Totally loved...

Today is Valentines Day… I have always loved this day.  From when I was little to being a "grown-up".  I loved making a box for my Valentines to be delivered to in each grade of elementary school... of course it had to be as pretty as I could make it... oh, how I wish I would have had Stickles back then!!! WOW! can you imagine the sparkles???

I really don’t remember being cynical about Valentine's Day, even when I was “alone” before I met my wonderful hubby.  If a person looks hard enough they can always find love in their life in many forms... friendship, family, showing kindness to strangers, and best of all the love of a Heavenly Father.  Share the love!

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." John 15:13

So I am wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day with this card I created for a friend...

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Stand fast...

I read in Acts this morning about Stephen and how he was stoned for preaching Christ. He was a man that was willing to do whatever in took for the cause of Christ. He was a man that was willing to take himself out of his comfort to lead people into the comfort of the Savior. If my life was threatened would I keep speaking up for Christ? My life is not in distress for my stand, but am I putting myself out of my comfort to lead others to His comforting arms?

If a Believer is finding opposition from a family member or friend what do they do??? Do they back down from what they believe or do they keep moving forward for Christ… even if it might cause them to lose family or friends??? When confronted with hostility we need to stand fast in the Lord… that is what will see us through when the pressure is on. “Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and yearn to see, my delight and crown, stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.” Philippians 4:1

Stephen was stoned… how much more physical pressure could there be??? Yet as he was nearing death he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:56) His focus was still on Christ… he was being stoned to death and he still was focusing on Christ! How many times do I let the smallest things take my focus off Christ??? Waiting in line at the grocery store… the furnace quitting… the cat hacking up a hairball on my light-colored carpeting… the pastor saying something I didn’t agree with… I could go on, but I won’t. The enemy will throw all kinds of stuff at us to get our focus off the cause of Christ… don’t give him a foothold! And if you are standing fast in the Lord then there will be no room for the enemy to get a foothold either. Just remember, when you are facing opposition, maybe it shows that you are doing something that really counts for Christ… think about that!

I have another "Sassy Sak" to share with you today... I am making these fun and fashionable purses to sell at a local boutique, but I am willing to take orders too.

Thanks for stopping by today! with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Shaken to be stirred up...

Happy Monday! I use to not like Mondays but now it is not such a bad day.  How are you spending your Monday?

I was reading in Acts 16… the account of Paul and Silas being put in jail and how they sang praises to God... in jail singing praises!!!  An earthquake came that freed all the prisoners, but none of them ran away.  I remember learning about this story many times in Sunday School as a child, but my focus was always on Paul and Silas… I saw it was God that caused the earthquake to show His might and make the people see that they needed to let Paul and Silas go.  I now have seen it from a different perspective... I saw it from the point that it really didn’t have so much to do with Paul and Silas but with the jail-keeper.  He needed to be shaken awake to realize what he needed in his life. The bad circumstance that Paul and Silas were in was a way for this jail-keeper and his family to come to know the Lord.

So my question is… when bad things occur in our lives are we only focused on what the bad is or are we looking for how God can make His good out of it??? A hard lesson to learn is that it is not about me… it is all about God… when I say that and surrender to it my heart feels so much lighter… the weight of whatever is going on in my life is lifted. Whatever it takes... all for His glory!

One final thought on this… I can see sometimes Papa shakes me so I can see what He wants me to see and sometimes He shakes me so someone else will see what He wants them to see. Just a thought???

... the jailor rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. Acts 16:34

I received a SU Big Shot for Christmas from my parents, along with the Bigz Lg. Scalloped Square die. So I have started to create what they call, "rag purses"... I like to call them, "Sassy Saks".

For you that may not know these saks are machine washable and reversible... that is why the 2 pics... the one on the right is the side that I think is a little more whimsical, and after you wash it it will get a more frayed look. You might notice too that I added a pocket on the side for your cell inside and out.

Hope you have a good Monday... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Truth is Your Armor...

It is already the 3rd of February!!! Sorry it has been a couple weeks since I last posted... been keeping myself busy with other things I guess.  The snow storm hit here with a "thunder" but we are hearty people and it hasn't kept us slowed down too much.

Do you have those days when you just get down on yourself? It can be anything from not having ambition to get things done to not liking the way your jeans fit you... come on we all have those days! This morning I read in “His Princess Warrior” book... it is a devotional book my hubby gave me for Christmas… I haven’t read it in a few days... I get my regular quiet-time done and then I get busy with other things… I almost opened it yesterday but then I got busy with other things again.

The one I read this morning was titled… "Truth is Your Armor".  I know the enemy has whispered his lies to me… and sadly I was content in wallowing in them for a short time yesterday. I repented of the lies I was taking on as truth and this is my statement of Truth that I wanted to share with you…

...I will crave Truth in every area of my life.  I will find peace in the path the Lord has led me to travel.  I will know the Truth in every and all situations and the enemy will not be able to deceive me.  In Jesus’ name, I will completely ignore the lies this world throws at me and I will embrace the Truth that I am a precious daughter of the Most High God.  My confidence in His Truth will become contagious and blessings and favor will follow me every day of my life because I choose to reject lies and walk in Truth… this is my prayer of Truth and I speak in boldly in Jesus’ name.

 I will know the Truth and the Truth will set me free. John 8:32

I have a masculine birthday card to share today:

I have a new fondness for the Fleur de Lis... it has so many great meanings, including the Trinity... this one was cut out with my Cricut Expression.

Hope you found something here today to find a little encouragement.
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Stumbling Blocks into Stepping Stones...

My sister, Renee, had gall bladder surgery yesterday... she is doing pretty good. She says she is just really sore.  It has not been a fun few weeks for her but now once she recovers from the surgery... it will be so much better!

There are so many people having difficulties.  I was thinking how that as we face heartaches in life we need to completely trust God’s goodness and plan so that we can overcome anything that is put in our way.  Those stumbling blocks that could trip us up and knock us down need to be moved in such a way to be used as stepping stones… building blocks of faith.  Our circumstances, both good and not so good, are part of our journey of faith.  We may not understand why things happen or how what has happened can be used for good at the time… we just need to trust that God is in control and will make all things work for His good. And sorry to say, some of the greatest lessons learned are the most painful to go through.  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” I John 5:4  We may not be feeling like overcomers today, but I believe that I am because I am born of God, and besides, He told me so.

Wanted to share this wedding card I created for a wedding a couple weeks ago... I think is turned out simple, but elegant. Got to luv the SU (Stampin' Up) punches!

Hope you have a blessed day!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

He is Sufficient...

I am starting with something crafty today... as you can see by the banner on my blog I am a customer of "PrintOnIt"... right now they have a great sale going on their vinyl, just click HERE to see the sale. I would so appreciate it if you purchase anything from PrintOnIt that you would go through my link here... they have other crafty items too. This is nothing great but it is vinyl I purchased from PrintOnIt and cut with my Cricut to decorate my laptop.

I woke up this morning determined to seek God’s face and to not let myself stay in this crappy, crabby state of emotions. I am realizing a pattern here that has been occurring over the last 4 or 5 months… the week before my period starts I turn into a blubbering basket case. I hate that! I really have not been a big PMS person… during-MS, yes, but no pre-MS. Why does it have to be this way now? Also, I find it very disturbing and annoying when I hear other women make comments like, “oh you are getting to that age when hot flashes will start and your hormones are a mess.” If that is the case, at that very moment I DON’T WANT TO HEAR THAT!!! I pray that as I move into this next phase in my life that I do not become one of those women… it is almost like they are saying, “AHHA we got another one to add to our little menopausal group.” Don’t get me wrong, since I was 11 once a month, like clock-work, my uterus has shed what it needed to shed, but if my womb (I really don’t like that word, “womb”… it sounds like a little kid trying to say, room) is never gonna be used to carry a precious little baby… I am more than thrilled to stop this monthly “expression of womanhood!” *Ü*
Okay, I guess I have gotten off track here. The point I am trying to get at is that this week every month for the last while has been a bad time for me to deal with the enemy’s attacks… I guess it is a good time for him but not so much for me. I am left feeling not worthy, not a good wife, not a good friend, incapable of doing anything right. Please tell me some of you reading this can relate. I know that these are just feelings and I can’t live my life by these bad emotions, but for the first day or so of this week… I really struggle. I feel sorry for my poor, loving hubby… he just doesn’t know what to do to help.

This morning I came across a verse that really spoke to my “crazy” heart… “Not that I am sufficient of myself to think of anything as being from myself, but my sufficiency is from God." II Corinthians 3:5 I really needed to be reminded this morning that I am made sufficient (enough) through Christ by God… He has written this on my heart which is so much better than just writing it on paper!

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. II Corinthians 12:9 This is another verse I wanted to share because it has greatly impacted my life. Papa is so good at giving us just what we need when we need it if we are willing to seek Him.

Hope you have a blessed day. with a grateFUL HEART, carin

The Word is "All"...

I am trying to memorize Psalm 34 with a verse a day during the first 3 weeks of January. I use to memorize so much out of necessity, not really because I loved to memorize. I had to memorize hundreds of verses when I was on a Bible quiz team as a teenager. Even though most of those verses were memorized for competition I am so thankful today that I have those verses stored in my memory and my heart. At the age of 45 I am finding it not so easy to just memorize… I don’t want to memorize just for the sake of saying I have done it… I want it to be something that sinks down into my soul… I want it to be a very personal, intimate time for soaking up Papa’s Words. It use to be very important for memorizing to be “word perfect”, but now I am finding that just doesn’t work for me. I have had to take this Psalm and make it personal to me… I have to envision these words being spoken by me to God… making it personal has so much more impact.

“I will bless the Lord at ALL times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear of it and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from ALL my fears.
I looked to Him and was radiant, and my face was not ashamed.
This poor woman cried out, and the Lord heard me, and saved me out of ALL my troubles.”
Psalm 34:1-6
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The word “ALL” really stood out to me in these verses… “all” – the whole amount or quantity is affected; the greatest possible; complete or total.

I have always been an “all or nothing” kind of person… I am sure a lot of that stems from perfectionism… if I couldn’t do something perfectly then I just would not do it at all. Over the last year I have learned to let the perfection thing go, or rather I am working hard on letting that perfection thing go… I’m a work in progress!!! I am learning that not giving my ALL to God is not the best way to live my life. So many times I would choose to hold back small parts of my trust or faith or even love from God… I would choose to put Him in a “box”… I didn’t let Him have ALL of me… I would keep Him limited in my life.  I do believe that God can do whatever He wants to do, but I also believe that He gave us freewill and He will not step into areas we are not willing to give to Him. When I have gotten to know Him more as my Heavenly Father and not a big, scary, untouchable judge… I can see who He is and that He gave It ALL for me…He has not held anything back. “He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?” Romans 8:32 … and ALL He asks is that I give my ALL for Him. It is not a condition of His love… He has already given me All of His love… it is out of my love and awe for Him that I want to give my ALL.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with ALL spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” Ephesians 1:3

Had to share this snowy scene from our few days spent up to Boyne Mountain... it was a great relaxing time with my hubby... refreshed for the new year!
 
with a grateFUL HEART, carin