Got the Morning Blues?

My sister-in-law shared this blog by Justin Taylor on her fb page (Thank-you Sis!).  I found that I could not resist clicking on it to read it.  I'm so glad I didn't!!!  The Author Taylor so simply and succinctly shares 6 simple truths form God's Word to remind yourself of when you wake up in the morning or anytime of day.  This week in the wake of a great tragedy, I really needed to be reminded of these truths!  For when you really reflect on these six truths you will find your perspective changed and your day will be lighter!

Got the Morning Blues? If you do, no matter what time of day it is be sure to click on this link highlighted in red.

Life is hard but God is good, good all the time!!! Blessings, my dear sisters!

HOPE in the Midst of Tragedy

In the wake of the tragic death of a young woman who've I've known since she was a young girl, I look to the one thing that consoles my heart.  That one day when I see Christ face to face all the pain, sorrow, and evil of this world will be a dim memory.  It all will pale in comparison to being in the presence of Jesus for all of eternity!  Today I grieve, grieve over the tragedy of her death and for the family that's left behind.  But though I grieve I have an eternal hope too!  The image of this young woman that keeps flooding my mind is from when she was just a young girl with freckles and a bright but somewhat shy smile.  I can't help but think that is how she looks now as she dances before Jesus.

There Will Be A Day

Jeremy Camp

from the album Speaking Louder Than Before

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that trys to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you’re walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone

(Chorus)

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing

"THERE WILL BE A DAY" (Official)

Tah dah! It's Finished!

The cabinet that is.  You remember, I shared a picture of it in it's before state with you months ago.  I'm sure you haven't been waiting in suspense to find out how my cabinet has turned out,  but I wanted to share with you the end results anyways.  It's been done for awhile now and I'm happy to say it is definitely a much more efficient cabinet for me!

First thing I did was find a way to create and store files since I don't have a file cabinet in my desk and this has been a source of frustration.  I have been searching for a solution for quite some time and was relieved to finally find one!  What I found was silver wire wracks that are meant for sorting files and or envelopes (I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of them before I filled them up so you could see what they look like).  This worked perfectly and so I bought two of them and put them side by side on the bottom shelf of my cabinet.  Then I easily filled them up with files filled with all of the misc. paper that was previously just shoved in the cabinet.  Now I have a file for every important paper and when I need too I can quickly find what I need.

The second thing I did was use two small wicker baskets (that I had already) one in front of the other to keep my envelopes and mail tidy.

Since I did not have enough drawer space in my desk my next priority was to find containers for my misc. items like tape and batteries.  For this I found two white rectangular CD boxes: one I used for my favorite CD's and one for all the misc. items.  These boxes are really nice and I would like to get more of them.

Next, I needed to organize the kids construction paper, loose leaf paper, misc. cards and note cards etc...  I already had two stacks of three silver trays and so used those to organize all of those items.

Finally, on the top shelf (which you cannot see in the picture) I used a clear plastic container to hold all the misc. pictures and then straightened all the small misc. items.  Not anything spectacular but much nicer then what it had been.

Yes, I did need to purge things too.  I think that was one of the hardest parts, besides the fact that whenever I organize a cabinet or closet I always end up with a greater mess then when I started. Ugh!!!   This is short lived though since things are thrown away and put away etc...

Here is the after picture:

 

I still struggle with keeping it tidy, after all organization does not come naturally to me.  But generally speaking it has remained much more organized and I can now find the things I need!  

Let me know if I have inspired you to clean out your closet or cabinet that keeps spilling out anytime you open the doors!  I'd love to hear all about it!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."  Col. 3:23

Hillsong - Mighty to Save - With Subtitles/Lyrics

Do You Want to Say “No” to Jesus’ Touch? | CCEF

Do You Want to Say “No” to Jesus’ Touch? | CCEF

This blog post by Winston Smith, a biblical counselor and faculty member of CCEF so aptly shows how shame and pride causes us to want to hide even from Christ. And it challenges us to consider the fact that we cannot clean ourselves and must allow Christ to do it for us. The first step being acknowledging just how filthy we have become.

I couldn't help but cringe as I read the story Smith shared in his post. My face contorting at the shame and misery the man must have felt. Along with the anguish Smith was feeling as he came upon the gentleman lying helplessly there. I could feel the mixed emotions both men were experiencing, both knowing what must be done. Both realizing it was a filthy stinking mess that could not get cleaned up on it's own. The one trying to maintain the personal dignity of the other, and wanting to remove the shame. The helplessness of Smith to completely remove that shame the other was feeling. The two men changing the subject and talking about anything else (I must admit made me chuckle a bit, in a knowing way).

I could relate to this article since at times I have felt as though my sin was as awful as that filthy mess, being afraid to go to the Father with it. And yet, as Smith so clearly points out in this article the only way to remove the shame is to allow Jesus to clean me thoroughly.

Check out the post yourself and let me know what you think!

Shedding Labels

Yesterday, I was having a conversation with someone who shared with me that they are a very driven person.  I laughed and told them that I am the complete opposite of them, I am lazy.  They were surprised at what I had said, and had thought that I too was a driven person.  I was astonished at their response and simply said then it is by the grace of God and His work in me.  

I walked away in disbelief, me driven. No!  I'm lazy!  I've always took the easiest road and if I can get out of doing work I will.  Driven??? Me?!? How could that be?  When did that happen?  And obviously it did not carry over into every area of my life.  No, not me!  On and on went this conversation in my head until I spoke with a friend.  I told her what was said to me.  She said she agreed with their assessment and then proceeded to share with me why she thought so too. 

I received what she said and began to realize that this lazy, slow, quitter, slightly ADD, messy, disorganized, forgetful, never on time woman was starting to shed some labels.  I realized that I have worn these labels on me like a heavy suit of armor and they had weighed me down holding me back from change.  Now realizing that one section of armor was less heavy or noticeable has given me a renewed hope. I am changing!  It also made me think about how my focus has been on all the ways those labels still fit, when instead it should be on the ways in which the labels are falling off as God works His character in me.   

If God can change me to be driven in some areas of my life then He can do it in every area.  In other words if I can be driven when it comes to serving Him in the church then I can be driven (In a healthy balanced way) when it comes to cleaning the toilets in my home too!!!  A new hope has taken root in my heart and mind and it's not going to stay there if I go back to focusing on how heavy that armor of labels is and how impossible it is to shed them.  In fact I need a new label one that is light and replaces all others, one that is rooted in truth, and one that is given by my Father in heaven...

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things has become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17

New Creation! The old has passed away!   Yes, I love it!  What an awesome label!  I am a new creation and so are you when you believe in Jesus!  What an awesome truth!  What comfort!  Already I feel so much lighter!  How about you?

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.   Philippians 2:13

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6

Hurray, it is not up to me!  I certainly have tried, only to fail again and again.  Praise God it is Him working in me as I cooperate with what He is doing.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.    

1 Corinthians 15:56-58

What comfort these words are to my ears!  What hope!  Thank-you Jesus for loving us so!!!