Not my puzzle - God's

 Psalms 37:5 says, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

I need to let go of my ideas of how God will deliver me and just trust Him. When I put my trust in God, that means to understand that trying to figure out things that are too great for my mind to comprehend is futile and can lead me astray. I will TRUST in the same God that proved it may look like there is no other direction to go, but GOD is the way! He too will part waters for me if needed.

I acknowledge this is very hard for me. I'm always looking at the many pieces around me crossing my path. I am constantly testing pieces in my mind to see how they fit, and what the picture would look like.

At first, it looks something like this...

But eventually a picture comes into focus...

So many pictures I've seen, but thus far I have yet to see a complete picture with smooth edges all fit in their rightful beautiful place. That picture only God sees! Who am I to shake the X-mas presents under the tree before the big day!

I can't change the fact I may miss small details and am constantly looking to my intuition to show a bigger picture. But I can sit back and admire God's amazing creation! Even in the darkest of times, I know God's masterpiece in the end will be more than you or I could ever fathom!

Grandpa L*

During my trip to Salt Lake for my Grandpa's 90th birthday, I learned so much about this accomplished man. Listening to stories, scouring scrapbooks, but best of all was his 90th birthday memory book! Family and friends contributed with photos and favorite memories. Stories about fishing, camping, traveling, friendship, teaching, etc. My favorite stories were all the many tall tales of how Grandpa lost his pinkie finger. On the night of his birthday, he finally came clean with the truth!!!

19 years flying experience! 

Cuz leavin on a Jet Plane

Grandpa L* is turning 90! I'm looking forward to spending time with him and family. I'm sure this celebration will be filled with lots of memories! 

I must admit though, I'm also looking forward to a few nights sleeping in a hotel room. I can't wait to roll around in my bed with pillows all to myself. I plan on sleeping sideways across the entire king sized bed!! WHOO HOOO!!

So kiss me and smile for me! 

October Select Mustim Awareness Month

Selective mutism (formally known as elective mutism) is a disorder that usually occurs during childhood. It is when the child does not choose to speak in at least one social setting. However, the child can speak in other situations.

 -INFJ friend

Anxiety

Crushes your spirit
Strangles your voice
Tricks your mind
Replaces your joy
Steals your time
Blankets your eyes
Paralyzes your feet

Suffocates your soul

words by – Abigail’s Mom

Art by art by EvitagenEm

 Mama Cheetah Saves Her Cub

Mama Cheetah lounged on a rock while watching baby cheetah run across the Savannah plains.  Her baby was a fast runner, the fastest cheetah she’d ever seen. Mama perks up as she sees baby rounding a curve at full speed. For Mama Cheetah knew baby, who loved to run, was sometimes hindered from a wound that had never healed.

Just as Mama Cheetah stands, baby disappeared from sight.  Running as fast as she could mama arrived to find baby had fallen into a great big hole.  The fracture in the earth was dark, scary and very, very deep.

Mama Cheetah circled the hole and was relieved to see a way out.  Someone had placed a ladder to assist anyone who might fall in.

“Everything’s going to be just fine! Climb up the ladder and you’ll be free!”

Mama looks down to see her daughter pacing in front of the ladder.

“I can’t, I can’t!” Baby Cheetah cried.

“What’s wrong? Why can’t you just climb the ladder?”

Baby Cheetah continued to pace in front of the ladder, growing more and more frustrated.  Her sad chirps changed to angry growls.

“The ladder is covered with scary bugs! I can’t climb up it!”

Mama Cheetah knew baby’s fear, and needed to think of a way to save her!  She knew it would be impossible to climb down and carry her up by herself. Baby cheetah was now too big to carry like she used to in the safe clutches of her teeth.  Mama then realized the only way she could help her baby, was to coach her out.

“You can do it, the bugs can’t hurt you.” Mama said calmly.

“But they’re scary, and I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m scared!” Baby cheetah chanted over and over again.

“Just count to three, close your eyes, and start climbing!” Mama said calmly.

Hesitating, baby cheetah paced and growled in front of the ladder.

“DO IT NOW!” Mama, roared.

“One, two, THREE!” Baby cheetah closed her eyes and started climbing up the ladder. With every step the bugs on each rung became fewer and fewer.

“I’m doing it!” Baby cheetah cried proudly.

“You’re doing it!” Mama cheetah cried proudly.

Just a few steps from the top Mama cheetah could see baby’s face beaming with pride.  Baby cheetah planted her feet on the ground and nodded to Mama.  She then darted off into the sunset of the Savannah, faster than Mama cheetah had ever seen her baby run.

 -Abigail's Mom

Cast the first stone!

Last weeks message from Pastor E. The story of Jesus attending a dinner at Simon s house.....

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head,but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

What Pastor E* said at the end of this message... It's easy to look at others and see their faults, but God wants you to only look at his magnificent creation.


Homosexuality - 1 Corinthians 6:0-11   Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Adultery - John 8:4-11 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.   

Idolatry - Jeremiah 10:3-16   For the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.

Lying - Proverbs 19:5   A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

Greed - Proverbs 11:12    One gives freely,  yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Lust - Matthew 5:28    But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

and the list of sins go on. 


It's so hard not to judge others who you KNOW are judging you. Thoughts that come up.. Well YOU haven't been the best wife, mother, friend, CHRISTIAN either. Heck I'm writing this with several people in mind. But this is what God calls us to do, so I will try harder. And tomorrow will try even harder!