Tuesday, September 6, 2011

do not be anxious.



I was dealing with lower abdominal and back pain the past week and I will admit I was a little concerned and anxious. I've never experienced anything like it before so I was nervous. After 2 days I knew I had to get in to see the dr. And I wanted to especially before we left for the weekend.  I was going to call that morning.


As I opened up my devotion that morning, this is what I read: Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." And I reread it about 5 times. 

I love when God talks to you through His word. It is the ultimate comfort and constant reminder that He is always with you and will never leave you. This verse continued to play over and over in my head throughout the day.

Then I called the dr to get in. The first available was wed. :/ But, when she checked again for me my dr had a cancellation that day and was able to get me in at one. It couldn't have worked out more perfect (Bobby's lunchtime so he dropped me off and grabbed lunch with the boys and was back in time for me to finish.. and it left me enough time for me to pick up Ella after I dropped him back off). I was so thankful.

I was also thankful to learn that it was a ruptured cyst and nothing more serious. I know a lot of women get them really bad and it's very painful. Luckily, my body has handled it ok and the pain should subside within a week. Phew. I felt relieved. And definitely acknowledged my answered prayers.
Such a blessing to know God's hand was on my situation.
Thank you, God, for never leaving my side and for always helping me find peace in your word.


Thursday, August 25, 2011

thankful=joyful.


Thankful=joyful. This has never made more sense to me than it has now. I have been compiling a list of daily gifts for months now, after being inspired by the book, One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. I can actually see how it has changed my way of thinking and how I view my everyday life. Ordinary things are now seen as gifts.. moments are not taken for granted, but are seen as the biggest blessings.

I have found that being thankful for everything..good or bad..big or little..can truly make you joyful. God surrounds us with gifts everyday..be it a pretty sunrise, puffy clouds, a smile, laughter, flowers, hugs and kisses, messes to clean, patience, struggles..there is always an opportunity to thank our Maker. He is so good to us and is constantly seeking a relationship with us. He loves and cares about us so much and always wants what is best for us. Be it trials or open doors, He has a plan..guiding us through this small period of time here on earth before we get to be with Him for eternity. He is so worthy of our praise in good times or bad. And it is such an awesome feeling to think He puts these gifts in our lives every single day.


I find when I get off track, when my priorities are out of order, when I lose focus of what is really important, or when I simply stop acknowledging my gifts..I not only feel, but know I'm not at my best.

I know I am at my best and the most joyful when I am reading His word daily, nurturing my relationship, praying and talking to Him throughout my day, asking for help, praising Him, being thankful, meditating on verses I write on my chalkboard, setting an example, teaching my children and being mindful of my gifts. Without a doubt everything else just falls into place.

Thank you, Jesus, for being the greatest example of love. Thank you for loving me even though I am so undeserving. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you for my so many blessings. And thank you for the gifts you place in my life everyday.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Matthew 22:37-40


Jesus replied: "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. this is the first and greatest commandment. and the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments."

colossians 3:1-2


since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

1 peter 1:3-9,


praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to e revealed in the last time. in all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. these have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though ou do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

love this.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

1 thessalonians 5:18


give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

matthew 6:9-13

our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as it is in heaven.
give us today our daily bread.
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

1 peter 3:3-4


your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Monday, August 8, 2011

colossians 3:15-17


let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. and be thankful.  let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, ad songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Monday, August 1, 2011

proverbs 31:26-27

she speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

luke 8:16


no one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

2 timothy 2:23-24

don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. and the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Monday, July 25, 2011

july 24th, 2011

today i reflected on
lessons learned:

Hebrews 12:11
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."


1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

it seems no matter how old we get, we will always be faced with issues, trials, sinful wrongdoings.  it is a constant reminder that we are only human.  and a constant reminder of such a faithful, loving God, that cares enough to be there for us, in good times and bad..in good choices and bad choices.

as i was doing my devotion yesterday, these verses just struck a chord.  i really felt God speaking to me.  i feel like the past couple of weeks, it has really been put on my heart to make things right.  be it the way i live, the example i set, my relationships, forgiveness, showing love, and just trying to be a better person.  i feel like i have really gotten off track and have hit some major bumps and setbacks along the way.  i feel like i was turning into a person i wasn't proud to be, be it through thoughts, words and actions.  i am so grateful that no matter how horrible i can be, God is always there to correct me.  always there with open arms.  always ready to give me a second chance. always loving me, even though i feel so undeserving of it. underserving of His sweet mercy and grace.  being human can just plain be a struggle at times.  i have so many shortcomings.  but, i know with each new day comes a new start.  i want to live so that others may come to Jesus through the example i set.  actions can speak so much louder than words.

love. forgiveness. second chances...what great gifts they are.


Saturday, July 16, 2011

the beginning.

i love everything about the sky. the clouds. the sun. the weather.
it has always intrigued me.  
i love sunrises, sunsets, puffy clouds, clear skies and storms.
i feel like when i look up, i am the closest to God.
i have such an appreciation for the beauty that lies in the sky.
it is an inspiration to me.
and i feel like He speaks to me through this.

i have always loved taking pictures.  capturing moments in time and saving memories.  but, my love for photography has grown more so over the past couple of years.  more than just capturing moments, but, truly appreciating it for the art that it is.  and with this i am enjoying developing myself and who i am as the person behind the camera. my style. discovering my loves. developing my eye for things. and always searching for a uniqueness.

this was my first task in a recent photography workshop i took...i took it from my other blog, photo love, and thought i would share it here as well.  it sort of sums things up for me.


this week we were told to capture our soulhappy.

"A something that you only need to look at, remember, or imagine that instantly comforts, or delights you?" 

here is what i came up with:




soulhappy.  just the mere sound of it made me immediately think of my family..my husband and 3 children.  but, as i began pondering more, it felt like that was the obvious. i wanted to capture something that encompassed everything that makes me soulhappy.

i absolutely love the many ways God speaks to us.  the settle and not so settle ways, His word, the world around us.  everyday God speaks to us.  i can’t help but find myself looking up.  the sky.  so majestic.  showing so many different facets of Him.  from a powerful storm to a beautiful sunset.  there are so many times i just sit in wonder and awe.  a reminder of God’s constant presence..knowing He is always with me.  and i can’t help but feel so grateful for the endless blessings in my life.  my family, health, home..His love, mercy and endless grace. it’s the simple joys around us that are so easily taken for granted, but truly are a gift from our wonderful Creator.


it has been stormy here the past few days.  i was hoping there would be a break in the clouds to capture what i was envisioning.  close enough. ;)  i love how the sun illuminates the clouds as if to symbolize Him.  my soulhappy. 


i feel like recently i have really been pondering...i want to capture this inspiration and i want to journal it.  so, i thought, "what if i capture the sky everyday for 365 days?"  i have continued to think about it for a couple of weeks now.  i've even bounced the idea off of a few people.  i am falling more in love with this idea the more i think about it.  i'm excited to see what i will capture and eventually make it into a book, but, more than that, to see how HE will speak to me through this journey.  

and what better way to journal than to start a blog? want to follow along? ;)