Precious...

While reading my devotions this morning I was reminded about something from when I was a kid.  I remember when a bird had gotten in the house… it came in by accident and then it couldn’t find the way out. That bird kept flying to the windows thinking it looked like the way out, but all it was doing was batting itself against the window pane. It seemed like a good option of escape, but of course it wasn’t. We tried to push this poor, scared bird towards the opened door which would have led it to freedom, but in its panic it just didn’t understand that.

That made me think of how we as humans get ourselves into places or situations that we have no right being in and then we look for a way of escape. God’s Plan has given us all a way of escape but so many times we choose not to follow His plan. We think we can do it on our own and what we do is just bat ourselves against the “window pane” which in turn causes pain and anxiety. God has an open door for all to come to Him… He waits with open arms. All we have to do is run to Him and surrender our ideas to His divine Plan. It is in His arms we find true freedom.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Luke 11:19

My hubby just got back from Quest, (it is the male equivalent of Heart Quest, which I attended in April). Five and a half days with Father God and no distractions... which means no phones, so I missed him so bad, but I knew God was doing awesome things in him while he was gone.  I made this card/mini album and sent it along with him as a surprise for while he was gone... I didn't want him to forget me *Ü*.

I love that picture labeled "Precious"... that is us taking communion together on the church property before the church was built... it means so much to me to have this picture. There are so many times those precious, intimate moments are never recorded in a picture.  I thank my friend, Vickie, for capturing this moment. Can you tell I adore my hubby? I am awestruck by God's goodness in my life.

Hope you have a blessed day and thank you for stopping.
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Remembering the goodness...

Nine years ago today things changed in the world, as we knew it. People with hate as their agenda stepped over the threshold into pure evil. I give honor to those men and women whose lives were taken in such a horrible way.

I was reading this morning in Romans 12… about evil and goodness. Evil is never overcome with hate… evil can only be overcome with goodness. And truly pure goodness can only be found in God through His Son, Jesus Christ. I can hate what these people did, and I do, but I must ask Papa God for His goodness to work in me to forgive and actually love these people that hate us and what we stand for… not sure if I am there yet with that… but my awareness of it is a first step in the right direction. I do know that my focus can’t be on the evil… in has to be on God’s goodness… Christ died for ALL, sometimes that is a “hard pill” to swallow when evil has caused such personal devastation… I guess that is why we need God, because there is NO way to do that on our own.

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth." – Psalm 121:1-2
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:21

“As light overcomes darkness, goodness can overcome evil.”

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Smile... God Loves You...

I am feeling pretty good this morning... I have been having quite a bit of back pain, but after my chiropractor treatment the other day... it is so much better.  He gave me some core exercises to do and doing them has helped... who thought exercise is a good thing??? LOL

I really want God’s leading in me today… "Lord, help to go where You want me to go, say what You want me to say, do what You want me to do. Help me to stay focused on You."  That word, "focus" is still so important to me... it just keeps popping up and I know God is really working on me with my focus.

“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:8-9… I don’t want my words to be “lip service” to Papa God… I will not let my worship for my Lord be about me… only about Him. Once again it goes back to focus… where am I focusing???

I have a funny picture to share today... I had poured some orange juice for breakfast and when I looked into the glass this is what I saw "staring" back at me...

Isn't that too funny!  A smiley face looking up at me... I knew it was going to be a great day!

Here is a simple birthday card to share today.  My SU order came Monday so I am excited to finally get to play with some of it.

Blessings to you... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Being Attractive...

I had a fun Stampin' Up party on Thursday... I think it went great! My parents are here visiting with us for a long weekend... it is good to have them here.

This is a birthday card I made for a lovely friend of mine that loves butterflies!

Philippians 1:9 says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,” or in the KJV the word is “judgment”… is this talking about discernment of how we choose to live our life… to know what is righteous… to know what is pleasing to God??? I like to look up verses in other translations, in verse 11 of this same chapter I read in the Message translation in verse 11 they used these words, “making Jesus Christ attractive to all”… that hits the nail on the head! I am to live my life in a way that makes being a Christ follower attractive!!! I shouldn’t be a whiny or bitter or complaining or Sunday-only Christian… I need to seek God out daily to give me what I need in my spirit to live a life that is attractive to others and draws people to Christ, not drives them away from Christ. That should be my focus always… not always how it turns out but that is to be my focus. I pray for the Word to be soaked up in me until I have enough to pour it out on those around me… let me be a "full sponge" for the Lord… let me be filled and rung out for God each day that I am blessed to walk this earth. This is the desire of my heart... to make Christ attractive by the actions of my life… I want to be a representative that draws all men to Him… He deserves the glory and praise of all creatures of the world.

Better get ready for church... have a blessed Sunday! with a grateFUL HEART, carin

True Love...

Sorry it has been so long again... summer has been fun-filled and busy... which is a good thing. My hubby and I went away for a few days last week to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.  We had such a nice relaxing time.  Here is the card I made for my sweet hubby:

I am so blessed with such a loving man of God... God is so good that He gave me a hubby that compliments my personality perfectly... and let me tell you that has to be an act of God. *Ü*

I also had the opportunity of created a card for a 70th anniversary... yes, 70 years! That is almost not heard of anymore.  A friend from church asked me to make this card for her in-laws.

I had bought this shiny metallic 12x12 paper not knowing what I would use it for and then this was perfect for it.  The words on the front say, "True Love Stories Never Have Endings."  I hope this couple has many more years to celebrate... maybe I will be asked to make their 75th???

I have lots to do today... I have family coming to stay for a few days, so I have a little cleaning to do. My sister, Renee, the SU demo, is coming to do a party for me and my friends on Thursday... so excited. If you are in the area... you are welcomed to come!

Thanks for sharing a little part of your day with me! with a grateFUL HEART, carin

God is Greater...

Some days I just feel like I am really hearing the voice of God in my life and then other days I am deafened by the silence… I know God stays the same, so I know it is me. Do any of you have that problem?… I would think any human being does. I know that some days I seek after God more than other days… I let myself get off track by circumstances and distractions around me... people just going on about stuff that is not important in the scheme of eternity.  I am not saying that in a condemning way, just speaking real life. The great thing is God knows my heart… He knows me way better than I know myself.

I love these verses in I John 3:17-21 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” I have TRUTH living in me… that does not waiver from feeling to feeling… that does not change as my emotions change. I am a fairly emotional person, so I am so amazed God gave me all these emotions as a very important part of me, but He also gave me His Truth to be able to control my emotions and not act or react based on my emotions. I don’t always find that very easy to do, so on the days when I “feel” off track I just need to hang on to the Truth I have living in me.

I have a journal to share with you today... I made this for my hubby. I used embossing folders with the Cuttlebug, heat embossing, and I cut the Fleur De Li's out on my Cricut.  He seemed to really like it.

Well, that is it for today... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Just Worship Him...

I can’t believe only one week left in July! Time just seems to fly! What an incredible Summer we have been blessed with. We had a few storms last week but nothing big right where we live... some very nice rains.  It was a sunny day on Saturday, but in the late afternoon we got what I like to call a spontaneous shower... the sun was still shining and it produced this beautiful sight out our front door. All glory to You, Papa God!

I came across these verses in Acts….17:24-25…"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.” … when I read these verses my thoughts went to worship. I didn’t grow-up really knowing too much about worship… worshiping God was spoke of in the Bible times but I didn’t ever find myself grasping the “concept” of worship. I loved God and knew Jesus as my Savior at a very young age, but until the last few years I truly never knew what it meant to worship Him. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking of how I failed to worship my Lord for all those years… I know I can’t look back… when I learn to do better I do it and that is all that can be asked of me or any of us… right?

Okay, back to the verses… God is so magnificent that He created everything… He is all knowing… all powerful… self-sufficient. He doesn’t need anything from any of us. I don’t have to worship Him because He needs my worship… I have to worship Him because I NEED to worship Him. I need to come into His presence and recognize His greatness… I need to open up my heart to His mighty power… I need to surrender my will to His will… I need to show Him honor for giving me life and freedom from being a slave to sin… I need to love Him for Who He is and for what He has done for me… He is God and worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. And the great thing is, I can be sitting on my back porch looking out over a field of oats and I can worship Him… there is no special “equipment” required accept a grateFUL HEART.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin