I am so grateful for the love of my husband.

“The funny thing is that although we place so much energy and importance on our wedding day, it isn't the biggest day of our life. The biggest day of your life is every day thereafter. Because it's not the pledge to love someone that matters, but the act of fulfilling that pledge that is most important. In other words, it's only just begun.”
― Laura Wolf, Diary of a Mad Bride

Monday Motivation: Fresh start

I kind of love Monday. Fresh start, fresh perspective. Grab today by the horns and know that everything will be alright ; )

Say Yes

“ When you say 'yes' to others, make sure you are not saying 'no' to yourself. ” ~ Paulo Coelho

I have to start saying yes to myself. At first, I thought that was a pretty selfish way to think. But then I realized... If I am not the best version of myself, I'm neglecting my end of any relationship. If I don't like me... Why should anyone else?


So, I'm going to say yes to myself a little more often. It doesn't mean I'll always say no or that I'll say no to everyone, but if it takes away from being the best version of me? I'm not going to do it.

It's not selfish. It's anything but...

It's for God. It's for my husband. It's for my family. It's for my friends. It's for ME.

It's for anyone who deserves the best of me.

Monday Motivation: Be happy!

Have a little faith.

“Sometimes beautiful things come into our lives out of nowhere. We can't always understand them, but we have to trust in them. I know you want to question everything, but sometimes it pays to just have a little faith.”
― Lauren Kate, Torment

Holiday challenge: Do something for others while doing something for yourself

A couple of months ago I participated in a 5 week fitness challenge by Peak 313 Fitness. It really made a difference as it helped me prioritize the things that are important in my life, things that are necessary to be healthy--- physically AND spiritually. I love being challenged and I love the rewards that come from completing those challenges!

With that being said, I'm really excited to participate in Peak 313's Holiday Challenge. The holidays are a hard time for me because I usually make poor food choices. But I've worked really hard this year (hello 25 lb weight loss!) and I don't want to reverse it. SO for every good choice I make (or every bad choice I avoid) I can do something good for others. Want to know what it's all about? Check it out here:



http://peak313.com/featured/holiday-challenge-21-days-to-a-hunger-free-and-healthy-holiday/

Be thankful EVERYDAY.

I can't think of a day when I don't sit back and say, "Hey God... thank you." Even on my bad days, I still try to be thankful. Because even though I have bad days, those days could very easily be someone's best days. I live a happy, beautiful life and I don't want to take it for granted.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (MSG) says. "Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live."


BE THANKFUL. Be prayerful. Live cheerfully. Today and everyday. Not just for 22 days in November.

Monday motivation: Be the best you can be.

Everyday, I try to be the best version of myself. At the end of the day I want to feel satisfied that I was the best person, wife, daughter, friend, etc. I love this advice....

To be inspired is great... To inspire is incredible!

I never thought of myself as the inspiring type. I'm average. I work, I live, I laugh, I love. I go through each day trying to be the best I can be. I find inspiration easily in other people, but I never thought of myself as being an inspiration. So imagine my surprise this week when I was told by a few people that I have inspired them to get healthy. My first thought was "Wait a minute... Don't be inspired by me. I've still got a loooong way to go." But don't we all? What you say, what you do... everyday, it matters. You never know who is watching, who is learning from you, who is being encouraged by you. Embrace and live each day as an inspiration. Make a difference, no matter how big or small. You'll be surprised at how much joy it will bring!

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
― Jane Goodall

Monday motivation: Strength

Reflecting on this quote this morning as I begin a new week of overcoming obstacles!

Go all out!

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.”
― Peter F. Drucker

This quote struck a chord with me today, so I thought I'd share it. If you really think about it, planning and commitment go hand in hand. I can promise myself "I'm going to lose those last 10 pounds" and I can really hope that it happens, but if I don't put a plan in action, I can't fully commit. I was thinking about commitment this morning as I dragged my butt out of bed at 4:45 a.m so I could get to my early morning spin class. Did I want to get up that early? Um...no. But it's a commitment I've made, a plan I've out into action to fulfill the promises I've made. It's hard. It's really, really hard. But the rewards we get for keeping our promises, especially the ones we've made to ourselves, outweigh the difficult journey. And that goes for any commitment: to God, to your marriage, to yourself. So I challenge you today, friend: evaluate the commitments you've made and if you're not happy with the results (or lack thereof!) put a plan in action. It might take some time, but it's so worth it in the end! Go all out!

The beauty of friendship

I am so excited for this weekend! We are celebrating one of my dearest friends' upcoming nuptials with a bachelorette party! Its going to be so much fun. One of the things I love most about my friends is that as we become wives and mothers and create these separate lives for ourselves, we are still able to be together as if no time has passed. I have the best friends a girl could ask for :-)

Nature: The art of God

I've spent a lot of time this summer visiting the local nature centers. I hate being inside when it is so nice out and they provide a nice retreat. Peaceful, beautiful scenery... I could spend hours just taking it all in. There is nothing quite like the sun on your face and the wind in your hair---makes me so thankful.

Here are a few pictures I snapped while walking through. Enjoy!



I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.
-e. e. cummings

Inspiration for this rainy Monday...

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
---Eleanor Roosevelt

Today is a new day, a new chance for a fresh start! Believing is the first step... :-)

Just stopping by to say hello... :D

I've sort of taken a summer hiatus from blogging, but I just wanted to send out a little inspiration. 

The locks and keys of prayer

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 NIV

It's important to know what hinders and enhances our communication with Jesus Christ. I have found these "locks and keys" of prayer to be essential for an effective prayer life (I even have them listed in

The Locks

1. Praying without Knowing God through Jesus

John 14:6 — Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

2. Praying from an Unrepentant Heart

Psalm 66:18-19 —"If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer."

3. Praying for Show

Matthew 6:5 —"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the syna­gogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full."


4. Praying Repetitive, Empty Words

Matthew' 6.7-8 —"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

5. Prayers Not Prayed

James 4:2 —"You do not have because you do not ask."

6. Praying with a Lustful Heart

James 4:3 —"You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."

7. Praying while Mistreating Your Spouse.

l Peter 3.7 —"You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way... and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered."

8. Praying while Ignoring the Poor

Proverbs 21:13 —"He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered."

9. Praying with Bitterness in Your Heart toward Someone

Mark 11:25-26 —"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."

10. Praying with a Faithless Heart

James 1:6-8 —"But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."


The Keys

1. Praying by Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

Matthew 7:7 - 8,11 —"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened..... If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"

2. Praying in Faith

Mark 11:24 —"Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you."

3. Praying in Secret

Matthew 6:6 —"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."



4. Praying according to God's Will

1 John 5:14 —"This is the confidence we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."

5. Praying in Jesus' Name

John 14:13-14 —"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, 1 will do it."

6. Praying in Agreement with Other Believers

Matthew 18:19-20 —"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

7. Praying while Fasting

Acts 14:23 —"When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed."

8. Praying from an Obedient Life

1 John 3:21-22 —"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight."

9. Praying while Abiding in Christ and His Word

John 15:7 —"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

10. Praying while Delighting in the Lord

Psalm 37:4 —"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart."




A Summary Of The Locks And Keys Of Prayer

You must be in a right relationship with God.
You must be in a right relationship with other people.
Your heart must be right.

You are not your own...

This morning I was listening to the radio and I was disturbed by this overhwhelming message: perceptions of sexuality based on how a young girl dresses/acts. Now, as a youth leader and older sister of a (almost) teenage sister, this is something that really concerns me. Everywhere you turn in society, you see examples of immodest clothing and girls begging for the attention of young men. Today, it was Miley Cyrus and her extreme lack of essential clothing, Jessica Sanchez dressing too sexy for a 16 year old, and the song "Brokenhearted" by Karmin boasting the line "Honest baby I'll do/Anything you want to/So can we finish what we started/Don't you leave me broken hearted tonight." Modesty, defined as a.)f reedom from conceit or vanity and b.)propriety in dress, speech, or conduct, is something that is very much missing in this society but is something that is required of us as Christians.


There are two points I want to make about modesty.
1. The Bible is very clear about how we are to behave and appear as believers. 1 Corinthians 6:18, 20 says, "...You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." We are, first and foremost, to seek the approval of the Lord....not of men. (John 5:41-44) Young ones...stop begging for a guy's attention! Do you know what Proverbs 31 says? "A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds...her husband joins in with words of praise: 'Many women have done wonderful things,  but you've outclassed them all!' Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God" Now, I realize this scripture is talking about a husband/wife but the point is this: a good woman is HARD TO FIND. She is rare. One in a million. She is found attractive, not by outward beauty or begging for attention, but by her classiness and devotion to God. That doesn't mean that a woman shouldn't take care of herself or can't be attractive on the outside, but when we are modest, in our appearance and our actions, it allows people to see our inner faith rather than what is on the outside, which is far more captivating. We must set ourselves apart in that fashion so that we can come before the Lord, acceptable as a "living and holy sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). I know, you're probably thinking "What does she know? She's married." But ask my husband how I won him over and he won't tell you it's because I chased him down. When you take the time to  walk in obedience, focusing on God and what He requires from you....everything else falls into place.

2. Not only are we to be modest for ourselves and how we appear before God, but we must be modest so that we don't cause others to stumble. Matthew 5:28 is very clear about this. It says, "But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." When we dress/act in an unmodest way, we attract undesirable attention and are responsible for causing others to sin. What can we do about that?  "...Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall." Romans 14:13. Pray about what your standards for modesty are. When you dress, see how your clothing fits you and what impression it gives. Bend over, sit down, wave your arms around. Think of it this way: you are someone's future wife and all of the guy's out there are someone's future husband. Be sure the way you dress doesn't entice others or provoke others to openly view the
gift you are to reserve only for your future husband. (Hebrews 13:4)  Not sure about it? Ask a parent, female youth leader, someone you trust, etc. if what you're wearing conveys the wrong message.

I realize that today's fashions make it difficult at times to dress modestly. But modesty doesn't have to equal boring and you can still dress fun while keeping in mind that you are a representative of Christ. And remember, modesty isn't just about clothes. Your appearance, words, and actions should all be reflecetions of what is pleasing to God. You are a treasure...treat yourselves as so!



I came across a really good article that expands more on why modesty is so important. You can check it out here. http://www.cbn.com/family/youth/What-Guys-See.aspx

"Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." 1 Peter 2:12

" Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.  You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God" 1 Peter 3:3-4

Favorite things: summer!

Alright, it's time for my favorite things!



This is my new favorite lipstick! It's Satin Luxe by Sonia Kashuk and it's AWESOME. SPF 16, smoothes and hydrates....perfect summer lipstick! I have it in Vivid Coral. Such a fun color!



I've been drinking Yogi tea for a while now, but they make some really great flavors that are perfect for a refreshing summer drink when iced! My favorite? Blueberry green tea :-)



While I'm on the subject of summer and refreshment....facial spray is a great way to keep cool and stay refreshed (added to a regimen of drinking lots of water daily!) Regularly spritzing this refreshing water on your face contributes to better moisturization of the upper layers of your skin and protection from everyday environmental damage.


Treat yourself right in this warm weather ;)

Words of Wisdom....

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6 NLT

We are called to be Godly examples... Even to people we aren't particularly fond of. Our words and actions must glorify Him!

Unconditional love

"I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as Lord." Hosea 2:20

The story of Hosea and Gomer, while very short, has always been fascinating to me. At first, it appears to be the ultimate story of unconditional love. Time after time, Gomer is unfaithful. And each and every time Hosea is obedient to the Lord's instruction and brings her home. Despite feeling ashamed and betrayed, he loves her nonetheless. Such an amazing story of love and grace.

But what is most fascinating to me is the parallel between Hosea and Gomer and us and God. I am, we all are, sinful by nature. (Psalm 51:5) And just as Gomer was unfaithful, we are unfaithful to the Lord. We run from Him, we are disobedient to His commands. How many times have we caused him grief because of our poor choices? Countless times. Gomer's unfaithfulness went on for YEARS, to the point where she was no longer considered attractive. In the same way, our sin can go on for so long that it creates an ugliness in our souls. We feel like we are not deserving of love and forgiveness. But even at Gomer's absolute ugliest point, Hosea STILL took her back. He took her home and they restored their relationship, and he asked her to be intimate with him alone. Can you imagine what an overwhelming act of love and forgiveness that was? How many of us could do the same? Not only was Hosea's love demonstrative for God's love for Israel, but it is a perfect example of His love for us NOW. God loved His chosen people, and He loves us. We continually break His heart, but He loves us regardless. Even at our lowest, ugliest point when we can't even forgive ourselves.....He forgives us without question. That doesn't necessarily mean our actions come without consequences, but what is most important is that He loves us NO MATTER WHAT. Romans 8:39 says, "No power in the sky above or in the earth below--indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Nothing can separate us from His love! NOTHING! And the most beautiful thing is when we do sin, we have received the free gift of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ! 1 John 1:9 says, "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." We are forgiven for our sins and they are gone forever! ( 2 Corinthians 5:17)


I am so thankful that God loves me through my imperfections....always!

A few of my favorite things

Time to share more of my favorite things! Just a few today, but these are some of my tried and true faves.

I absolutely LOVE EcoTools makeup brushes. They are so soft and made of earth friendly materials (bonus!) I just got the kabuki brush....aaaaamazing!



Those little gems are awesome. They're really fun and they make my lips super soft, plus they're easy to if find in my big purse! I always have one with me.



And in honor of our one year wedding anniversary, my wedding day perfume. I like to wear it occasionally to remind us both of our special day <3

The Word of God is alive!

 






"God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what."-Hebrews 4: 12-13 (MSG)


Today and everyday, I'm thankful for His promises. I'm thankful for His Word and the power and direction it brings to my life!

Just breathe....

     



“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.”- Oprah Winfrey

Why should I worry?

Without getting into too much detail, I have been struggling with some anxiety. At times it gets to the point where I am consumed and overwhelmed by that one little anxious thought. Now, this isnt a daily occurence but I came to realize that the anxiety was starting to gnaw away at my joy. It started to become a burden on my heart and I became convicted about it. I was driving home from work yesterday and I was listening to Christian talk radio, half paying attention because I was praying and asking God for peace. But something the radio host said caught my attention and she began to quote this verse: "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."- Jeremiah 29:11. Now, here's a little something about this verse. It always pops up whenever I'm dealing with something. I see it or read it or hear it somewhere else. I really felt God speaking to me in that moment...He does not call us to be fearful! 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us plainly, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." And again, in Joshua 1:9, "This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Letting go of fear is not a suggestion; it's a COMMAND! When we allow fear and anxiety to take over, we also allow doubt in God's faithfulness to creep in as well. Fear=no faith. I have to be obedient to the Lord. That means holding fast to His promises and and trusting that everything is according to His will. I don't want my fear to replace the faith I have. I know He holds me in the palm of His hand and protects me. He has my best interests at heart! I just have to trust Him and let Him do His thing. As cliche as it may sound, I have to "Let go and Let God." When that happens, there is no room for fear.

"Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." - Psalm 55:22

A thought to start the week....

"You find yourself refreshed in the presence of cheerful people. Why not make an honest effort to confer that pleasure on others? Half the battle is gained if you never allow yourself to say anything gloomy." - Lydia M. Child

Inspiration for the end of the week.

"When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable." - Walt Disney

You make ALL things new.

There's something I love about Spring. While it's not my favorite season, I appreciate the abundance of new beginnings. There's nothing quite like feeling of a warm day after months of cold and bitter or a landscape awash in color after being draped in a cloak of gray for the winter. Creation becomes alive once again.

I can't help but draw a comparison between the the actual season and the season of our heart. See, at one time or another our hearts are that winter landscape: cold, gray, lifeless. But God made a way for us to have new life through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!" When we come to know Christ, our past mistakes and sins are gone forever! He comes in and replaces the cold with warmth, the gray with color, and He breathes new life into us. But in order for us to be able to flourish in this new life, we have to do our part as well. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “But forget all that—  it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Sometimes, we hold onto our past regrets and they quickly become dead weight that drag us to the bottom of a sea of fear and remorse. When we do that, we block God from having His way in our lives. We can't move forward in His will if we're constantly looking over our shoulders. But Jesus didn't come for that! He came to bear it all so that we don't have to! I needed to be reminded of that myself this week and I found peace in Matthew 11:28-30 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Let God do His thing....let Him make ALL things in you new. Then and only then will you experience the freedom of His grace.

A few of my favorite things

Here are a few things I'm diggin' lately.



So timeless!



Nude nail polishes are pretty much all I've been wearing as of late.




Because my hair is so short right now, I can't do much with it. So I've been rockin' the headband!



Red lipstick. 'Nuff said ;)



I got this perfume for Christmas and I LOVE IT. It's light and crisp and easily one of my all time fave perfumes.

Weight of the world

Ever have one of those days where it feels like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders? That's the kind of day I'm having.

"Can I see another's woe,
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief,
And not seek for kind relief?

Can I see a falling tear,
And not feel my sorrow's share?"

Excerpt from William Blake's "On Another's Sorrow"

Forgiveness is more than saying sorry.

Matthew 5:23-24
The Message (MSG)
 23-24"This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God."


Matthew 18:21-35
The Message (MSG)
21At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"
 22Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.


I've been thinking a lot about forgiveness lately. There have been some circumstances more recently in my life that, if I were not a Christian, I would most likely feel entitled to hold a grudge. In fact, I got to the place where I could feel it starting to build up. I immediately felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit regarding my attitude. I had been wronged, yes. But He has provided me with the tools to overcome it. I know from past experience that holding a grudge and a spirit of unforgiveness is spiritually unhealthy. I may have verbally tried to fix things, but internally I was still raging. I felt the wedge I was driving in between myself and God. In that circumstance, I thought I had done things right... I went to that person to make things right before presenting my offering to God. But that verse didn't say "verbally apologize" it says MAKE THINGS RIGHT. That means I had tocompletely forgive the person who wronged me, admit my wrongdoings as well, drop my self-defenses, and wholly make things right. To forgive the person who wronged me not once, not twice, but seventy times seven! But I didnt do that, at least not immediately. When I felt that rage start to boil, I should have been forgiving that person over and over. Instead, I added fuel to the fire and caused it to burn bigger and brighter than ever. Why? Because I was not obedient to the Lord in forgiveness. And it wasn't until I was obedient that I felt peace over that situation and renewal in my spirit. And so it goes with what I'm going through now. If you're reading this, I ask that you pray for me. That I will be able to completely forgive those who have wronged me. That I will be obedient to the Lord so that I may be free of a grudging spirit. Forgiveness involves so much more than an apology. It must be part of our spiritual lifestyle. It must be part of MY spiritual lifestyle.

Seize the day.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6
The Message (MSG)
   Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns.

 2 Don't hoard your goods; spread them around.
   Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night.

 3-4 When the clouds are full of water, it rains.
   When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls.
   Don't sit there watching the wind. Do your own work.
   Don't stare at the clouds. Get on with your life.

 5 Just as you'll never understand
      the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman,
   So you'll never understand
      the mystery at work in all that God does.

 6 Go to work in the morning
      and stick to it until evening without watching the clock.
   You never know from moment to moment
      how your work will turn out in the end.



The other day, I was taking a walk when I came across a single crocus blooming in the middle of moss and a huge puddle of water. I thought to myself "What a great photo opportunity!" But I relucted to take picture because there were a lot of people around and it just felt awkward. So I told myself I'd snap a picture on my way back around. Well, I ended up getting distracted and I forgot on my way back. I figured I'd just get it tomorrow. Except when tomorrow rolled around....it was gone. I had lost my chance to capture the beauty of the moment.

It kinda goes like that in our relationship with Christ. We are not promised tomorrow. In fact, we are not promised the next second, minute, hour,etc. All we have is THIS MOMENT. Right here, right now. We can't be reluctant with what God has commanded us to do. We can't be fearful about what others might think. We might not be given another moment, another chance to be obedient. We MUST Carpe Diem. We must seize the day while it's still available to us. That means loving others, spreading the Gospel, and following His commands. Being a follower of Christ is rarely easy, but the risks we take for His cause come with rewards are better than we can even imagine. So seize the day. Make use of what He has given.

Hebrews 3:13
New Living Translation (NLT)

13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

Stop and smell the wildflowers

Matthew 6:30-33
The Message (MSG)

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."

Beauty for ashes

"To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory."(Isaiah 61:3 NLT)

My prayer as we begin this week is that the Lord will give us beauty for ashes, a garment of praise for our heaviness.... Restoration so that we can continue to seek His glory in the midst of trials and sadness.

Breathing life

Ezekiel 37:1-14

"Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the LORD. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the LORD has spoken!’” (11-14)

As we come to the end of this week...and as I reflect on this passage in Ezekiel, I pray that the Holy Spirit will renew our spirits and breathe fresh life into these dry bones. He is the Author, the Healer, the Redeemer, the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE.

"You bring hope, You bring life. Awaken hearts, open eyes; with our voices hear them rise. We call these dry bones to come alive. You are faithful, You are true. We can always run to love that never fails, arms that never close, nlood that covers sin , grace that never ends.You have saved us, You have won. Sin is broken, death is gone. Freedom's found us, breakthrough's near. In your presence, no more fear---Our savior's here." Savior's Here, Kari Jobe