Day #13: Favorite Quote(s)

Favorite quotes!
First one...

"I'd rather be a hammer than a nail."

Paul Simon

Meaning  it is better to be an active force than to let others (or something) drive you.

I heard this on a Christian radio show many years ago, and it has stuck with me.




Honestly, I didn't even know who Paul Simon was.
So just before posting this, I did some research and found out
it was Simon of Simon and Garfunkel and this quote is actually a song lyric!

Who knew?!

"What is an ambassador's responsibility?

Not to change the people to whom he is sent, but to represent the King whom he serves."

Lydia Prince


I was deeply moved reading about Lydia's early life in the book Appointment In Jerusalem,
where this quote comes from.

It is a great reminder for us as Christians,
that we aren't out to change people, because we can't,
rather we simply need represent God and the truths of His kingdom
through our lives, words and actions.

~~~~
I'm linking up at Anchored in Love Divine
for the Blog Everyday in February Challenge!

Day #7: Encouragement!

 Encouragement.

That comes in many different forms,

but for me personally, I have found that the right words (and a hug) can make all the difference.

So today I'll keep it simple and share with you a few of my favorite

encouraging words brought you by Pinterest.

You can view my entire board of encouraging and thought provoking words here.

 

 

 

 

 

 Oh, and that hug I mentioned?

Here it is.

You're welcome.

Even better, watch this video about the Free Hug Campaign,

it made me smile SO big!!

 Seriously, watch this heart warming video!

And finally....

 

Go forth into your day with vorfreude!

~~~~
I'm linking up at Anchored in Love Divine
for the Blog Everyday in February Challenge!

Day 3#: What Scares Me

"What scares you most?"

Loaded question, no?

Of course there are the usual things that pop into your head...

big bugs,

snakes,

tornadoes,

big bugs and snakes swirling around inside tornadoes...no?...just me? M'kay.

But then there are other things...more serious things.

What scares me most is this.

God has placed great potential in me, as in all of us.

What if I don't realize that potential?

What if I don't accomplish all that I'm capable of?

 

What I fear most is a wasted life.

When it comes to video games,

I am one of those people who go for broke.

I collect all the coins, break all the blocks, squash all the bad guys (Mario World, anyone?),

gather up all the bonuses and achieve expert on every level.

If I miss even one item, I'll restart and do it over because I want it just perfect.

 

For a long time, I felt that way about my life.

I've made some mistakes in my life, done things good Christian girls ought not do.

And I desperately wished for a restart button.

There were dark moments even, when I wished I could just quit because I knew I had missed my mark.

 

That is when God taught me about His grace.

Grace is God's restart button.

His mercies are new every morning.

 

So while I have relaxed my perfectionistic grip on life,

I still beg God to make my life count.

I'm don't want to get to heaven and see a picture of what my life was meant to be 

only to realize I missed the mark because of fear or stubbornness.

 

In some ways, 

I'm most scared of myself.

I most afraid of the chances I won't take,

the people I'm too afraid to talk to,

the prayers I'm too busy to pray,

and the words I'm too afraid to speak. 

Even my fear of a wasted life,

as noble or good as it may seem,

is still fear...it is still not good.

 

I have to remind myself that

Jesus is the author and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2).

If He wrote my story, He'll finish it.

And He will make perfect what I cannot.

He will finish the work He started in me (Phil. 1:6), the work He started...not I, but He.

And He has a plan for my life (Jere. 29:11) and even before I was born He knew me

(Jere. 1:5) and knowing me, He knew what my strengths and weaknesses would be.

 

 And I guess the only way I know how to end this post

is by leaving you with this verse.

 

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? 

If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Romans 8:31 

~~~~
I'm linking up at Anchored in Love Divine
for the Blog Everyday in February Challenge!

Beauty Infusion

Last week I joined Coffee For Your Heart and wrote about beauty.

In my post I shared with you a word the Lord gave me about beauty which was...
"Beauty is an infusion of hope and desire."

I just quick wanted to share a thought with you about that.

After writing my post I decided to do a little research into the word infusion.
It was such a specific and slightly odd word choice, that I was intrigued to delve deeper into the matter.

I had to smile when I read the following description.

Infusion 
 "The process of extracting chemical compounds or flavors from plant material in a solvent 
such as water, oil or alcohol, by allowing the material to remain suspended in the solvent over time (a process often called steeping). The process of infusion is distinct from decoction, which involves boiling the plant material, or percolation, in which the water passes through the material (as in a coffeemaker)."
Wikipedia


Did you catch all that?
Infusion is the process of bringing out flavors, in a solvent, like water.
But infusion happens when the plant is steeped, or soaked, in the water over time.
Not boiled, and not just passed over once.
But soaked.

You can probably tell where I'm going with this, can't you?

Our natural 'flavors' and the strengths with which we were created
are extracted...brought forth, drawn out when we have been soaked and steeped in the Living Water.
Jesus brings out the best in us. Many think when we become more like Jesus we lose ourselves,
but the reality is we become more ourselves.

I like the picture of soaking up Christ and slowly being drawn out.
He is careful with us. He doesn't boil us, causing pain and a breakdown of our character.
And he doesn't just flow over us once, like hot water over coffee.
But He surrounds us, envelopes us and allows us to soak Him in.
Over time we release more and more of ourselves into His care.

So,
beauty is an infusion of hope and desire.
Are you dripping with hope?
Does that liquid hope spill over into the lives of those around you?
Do you have a river of desire for life coursing through you?
Can people smell the Living Water on you?
Then girl...you are beautiful!

A Beauty Unrecognized: Coffee For Your Heart

“You’re beautiful…just as you are.”

That was my writing prompt for this weeks Coffee for Your Heart post.

At first I was going to write an encouraging post
with excerpts from one of my favorite books on the subject of beauty.
It would have been a fine post; good feelings on steroids, with a verse or two.

But then I started thinking...
what if I could share something that wasn't just recycled fluff?


Beauty is something I'm passionate about--
I feel it is an important message that women need to be constantly reminded of.

 But to be honest, I have been struggling with my own beauty lately.
The size on my tags and the numbers on the scale aren't what I wish they were.
And my closet isn't full of all the beautiful clothes I wish I could wear to present my 'best' self.

How could I encourage you if I myself was feeling a little low?

Then one night, as I say in bed thinking about what I was going to write...I stopped.
And I asked a simple question.



"Lord...what IS beauty?
How do YOU see beauty?
What is it YOU want to say to these women about beauty?"



I stopped and waited...
...slowly, Holy Spirit started showing me...

"Just as the world did not accept Me...the world does not always accept your beauty.
The world did not know Me...and the world does not always know you as beautiful."

Now there is a thought to ponder.
It is no news to us that the world's view of beauty is skewed.
But to think...the most beautiful thing to grace this earth...
God, in human form, come down to be amongst man...our Savior...wasn't recognized for His beauty either.


"He was in the world, 
and though the world was made through Him, 
the world did not recognize Him." 
 John 1:10


As that thought began to sink in,
I returned to my other question....what is beauty?

Swift and strong, my mind heard the answer...


"Beauty is an infusion of hope and desire."


Something all beauty has in common...
be it a majestic mountain...
budding flower...
lush green valleys...
a beautiful smile... they offer hope.

Hope in goodness.
Hope for tomorrow.
Hope that love and peace are attainable.
 Beauty awakens a desire to embrace, to continue, to seek, to live.

Immediately, these two verses dropped into my mind...

"For You are my hope, O Lord God...."
Psalm 71:5 NKJV

 

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

If beauty is hope and desire,

then you could read those verses...

"You are my beauty, O Lord..."

"...He will give you the beauty of your heart."

Our beauty, quite literally, comes from the Lord.
He is our beauty!


But just as the world did not recognize the beauty of Christ on earth,
often times they won't recognize ours either.


"...The world cannot accept Him, 
because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.... "
John 14:17
 

 

Beauty must been seen and known. Without seeing and knowing Christ,

people will not always recognize the source of our beauty.


We are vessels by which our beauty is a means of saying,
 "There is hope...
there is peace...
there is love,
and it can be found in the greatest and purest measure through Jesus."


We are the image bearers, a small mirror,
reflecting a tiny prism of the light of the Lord through our beauty.

And that is what the Lord showed me about beauty.
I think that is a much better message than what I had (somewhat) prepared before.

So when the world does not recognize your beauty,
just remember, it is because they don't recognize the source of your beauty.
Let your beauty help them see...and by seeing they may come to know that Source.

Remember...you are beautiful.


"The King is enthralled with your beauty.
Honor Him for he is your lord."
Psalms 45:11


~~~~
Linking up with Holley Gerth and many other wonderful ladies, with Coffee For Your Heart. 

Coffee For Your Heart: As You Begin...

You made it!

I'm so glad you could join me over a cup of coffee...for your heart.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then you probably missed this post.

Go ahead. Have a read.

All clear now?

Good.

Here is what I've got.

My assignment today...

share with you something I want you to hear as you step foot into a new year.

I'm sure your ears are already ringing, and mind racing

with various resolutions, goals and mantras for 2014.

But if I could throw you a line by which to secure your footing 

amidst an avalanche of encouragement for the new year, it would be this.

Glory, praise, thankfulness, recognition...

to God who is able...capable, equipped...

through His mighty power...the same power that created the stars, the earth...you...

at work within us, moving us, directing us, always active...

to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think....

sum up the entirety of your year's goals, resolutions, and dreams...He can accomplish
infinitely, exceedingly, abundantly more than that.


So whatever you accomplish this year, glory to God.
When you think you don't have the strength...remember His power within you.
Whatever you ask or think...allow Him to work...and accomplish more than you dreamed.
Give Him charge of your agenda, let Him direct you this year,
trusting that what needs to happen...will. 




I love this quote, it ministers to my heart and echos the message in Ephesians.

Accept where you are.
Let go of all that did and didn't happen.
Have faith that God is working...that He is good.


No matter the greatness you have planned for 2014,
He has more in store for you than you think...surrender to living His dream for you
...be open to His infinite possibilities and glorious accomplishments.
He's got this year handled!

{Linking up with holleygerth.com}

Coffee for Your Heart...New Wednesday Posts

Who doesn't love coffee?

That's a derogatory question,
if you are one the few people who doesn't, just don't answer that question.

Now imagine you could infuse your heart
with that same rich, glowing, warmth.

What if I told you it could be so?
I'll tell you how.

First, let me introduce you to Holley Gerth.
Before I even knew what blogging was,
I followed Holley and her daily/weekly inspiration devotions.
Speaker, author, co-founder of (in)courage , and partner with DaySpring,
Holley is all about breathing life into the hearts of women.
Through the years I have cemented some of her words in my heart,
and I treasure that encouragement.

Now,
she is giving fellow bloggers the chance to do the same through
her Coffee For Your Heart Challenge.

 Every Wednesday,
we bloggers will invest one post and thoughtful words
into encouraging and uplifting the hearts of our readers.

Don't worry,
I enjoy creating beautiful things, both in words and fabric,
so I have no intention of fazing out my refashion or sewing projects.
I'm just expanding. And there is always room for coffee, right?
After all, man lives not by 'thread' alone (see what I did there?) but by words also,
which is why I've chosen to expand what I post through being a part of
Coffee For Your Heart at least twice a month.
 

So,
coffee this Wednesday?
It's a date.