Salt and Light...

I am in the Thumb once again visiting my family for the rest of the week... also attending a SU class on Saturday morning... looking so forward to that... haven't been to one in awhile.

Sorry no pictures or projects to share today... although you should checkout Women to Women Sharing Jesus... I have a devotional on there this week, but don't just check it out because of that make it a regular habit.

I have a real salt “addiction”… I admit it... I could go without sweets and chocolate before I could go without salt. This morning I was reading the verse  Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” 

I know as a Christ follower I am here to be salt and light in the world, but I guess I really never gave the salt part much thought. Salt is important to life… it can preserve… it can heal… and it gives flavor. As Christians we need to preserve God’s word to a lost world… we need to share Christ’s healing love… and in order to do that we need to add “seasoning” to the world around us. I know I might possibly overdue salt sometimes, but salt is added to food to bring out the naturally good flavor… have you ever tasted a potato chip without salt??? Yuck! Use the saltiness God has given you… if you don’t share it… like the verse says, “it is good for nothing.” Heaven knows wasting salt to me is unthinkable… *Ü*… I hope I will feel the same way when it comes to sharing Christ to the lost people around me. I won’t look at salt the same way again, how about you? Oh BTW, my salt use does not affect my blood pressure… it is very low!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

very thankful...

I have a busy day ahead of me... having a "few" people over for a little get-together tonight. So I am needing straighten up the house a little... at least try to vacuum up the cat hair... hairless cats are ugly but at least they don't shed!!!

Got up early this morning to meet some friends for breakfast at Duane's in Falmouth... it is a little "mom and pop" place in a teeny tiny little town near us, but they do a great business and have great homemade food. These friends (who happen to be a couple) wanted to take Luke out for birthday breakfast and we were surprised by another couple being there too... it was so nice... we are so blessed with so many amazing friends!  The waitress even brought Luke a donut with a candle in it... good way to start the day.

It is sunny once again here today... chilly but sunny... the sun really helps my energy level... thank You Lord for the warm sunshine!

Made a little simple Valentine card the other day... my sister gave me this SU set and this is the first card I used it on... "Very Thankful" is a precious little set.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." -Philippians 4:6 

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Happy Birthday...

to my sweet, wonderful, adorable hubby!!! He is the best husband in the world! I know I shouldn't be bragging, but he is worth bragging about if anyone is... when he reads this he is gonna be so embarassed... sorry but I can't help myself. God has blessed me with having Luke in my life and I just need to share that blessing with all of you.

This picture was obviously taken in a little warmer weather... no coats... no snow... leaves on the trees, but he just looked so cute... just love him from his balding head to his graying beard... and a heart for the Lord... what more could I want???

So here is the birthday card I made for him... I have such a hard time with masculine cards... I am just a girlie girl... it is short, simple and right to the point...

Enjoy Today my Sweetie!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Keep your heart...

Happy Monday to you! I know I say this a lot... I know I probably sound like an old person... but can you believe how fast January is going???  Sorry it has been 5 days since I posted... sometimes time just gets away from me.

I have been a little distracted with a missionary friend and their adoption of their 2 Haitian boys.  It has been a rollercoaster for them for 2 years, but especially now after the earthquake.  The good news is that their baby boys finally got their visas over the weekend and now they are traveling from Chile to Florida tonight.  Their boys along with other "orphans" are to be brought to Orlando sometime tomorrow.  Please keep praying for everything to go good, for patience, for strength, for all the people of Haiti.

Wanted to share this journal and bookmark I made... maybe for a gift for some special person... cut out all of the pieces with my Cricut... just luv that machine! Stamped "From the Heart"... rhinestones, diamond stickles on the heart... not too fancy, but I think it is a nice gift.  What do you think? 

I have a thought for the day... What is one of the most important things people need, besides God??? Answer: Other people.  What is the one thing that can cause you the most angst in life??? Answer: Other people.  Do you ever find it hard to get along with other people??? I am sure we all have our moments whether being the aggravator or the aggravated.  I came across these verses today... this is the Contemporary English translation, which I liked how it said it like it is, "Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace." Ephesians 4:2-3

I like the part that says, "patiently put up with each other," some days that is about all you might feel you can do and that is okay, just remember when we let the Holy Spirit rule in our heart... it makes it so much easier to love people where they are at... just a thought.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Prayer...

Just a quick post for now... please pray... pray... pray for the people of Haiti... what a tragedy... but we know God is still in control... He is their comfort!  I have a missionary friend in Chile who is adopting 2 boys from Haiti... it has been a very long process & now they are sooooo close to the boys coming home and now this earthquake... please pray and dontate if possible... you can find more information on Stephanie's blog here.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Strange day...

I say it is a strange day, but actually it has been a "strange" week and it is only Tuesday!  We had a great Night Out for Ladies last night... it was a lot smaller group than in December, but that is always the norm... and to be honest... if every month of NOFL was as "big" as December... it would wear us all out... I know that probably doesn't sound very "Christian" of me now does it??? *Ü*

I have been battling this cold/sinus thing for over a week now... it is one of those roaming bugs... my throat... my ears... my nose... my lungs... it is an equal opportunity bug!!!  So this morning I woke up with a slight headache... I try to eat yogart at least a couple times a week, but over the holidays I got out of that habit, so this week I am trying to start that again... without going into much detail I find yogart to be beneficial to my digestive tract... anyway, this moring I had some yogart with granola in it... not realizing the yogart I had bought had aspartame (nutrasweet) in it and that gives me terrible headaches, so I started with a migraine.  I took some migraine tylenol right away and at this point I am waiting for the caffeine in it to wear off enough so I can rest a little.  If it seems like I am rambling that is probably why... since it tends to make me a little hyper and then I crash.  The good news is my headache is letting up, so I know I will be fine soon... the bad news I will be sleepy soon or maybe that is the good news cuz then I get to take a nap!!! yay!

I don't have anything of my own to post today, but I wanted to share this adorable card/calendar my sister, Renee, posted on her blog today.  She is having a SU class on January 30 and this is one of the projects we are going to do at it... I am looking so forward to being there for that... she has the best projects! So if you live near the Thumb of Michigan maybe you would like to attend the class too... checkout her blog here.                                          

Well, enough rambling for the day... hope you all have a good one.

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" - Ephesians 5:20

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Inner Fulness...

Finally got our Christmas tree down yesterday... it is artificial so there is never a hurry... plus I really don't like taking it down. I still have a few decorations up... like a small snowflake tree and the lighted garland on the mantel... can't do it all at once now can I???

My hubby also finally unplugged the outside lights but before he did I just had to take a picture of our front door... I thought it looked so pretty... if I do say so myself. And it is kind of "crafty"... I cut the numbers on the door out of vinyl with my Cricut. A friend of mine sent me a picture off the internet of putting numbers on the door like this, so of course I had to do it. I did cut out numbers for her door too, but I am not sure if she has even put them on her door yet.

I got some sad news yesterday... someone that was a part of my life years ago passed away... he was someone that had a great impact on me... both good and bad. Good in that what I went through with this person helped to make me the person I am... but bad because this relationship gave me a lot of baggage I had to work through... all was forgiven years ago... I live with no regrets... I am truly sorry for his family and their loss.

During our church-wide fast we are reading a chapter of Ephesians everyday and today I chose chapter 3... prayer for inner fulness and knowledge... aren't these life changing words?...

"that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen". - Ephesians 3:17=21

 
with a grateFUL HEART, carin