Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
What's in a word?
I am trying to help where I can with regards to my sister & her family. I just hope I am doing more good than harm. That may sound like a strange statement to you, but I am the kind of person that wants to keep everyone moving in a positive direction... as I am told so often, "you live in La La Land". I just believe that the words that come out of my mouth sets the tone for my attitude & outlook on things. I have not always been that way, unfortunately, but God has done a real work in me where that is concerned. The words that I speak are the words I hear & not only me but anyone around me & also the devil... why should I give him the chance to use my own words against me????
The written word can be so good...it really can impact life... for instance the Bible... there is life in those words. Just like the spoken word... we can speak life or we can speak destruction. Try taking a verse & reading it out loud... it might sound weird, but I have found when I do that it gives me so much comfort. On the other hand, when I speak something bad about someone or even about myself... is there ever any comfort in that???
"Be done with every trace of wickedness and all deceit and insincerity and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind." I Peter 2:1
We, as Christians, are told to be encouraging to others... my question to you is... how do you encourage people that may not want to be encouraged?
Just a little card I put together for a birthday wish... like I said before, I have this butterfly thing going. It is simple, but I love the colors. And yes, I actually used some of my jeweled flowers!
Thanks for stopping & reading my thoughts... your visits are appreciated! with a grateFUL HEART, carin
Saturday, April 25, 2009
God's love still stands...
"... if any one be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17
Luke & I are in the "Thumb" staying with my parents for the weekend... actually Luke is going home tomorrow afternoon, but I am staying for a few more days. It seemed like a good time to be here with my family with all my sister, Renee, & her family are going through after the fire. She has been handling it all very well... their testimony of trusting the Lord is going to play a big part in this whole tragedy...
non-believers are watching to see how they handle it all... we just pray through it all... people will come to Christ... God deserves all the glory! Today... Renee is feeling a little down... I think she feels like she doesn't have a place to call her own right now... she works from home & her home is very important to her... not in a materialistic way, but more as "home is home"... do you know what I mean? It is her refuge. They are looking at possibly a month before they can be back in their home. Their daughter, Brooke, graduates the end of May. They will also have a graduation party & all... it can just be so overwhelming. It will be fine... God promised us that.
I was reading in the Our Daily Bread today... the final thought really jumped out at me:
with a grateFUL HEART, carin
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Do not be dismayed...
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Sweetness...
It has been one sweet Sunday... Pastor Chris really hit the nail on the head with his sermon series called "Supernatural"... I am learning so much. You can listen to it at www.getreslife.org
After church my sweet husband & I went for lunch at our favorite little "party store"... okay, you might wonder what kind of people go for Sunday lunch to a party store??? that is the joke... it is a party store on half of it & a little cafe on the other half... the food is really good & the prices are reasonable. The first time Luke took me there I had a small fit (OK, maybe not so small)... I was dressed in my church clothes & he was taking me to a PARTY STORE to eat! I wondered... no actually I asked him what was wrong with his head???? Luke has a very loving, laid back demeanor, which is good for me most of the time because he can calmly talk me into things... things that he knows will be good for me. If he got irate & defensive with me... nothing would ever be accomplished. God is always so good, but especially when he puts us with the right people.
Anyway, after lunch we picked up a few groceries & then came home for a little nap... sweet dreams. I love a Sunday afternoon nap... it is the day of rest you know!
Last but not least I want to thank all of you for your sweet comments... when I write my blog I feel like I am writing for me, because I really never know if anyone is ever going to read it, so I am thankful for your encouraging words.
"Comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them make them steadfast and keep them unswerving in every good work and word." II Thessalonians 2:17
with a grateFUL Heart, carin
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Blog award...
Diane Noble is the great lady who introduced the new blog award. In her words, "it is given to bloggers who consistently exalt the name of Christ on their blogs. What a joy to see crafters blend their passion for Christ and papercrafting. This award is given to bloggers who share Christ through their posts or through the design of their artwork. We are commanded in Scripture to be 'salt and light' sharing the Good News of Jesus no matter where we are (Matthew 5:13-16). This award is just a way members of Women to Women: Sharing Jesus can say thanks for exalting Christ with us!"
Rules:
Post the blog award in a regular post on your blog with the explanation, including the original link to WTW and the rules for passing the award along
1. Name five people (more or less is fine!) to whom you want to offer this award and link to their blogs. The blogs need to obviously exalt Christ in some manner.
2. Contact the bloggers you have named to let them know they can pick up their blog award from you.
3. Invite them to permanently display the WTW blog badge and/or the award on their blogs. The badge can be obtained on the WTW site.
So my recipients are:
~Judy Rozema at Joy in a Jar - she has such beautiful cards & I feel shares her heart on her blog.
~Deann Oliver at The Little Inker! - such great ideas she shares & uses her talents as a ministry in itself.
~Marlene at D World of Marlene - she has such a sweet, honest testimony for the Lord & a great talent for cards making too.
~Courtney Fowler at Created by Courtney - she has some really great projects & shares her love for Christ through her blog.
~Becca Feeken at Amazing Paper Grace - I know she gets all kinds of awards, but her cards & her words are so inspiring to me... love the "Our Daily Bread Stamps".
I really hope you will go and check out these amazing ladies' blogs & don't forget to leave a comment. And go to Women to Women Sharing Jesus... they have terrific weekly devotionals for women by women.
with a grateFUL HEART, carin
Inspire or Inspired...
Friday, April 17, 2009
Attitude adjustment...
Are you in need of an attitude adjustment? I pray that I can set aside my selfish attitude & have an attitude that pleases God.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Nothing trifle about it...
Just a little snip it of a verse I came across this morning:
Ecclesiastes 12:1 "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth."
Anyone that reads my blog on a regular basis knows I get pretty personal in what I write so this will not be a surprise to you... I have to say when I read that verse I thought about my parents... what a blessing they are to have as parents... I don't know where I would be if they hadn't shown me Jesus at a very young age... no, I didn't always like living with restrictions (I was the child that tried my mother's patience... big time!)... but how thankful I am for it now. I guess what I am trying to say is, "thanks Mom & Dad"... I know I have told them this before, but I don't want another day to go by without it being said again. Time is so fleeting... if there is something you need to do or something you need to say to someone... don't put it off for another day. A word of encouragement, a hug, giving your life to Christ, whatever it may be... by putting things off we find ourselves living a mediocre life... I don't want to live an OK life... none of us were put on this earth for that... I want to live a life that honors God... He wants the best for me & you too... take the time to do the things you are being led to do... that is what I am going to try to do... how 'bout you?
Thanks to all of you that stop in & leave a word of encouragement... my blog friends are the best!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Lead Me...
Friday, April 10, 2009
No Greater Love...
A lil' meditation for today... Good Friday – I’ve often wondered why it is called “Good Friday”—if this is the day Christ died for me…then why is it good??? I’m not sure why it was named that... being the great theologian I am *Ü*... but for me the day that Christ gave up His life brings mixed feelings… on one side I would not have a chance of eternal life in Heaven without this Great Sacrifice…even that statement leads to mixed emotions… good for the sake of my salvation, but so sad that it was my sins that sent Him to that death on the cross. I was reading in John 15… today my thoughts are focused on verse 13:
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
That verse has always been a mind blowing verse for me… would I be willing to lay my life down for a friend???? As I was thinking on that I had quite the revelation… He was not asking me to just physically lay down my life for my friend, but to spiritually & emotionally lay it all down for Him… I really had to think about that… if someone put a gun to my head & said “deny Christ or die” would I have the strength to die for Him???? I would hope so. On the other hand, everyday I am asked to “die to self”… but how easy is that to do???? Most every day I know I am a total failure at that… since I am not perfect (God knows that *Ü*) He can see I have a desire & a willing heart to lay it all done for Him. And because of His unconditional, unfailing love He gives me an “A” for effort and not an “F” for failure… He made me… He knows I am a work in progress… I am a blessed, priceless child of my Heavenly Father… I am so thankful that He loved me so much to give me a second chance at life by giving up His Son to save me.
Just a thought to share on this "good Friday"... have a blessed day... with an over-flowing, grateFUL HEART, carin
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Rejoice...
The title of this post is "Rejoice"... we should always rejoice... but especially during this Easter season my thoughts are brought to the main reason to rejoice... this verse says it all:
"He is not here, but He has risen." Luke 24:6
I can rejoice in the hope that Christ gave me when He was raised from the dead... He conquered death & sin... all I can say is REJOICE!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
PEACE...
Also, I have a verse for today: John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]" (Amplified)
I love what the Amplified translation says about not permitting yourself to be agitated, disturbed, fearful & intimidated. Remember these words are the “red letter” words so they are right from Christ’s mouth (so to speak). *Ü* What does peace mean to you? It can mean great things like establishing peace from a war in the world, but it can also mean finding peace from the war I have going on inside of me… you know... those days when everything or everyone seems to be irritating… when I get disturbed over the dumbest things… when fear grabs hold of me over a passing thought (those “what if” moments)… when I come face to face with someone I feel is better than me… even on those days when I can’t remember the words I am trying to speak… these are the days when this verse comes to my mind… God gave His Son as my ransom & in return Christ gave me peace that passes ALL understanding… what LOVE… what SACRIFICE… what PEACE! I hope you have peace today! Thanks for stopping!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin