Trust

<Sigh>

Isn't it wonderful to realize that we don't need to worry?

It doesn't even do anything!

"Who of you by worrying, can add a single hour to his life?"

(Matthew 6:27)

God is revealing to me more and more that I have no control.  Only He knows the amount of the days that I will live, He knows how many breaths I will take, I knows if I will ever get married-He knows whether or not I will live to see tomorrow!  I have no control. 

Why worry?

Just trust.

Image Source: heisallworthit.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Pinterest?

I love Pinterest.

Like. Seriously. It's an addiction.

But what frustrates me about Pinterest is the lack of safety on their site.  I have seen  pins of things that I would never want my little brothers and sisters to see.  I have refrained from posting anything about it because of my caution of recommending it- not wishing to be responsible for any of the ugly photos you may see while perusing the site.  

So why am I saying anything about it now?

I have a solution!  ...or at least actions that can be taken to prevent the ugly obscene photos while freeing you to be able to use Pinterest as the tool it is.  

Here I wrote a wiki page on my uncle and his friend's newly upstarted forum on how to use Pinterest safely.

While you are there, register! (With your parents permission, of course!)  My uncle and his friend are trying through this forum site to create a place where people can discuss practical and Christian issues while not having to worry about cussing or inappropriate material. 

Hope you enjoy the page...

Do you have any practical tips on how to use Pinterest safely?  Perhaps I can add them to the page...

Happy Pinning!

Courageous

Have you seen Sherwood Pictures' latest film Courageous yet?

.

If not, you must.
I wrote a post on it last year before it came out in the theatre... click here to read it (only if you want to know how awesome God is and how you cannot let hindrances like budgeting get in the way of reaching people's hearts).  ;-)

It came out two days ago on DVD and our family bought it (that day- we have a tendency to not be able to wait ;-) ) and watched it that night.  

The movie was awesome, just like I saw it in the theater (I don't think I've ever laughed so hard or cried in the theater before- wait- I think I cried when I saw Fireproof...)  but what always amazes me with those Sherwood Pictures films is the behind the scenes videos.  When we were watching some last night I was just astounded- it seemed just too good to be true- they pray everyday before they start filming...  they pray during tough scenes, they pray when they are trying to come up with a movie concept- they base their movie concept not on what they can do, not on the budget they have, not on their ability, but simply on what they feel the message is that God wants them to portray.  The lesson that they feel God wants their viewers to learn.  

That is the kind of movie that I want to see!  

Here's the trailer to whet your appetite :-)

Let me know if you have seen it and what you think of it!  ;-)

Blogger Award

Hello, friends!

Now my throat is starting to hurt :-(  

Pray that the Lord will quickly heal me so that we can go to church tomorrow and start a "normal" routine next week ;-)

Anyway...  a day or so ago my sweet sister Melody awarded me the Kreativ Blogger award!

Rules:

1) Link back to the person who gave you the award

2) Complete the form below

3) Award other blogs, and let them know in a comment/email that they have been awarded

4) Share seven random things about yourself

Here is mine!

***

Form

1) Name your favorite song:

"Dear Heart" by Sanctus Real

2) Name your favorite dessert:

Whoa...I'm not sure that I can answer that so directly...  I totally <3 chocolate ;-)

3) What makes you angry:

To see or hear of people being cowardly or deceitful.

4) When you're upset:

I try to remember how much Jesus has done for me- how He handled His crucifixion when He did nothing to deserve it.

5) What's your favorite pet?

Ouch.  We have like 5 pets in the house....  I would have to say my sister Hannah's lovebird, Pippin.  I can relate to his tendency to be uptight  ;-)

6) Black or white?

White- it's so crisp and clean!

7) Biggest fear?

Hmmm...   Our internet shutting down?   (AAAAAAAAAAH!!!!  what am I gonna do?!?!?)   :-)  Jk

8) Everyday attitude?

Determined :-)

9) What is perfection?

Jesus- of course!

10) Guilty pleasure?

Enjoying a chocolate saturated brownie sundae with nuts and whipped cream on top while vegging out watching a movie :-)

7 Random Things About Me

1. I drink coffee almost every day

2. Caffeine doesn't seem to effect me.

3. I got a guitar the Christmas I turned 9 but didn't really start playing until I was 12.

4. John Newton and William Wilberforce fascinate me.

5. I love love love to sew.  (Fabric, buttons, thread, ribbon, coordinating colors....!)

6. I almost always call my siblings by pet names.  (to the point where they look at me like, "Really???")

7. I'm the only child in my family whose hair color has not changed- and the only dark headed one- for now :-)

That was interesting...

Now for my awards...

1. Lauren @ A Corner Pillar 

2. Samantha @ Simple Delights

3. Kelsey @ Seriously Peppermint

I would give out more but my sister took em already!  

Have a fabulous day, my friends :-)

Kindness

Hello, all!

I'm still here....  my poor family has been sick over the past week therefore our whole routine has gone a little awry ;-)

I was reading this morning in Romans and thought that I would share a quick little thought with you...

"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"

Romans 2:4

I was just thinking about this verse...  If God was so tolerant and patient and kind to me, an undeserving wretch, how much more should I show tolerance, patience, and kindness to others like me- helping to lead them to repentance?

Jus' sayin'...

So true...

Book Review: Money Saving Mom's Budget

What a blessing it was that Crystal Paine sent me her book, Money Saving Mom's Budget to review- despite my low page views :-)  That alone would make me want to buy the book...

  It was so easy and enjoyable to read this book- fast-paced, to the point, understandable and doable advice.  Nothing like recycling toilet paper or aluminum foil (not that there is anything wrong with that- only that in this season of my family's life I DO NOT need seeds like that planted in my head to torture me!) but all fresh practical tips.
  Time budgeting, (and of course) money budgeting-simple, easy to follow steps to creating your own bare bones budget to start then a more in depth one.  How to plan your shopping trips, clip coupons, tips on how to have intentional "splurging", going out on the on the town for cheap (one of my faves!).
  One that was wonderfully encouraging to me was the fact of keeping an orderly and organized home- until this is accomplished you cannot try to be using any sort of money saving techniques (Can't find the black thread so go buy some- $3 down the drain...  Can't find the library books- fines building up...  Can't find this bill- late fees accumulating...). Even though we, obviously, have been striving toward the goal of over all order and organization, it gives us even more drive to hear that we can even save money through it.  ;-)
  Now we have tried doing coupons before and my mom really didn't like all the time that it took up.  But after reading Money Saving Mom's Budget , I may try taking it up again.  :-)
  The very last chapter dealt with a very  important subject that I was especially blessed by- contentment.  How wonderful to read in a financial help book what we all really need to hear, that we should be grateful for where God has us right now and not complain about how little money we have but use whatever we do have to bring Him glory through blooming right where we are planted!

What a blessing it was to be so inspired and encouraged...

  This book comes out on January 10th, 2012.

You can order it from Amazon (Paperback or Kindle Edition), Barnes and Noble, or Books A Million.

Don't forget to check out Crystal Paine's fabulous blog over at http://moneysavingmom.com/!

Hello, 2012

As you may have guessed because of the length of time between my last post and this, my family and I have been (as I said in the previous post) extremely busy...  I don't know if I mentioned before the three birthdays all within the same seven days along with Christmas.... or our Christmas party that was in the same seven day period- or the New Year's Eve Ball we went to only five days post Christmas- or the costume that we didn't even get the fabric for until two or three days before we left.... yep- we've been pretty busy <pant, pant>...

All that aside...

Today is the second day of a new year.

Have you taken any time to reflect on the past year?  I encourage you to- I know I should- my mind has been going a million miles a minute over the past two months and I haven't taken much time to consider what did or did not get accomplished in 2011 and what I need to do or change in 2012.

My prayer for this year (among others!) and for every year to come is this:

That God will give me the strength and the courage to surrender everything I have- my dreams, my aspirations, hobbies, skills- in order to carry out whatever His purpose and His plan might be.  

It may mean that I discontinue blogging.

It may mean that I won't read a single book in it's entirety this year.

It may mean that I never sing again.

It may mean that I never play my guitar again.

It may mean that I need to let go of my over-achieving high standards for how clean or orderly I think the house should be.

It may mean that my dad will lose his job.

It may mean that I never marry.

It may mean that my mom will never have another baby.

These are only a few of the possibilities...  if one (or even all) of these things happens to me- what will I do?  Will I be sad and angry with God- discontent with my life?  As Paul says, "May it never be!"

God has a greater plan- greater than anything anyone could ever imagine- He knows all.  Not just the plan for my life- but yours, your brother's, your sister's, your best friend's, your mom's, your dad's- the person in front of you in the checkout- He knows her's too!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

(Jeremiah 29:11) 

God has a plan. 

If tragedy strikes- it does not negate this verse.  Because through it all, God is going to use that trial- use it to prosper you and not to harm you.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Anyway.... just what I've been thinking...  

If nothing else, writing this post has helped me to reiterate my prayer and refresh the challenge to trust God- in everything.  :-)

Hello, 2012- I'm ready... for what?  That's for God to decide.

Happy New Year, my sweet friends!