His Mercies - CTD 281 and WAW 121

Hello Delightful friends and family!

Pulled out my Distress Inks and water color paper to play along with the Color Throwdown #281 and Word Art Wednesday #121 Anything Goes

Ingredients: Distress Inks (Spiced Marmalade Squeezed Lemon, Black Soot, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold); Archival Jet Black ink;  Stamps:  Taylored Expressions (Posh Posie) and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Be Encouraged set); Paper: Bazzill card stock and water color paper; Mini Mister and water pen; EK Success corner rounder, rhinestones, white gel pen and Spica clear pen.

This card is going to friends who are having a rough time with guilt and regret due to their past. Have you ever felt that way? The wrong choices that perhaps you made in the past that effected future decisions made by your children.  And now the adult children are experiencing the consequences of their own choices, while the parents are experiencing guilt and regret.  It is so difficult to see our loved ones making decisions that could affect their eternal destination.  Addictions, bitterness and hardness of heart are very difficult to break through.  Wow, this sounds like a real downer of a post but I just want to say that there is HOPE.  God is faithful.  He is sovereign.  We have to learn to trust and serve Him faithfully no matter what. Is that easy? Not always easy, but possible. Discouragement is a powerful weapon of the enemy that we have to learn to recognize so that we can overcome it. We can overcome it through prayer and praise, but the best way is through reading the Word of God and taking time to really meditate on it and allow God to work in our hearts (couple that with the prayer and praise and it's a great recipe for a spiritual victory!).  I have found that when talking with friends who are discouraged that they are no longer reading their Bibles and spending time with the Lord.  You see, when we get our eyes off of Jesus and get them turned on ourselves and our circumstances we are playing right into the adversary's hand.  Does this sound like you? God's mercies truly are new every morning (He cannot lie).  He is waiting with open arms to love, comfort and extend His mercies to you.  

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  1 John 4:4

Thanks for visiting!!

Beth Moore - Living Proof Event and Happy Mail

Hello Delightful friends and family!

I received some happy mail from one of my online friends and sisters in Christ, Stephanie from The Enchanted Rose blog.  Just had to share the fun and beautiful items I received.  Thank you so much Stephanie.  Be sure and visit her blog  HERE.  

I had a wonderful and refreshing time at the Living Proof event in Eugene, Oregon this past weekend.  It definitely was worth the 5 plus hour drive from California!  I love how Beth Moore teaches the Word, I have 4 pages of notes and so many Scripture references. I was not just gathering information, there was so much revelation to make one more fruitful in our Christian walk. (isn't that what we are called to be... to be fruit producers?!) Beth was led by the Lord in a very "timely" message.  If you were able to attend and you read this I hope you'll leave a comment.  Seeing so many women worshiping the Lord and drinking in the Word blessed my soul and I was privileged to join in with all these precious believers.  Jesus definitely was lifted up and glorified in the event. Travis Cottrell and the team of singers and musicians led the worship in a most excellent way.  I can't say enough times how our Lord was lifted up.  13 women came forward to receive Christ.  Just thinking on that response gets me teary eyed all over again.  We were encouraged, challenged and Lord willing no one left unchanged.  I know I needed a refreshing from the Lord and I received that from Him.  God is good and so faithful.  To God be all the glory and may the Lord continue the work that went on in Eugene and spill out over all the pacific northwest.  Spiritual planting and watering went on in a big way and I know that God will bring about the increase!  Again: To God be all the glory!!

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.  Ecclesiastes 3:11

A special shout out to my friend Donita who let me know about the event and invited me to come and stay with her and to my friend Brenda who went with me - it was a blessed time to share with you both! 

He is Mighty to Save (Scripture Thursday #23)

Hello Delightful friends and family,

Just a quick post to share two tags I made for a young woman in our church who is going through some deep trials both physically and in her family.  After reading my dear friend Abby's post at Little Birdie Blessings about trials and tribulations featured this week at her Scripture Thursday Linky Party, I thought it might be encouraging to share these verses and tags with you. 

The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save." Zephaniah 3:17 and "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10.

God is so faithful when we call on Him and trust Him to see us through difficulties.  Sometimes He delivers us out of those trials and sometimes it's through them but we can have the assurance that He is with us.  That is a promise that you can hang on to.

Front of tags with Scriptures.

back side of the tags.

Ingredients:

I've used the Faith in Bloom stamp set from Taylored Expressions for the Scriptures and sentiments.  The flower, ribbon and stitch stamps are from Dylusions stamps from Ranger (How Does Your Garden Grow set and Inbetweenies set)  I've used an assortment of Ranger Distress Stains for the background work.  The Inks used are Memento tuxedo black and Archival aquamarine. I've also used stencils from: Pink Paislee (She Art line) called Mask Vintage Doily and Crafter's Workshop Balzer Designs. The ribbon is American Crafts and I've also used Prismacolor pencils to do a little filling in on the flowers. The button is from my stash.  

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a blessed week!  Be sure and visit Abby's blog she lots of vintage digital freebies!

Card for a friend and a little more...

Hello Delightful Friends and Family,

It's been almost two weeks since I've posted and I've been one busy chicka! My hubby celebrated a birthday, we had guest minister a week ago Sunday and our friend/'lil bro (spiritually speaking)  from Nebraska was here ministering 3 nights last week at the church and he also stays with us so that has kept me away from the craft room for almost a week.  It was a good time as usual and I told him I'd make some cards for his wife Tiffany and so this is the first one I've made.  I'm in the process of making 4 of these using digital images by Mo Manning.  This darling little girl's name is Adele.  Isn't she the cutest thing?  I've not done much coloring with darker skin tones or highlighting black hair using Copic Markers so I was pretty pleased in how this turned out.  I wish the day had been sunny when I took the picture, we've been having a lot of rainy days here lately.

Here are the other ingredients :  Paper: Basic Grey (Kissing Booth); Bazzill card stock (the card base); Neenah (bright white for printing out the image) I've used the BG solid color (Kissing Booth collection) and dry embossed with the Victoria folder from Provo Craft, then rubbed with Distress Ink (black soot).  The digi Adele has been diecut out with Spellbinders Nestie scallop oval and sponged with Distress Ink (worn lipstick).  The black dot accents were created by using a Viva Pearl pen and I used an awl tool to apply the small dots. The ribbon is from American Crafts.  The finished card is 4.25 x 5.5.

I watched the movie Courageous (from the creators of Fireproof) the other night.  What a powerful message for men and fathers (moms, too!).  The Christian men in our area are getting ready to have an event called "Men of Action" in June.  Two keynote speakers (Tim Thomason - Nature Blinds and Jim Morris - former MLB pitcher and the movie "Rookie") will be featured and it will be a two day event.  It's wonderful to see the men from all the area churches come together in unity to glorify our Savior Jesus Christ and have a desire to mentor men and be a role model that points them to Christ and His Word.

Have a blessed day!

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of the them that slept.    1 Corinthians 15:20

What is Stealing Your Joy? Part 1 of 2

Thanks for checking out Delightful Details! I'm so blessed you've stopped by today. I don't have anything "crafty" to post but I did have some thoughts I'd like to share.

We are fast approaching the holiday season and I thought this would be the perfect time to share some thoughts about "joy." This may seem like a strange way to approach this but often we are so overwhelmed during this time of the year I think it's important to safeguard ourselves so that we can truly have a time of en-joy-ment.

Did you know that "joy is often equated with happiness, but the two are quite distinct? Happiness depends largely upon happenings: good health, congenial company, pleasant surroundings, etc. Happiness and unhappiness do not exist together; but joy and sorrow can and do. Our Lord was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3) but "for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2)" (excerpt from Vine's Expository Dictionary)

After reading the Vine's definition, I could not help but think about the happenings because so often it's the "happenings" around the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) that can contribute to us losing our joy... if we let it! So let's look at two of the three things that can strangle the joy right out of us if we aren't careful.

#1 jealousy/envy

Where does jealousy/envy come from?

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic, For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. James 3:14-16 (NKJV)

My eyes were really opened when I read Proverbs 14:30. Jealousy can rob us of our very health and well being. " A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones." What is happening on the inside of us can rob our joy and our health! There is an old Swedish proverb that says "Envy shoots at others and wounds itself." How true...

#2 Anger
Of course the definition for this is usually pretty straightforward but sometimes it can be driven by grief and when unchecked can lead to depression. This can be a real joy stealer during the holidays! So, let's guard our hearts and mind with God's Word!
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ... 2 Cor 10:4-5

Psalm 37:8 says "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it only causes harm. You may find the following kind of interesting, I sure did. The word anger in the Hebrew means : breathing hard, enraged, nostrils flare and the blowing of breath through the nostrils. What is it that really pushes your buttons that causes your nostrils to flare?? Notice in that one verse the word "cease" that means "stop it!" And then he writes "forsake" wrath: that means to leave it behind, don't bottle it up and save it! And then it says "do not fret" Fret in this context means "to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled" it doesn't mean worry. We can let our joy slip away, if we get angry, flare our nostrils, bottle up our wrath and kindle our fret, especially if we combust!! Of course if we explode we are going to have a real mess on our hands in more ways than one! I read this once "Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you'll ever regret."

I'm going to leave you with a thought to "chew on" and we will continue with Part 2 in a few days. Here it is are you ready??? People are not responsible for our lack of joy as a matter of fact, nothing outwardly can take away our right to have the joy of the Lord! Ponder on that statement and keep your eyes on Jesus! Remember that the joy of the Lord is our strength!

PCC Harvest Banquet

We were blessed this last Thursday evening to attend the Pregnancy Care Center's Harvest Banquet. It was their Fall fundraiser, their guest speaker was Mike Williams, an extremely funny Christian comedian (yes Christians can be funny!). Not only was he funny but he was good!! I was pleasantly surprised by his ministry and testimony. It was a very well attended event and I hope that the end result was profitable! We've been a supporter for many years and we are so excited that they are going forward in their quest to become medical by having a free ultrasound available for the high risk women that come in. We can have a part in saving a life, an innocent life and I'm excited about that! If there is a Pregnancy Care Center (aka Crisis Pregnancy Care Center) in your area won't you consider partnering with this life changing ministry. They are there to offer compassion, direction and hope to women who are facing life decisions.

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Psalm 82:3

What's Stealing Your Joy?

Hello!
I'm being a bit neglectful this week on my blog. I'm preparing for our women's retreat that is this weekend!! So much to finish up before I leave on Friday. But you can catch me over at Christian Paper Crafts for the Book Club. We are reading "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver. I've been so surprised (although I shouldn't be) how this book is ministering to me, as I've been preparing for the retreat. God always knows what I need and when I need it!! Our theme is "Joy" and I'll be teaching a session about "Joy Stealers" and doing a fun (I hope!) craft session. So, if you don't see me for a few days that's what I'm up to, please keep me in prayer, I woke up this morning with a scratchy throat! Not good if I'm speaking to a group! I'm trusting the Lord to help me and heal me!

Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life. Proverbs4:13

It's Official Autumn is Here

It's officially Autumn! I know this because my husband turned on the heater this morning!! If he turns the heater on you know that the mornings are cold!! Brrr! It is a cool one it says 39 degrees outside so I guess I will have to resign to the fact that summer is over. It was a quick two weeks, let me tell you (ha!) I actually love the beginning of fall, the leaves turning color, the cool mornings and evenings, the days stay comfortably warm until the middle of October, I can live with that! Driving thru the redwoods is beautiful and although they don't turn color the others around them do and it's a beautiful sight! Definitely a photo opportunity waiting to happen! Marcelle has a wonderful devotional that she's written over at Christian Paper Crafts concerning the leaves turning and being fruitful. She lives on the east coast so she is particularly blessed with changing seasons. Here we are surrounded by the majestic redwoods and although there is a beauty about them they are evergreens so we don't see them change color, however I'd like to share an analogy about them as well. This giants grow in groves, clustered together for a reason. Their root system is very shallow and it goes out rather than down and they intertwine with one another. I find this fascinating because when the wind storms come they gain strength from one another so that they won't topple over. I love that this is how the body of Christ should work as well. We get our source of strength from Jesus through His Word then in turn reach out to others to interwine our lives with them and get strength through those wind storms of life. An isolated life is not only lonely but is not healthy (spiritually speaking) either. The Word of God says, "that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another." (1 Corinthians 12:25) The apostle Paul writes a lot about this in chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians, I encourage you to read it today. Well, the grandbabies are arriving for the day so I'll close for now be sure to check out the card Chelsea has made to give away for WAIT ON THE LORD WEDNESDAY at Christian Paper Crafts, she is so talented and has such a giving spirit!

Love the Colors of Fall

A very warm welcome to you!! Thanks for stopping by.

This week officially ends summer with the first day of autumn on Tuesday. You wouldn't know it here! You would think summer was just at it's peak! We had a very comfortable 80 degrees in my backyard, it was perfect! That's Humboldt County for you, September is always a beautiful month and for a couple of weeks in October it should be crisp in the morning but very warm in the afternoon and early evening. Traditionally around here we've called it Indian Summer (I suppose that is politically incorrect... oh well...I hate politics!) All I know is that we had a gorgeous day, thank you LORD!! And the Forty-niners won, wow that's two games in a row! Football season, leaves are turning, yup...fall is in the air!! Which brings me to our fabulous Color Monday Challenge at Christian Paper Crafts. Heather has chosen some great colors to start the week off and this is what she has said:
"I am feeling in the mood for fall and I wanted to share with you typical fall colors mixed with a little tempting turquoise for a twist. So your colors this week are:
Tempting Turquoise
Pumpkin Pie
Close to Cocoa
Hope you all play and I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Don't forget to upload using the keyword CM23 and when uploading to your blog or other online galleries, please use keyword CPC-CM23."
Those are going to be some great colors to work with! If you have a minute you should hop on over to the Stampin' Sisters for Christ blog, their challenge this week is a fall themed card so you could upload at both sites! They are giving away a stamp set from Korin Sutherland who owns Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. Korin has an incredible Design Team be sure and check out her blog HERE. You'll find lots of wonderful inspiration!
Speaking of inspiration, we watched a Louis Giglio DVD this evening called "Fruitcake and Ice Cream" if you have a chance be sure and watch it! It will definitely minister to you as you see the hand of God working in lives that you wouldn't expect. Fruitcake and ice cream may have to be a title on one of my future scrapbook pages! I've heard of being a Jesus Freak but how about a Fruitcake for Christ!! You have to watch the DVD... Fruitcake was the nickname of a person in a journal. It's not being a looney tune weirdo for Christ, I promise!! Watch the DVD!

I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance. John 10:10

Are You the Salt in the Shaker?

Hi and welcome back!! If this happens to be your first visit a big welcome to Delightful Details my little corner in this massive cyberworld! I love crafting so a big part of this blog is about paper crafting, I LOVE my family so you'll find pics and amusing little family tidbits, but my PASSION and LOVE is the Lord Jesus Christ so from time to time I may share a thought from the Word that I think will help each of us to fall deeper in love with Him and encourage us to be fruitful in our work for the Lord, whether you are raising your babies, working outside the home or enjoying retirement! That's pretty much it in a nutshell!! So welcome again and I'm so grateful that you've stopped by for a visit!

I just wanted to share with you what I have been thinking about lately... salt! You may think, that's weird, salt? Of all things to be thinking about! But to be honest this probably has to do with my husband. I'll stop right there because I should share that my dear sweet hubby is a pastor and while he is preparing his sermons, he'll share with me from time to time (actually all the time!!) what he is studying. Often it is a Scripture or a thought that he believes the Lord has put on his heart to share with the congregation. (I get a double portion!!) He is teaching from the Gospel of Matthew (expositionally or line by line) and has come to the portion where Jesus is talking about being the salt of the world. I'll quote it correctly from Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."

Here are some things we've been learning about salt:

1. It preserves 2. it cleanses 3. it seasons (the obvious one!) 4. it creates a thirst 5. it's an abrasive I can think of more but I don't want to lose you here!!

Now think about these in the spiritual sense, just how are we to be if we are the salt of the earth. That is what Jesus said in Matthew 5:13 right??? Hmmm. Has this gotten you thinking? I'm sure you are able to come up with more uses for salt that I could use in this analogy, too!

Now for the application: I need to ask these questions about my conduct. Are my words and actions (my life!) living up to being a preservative, a cleansing agent, a seasoning, am I causing a thirst for Christ? Now you may be thinking, what about #5? Are we to be abrasive?? No not really, we are to share the Word in love and the Word can be abrasive to those who reject it. Here is what the Bible says "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." 2 Corinthians 4:6.
That's a great scripture! First grace, then the salt!!

I like to think of Jesus as the shaker and we are the salt, His salt. His special brand of Agape Salt!! Hopefully right now I'm creating a thirst in you and the salt in my shaker is pouring out freely! Let Jesus shake you so that you can be seasoning those around you for His glory!!

I so glad you came today and I hope you'll be back for a visit soon!!

FYI: I have kosher salt in my cupboard, just thought I'd share that!! I thought it ties in well with the Agape Salt!

Up to the Challenge??

Hello and welcome to Delightful Details!

Thanks for visiting and it's definitely been a mellow Monday!! It's already 7p.m. on the west coast, I can hear my dh listening to the SF Giants on TV, (games tied 1-1, 6th inning) dinner is done, even better the dishes are done, whoo-hoo and I didn't do them!! Kerry (dh) is on vacation this week and since I had to work he did the dishes, wasn't that sweet and I didn't even ask him to! Well, I know it's late in the day but it's not too late for a challenge so here is our CHRISTIAN PAPER CRAFTS Color Monday Challenge!

"This week's challenge is a fairly simple and classic combination for you. Your colors for the week are black, white and one other color of your choice. Simple right? So let's see what you've got!" Glad I got mine done early (lol) I sense a little attitude here from Janette be sure to check out her blog she does some incredible cards, love her style! When uploading to a gallery or your blog please use the keyword CPC-CM19

Here is my contribution to the challenge. I just got some Perfect Pearls and it says it works great on dark paper so I was determined to use them on this Color Monday!

(CPC-CM19) This is better in person, really!

So the pics not the greatest and how many times do I have to say I need a new camera? I'm drooling over the Canon Rebel and that's my goal when I lose 50 pounds, I hope I can do it before Christmas! Any thoughts on the Canon Rebel let me know!

Here are the ingredients to the card:

Cardstock: Paper Accents, Bazzill; adhesive pearls: Creative Charms; Ink: Distress Ink : Pine Needles; Stamp: Su! sentiment, Hope:The Paper Company Studio; Branch and leaves flourish: Inkadinkadoo, Flower pot: Great Impressions; Perfect Pearls:Forever Green

Be sure and leave a comment and say hi, I'd love to know where you are visiting from!

I also have exciting news to share! Cindy Coutts asked me to write the weekly Bible Study over at Christian Paper Crafts!! That was a nice surprise! We are studying from the Gospel of John so be sure to check out the study and join the community. We'd love to have you! I will post a new study every Monday.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditationmof my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Wait on the Lord Wednesday and How About a Thought Closet Makeover?

Hi and thanks for visiting!! I'm so glad you stopped by.
Today is Wait on the Lord Wednesday over at Christian Paper Crafts so be sure and check out what Chelsea is doing, she has a beautiful card this week to give away and you can find the details: Here Don't wait, go check it out!!

Our Ladies Morning Bible Study just completed the series "Me, Myself and Lies" a study by Jennifer Rothschild. We have been learning that our thoughts can be so destructive and we aren't even aware of it. (for example: have you every called yourself dumb or stupid.... see what I mean?) Did you realize your words can either build up and promote life or tear down and disturb your spiritual growth? We speak words to ourselves all the time! What are your words saying to you, today? This study was excellent to help us recognize what we were speaking to our souls. Jennifer shares practical ways of applying Scripture to overcome destructive patterns. We truly enjoyed our "thought-closet makeover!" Be sure and check out her blog HERE .

Count down to our anniversary: 3 days!

The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gently, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17 (NASB)

Wait on the Lord Wednesday

So glad you are visiting!! I've got some great news to share.

Something brand new at CHRISTIAN PAPER CRAFTS. Design Team member Chelsea Cook (http://hapemome.blogspot.com/) is sponsoring a wonderful card giveaway ministry! Here is what she says about the ministry of "WAIT ON THE LORD WEDNESDAY"

"I know there are a lot of people out there that could use a cheering up, encouraging words, words of wisdom and to know that Jesus loves them. That no matter what they go through, they are loved and have something much greater to look forward to. Do you know someone who is down and blue? Maybe has just lost a loved one? Lost a job? Has been diagnosed with a disease? Is ill? Has given up hope? Feels like they don't have a place they belong? Is concerned about the paths someone dear to them has chosen? This is our chance to let that person know that we care and that the Lord cares.

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the Lord be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Hence the name for this ministry. He is always there, always hearing your cries, and your praises. He knows the desires of your heart.

Each Wednesday I will post a new card (or maybe cards) that I will be giving away. I would love to hear your stories - who would you give this card to and why? This could be an opportunity for us to pray for that person as well. I believe in the power of prayer and I know many others do as well. You will have until the following Tuesday night at 11:59 pm Pacific time to post your comment to this thread explaining who you would like to give this card to and why. From those comments, I will choose a story that has touched me. Then, on Wednesday I will announce the "winner" along with the reveal of the new card (or cards). Then, I will be in contact with the winner and they can choose to have me type something inside the card and I can mail directly to the person they desire. Postage on me."

So please check out the Wait on the Lord Wednesday at CPC and see the beautiful card Chelsea has designed for this weeks giveaway. Also visit Chelsea's blog for even another opportunity to win a beautiful handmade card for someone who is in need of a gentle reminder that Jesus loves them.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you, what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

Journal #7 and Visitor from Nebraska

Thanks for visiting today!
I've missed blogging this week but we've had a friend from Nebraska staying with us and so being on the computer has been hit and miss. Darrell is here ministering at our church for 3 nights (last night was the final one) and it's always a blessing to have him in our home. And I get the pleasure of going out to lunch with him after we hit all the second hand bookstores in search of old manuscripts. His favorite food is Chinese so that's what we always do EVERY time he comes here! So we have a wonderful time talking about the Word of God, catching up on family news and he always manages to find a book or two or five or six (!) to ship back home to Red Cloud, Nebraska to add to his many volumes. I'm inspired by his dedication and his knowledge! One of these days I hope Kerry and I can visit with him on his turf and then I will get to go shopping with Tiffany his wife, and I'm sure it WON"T be for old books!! We all have been friends for over 10 years and Darrell is more like family than friend, even our kids say that, and he insists that he's their adopted brother!

Darrell pastors 3 churches and travels all over ministering God's Word. In November, they will be taking a group of people to Israel (two ladies from our congregration are included in that number) and I'm kinda wishing I could go too but with all the responsibilities we have here with church and family I don't think that will ever happen especially since dh is not a good traveler. It would have to be a God-thing for sure!
Okay, we are heading to the airport shortly so Darrell can catch his flight home so I'd best get the journal prompt up since I'm already two days behind!!

Here is #7
Do you have a special place and time you meet with the Lord? Describe it.
Hope you are enjoying these prompts and are joining us at Christian Paper Crafts. Be sure and check us out at www.cpcmag.com

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end", says the Lord, "Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8

Killer or Kill-her workouts plus a little more....

Good Morning! I don't want to even think that July is half over, but it is!!

I'm getting ready to jump on my exercise bike and go for a quick ride, I'm still working out the soreness from the "Killer" Wednesday workout or also known as "Kill-her" Wednesday workout. I've renamed it that cause I'm not sure if I'm going to kill my "personal trainer" aka my daughter Amy, who is working my fanny off, literally or if she's trying to kill me "butt" I guess it will be worth it all in the "end" (couldn't resist that one!).
A couple of my readers will appreciate the humor... you know who you are!! ; - )

I must say my jeans slide off my hips "like butter" which I rarely eat anymore! I'm starting to see it in inches but not in pounds! I hate the scale anyway, I don't know why I torture myself, after all I'm just trying to live healthier not necessarily get skinny! Monday will begin week 14 of my quest! Okay enough about me and my woes....

Today is Saturday and here is Journal Writing Assignment #2
"If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, share your salvation story. And if you haven't what is holding you back?"

My salvation story is fairly simple however I can see many of the events that the Lord allowed in my life to bring me to that point of receiving Him. So, I'm not sure how much to write. I will probably do a draft or two of what I want to put in my journal and really pray about it and ask for the Holy Spirit's help. I'm confident He will give me the right words to put down on paper.

Well, time is getting away from me... I really need to get on my bike and get those miles in. I hope everyone has a blessed day and I'll be posting the Sweet Shop Sketch later this weekend! I thought for sure I'd get a card made this past week but I didn't! I'm bummed but I did take a class called "Distress to Impress" and that was a lot of fun learning new techniques using Ranger products. Can't wait to share.... but I gotta practice a bit more!

LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH, AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART, BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, O LORD, MY STRENGTH AND MY REDEEMER.

PSALM 19:14

This Faith Journey

Hey thanks for coming by!!
Just wanted to share today about what we are doing over at the Christian Paper Craft community http://www.cpcmag.com/ and at our Ladies Ministry Wednesday morning Bible Study http://www.bluelakechurch.org/ (if you have difficulty in checking out the church website please keep checking back we are undergoing some updating and I'm not sure when it will be complete).

Now, I don't like to call it a challenge but more of an encouragement, to leave a journal of our faith walk for future generations. We all have a story or a testimony on how we came to faith in Jesus Christ and I think it's important (especially as I get older!) to leave it in some form for my future generations. I don't have much as far as worldly possessions but I have a faith legacy to leave my children and grandchildren, and my prayers for their salvation have gone on ahead of me to the ears of God, so I want to leave a path for them to follow. That's my hearts desire...

To begin this faith journal and to make it easier we will begin with questions to get the creative writing jump-started. Patter Cross will be posting questions each Wednesday and Saturday at Christian Paper Crafts and I will be repeating them here. These questions or statements may not be applicable every time so don't worry about that, they are just a springboard to get you writing. I hope you'll join me in this journey of faith. We serve such a wonderful Savior and I want to bring Him honor and glory through this!

Let me know it you plan to join us!
Perhaps you belong to a Ladies Ministry at your church, wouldn't this be a wonderful ministry to help them write their testimony. So many are fearful of sharing their faith, concerned that they may need to answer hard questions concerning the Bible, but that's just fear from the evil one, something we all can do is be a witness of the goodness of God's wonderful gift of salvation in Christ Jesus. And besides, if you don't know the answer to something, how difficult is it to say "I don't know, but I will get back to you when I find a biblical answer to your question". Be bold! Be honest for crying out loud! ;-)

I can't help but think of this Scripture in 1 John 5:11
"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."

So without further ramblings from me, here is our first writing assignment.

#1 : Introduce yourself and share a bit about your desire for this journal. (Remember: Future readers may not know you personally.)

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Revelation 19:10

Following after...

Well Friday is here!! It's been a quick week. A busy week :-) and I praise the Lord I'm active and healthy to be able to participate in the activities of every day life! God is so good to me. So many are not able to get out of their bed today whether it's a physical problem or perhaps suffering from depression. My own son-in-law's father is lying in ICU after having a quadruple bypass and part of his aorta rebuilt (he suffered a heart attack Monday night) and wasn't given much chance to survive. BUT, surgery was Wednesday a.m. and he is still here, we believe in the God of miracles and my prayer has been that he would not leave this earth without another opportunity to receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. I serve a God who doesn't pay attention to man's negative reports, aren't you blessed to know that!
In my Bible Study today I was challenged or probably better said, I was convicted by something that I've been battling as long as I've been a Christian. This is my struggle (one of many): sometimes what I want may seem all about God, but oftentimes God reveals to me my true motive of self centeredness. Not a very pretty picture, and not a real glowing report about myself. Even though I may not like to think I'm self-centered more times than not, I am. I believe that is why it's so important to evaluate our own walk with Christ. ("work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" Philippians 2:12) God looks straight into this pitiful, deceptive heart of mine and exposes that tendency to be self seeking and I praise Him for loving me enough to correct me and not let me stay in this state.
The purpose for evaluating our walk is so that we can be empowered by the Holy Spirit to repent and overcome this sin of pride (yes, pride) and as we identify this subtle or not so subtle area, the Lord begins His restoration work. For me it's been a long process... ugh! But I'm hoping and praying that the occurances will be fewer. I want the mind of Christ, I want to as 1 Tim 6:11 states to, "follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness."
Have a wonderful weekend and please, count your blessings!

Unmerited Favor in a Card

Hello there! I hope your day is going well and thank you for visiting my blog!! I hope you'll leave a comment!

I found a stamp I hadn't used for a long time so I thought I'd use it for a "quick" card of encouragement for a friend. Well, let me tell you... Do you believe God can use card making to teach Biblical truths? Well, I found out that He can! To be perfectly honest, I know God can use anything to teach a lesson, but we must have willing hearts as students to learn.

I'll try to be brief (ha!) Here's the lesson, it's about grace, it's about God being the Potter, and I am the clay! Or in this case I am the flower on the card. This flower did not start out well, the paint I used (instead of ink) was not applied evenly(as I thought) so there was a lot of gaps and missing color. (kinda like my life before I received Jesus Christ as my Savior) What I thought would be an easy fix ended up not being easy and downright frustrating. So with a cry for help in the form of a prayer, I persevered and God delivered the patience I needed to continue on. I took small steps at first, afraid to make a total mess, and I didn't have the tools I needed to do the distressing, so I had to improvise. As I was finishing up the flower, what I had wanted to do was throw it away and start over but God impressed upon me to not give up. He hadn't given up on me and extended His grace (unmerited favor) to me. Thus the name on the card, it originally was going to be stamped, "A Friend Loves At All Times." Well the Lord definitely extended His grace to me so that I could finish the card and reminded me about His loving patience with this growing in grace "bloomster." I know bloomster isn't a word, matter a fact the spell check wanted me to use the word blister or bloomers but I like to think of myself as "blooming where I'm planted" and I definitely don't want to be thought of as a blister, (ha!) Well, this has gotten a bit too wordy, which seems to be the norm for me lately... but I hope you get the big picture of God's grace extended to us, what a Friend We Have In Jesus!

The supplies I used:
Pattern paper : Basic Grey; Bazzill cardstock; American Craft ribbon; Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber: Lettuce, Watermelon, Mountain Rose, Sunshine Yellow; Stamps: Hero Arts, Showy Blossom, unknown yellow painted flower center; Ink: Ranger, Peeled Paint; Cuddlebug: Embossing folder, Dotted Swiss; Grace: transparency from Staples brand, font: Wanda's Write; an emery board, my fingernail & water for distressing!

(I did paint on the back of the transparency with the Mountain Rose, then scratched some off and repainted with the Watermelon) if you click to enlarge I think you'll be able to see that.

The finished card is 5" x 5.75"

Celebrating the Resurrection!

Jake with chocolate cake still on his lips!

Riley Ann holding her basket!

I'm writing this after all the celebrations for the day have ended. All the kids are home, church is over, most of the dishes are done and I'm getting ready for bed! But I felt compelled to write, it's been on my heart... thinking about what Jesus went through willingly for me and for you. What a blessed hope we have because of the resurrection.

Sometimes I think we can take for granted our salvation, especially living in the United States. I've had conversations with people who think that since they live in America that automatically makes them a Christian!

But if you are born again then you know that if Jesus wasn't raised from the dead the Scriptures says we would still be in our sins! And if still in our sins, then we would be awaiting the wrath of a righteous Judge. Oh my goodness, I'm so grateful for the grace that has been extended to mankind, to me personally and to you.

A free gift available to whosoever calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you've not yet made that decision, won't you please consider doing so. I would also encourage you to read God's love letter to us, the Bible. We mature as Christians by reading and obeying the Scriptures and our faith in Him is increased because, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Tell someone that you've received Jesus as Lord and Saviour and find a Bible believing/teaching church that doesn't compromise God's Word so that you can grow and be encouraged! It's truly an exciting life you don't want to miss!

My God reigns!

Natalie

Whatever!

It's a beautiful day today (see the blue sky!) Chilly but sunny!

(click to enlarge)

The buds are beginning to open! Just as our lives are a beautiful blossom in this world and hopefully a fragrance of life to those who don't know Christ.



I love this scripture:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

Join me today and let's "wallpaper" our mind and hearts and meditate on that Word so that we can bloom for Jesus!!

Loving God's instruction!

Have a blessed day,

Natalie