why didn't all of them get out of the boat?  Why did only one man break down his pride and get out of the boat to rely on God's faithfulness. 

When has our faith been broken... by unanswered prayer (or the way we thought it should be answered)... by crushed expectations....    It is those moments that God is calling us to step out of the boat and trust that He is faithful despite the waves.  Life is not all about calm seas...

Faith is not true faith until it is all you are holding on to.  We walk by faith... not by sight.  The just will live by faith.  Don't let reasoning or logic get in the way of faith.

F(orsaking) A(ll) I T(rust) H(im)

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Wilderness??

What does your prayer in the wilderness look like?  We all have our times in the wilderness... you know those times that it seems that God is no where to be seen.  Spending time in the wilderness does have its purpose... look at Jesus' wilderness experience.  He was tempted but yet overcame the enemy proving that with His strength, we can too.  God will give us victory.

We all have wilderness experiences tailored to fit what God is calling each of us to.  Mine does not look like yours and vice versa.  However all times of being in the wilderness have some similarities...

  • The wilderness can be lonely.
  • It can be a "dry" time spiritually.
  • There are choices.
  • The wilderness bring us closer to God... what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
  • Even in the wilderness, God is always with us... He will never leave us nor forsake us! 

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Fat Tuesday

It is Tuesday night... not just any Tuesday night but the night before the start of lent... also known as Fat Tuesday.  In some minds this day symbolizes eating, drinking, and partying for tomorrow we have to give it up.  In some minds its all about the beads... that's another whole post for another day.  Still in others minds, its just another day on this road of life.

Normally I fall into the 3rd category- not really giving this day much thought... however tonight on my way home from Bible study the Holy Spirit convicted my heart on a couple of things and I thought I would share because it definitely has a tie in.

Recently I have seen tons of posts on social media sites about what is being given up for lent... comments like "I feel like I should give something up, but I don't know what... any ideas?"  Comments like this got me thinking about what lent is all about... it is a time to give up something that is distracting you from God in order to prepare your hearts for Easter and his glorious resurrection.  The problem comes that many in our society have lost the true meaning of Easter and don't see Christ as glorious.  This was a huge deal to James, the half brother of Christ, who lived in the same house as Jesus and missed his glory.   Do we desire to miss Christ's glory in our own lives?  We would probably say no but how many habits stand in the way of us seeing His glory and Him doing a might work in us.  Ewww buddy... heavy and convicting stuff!  It is not worth it.  None of my selfish habits and desires are worth getting in the way of desiring more of His glory.  This is the purpose of lent- to lay something down that has gotten in the way of receiing more of His glory.  So after tonight, I am giving up a couple of things for lent with the prayer that by Easter these habits will no longer be between me and my glorious LORD. 

The second convicting thought of the evening that really puts this in high gear is found in James 1:25 (NET)- "The one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out- he will be blessed in what he does."  I don't want to be a forgetful listener- to hear my sinful habits are blocking His glory in my life is painful but if I don't remember this and change it, I am no closer to seeing His glory.  God's Word is alive and active.  When was the last time God's Word changed you?  If I have stopped changing because of the Word of God, then I have become a forgetful listener. 

I want to listen and obey, change and grown, truly bask in His glory... so this Easter season I lay my bad habits at the foot of the cross, looking up to see Christ in all of His glory!!!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Hangin on!

On this Valentine's Day 2012, my heart is blessed beyond belief on where God has me.  Yes, I am single... yes, I have the desire to be married... but that does not define me and who God created me to be for such a time as this.

As I was driving home from Bible Study tonight... Britt Nicole's song "Hangin' on"  was playing.  I couldn't ask for a better love song... truly unconditional love... loving me despite my thoughts... my feelings... my emotions...my imperfections... HE LOVES ME!

And when I feel like settling for second best or a "back-up" plan, this is a perfect reminder to hang on to HIS truth... for His perfect plan! 

HANGIN' ON!
You see my anxious heart
You see what I am feelin'
And when I fall apart
You are there to hold me

How great Your love for me
Now I see what You're thinkin'
You say I'm beautiful
Your voice is my healin'

Without You I just can't get by
So I'm

Hangin' on to every word You speak
'Cause it's all that I need
Hangin' on to every word You say
To light up my way

Even every little whisper
I'm hangin' on as if it were my life
I'm hangin' on

And when the darkness falls
I can't see what's before me
Your voice is like the dawn
Always there to guide me

Without You I just can't get by
So I'm

Hangin' on to every word You speak
'Cause it's all that I need
Hangin' on to every word You say
To light up my way

Even every little whisper
I'm hangin' on as if it were my life
I'm hangin' on

You know me better than I know myself
Better than anybody else
Your love is soundin' like a ringin' bell
Oh, oh, I won't let go

Hangin' on to every word You speak
'Cause it's all that I need
Hangin' on to every word You say
To light up my way

Even every little whisper
I'm hangin' on as if it were my life
I'm hangin' on

Hangin' on to every word You speak
'Cause it's all that I need
Hangin' on to every word You say
To light up my way

Even every little whisper
I'm hangin' on as if it were my life
I'm hangin' on

Friday, February 10, 2012

Diaper Cakes Galore!!

It seems like it is that time of life when everyone I know is having babies! I have started building diaper cakes and giving them as gifts to new mommies. I love the flexibility to build it with what you have on hand and making it as simple or elaborate as desired. Here are some of the creations over time... 

WILD cake- front

WILD cake- back

Pinwheels, polka-dots, and lollipops-  I am tickled pink with this one!

Things that Go- for a fellow director friend

DUCKIES- This is an entire case of diapers.  It barely fit in the back of my jeep

Sugar and spice and everything nice!

Beary cute!


Where it all started!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Redecorating!

Living on Molokai there are not many opportunities to find cute houseware items to redecorate.  Lately I have been hooked on Pinterest... lots of fun ideas just not always possible to get all of the materials.  Yesterday I picked up a new bedding set from a friend that I was yardsaleing with.  The colors inspired me to redecorate my bedroom with some of my favorite colors- red and chocolate brown.


Romeo and Juliet seem to like it already.  The crates and baskets in the background were also yardsale finds... crates ($5) and baskets ($1 each) just spraypainted. 
 Wall art from James 1 says "Consider it pure JOY" is cut from brown vinyl on the cricut.  Frames I was selling at the yardsale... didn't sell so I cut out leaves on the cricut and added some sayings.
I am really liking the warmth of my "new" bedroom.  Now to finish cleaning and putting away everything that I pulled out to complete the room!