Comfortable Waiting?

What a beautiful summer we have had! The lack of rain was not so great, but the weather, I thought, was gorgeous!  It has been a busy summer.  We have spent a lot of time running the roads, so I am sure that is why it has seemed so busy.  We have our house for sale and so that has led to me de-cluttering and having a garage sale.  I am procrastinating about getting into my office/craft room to clean though... why is it such a big deal???  It makes my stomach nervous just thinking about it!

I have been learning a great deal about patience and waiting too. Waiting on the Lord is not comfortable… but I keep reminding myself the true source of my comfort is God! And only by keeping my eyes focused on Him will I find His comfort.  While waiting… it is a great time to be renewed! (Isaiah 40:31)  I am trying to take this "in-between" time and really prepare my heart and my life for the things God has set before us!  I have to look at it as a time to gain spiritual strength so when the path is clear I will be able to run and not grow weary… to walk and not fall by the wayside.  Waiting can be a struggle so many days, but I know as I look back at this time I will be so thankful that God gave me this time to just be. I believe God has great things ahead for Luke and me; and I need to be rested up for the next step.  I love how God keeps teaching me to let go of trying to control things, He has given me “blinders” to put on… so the only place I can keep looking is to Him… that is if I want to keep my sanity and if I choose to put them on!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God… And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."  Isaiah 40:1 and 5

Here is a masculine card I made for a birthday. I love the Fleur-de-Lis! It has such great meanings!

Okay, I am going to go into the craft room now to start the chore!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Elementary Elegance....

Oh my goodness... I have not posted on grateFUL HEART in so long!!! It is the first day of August... already!?  The summer has been crazy busy... so much good... some not so good, but through it all... I give God all the glory!

In my hubby and my transition, we seem to be on the road a lot! We try to stay overnight in Ludington only every other Saturday, but there have been so many things going on with our church family there that we have been there many, many weekends, not just Sunday for church services.  I am not complaining... it is exciting to see how God is moving in our life!

A couple weeks ago, my daddy was diagnosed with cancer... it is located in his stomach where the stomach attaches to the small intestine.  That is the bad news... the good news is they caught it without any symptoms! Praise God!  It is so early and the doctor told him if he had to have cancer, thyroid cancer would be the best one to have and this cancer would be the second best!  I know that through this all... God is drawing our family closer together and closer to Him.  I can already see all the good God is bringing to pass through this! Prayers for my daddy would be appreciated as he goes through a month of radiation treatments.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17



Just a simple birthday card to share today... I luv that SU set!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Just for you...

Friday! Yes, another week almost over!  It has been a really good week... how about yours?  I had a very peaceful week... accomplishing little projects around the house, had lunch one day with a friend (so good!), even got some crafting in!  I have felt so unsettled for weeks and I know I have let that reflect in my motivation at home or lack there of.  I had felt so overwhelmed and I know it was of my own doing... I just kept praying and reading my Bible.  I have set my thoughts on just being... not trying to figure things out ... not trying to make things happen... letting God make things happen in His time.  At least for this week! *Ü*  I really didn't realize how stressed I had been until I wasn't anymore.

Judge me favorably, O Lord, because I have walked with integrity and I have trusted you without wavering.  Examine me, O Lord, and test me. Look closely into my heart and mind.  I see your mercy in front of me.  I walk in the light of your truth.  Psalms 26:1-3

I do have a card to share too today.  This was a birthday card I made for my momma.  Of course, it has my favorite butterflies on it.  I also used the SU scallop square bigz die.

Thanks for stopping for a little chat! If you have a minute head over to Coffee Cup Corner to see the latest post.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

My life is better because...

When people think about you, do they say to themselves, "My life is better because of that person"?

I read this in a leadership devotional by John Maxwell this morning… it really made me think.  I try to live my life for an audience of ONE, but along with that comes the responsibility (for lack of a better word) of treating others well.  I don’t want people to be drawn to me, but I do want them to be drawn to the One who lives in me. 

"He placed a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see this and worship. They will trust the Lord."  Psalms 40:3

A new song in my mouth!!! When I speak do my words have a "melody" of praise or does it sound like the same old song?  It really makes me think... am I shining God's glory or is my light a little dim?

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

We all need to take a little time each day to let the light of God's Word shine in our hearts... are you taking that time with just you and Papa?  Do you miss Him if a day goes by without that time?  It is not about checking that off your list for the day... for me, I feel empty and dim if I miss that. I am not saying I do it perfectly, by no means, but I do really miss Him in those times.

BTW:  To answer the initial question... I hope people feel that way about me, but I do have great people in my life that God has put there… some I am related to by blood and others I am related to through the blood.  And I can honestly say my life is better because of those people! Thank You, Lord!

Okay, I have a graduation card to share with you today...

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Fog or Focus?

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. I Corinthians 16:13-14

Being at home so much now is causing me a little anxiety at times.  I was so use to volunteering at the church we attended here in Cadillac, but now with our new church being so far away I am not able to do that, so I am trying to get things around home a little more organized and decluttered!  I luv it when it is done, but not while I am doing it! 

I joined a group called for decluttering and putting perfectionism out of my life.  It is called FlyLady at bigtent.com This morning FlyLady was talking about driving in fog and how if I get antsy and overwhelmed with trying to clean and organized my home it is like driving in the fog. 

I was thinking about how it is the same when I let my thoughts and emotions overwhelm me and cause me to be frustrated in my life spiritually! I take my focus off God and put it on the junk going on around me or the thoughts and questions I have going through my head.  I listen more to the enemy’s voice in my ear than the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart.  I try to get through my day in a fog… maybe fog stands for Free Of God??? When I see it written like that… why would I want to live a life in FOG?  I don’t!  Waiting… being still… trusting is soooo hard for me to do.  I have always been a doer and I know God has spoken to me about that so many times in the past.  Maybe this time I will actually learn something.  The anxiety can so easily build up in me because my flesh says He is not moving quickly enough… He is not showing me the next step… He is causing my frustration and loneliness.  But in my spirit I know none of those things are true.  It is in these times I have to take a deep breath, confess my unbelief, and remember it is not about me!  It is my fault for taking my eyes off Him! His timing is perfect!  How many times does the Bible say to be patient?

If I am standing firm in my faith then courage, strength and love should come more easily... it is a good way to see what I am really standing on. Focus on Him!

Okay, a pretty little card to share today:

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Don't Forget...

Ah, yes it is the unofficial start of summer... Memorial Day Weekend!  The weather has gotten beautiful here in northern Michigan too!  I knew I had to get this post in today or the weekend would get too busy and I would forget.  Ever notice the busier we are the easier it is to forget?

What I wanted to share today is too important to ever forget.  We set aside Memorial Day to remember those who fought and gave their lives for all of us who are blessed enough to know freedom.  With all the conflict in the world this needs to be a regular everyday part of our lives! Daily thankfulness! Do you think?

When my hubby and I went to Virginia last September, we visited the Battlefield at Gettysburg, PA.  We also visited a few places in Washington DC.  The weather was not so nice the day we were in DC, so we wanted to make sure we visited Arlington National Cemetery first.  It was such a moving experience for both of us.  It was pouring down rain while we stood under the over-hang of the amphitheater while we watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Shortly before that I had been complaining about the rain and how it was going to ruin our day.  As I stood there watching the guards marching back and forth in front of the tomb I was so convicted... tears started streaming down my face.  How could I have the nerve to complain about wet clothes and feet as I stood in such a hallowed place?  That was a changing moment for me... big time!  I asked God to forgive me for my selfishness... for my inconsideration! Then I praised Him for letting me grow up where I have the right to praise Him!  It was a good lesson learned for me.

On the tomb it says, "HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD"

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

No Fretting Allowed!

I was praying this morning about trusting in God for the plans He has for me.  How that even though I do not know what in the world He is doing in our family situation His plan is to prosper me, not to cause me harm, to give me hope for a wonderful future.  Once again, I need to remind myself of the things I do know so I don’t let myself get frustrated about the things I don’t know.  I was thinking how not knowing is a really hard part for me, but if I did not trust the One who knows it all, that would be the hardest part and my biggest mistake!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Psalms 37 has come up a lot this week… today verse 7 especially jumps out at me, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.” 

I have to rest in the Lord and His promises! I get to wait patiently for Him! No fretting! I must keep my eyes focused on Him and not on what others maybe doing around me!  Fret… one of the definitions is “to wear away or corrode the surface of something, or become worn away or corroded.”  When I fret it does start to wear away my joy… it does cause my “shininess” to become dull.  And after awhile I will be all pitted and corroded, like when you use coarse sandpaper on shiny metal.  Fret is just a different word for plain old worry!  I don’t want to be a fretter or a worrier!

Here is a card I made for a friend... it is a little busy, but the bright colors and all make me happy!

My hubby and I are off to Ludington today. We are staying at Ludington House Bed and Breakfast... looking forward to it too! We hope to walk around the town a little if Luke gets out of work early enough.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin