Making a Trade!

It has been a couple of those days… bored, restless, feeling out of sorts! I am thankful for the sunshine! We hadn’t had sunshine since Friday, until yesterday! Even on those days of clouds, gloom, darkness… His light still shines in my heart! Some days it seems so hard, I cannot imagine what it would be like without God with me always!? I am learning very slowly, little by little, not to live by my emotions… I must be a really slow learner, because there are so many times I just don’t get it! Thank God He is so patient with me.  Waiting on answers is a little wearing, but I know what God orchestrates will last, so I will wait for His work to be done!

I really don’t know what to do with myself! Why is it so hard to just be? To just exist? I want to be “normal!” What is normal anyway? I haven’t had normal for months & semi-normal for at least a month! I know some of my friends & especially my sisters would say I have never been “normal!” Ha!

I’m sitting here watching a Hallmark Christmas movie… I am sure I have seen this one at least a half dozen times, but I continue to watch! I absolutely love the Christmas season & all the things that go with it… including sappy movies! There is a store in downtown Ludington that has their front window decorated beautifully for Christmas… when we drove by it the other night it instantly made my heart full! Not sure if you understand what I mean, but that is the only way I can explain how much Christmas means to me.  It is not about the presents… it is about His presence! And the trees, the lights & the music remind me of Him! While I type this, my heart feels the same way & of course my eyes are filled with tears! I am such a crybaby, but that is okay!

I am excited I am doing a "Curly Wreath" class... actually 2 classes... one in Cadillac & one in Ludington. Here is a picture of the one I did last year.

They are fun to make... very relaxing! If you live in either of these areas the Cadillac class in 12/2/13 & the Ludington class is 12/4/13... the deadline for registration is this Friday 11/22 & the cost is $30-$35.

I also wanted to share something I have added to my crafting repertoire... metal stamping! My first attempt was doing necklaces for the Ladies Getaway for our church... of course my first project was to do 20 charms! I know the pic is not so great, but it is really hard to shoot a shiny copper charm with a pink pearl! "GRACE" is what it says & what I need!

 I love this verse & I wanted to share something about it with you: 

"...beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." Isaiah 61:3

Beauty can only come if I am willing to make a trade for my ashes, or joy for mourning, or the garment of praise instead of heaviness... I want to stand strong as a tree of righteousness, that the Lord has planted me where He wants me... all so He will be glorified! Beauty, joy, praise, strength can only be mine if I let the "junk" go!

Thanks for stopping... Have a grateFUL day!

Give Him a Chance...

February is fleeting fast, but here in northern Michigan it is looking more like January today.  We have had such a mild winter... not enough snow for my taste, but today the white stuff is coming down pretty good!

I came across a quote today from the book, Redeeming Love... “Mara, that's the life I want to give you. That's what I'm offering you. I want to fill your life with color and warmth. I want to fill it with light. Give me a chance.”  If you have not read this book then you are missing out!  It is a beautiful love story based on the book of Hosea.  You know, that is the life God wants to give each one of us.  If I try to think of what my life would be like without God in it... I cannot even imagine.  My life would be so empty... it would always be gray and cold... it would be a very dark place.  Thinking about a life without a relationship with Jesus Christ almost sucks the breath right out of me... no, it would actually suck the living breath right out of me... I know that for sure!  He is my everything... whether things are going great or things are going not so great.  I choose to praise Him in the good and praise Him in the not so good... I will just praise Him!

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving-kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night" Psalms 92:1-2

If you seem to be lacking peace and contentment right now... try praising your Heavenly Father.  My truth is... praising brings peace!

I do have a little project to share today.  My sweet hubby got me a Cinch 2 binding tool and so I made him this journal. (BTW... I luv a bargain and he got it at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon!!!)

Thanks so much for stopping in today! Sorry for my lack in blogging lately!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin