November... flying by!

I cannot believe November is half over already!!! It has been an interesting few weeks... I finally got my car back after Luke hit the deer... it only took 5 weeks, but I survived!  Yesterday was opening day for firearm deer hunting in Michigan, so my hubby was out before the crack of dawn... he shot a buck, but it ran and he tracked it for hours until the blood-trail disappeared.  I felt bad for him, but he takes it all in stride.  I had prayed that he would get a deer the first morning so he could be done for the season... I guess I should have added that he would also bring it home for us to eat!!! *Ü*

We have had a beautiful fall and only a bit of snow last Friday, but it was gone pretty quickly.  In northern Michigan we know the snow will soon be hip high before long, so it is a little nice for me this year, not to have to deal with it quite yet.

For a few weeks now I have been feeling like something is going on with me... like Papa is preparing my heart for something BIG... it is exciting, but a lil' scary too!  I just keep moving ahead, searching His Word, praying for clarity, believing His promises, and trusting Him every step of the way... none of which comes easy for me!!! Just being honest!

I did have a breath-taking moment last night with the sunset Papa painted for me, so I thought today I would share it with you.  Just when you think you are at your wits end... He gives you a reason to look up and know He is in control... to know He loves you so much and He only wants good for you... to believe He has great things in store for you and He will be with you every step of the way!

Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD! Psalms 27:14

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Reflect the Light...

I was thinking this morning about the warmth of the sun and the warmth of the Son.  We had a very frosty morning at our house this morning, but what was so cool was as the sun was rising and warming things up… the frost started to disappear.  Although where the bushes were still casting shade on the ground, the frost was still remaining.  It looked really neat. It made me think of how when things are left in the shadows and the light cannot shine on it… life stays cold and hard.  As the light from the sun got warmer and higher in the sky, the light covered and warmed up everything.

I was reminded that even when circumstances leave me feeling in the shadows… the Son is still shining on me from within.  I cannot let my light be hid under the shadow of circumstances.  “No one lights a lamp and hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see its light.” Luke 11:33

The same way the sun reflects off the crystal-like frost… I pray I let the Son of God reflect His glorious light off me and through me.  I am so grateFUL for Papa's love and comfort, no matter the circumstances.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Love... Obey... Serve...

I have been thinking a lot lately about serving the Lord... why some people do it without hesitation and other people feel like it is not worth their time.  Ok, maybe that is not why they are not serving, but that is my impression.  I had a conversation the other day with a man who said he was not serving in the church because he "serves" with his checkbook.  I could not believe that he actually said that!  I was flabbergasted for a couple reasons... first of all tithing is not serving, it is just giving back to God a part of what He has blessed us with.  Secondly, God doesn't want our money... He wants our hearts, completely!  You cannot buy God's blessings. The only response I had for this man was that I hoped he would do whatever the Lord laid on his heart... frankly, that was my "nice" answer, but I truly hope only good for him.

This maybe a little simplistic but this is how I see it... You can stand there and look like a follower of Christ or you can walk out your faith through service and be a follower of Christ. Do you love God?… then obey Him… Do you obey God?... then serve Him… it is as easy as that!

"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves servants to obey, you are that one’s servants whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" Romans 6:16

I have a little gift idea to share with you today... I made these tile coasters for a gift.  The Medallion stamp from SU is one of my favorites!  I just received my SU order from my party I had a week ago, so it is time to sort through the boxes!  It is almost like Christmas!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

He Gives Strength...

We have had gorgeous weather in northern Michigan that last few weeks! We really could not ask for a more beautiful fall... thank You, God!  The colors in the trees are starting to fade in spots or the wind has blown them away.  The weather people are saying it is going to get cooler, but what do they know??? Although I know this sweet weather cannot last forever.   :(

I am 46 years old and I am dealing with a fluctuation in hormones... there are 1 or 2 days a month when all I want to do is cry! It is crazy! Granted, I tend to be a weeper anyway, but not like this.  I was having an influx starting yesterday... I just feel so tired, alone and isolated.  That is not like me at all, normally.  I had been praying and told God I feel so weak... I said to Him I am tired of trying to be strong... it is really hard to admit that, even to God who knows everything!  I opened my Bible to do my quiet-time and I read in Isaiah 40:26-31.  Verse 31 is one of my favorite verses, but it was verse 29 that spoke to my heart...

He gives strength to those who grow tired and increases the strength of those who are weak. Isaiah 40:29

Papa God is my strength... I just need to let Him be.  I don't understand what is in me that thinks I can be strong on my own!  The struggle between the flesh and the spirit... hmmm... that I am sure is my problem.  I want to say I am thankful for great Christian women that helped me through the day too! God has blessed me... big time!
We have had a lot of weddings lately, so I have another wedding card to share with you.

Okay, I guess I am done with all my random thoughts... my hubby is gone for the week, so I have to share my thoughts somewhere... thanks for listening!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Spiritual Children...

I know it has been so long since I have posted... life has been so good and so busy! Fall is moving into northern Michigan... hope it does not go too fast! The colors are just starting to look so beautiful!

A close friend of ours just gave birth to a precious baby girl.  Her name is Quinn Ivory... all babies are great, but baby girls hold a special place in my heart... maybe it is because I am a girly girl.  Here is the card I created for her:

A happy hello Baby Quinn!

I just have another thought to share... I just saw a famous person on TV talking about IVF and infertility.  What she said was that giving birth to a child is the greatest opportunity to truly touch another human's life.  I guess I understand what she means, but it made me think... as a follower of Christ I have an opportunity to truly touch another human's life... if I follow God's calling and share Christ with those I have in my life.  This verse came to mind as I was contemplating this:

God makes the childless woman to be a homemaker and a joyful mother of spiritual children.

Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Psalm 113:9

It has not always been easy to here statements like that, but because I know who I am in Christ Jesus there is freedom from any pain that use to cause me! I praise Him for what He has done in and through me and for what He is going to do!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Comfort and Peace...

Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; my eye wastes away with grief,
         Yes, my soul and my body! Psalm 31:9

 Remembering the loss... grateFUL for God's mercy to give comfort and peace in our troubled hearts!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Simple Summer... (part 6)

I see my simple summer slipping away!!! We have had such a great summer... very busy, but so good! I have a simple summer pic to share with you today.  This is my sweet hubby taken on a fishing trip... we went with some friends on Friday night.  First of all, I don't really fish, but I love to socialize... secondly, they were fishing for salmon and no this is not a salmon in the pic!!! LOL

I need to show that man more affection I guess!!! *Ü*

I also have a card I want to share... we have so many weddings we are invited to in the next short while and this is the card I made for a wedding we went to last week. I saw a card on SCS that inspired me because the wedding was done in the vintage look, but I cannot remember whose card it was, sorry.

Lastly, I want to share this verse with you... it really encouraged me this morning.  Sometimes I just need to be reminded that God is my defender.  Some days it is only His peace that gets me through.

  “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.” Exodus 14:14

with a grateFUL HEART, carin