The Weekend...

I just noticed my "blogoversary" was yesterday... 2 years since I started "grateFUL HEART"... how time flies!

It is Saturday morning... 2 days before the first day of Summer... 1 day before Fathers' Day, but as for today... it is a BEAUTIFUL day!

No stamping for today but a funny picture... Do you remember the 1989 movie, "Weekend at Bernie's"? Well, here is a picture I took of a couple friends and my hubby...

Disclaimer... there was no one harmed in the production of this picture nor was there drugs or alcohol involved! LOL

Okay, now on the serious side... just a verse to share too... Psalm 91:1-2 Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. Then you will say to the LORD, "You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you." (Contemporary English)

Have a great Saturday... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Security...

I hope you haven't totally forgotten me... I am so sorry I have not posted in weeks... that is so not like me, but life happens and I don't take the time to write it down. *Ü* I spent almost a week at my parents, trying to be encouraging to my mom who is still having health issues (prayers still appreciated). 

The other day I saw someone write, "I wish I could see into the future just for a second." I know how dangerous that would be and I told her so, but now this morning in my quiet time I saw that how even one second could change one's path for a lifetime… one split second! Why do we as humans think we need to know everything… choosing knowledge over life.  In II Timothy 6:17 it says, “As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” Even the news on TV… reporters think that they need to know everything so they can inform the world of “everything” that may or may not be going on… personally I don’t want to or even need to know everything! Ironically, having too much information can just lead me down a path of uncertainty… it makes me want to take the control out of God’s hands and put it into my own incapable hands… I fight with being in control everyday… it is a choice everyday, sometimes even minute to minute, to hand all control over to God… completely trust Him. In reality I know I never have the control anyways… I just think I do and all that does is make me miserable and more controlling!

If a person could see into the future just a couple seconds how would that couple seconds change the choices they would make? And by making that choice how would that choice change the next choice and the next choice… see it would be like a domino effect… and what happens to dominoes when one starts going?... they all eventually fall. I don’t know about you but I do not want to live my life trying to keep all my “dominos” standing. God sees the big picture. I only see a pixel in the big picture, and I am so thankful for that.

What is secure? My security lies in the mighty hands of God, my Father, my Provider, the One who holds my future.

Yes, I do have a birthday card to share with you today... I saw a card like this somewhere... maybe on SCS???  I don't have a stamp to make the grass-look so I think it is so cool to be able to use the edge of my stamp pad.  And of course the butterfly fanatic that I am... I have the butterfly die folder from SU. Luv it!

Okay, I need to get some other stuff done today, so have a sweetly blessed day... thanks for stopping.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

In Remembrance...

Happy Memorial Day!  This is the day that we as Americans set aside to remember and honor those that have fought for and are still serving to keep our freedom.  I am so thankful for their sacrifice... not only the ones serving but their families as well.

I also was thinking today where in I Corinthians we are given the Lord's supper to use in remembering God's sacrifice of His dear Son.  "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." - I Corinthians 11:24       I stand in awe of this Great Sacrifice each and everyday of my life.  I know that remembering Christ's death through communion is so important, but also important is remembering what Christ did by my choosing to live in that freedom... living my life in a way that others can see what Christ's death, burial, and resurrection mean to me.  I live to honor God by living to bring others to Him.

I have found a new form of expressing myself artistically... I think it is called "zentangle"... I call it artistic doodling!  Here is a card for my first attempt... I chose to use color as opposed to black and white.

So what do you think?

We are spending the weekend in the Thumb with family... Luke is heading home today but I am staying for a couple more days I think to help out... or at least that is the plan.  I hope you have all had a great weekend and thanks for stopping and "remembering" with me.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Happiness Always...

It has seemed like a long week... don't really know why, but kind of glad it is Saturday.  It is gray and gloomy out right now... looks like a nap could be in my near future.  Went to Cadillac to pick up a few groceries... early before too many people were out and about.  Not that I don't like people but then I didn't have to fix myself up too much to go... ahhh yes to sweats!

There have been some very trying times in the last few weeks... with my mom, who btw is doing better, thank You Jesus... the pain is under control a little better and the confusion she was having from medications is getting worked out too.  Then our church has been under attack from the enemy not from the outside but actually this time from within the church... I know and believe it is going to be okay, just hate to see hurting people... we could use prayers on both of these.

What is so incredible that even when all these distractions in life are trying to defeat... there is still so many things to be grateFUL for in my life.  I can see it so much clearer when I focus my eyes on Papa God.  One blessing that just happened has to do with our mortgage.  When we bought our home 5 years ago we went with an adjustable mortgage to get a really good interest rate... and since at the time we were paying another mortgage on the house we were trying to sell... every little bit helped.  So we knew we had 5 years before any adjustments... with that deadline approaching, we knew we needed to do something pretty quick.  Here is the good part... we got a letter from our bank yesterday to advise us of the interest change, which in turn would change our monthly payment.  Our interest rate dropped by almost 2%  which in turn lowered our payment over $100 a month! We were expecting in to go up by 2%! We have struggled a little financially since I lost my job 2 years ago, but we just continued to give faithfully to God... there was never a question.  We found it easy to praise Him through the struggles and now to have this wonderful thing happen... I just had to share that blessing with you... I still find it hard to believe!  What I do believe and know is God is so faithful... we can never out-give Him.  We give Him glory and praise!

" 'Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,' says the LORD of hosts, ' If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.' " Malachi 3:10

Just a quick card to share... I luv those colors... those are happy colors to me.

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed weekend!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Just a thought...

I was reading about Lazarus & his death in John 11. I always found it interesting that Jesus waited 2 days until after Lazarus had died to go to Martha & Mary. I know that if it were me I might have did some complaining about Jesus at that point… in fact I have complained against God in my desperation over lesser things… once again I am so glad my life is not written down for everyone to read! God knew that if this man lay dead for 2 days in the tomb, then that miracle of him being raised would be a “spectacular” miracle… so many people would see it and believe. It was like the “pre-show” to the raising of our Savior from the dead… with all of man kind’s eternal life attached to that miracle. God could have raised Lazarus from the dead from right where Jesus was, but He chose to wait.  Hmmmm.

I know I have a problem with patience so often… “God, I would like to place my order for a miracle. I would like it quick and precise, and please deliver it with over-night express.” I know I have been there many times, okay maybe not those exact words, but it might as well have been.  Like with the thing with my mom’s back… it is hard waiting, but I believe and I have even envisioned her being better than before. When that happens… oh the glory that will be given to God, but for now I will give Him glory for each day my mom keeps going and moving through the pain. That is all I can do… He is the only answer.

I hear many people say they just keep holding on waiting for the "glory"... but glory is now... I believe we are living in the glory we received through Christ.  As we mature and as we grow through each step we take and the closer we move to God the more we can see His glory in our daily lives.  A believer's goal, for lack of a better word, is to share Christ with as many people as we can to build God's kingdom and to someday live in Heaven with Him... that IS the ultimate glory, but while we live our life here in this imperfect world... don't look past the glory God has given us in our lives now.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."  II Corinthians 3:18

This is just a thought I had and decided to share with you my blogging friends.

Did a couple more cards yesterday... here is one... I got the idea from a lady on SCS but I am sorry I couldn't find the card again on there to give the lady credit.

I think that button punch is very cool... luv how it punches and embosses all at once.
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

small Wonder...

I started reading in the book of James this week... in chapter 1 where it speaks of counting it joy when you have trials or temptations... not always an easy thing to do.  But if you read in verse 4... "But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing."

...trials bring endurance, steadfastness, and patience in areas where God knows I need to be strengthened.  It is a process... the process of a child of God striving to become more like Christ each and every day.  If I look at it as a process then I can say, "I get to endure, be steadfast, and patient."  These things are working towards completing the work in me... perfect and lacking nothing.  I do realize that will not be completed until I am no longer in this world, but isn't that what believers are to be moving towards and being a witness of?  Yes, it may be three steps forward, two steps back, but I am not going to live my life as a "white-knuckle" Christian any longer.

I am trying to get back to doing some "just for fun" stamping, so here is my rendition of Michelle Zindorf's card (sunny day tutorial #330).  I didn't have the same stamps she used or all of the inks either, but here it is.

Inks: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Summer Sun, Bravo Burgundy, Black, Gable Green

CS: Summer Sun, Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke

I also put a little "Small Wonder" saying on there with acetate.  What do you think?

Having chili for supper.  Have a few other things to get done before getting ready to go to church tonight. Thanks for stopping in.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Sorry...

Sorry it has been a week and a half since I posted last.  In ways my life seems like it is in slow-motion but in other ways it seems to be going so fast.  I don't know if any of you ever feel that way.  I have been trying to change a couple things with myself and some days it is good and other days I wonder if it is for the best.

Anyway, my mom is having a very difficult time with her herniated discs... she is in the hospital right now.  She is there to get a few things straightened out with meds, which should make her more comfortable.  She needs to get moving, but the pain is keeping her from moving and then what they give her for the pain makes her not feel like moving... yes a vicious circle.  Please keep her in your prayers. Her name is Sandy.

"...He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing...As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." John 15:5b and 9

The message at Night Out for Ladies last night had to do with staying plugged in to the Holy Spirit and abiding in God, His Word, His way and His power.  I am still struggling with abiding... I know I don't have to prove who I am in Christ... I believe because God called me as His chosen daughter through Christ that I am all I need to be.  What is hard for me is figuring out that the things I am choosing to do under the heading of service to the Lord... am I doing it to serve or am I doing it to stay busy???? Am I being led to do it or am I driving myself to do it???  So many questions, just waiting for the answers.  Do you have any thoughts on this?

Here is a pic from NOFL last night of my friend Heather and me.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin