True Blue Charmer

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

A Vessel in His Image

"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8

The potter is looking to mould us. We are to be pliable and let ourselves be moulded into the creation that He has for our lives. The Potter ~ The Creator. Have you given your life over ~ in all of it's brokenness or pain? In all of our weakness? In all of the control we think we have? Have you been sitting at the potter's wheel, thinking that you are in control of every aspect of your life? Working on your own agenda without submitting to God's will?
He wants to work with us! He wants us to be the one-of-a-kind creation that He has planned for our lives.
Are you ready to be the clay? Are you ready to surrender to the process of the moulding, to the firing process? It isn't always an easy process. The firing can be painful, but that fire makes the vessel stronger. It may take time, but He will fashion you into the beautiful vessel that He has designed. That vessel that shows His hand prints ~ His love.
I pray that I can surrender and be shaped into something that resembles His image.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Goodbye to Another Veteran


Today we will say our goodbyes and celebrate the life of another American veteran. Uncle David served in Korea. I salute and thank him for his service, and know that he will be sorely missed!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Just a Tease

Just a little tease on the newest spring project we are working on. Seems we always have some sort of project going on. This is the start of phase one. I am hoping to complete Phases one and Two this spring, but the rest may come in the fall or next spring. Anyone guess what it's for? More to come as we progress:)

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Song For a Sunday

I love this song, and it is one that Grandma Stacy chose for her funeral.


"I bowed on my Knees and Cried Holy" by the Gaithers

I dreamed of a city called Glory,
So bright and so fair.
When I entered that gate I cried, "Holy"
The angels all met me there:
They carried me from mansion to mansion,
And oh what sites I saw.
But I said, "I want to see Jesus,
He's the One who died for all."

Chorus
Then I bowed on my knees and cried,
"Holy, Holy, Holy."
Then I clapped my hands and sang, "Glory,
Glory to the Son of God."
Then I bowed on my knees and cried,
"Holy, Holy, Holy."
Then I clapped my hands and sang, "Glory,
Glory to the Son of God."

I thought as I entered that city,
My friends all knew me well.
They showed me the streets of Heaven;
Such scenes too numerous to tell;
I saw Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
Mark, Luke and Timothy.
But I said, "I want to see Jesus,
He's the One who died for me."

Chorus
Then I bowed on my knees and cried,
"Holy, Holy, Holy."
Then I clapped my hands and sang, "Glory,
Glory to the Son of God."
Then I bowed on my knees and cried,
"Holy, Holy, Holy."
Then I clapped my hands and sang, "Glory,
Glory to the Son of God."

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Friday, March 26, 2010

Choose Joy

Going through struggles?

Facing adversity?

Dealing with a loss?

At the end of your rope?

We lost two family members this week very unexpectedly. On the same day. Hard to understand. And the death of a child! It can be overwhelming to think about.

It's amazing to know that there is One who is there with you through it all. One who hears all, who sees our struggles, who hears us when we cry and when we call out to Him, who sees our needs and meets them. One who rejoices with us and longs for us to have a relationship with Him. To trust Him.

He has not left us.

He sees us.

He hears us.

He answers us.

He loves us.

Jesus whispers “I am with you”
In the hour of deepest need;
When the way is dark and lonesome,
“I am with you, I will lead.” —Morris

We were never promised a life free from trouble. In 2 Corinthians we read ~

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

But He is there with us through it all! There is never a moment when we are alone. Never a moment when our thoughts are hidden from Him. He knows all and sees all and wants us to trust in Him. He has it all figured out. No amount of worry or stress on our part is going to do us any good. Don't let your emotions control your life, you can control your emotions. Don't let your situations control you. I know how easily I can fall into a pit of worrying about situations that are totally out of my control. I believe the lies of the enemy. Does it do any good? Does it change the situation? No, it just causes me to let go of my joy, to let go of my peace, and get into a pit that you struggle to climb out of. Or you dig yourself deeper! And that means I am not trusting. Why not trust the One who loves me enough to give His one and only son . . . . for me! And for you!

I choose Joy ~ I choose to change my focus to the One who Loves me more than I will ever understand. Who knows everything about me. The Bible says His eyes saw my unformed body. He knows the number of hairs on my head. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. He cares. He loves us!

So I choose to thank Him through it all. Through sorrow, through adversity, through joy and blessings.

Be thankful for all He has done.

Thank Him.

Trust Him.

Praise Him.

Worship Him.

Rest in His Everlasting Arms.



We will miss you Uncle David and baby Laysen.

Filter Fun

I saw some pictures here and there of wreaths made from coffee filters and decided I had to try it. Here is what I came up with. I think I may add a few tiny pearls and hang it with a wide ribbon. I will update with new pictures when I do that. I thought they would make cute centerpieces mixed with candles and pearls.




Thursday, March 25, 2010

Being Real

BEING REAL

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real, you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

-- Margery Williams (The Velveteen Rabbit)

I love reading that. Being real ~ transparent ~ authentic. What does that mean and what does it mean to you? I am tired of people who put on a mask and are fake. I strive to be a real, authentic woman. I don't want to be a phony. I know that I am not perfect, but I want people to see me and accept me for who I am, not for someone that they think I should be.
I read a quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne today and really liked it ~ "No one man can, for any considerable time, wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which is the true one."
What a wonderfully true statement. We all know people, or maybe we ourselves have struggled with authenticity. Why can't we all be real all the time? Is it because of fear? Fear of not being liked for who we really are? I often struggle with wanting to gain the approval of people. I want people to like me. But if they can't like me for who I am, in my weaknesses and strengths, when I'm up and when I'm down, when I'm authentic and when I'm ME, then maybe they aren't someone who needs to be a part of my daily life.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10 NIV).

Being a servant of Christ. What an amazing thing that is. Generally being called a servant would not be something that people aspire to. But a "servant of Christ". What an amazing position that is. We are serving in our daily lives ~ serving a living God. And by our lives, others may come to know that God. So if we are not real, are not authentic, how will they see Christ in us?

Being real can be a painful thing sometimes. And it can take a lot of courage, if you haven't been real. But what a freedom in being real. Taking off your mask for the world to see who Christ has created. The beautiful creation that you are!

Jesus never pretended to be something He wasn't. So why should we pretend? I know that I have many faults and have failed many times. I will have failures in the future as well. But I pray that I can just be me and learn and grow through them. Not try to hide them and pretend they didn't happen. They are all scars that make me who I am.
Be the person that Christ intended you to be and continue to grow in His Grace. Serve the Lord our God, and do not live to please the people around you when you must wear a mask in doing so. It will be a blessing and a freedom like you've never known. And when you are transparent, real, authentic, that is when Christ is most at home in your heart.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Last Hurrah of Vacation

Last day of vacation ~ twelve more hours to go in the car. One last Hurrah that I will regret when I get home and step on the scale! We had a Krispy Kreme near our hotel on the road! I can't remember the last time I've eaten one . . . . especially a fresh one! So I ran in and had to buy . . . ummmmm . .. twenty. Seriously, twenty. I didn't know that their munchkins were actually teeny, tiny, baby doughnuts! How cute are they? Had to get a box of them:) Ahhhhhh now off to the treadmill! heehee





Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Remembering Grandma ~ Where the Roses Never Fade



Today is the day that Grandma died. Tomorrow would of been her birthday. Oh how I miss her. She was such an inspiration to me. Her life was not always an easy one, but she lived through it all with strength and grace and never took her eyes off of the Lord. Her faith was amazing!
I first accepted Christ to be my Lord and Saviour at her church, when I was nine years old. I was attending Vacation Bible School. I remember they gave me a little blue pocket Bible afterwards. Through all my childhood years, I know the Lords hand was upon me and guiding me after that special day. I attended my childhood church, but always had a deeper sense of what Jesus had done, and always seemed to question when some of the leaders were compromising against what Bible taught.
Grandma was always there for her family. She so wanted to see all of her family join in the special relationship that she had with Christ. Even at her funeral, she made specific instructions that she wanted an altar call.
Over the years she gave me countless books for myself and my children. She always had a canvas tote filled to the brim with things that I might use for teaching the children. She loved to order them dozens of Christian "videos", and often gave me numerous ones as well. One of her favorites was the Gaithers. We have a fine collection of them.
She instilled a love of Southern Gospel music in me, and I can still see her tapping her toe in her rocking chair as she listened. She loved "Roses Will Bloom Again" and "Where the Roses Never Fade." People would constantly call them in to her church radio station in her honor. I believe the latter of the two was her actual favorite, but she loved them both.
In her final years her eyesight was almost completely gone due to her diabetes. She also had many other complications of diabetes, and a rare form of arthritis. It didn't stop her from getting to church every week and witnessing to people. She loved to share the gospel.
She was always someone I could count on and would do anything for her family and her church.
I miss all of our phone conversations and hearing her cheerful voice on the other end of the line. I miss the way she loved on the kids and all the babies ~ she couldn't get enough of them!
I know she is up in Heaven, on streets of gold, with eyes that can see and a body that doesn't hurt anymore, just waiting to greet us all. I love you Grandma!

Where the Roses Never Fade

I am going to a city,
Where the streets with gold are laid;
Where the tree of life is blooming
And the roses never fade.

Chorus:
Here they bloom but for a season
Soon their beauty is decayed.
I am going to a city,
Where the roses never fade.

In this world we have our troubles,
Satan snares we must evade.
We'll be free from all temptations;
Where the roses never fade.

Chorus:
Here they bloom but for a season
Soon their beauty is decayed.
I am going to a city,
Where the roses never fade.

Loved ones gone to be with Jesus,
In their robes of white arrayed;
Now are waiting for my coming,
Where the roses never fade.

Chorus:
Here they bloom but for a season
Soon their beauty is decayed.
I am going to a city,
Where the roses never fade.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Flowers of Florida and Bahamas


"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come."

The Sun Has Set on Sanibel

Goodbye to Sanibel ~ Until Next Year, that is!



Surf ~ Sand ~ Salt

One of my favorite places on earth is by the ocean. Something about the beautiful water and the sound of the waves crashing always puts me at peace. The smell of the salty air is even a comfort to me. Maybe it's the wonder of the creation that God has made. I am always in awe as I look out to the horizon and watch the waves roll onto the beach.






Sunday, March 21, 2010

Be Joyful Always

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Today Steve spoke in church about being thankful in all circumstances. That is not an easy thing to do! If we are sick in our bodies, or hurting in relationships, how can we give thanks? But God is in control of every situation. He is allowing everything for a reason.
Was a great little message, if only I could relay it better! But tonight when the vote for healthcare came through, I couldn't help but think of that message. I don't approve of it, don't want it, and think it is horrible for our country. I think it will actually destroy America as we know it. But God is still in control. He is still on the throne! He is allowing things to happen for a reason. I sometimes wish that I could see the bigger picture, and understand why things are happening the way they are. But it's not meant to be that way.
Made me think of the verse in Ecclesiastes ~ "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." There is a bigger picture, there is a plan.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
We have to pray for America! We have to pray for leaders who believe in the principles that our country was founded on. And we have to be sure that our voices are heard with our votes! Be active!

Pretty in Pink Actress Home


Saturday, March 20, 2010

Song for a Sunday

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

Wedding on the Beach

Our last Saturday in Sanibel, we were witnesses to a wedding on the beach, directly in front of our condo. Had to share a couple of pictures.



Not a perfect picture, but I thought the starfish in her hair was really cute!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Shining in the Darkness



When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

These are pictures of the lighthouse on Sanibel Island. It was first lit in 1884 and still shines today. It's a nice little destination for many people that visit Sanibel. We would see the dolphins in the water near the lighthouse every evening.
It made me think of Jesus ~ The Light of the World. He shines like a beacon for all, leading and guiding them through all kinds of waters. Through the calm, through the storms as well.
We can also think of ourselves as lighthouses if we are in Christ. A lighthouse can't steer the ship but it can guide it with it's light! It is then up to the captain to heed the warning not to travel in the direction of the rocks. So we, as believers can only shine our lights and do our best to show others the way home.
We must also be sure that our light is one that is not dim, but is strong, and leading the path in the right direction, by our own actions. How easily could we lead someone astray if our light isn't shining the way it should be.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Lucky Charms







Nate Turns 18


Wow ~ Today my second born turns 18! You came into our lives fast and furiously, fourteen days early and have kept us on our toes since! Though we aren't Irish, we have always teased that you are our "little leprechaun". Well, that little leprechaun is now a man over six feet tall.
Nate, you have been a blessing to us. We can always count on you to make us smile or give us a good belly laugh. You are growing up to be a thoughtful, caring man. You are a blessing!
We pray that you continue to grow into a Godly man. Love You Lots!