Have Patience...

The moments in life when patience is needed but you just don’t want to give them.  You can pray about something and then wait for an answer.  Sometimes there is no answer right away and in those times you may be asked to be proactive in the matter or sometimes you may be told to just wait.  Lord, give me patience to be patient!

I was reading in Numbers 20 this morning about Moses losing patience with the children of Israel, when they came to him once again complaining about the lack of water.  Out of Moses’ frustration he didn’t listen close enough to what God told him.  Instead of speaking to the rock as God told him to do, he hit the rock.  God still gave the water but Moses had consequences to pay for disobedience.

For the past few months I had been going through a difficult circumstance.  When I would pray on it the answer I kept hearing was, “not now, wait.”  It was hard for me to do that… I wanted so badly to make things seem “normal” again, but what I had to do was just be patient.  I cried many times… I was frustrated many times… but I knew that through this trying time, if I was just patient it would be so worth it.  Just over a week ago, God showed me that it was time, and I reached out to turn things around.  The waiting period was so hard, but the end of that waiting period is so sweet.  Now that I am on the other side of this and onto a new improved chapter… it has taught me not only patience, but that the people in my life mean more to me now than ever before.  God, I thank You for putting wonderful women in my life and I thank You for strengthening me through the waiting.

"The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." Ecclesiastes 7:8

A couple little bookmarks to share with you, sorry the picture isn't the best. Of course, they have butterflies and Stickles!

It is rainy here in northern Michigan, but it could change any minute!!! Have a great Memorial Day weekend and take time to remember those that have gone on before.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Share the Comfort...

Life has seemed a little hurried and harried lately... not sure what that means but that is just how it feels to me!!! *Ü*  There have been a few changes in my life with friends, family, and me.  I have felt off emotionally/physically lately... plain and simple it is a hormone thing.  I just keep hoping it gets better... my husband is an incredible angel for keeping up with my changing emotions.  From 40 to 45 has been great years and I really hope for that to continue.  Sorry, don't mean to be whining!

What I do know is that when I struggle... Holy Spirit is always here to comfort me.  And through the comfort He gives me, I will be able to pass that comfort on to some one.  "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." II Corinthians 1:4  I have a note written in my Bible next to this verse... My suffering can never outweigh God's comforting!

That is what I am holding onto today! How about you?

I actually have a card to share with you today.  This card was created for my niece, Morgan, on her confirmation.

 with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Father knows...

Can't believe it has been almost 2 weeks since I posted on grateFUL HEART.  It has been a busy couple of weeks!  There are some changes going on and it takes me a little time to get into the groove of change. Also I started a new blog directed at our ladies ministry at church... it is called "Coffee Cup Corner"... which is funny because I can't stand coffee, please check it out.

I was able to get away last week for a couple days with 3 great ladies... it was so refreshing to go to the condo at Boyne Mt. and just relax, laugh, talk, cry, eat and do nothing we didn't want to do!

This week has brought a whole new "opportunity" for change... we found out 3 weeks ago that our kitty, Lollipop, had diabetes.  We tried treating her with pills, but she continued to lose weight... she went from 10 pounds down to 5 in the last 6 weeks or so.  My wonderful hubby wanted to do whatever I was ready to do and finally this morning I let her go.  I didn't want to see her suffer anymore or get worse.  The vet was very sympathetic and Lolli went to sleep very gently.  I feel relieved it is done but I am gonna miss my little kitty so much.  She was my constant sleep companion... Luke on my right and Lolli on my left.  When she was really little she use to sleep across my throat at night. 

I am sorry I don't mean to be such a downer, this is just where my heart is today.  I am very grateFUL for the time she was here with us.

Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. Matthew 10:29 

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

It is Finished...

"When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." John 19:30

It is finished… my Savior paid the price for my eternal life when He drew His last breath on the cross. He covered my sin with His blood… He loved me with His life. He rose from the grave and conquered death. Now His Spirit lives in me so I can finish the work I have been called to do. His power is mine to use… His keys to freedom are now mine to share… His grace is my gift to receive. All regret or guilt is gone and new life has come, because it is finished. If there is ever a doubt of how much I am loved, I can look at the cross. It is finished… but it is not over… I will finish strong because of Him.

I pray you always remember the Cross, but the victory came in the resurrection… have a great Resurrection Sunday!



With a grateFUL HEART, carin

Past... Present... Future...

Is it really April 20??? We got piled on with snow last night, but I choose to keep praising my Creator even with this white "stuff" all over the ground.  It really doesn't look like Easter is only 4 days away!!!

Have another birthday card to share with you.  This is the card I made for my sister, Renee.  If you are one of her blog followers you may have seen that she posted it on there.

Past… Present… Future. To some people those words can stand for… Regret… Frustration… Worry.
After reading in Ephesians 5 I see it this way: Past ~ the love that God gave through Christ to redeem me (v. 25) … Present ~ in love He is sanctifying me (v. 26)… Future ~ by His sacrifice and love He will present me to His Father in flawless perfection (v. 27).

No need for me to stress… I have decided to let it all go and let Him have the control.

Feeling blessed and highly favored today! God is so good! How about you?

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Destroying Walls...

We are getting snow here in northern Michigan... actually it is thunder snowing right now as I write this.  Let me see April 19th and we have had over 4 inches of snow this week... interesting!  So I am sharing a Springy looking card today...

Also, I was reading in Ephesians 2 & 4… in 2:14-22 it is talking about the walls being broken down between the Jews and the Gentiles… that by the sacrifice of Christ the walls that divided us were torn down. “For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,” (v. 14 - Amplified)

Then in Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul is begging us as Believers to walk worthy of what God has called us to. Live with meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another in love (Fruit of the Spirit). In verse 3 it says, “Endeavoring (being eager with effort) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” The sacrifice of Christ brought the wall of division down and we are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:22)… He is here with us right now so that we may live in the spirit of unity to fulfill God’s plan.

Another thought I had was if Christ died to bring down the walls between Jews and Gentiles, why is it that Believers are re-erecting the walls between each other??? If we have a union with Christ, then how can we not live in unity with each other… isn’t He what unites us??? Lack of unity will always hinder God’s work… if I will not live in unity with other Believers then I better just get out of His way. Lord, don’t let me be a hindrance to Your work.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

His Peace...

Fabulous, fantastic Friday to all of you! Going for a quick trip to Traverse City with the hubby for some word related things, but I am hoping for a short stop at a store I want to go to too!

Just a quick post... I have been coming across so many verses about “peace” the last few days. In Isaiah 26:3 ~ You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

And Psalm 29:11 ~ The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.

So I looked up the definition of Peace ~ freedom from war: tranquillity: a calm and quiet state, free from disturbances or noise; mental calm: a state of mental calm and serenity, with no anxiety; harmony: freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups of people.

Now that is the way I want my life to be... the answer is right there for me... keep my mind on the Lord... lay all my burdens at His feet.

Also a card to share... it is kink of funny that I would show you such a busy card when my post is about "peace", but I find doing these Zentangle cards to very relaxing to me. I made this one for my niece's birthday.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin