tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094487967528515132024-02-06T18:16:58.648-08:00In My Own WordsAngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-41923363003374602512016-04-15T11:03:00.001-07:002016-04-15T11:53:39.989-07:00The Set-Apart Life <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 PETER 3:15</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHSTGWXOGeKpcUuCJShDl3lfKMo3gdsLxXO6EtTPCrmIKlZis14dhXBBaW1bUJCdrinAjNttdiyBRkSKoiTKoJ9AMjWMEjmprKN09i1upYtLT-mWlfmys59hLk9G65UvqGm5E379m1ts/s1600/oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHSTGWXOGeKpcUuCJShDl3lfKMo3gdsLxXO6EtTPCrmIKlZis14dhXBBaW1bUJCdrinAjNttdiyBRkSKoiTKoJ9AMjWMEjmprKN09i1upYtLT-mWlfmys59hLk9G65UvqGm5E379m1ts/s320/oil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The set-apart life is the ONLY life that actually partners with the Holy Spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He does not reign in POWER while only occupying half-a-throne in our hearts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We 'rule and reign WITH Christ' not by sharing the rule and the reigns, but by saying 'YES' to His reign in the daily struggle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our lives become 'set-apart' unto God always and only in The Moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To weep at the altar and declare we are 'surrendering all to Thee, My Blessed Savior' is a start. But it is not TRUE surrender until we've risen from our knees and say 'yes' to Him in the Daily. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The moments of the Holy Spirit's whisper, and our response in that momet, is when it is shown if we have truly Surrendered All. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Everyone of us finds ourselves off the sweet altar of Surrender at times. What then?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take the time to Pause throughout the day for a check-up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Repent of any place the Holy Spirit brings to mind where you may have denied Jesus His Lordship in your life. We must call sin what He is showing us is sin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Repent of it, Confess it to Him. Surrender it and say 'yes' to His Way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Receive His forgiveness (so important!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then set upon the rest of your day in the renewed partnership of Surrender. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is where the power of a truly set-apart life will propel you supernaturally into God's fullness where His Kingdom is Come and His Will is Done! </span></div>
<a href="http://jenniferdukeslee.com/tell-his-story/" title=""><img src="http://jenniferdukeslee.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/tellhisstory-badge.jpg" alt="" title="" style="border:none;" /></a>AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-70385356677290138162015-06-03T16:45:00.000-07:002015-06-06T16:42:37.485-07:00The Limp of Love<div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Proverbs 31:2-3</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="bb8a4dd6-127b-4ba2-bc91-d52f0ab7322b" id="9679879e-a54f-4cf5-9552-69d986b5dd41"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="fb089acb-6594-453f-91bc-84708c8ebd76" id="966976fe-1279-435f-8c96-cbd664fc9e89">son</gs></gs> of my vows?”</b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The circle of life is loving <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="85ec54cd-466a-4722-9a7e-f2a812d01a46" id="f6282cf6-dcfc-41ed-b9c2-561b5f7a8c91"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="d65cdb3b-bcb9-4ec3-85be-4d50cd7e6314" id="89ce695e-d694-4d06-8780-e0c707554205"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="657c6843-e5f6-434b-aa5e-357f6c042bd6" id="90a9e2de-184a-4d09-b7a4-fafbb2081373">deep</gs></gs></gs>... And then letting go. “A time to embrace, and a time to </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="bf983994-7d6f-4682-8688-17e0c59a1a71" id="2f291731-4764-40e3-9b2d-c93a9f87ef47"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f895b3c6-f9a2-4c5e-85f2-f17dd933d021" id="c35c66dd-28d6-451b-97a5-89c1cc84ac7e"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6ec3b906-71d2-4697-a841-d20afc66462b" id="ac3a2fc3-f973-4d43-b79a-d15a4ec4ef53">refrain</gs></gs></gs>... A time to speak and time to be silent.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the midst of pride and celebration, I feel overwhelmed with loss and even sadness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> For with every new beginning, somewhere <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="36094e91-60bd-4465-bc52-1571adae18b9" id="93b4e8b9-278f-442d-9e91-eba1301e71dd"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="694c088d-2f50-44db-86e0-44d0f9983aed" id="e83b13b0-6e45-47f3-ae10-60d4339f8f91">there is ending</gs></gs>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1tLx0xYDkOok0zbDugEtOtErgVb8Ndmt-opS4EpOwqX2ZPNnsxqOa2U-bpqj4TnNMPc3PkS50Tx_U4RRZcWchUeMO9KoTgfFz69_Gdc2WeJJQcdYXb-i3PZMfhen3mTrLKNiIoISklE/s1600/graduation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1tLx0xYDkOok0zbDugEtOtErgVb8Ndmt-opS4EpOwqX2ZPNnsxqOa2U-bpqj4TnNMPc3PkS50Tx_U4RRZcWchUeMO9KoTgfFz69_Gdc2WeJJQcdYXb-i3PZMfhen3mTrLKNiIoISklE/s640/graduation.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have sat in the front row of this life since <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="87965d0c-959f-4e92-9884-e2d3425d0fce" id="0ad0c38c-48f5-4620-8285-1e0add1b9886">it's</gs> conception. I have witnessed, lived and felt deeply, the joys of <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="71150ab3-c71d-495d-940a-d7d4d76d6ab3" id="33b7caf8-b866-426c-b985-f907cca2e4e5">it's</gs> accomplishments, the moments relished, the experiences lived. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">My own hands have been used by God to weave a childhood and shape a life, and it seems now, that at the culmination of these precious years in our nest, these <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="5edcb3b8-73c4-4709-bddc-83a715e1b388" id="94f5b8c3-f5f8-4b07-9d05-31a2971bdc75">work</gs>-worn hands of mine are left to hang limply at my side. Unasked for and unneeded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">As the curtain rises on Act 2, I’m finding my seat. I’m no longer on the front row. The years of being behind the scenes, tidying a wayward curl or whispering forgotten lines are coming to a close. And I admit, I am sad to see them go. I’m a few rows back now, watching with pride and hope as others step in to take their places for new seasons of growth and change. Now I cheer from the stands, part of that great crowd of witnesses, shouting my conviction,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Keep the faith, my son,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Run to win!”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I think of Jacob, wrestling all night with the Angel. In the end, he walked away </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="d22aa15c-c1ed-45a2-bf10-b172e24ab552" id="a42e3a11-407e-45a8-b870-525d2659c611">with</gs> both a blessing<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="8637f13f-b849-458f-bdb5-d17a997fe4d1" id="843570cc-8479-428e-8a08-de0025776738"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="d22aa15c-c1ed-45a2-bf10-b172e24ab552" id="ff0a9d67-32b7-415c-8b38-40a9c6c62c5e">...</gs></gs>and a limp. It was a long night, but he never stopped wrestling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">He never let go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I see myself in Jacob. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I, too, leave the arena after a great wrestle; the wrestle of parenting a soul through </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="41fe32e6-e4d3-4201-a651-bf52df032163" id="70d73f6a-47cb-470b-a986-47e4a68bc38a">his</gs> growth from babyhood into manhood. From first steps, to the first kiss; through the </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b273c805-ef1d-4cfd-b353-2289312c6da7" id="e0bef555-50b4-4284-ba1b-e02fbf965711">learning</gs> of the satisfaction of a job well done, and the discovery of the joys, and sometimes </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="dd0ac3da-66b7-46d0-a176-fe32ec342922" id="85881c39-2d48-44a4-a36b-6f3210b12514">heartaches</gs>, of friendship; the many thoughtful gifts and the learning of some things</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1eb810fc-0bc2-4233-9d53-66150e162232" id="094d3815-6cee-4f1a-a76e-2262e77e7246"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="21769e87-379d-4e49-a48b-b5f928a9ecb5" id="9cef67f7-fbeb-4abb-9c57-3368c3310cbc">the</gs></gs> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">hard</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">way</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Watching in awe as the Savior<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1df48bc4-62ad-4b6f-b8c8-6258f420a0b9" id="22cb6344-dd42-42d5-8886-711e0584b44e"> -</gs> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="9afaafff-e788-4d42-ae42-1fd93af3d257" id="5187b340-fb0c-440e-9b02-622da025bd94">saved</gs><i> YOU.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">As He turned your ashes into beauty every time. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wYhqrOOs91rkt0YEl1GtT_kt5QHoXTXsLCfKbHrPfX_g6KH9J7TwLf4se4IDs1TEWVXWavlJO8PNSozgfA6FRusb5ncPfiC4vM1q-R351PTF1iX3JIE0d0tlprS6baQrXAWY4KzvQHs/s1600/IMG_20150602_213750263_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wYhqrOOs91rkt0YEl1GtT_kt5QHoXTXsLCfKbHrPfX_g6KH9J7TwLf4se4IDs1TEWVXWavlJO8PNSozgfA6FRusb5ncPfiC4vM1q-R351PTF1iX3JIE0d0tlprS6baQrXAWY4KzvQHs/s640/IMG_20150602_213750263_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Like Jacob, I leave the wrestle of these years. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I leave with a limp. My limp is the pain of Love.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The cost - of Love.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">That pain of letting go, and yet knowing I will never be able to completely let go. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Some people make the mistake of living vicariously </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">through</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> their children, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="aec6868d-293b-4009-88c5-638b45e78876" id="738e531d-eefc-4adb-8745-57e87e6b0e4c">but</gs> in doing <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1095a780-0164-4feb-8277-ff8b1f79b09e" id="e34e83bc-d06c-44d6-930b-d0ff07a8d261"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="aec6868d-293b-4009-88c5-638b45e78876" id="de9802b5-815c-4fed-9050-e3f2d71e4080">so they</gs></gs> forfeit the living-out of their own life.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Some people live </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">for </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">their children,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ae4f88df-32a4-4c46-b239-df5f9b36c05b" id="c4b11e56-bd11-4227-8cee-435987da6a77">cushioning</gs> them forever from life’s blows until they stop desiring independence. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And some of us find our way through, to living lovingly alongside them. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Though apron strings must be cut, heart strings will forever bind. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I will forever soar with your joys. And ache with your sorrows. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is the sometimes painful ‘limp’ of Love.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But as Jacob left with a blessing, <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="d264a310-f9ef-4f42-82bd-49972c0189ae" id="e3ffd750-7eeb-4050-93e9-fb4716127518"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="522a1879-9c69-406c-8799-0b745a350690" id="b02bd1f6-9ad2-4208-9bb0-5a50c7dd2589">I too</gs></gs>, leave these years of carrying you<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="522a1879-9c69-406c-8799-0b745a350690" id="adc1ced0-ee06-418c-aa9a-fffc4f16fbd6"> -</gs> </span></div>
<div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="3db8accd-705c-47a6-89e6-54defedaf99e" id="9c23d6d5-fc31-4ea5-9e95-06cc83bfb352">with</gs> a great Blessing.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">My blessing is that my son is now a man. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A man who loves. A man who loves deeply and cares for others. A man who is full of </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="d8d36b3d-550f-4ea9-9051-1cfd1c270dd0" id="b06c6ef3-524b-40c7-8a1f-36e9542d73ad">compassion</gs> for the hurting. A man full of creativity and abounding with fresh ideas and strong character. A man of God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A man who will someday go on to love a family of his own with a fierce love that was learned at the knee of his father and mother, gathered into the warm embrace of our family’s love. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is my blessing. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of ones’s youth." Psalm 127:4</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<a href="http://jenniferdukeslee.com/tell-his-story/" title=""><img alt="" src="http://jenniferdukeslee.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/tellhisstory-badge.jpg" style="border: none;" title="" /></a> AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-35941679299885365472014-09-10T09:41:00.003-07:002014-09-10T09:51:11.596-07:00IS IT TIME TO DO SOME WEEDING? <div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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'We must keep short accounts with God.' What a true statement.<br />
<br />
But there is more- we must also keep short accounts with one another.<br />
<br />
<i>Do you owe someone an apology? </i>It's tough to be humble. To say, 'You know, I could have handled that differently. I could have handled that <i>better. </i>I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?', but the fact remains- as Lovers of Jesus, being quick to make things right should be part of our regular life.<br />
<br />
"If it is possible, as far as it <i>depends on you, </i>be at peace with everyone." says Paul.<br />
<br />
Being quick to humble yourself and repent to someone you've sinned against is like weed killer in the garden of our relationships. When offense comes, left unattended, the Word teaches us that a 'bitter root' can spring up. When we are quick to repent and make it right (<i>and </i>quick to forgive those who sin against us) we are wielding a powerful tool that helps keep the garden of God's people (and our own hearts) free of weeds.<br />
<br />
<i>Lord, you said of yourself that You are humble and lowly of heart. Help me to not shy away from humbling myself when I need to. Help me to keep short accounts with people around me. Help me to be more like You. </i></div>
</div>
AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-15044022452861451092014-01-06T09:12:00.000-08:002014-01-06T16:46:12.906-08:00On Finding Him<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do I remain in Christ?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By doing everything <i>unto</i> Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Interrupted' during my 'devotion' time by my daughter's plea to help her blow-dry her hair for the first day back at school from Christmas break, I sighed. Resigned, I closed my Bible and followed her down the hall to the bathroom. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I plugged in the dryer and began to dry the long, brown strands, I felt my frustration ebb from me as I quietly whispered within, "I do this unto You, Jesus."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seems like silly-spiritual, just writing it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But don't judge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus showed up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt Him, in greater measure than I had moments before, sitting on my couch, peering into the scriptures trying to find Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a simple formula, I guess. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus. In everything. Remaining in Him means doing everything <i>unto</i> Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beholding Him. Declaring Him <i><b>beautiful</b> and <b>worthy</b></i> - right in the middle of my mundane everyday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This</i> is the drawing near to Him - that brings Him close to me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus really is beautiful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not the far-off, unattainable, light-shining-through-His-hair kind of beautiful. But the everyday kind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kind you catch a glimpse of when you see your kids getting along, enjoying each other, preferring each other and <i>serving</i> each other and you slow down to savor the moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kind of beauty that brings a friend to your doorstep at your tear-filled call to pick the lice from your hair. As you sit exhausted from days of vacuuming, washing, drying, combing and cleaning your children and home, she stands by your side, close, hour after hour. Combing, loving. Putting her own family on hold as she does the last of that dirty job that you couldn't do for yourself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kind of beauty that keeps us going and makes life worth living - Beauty-<i>full</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doing something, some service, unto another is such an action of Love. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be they great or small, if I make beautiful Jesus the first recipient of every act - that kind of love <i>draws</i> Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the whole reason God became Emmanuel- Jesus. To show us what love <i>acts</i> like. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as I draw Him in with acts of love, suddenly this ordinary gift of my time, my labor - it becomes infused with the scent of Jesus. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finding Him in the everyday just got easier. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Whatever your work is, do it gladly. Do it as you would do it unto the Lord and not for people."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Colossians 3:23</span></span>AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-28220010926498360102013-12-21T09:31:00.000-08:002013-12-21T09:31:39.372-08:00On Having Enough...<div class="MsoNormal">
Matthew 15:32-39</div>
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<b><i><u>“I </u>have compassion on the crowd because they
have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And <u>I </u>am
unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Jesus. What compassion. How often I misread your eyes, your
tone; Your heart for me. These words remind me that <b>You</b> are full of
compassion. <b>You</b> are unwilling to for me to walk around empty and hungry.
<i><b>You want me full.</b></i> </div>
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I often respond as your disciples did- hearing you say
something you didn’t. You expressed <b>your</b> compassion and <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="c557c3dc-e0a0-4d0a-8e09-ce20e96c390c" id="9dc18cd7-0fcd-4a53-bff6-1d9f563111f8">unwillingness</span> to
send the crowd away hungry, and they heard- ‘you guys go figure out on your own
how to meet the need’. </div>
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<b><i>“Where are WE to get enough bread…?”<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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How often do I think in terms of what I Don’t have enough
of- not <i>enough </i>time, not <i>enough </i>money, not <i>enough </i>help,
not <i>enough </i>strength for my days, not <i>enough </i>compassion or
understanding from those around me. Not enough of things going the way <i>I </i>expected…</div>
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<br /></div>
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Why do I always see
not enough? Why do I often feel as
though <i>I am never enough? <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Jesus redirects perspective
though, to take an account of what I already DO posses<i>.</i> </div>
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<b><i>And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves DO you have?”
<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b><i>“They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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Do you ever feel like this? Looking within, taking stock and there's just a few small fish flopping around. Goldfish size. A few loaves. Just about empty...</div>
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<br /></div>
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But Jesus reminds me- It’s never about what I <i>don’t </i>have. Only about what I
already possess- in Him. </div>
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And it will be more than enough. </div>
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I only have a little bit, Lord…</div>
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Yes, what we have to offer is small. But he will make it <i>more
</i>than enough. Through eyes turned upward, through thanksgiving for what we
do have, he will make it not only enough -</div>
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He will make it enough to fill you and to bless others.</div>
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<i><b>“And they all ate and were satisfied and they took up
seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.” </b></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-32000519499300362752013-09-11T08:37:00.002-07:002013-09-11T08:38:08.926-07:00Five Minute Friday- RED<div class="MsoNormal">
Red...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Known for passion. For blood. And what greater passion then
the one spilled out for me?</div>
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It's known for anger. This 'seeing red'. It's known for
Christmas. </div>
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It's hard to be passionate when I'm feeling scared and
alone. It's hard to remember the red blood shed for me on the hard days and the
long days. </div>
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<br /></div>
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But 'Jesus Loves Me, this I know' is more than just a song I
teach my kids. It's a truth that heals my soul. Again and again. This refrain.
Because I'm still weak. And He's still
strong. Because the passing of years has made me more child-like, not less. I
still need to belong to Him. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I belong to Him. Does this mean He cares for me? It means
I'm His. It means on the days my passion wanes, for life and love and HIM- His
passion never fails. He's always red-hot for me. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Joining in today on Five Minute Friday</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">where a word is given and we write</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">unedited for 5 minutes and post. </span></div>
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AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-40784381428567887592013-08-20T12:24:00.001-07:002013-08-21T10:34:35.942-07:00When You Want A Great Marriage<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“You make Us great." I whispered the words to my husband one night as I lay in bed after another day of learning about love from watching him live it out real and raw.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> The words came from deep within. Spoken with the conviction of eyes that have watched him forgive – when it would have been so easy to resent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They came with quiet awareness- from a heart that had known an embrace, though I stood with arms crossed, trembling in my rebellion. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here was one who entreats, when I am at my most stubborn. This man has shown me Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Grace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> We don’t earn it. We never deserve it. We can only give it and receive it. Like the gift that it is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I don’t know how many times grace has come to the rescue in this long journey of two becoming one flesh. I have lost count as the days have turned to years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> But gratefulness drives me to change. It’s while standing in the light of someone’s choice to show you grace, when deep down you know how undeserving you are, that you see it most clear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> That this kind of love, chosen and given, can build a beautiful life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Two becoming one is so much more than the beautiful mystery of sex, two bodies joining. It's the greater mystery of two hearts finally merging into one, that beats together, in rhythm and unison, pumping the blood of Christ into the dead places and making them live. And sing. And soar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> The road there leads down before it leads up. It brings us low in surrender. Obedience and submission yield their own fruits. And we are the blessed. Love begets love and life begets yet more life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enough to keep a home warm and safe, and plenty left over to share with others, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's become a saying now in our married life. Spoken with gratefulness in the moments of awareness that we have received from the other- the Gift of Grace, undeserved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> "You make Us great."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sharing today with:</span><br />
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{LENT} Day 4-7
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<i>If you want to get filled, you got to make room.</i><br />
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That is, if you want to get filled with the things of God. With the thoughts of God.<br />
The ways of God.<br />
Something has to go. A life only has so much room...<br />
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I awoke to this God-thought. It was what I needed to thrust back the covers and stand up in my still-dark bedroom. He knows what I need to motivate me to keep my appointment with Him these days.<br />
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How often do we say, <em>I need more of You, God!</em> These desperate prayers can seem pious to us, devoted and spiritual. But just picture Him coming, and pouring over you.... but wait!<br />
It seems the vessel is already filled.. filled with <em>other things...</em><br />
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<em>When the Spirit came pouring out at Pentecost, filling, filling, OVERFLOWING, it came after days of self being poured out in prayer. And is there any other way? We, too, must make room. </em><br />
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Prayer- true watchfulness and wakefullness in the Spirit is not the easy thing. Not for the flesh. Even the disciples couldn't manage it. <em>Wake up! Why are you sleeping? Watch and pray...so you will not fall. </em><br />
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God always has a way to keep us. He always has a plan. He always has the provision and the desire to give us what we<i> really</i> need. It's our desires that must be changed. The inner dial of our hearts that must be recalibrated to mirror His. <br />
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When we want what He wants, He sees that we get it. The Christ in us attracts the resource of Heaven. <br />
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Like Mary who emptied the bottle of ointment on His feet, we must empty these vessels. Like the Chirst-followers who prayed, hard, in that upper room. Pouring out, pouring out...<br />
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And then -<br />
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The Filling Came.<br />
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Linking with these...
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">DIY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Printable Heart Valentine Tree</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmAfTz7-S3XtgS8OgZdXY8iDwujLs6B58PUkuETJW9BKjk9lnPQu-j7L7ujwWg6H5_2eCA8-numntNdU08kx_neKpU6nINl1oUo61zJZ3Em6tfuJxNJaMzdLT_B4Rc9cXi8-1WNCe7iM/s1600/IMG956018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF27-WROdA-m1Vi45_dxsqqzW3M8ruBMWzHSWDiWDOtHk8j02tb5T9GVJkcYOy8ZBASEqM6grZ8hroqybO25_4JcTcgesd5lyiAm5BLUHj9siXxuSgLhgjnzVc_TwE2rWM014nkj58bk/s1600/IMG956892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF27-WROdA-m1Vi45_dxsqqzW3M8ruBMWzHSWDiWDOtHk8j02tb5T9GVJkcYOy8ZBASEqM6grZ8hroqybO25_4JcTcgesd5lyiAm5BLUHj9siXxuSgLhgjnzVc_TwE2rWM014nkj58bk/s400/IMG956892.jpg" width="297" /></a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> This is a quick (couple hours) DIY project I made for some friends who invited our family over for dinner on Valentine's Day this year. A little hostess-gift, if you will. Had such fun creating, even more fun giving it away. I think I'll make one for my own house next year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmAfTz7-S3XtgS8OgZdXY8iDwujLs6B58PUkuETJW9BKjk9lnPQu-j7L7ujwWg6H5_2eCA8-numntNdU08kx_neKpU6nINl1oUo61zJZ3Em6tfuJxNJaMzdLT_B4Rc9cXi8-1WNCe7iM/s1600/IMG956018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmAfTz7-S3XtgS8OgZdXY8iDwujLs6B58PUkuETJW9BKjk9lnPQu-j7L7ujwWg6H5_2eCA8-numntNdU08kx_neKpU6nINl1oUo61zJZ3Em6tfuJxNJaMzdLT_B4Rc9cXi8-1WNCe7iM/s320/IMG956018.jpg" width="236" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qNbyc-jlcLVsQXsRXqi_Xb9OpglBcrVco1hy9MiGDKJvDeKDO9vBQ0TjlT2YD2vpOHScqtQURXwprJJ2pbQm-w4yoU3dc12K9mqfCJwXsRGYoVjHxNqsKc711AXNEpWjQ0NgDYR2TfQ/s1600/IMG952329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qNbyc-jlcLVsQXsRXqi_Xb9OpglBcrVco1hy9MiGDKJvDeKDO9vBQ0TjlT2YD2vpOHScqtQURXwprJJ2pbQm-w4yoU3dc12K9mqfCJwXsRGYoVjHxNqsKc711AXNEpWjQ0NgDYR2TfQ/s320/IMG952329.jpg" width="236" /></a></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">SUPPLIES:</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Container</b> (Look around your house and see what you can come up with. I ended up using this $4 glass vase I had from Walmart, but would have really liked to use some kind of white or copper-colored tall watering can or something. Either way, needs to be medium size, mine was about 9-10 in. tall with a wide top)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Dried Fake Plant Filler </b>(this is a long name for something that I don't know the actual name of :) Mine was this dry, straw-like, curly grass stuff I had used at the bottom of a dried flower arrangement I'd done ages ago, and still had a bunch left)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Branches </b>(take some from outside, or maybe buy some pussy willows or a branch pack from the crafts store. Again, I tried to use what I had on hand and dug into my Christmas greenery bag and found these all-brown filler branches that were just what I needed!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Red Paper </b>Luckily I had a few sheets of red scrapbook paper left in my very limited scrapping supplies. Just make sure it's not construction paper. (And make sure it's red on both sides, I had some that was white on the back)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Printer with Black Ink </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Heart Template </b>I created mine in Microsoft Publisher, using the heart shape tool and the text box inside. Taking the description of LOVE found in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. I pulled from several different version to get the final 15 hearts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Ribbon </b>I choose this burgundy and cream gingham-checked ribbon. I tied a large piece around my container and then cut smaller stripts of it to make the hangars for the hearts. Hanging the hearts with some rick-rack or twine would be cute too)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hole-punch </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Burgundy/Brick Red Craft Paint </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(The little heart you see up above the bow I made by cutting a small square of white muslin. I then used a heart stamp I had and stamped a heart with the burgundy paint. After it dried, I cut it out and glued to the glass with Elmer's glue. This step I added because the vase I ended up using was such a boring glass... it needed something)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The assembly was too easy to bother writing out for you... Print out your hearts with the verses on, cut them out. I painted around the edges of mine, and then added some texture to them, front and back with a mostly dry paintbrush that had just a tad of the paint on it. Hole punch tie on your ties and hang them on your branches! </span></div>
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Linking Up...
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Day 2 {LENT}<br />
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One thing I keep hearing... <i>Surrender.</i><br />
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I love how God will dovetail various happenings in our life to say the same thing, making sure we get it.<br />
In my women's study this week, as we go through the book of John, chapter by chapter, we finished up this Tuesday with the first portion of Chapter 12. My study book summed up the section by highlighting the the 'surrender' of Mary.<br />
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Her act of anointing His feet and unbinding her hair to wipe them... such a symbol of a<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"> Surrendering Love</span></i><br />
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I've been asking 'What' to surrender to Him for Lent? 'What' to sacrifice?<br />
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For a sacrifice is not just doing or giving something that is inconvenient, but rather it requires a depraving of oneself in order to honor and serve God (like Mary, taking the glory of her hair and using it for such a humble tool to wipe the oil and grit from His toes). Sacrifice..... stretches. It costs.<br />
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And isn't that what the season of Lent is to be about? Being stretched out within to make room for Him? Less of us, more of Him. So, I've been asking, 'What' am I to deprive myself of to honor and make room for Him in these coming weeks?<br />
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Today He reminded me, it's less about the 'What' and more about the "Why". The motive.<br />
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To give up something, simply as a religious practice or an observance exercised, if done outside of the motivation of Love, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013:3&version=NIV" target="_blank">"profits me nothing"</a>. So this at least I know. Perhaps the 'what' is not yet decided, but the 'why'?<br />
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The 'why' is Love.<br />
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Though at times my love for Him reveals itself to be shallow, more concerned with gaining than giving, like Mary I long to move from being one who sits and receives from Him, to one who rises in sacrificial love <i>for Him, </i>and must pour out a gift right onto His feet.<br />
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He who loves...does.</div>
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Profession is easy, </div>
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but the depth of our sincerity</div>
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is measured by our actions.</div>
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Also, still taking beauty and insight from the passage in 2 Chronicles 29-30:</div>
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"My sons, do not <b>now</b> be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to Him." (2 Chronicles 29:11)</blockquote>
After the king recites all the ways they, as a people, <i>have </i>been negligent up until then, he challenges them to turn from this checkered past, and seize the 'now' before them.<br />
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I am so thankful that with the King there is always the call to the 'now'.<br />
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<i> "Forget the former things..."</i><br />
<i> "Forgetting what is behind..." </i><br />
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He calls us to live in the now, where He proclaims over each of us a grace that is sufficient.<br />
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Have you a checkered past, too? Is it filled, like my own journey, with starts and stops and shadowed with sin and shortcoming? (<i>Remember we must, all our sin and shame only serve to highlight the depths to which his love and grace will reach to hold us)</i><br />
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He is calling us to lay aside the past and step into the Now with both feet. To practice a love for Him that both says and does, and even in our weakness, to 'make offerings to him."<br />
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May his words about me be what they were about the woman long ago, the one who sacrificed a love offering at His feet, <i>She did what she could.</i><br />
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(This is the second post in a series of forty as I journey through the days of Lent. Would you join me each day? Even start at Day <a href="http://inmyownwords-angiec.blogspot.com/2013/02/lent-in-beginning.html" target="_blank">one </a>and read through, as together we learn from Him.)<br />
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Linking up with:<br />
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<a href="http://womenlivingwell.org/category/women-living-well-wednesdays/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq297/courtneylivingwell/LivingWell.png" /></a><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/" target="_blank">
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I am not a Lent practicer. (and practicer is not a word, so says my spell check...)<br />
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But I am a Christ-lover.<br />
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Last year, around this time, several blogs I enjoy were full of the writer's Lent experiences. I thought then, 12 months ago, <i>I would like to try this Lent thing. This letting go, this laying down. This focus for forty days.</i><br />
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My mental note did not serve me well.. I forgot. Thankfully though, this was not an Angie-idea, but a God-idea, and He does not forget.<br />
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Here is where I must confess to a bad habit I am needing to change - I often browse through Facebook on my phone upon first opening my eyes in the morning. Days that once began with, <i>Good Morning, Lord, </i>lately have begun with reading a play-by-play of a friends long night or an suggestion of another to 'Enjoy my morning beverage'. Though again this morning, I did the same, a <a href="http://jenniferdukeslee.com/lettinggo/" target="_blank">post on Facebook referring to Lent</a> caught my attention.<br />
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Sitting down awhile later with my cup of coffee and Bible, I was led to the story of Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 29-32.<br />
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It begins by telling the story of this righteous king, who wanted to purify the temple. He commands the priests to consecrate it. Throw out the trash. It begins by the King himself, <i>opening the doors of the house of the Lord, and repairing them.</i><br />
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Again, my thoughts turned to Lent.. was it not to be a time for the Christ-follower to come face-to-face with the unclean within? The need for a Savior?<br />
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A few Googles later, I realized that today of all days was the beginning of the forty days of Lent, Ash Wednesday. What I did not remember on my own, His sweet Spirit brought to my attention.<br />
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And so, friends, the next forty days I will chronicle my own journey of Lent. Perhaps you wish to join me? Consider slipping your email into the box above and recieving the journey updates to your email. My prayer for you - that you may grow in grace.<br />
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My prayer for me as I begin the journey,<br />
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Just as Hezekiah opened wide those temple doors</div>
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I, too, open wide the doors of my heart today,</div>
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The doors of this, your holy temple.</div>
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Wide I open them to You,</div>
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No longer closing the door</div>
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That I might hide the unclean and impure</div>
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that lurks within it's walls.</div>
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I'm open to You,</div>
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I'm opening wide the doors,</div>
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That You may repair</div>
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Every broken place.</div>
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Until tomorrow...<br />
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Linking with these today:<br />
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Running fast through life, inviting him to run along side... it just doesn't produce the results my heart is truly longing for.
When I schedule time into my everyday life to be quiet with Him, beholding Him, I come face to face with His goodness, His kindness, His holiness.<br />
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And my heart cries out, like Isaiah long ago, <i>I am unclean!</i><br />
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Funny how something looks white until you hold it up to something that's brilliantly white, and suddenly what we thought clean and bright shows itself to be dull and yellowed.<br />
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We can all seem holy or righteous when we use other imperfect people as our measure, but the measure we use must always be... HIM.<br />
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And this awareness of who He is, and calls me to be, only comes through looking long at Him.<br />
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The good news is, it doesn't end with us just looking and longing. For us who are living on this side of the cross, our longing to be like Him doesn't have to remain an unfulfilled hope...
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i>So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i>2 Corinthians 4:15 MSG</i></span></div>
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Here's the truth in the simplest form I know... within me lies the seeds of the very nature of God. A whole, new created being that awoke to Him the day I cried out in my sin and shame for His salvation. </div>
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And now, those seeds of life have taken root. They've begun to sprout here and there. As the roots grow larger and deeper, the old, dead nature in me continues to be routed out. </div>
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Like any seed, it must be watered... time in the Word, time with Jesus. "Let all of you who are thirsty, come to Me and drink..."</div>
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To grow, a seed needs the Sun. <i>Alot</i> of time in the presence of the Son.... </div>
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No shortcuts to greatness here. No quicker routs to Holiness. Just the simple formula of lots of time in His word, in the presence of His light. And before we know it, the reflection we behold now dimly, shall eventually shine like the Son.</div>
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Joining today with...<br />
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AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-77696733129110278792012-10-29T10:22:00.000-07:002012-11-15T08:49:30.038-08:00Mountains High and Valleys Low<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It comes softly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Stealing up on me like the best of moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This peace. Not because everything is 'right' or 'good', but because </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">He is here.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I feel the Peace settle around me. A calm. Though a storm may rage outside, within <b>I am still.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I feel so thankful </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> as I grow with the knowing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> that life comes and goes, marked by seasons. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As it ebbs and flows...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I come to know that few things remain constant, except the Love of a Savior.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally coming out from under a long night of winters, I feel the warmth of change. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1iVIqpsWVpBemImiNryDyxLSw8pgVnw2ZillMOSmNKzlyugWkHaW5ZTZtA5BKmv2PwNoqV0P1lK4GMWowy1WRv9bsYaIIdyUClJMn0YwDhVnovq7Ddivvlu2elmeE6GD3-_DIXQjBb4/s1600/IMG_20121024_083025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1iVIqpsWVpBemImiNryDyxLSw8pgVnw2ZillMOSmNKzlyugWkHaW5ZTZtA5BKmv2PwNoqV0P1lK4GMWowy1WRv9bsYaIIdyUClJMn0YwDhVnovq7Ddivvlu2elmeE6GD3-_DIXQjBb4/s640/IMG_20121024_083025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unexpected new blooms in late October</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I know <i>now</i>, with a certainty I didn't have before the dark, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> that joy really does come in the morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That the hard times, the valleys of this life, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">when walked with the Friend who sticks closer than a brother,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> they enlarge us as nothing else can. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And when the journey takes us upwards again, to scale the heights ~ we are so much more aware </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>of all the beauty in this life. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs89436DU4tho31t7fGzx1aFNjOfEr8-55g-HbG4gcLpWDCLjFnJ-Nyleq1SFfz2pmcuJxqSRDKu_s-081IBEOFWp2nbNY8UjcNLsZQNrg3H8SJ00BZPQrHfcwCHBKC62alZ4PXP8C53I/s1600/hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs89436DU4tho31t7fGzx1aFNjOfEr8-55g-HbG4gcLpWDCLjFnJ-Nyleq1SFfz2pmcuJxqSRDKu_s-081IBEOFWp2nbNY8UjcNLsZQNrg3H8SJ00BZPQrHfcwCHBKC62alZ4PXP8C53I/s640/hills.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our eyes are clearer, our hearing more acute. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our hearts, they have become fuller and yet emptier, too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We find more room to take in</span><br />
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> All the gifts...</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <i>we are given from His hand.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: center;">Every day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: center;">Every <b>moment</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">New gifts to be oh-so-grateful for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For<i> this</i> I am thankful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Counting 1000 gifts today with <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/one-thousand-gifts-book/">Ann</a> :</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#109 Peace within</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#110 Our first public <a href="http://www.venturechurch.com/">Preview Service</a> - a success! Thanks be to You, Lord! (and to the amazing team you continue to gather)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#111 New friends joining the journey as we plant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#112 Old friends joining, too :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#113 Family movie night that actually entertained the WHOLE family (teenagers included)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#114 A generous family</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#115 Elsa gifting her time and love each week to help me with the books.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#116 Silly girls playing dress up at Goodwill as we search for costumes</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever."</i></span></blockquote>
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AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-78838327594047838102012-09-20T11:45:00.000-07:002012-09-20T14:46:59.060-07:00Enjoying Life<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span>caught a beautiful sunrise this morning. Sitting on my back porch with a steaming cup of coffee and my Bible open wide, I read these words, <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>"<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Eccl-5-18" id="en-ESV-17416"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Behold, what I have seen to be <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-17416U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup>good and fitting is to eat and drink and find <u>enjoyment </u>in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-17416V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup>lot.</span> <span class="text Eccl-5-19" id="en-ESV-17417"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Everyone also to whom <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-17417W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></sup>God has given <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-17417X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></sup>wealth and possessions <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-17417Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></sup>and power to <u>enjoy them</u>, and to accept his lot and <u>rejoice</u> in his toil— </span><span class="text Eccl-5-19" id="en-ESV-17417"><strong>this is <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-17417Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup>the gift of God</strong>.</span> </span><span class="text Eccl-5-20" id="en-ESV-17418"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with <u>joy</u> in his heart." Ecclesiastes 5:18-20</span></span></em></blockquote>
How had I never seen this before? I heard the call to enjoy this life God has given me. <br />
<br />
This messy, imperfect, beautiful life he has gifted me with.<br />
I'm taking God up on His promise to keep me 'occupied with joy in my heart'. <br />
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I figure if I'm going to start enjoying my life to the fullest, why not start now? This morning? And so I put aside all the pressing, to do something I'd enjoy. I must do this before the moments all pass me by. <br />
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I decided I would bake a recipe I'd been wanting to try. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Cinnamon Sugar Bread</span></div>
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You can find it <a href="http://whiskandaprayer.blogspot.com/2011/04/cinnamon-sugar-bread.html" target="_blank">here</a> if you want to try it. I pinned it on pinterest with the intent of trying it 'one of those days' and here we are.<br />
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I had a helper with my task, making it even more enjoyable. Meet 2 year old Kate, complete with bed-head hair:<br />
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Around the time my assistant and I were measuring in the 3rd ingredient I began to realize that in my zest for enjoying my life I had forgotten to check if I even <strong>had</strong> all the ingredients on hand needed to make this recipe... <br />
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Sugar? Uhmm. No. <br />
Milk? I was out.<br />
Cinnamon? Just a smidge. <br />
<br />
So, you may be wondering how one makes Sugar Cinnamon Bread with no sugar or cinnamon...<br />
<br />
We turn it into Hazelnut Pumpkin Spice Bread! 'Cuz that's how we roll.<br />
<br />
I substituted the white sugar for the brown I did have, used pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon, and the milk? Well, mix up some water and Hazelnut Coffee-Mate and hello! You have a cup of white liquid that actually <em>looks </em>just like milk! Go figure. My baking assistant proclaimed it "tastes good", so there you have it folks. <br />
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Five minutes later, this bad boy is ready for the oven...</div>
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I'm pretty sure that batter was finger-lickin' good, and Katie was happy to help clean the dishes...<br />
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And, are you ready? </div>
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Kate and I have eaten 5 slices between us, delicious. I'll save the remainder for the rest of the troops when they come home from school.</div>
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Wishing you a day of joy, rejoicing and enjoying the life God has blessed you with. It may not always have all the ingredients you are hoping for... but you have what you need to make something wonderful...</div>
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Did you enjoy reading The AlabaAngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-52354729967864815682012-08-29T21:23:00.000-07:002012-08-30T10:41:30.317-07:00His Eye Is On The SparrowStanding at the kitchen sink, elbow deep in suds, I was surprised at my calm.
<br />
<br />
I could hear the hum of conversation behind the closed door beyond the hall. I knew the voice on the other end of the line was giving the news we'd expected but wern't looking forward to hearing.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
What <strong><em>do</em> </strong>you do when life takes the turn you knew was up ahead? <br />
<br />
How do you manage calm and assurance when the stream dries up? The one you've been sitting next to, drinking from, depending on for daily needs. What do you do when the ravens stop bringing the bread? <br />
<br />
You must follow the voice of the One you trust with everything. <br />
<br />
The Voice that says, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings+17&version=ESV">'Get up from here, and go to another place. I've commanded another source for you.'</a><br />
<br />
The peace within comes quietly. A knowing... that He is here with me. In this moment. That I am prepared. <br />
<br />
Because <em>He's already prepared</em> <em>a place</em>, a provision. <br />
<br />
And then I see it.<br />
<br />
Out the window, there on the grass. In the midst of all that green lies a brown feather. Fluttered down earlier that day from one of the many <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12:7&version=ESV">sparrows</a> that visit our yard for the seed. <br />
<br />
And I know it's a reminder from my Father who loves me so. Assuring me as only He can.<br />
<br />
<em>His eye is on the sparrow. And I know He watches me.</em><br />
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<u><strong>His Eye Is On The Sparrow</strong></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">by</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Civilla Martin</span></div>
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Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,<br />
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">home</span>,<br />
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:<br />
<span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">His eye is on the sparrow</span>, and I know He watches me;<br />
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.</div>
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Refrain<br />
I sing because I’m happy,<br />
I sing because I’m free,<br />
For His eye is on the sparrow,<br />
And I know He watches me.<br />
<br />
“Let not <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD8">your heart</span> be troubled,” His tender word I hear,<br />
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;<br />
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;<br />
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;<br />
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.<br />
<br />
Refrain<br />
<br />
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,<br />
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,<br />
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;<br />
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;<br />
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.<br />
<br />
Refrain</div>
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Civilla Martin, who wrote the lyrics, said this about her inspiration to write the song based in the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:29-31 and Luke 12:6-7,<br />
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"Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience."</div>
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—Civilla Martin</div>
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Why live in fear<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> when I can be free?</span></strong><br />
<br />
Why live in disouragement <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">when I can live in downright<em> joy</em>?</span></strong><br />
<br />
Not because the world says 'All is well.'<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>but because it is well <em>with my soul.</em></strong></span><br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">"God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey." </i>Philippians 2:13<br />
<br />
Have you ever thought you could change someone else?<br />
<br />
If you just tried hard enough... wanted it bad enough <i>for them, </i>somehow it would come about eventually.<br />
I have. It's exhausting. Mostly because it doesn't work, and all it does is leave us frustrated, resentful and ridden with anxiety. That alone should be a sure sign that we aren't doing it God's way.<br />
<br />
Didn't Jesus tell us that if we took His yoke upon ourselves it would be an easy yolk... a <i>light </i>burden<i>? </i><br />
But trying to change those around us is not easy, it's hard. And the burden of doing so is a heavy one. <br />
<br />
<b> That's because it's not our job.</b><br />
<br />
The process of transformation in each person is always, only the job of Jesus. He is the Author of each person's faith, He alone is the perfecter. He alone is the one who began the good work in them, He alone will be the one faithful to complete it.<br />
<br />
When we stand before him one day, it will be to answer for that which we ourselves have been given. <i>Our</i> life. <i>Our </i>days. Each will give an account for <i>themselves.</i><br />
<br />
Sometimes in our love for those around us we can mistake our anxiety for their spiritual growth as a mark of our spirituality, or our depth of caring. This is a wrong thinking. When the disciples were surrounded by stormy seas, they accused the Lord Jesus of not caring if they drowned. As if him being in a place of rest about the situation showed a lack of compassion or concern. Jesus? Not caring, really? He rebuked them for their fear and lack of faith. (Mark 4)<br />
<br />
<b>True spirituality is marked by our ability to entrust the care and growth of those we love into the loving hands of God. Our God, and<i> theirs. </i></b><br />
<i><br /></i>
Pray for them, in faith. Speak words of encouragement and life. Yes.<br />
But let us not resort to 'helpful hints', manipulation by guilt, or any other fleshly means to accomplish the holy work of transformation in another soul. It is God's work.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i><sup class="versenum" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.75em; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;">" </sup></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> satisfaction </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>delight." </b> </i> </span>Philippians<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 2:13 Amplified Version </span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.time-warp-wife.blogspot.com" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKCdnxblSNuq2NGXpNW_0lw8Ljm11cnQASpq-hxSfP1m4xqnZ_T_-osZwEJA8QtIIuf4St5kKQ9qBqHTt87HnsGuAhknd9fhrUSbjy3_NPpBdzuW73MFj6I_fTlaP1Ko6cv8JqCgcT3g/s1600/TuesdaysButton.jpg" /></a>
<br><a href="http://cornerstoneconfessions.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z405/CornerstoneBlog/125x125Titus2FeatureButton.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br>AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-42718242291288528102012-08-01T20:02:00.000-07:002012-08-04T07:32:21.740-07:00What I'm Not<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What defines you? Here are some things that do NOT define me:<br />
<br />
I am <b>not </b>defined by....<br />
what kind of car I drive<br />
how much money is in my bank account<br />
or what people who don't really know me think about me<br />
<br />
I am <b>not</b> defined by....<br />
how big or well decorated my home is<br />
how amazing of birthday parties I throw my children<br />
or what stores I shop at<br />
<br />
I am <b>not</b> defined by....<br />
being the team mom for my kid's sport<br />
the size and shape of my body<br />
or what brand my jeans are, or purse is<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">No, these things do not define me.</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
(And sometimes I have to say it just like that. Big and Bold. If only to myself. Regularly.)<br />
<br />
And I try and remember then, what DOES define me, according to <b>God's</b> measuring stick...<br />
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How well I <b>love</b> others (John 13:35)<br />
How well I <b>care</b> for the widow and the orphan (James 1:27)<br />
How well I <b>serve</b> the least of my brethren (Matt 25:40)<br />
<br />
Some people think that they are defined by how much knowledge that they have acquired, spiritual or otherwise.<br />
<br />
But it seems it really all comes down to how well you love.<br />
<br />
Jesus commended those who loved with abandon. The woman who poured out the ointment on his feet, all of her best lavished on him with love.<br />
<br />
Or the one whom they called sinner, who washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, of whom Jesus said, "Her many sins have been forgiven - as her great love has shown."<br />
<br />
Paul knew how easy it would be for the Christ-follower to get sidetracked, majoring on the minors, forsaking the one command Jesus gave us: Love. And love well.<br />
He wrote in his letter to the church at Corinth:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span class="text 1Cor-13-1" id="en-NIV-28667" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">"I</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 1Cor-13-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">f I speak in the tongues <span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28667A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span>of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.</span><span class="text 1Cor-13-2" id="en-NIV-28668" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>If I have the gift of prophecy <span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28668B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span>and can fathom all mysteries <span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28668C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></span>and all knowledge, <span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28668D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span>and if I have a faith <span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28668E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup></span>that can move mountains, <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28668F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup><b><span style="font-size: large;">but do not have love,</span></b> <b><span style="font-size: large;">I am nothing.</span></b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 1Cor-13-3" id="en-NIV-28669" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup></span></span>If I give all I possess to the poor <span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28669G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup></span>and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,<span class="text 1Cor-13-3" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span>but do not have love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Can we say, like good ole' Forrest, "I'm not a smart man. But I know what <b>love</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> is."</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 1Cor-13-3" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span><br />
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If we were to strive for this one thing only, to know what love is and do it well, we will have lived a very worthy life indeed.<br />
<br />
Defined by love. His love for us. Our love for Him. Our love for others. Period.<br />
<br />
<br />
Linking today with:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 1Cor-13-3" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 1Cor-13-3" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span><br />
<br />
"<br />
<br />
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"</div>
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</div>AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-50888418755600426582012-07-29T16:43:00.004-07:002013-08-21T07:58:38.134-07:00The Kiss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Relaxing in bed on a Sunday afternoon, half way between sleep and alertness... Too comfortable to even open my eyes though I heard him come in and lie down beside me. His spontaneous kiss came as a surprise. Cool lips that met mine in a unexpected moment of affection. He promptly rolled over and went into his own slumber, the hours of his work week and the emptying of self this morning at the worship service finally catching up and culminating in the glorious Sunday afternoon nap.<br />
<br />
I lay there awhile reflecting on that kiss. And the thought came:<br />
<i>God likes it when we love Him like that.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Those unplanned moments of sheer affection.<br />
<br />
Sure, He appreciates the methodical, daily devotions (I think, maybe not as much as we think He does?)<br />
And the planned times of prayer.<br />
But oh, how sweet are the times when out of a heart simply filled with love and joy, we attempt in our feeble human ways to show Him how much He means to us.<br />
<br />
Sometimes I try too hard. Forgetting I was <i>His Beloved</i> long before I even knew His name, much less how to praise it's glory.<br />
And He loves me still. As much as ever.<br />
A love that runs like a powerful locomotive, a crazy furious storm over me.<br />
Again and again.<br />
<br />
It's okay to enjoy this a bit. To take this truth in and hold it and be with it awhile and let it fill me.<br />
To feel the <b>joy</b> of His love for <i>me</i>.<br />
It's like water to all the thirsty places inside me, longing to be filled again.<br />
I find the most life-giving revelations I get are not the new ones, it's the old ones that I've somehow managed to forget.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I'll never grow so old</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>That I won't need Your touch</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I'll never be so strong</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>That it would ever be enough</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I'll never be so sure</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Or wise in my own eyes</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>That I won't humbly come and say,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"I will always need You here with me,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Every new day, each breath I breath.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>There is never going to be</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Anyone else for me.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Show me how to rest within Your arms</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>A peaceful place within the storm.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>For every moment that I am with You</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Feels like coming Home."</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Beloved: Let him </span><b style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">kiss</b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><b style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">me</b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><b style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">with</b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><b style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">the</b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><b style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">kiss</b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>es of his mouth</b>— for your love is more delightful than wine. Song of Songs 1:2</span></span></blockquote>
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I'm linking up today with...<br />
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<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">"Be Kind."</span></em><br />
<br />
My world at home is filled with the noise of four children and a husband that works from home, too. Noise, I am used to. So much so that I've gotten pretty good at tuning it out to focus on whatever task is at hand.<br />
<br />
But a <em>whisper</em>... A whisper catches my attention. <br />
<br />
My mouth snapped shut, swallowing my words hard. (They did not go down without a fight, but they went down.) Swimming up from memory came the fruit of His Spirit,<br />
<br />
<em><strong>KINDNESS</strong></em><br />
PATIENCE<br />
JOY<br />
LOVE <br />
<br />
I did a quick spiritual health check-up and realized it's an attribute that has been missing in me of late.<br />
Kindness doesn't ramshod over others to express itself. Like patience and gentleness, it's one of the quiet graces, the kind not celebrated too often in the world we are sojourning through. And yet, it is a huge part of who God is. <br />
<br />
What does kindness <em>look</em> like?<br />
<br />
Today, for me, kindness meant holding back words that were better left unsaid. I'm hoping that as I lean in to hear that whisper again this week, I can be teachable. Learning from the God of kindness, what it means to be kind.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>"But when the kindness <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29928E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> and love of God our Savior <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29928F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup> appeared, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29928G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup> <span class="text Titus-3-5" id="en-NIV-29929"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>he saved us..." Titus 3:4</span></strong></div>
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<br />
I'd love to hear what some of you have learned from God about kindness. Perhaps we can learn together.<br />
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AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-70922660841889440312012-06-26T08:47:00.000-07:002012-06-29T07:20:39.353-07:00What Can I Give?Coming to consciousness this morning, prayers in my head if not yet on my lips, I heard this from the Still place within:<br />
<br />
<i> "Focus on giving today, not getting."</i><br />
<br />
It was given like a key from the One who loves me best and wants everyday to be my best. I felt this splash of joy that opened me up inside. Anticipation came into my heart as I thought of simple ways I could focus on giving today to all those around me...<br />
<br />
<i>I could give</i> a clean kitchen to my husband and children (and myself!) which had been left a bit chaotic after my (now) 13 year old son's birthday party that went late last night...<br />
<br />
<i>I could give</i> a peaceful and joy-filled heart to my kids because I would take the time to get filled up with the word and quiet time with my Father before they awake this morning...<br />
<br />
<i>I could give</i> an open home and heart to my friend's children who would be spending the day with us as she went off to work...<br />
<br />
And to God... <i>what <b>do</b> you give the Someone who has everything already??</i> <br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i style="background-color: white;">I could give</i><span style="background-color: white;"> a </span><b style="background-color: white;">sacrifice of praise</b><span style="background-color: white;"> on my lips even though my heart's felt a bit heavy lately...</span><br />
<i>I could give</i> <b>obedience</b> to the things He's said to complete...<br />
<i>I could give</i> <b>trust</b> that He's handling the things I can't (hasn't He earned it?)...<br />
<i> I could give</i> thanks,<b> true heart-felt thanks</b>, all day, as I remind myself of all I've been blessed with.<br />
<br />
I'm on the hunt today. A treasure-hunt of my own to find ways to give. And in doing so, I'm imitating my Father (bonus!) I'm setting my inner-dial of focus on giving. I'm anticipating giving. The joy of giving. The blessing of giving.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> "It is more blessed to give than to receive."</b></i></span></div>
<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff162/annvoskamp/subalbumone/walkwithhimwednesdays2-1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNW8RQtYlLHxLPhK1IFy6UNPh9P9iMRdsyEu7y8sRYM3o7ThXDGcUi1bWmRVn06tg9SGudFrRqScWz6Wp9A_TL0wo5O9n-K99i3YLdqZOd29M6prCqx3qhl5C2dtEnI_ENQkfbRm6x5IDP/s1600/bab+button+1+-+Copy.png" /></a></center><a href="http://womenlivingwell.org/category/women-living-well-wednesdays/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq297/courtneylivingwell/LivingWell.png" /></a><center><a href="http://www.growinghomeblog.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Growing Home" src="http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg529/growinghomeblog/PMTeachme.png" /></a></center><a href="http://www.time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKCdnxblSNuq2NGXpNW_0lw8Ljm11cnQASpq-hxSfP1m4xqnZ_T_-osZwEJA8QtIIuf4St5kKQ9qBqHTt87HnsGuAhknd9fhrUSbjy3_NPpBdzuW73MFj6I_fTlaP1Ko6cv8JqCgcT3g/s1600/TuesdaysButton.jpg" /></a>
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<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.beholdingglory.com/" target="_blank" title="Beholding Glory"><img alt="Beholding Glory" src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o304/laurakrokos/fff1.jpg" style="border: currentColor;" /></a></div>
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<br />
<center><a border="0" href="http://www.shandaoakleyinspires.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa401/shandaoakley/heart.jpg" /></a></center><center><a href="http://www.deeprootsathome.com/"><img border="0" src="http://www.deeprootsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Capture-2.jpg"/></a></center>AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-21111782370776957192012-05-22T17:04:00.004-07:002012-07-03T17:48:00.603-07:00When You Are Suffering...Tired of this burden.<br />
Not sure where to set it down, though.<br />
Or how.<br />
Or even if I'm supposed to...<br />
<br />
I need a Savior <i>today. </i>Funny how salvation isn't really a one-time thing like some suppose. A one-time prayer that covers all the hard days. I need a Savior everyday.<br />
<br />
I need a Rescuer. A Redeemer.<br />
<br />
<b> Jesus saves me. Jesus saves me now.</b><br />
<br />
Or so I'm told to pray.<br />
But my hands feel to limp to fold. Tears come more readily than words.<br />
And what to say anyway?<br />
<br />
<i> I'm tired?</i><i> I'm weary with the waiting?</i><br />
<br />
We always think bad things happen because of sin.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "Why was this man born blind? Did his parents sin - or did he sin?" </i></blockquote>
<br />
'Cause certainly <i>somebody </i>sinned. <i><b>Right?</b></i><br />
<br />
I'm looking around, too. Wondering who's the culprit... <b>Me again?</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b> <i>Am I the cause of this mess, Lord?</i></b><br />
<br />
It's a heavy burden sometimes - my own blindness.<br />
<br />
But what was it the Master said?<br />
"<b>This</b> happened..." <br />
<i>This</i> tragedy. <i>This</i> sorrow. <i>This</i> trial. This ache in my chest.<br />
"...that the Glory of God might be revealed."<br />
<br />
What kind of plan is this?<br />
<i>You're hurting SO THAT I can heal you?</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Does that even fit w<i>ith my theology?</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
So many of the most beautiful miracles come through pain.<br />
Even the (super)natural miracle of childbirth comes to us, riding in on waves of pain.<br />
It never comes with softness only. With quiet calm.<br />
And then this little life is there, it too, letting out a cry after it breaths in it's first breath of air.<br />
<br />
The pain leading up seems so.... <b>un</b>bearable.<br />
<br />
You just want it DONE. OVER. You'd give anything.<br />
<br />
But sometimes the only way up and out is through.<br />
Like the children's book:<br />
<br />
"We can't go over it.<br />
We can't go under it.<br />
Oh-no! We have to go<br />
<b><i>through it."</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
So glad there's a promise on the other side. Some <b>day </b>(the Lord knows when) I'll be done going <b>through </b>it.<br />
And I'll be holding my promise in my arms.<br />
With joy.<br />
With amazement. With laughter. Feeling the moment all the deeper for having waited so long. Just to get through to that precious gift.<br />
And it will have been WORTH it.<br />
<br />
And isn't that the Way of the Cross?<br />
And in my suffering I must remember - I have yet to suffer as He did. Unto death.<br />
<br />
I can see Him now - up ahead.<br />
I do not travel alone on this road of suffering.<br />
<br />
We share both in His victory and His suffering. Sometimes at the same time!<br />
Kingdom ways are a paradox.<br />
Down is Up.<br />
Death is Life.<br />
and sometimes the greatest gifts are given, the greatest victories won, on the path of suffering.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed to sow<br />
shall come home with shouts of joy - carrying his sheaves with him." Psalm 126:6<br />
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
Linking up today with:<br />
<img alt="Growing Home" src="http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg529/growinghomeblog/summerteachmetuesdays.png" /><img alt="Picture" src="http://www.beholdingglory.com/uploads/2/1/9/4/2194091/9425946_orig.jpg" /><img src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq297/courtneylivingwell/LivingWell.png" /><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff162/annvoskamp/subalbumone/walkwithhimwednesdays2-1.jpg" /></a><img src="http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa401/shandaoakley/heart.jpg" /><a href="http://www.time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKCdnxblSNuq2NGXpNW_0lw8Ljm11cnQASpq-hxSfP1m4xqnZ_T_-osZwEJA8QtIIuf4St5kKQ9qBqHTt87HnsGuAhknd9fhrUSbjy3_NPpBdzuW73MFj6I_fTlaP1Ko6cv8JqCgcT3g/s1600/TuesdaysButton.jpg" /></a><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.raisingmightyarrows.com/"><img src="http://webzoom.freewebs.com/ouralaskaadventure/RaisingMightyArrows/ProverbsButton.jpg" /></a></center><br />
<a href="http://www.deniseinbloom.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Life In Bloom" border="0" height="163" src="http://www.deniseinbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LIB150button.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://passionateandcreativehomemaking.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Beautiful Thursdays" border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMAv4_gC0K0CApMsCpWR5kcQnXxCS5QamYGHZU5p2mEbUQHl4_5Sk18RF7LIvFTI4PN8-MmyNwPpm9fGc9bbBMXNB4Lco0j1NKYWdlv6HWKZaxvPYWj9bnqmNabKDepJYlpN7gRx-2E8/s1600/button_bt.png" width="125" /></a></center><a href="http://momheart.org/" target="_blank" title="Mom Heart Online"><img alt="Mom Heart Online" src="//momheart.sqsp.com/assets/momheart-badge.jpg" /></a><center><a href="http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNW8RQtYlLHxLPhK1IFy6UNPh9P9iMRdsyEu7y8sRYM3o7ThXDGcUi1bWmRVn06tg9SGudFrRqScWz6Wp9A_TL0wo5O9n-K99i3YLdqZOd29M6prCqx3qhl5C2dtEnI_ENQkfbRm6x5IDP/s1600/bab+button+1+-+Copy.png" /></a></center>
<a href="http://gettingdownwithjesus.com/"><img src="http://anahnauwr.smugmug.com/photos/i-xLGC39g/0/O/i-xLGC39g.png" /></a>AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-82516999380929623672012-05-12T09:29:00.001-07:002012-05-15T07:09:48.026-07:00Let's Celebrate!Perspective is such an amazing thing. You and I could both look at the same house and give a completely different description of it. How? One standing in the front, the other in the back. Same house. Different views.<br />
<br />
And the thing is, we'd both be right.<br />
<br />
Perspectives on life come from our experiences. These 'facts' we've come to know within ourselves. They shape our view of what's without.<br />
<br />
Trying to explain to your kids why doing such-and-such is not good for them, why A, B and C will be the result if they continue on a certain path is often lost on these young(er) souls.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Why did God give us, the parents, the wisdom of experience, but pair us with children who don't have the slightest interest in taking advantage of it??? </b></i> Exasperation!<br />
<br />
Now my oldest children are marking their journey through the teen years (side-note: whoever coined the term 'terrible twos' must not have hit the 'terrible teens' yet, just sayin'). And the wonder and admiration I feel for my own mother grows with<br />
each<br />
passing<br />
<b><i>day</i></b>.<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Now</b> I know...<br />
that even though she seemed 'so old' (right?) she was really just a young woman trying to figure it out.<br />
<br />
Like me. With each new decade of my life it's like I turn a new corner and a whole different view opens up. The things that really <b>are</b> absolutes solidify with each passing year. And the things that I just<i><b> thought </b></i>were important are minimized, eventually fading into a faint memory of who I <i><b>was.</b></i><br />
<br />
I know now that my mama did the best she could with what she knew then. And you know what?<br />
<br />
It was enough. Grace filled in the gaps.<br />
<br />
<b>Now</b> I know...<br />
that nothing makes you ache like the pain of watching your children hurt. I'm sad for all the anguish I put her through. The sleepless nights filled with worry. Though I didn't believe it then, I know now her love ran true.<br />
<br />
I can see now that though I was unaware, her love was my anchor during my own turbulent 'terrible teens'.<br />
<br />
Still her love leads on.<br />
<br />
A lighthouse in the dark times.<br />
<br />
A touchstone that keeps me grounded.<br />
<br />
<b>Now </b>I know...<br />
the power of the prayers of a faithful mother. How in her weakness she drew down strength from a heavenly source. For herself. For me. Prayers whispered in the night from my mama heard by the Father.<br />
<br />
Who can measure the power of true prayer? Still I reap the far-reaching influence of her prayers. The ones prayed then. The ones still prayed today. <br />
<br />
So grateful am I....Spurred to pour out myself in prayer for my own children. Knowing that as I do<br />
<br />
they are being wrapped<br />
<br />
in the <i><b>supernatural. </b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<b><i>Mother love <span style="font-size: large;">is</span> supernatural. Full of the self-sacrifice mirrored in the greatest Sacrifice. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
<b><i>Mothers are lay-down lovers. And is there really any other kind? </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
I'm thankful to have one. <i> Even more thankful to <b>be</b> one. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Mother's Day is usually billed as a day for others to celebrate us. But really, we are the ones who should be celebrating. We are the ones who have been given the gift.<br />
<br />
Because Motherhood is a gift.<br />
<br />
Now go celebrate.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.growinghomeblog.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Growing Home" src="http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg529/growinghomeblog/summerteachmetuesdays.png" /></a></center>
<center><a href="http://www.raisingmightyarrows.com/"><img src="http://webzoom.freewebs.com/ouralaskaadventure/RaisingMightyArrows/ProverbsButton.jpg" /></a></center><br />
<a href="http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="A-Wise-Woman-Builds-Her-Home" border="0" src="http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt60/junefuentes/thisbetterwork.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://womenlivingwell.org/category/women-living-well-wednesdays/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq297/courtneylivingwell/LivingWell.png" /></a><img alt="" class="aligncenter" src="http://raisinghomemakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RH-LinkUp-150.png" />
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<br />
<center><a href="http://www.deeprootsathome.com/"><img border="0" src="http://www.deeprootsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Capture-2.jpg" /></a></center>
<center><a href="http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNW8RQtYlLHxLPhK1IFy6UNPh9P9iMRdsyEu7y8sRYM3o7ThXDGcUi1bWmRVn06tg9SGudFrRqScWz6Wp9A_TL0wo5O9n-K99i3YLdqZOd29M6prCqx3qhl5C2dtEnI_ENQkfbRm6x5IDP/s1600/bab+button+1+-+Copy.png" /></a></center>
<center><a href="http://noordinarybloghop.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="No Ordinary Blog Hop" src="http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/lynda_schultz/NOBH%20Buttons/NOBHpermbutton-1.jpg" /></a><img alt="Picture" src="http://www.beholdingglory.com/uploads/2/1/9/4/2194091/3795919_orig.jpg" style="max-width: 152px; width: 100%;" /></center>AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-45040689320544644422012-04-27T09:04:00.000-07:002012-04-27T14:14:51.096-07:00In The Quiet<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most mornings when I wake up I feel like the new day before me is some kind of present. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So many hours stretched out before me, yet to be lived. To be filled. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I even confess to feeling a little invinsible. That I can do it all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> And by all I mean the mountain of dirty laundry sneering at me in the garage. The kitchen I left dirty the night before because we had friends over late and who wants to clean the kitchen when you have friends over (or worse yet after they leave). The banking, the errands. The unscheduled moments of play with my 2 year old. The phone calls to clients, the emails that need sending. The lunch date with my friend. The carpool.... (there's more, just thought you may be getting bored). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Oh yes, I'm sure I can do it all as my feet hit the floor and I hear the early morning song of the birds outside my window. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes I'm so filled with motivation (especially as I slurp down my second cup of coffee) that I will work my way right through the quiet time I meant to spend before my God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I love the idea of 'tithing' the first part of my day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>My favorite person of all, the Holy Spirit, getting my firsts, not my leftovers.</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not a hapless prayer tossed up, sandwiched in between the 'important' things I'm doing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This morning as I took advantage of the quiet house, sitting on the couch, bible and journal within reach, just loving God with my mind and telling Him how great He is, how thankful I am - a verse in Revelations came to mind. Chapter 8 opens with this profound statement: "All of heaven was quiet for about a half an hour." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">All of Heaven. Quiet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">All those angels, even the ones who are always crying 'Holy!'. <em>Quiet.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I think a little bit of silence everyday is actualy golden. And by that I mean valuable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We want God to run along side us sometimes. Keep up with us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fill us <em>while</em> we compete in the rat race. But it doesn't work that way. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em><strong>To really come to know him as God, we must first choose to Be Still.</strong></em> To be quiet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At least for about a half an hour, like they do it in heaven. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The truth is, as invincible as I feel most mornings, I can't get it all done in a day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some things will be pushed to tomarrow. Some may <strong>never</strong> get completed (I speak of the laundry).</span><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">I <strong>can</strong> do all things through Christ who strengthens me.</span></em><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But He decideds what 'all' those things are. What's important, what's priority for <em>this </em>day. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And He's not going to tell me what they are as he jogs next to me in my busyness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He'll speak when I choose to stop, and really take time to listen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Because He's God. And He deserves some silence. And He knows it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">May the blessings of being quiet for awhile IN His presence, intentionally, be yours today. </span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://passionateandcreativehomemaking.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Beautiful Thursdays" border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMAv4_gC0K0CApMsCpWR5kcQnXxCS5QamYGHZU5p2mEbUQHl4_5Sk18RF7LIvFTI4PN8-MmyNwPpm9fGc9bbBMXNB4Lco0j1NKYWdlv6HWKZaxvPYWj9bnqmNabKDepJYlpN7gRx-2E8/s1600/button_bt.png" width="125" /></a></center>
<center><a href="http://www.growinghomeblog.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Growing Home" src="http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg529/growinghomeblog/summerteachmetuesdays.png" /></a></center>
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<a href="http://www.gettingdownwithjesus.com/" target="_self"><img alt="GettingDownWithJesus" height="125" src="http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/dukeslee/BlogbuttonGDWJ.jpg" width="125" /></a><a href="http://raisinghomemakers.com/2010/new-homemaking-link-up-share-your-own/" target="_blank"><img src="http://raisinghomemakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RH-LinkUp-150.png" /></a><center><a href="http://noordinarybloghop.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="No Ordinary Blog Hop" src="http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/lynda_schultz/NOBH%20Buttons/NOBHpermbutton-4-1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.thesefiveofmineplustwo.net/search/label/A%20Handful%20of%20Heart" target="_blank"><img alt="These Five of Mine" src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c148/5sweeties/newagainlinkupbutton.png" /></a></center>AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-7786167341035603632012-04-16T07:59:00.000-07:002012-04-17T07:20:10.498-07:00On My Doorstep<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yesterday I saw how there are some advantages to city life. Reading all these blogs recently of the home-schoolin' mamas, raising their families in the wide-open spaces so they can give them the simple life, it's had me wondering if I'm missing it with my own kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cell phones, facebook pages, my 10 year old having favorite series on netflix... <i>are we allowing too much of the culture around us to influence the ideals we are trying to pass to our children?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yesterday my son brought Darla home. Cute, funny, personable Darla. She was engaging, helpful. Playful with the younger siblings, sweet with the babe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And she was broken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Years in the foster system will do that to a body. Leave some gaping wounds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Parents God-knows where and finally adopted a few months ago at 16. I could see it in her... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>God has a plan for this one.</i> </b>To still be smiling after so much trial. My heart was moved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm not sure why my son is often drawn to the broken ones. But there she was. Standing on my doorstep. Sitting at my kitchen table. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> Isn't this what I've been asking You for? To bring me the broken to love?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And here she was. and so I prayed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <i>Help me love with Your love today.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> To see with Your eyes.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And He did. and it was a great day. She joined our family for worship that night. She heard the amazing good news that God's love is not far off but as close as the breath she breaths.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtNlE3jt27hZlC5FLj50Y8xfUceCxsH-HPIzxHIhvp9fixU3SaqjUuwgSD3FxO_Eebt7DrstLb6BAqtC9X0ZZvTdVLUAaj2zPiom6X1V2U9V9WwR8CLveQrbCrqIL_SgyFkRkG6d2Hxk/s1600/iStock_000008497799XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtNlE3jt27hZlC5FLj50Y8xfUceCxsH-HPIzxHIhvp9fixU3SaqjUuwgSD3FxO_Eebt7DrstLb6BAqtC9X0ZZvTdVLUAaj2zPiom6X1V2U9V9WwR8CLveQrbCrqIL_SgyFkRkG6d2Hxk/s320/iStock_000008497799XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sometimes just seeing 'normal' in action can touch someone. <b>Experiencing</b> love in action can transform someone. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I may not be the perfect mom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Better said, I know I'm not. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But if in the midst of our not-so-simple life, surrounded by hurting humanity, our kids are growing up with the message that</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>He first loved us</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>so we could love a broken world</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>to Him</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> than somewhere in the midst I think we're doing something right. </span></div>
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src="data:image/png;base64,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" 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<a href="http://www.yourthrivingfamily.com/search/label/Weekend%20Whatever" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.yourthrivingfamily.com/" height="125" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IT-sGV8lkLo/Tw7H02PM-kI/AAAAAAAABYk/xRUGLy7KLgw/s144/5colorLinkupButton.jpg" width="125" /></a>AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309448796752851513.post-63909938654022395072012-04-10T08:44:00.003-07:002012-04-18T06:53:15.887-07:00The Rising<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I say my greatest desire is to live for <em>him.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But do my days show this? Do my words, my touch, my thoughts reflect this burning in me?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel undone. Laid open and bare. A gaping hemmorage of my soul showing the real me. The true self.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I see the need to be so much more than I am. How can He make this life worthy of the Name?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Easter has me thinking. Of all he came to give. All he paid for. And there's so much more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am the Christ that many see. Those whom God has given, trusting, into my hand. The flesh of my flesh, and the souls all around. I am the Christ to them. They should not need look further than me to see what Love is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The power within is calling me to be so much more.</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I must repent for my self-filled ways. I must admit that this tomb of my heart is not empty save the power of a risen Lord, but rather filled with the stench of dead bones. And how can I be clean? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only by grace. By humility bowed down. In surrender. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make my life a prayer. More than this, a song. A lit city on a hill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is so beautiful. And I am only flesh. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I am undone. I am hungry for the bread of Life. He has led me to the table but it is I who must eat. So filled I always am with other things. Make me hungry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm seeing glimpses of the Life he has for me. It's supernatural. Unbelievable. Real. and I want it.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff162/annvoskamp/subalbumone/walkwithhimwednesdays2-1.jpg" /></a>AngieChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01349248240242948416noreply@blogger.com1