The Fruit of Love

"Love is the root; obedience is the fruit."  Matthew Henry

Our society bucks against obedience.  Children push against it.  Our flesh struggles with it.  Why?

Because we want to be in control.  And we believe well placed and spoken lies of the enemy.  It is as simple as that.

"We fool ourselves if we think our love for God and our obedience to Him are separate issues.  They are two sides of the same coin.  The belief that love and obedience are not related is epidemic among christians.  We have become so paranoid of having theology of "righteousness = works" that we have ignored obedience altogether as though it does not matter to God.  Jesus is clear that it does.  Obedience is not our means to righteousness; it is the clearest expression of our devotion to Jesus.  It is meaningful worship.  When we are disobedient, we are saying God's word does not matter to us.  That isn't love."  At His Feet, Chris Tiegreen

Jesus makes it clear, numerous times, in John 14 that loves equals obedience.  Love is not a feeling.  It is a verb.  It requires choice and action.  The word of God is truth and where we find truth.  It is what all truth is based on.  It is where we find the definition of love... God's definition of love.  Love = Obedience.

"The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (10)  If you love Me, keep My commandments. (15)  He who has My commandments and keeps them is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by the Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." (21)  If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and my Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. (23, 24)  John 14~

For me, my desire to be obedient came from thankfulness.  As God drew me closer to Him and revealed Himself to me more and more, my desire to please Him became greater than my desire for comfort, ease, fitting in, getting by, or doing things the same way I had always done them.  I know I can not earn my salvation.  I can not be good enough, holy enough, obedient enough, sinless enough, or pleasing enough.  God looks at me and sees Christ in me.  Oh Praise Him for such a gift and for such love.

But verse 21 is my favorite reason of why I long to obey.  Obedience is an expression of my love for Him that God accepts.  And it is one that God blesses.  Many people do things for the LORD as an offering of "love" or in an attempt to love but He may not be pleased with it or accept it.  We do not love the Father by doing things we "think" are love to Him... we love the Father by doing what He says is love to Him.  There is a big difference.  And in this verse, Jesus lets us know what happens in return for our love of God... our obedience; "He who has My commandments and keeps them is he who loves me.  AND HE WHO LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED BY THE FATHER, AND I WILL LOVE HIM AND MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM."  John 14:21

There it is.  Jesus says you will be loved (verb) by the Father AND by JESUS and that Jesus will MANIFEST HIMSELF to you when you obey.  And I have seen it over and over again.  I have posted about if before and I will say it again, the biggest area I have seen this happen is in my marriage.  I once wanted to leave my marriage.  And it was not for the one reason Jesus gives as a reason to leave your marriage.  So I chose to be obedient even though I was not FEELING it.  And Jesus has blessed that obedience greater than I ever could have imagined or hoped for.  TO HIM AND HIS WORD BE ALL THE GLORY.  The second way He has blessed me is by manifesting Himself to me, also in ways that I never imagined or even knew if I believed.  And I will post more about that later.  It is the encounter with Him that has changed my spiritual life from comfortable and content to hunger and transformation.

I long to be obedient as part of my worship... as part of my offering... as part of my dying to self, growing, and maturing in my faith.  I long to be obedient because I love the LORD.  I love JESUS.  And I love the HOLY SPIRIT.  It is not because I am trying to get to heaven.  I am saved by my faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son through God's grace alone lest I should boast and think I have done or can do anything to earn it!

God has given us boundaries, rules, commands, insight for a reason and that reason is exactly why we have rules with our children.  Because we love them, know a little more than they do, want to protect them, want a positive relationship with them, and want to teach them values/behaviors/beliefs that will bless them and their relationships later in life.  And because by learning to obey us, they will learn to obey God.

God is our Father.  And He can do something we can't do with our kids.  He knows every day of our lives.  He sees the day we will die and why.  He sees the challenges that lies ahead... and the blessings.  Every single one of them.  And He longs for us to be in a healthy, active, obedient relationship with Him so He can guide us through it.  So we can get closer to Him, see Him, feel Him, experience Him, and glorify Him through it.

I love what David writes about God's commands in Psalm 119.  It may be the longest Psalm and it speaks very highly of the wisdom, safety, love, protection, and blessings from God's law, testimonies, promises, commands.

"When I look into all your commandments, I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn your righteous judgments. (6)  Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from your law.  I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.  My soul breaks with longing for Your judgments at all times. (18-20)  Forever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven.  Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth and it abides.  They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. (89-91)  Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, more than fine gold!  Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way." (127, 128)  

Oh to be so hungry for the word of God.  Oh to be longing for His truth and willing to be obedient.  Oh to be so in tune with the Father's love for us, for His heart for all mankind.  It would transform you.  It would change you.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, acceptable, and perfect"  Romans 12:2~

How have christians conformed to this world?  What is the renewing of your mind? How do you discern?  What is good, acceptable, and perfect to God?  Next...

Much love, Dawn

 

GRACE... GRACE... GRACE

There are several things pressing on my heart right now.  Most of the time, when things press and press like this... I feel very prompted to share them here and then peace comes.  I wait for confirmation that it is time to share... then I do so.  I am so thankful for this avenue to share my heart as well as the way God continues to work in our lives, stretch us, refine us, reveal to us, and transform us.

Our family has made several changes in our life over the past few years that are in contrast to our culture.  The love for the LORD and our desire to please Him has made these changes pretty easy and have already blessed us more than I could have imagined.

We understand and very much accept that people may not agree with what we have done and will continue to do.  While we are saddened at many people's response, it does not change our hearts, mind, or desire in any way.  We extend to them the very grace that God extends to us daily. 

But there is one thing that I can not stand and that is "grace" being misused to condone the modern christian climate.  NOWHERE in scripture do you see Jesus, God, Moses, Paul, or any disciple saying, "Do what you want... don't worry about it... you got grace!"  I am infuriated at how the very precious and most sacred gift of "grace" has been exploited to fit into people's lives.  I am also saddened to the core at how OVER "graced" our churches are today and how little anything else is taught.  THIS is the very reason why the churches today are full of people who look just like the unbeliever they live beside.  THIS is the very reason why the churches today are full of people who sound like the unbelievers they work with.  THIS is the very reason why the churches today are full of people who act just like the unbelievers they walk beside.  They are taught it is ALL about grace and that is it.  THIS, too, is the very reason so many "christians" fall away from the LORD and their faith because nothing in their life ever changed and they no longer see the need to "try" or go to church or believe. And they certainly don't see any need to obey... because grace trumps all.  It is one of the largest crimes of the modern day Christian church and the enemy could not be happier.

Grace is almost indescribable.  It is bigger than big.  Deeper than deep.  More beautiful than beautiful.  Fuller than full.  Yet it is not the only part of a Christians life.  It is the most saving part.  It is the most undeserved part.  It is one of the most beautiful parts.  BUT IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, WE SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM."  Romans 5:6-9~

"For if by one man's offense many died (death that came to man after Adam sinned in the garden) much more THE GRACE of God AND THE GIFT BY THE GRACE of the One man, Jesus Christ, abound to many.  And THE GIFT is not like that which came through the one who sinned. (Adam)  For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.  For if by one man's offense death reigned through the one (after Adam's sin...death reigned until Christ came), much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."  Romans 5:15-17~

It is by the grace (undeserved favor) of God that Jesus was sacrificed for OUR sin so that we could receive the GIFT of GRACE... righteousness.  We can NOT obtain righteousness.  There is only ONE who is RIGHTEOUS and that is Jesus Christ.  When we believe (in our hearts) in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, confess this belief with our mouths, and are baptized into His name, we die with Christ (on the cross) and are buried with Him (in our baptism) and are resurrected with Him (coming up out of our baptism) into NEW LIFE.  (Romans 6)  We become new creatures.  Christ comes to live inside us and we begin to be transformed.  Because Christ comes to dwell inside us, when God looks upon us, He sees the righteousness of Christ since we have been covered by His blood.  We receive the promise of salvation that we receive by faith.  THAT IS NOT ALL.  THAT IS NOT ALL THAT IS WRITTEN OR SAID ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN... A NEW CREATURE... A CARRIER OF CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

If we die to ourselves and the life we were living, (on our own power, with our own thinking, in our own will, in our own ways, with our own ideas, in our own understanding, with our own rationalizations, with our own customs and traditions) won't the NEW LIFE we walk in look somewhat different than our old one if it is being led by the HOLY SPIRIT and Christ who resides inside us?  If all we had to do was grab grace and keep running, why in the world would we have to die?  If nothing needs to change after becoming a believer, then why in the world does Paul write letter after letter after letter to churches who are already getting it wrong, falling back into old habits/rituals, and sinning like crazy?  Paul is still among them.  Jesus has only been gone a short while... not hundreds of years and they are already falling away from their faith and their walk.  And Paul (and God) obviously has a problem with it.  In the book of Revelation, God sends letters to the churches in the end times and it is a clear signal/sign/warning that God is not pleased with just anything.  It is not what we think about something or what it means to us!  It is all about what God thinks about something and what it means to HIM!

"What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  Certainly not!  How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?  Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also SHOULD WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.  For if WE HAVE BEEN UNITED TOGETHER in the likeness of His death, CERTAINLY WE ALSO SHALL BE IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.... (12) Therefore DO NOT LET SIN REIGN in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  And DO NOT PRESENT YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS TO SIN... (16) Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death or of OBEDIENCE leading to righteousness."  Romans 6~

It is clear, here, and many other places, that being saved and "covered by grace" does not mean we can disregard God's commands, what pleases Him, and what doesn't please Him.

"If you love Me, keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you. (the Holy Spirit)" John 14:15~

"Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well.  This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands.  THIS IS LOVE FOR GOD: TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."  1 John 5:1-5~

Believing in Christ is what saves you... by your faith and by God's grace.  BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE.  It's like getting married.  You make a vow.  You promise to stay together in that vow.  Through the good times and the bad times.  Through rich times and poor times.  Now, what kind of marriage is a couple going to have if they say.. "Yep, we are married, we are bound, that's it."  That is a no brainer.  The marriage may be a "marriage" and they may be married but there won't be a relationship, there won't be many blessings, there won't be much power, there won't be much love, and there won't be many people looking at them and saying, "I want that."  Actually... what you will have is pretty much what we have... a divorce rate that is saddening the LORD and the soul.  Destroyed families, broken people, and wounds that affect generations.

That is pretty much what has happened to the Christian life.  Grace.  Accept and roll in grace.  And that's it.  Oh... some actually ask you to tell others about it.  And that's it.  And what do you have?  People wondering what in the world this whole "christian thing" is about and living their lives just like they did before... bound in Satan's lies, schemes, tricks, and traps.  Broken families, broken marriages, empty and wounded lives and people yearning for more.  And no power.

The lie is that grace is all you need.  It may save you from hell... but that doctrine robs you of the fullness of life Christ says He came to give you... NOW.  It robs you of the power of the Holy Spirit given to you in the name of Jesus and by His death and resurrection.  It robs you of a transformed life.  It robs you of blessings!  Frankly, the promise of salvation is not enough for me.  I want the FULLNESS.  I want the INTIMACY.  I want the relationship.  I want the power.  I want the Spirit.  I want the joy.  I want the peace.  I want to please the LORD... not to try and earn my salvation... but because I adore Him and am on my face in thankfulness for what He has done and continues to do for me daily!

And of course, because I have tasted more, I have tasted the fullness, I have witnessed the power and been used as a vessel, I want that for my friends and family.  Of course, I want to run around and scream... there is more, there is more, there is more!!!!  And it is good and sweet and beautiful!  It's like the door being opened in the "Wizard of Oz."  The Christian life can be lived in color!  It is right there for the taking.  And yes, to flow in those blessings, to be in that deep intimate relationship, and to see His glory NOW... it may mean walking away from some things in your life that do not please the LORD.  And it TOTALLY TAKES fully surrendering to Him, seeking Him with all your heart, communicating with HIM daily, and being in His word... it takes trust and obedience.  AND IT IS SO SO SO worth it!  Of course I want to share that.  Not because I am trying to convince anyone of anything.  Not because I am judging others or think I am holier than they are, or better than they are... BUT BECAUSE IT TOTALLY ROCKS!  God is awesome.  And a relationship with the living God is sweeter than anything on earth.

THAT is the intent behind the next few posts.  Sharing because it totally rocks... because the FULLNESS of God is right here for the taking and He is waiting... so ready to unleash Himself upon you and transform your life! 
 

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it's deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."  Ephesians 4:22,23~

What does it mean to put off your old self?  What does it mean to be made new in the attitude of the mind?  What does it mean to put on a new self?  What does it mean to die with Christ?  What does it mean to obey?  How does that fit in with grace?   

I'll share about that next.
Much, much love, Dawn

Passover Remembered.

OH HOLY NIGHT.

Exodus 12:6-  The date of the 14th of Nisan given for Passover.  Sunset on April 6, 2012
Exodus 12:13, 14- God commands it be an everlasting ordinance.
Luke 22:7- Christ commands disciples to go prepare Passover so He can partake of it with them.  This would of course have been on the 14th of Nisan.
Luke 22:14 Christ shares Passover meal with disciples the evening before He is crucified. (our April 7th)
Luke 22:19,20- Christ reveals Himself as the Passover... the bread and the wine... the body and blood.
Luke 22:39- Christ shows the very depth of His "man" in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Sorrowful scriptures.
1 Corinthians 5:7- Christ, OUR Passover lamb.
John 3:16- All because He loves us THAT much.  "God so loved the world..."

Oh HOLY Night.  How blessed we are to have the WORD of God to give us such insight and personal connection with our Creator and Savior.  How blessed we are to know the very days of such Sacred and Holy events that changed the universe.

Oh to really, really, really grasp and understand THAT LOVE!

"... that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:17-19~  

THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH ALLLL THE FULLNESS OF GOD!!!!!!!!!

Praise Him!

Holy Ground

We are walking through the Holiest week of the all time... and that week comes around once a year.  It is the final week before the greatest sacrifice was ever made and the largest and most loving gift given.
I am somewhat saddened that I have not been as mindful as I had hoped.  Last year, as we celebrated Passover and taught our children how the Passover of the Old Testament mirrors Christ as our Passover Lamb to every infinite detail, I had high hopes to be more prepared this year and walk each day with purpose and reflection.  And here it is, the day before the Passover, and days have slipped by filled with our normal.

And this week is anything but "normal".  It defies "normal".  It offers "normal" something real, deep, transforming, and everlasting.  It offers "normal" Jesus.

 But isn't every day of our walk supposed to be outside "normal".   Isn't it supposed to be more loving, deeper, clearer, holier, cleaner, purposeful, more Christ like?  Yes.  Yes it is.  Every single day we are to die.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  Galatians 2:20~

We are to welcome our death and allow Him to live... fully... fully... fully.  Not just on Sundays.  Not just on a holiday.  Not just when people are looking.  Not when we feel like it.  But fully... totally and fully.  Daily.

According to the biblical calendar, tomorrow, at sunset, starts Passover.  Friday night is the night that Christ sat with his disciples and revealed Himself as the bread and the cup.  It is the night He cried so deeply in the Garden of Gethsemane that the ground itself had to weep with Him as His creation held it's breath and prepared for the unthinkable.  The spotless lamb, the perfect and sinless Christ was about to enter the ultimate darkness and separation from God for three days and three nights.  Demons danced and Judas fulfilled scripture and betrayed Him.  Darkness drew in it's breath in joy and delight as they prepared to receive what they perceived to be victory.

Saturday is the day Christ endures what every one of us deserves.  Saturday is the day man mocked the very one dying to save him.  Saturday is the day nails were driven into the only perfect hands and feet every to walk this earth.  Saturday is the day when hell had a party... a celebration... and the soul of creation wept.  Saturday is the day when God could not take it anymore... and the very earth trembled and the veil was torn apart.

I pray you and your family are saturated this weekend with the LOVE that saves us.  I pray you are saturated in the Presence of the One who loves you that much... that very much... to die that way... for you.  And for me.

Much love...
Dawn

P.S.  I was reading one of my favorite blogs ever, http://www.aholyexperience.com and Ann communicated far more beautifully than I ever could have, in her grace filled way.  How I adore this woman, this sister with her burning desire to be saturated in Him.  You can read her words here... http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/03/the-best-easter-dinner-with-a-free-printable-start-a-christian-tradition-messianic-seder/

 *For those interested: Passover begins on the 14th of Nissan which is at sundown on Friday, April 6th.  Christ was sacrificed on Passover (during daylight hours as their day starts at night) which would be the day of Saturday, April 7th.  He was in the tomb for three days and three nights.  He was placed in the tomb before sundown on the Passover day on which He died.  Don't really know if the hours before sundown were counted as day one.  But at sundown, the next "day" began although it was His first night in the tomb. Saturday night (1) Sunday night (2) and Monday night (3)  This makes His resurrection on Tuesday, April 10th.  Monday night from sundown to Tuesday night sundown is the 17th of Nissan.  So Resurrection Day, this year, as it changes every year according to the New Moon, (as the Bible commands) is Tuesday (before sundown) the 17th of Nissan.  A calendar will show you that April 10 is the 18th of Nissan... since that starts at sundown. Can be confusing. :0)

It is almost THAT time...

 So close... oh so very close... it is almost THAT time...

Blooms are bursting forth with color and new life... and it is almost here... THAT time to...

I get almost giddy thinking about it really... being so close and all... THAT time to...

climb up into the attic and get out the WHITE SLIP COVERS!  Oh joy!!!  How I love my white slip covers!!!  My living room is about to brighten and get all yummy again!!!!!

Spring has sprung and I love her much!

Happy day!
Dawn~

PINTEREST ALERT

Very alarming news about a site I love to "play" with... boo.

But you should check it out:  http://www.knoed.com/thewindowseat/pinterest-change-your-terms-or-were-leaving/

Can't have fun anywhere!  LOL

Be blessed today... Friday is hours away!  :0)
Dawn

POST EDIT:  Pinterest changed their language and rules and terms and I applaud them for being so receptive.  I really do love to play there! :0)  THANK YOU!! 

T-ball and chalk paint

Somebody has his second t-ball game tomorrow.  Someone LOVES it!  It is so very adorable to watch these little guys run all over the field and often times in circles!  After they hit the ball, they stand there with huge smiles and you are yelling... "Drop the bat and run... run... run."  And then about 5 seconds later they are like.. "Oh... run... yeah... run..." and then they run... and not always to a base much less first base!  LOL  Adorable.

 

Daddy is one of the coaches.  Little man getting his pep talk...

 Getting ready...

Taking the hit!

And he's off... and to first base!  :0)

It is simply precious.  The joy he gets from being there... from his hat... from his baseball shirt and shoes (and he is getting baseball pants today)!  Pure, sweet, simple boy joy.  It is priceless.

And I mustered up some courage and started a little project that is bringing me joy...

This tired little stool was wanting to be refreshed... it told me so... many times!

Here is a sneak peek at her now... in the process of becoming refreshed!

My lifted soul, being refreshed in the process, is a bonus!

And here is my buddy... my painting buddy.  Although you can see he was NOT wanting to paint.

Lucky for him, I can multi-task!

I can throw the ball down the hall 20 times while using my fabulous Annie Sloan chalk paint (that has been WAITING for me to use for 11 months now... yes... the receipt in the box was April 2011... sad... so sad) on my tired little stool and sing praises at the same time!  LOL

Speaking of chalk paint and joy... you MUST check out one of my favorite blogs at http://missmustardseed.com/2012/03/ascp-prize-package-ticket-giveaway/ and try to win this amazing and generous gift!  Good luck!  If you win... you must share with me! :0)

Have a blessed weekend.
Love, Dawn

Last Chance

How can we look at this face and say, "No... not right now."

Her last chance.  Host and adoption or the streets.

My heart is reeling for her today.  My soul is crying out to the Father to touch someone's heart...

I can't adopt them all!  I am only one person.

Father, desperation comes up my throat and my soul cries out to you.  Open the heavens and shine your light on the path before this precious girl.  Open the heart of the family you have set in motion to become her forever family and shower them with Your favor and provision and courage and blessings!  Speak clearly to them Lord and reach your right hand down and pull her up out of the traps the enemy has waiting for her!  You are MIGHT TO SAVE and I KNOW you have a familywaiting for this precious child of yours.  Redeem her and make her life a testimony to your love and power and mercy and grace.  I praise you LORD.  I praise you for the glory that is about to unfold in her life!  Do your thing LORD AND BE GLORIFIED!!!!!!  In the Holy and Worthy name of your Son, in the name of Jesus... Amen... let it be so!

If you, or someone you know, is interested in changing the life of precious Luda... please message me, or email me at allfromhim@comcast.net

You can also check out http://www.projectonefortythree.org for more information on hosting a child.

Dawn

I posted here today...

http://unendingfaith.blogspot.com/2012/03/real-ugly-truth-of-it-and-then-new.html#comment-form

Have a blessed day!
Dawn

Hope in Hosting... and LIFE IN LOVE

Five weeks can change an entire life forever.  So can one decision.  A decision to host an orphan is one that shakes the heavens... gives hope to a heart... and brings glory to God.

The deadline to host with Project One Forty Three is in May.  This is March.  Time.  Time to make a difference that will last for generations.
 
Please turn off music on player on the right hand side of the blog before playing this video.  And please share it with whoever you feel led to share it with.

Thank you.
  

Just to share...

http://abarefootday.blogspot.com/2012/02/perfect-and-beautiful-have-conversation.html

http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/2012/01/built-in-bookcase-reveal.html

http://www.rareandbeautifultreasures.com/2012/02/life-times-two.html

Because sometimes you just need to be inspired. :0)

Love, Dawn~

Birthdays

We have had some birthdays around here last month.  My birthday was the 3rd, Dusty's was the 4th, and Marc's was the 20th!   Not many pictures from my birthday.  I know.  I don't deserve to own my camera lately.  It was low key but we did go bowling and that could have been some cute photos!  Boo.

Here are a few of mine and some pictures of Marc's big day!  We had a small party as everyone we knew was out of town!  This happens every year for Abby in July too... hmmmmm... starting to wonder about our friends????  LOL

Cupcakes for me!

The girls.

Little gathering.

E enjoying her cupcake.

My dear friend Melanie.  I love her so much.

Yes, I am four.  And I am very happy about being four! :0)

The Spiderman cake!

Awwww--- noise makers!

And sugar sticks! LOL

Happy Birthday To You!!!!!

Making a WISH!

The Chillies.

Birthday masks with one of his best buddies.

The BIG BOY BIRTHDAY PRESENT!

Be blessed this weekend.  Celebrate life and health every day.

Love and Hugs.
Dawn

High Hopes!

My desire/hope to blog more this year is just a big fat fail!  I sit here... to just really post about nothing... and the kids are hanging from the stair railing and raising...well... cane.  LOL

Don is in Uganda.  He is amazing.  I am falling more in love with him by the minute.
Abby is having a seizure about every other night.  She is making progress in many ways and yet seems to be stuck in obvious ways as well.  I am... well.... walking through that on a day to day basis and in HIS grace and strength alone.
Marc is growing like a weed and making us laugh constantly.  His speech is coming along... as are his emotions!
Taylor is approaching puberty and navigating through her first year of middle school.  She is such a sweet spirit.
I am trying to be all to all and trying to stay connected to the ONE who is in control of it all.  I am itching to get back into photography and painting furniture and freshening for Spring.
Project One Forty Three is in the full throttle of trying to get children hosted for the summer host program.  I am the coordinator for some southern states and have had the sweet joy of walking with several families through that process.

Sadly, this seems to slip by me every day and before I know it.... another week has passed without a post.
Hate that.  So here is just a few of my fav's from Pinterest.  Inspiration if you will.  And I hope to get back this week with some pics and stories!

Love... to ya!

Dawn~

 

 

Not To Us

We practiced this song last night for worship this coming Sunday.  I can't get it out of my head.  I had never heard it before and then found out it's almost 10 years old.  Really....?  It is timeless.  And it is my current mantra.  I wanted to share it with you and it will be here for a while!  Worship and lift His name on high!  Be blessed today friends.  His name is mighty!

"Let them praise your great and awesome name-- He is holy."

Psalm 99:3~

"I will be glad and rejoice in You;  I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High."

Psalm 9:2~

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to Your name be the glory, 

because of Your love and faithfulness."

Psalm 115:1~

"I will praise you, O LORD my God, with all my heart; 

I will glorify Your name."

Psalm 86:12~

"I will praise You as long as I live, 

and in Your name I will lift up my hands."

Psalm 63:4~

"All the nations You have made will come and worship before You,

O LORD; they will bring glory to Your name."

Psalm 86:9~

"Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of Your name;

deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name's sake."

Psalm 79:9~

"Teach me Your way, O LORD, 

and I will walk in Your truth; 

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear Your name."

Psalm 86:11~ 

"No one is like You, O LORD,

You are great,

and Your name is mighty in power."

Jeremiah 10:6~

"And now what are you waiting for?  

Get up and be baptized 

and wash away your sins, 

calling on His name."

Acts 22:16~

The Adventure of Today

"Give yourself fully to the adventure of today.  Walk boldly along the path of life, relying on your ever-present Companion.  You have every reason to be confident, because My Presence accompanies you all the days of your life-- and onward into eternity."  Jesus Calling

Why can't I keep myself wrapped in the confidence of Christ's Presence and give myself fully to the adventure of today?  Control is the first word that comes to my mind.  I want control.  I want to control situations.  I want to control people.  I want to control the future.  I want to control my life. And when life hits with both barrels, as it so often does, I feel out of control and anxiety and stress come on me like white on rice!

There is such a fine balance with life.  It seems so hard to find it and yet Christ makes it sound so simple.  Trying to balance being a child advocate, being involved in church, helping others, loving and guiding my children, having enough time for my husband, keeping the house in order, making and keeping all the needed appointments for the family and myself, running the errands, attempting to nurture friendships AND time with the Lord can just be overwhelming.

One task a time is where I try to keep my mind.  One task at a time, one day at a time, and boundaries. 

So that is my main task today... giving myself fully to the adventure.  And relying on the ONE who can allow me to do that if I can fully surrender.

Pray you have a blessed and adventurous day!

Chalkboard Wall for Candi

OK... better late than never... right!  I made a chalkboard wall way back when and I still totally love it.  I love how we can use it for so many things and I love the way it personalizes my home!  It is a super easy and fun addition and you can put one just about anywhere!  Examples... kitchen wall, office wall, dinning room wall, children's bedroom wall, back of kitchen island, door, laundry room wall... and I am sure many more places.  I have even seen one blogger chalkboard paint her fridge and it is awesome.  I may try and find a picture and add it!

So here is my before wall.  It was a sliver of a wall in a walk through hall area where

the door to the powder room is and the pantry.  It also leads to the garage on the right and straight through to the dinning room.  Soooo... that is a long explanation of why it is a tiny yet high traffic area!  So the little wall right there was just begging to become way functional and super cute!

And here it is without the edging/cutting in complete but looking way fun!  I actually put on three layers of magnetic paint first and then three layers of chalk board paint.  The magnetic part is pretty weak. So... I guess I should have put like 5 coats of that or just skipped it.  It was kinda gritty which caused me to put extra chalkboard paint on to get an even surface sooooo... I would have just skipped the magnet part of it and will in the future. :0-)

Here is what I used.  This little sponge roller is one of my favorite tools ever... and my "wooster" brush.

The secret to a well done job is the right tools!  DO NOT SKIMP on a paint brush.  Yes... a "purdy" or "wooster" brush may cost you triple what a cheap one will... but it IS for a reason!  "Wooster" is my favorite.  The bristles STAY where they are supposed to stay which enables you to drag a nice, clean, and straight line for cutting in.  I have used this one brush for years now and it has earned it's keep several times over!

Here are some secret tricks!

1.) If you need to walk away from the job to pick up a kid or have a phone conversation... place the roller or paint brush in a zip lock bag and seal it all around the handle.  It keeps you from having to wash it out and keeps the paint from drying!

2.) I also do the above while I am waiting for coats to dry!

3.) Before you rinse the roller, take a plastic ruler of the wooden stir brush they give you and slide the edge down the roller... TONS of paint will come out that you can reuse and it makes cleaning the sponge roller easier and faster since there is a TON less paint in it.

4.) Always rinse the brush with the water flowing down the bristles off the edge, never down into the bristles opening it up with the pressure of the water.  This keeps the bristles in line better.

5.) After you rinse the brush super well... walk outside and sling it in the air.  Water will fly out of it, the bristles stay smooth and it dries super faster!

6.) Go in halves with a friend on the chalkboard paint.  It is not expensive but unless you are covering a big wall, it does go a long way!  That way two of you will be motivated to knock this project out and it will save you some money! :0)

  Sorry this is a tad blurred.  Lighting was terrible and the shutter stayed open longer!

But I wanted to show you that I added two clip boards from Wal-Mart.  I hung them with a screw so they would be secure.  The top of the clip board has that little metal tab where it can hang!  We keep a little notepad for the grocery list on one (then we can just add to it & tear it off when we go shopping) and outgoing mail or other important items on the second one!

And here it is in full action!  I LOVE it and I love seeing little art work at the bottom!  Every time I see it, it makes me smile... still... after several months!  

So this little craft/project post is dedicated to my sweet cousin Candi who loves this kind of stuff! :0)

Sorry it has taken me so long to get it on here!

Now go out and paint something!!!!!!

You will LOVE IT!

~Dawn~

Out of Focus

"When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world and leaving Me out of the picture.  The remedy is simple: Fix your eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen."  Jesus Calling

A friend of mine gave me the devotional, Jesus Calling, for my birthday last Friday. (Thank you Elizabeth!)  Yes, I had a birthday.  No, not many pictures.  I have become oh so slack and nonblogger worthy with my camera. :0(  Sorry.

One of the local christian radio stations reads from this devotion every night.  It has often spoken to me as it takes a scripture and uses it as the basis of what Jesus might say to you about that subject.  Today, I read the entry for my birthday, and it was the above.  And it hit home... deeply.

Since coming back from my trip, I have this weight like a cloud that stays near as I feel so much of the pain and loneliness of the kids we saw and talked to.  I KNOW they are in God's hands and I KNOW HE will help them but I can't shake this feeling of responsibility I feel towards them.  I am here... doing what I do here and they are there... waiting and trying to survive with abandonment, neglect, loneliness, rejection, depression... among many other things. 

I want to just go over and get this big bus and just get them all.  I want to say the right things and talk to the right people in hopes that their hearts will be opened wide enough to let one of God's needy children inside.  I have to tread lightly around people who don't get it as I just want to scream... "REALLY????" at them and the way they live their life.  I have to give grace to others who act half interested and then run right back into their life of luxury and business and excess and selfness.  I have to smile at others who actually walk run sprint past a table covered with faces and avoid all eye contact.  It can be exhausting.  Frustrating.  Annoying. 

In addition, one of my own needs extra of me... needs patient me... needs proactive and attentive me... needs loving and kind me... needs smart and alert me... needs the me who is trying to reach her heart and help heal her from past wounds and her own destructive attempts to deal with her pain and abandonment/rejection/delays/spiritual attacks/physical attacks.  And today I blew it.  I was patient.  I was patient again.  I was patient and firm again.  I gave her two choices... try again or quit.  Her behavior was her choice and we quit.  She lost a privilege.  Then she lost control.  She lost control of her emotions and her mouth.  I still remained patient.  Her mouth continued and continued and continued.  I felt myself approaching my wall with each outburst of her mouth.  Twice I looked at her ready to spew my own rant... and twice I turned away.  And then there was another outburst and she involved her brother and I lost it.  All desire to be the adult in control, the calm and educated and controlled adult flew out of me life a raging waterfall.  She had won. She pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed and I gave in... threw all the previous hours work down the drain in 5 minutes of spewing through clinched teeth and shaking from extreme emotional overload.

I came home, put her to bed, and went to my room.  I wondered how and why in the world she can push me to the wall.  I wondered how, knowing fully what is going on, that I can still cave in and spew like a burst pipe.  And I picked up, Jesus Calling, and read the above.  How thankful I am that Jesus can speak to me in times of such need.  The visible... only seeing the visible.  Yes.  That is exactly why I gave in and lost it.  All I could see was her defiance.  Persistence.  Disrespect.  Disobedience.  Disregard.  All I could hear were her words that were stabbing me and begging me to fight back.

And I lost total focus of the real enemy.  The unseen enemy.  The one who knows I have been purposefully wooing her heart.  The one who knows how deeply I love her.  The one who knows that progress has been happening.  The one who knows our connection is so deep and yet so tried.  The one who was cheering me on to lose it... to stop with the loving eyes and give her the glare.  The one who was trying to get another dagger into her heart through my very own mouth... how cunning and manipulative Satan is at all times.  Oh how I hate him with every ounce of my being.

And I lost sight of the One who was standing next to me, the One who was ready to take all the pain she was throwing at me.  The One who had given me every moment of self-control up to that point.  Did I call out to Him during this attack?  No.  No I did not.  I had read the book.  I was trying to pull up and rely on my own strength.  And I did... for almost an hour.  The battle raged all around me in the unseen and I not once called on the One who says He goes before me.  I let pride and self reliance talk me into standing my ground by myself.  I let the circumstances of the situation blind me to the very One willing to fight it... and win.

My devotion is a good reminder to me today.  My eyes HAVE to stay on the unseen... they have to remain focused on the spiritual and overlook the temporal.  My eyes HAVE GOT to stay on the One who will walk me through fire without being burned or even scorched.  Not only in parenting... but every single aspect of my life.  I have GOT to die to me every day and let HIM live through me.  I have GOT to remember I can do NOTHING without Him.  I have to stay in communion with Him at all times.  I have to keep HIM in focus.  Everything will then become a blur!

The voice of hope

I have been home since Monday night.  But so much of my heart is still wandering the country side of Latvia... lingering in hallways where children walk and wait.  My heart.  Christ's heart.  Some people say, "It takes a special heart to do what you do," and my response inside is, "No, no it doesn't, it's Christ's heart, it's available to every believer, it's available to you."  You see, my heart wanted to crumble about 10 different times... right there... in a heap on the floor... story after story... face after face... life after life.  My heart wanted to say it's just too much, there are just too many, why... why try... what can we really do?  My heart wanted to stay in bed and cry for a couple of days and just mourn how expendable children have become and how blind so many can be to the fact that they are there... children... waiting and wanting to be loved... to be wanted.  I do not have a special heart.  But what I do have is a desire to be obedient and to live my life for the LORD and His kingdom and not for my own comforts and desires.  His heart lives through my heart.  I'll give you that.

The stories roll around in my mind when I lie in bed at night, when I walk the isle of the grocery store, when I am making meals for my family and standing in my closet.  One precious girl who lives on a farm with her foster dad... she has been there since she was small.  She is now 13... 14.  Her foster mom was killed last year in an accident on the farm.  She doesn't have many girl friends, they say she is ugly.  She is beautiful.  A little shy.  Freckled.  Heart shining through her eyes.  A smile that giggles.  She needs a mom.  Oh... she needs a mom.

Then there is this boy... young man... 14.  He had a half brother who was adopted out to France but he wanted to stay because he had family... his grandfather came to visit him at the orphanage.  His grandfather has since remarried and the new wife wants nothing to do with him.  So the grandfather has stopped coming... walked away... rejected him.  And now he thinks he wants a family.  And he needs one.  Oh how he needs a family.

Then there is a group of three.  They were in a foster family that treated them like slaves.  That's all I will say about that.  They were rescued.  Praise the LORD above.  He opened the eyes of a director at a conference who saw something wasn't right.  The situation was investigated and the children removed.  They are with a grandmother to recover and then will soon be on their way to the orphanage.  Oh they need a family.  They need to know the ONE who rescued them and has plans for them... plans for a hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11~

That is a sliver.  A small grain of sand on a beach of endless seas.  Five of 160 million.

But it is five I have been given to be a voice for... a voice for hope.  The LORD'S voice and he says to take care of orphans.  Not too many ways to get around it.  Not really.

I have decided to give even more to Project One Forty Three and am now a coordinator for the families in the south.  It is a privilege to share their stories and to watch God unfold the paths of hope in their lives.  I have been working on the photolisting this week and am hoping to have it complete by the end of next week.  I will share some photos this week as well.

You can find out more information at http://www.projectonefortythree.org/
You can also start praying... every child needs your prayers.

Prayer Request

I am leaving in less than an hour for the airport.  My mom had asked me to write some prayer requests for her and I emailed them to her and wanted to share them here as well so that my sweet prayer warrior friends could have some really specific prayer requests.  I do not take prayer for granted for one moment and thank you so very much for going before the LORD with these requests!  Hopefully, I will be blogging from there within a few days!

*comfort for the kids leaving their host families tonight

*peace to overtake them on the plane and rest
*comfort and peace for the families driving back home without them
*for God to move hearts of the ones He has in His will to adopt
*rest on the pane tonight for us ALL--- pray this like a thousand times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* for others whom we encounter to be touched by the needs of orphans all over the world
*safe travels and good health for all the kids and team
*on time flights

*protection in Latvia
*God encounters and the eyes to see them and the obedience to walk in them
*emotional and physical strength
*time to be alone with the LORD
*opportunities to share the gospel
*relationships to be built with orphanage directors
*hearts of children to be protected
*for darkness to be brought into light
*for love and hope to be left when we leave each place
*for every child we encounter to feel the love of Christ
*Holy Spirit guidance in the words we speak and questions we ask
*ears to hear and eyes to see what the LORD wants us to hear and see
*faith to be deepened
*rest
*safe journey home

*for Don to be renewed each day with patience, strength, and wisdom
*for the kids to feel my love when I am gone
*safety for them all
*good health for them all
*laughter to abound
*relationships with the kids and Don deepened
*cancel all assignments of the enemy on this family in the name of Jesus! (like a thousand times over)

Thank you my sweet, sweet friends!

Tip, Trip, and Fit

I am a hair nightmare.  It's the truth.  And this is not the confession!  HA  You have to wait till the end for that one!  Anyway, I have almost never liked my hair.  There are a few days, somewhere in time, where I liked my hair.  No need to go back and try to find them to tally them up!

So today, I was drying my hair, I thought of some tips that I wanted to share!  HA again.  Tips from someone who never likes her hair!  But anyway... here it goes and maybe it will connect with someone out there somewhere!

Alternate product!  Hair has brains.  If you didn't know that you can close your mouth now!  But it knows how to get around hair products!  SOOOOO, that is why your hair will do better if you use mousse one day and gel the next and then mousse again and then gel and then... yeah... you got it!  See, hair my have brains but ours is BIGGER!  So we can outsmart it!

And if you are really feeling festive, you can alternate your shampoo/conditioner by the week.  Yeah.  It double tricks it!  Crazy I know... write this stuff down!  LOL (what is in my water I am drinking!?)

And you can trick it AGAIN by using different brushes when you dry it.  Really.  I mean it.  TRUST ME.  Hating your hair almost your entire life will actually teach you some things in the end!  I have four different round brushes.  One huge round one made of boar's hair, one medium round one made with boar's hair, one medium round ceramic and one medium round ionic!  Yep.  One day one works great and then the next it is limp biscuit and won't do anything!  So I found pulling a switch on the brush TRICKS it AGAIN and I get better results.  There will be a pop quiz at the end of this post!  :0) (just kidding... relax)

Lastly, a vitamin tip about hair.  My hair was falling out in mass quanity for two years.  Like crazy falling out.  Huge wad of hair when I washed it, again when I brushed it, again when I gelled it, and again when I dried it.  I still don't know how I have had any left.  My doctor said "stress".  My OBGYN said "stress".  And they both said, "Stopped being stressed."  HAHAHAHAHA  LOLOLOLOLOLOL 

OK... back to reality.  We were visiting a nutritionist for Abby and so I just threw it out there one day and he said, "Biotin.  Take Biotin."  And I did.  And not only did it stop falling out... new hair started growing in!  Seriously.  I have tons of new hair growth that now looks like broken off hair because it is fuzzy and short all in there but hey... new hair and it is NOT FALLING OUT anymore!  (And this is NOT a paid advertisement)  :0)

So... now that hair stuff is out of my system... I can move on to the trip.  I am leaving on Thursday, the 12th, for Latvia.  I will be gone 12 days.  I love Latvia.  I am really looking forward to being back there.  I am going to photograph and interview orphans for Project One Forty Three's summer hosting program.  Wow.

It is going to be a big trip with BIG emotions and our BIG GOD will be with me each step of the way.  I was really feeling a good amount of dread.  And then at worship Saturday night, precious believers covered me in such wonderful prayer and spoke such powerful and beautiful words over me... and the dread just lifted and I have felt excitement for the first time.  I feel ready.

I hope to blog from there when I can.  I appreciate all your prayers so so very much.  I am praying that God will use me how and when He wants to and that I will see it and obey His promptings.  I am also praying that I can just overflow the Father's love onto them and that it will stay with them even after I am gone!  Safety and health are always good ones to throw into the requests as well!

I am going with two other women.  One from Chicago, who I already know and have a heart connection with, and another from North Carolina whom I look forward to meeting and hanging with very much.  I can already tell there will be plenty of laughter mixed in to help us get through some dark emotional times.

And since I am leaving and may not be back in touch for just a bit, this is a bit lengthy today.  I have decided to share a fit with you.  Every now and then I hear something like, "Yeah, you have it all together," or "I was reading your blog and you just have it all together," and I just cringe.  I do not have it together, at all.  Anything that looks like having it together is just Christ in me that you happen to see! 

So here is a glimpse of me.  We need a bigger house.  I don't want to need a bigger house.  I love our home.  LOVE IT!  LOVE IT! And I really like our neighborhood, the location, and many of our neighbors.  And I don't like thinking that I "need" a bigger house when 20 people in some parts of the world share one room and one toilet! (if they have one at all)

But we host orphans.  We host chaperones.  We have lots of out of town company/guests.  We have three children.  And we may have more. (up to God)  So we are looking for a house with a basement.  Yesterday, I found one that I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED and it is in foreclosure and is already a great price for what it is and of course can be gotten for a medium amount less.  I looked at it three times yesterday.  It's empty and when Abby and I went to look in the windows (since the realtor wouldn't call back) Abby totally just opened the door!  It was unlocked!  I KNEW it was a gift.  I LOVED IT!  Did I mention that yet?

It had just had brand new carpet put in and had been entirely repainted inside with a neutral color.  It was not my favorite color... but it would have been better than fine and would have matched my everything just fine!  I saw my sofas in there.  I saw the kids sitting at the counter in there.  I saw us enjoying the screen porch... the side porch... the deck.  I saw my furniture in the amazing master.  I saw the kids hanging with friends in the amazing bonus room.  And I saw friends, family, orphans, and chaperones in the basement! 

Needless to say, I wanted it and wanted it bad.  Did I ask the LORD if it was the house for us?  No.

I wanted it.  And I wanted it bad.

The realtor called my husband and told him someone had made an offer and they were going back and forth.  That's it.  I was devistated.  DEEPLY wounded.  Ridiculously peeved.  And I had a fit.  I had a fight with my husband.  I pouted.  I puffed.  I wondered WHYWHYWHYWHY did I have to see it of it was not going to be an option.  And I just had a royal fit.

Hours later... after I mourned and pouted and puffed some more... conviction quietly walked in and slapped me in the face.  Yep.  And there was my sin.. smeared like bad mascara all over my pouty puffed up peeved little face.

Yes LORD.  I know.  I never even asked you.  I jumped in without looking left, right, OR UP!  And then when the door was shut (graciously in a quick manner)... I stomped my foot, spewed, slammed the door, spit on the ground and threw every angry emotion I could at the situation.  Yep.  That is what "I" did.  That was me.

And I was so so sorry.  And I repented.  And I verbalized my trust in Him again and asked for grace.  And He gave it to me.

I-Do-Not-Have-It-TOGETHER! 

 I am a real person who stinks sometimes and then God comes in and showers me with His presence.

That was my confession.  He will shower you too... just let Him!

Today's gifts so far...

gorgeous plum, violet sunrise this morning with rising of the fog

time with a dear friend before she left for a year

smiles at pre-school

time with counsel

bumping into dear friend in store

hugs, hugs, and more hugs from friend

kind words of encouragement from 2 friends

laughter

gentle blanket of rain

Don home

successful shopping for gifts for Latvia

items on sale I have been watching for almost 2 months

$20 voucher to use with sale items

getting fun and colorful gifts for the girls

grace, God's sweet amazing limitless grace

grace from my husband who loves me even when I pitch a fit

 

much, much, much love...