cute and cheap decorating makes me happy!!

The other day I saw some pretty glass vases in the Pottery Barn magazine...expensive, but pretty!  They looked so fresh, so welcoming of Spring time...and just about anything can go in them and look great!

So I found a few small glass jars and vases at Good Will that were cute and very cheap.  I grouped them together with a few glass jars I already had, added a bag of green and beige balls, nuts, and sprigs that came in a bag from the Dollar Store, threw in a few outdoor twigs... and VOILA!....a fresh and fun decorating change for very little money!  Happy day!

Ambush of praise!

I love, love, LOVE the powerful truths from this story out of 2 Chronicles 20.  God brought this passage clearly to mind this week in relation to a new friend's situation that from all outward appearances, seems impossible.  (Good thing nothing is impossible with Him!)

So, in a nutshell the story goes like this.  Jehoshaphat gets news that a huge army is coming against his people, like.... on their way, a disaster in the making, run for your lives kinda thing!

I am amazed and challenged at his first response to this news....he resolved to inquire of the Lord.   I know for me when I am faced with a difficult situation, my first resolve may be to inquire of my own understanding....to figure it out by myself.  Then, I may inquire of a friend's understanding...to ask them to help me to figure it out.  Don't get me wrong....God gives us wisdom and He does use friends to speak truth.   But, the first place we should turn to is Him.

Next, Jehoshaphat declared out loud for all to hear this prayer, "You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.  Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you! We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you!"

Ever been there?  Are you there today?  Lord, we don't have a clue how to solve this problem.  To climb this mountain. To heal this hurt.  To mend this relationship.  To fight this battle. To help this child.  To be set free.  To find relief from this pain.  To find joy again.  To have hope... but our eyes are upon you, Lord.

Sometimes it is in the humblest and simplest of requests that the gates of grace and mercy open up and reign down on our need.

Okay, so now is when this story gets good.  really good.  As they prepare for the battle, they are reminding themselves and speaking out TRUTH.  Not the truth of their reality and circumstances, but the TRUTH of who He is in the midst of their moment.

Things like, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  The battle is not yours, but God's.  Do NOT be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.  Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld."

I know that sometimes our greatest battle is the one that goes on in our hearts and minds.  Battling back and forth between what His Word says is true and what our hearts really believe is true based on the old ruts of our unhealthy thinking.   Unfortunately for me, there are days when my own fear wins the battle.  I look at my self and my circumstances and choose to believe my story..the one I've told myself a million times.....about who I am, my circumstances, my limitations, my fears etc.

But, God wants me to speak out and believe His story....the one He is writing about me.  The way that He sees me, my strengths, my weaknesses that He will use, the purpose for my life, His unfailing love, kindnesses and mercies new every morning.  That He is a God who sees and promises to show up, give grace and wisdom and help in time of need!  

So, here's the amazing conclusion to Jehoshaphat's battle.  He appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out ahead of the army....giving thanks to the Lord as they marched.  Choosing to believe He would show up for them in might and power.

And as they began to sing and praise....THE LORD SET AMBUSHES against the enemy.  Did you read that???  The Lord took their praise and worship and used it against the enemy's purpose.  They didn't fight, or struggle, or wrestle for the victory...the praises brought the deliverance.  Our praise and shouts of WHO HE IS...can be used to defeat the enemy's attempt to discourage and overwhelm us with whatever we are facing.

Listen, I've seen and heard way too many things lately that confirm we are all in some kind of battle.  Yours may look different than mine...but the battle is just as intense.  Some of you may be at the place today of saying, "Honestly, Lord, we have no idea what to do next.  It's pretty much hopeless, Lord, if you don't show up!"

My encouragement to your heart....Pull out your weapons!  Speak to your own heart, speak it out loud to those around you about Who He is.  His power.  His ability.  His strength and might and glory and power.  Put on your praise music in your car, your home, your children's rooms and claim the victory over your circumstance!

Believe His story...that He can take things that are awful and use them for good.  That He shows up for us in our weakest moments.  That His Spirit is a salve that can mend much hurt.  That our focus on Him can be the very thing that defeats the enemy's attack against us. 

Set an ambush today against the things the enemy has used to bring discouragement, depression, fear, hopelessness, despair, pain and heartache by praising the One who was and is and is to come!

Sing His story, choose His truth, and sing it loud against your battle!!  Then, rejoice and rest in knowing that the battle is not yours, it belongs to the Lord!  Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged....have faith in the Lord, and you will be upheld.

She once was lost...but now has been found!

With my sister's permission, I want to share just a hint of what I have seen the Lord doing in her life.  My words here will be few, but her words will tell much more about her journey. 

                                 http://karalynnnichols.blogspot.com

Amazing. Miraculous. Life changing..literally.  Worth the read!


A few weeks back Kara shared with me that she had found Christ.  Just like that..."I thought I was, but  realized I wasn't, and now I am."   After a life of not understanding His thoughts towards her, or His healing forgiveness,  or His beautiful purposes set apart just for her...He captured her heart. 

Truth be told, the journey for her has had pain, been difficult and at times even hopeless.  But God. The One who would not let her go.  The One who loved her enough to use her life circumstances to be the very thing that would open her eyes to His life giving truth. The One who led and arranged and worked and called and softened and allowed the things of this life, which are but a moment, to make sure she would be with Him in eternity...that is a forever love story for sure.

So I stand amazed and rejoice. The book of Luke talks about the shepherd rejoicing over the one sheep that was lost and then found.  And, the woman who lost her coin and found it...then threw a party and celebrated with her friends. God says the angels rejoice over the one sinner who has come to repentance.   I am filled with such awe and gratitude and wonder at His amazing grace. 

Oh, and I see Him in her.  I see a peace that is different.  A hope and a freedom that only He can give. A hunger for His word.  It is a beautiful sight, full of fragrance that is a delight to the soul.  I hear His words coming from her heart, now filled with rich soil planted by Him.  He has such amazing plans for her life...for everyone who is yielded to His good and perfect will.

Kara...you go girl.  Run with abandon after the One who is holding you tight.  He looks so good on you!  I love you...my sweet sister...and now my forever sister in Christ!
http://karalynnnichols.blogspot.com

got water?

I'm just sayin...I feel thirsty.  My spirit feels a little dry.  Like after being in a desert for several weeks, with only little drops to drink along the way.  I am parched...needing the washing of the water of the WORD, as Ephesians says. 

See, I have lived on sips for the month of December!  With all the busyness of what had to be done, places we had to be, and fun we just had to have!   But along the way only sipping little bits of His Word here and there, always being distracted by what called my name for the day, ...wrapping, shopping, decorating, baking, singing, laughing, talking, scurrying, and of course, just enjoying the season.

So now I find myself longing for the filling up of what only He can give me.  A drink that satisfies and refreshes a parched and "too busy" soul, in need of some sweet refreshment.  Jesus Himself says, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to ME and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within Him."

I need His streams to fill me up this week, so that I can have sweet waters to pour out on those around me.  Something that is refreshing and lovely, not stale and dry. Trust me when I say, that without His sweet waters, I got some stale and dry people... let's just be real!  You too?

Take a moment today...whether you are returning all that didn't fit, or dragging that dead tree out to the curb....and fill up with a drink that will truly satisfy your deepest needs and driest places and bring sweet refreshment to your soul!

Jesus....the one drink that truly satisfies.

peace, joy and hope..not at wal mart, people!

I was buying some Christmas plates at Wal Mart the other day that read Joy, Peace and Hope, and as I stood at the register, I watched the prices ring up on the screen.  "joy", "peace", "hope"...$3.00.

It got me thinking on the way home.   How many people desperately wish everyday that they could go to a store and pick these gifts up?  I know I have had many times in my life when I would have given my last dime to buy a little peace, joy and hope.


You know the lines would be out the door.
"I'll take some joy please....because truth be told, my heart feels very flat lately.  laughter is hard to come by.  everywhere i look, it looks a mess.  i'm tired of pretending."


"Do you have any hope left?  I need some quick.  I am sinking in a hole of despair. depression. pain. I am sure that things can't possibly change for me, for others, for the hurt we have carried!  I'll take even a small glimmer please...I just need something to hold on to. "


 "Peace??  I'll take all you have.  I am stressed out, desperately dry, too busy to see straight, angry and tired....and it's Christmas for heaven's sakes!!"


The truth of the matter is this. Though I do love me a good Wal Mart with all their varied selections, they can't supply what our hearts need most desperately.  Only God has that, in a store that is never on backorder.


 I find it interesting that often in my own life I keep waiting for God to remove the circumstance that is so difficult....so I can have peace.  Or, take away the pain of that relationship....so I can have joy.  And, change that desperately needy situation...so I can finally have some hope!


Actually, God allows our circumstances to be difficult, purposefully difficult, so He can be the Calm in our storm.  How do we appreciate His calm, without knowing the fear of the storm?  We want peace in our trial, and we think that means waiting until the trial is over.  God says, I am Peace...a Peace that passes your understanding.  You can have My peace right now, in the midst.


He promises that we can have abundant joy...full and overflowing.  Bubbling over.  Not because all is well all around us, but because of Who He is inside of us.  His joy is real!  When we remind ourselves that this temporary life, with all of it's painful moments, is but a vapor...our fullness of joy comes from knowing that this is not all there is.  Our Home awaits...a Home with no more pain, no more crying.


How about hope?  I am pretty sure this is the one that would sell out the soonest.  For there is not one of us who doesn't carry a desperate need that needs the breath of His hope to remind our hearts that He sees, He is at work, He can be trusted, He is able, His promises are true, and nothing is impossible for Him.  God's hope is the only real hope there is and He will never say to your situation...Wow, I'm not sure about that one?  He is HOPE...no matter what.


So, in the busyness of a season frantic with shopping, parties, presents, all on top of the stuff we were already dealing with....go to the One who can offer you true joy, abundant and sweet.  true peace...so that your hearts will not be troubled.  true hope...He is aware of what concerns you today.


Romans 15:13, "May the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE, as you trust in Him..may you overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Jesus!

So I can rarely find anything that says JESUS this time of year, the whole sweet reason we celebrate! I finally made big red glitter letters and spelled out His wonderful name to hang across our doors like garland, cuz I mean He is the centerpiece of it all...this season, every season.

"Take a good hard look at Jesus. HE's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave Him to do." (Heb.3 in the Message) 


How can you proclaim His beautiful name this time of year?  In your home, in your words, in your heart?  He is the Reason...

an amazing life....

So, I went to see Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. It was beautiful to see the grounds and his house, his books, his creative inventions. But I must say that Thomas didn't really capture my attention as much as this grave stone I noticed walking past the old family graveyard.

"She went about doing good and set at liberty them that are bruised."

What a summary of this woman's life! Oh, I could only pray for such a conclusion of mine.

See, what I know, what I am learning more and more as I continue this journey called life, is that there are bruises all around us, in the people we see everyday. It is a fact of living in this fallen world that is filled with stress, pain, struggles, fear, sickness, death.

The truth is this, Christ is freedom...there is no liberty to be found apart from Him, so this woman must have known Him, must have known His powerful word. James 1:25 talks about the Word being the perfect law that gives freedom! She surely must have known this along with His tender love, and His cleansing forgiveness, because you cannot extend to others what you know nothing about.

She also must have had some bruises. Is anyone exempt from that? The Word tells us that we are given comfort so that we have comfort to give. I think a bruise recognizes a bruise. Our bruisings and hurts give us a keen discernment to the ones found in those around us. We recognize the despair of a situation and extend freedom and hope by saying, "I've been there, He helped me, He can help you too."

This I know to be true...on my own, I got nothing good to extend to anyone. Wrong sized bandages. Expired ointment. Missing gauze. Queasy stomach.   I myself cannot offer liberty to anyone, but I can help love them in their wounds, and lead them to the One who has the salve that can heal their bruisings.

Lord, by your amazing grace alone, help me have your eyes to see the bruises in those around me. To care enough to ask, and pray, and love, and listen, and help when I can...but mostly to extend to others the Truth and Freedom and Grace and Hope found in You alone.

I wonder if the lady with this gravestone knew. You know, knew that she was known for loving people like that. Or maybe she just knew lots about bruises, found a soft and sweet freedom in the One with the salve, and spent the rest of her days pouring that out onto those around her. what a life indeed.