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Photos" data-title="Yesterday's bump @ 35wks" data-link=""> " data-title="I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for the amazing influence of my dad. My best friend. Always unpredictable;)...yet always so steady and reliable❤" data-link=""> " data-title="Visiting the RealitySB for Sunday service on our drive back up to SF. ❤Our Reality fam" data-link=""> " data-title="@dannpetty knows I wouldn't have allowed him to do something like this...so he surprised me w/ a day at the spa;) He's too good to me💛 thank u love" data-link=""> " data-title="Look who's old beach shack I drove by today...I can still remember trying to walk up all those steps in my high heels at night back when we were dating;) @dannpetty ❤" data-link=""> " data-title="Can't eat an Açaí bowl without thinking about my sweet lil Brazilian family. Missing yal! @jc9mathews" data-link=""> " data-title="So special being back in SD w/ my love. Had dinner at our fav spot, then walked down the street in front of our old loft. #memorylane @dannpetty" data-link=""> " data-title="I didn't want to get out today...the pool took so much pressure off my back. Sigh" data-link=""> " data-title="Stopped by the Nixon warehouse to let Dann catch up w/ old buddies. He's wiggin out rt here on a sneak peak of 2014's summer line" data-link=""> " data-title="Just me, baby, & Jesus at breakfast. Praying for daddy while he speaks on healthy body/mind/design at Valiocon this morning. @dannpetty #vcon" data-link=""> " data-title="Hit up a roadside stand for some organic homemade trailmix & fresh cherries on our way down to San Diego today" data-link=""> " data-title="#latergram" data-link=""> " data-title="No better way to end this beautiful day than watching the sun disappear over the ocean while my husband serenades machado & I on the uke❤" data-link=""> " data-title="32 wks today...& Machado and I are growing impatient" data-link=""> " data-title="Feeling super blessed today. ❤" data-link=""> " data-title="Had so much fun in Capitola & Santa Cruz today" data-link=""> " data-title="Had such a wonderful night celebrating Ruthie Kim! Happy Birthday🎉" data-link=""> " data-title="Look who surprised me w/ their presence this morning!! @elihardy ❤my sister:)" data-link=""> " data-title="Late lunch on this beautiful Saturday @dannpetty" data-link=""> " data-title="Always love watchin my boy get ready to host events. Have fun tonight @ the Adobe/Behance event! @dannpetty #cutesthostever" data-link="">
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Tweets
- @dannpetty knows I wouldn't have allowed him to do something like this...so he surprised me w/ a day… http://t.co/lZpLSIN3q9
- So special being back in SD w/ my love. Had dinner at our fav spot, then walked down the street in… http://t.co/ExyvFd7FZM
- Just me, baby, & Jesus at breakfast. Praying for daddy while he speaks on healthy body/mind/design at… http://t.co/nFRx5wqQcJ
- No better way to end this beautiful day than watching the sun disappear over the ocean while my… http://t.co/ZwKz9c0Uvi
- Had such a wonderful night celebrating Ruthie Kim! Happy Birthday🎉 @ Farina http://t.co/OLo7IPlBLr
- Look who surprised me w/ their presence this morning!! elihardy ❤my sister:) http://t.co/3hYpDqHWCv
- Late lunch on this beautiful Saturday @dannpetty @ Toast Eatery http://t.co/u60EzflgZp
- Always love watchin my boy get ready to host events. Have fun tonight @ the Adobe/Behance event!… http://t.co/Cc6IiMg9PZ
- God couldn't have given me a sweeter man. Thank u for my beautiful flowers @dannpetty http://t.co/EklGMptTJX
- I feel extremely blessed to have not one, but two extraordinary mommas in my life! I don't know what… http://t.co/rO7VaErhKX
- We fell in love w/ you Hale'iwa! We'll be back soon:) @dannpetty @ Haleiwa town http://t.co/z9rpzJTieN
- Just posted a photo @ Banzai Pipeline, North Shore http://t.co/mFy8uIsYR2
- Dann spoiled me today by taking me to the spa for a prenatal massage. I've never had a more relaxing… http://t.co/BOfR1OG061
- BYOBB (Bring your own beach ball) @ Laniakea Beach, Haleiwa http://t.co/IsjRcZqdWd
- Toasted Coconut Banana Waffles this morning w/ Vanilla Macedonian Nut Coffee...yes please! (As to why… http://t.co/vNEyONEXEX
- Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet lil niece, Biloxi Eve!!! Auntie E misses you so much❤ http://t.co/BAV4pgPrLv
- Sunset in North Shore @ Haliewa Beach Town http://t.co/pe2K4RkbZs
- So refreshing after a sunny hike through Waimea Valley. @dannpetty @ Waimea Valley Waterfall http://t.co/iJenpVpFg7
- Watchin my boy shred something serious! Love seeing him so happy:) @dannpetty @ Leftovers Beach http://t.co/SjdOtlWLQX
- Soakin up the sun @ Stinson Beach http://t.co/xKfckIXodV
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Posts
- Jun 12, 12
“
O God,
let something essential happen to me,
something more than interesting
or entertaining
or thoughtful.O God,
let something essential happen to me,
something awesome,
something real.Speak to my condition, Lord,
”
and change me somewhere inside where it matters…
Let something happen to me
which is my real self, God.
- TED LODER, GUERRILLAS OF GRACE - "O God of such truth as sweeps away all lies, of such grace as shrivels all excuses, come now to..."Jun 09, 12
“
O God of such truth as sweeps away all lies,
of such grace as shrivels all excuses,
come now to find us
for we have lost our selves
in a shuffle of disguises
and the rattle of empty words.Let your Spirit move mercifully
to recreate us from the chaos of our lives.We have been careless
of our days,
our loves,
our gifts,
our chances….Our prayer is to change, O God,
not out of despair of self
but for love of you,
and for the selves we ling to become
before we simply waste away.Let your mercy move in and through us now….
Amen.
”
- TED LODER, MY HEART IN MY MOUTH - Apr 14, 12
“Not that I was ever in need, for what I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.”
- Philippians 4:11 - Mar 31, 12
“Lord, help me to glorify thee; I am poor; help me to glorify thee by contentment; I am sick; help me to give thee honour by patience; I have talents; help me to extol thee by spending them for thee; I have time; Lord, help me to redeem it, that I may serve thee; I have a heart to feel; Lord, let that heart feel no love but thine, and glow with no flame but affection for thee; I have a head to think; Lord, help me to think of thee and for thee; thou hast put me in this world for something; Lord, show me what that is, and help me to work out my life-purpose: I cannot do much; but as the widow put in her two mites, which were all her living, so, Lord, I cast my time and eternity too into thy treasury; I am all thine; take me, and enable me to glorify thee now, in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that I have.”
- C. Spurgeon - Mar 23, 12
I recently designed a dress for an engagement shoot. Lauren came to me with a vintage “air force” inspired vision, and we decided to go with something classy and sophisticated. What better than a pencil dress?! A soft yellow glow of color immediately came to mind up against her beautiful light brown skin and hair.
I felt inspired by an old picture of Lauren’s mother back in her prime. What soft simplistic beauty both Lauren and her mother share.
I chose a soft flowy Poly blend fabric for the top, incorporating a boat neckline that tied down the center front.
I then chose to do a high waisted, slender fitting pencil skirt with a high slit up the back for the lower part of the dress. I found the perfect textured poly/wool blend fabric that had soft shades of golden yellows all throughout.
The blouse and skirt came together nicely with a traditional vintage side zipper. Final alterations were made, and then I shipped the dress off to Lauren in LA!
With Lauren’s fiance stationed in California, they decided to have the first part of their engagement shoot at the Channel Isands Air Guard Base. Their awesome photographer, Megan Welker, seemed to capture their old-timey romance inside the hangar among many of the enormous aircrafts. meganwelker.com
I love the ruby red ankle-strap high heels Lauren paired with the dress!
What a strong and beautiful couple, standing firm through the tests and trials military life may often bring.. Truly testifying that LOVE knows no time nor distance.
It was truly a pleasure working with Lauren. I loved her enthusiasm and shared with her in your excitement! A true gem.
- Mar 22, 12
The warmth of the sunlight poured in through the back windows this morning. It was beautiful, it felt good, and it was hopeful… but it wasn’t long after and the sun was gone. For some reason today of all days, it hit me!…our back patio area had become overgrown with vines and towering plants. It almost completely canopied our garden in the back.
To be honest, I had been mesmerized by the beauty of the flowering vines and lush green plants covering the entire fence and stairway. I’d been in awe of the beautiful purple, pink, and white blooms. But my love for the blooms caused me to forget the much needed pruning. They had become overwhelmingly out of control, blocking almost all access of the sun to the garden. My plants below were suffering..they had become week and started to wilt. Their source of the sun had been cut off, and they were slowly dying.
I couldn’t help but think of our relationship with the Lord. Sometimes we get a little too mesmerized by the world around us.. we get caught up in our career, our dreams, our desires. It lures us in with its sweet aroma and breathtaking beauty. We watch and are amazed at how quickly it grows and towers over us with strength. We don’t realize that it’s vines have entangled all around us. They have twisted and knotted so thickly around our thinking that we can barely see through. We begin to suffer from lack of sunlight…lack of the source.
You see, what God has in store for you is far more beautiful than what you could ever imagine..but it usually takes some pruning to see. The question is: Are you willing to let God prune your life? Are you willing to let him cut back on some of the areas that are blinding you or keeping you from fully serving Him? It may be difficult and it may be painful…but, my friend, you must learn to see these trials as your Heavenly Father’s loving and gentle hand at work, and not as a cruel punishment. Beauty and joy come after the hard work and labor of tending to the garden. Don’t get frustrated with God today; know that he is working all things for your good. He doesn’t want you to become overgrown with the twisted entanglement of this world, but to live each day in the light of his grace.
One of the plants I trimmed back today was a Bougainvillea. They grow wild all over California’s coast in bright colors of purple, pink, orange, and yellow. As I was cutting at the branches, I noticed that most were pretty skinny and didn’t take too much effort. But then there were a few branches that were extremely thick and strong. I had to grip the trimmers with both hands and pull down to finally tear through the flesh. That’s the same way in our lives. Some branches are just a lot more painful to prune than others. Many times we don’t understand why we have to go through such hardships…but we must remember that God is in control and he is caring for and nurturing his precious garden. Pruning is essential in life…it must take place in order to grow.
Once I had trimmed back everything, discarded of the fallen branches, and swept up all the remaining leaves, I noticed that my arms and hands were covered in bloody cuts and scrapes from all the thorns.
I couldn’t help but think of my sweet Savior. The one who bled for me. I don’t doubt that it hurts him to prune us, I don’t doubt that it hurts his heart to see us go through tough times.. But i know He sees the bigger picture and the ultimate good that comes from it.
Thank the Lord today for the beauty and life made possible through his own wounds and suffering. Ask the Lord to help you trust his goodness through the pruning times in your life. If you fail to see his goodness in the hard times, you will certainly miss out on his goodness in the grace that follows!
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- Mar 20, 12
If you haven’t checked out my husband diet blog yet, you should! www.dannsdiet.com
He had to lose weight to help calm his gastritis, and through this diet he was able to lose almost 40 lbs! Now a days, I’m actually working on fattening him up alil;) He fell in love with Nature’s Path Organic Peanut Butter Granola. Well after months of paying $4 for each 11.5 oz box, I decided it was time for me to make something just as yummy from home without the high costs of organic brands.
here’s what you will need :
10 cups of Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
1 cup of Sesame Seeds
1 cup of Wheat Germ
2 cups of Peanuts
1 cup of Coconut oil
2 cups of Pure Raw Honey
1/2 tsp. of Sea Salt
1 cup of Cane Sugar
1 cup of Brown Sugar
1/3 cup of water
2 cups of Organic Peanut Butter (Creamy or Crunchy)
1. Shell Peanuts. This takes time, so i typically shell them while Skyping my mom, chatting with mys sisters on speaker phone, or watching a TV show. Muti-tasking is key:)
Preheat oven to 350℉
2. Mix all your dry ingredients (oats, sesame seeds, wheat germ, and peanuts) together in a large bowl. Set that to the side.
3. Place medium sized saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Add your Coconut oil and let dissolve, then add all other ingredients (honey, salt, cane sugar, brown sugar, and water) EXCEPT for peanut butter. Heat til dissoved and well blended, stir continually
4. Return to your bowl of dry ingredients and slowly pour the liquid over, mixing thoroughly with a spoon. The liquids will be absorbed and the granola will become darker and shinier.
5. Add Peanut butter to the mix. Stir together thoroughly. Add oats if texture is too runny.
6. Spread the granola in a shallow baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and stir the granola with a large spatula so that it does not over-brown on the bottom and edges.
7. Return the granola to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Remove the granola from the oven and let it cool on the baking sheet. Letting the granola cool on the baking sheet will retain the clumps.
Store the Granola in an air tight container.
Now all thats left to do is eat and enjoy these yummy clusters of goodness!
- Mar 20, 12
Last night I got to attend a Needtobreathe concert on The Reckoning Tour at the Fillmore. I had always loved Needtobreathe’s music, so when my friends told me they were coming to San Francisco I was all in. I appreciated their soulful sound and gospel back ground, being that I’m from Nashville. They grew up in South Carolina where the lead singer, Bear RInehart’s, father was a Pastor. With southern rock in their blood, they incorporate a variety of beautiful sounds with instruments like the harmonica, piano, and slide guitar. I felt somewhat like home when they began to speak with southern draws:) It was refreshing in a big city like SF.
I sang along and swayed to the music. I almost felt like a little highschool student being at a concert.haha I never really went to many growing up. It was alot of fun, but about halfway through…my back began to ache, my knees started to stiffen, and my run down body from years of basketball was telling me to go home!haha
I stood there and listened while they took a break from singing to introduce eachother. They spoke about each member, they spoke about the Filmore, and they spoke about their tour….but I kept waiting to hear something, anything about the Lord. Wasn’t he the whole reason they were there? Wasn’t he the whole reason for their success? A Christian band..playing at a well known secular venue, The Filmore…and they couldn’t even mention Jesus? Given, I know they sang about God the entire time…but what about those who aren’t familiar with the lyrics, what about the unbelievers working the venue, what about the non-Christian friends people brought? What an awesome opportunity God had placed in their hands to tell thousands of people about his precious gift! .
I still love you Needtobreathe..but this deeply saddened me.
- Mar 17, 12
Oh, you know…just another regular Monday..another day on the job. Nothing too exciting.
My dad is an electrician..He’s been running his own company for over 25 years now. i like to think of him as a one man show. He drives all over Nashville in his big white truck going into people’s homes and businesses each and every day. But this Monday was different for some reason. He pulled up to the job site at a local business and began talking to the owner. By the end of that time spent there on the job site, my dad is kneeling down with this man, one hand on his shoulder as the guy begins to pray. Right then and their this man confesses to the Lord that he is a sinner, asks for forgiveness, and puts his faith in Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Just another Monday..just another day on the job…and a man’s life and eternity is forever changed.
I am continually challenged by my father. Throughout the years I have been amazed at the number of people my dad has actually stopped, knelt down, and prayed with on the job. He has such a personable way about him, where he doesn’t hesitate to get to know a complete stranger on a deeper level. He talks to them, he actually listens to them, he sympathizes with them, and then he speaks truth to them with no reservation. When I think of my dad, the words Passionate and Unashamed come to mind. He is passionate about the Lord, and not ashamed of it. He speaks as though he has the cure to a disease or the key to a door! Shouldn’t we speak about the Lord and his salvation in the same way?! Are we lacking in enthusiasm? Do people want what we have? …do we even make people think we enjoy what we have?
The truth is as Christians we have this amazing gift of eternal life with Jesus Christ! The hard reality is each and every person we come in contact with throughout the day will either go to heaven or hell when they die. The question is: do you care? I wonder how many people will one day look me straight in the eye and ask: “Why didn’t you ever tell me?” What a sickening feeling that gives me to think about.
Maybe your first problem is that you don’t realize the gift you have. Maybe, its that you just don’t care for others. Stop and ask the Lord to give you a heart for the people around you…not just love them, but see them with an eternal destination. Ask the Lord to reveal his love and mercy to you, that you would truly see it for what it is.
Most of the time, the root of the problem is that we are selfish. We don’t have a heart for people. This truly hurts the Lord to see. His very first commandment was to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and immediately following is to, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Loving your neighbor..what does this look like? Maybe it’s actually giving them time out of your day. Maybe its listening to what they have to say.
But all of this is in vain, if we do not speak truth into their lives where needed. We can only do this by being in the Word and becoming familiar with it. We can give people our time, our attention, and even meet their needs…but if we do not share Christ with them, we do not really love them.
Mark 8:38 tells us, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Are you ashamed or embarrassed to share the gospel with someone at your job, school, neighborhood? Are there too many people around?..someone might hear…everyones watching…what will they think?
What if my dad had not shared his faith that Monday..what if he had been ashamed… - Mar 17, 12
So it hadn’t been but a week since my return from Sao Paulo, Brazil…and you’d think I’d be sick of all that Brazilian food I had consumed over the past month. But NO! My mouth still watered for the amazing way they cooked their beans! haha Who knew you could crave beans? I got to try so many different types of food while over there, but somehow I would find myself always going back for seconds with the beans and rice. These are no ordinary beans though! They are a type of black beans that have been slow cooked with all sorts of sausages and beef that fall right off the bone. The black bean color seeps into the rest of the stew-like dish making it look quite mysterious;) However, the taste is sensational!
Talk about preparation. This National Dish of Brazil takes hours to complete. The lunch party was scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m., so I started Thursday night by soaking the beans. Friday I began preparing the meats by browning them in onions, garlic, and bacon grease. Now I never said this was a healthy meal;) But it’s so worth it. A Brazilian family would only have this special dish about once a month and is typically served for lunch. Once the meat was browned, I added water, bay leaves, and some spices to the pot and covered it to slow cook. The delicious aroma quickly poured into every room of our flat. I also prepared the Farofa (toasted manioc flour) over the stove with onions, butter, salt and pepper. Farofa is a traditional side dish for the Feijoada, along with rice, collard greens, sliced oranges, and fried Mandioca. All the Brazilian ingredients would have typically been hard to find, but thankfully I live in San Francisco where there is such diversity! Little did I know there was a small Brazilian market on Valencia St. just a few blocks down from where I live which made it all possible!
In the meantime I got out all my fresh pre-pealed young coconuts and got to hacking! Literally…I’m sure our neighbors above were wondering what all the racket was about. Feijoada is such a heavy meal, i thought a light fruit sorbet served in a coconut was the way to go. I took my largest cutting knife and started to hack at the upper edge of the coconut, scraping back some of the soft light flesh til I reached the inner hard shell. Then I placed the tip of the knife directly to the coconut and hammered it in until it started to crack. Then I slowed pried the top of the coconut open all the way around. The rigid texture of the inner shell helps create a clean cut all the way around. Once I went through about 15 of those, my hand was about ready to fall off! Oh, but how pretty they were;) I saran wrapped them and placed them in the fridge to cool. The day of I would just pull them out, fill with either Mango or Pomegranate Sorbet and garnish with some fresh mint leaves from my herb garden:) Spoonfuls of the fruit sorbet while scraping the soft bottom of the coconut made for a sweet surprise. The Mango happened to be my favorite.
The day of an event is always the craziest! I woke up super early Saturday morning and started cutting the fresh collard greens into thin strips and slicing up the fruit. I put the Poa de Quiejo (cheesey rolls) in the oven 30 minutes before everyone arrived, and squeezed some fresh lime juice. I also had Guarana there to drink! My sweet neighbor came over right before and cooked some Tostones (fried plantains) for all the arriving guests, and boy were they tasty! While he and I were sharing the stove at my house, his wife was over across the street cooking the Mandioca! Yes..I’m pretty sure I have the most amazing neighbors ever!
Time to Party! It was 1 p.m. and All our sweet friends from church began to come in through our front door one at a time. Having all our wonderful friends in our home and getting to serve them gives me more joy than almost anything. God has given me such a love and desire for our community, and I feel like I am best serving them when I open up my home and feed them;) Hey, I feel like God wants each of us to serve in the way he’s best designed us to. God’s just happen to give me a love for cooking and hosting! My prayer for every event we host in our home, is that the Lord would be glorified through that time…That his name would be honored and that he would be pleased with our time of fellowship. We gathered around and held hands and Dann prayed over the food and our time together. He thanked the Lord for my dear Brother-in-law and Sister in Brazil and the ministry they are doing there, the opportunity he gave me to go and visit, and the very reason we were gathered there that day. I always find myself stopping and looking around during those moments when people are eating, running around, talking, and laughing…and can’t help but smile knowing God is in this very place. He has come down to dwell among us.
We ate, and ate, then ate some more! :)
After everyone had had all they could eat, we went outside for a lil photo booth fun!
We had such wonderful time fellowshipping with so many familiar faces and even had a few first timers who we got to know a lot better! It wasn’t til after 6 when the last person left, and Dann and I curled up on the couch. I fixed me a huge plate of food and sat down to eat for the first time. We started a fire and didn’t move from that spot the rest of the night:) Tired out from such an eventful day. But reminded once again how truly dear to us our friends here in San Francisco are.
- Jan 31, 12
Do not expose your soul to darkness. When you choose the company of those who are not living and walking in the Spirit, you bring to bear upon your soul many evil forces. You may not be aware of this because it is an action not seen by the natural eye. If you were seeing in the Spirit, it would be very real to you, and you would flee from the influence as one runs from a devouring force or a venomous snake.
Many of the tortures your soul has endured have sprung from your deliberate association with those who walk in spiritual darkness. They may be attractive to the eye as was the fruit which tempted Eve, but if you were living in prayer you would be given the discernment to know the danger of compromise with unyielded vessels. Discernment, my child, is not the spirit of condemnation. You are not given the right to condemn, but you SHALL be given the eyes of the Spirit to alert you to danger. I have given something similar to this even to the animals who are very keen to sense the approach of an enemy. Would I do less for you, to protect your soul from the destroyer? No, My child, I will surely give you what is needed for your preservation if you confess your need of My help in this respect and if you desire to escape and are willing to choose to walk in a place of higher communion with Me.
Be alert, and do not let man turn you aside. Know that to be kind to your own soul is more important than to try to be kind to those who are rejecting and denying Me., even though it is your desire to influence them for good. Some, the Bible says, should be “saved with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh”(Jude 23).
There are ways to witness without compromising, but there is no way to compromise and at the same time effectively witness. “Come out form among them, and be ye separate,” says the Word (2 Cor. 6:17). This command has not been altered. Come out! Those who seek the light will be drawn out into the light. Those who remain in the darkness, it is written, do so because the PREFER the darkness to the light; and to go back into darkness yourself, hoping to save them, will result in giving the evil one the opportunity to assail your own soul.
“Be ye holy for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). You can never do this while associating with evil, regardless of seemingly noble intentions. Withdraw your foot from the place of sin and compromise, even if it means that you must walk alone in the paths of righteousness. I never promised you the companionship of others, but I have promised to walk with you Myself, and this blessing you most certainly forfeit when you company with those who are being influenced by all sorts of spirits of evil. You cannot have both - light and darkness, for what fellowship has Christ with Belial (2 Cor. 6:14-18)? How shall you walk with Me unless you walk upon the HIghroad? I will bless and strengthen you, and your heart shall be light and your spirit shall be ministered unto by My presence. Angels guard you when you walk with Me. What better way could you choose?
⎯Frances J. Roberts.
I felt compelled to share the words of Frances J. Roberts, one of my favorite authors of all time. I believe there is a fine line between getting your hands dirty and reaching out to a lost world, and then blending in so much with the world that you lose your appeal. The Bible says in Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
You see, years ago..I had the notion that my lost friends needed someone they could relate to. I thought if I participated in the same activities they did, they would see that Christians can have a good time too. There was only one problem… Why would they ever want to accept Jesus as they’re Saviour if they saw absolutely no difference in me? I was hurting the cause of Christ more than I could have ever helped it. As Christians, we are called to be the light in the darkness. We are to hate sin. At that point in my life I did not hate sin, I actually enjoyed it. Because I put myself in compromising places and situations, I allowed Satan to wage war against my very soul. And he did, the Devil pushed me around, threw me to the ground, and trampled on me over and over again. My life felt like it was spinning out of control. But the Risen Savior, the Prince of Peace, my Blessed Redeemer came down and lifted me back up again, dusted the dirt from my face, and set my feet upon a rock. He said, follow me my child, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.
Since then, I have not looked back. I stray from any road that may look dark or uneven. I don’t go near any situation that may allow compromise. I truly hate sin.. because my eyes have been opened and I see what it does to man…and how it hurts the Father. I love unbelievers too much now to try and blend in. I have failed if they see no difference in me. I am suppose to be Christ to them, and I have failed if my life looks too similar to theirs.
Fellow Christians, first and foremost ask the Lord for discernment. Discernment may very well be a Christians best friend, and unfortunately so many times we fail to ask for it. Ask the Lord to reveal to you places of compromise. Then Flee from any dark places where there may be perverse talk, injustice, or evil doing. Follow the high road where you’re speech and actions are pure, honest, and of a good report. Then and only then are you able to reach out to the lost and show them Christ. Don’t join in with their activities, but instead invite them to join you on your high road…We are only capable of doing this as we walk in close communication with the Father. There may be times where you feel (just as I felt) like you are absolutely the only one doing what’s right…but God’s promises are true, and he will walk with you.
Don’t believe the lie that believers can reach a lost world by blending in with them. Satan wants nothing more than for you to believe this, because he knows very well you will lose yourself in the process.
The lost are actually as we speak, indeed crying out for someone to stand up for whats right. They would love to see and believe that it is possible to live a pure and wholesome life. We must be that for them. We must show them Christ. - Jan 26, 12
“Like waifs clustered around a blazing fire, we gathered around it[the Bible], holding out our hearts to its warmth &light. The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer…burned the word of God.”
- Corrie Ten Boom - Jan 17, 12
1 John 4:8
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
(Knowing that God = Love, and he is our standard for knowing what Real Love looks like…I took a closer look at the “love chapter” in 1 Corinthians and tried replacing the word “love” with “Christ”. )
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
”If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have (Christ), I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have (Christ), I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have (Christ), it profits me nothing. (Christ) is patient, (Christ) is kind and is not jealous; (Christ) does not brag and is not arrogant, (Christ) does not act unbecomingly; (Christ) does not seek his own, (Christ) is not provoked, he does not take into account a wrong suffered, (Christ) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; (Christ) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (Christ) never fails…”
I’m simply reminded that in all areas of my life, that if Christ is not apart of it…it profits me nothing. I can try my best to succeed in my career, marriage, friendships, and family..but If God is not apart of it, it is meaningless. When I seek God above all else and align my heart to his, thats when I can fully and genuinely love others and carry out a purposeful and successful life.
You see, it makes a huge difference when you get around your friends or family and inwardly dedicate that time to ultimately please and glorify the Lord. I guarantee your conversation will be wholesome and your actions will be purposeful. SO much more will be accomplished. And to think of what our lives would look like if we applied that mentality to every single moment of our lives. Our lives would be unrecognizable! Quit wasting moments of your life for temporary satisfaction and meaningless pleasure.
May we start laying aside our own agenda, and really open our eyes to what God wants for any given moment. His plans are much greater than our own. So much more is accomplished through the yielding of our will to his.
May we begin to look to Christ as a standard for Love and what exactly that looks like. Does your love (in your relationship, workplace, family, etc…) carry on the characteristics above? …Does it look like Love at all? You may need to plug into the source! Begin nurturing your relationship with the Lord and get to know his heart more intimately..It is only then that you can catch a glimpse at real Love. Because GOD IS LOVE.
What a beautiful relationship we can have with our Savior. A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP THAT IF WE NURTURE, IF SUBSEQUENTLY NURTURES ALL OTHER RELATIONSHIPS SURROUNDING US.♥
What does your love look like today? Does it look like Christ? Does Christ even resound in your day to day activities? ARE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS AND WORK SUFFERING BECAUSE YOU’RE NEGLECTING THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP OF ALL?
Maybe its time you plug back into the source.
Because without Love ➜ we are nothing.
- Dec 27, 11
Christmas has come and gone this year.
But for some reason it was a little different for me this year. As it led up to the special day, I got in the Christmas spirit by singing along to all the wonderful old-time carols while participating in all the exciting festivities. Every year growing up, Christmas was always such a special time of year at our house. Christmas morning our home would be filled with the sweet aromas of brown sugar/cinnamon/pecan rolls, sausage/egg/cheese casserole, and hot apple cider. The fire would be burning, the stockings full, and moms gold rimmed china with the 12 days of Christmas on the center of each plate were carefully set and ready on the kitchen table. My dad would read the Christmas story from the Bible and as we began opening each one of our presents we would reminisce on how God gave to us the greatest gift of all, his son, Jesus.
Each year I usually tend to hold tightly to and really cherish the traditions my own family has created throughout the years…but this year my mind was drawn to a greater tradition…a heritage even greater. It started when I began to sing some of the old Christmas carols. Many would be sung on TV or played over loud speakers in the shopping malls and restaurants. Was I the only one hearing it?…The name of Jesus. The Messiah. The Savior of the world. WOW! These were some of the words that were being sung for all to hear. I couldn’t help but notice people singing along to these old time carols and the very name of Jesus unconsciously sung from unbelievers’ mouths. It’s amazing to me how some of the most famous Christmas carols that have been remembered and passed down throughout the years are all about our Savior, Jesus Christ. Here’s powerful and bold experts from some of the familiar carols:
Silent Night -
”…Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth…”
God rest ye merry, gentlemen-
”…Remember, Christ, our Savior Was born on Christmas day To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray O tidings of comfort and joy…”
Hark the Herald Angels Sing -
”…Light and life to all He brings Ris’n with healing in His wings Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth…”
Joy to the World -
”…Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing…”
The list goes on and on.. so many beautiful chords sung throughout the ages about our Savior and King, Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful heritage that has been passed down through the years. Generation to generation, the story of Jesus and the Peace he brought to the earth has been taught.
The Bible prophesied that the Messiah would come from the seed of Abraham, the line of David, and be born of a virgin in the town on Bethlehem. The prophesy was fulfilled as promised! However, many people in that day did not believe Jesus was the Messiah because they knew he was from Nazareth in Galilee. John 1:46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
But what they did not realize is that Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem that time of the year to pay their taxes. While they were there, Mary gave birth to Jesus, fulfilling the prophesy foretold! God works in mysterious ways…not always the way we planned or imagined.
But throughout the years It was up to each family to teach their children about the Lord and all he had done. It was up to Abraham to teach his son Isaac about how the Lord had always provided. It was up to David to teach Solomon…and so on. Even though some failed to teach their own about the Lord, God still found a way to make his name known throughout the earth. But for many, it fell through the cracks. For those who have not heard of all the wonderful things God has done throughout the years and have failed to believe on him, have lost the glorious meaning of Christmas and the good news Jesus brings on this special holiday.
Galations 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
Titus 3:4-7 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Don’t you see? because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we become his children…the very heirs of Christ and his glory. We share in his glory and eternal life! What a sweet and precious heritage we have:) People do not understand what a wonderful promise we as Christians celebrate at Christmas.
We believers can rejoice in this time of year as we remember and celebrate the birth of a Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord! A promise fulfilled! A Heritage of faithfulness and truth! What a wonderful family line we get to be apart of! - Nov 03, 11
Luke 12:21
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
In everyday of our lives, every hour we spend doing something…we are investing. When reflecting on your life..and how you spend your time, what would you say you are investing in? Are you investing in your own pleasures?…your career?…maybe your relationship? Do all these things seem to revolve around yourself?
The definition for investing is, “to spend or devote for future advantage or benefit.”
Look at your investments in life…have you invested in yourself? your own happiness?
Unfortunately many of us are investing in something that simply won’t last. We are investing in things which will someday turn to dust.
Let’s stop and be reminded of why we are even here. What is our purpose?
“But for this very purpose have I let you live, that I might show you My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth.” Exodus 9: 16
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds (a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy), yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. “
Ecclesiastes 3: 11
We have been created by God and for God. Just as everything else was created, we were all designed to give God glory!
Psalm 19:1-6 says
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
When we look up at the sky, it should declare God’s glory…and when we gaze out at the ocean, it should declare God’s greatness!…and as we study each small detail, it should all point to God!
When did we decide we were any different? ..that we were superior to all of this? We too are designed to bring glory to God.
Would you say your life does that? The way you act, the words you speak, the clothing you wear, etc…?
So….what are our lives investing in? Something that will last?
God tells us to give to those in need…whether it be the gospel, our time, our money, our example, advice… These are what God tells us are the types of investments we should be making. These are treasures that are stored up in heaven…Treasures that will last.
You see, the more you invest in others…determines the richness you have in your relationship with God! Oh, how much better to have a rich and satisfying relationship with God…than to have riches and pleasures here on earth that will soon fade away.
Luke 12:34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “
You can’t say you love God and not invest in others. They go hand in hand. Your love for others literally stems from your love for God.
»Where are your investments?…Well guess what…this is where we can find your heart. Are your investments being made to reap your own benefit?..or are they to benefit the Kingdom of God?
“And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.” 1 John 2: 17
“Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people).” Ephesians 5: 15 - Nov 02, 11
“Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people.”
- Corrie Ten Boom - Oct 16, 11
“You are you, based on how you relate to others.”
- Dave Lomas. RealitySF Church - Oct 04, 11
Check out my newest collection of Autumn Pillows.
Don’t feel like you have to decorate your home with lots of tacky fake leaves everywhere. Try a more simplistic approach to your Fall Decor, by using lots of creams, milky browns, & rustic-orange accents. Subtle is the way to go. Allow the Fall season to grow along with the flow of your home, instead of standing out like a sore thumb! for
example: Try decorating with white pumpkins this year instead of the usual orange!:)
These white burlap pillows are a classy celebration of the fall season whether it be out on a front porch swing or inside on a cozy sofa by the fire.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/82921823/autumn-squirrel-burlap-pillow-cover?ref=v1_other_1
