Chew on this...

In the study of Daniel, chapter 2, Daniel and his friends are praying for God to show mercy and help them understand the king’s dream so they will not be killed. That would bring on some serious, making time to pray, prayers I would think and God answered their prayers. Not to all, but to one, Daniel. That doesn't mean the others were not needed to pray, all were needed. We need to call on our friends as well to pray with us and be willing to accept that the answer may be given to someone other than us. Look at verses 19-23, what does Daniel do after receiving God’s answer? Praise God forever and ever because He has wisdom and power! Praise God for sharing His wisdom and power with each one of us! Praise God for answered prayers, even if it isn't the answer we thought we wanted. Praise God for His Son Jesus who opened the door of communication with God the Father Almighty! Praise God! ~ Frances

Searching Etsy

While searching Etsy, I found these sweet items!

tickledpinkgoods

HouseHoldWords

 ChloeUnderwoodDesign

 BeachCityCreations

 

EclecticBambu

Carrying something you aren't suppose to?!

A couple of Sundays ago, our Sunday School class got together at a park to play and have a picnic.  I was chatting with a friend when her daughter came up saying she was ready to go.  The young girl was scared because we were outside playing and storms clouds began rolling in.  This girl is terrified of thunderstorms. She was ready to pack up and leave just at the sight of the dark sky.  We heard no rumble and felt no rain, just dark clouds coming. Her mother reassured her by saying, "We will be leaving soon go play little longer till I say time to go."  The daughter began to worry about the fact that the family would have all their picnic stuff to load up before they would be able to get in the car. Her mother responded with, "I will handle all that, you don't need to worry about it.  I'll hand you the keys and you can run straight to the car and wait for the rest of us."  Her daughter started to worry with her words again. Her mother reassured her one more time that it is not her concern and that she's got it, stop worrying about something that is for me to handle not you. You have one job and its to unlock the car and hop in. I've got everything else.

As I was standing there, I began to think of my relationship with God. How I worry or concern myself with things that He has not given me that responsibility.  It is not my burden to carry.  How many times have I made things my burden, when He has told me over and over again, not my concern. The Lord tells me, "You have one job Coleen, this is all I need from you. I can handle the rest.  Trust me!  Trust me that I am strong enough, trust me that I am smart enough, trust me that I am worthy enough to handle things in your life.  Put your faith, all of it, in me and you will not ever regret it.  You will not ever have to worry about anything because I've got this!"  How many burdens do you pick up that aren't yours to carry?  How many hours are spent wasted on worry, when you aren't called to worry?  We are called to pray, period.  That's all we are to do.

Philippians 4:4-7 MSG "Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

Chew on this...

Sunday morning sermon said it all for the Prayer Corner! James 5:16, pray for one another! I was very much convicted by the Holy Spirit on my prayer life and how bold it truly is? Not very. How much time and effort do I put into it? Not much. This week, pray for each other as Jesus prayed for Peter, Luke 22:32. We can all use prayers for faith that will not fail! Get serious about our prayer life church! Not just this week, but in our lives. Pray together every chance you get. Set up a prayer corner and pray with Jesus. Set aside time to pray, just as we set aside time to study. Oh, you don't have a study time....need to pray for both! Take time to talk to God and be bold with your request! ~ Frances

Searching Etsy

While searching Etsy, I found these sweet items!

CherishedBlessings

theartofhandmades

pinklemonadeparty

thespottedbarn

RedWithEnvyDesigns

The Scrapcabin on Facebook

How cute are these hats! All three of us girls got one.

I got these adorable hats for the girls from The Scrapcabin! 

They got to pick out every detail of these hats and LOVE them! 

Check them out for yourself, you wont be disappointed! 

Here are a few outtakes from our little photo shoot! These girls are NUTS!

 

Can you say PHOTOBOMB!!!!

 

 

Costa Rica follow up... finally!

I have been trying to figure out for the past month what to write about this trip.  It just did not go as I expected.  I have prayed about what to write and God has now given me the words.

Costa Rica was a whirlwind of a trip.  It might sound discouraging, but coming out on the other side now, I know it all filtered through His hands and for a reason.

My mom, Frances, has been asking me for years to go on this trip with her.  I have continued to say no.  I never felt God leading me down that path.  Over the years my heart became hardened to the idea of Costa Rica.  I was feeling a little like Pharaoh in Moses life.  Until January 2013, my heart was instantly changed.  I knew God was calling to go on this trip because of the softening He did in my heart.  The veil was lifted for me.  2 Cor 3:16 says “But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.”  I knew it was time for me to obey. 

I went with a very expecting heart to learn more about God.  For Him to reveal Himself to me, for me to experience Him in a way I never have.  Boy did I ever!

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  On this trip God revealed things about myself that was very ugly.  I did not like what He was showing me.  It was very painful to see that side of me.  In the midst of this trip, I felt like it was all about me and learning more about myself.  I wanted this trip to be all about God.  I was very angry and frustrated once returning home, even thought, “Won’t be doing that again!  Why would you, God, take me all the way to Costa Rica to show me how ugly I am?! What a waste!"

This last month, God has shown me that trip was about me, but yes it was also about Him.  It was about the two of us together.  The trip was never meant to be only about Him.  It was about our relationship growing, my trust in Him growing.  He was showing me how much He loves and cares for me, not to leave me just as I am.  He loves me so much to let all that pain filter through to help transform me to be more like Christ.  2 Cor 3:18 says “so all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.  And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like Him as we are change into His glorious image. “

Over the years I’ve felt confused with who I am and even said, “I don’t recognize myself any more, not even sure who I am.”  God used my obedience with Costa Rica to secure me to Him.  Of course I’m not the same person I was back then.  Praise God!  I have been saved and transformed through Christ.  This unrecognizable person is Christ working in me.  He is cleaning out all my ugly’s and making room for Him to live and occupy my whole heart, not just part of it, the whole thing.  He’s putting up a no vacancy sign for sin! 

There were times on the trip when my mind and thoughts were running wild, but the Holy Spirit brought me to Phil 4:8 “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”

This trip God showed me how out of control I let my thoughts go, and that I allow those thoughts to consume and control my actions.  One specific morning when we arrived at the church grounds we were building, I knew Satan was waiting to consume my mind.  I went to the bathroom praying to God to take captive my thoughts.  I knew this was becoming a controlling factor for me.  I began to recite Phil 4:8.  I was drawing a blank.  I could only think of two things, “whatever is true and whatever is pure” I couldn’t remember the rest of the verse at all, nothing was coming to mind, completely blank. I asked God, actually it was more like begging Him, to bring something that is true and pure.  Lord let me see whatever is true and pure.  I was walking out of the bathroom repeating those two truths when a little girl, maybe 4 or 5, who had not been at the work site previous days, ran up to me and gave me the tightest hug.  I knew that was Christ in the little girl, true and pure.  He was letting me know He has never left my side even in those dark moments of my mind.  He loves me too much to leave me broken as I am.

This trip has opened my eyes to God’s great love for each one of us as His children.  God is teaching, molding, conforming me to be more like Him through the hardships.  I love the song by Mercy Me, Bring the Rain. The words are so powerful and so very true for me right now! In the stormy moments of life, that is when our relationship with God grows at its greatest; our need for Him is greatest; His love for us is greatest.

Will I go on a mission trip again? Most definitely!  I did learn more about God but also about myself and who I am in Christ.

Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

I am so thankful for God’s grace!