Every Life is Beautiful

I saw this movie last week

    I love the message: 

      Every. life. is. beautiful.

every life is

not just the life of a little baby 

or 

a 90-year old saint

But for the life of an adulteress woman 

who believes that's all she's worth.

But for the murderer

who has never been loved.

But for the drunk

who has never had hope.

It is beautiful:

every life.

Truly He gives worth to the worthless

love to the unlovely

and hope to the hopeless.

He makes life beautiful

The One who gives life

 A few years ago 

I was tired of life

and I was tired of living.

My whole life was a mess. 

It felt like nothing beautiful.

But then God

 transformed:

my anxiety and depression into

peace and joy

He transformed someone

who was tired of living

into someone who loves life.

He alone transforms

ashes into beauty. 

Every. life. is. beautiful.

Rehearsal Dinner

My oldest sister Rachel and her fiance (soon-to-be husband) Marty

 For those who may not know,

I have two older sisters (Rachel and Cassie)

 and one younger brother (Mark).

My oldest sibling and sister is Rachel.

This weekend 

(after much planning) 

(and much anticipating)

she is getting married to her man (her fiance Marty)!


My family and I are thrilled!!!

Rachel and Marty have been together for many years

and Marty is a great guy!

Not only will I be gaining a new brother

BUT three nephews too- what a package deal! ;)

Cassie and I are bridesmaids. 

Tonight is the rehearsal dinner AND

 I am so e.x.c.i.t.e.d. for all the weekend festivities to begin!!! 

(Especially to see family who have come from near and far :)

I Thank The Lord for His mercy today. He is good.

Orphans: He is Faithful

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ -Matthew 25:37-40

 I am a sinful human saved only by the grace and mercy of God. I am growing in Him and being corrected by The Holy Spirit daily. The Truth (God's Word) has opened up my eyes 
about caring for orphans. 

I do know that studying what God's Word (and His Heart) says about orphans/adoption is good.

I have been silent on here and now is the time to speak.

I have been in prayer.

The Mighty Flame in me can't be stopped.

I will not stand for deception causing injustice.

I stand for The Truth. 

This post has been laid upon my heart for awhile.

This post is written (for the sole purpose) to make it known this truth:

caring for orphans

Is what God called us- me (and you) to do.

My life does not belong to me. 

It is not my right to live however I like.

Some verses about orphans:

(James 1:27, Deuteronomy 14:28-29, Deuteronomy 24:17-21, Isaiah 1:17,  Psalm 82:3, Jeremiah 22:3, Jeremiah 5:28, Psalm 10:18, Romans 8:15, Esther 2:17, Malachi 3:5, Exodus 22:22-24, Job 29:12, Psalm 27:10, Psalm 68:5, John 14:18)

There are 163+ million orphans

While that number seems big

God is BIG

and He sees and knows them ALL

I have been given to abundantly,

(yes, in things like food to eat 
and clean water to drink)

But what about in mercy?

(no matter where I live)

What about what Jesus has done?

He is merciful.

I'm given to abundantly.

Not to keep, store up, 
and over indulge myself
 (even on knowledge of God's Word).

I'm given to abundantly---

So that I can GIVE abundantly.

God showed me 
I can deceptively think 
that I sacrifice my life,

but don't dare make me uncomfortable.

He is forgiving if you come to Him.

I am encouraged that I can still 
finish this race strong, surrendered in Him
no matter how I started it.

Most assuredly, I say to you, 

unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground 

 and dies, it remains alone; 

but if it dies, it produces much grain.

He who loves his life will lose it, 

and he who hates his life in this world 

will keep it for eternal life. 

                                                              -John 12:24-25

In Him is real life abundantly.

Lord, You are Faithful.

A boy is healed.

To read Moses story click HERE
  We pray believing.

14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, ¹⁵ “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. ¹⁶ So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
 
¹⁷ Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” ¹⁸ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

²⁰ So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  

²¹ However, this kind does not go out except by 

prayer  

and  

fasting.”

God Story--- A Divine Appointment (PART 1)

There has been many amazing things happening.

Many God stories.

Stories ONLY He could write.

Things ONLY He could do.

I am SO thankful Lord!

S.O.    t.h.a.n.k.f.u.l.

Today I feel led to share a glimpse of this one...

At the beginning of last week I sent an email to someone that God clearly put upon my heart.

I prayed about it and gave it to God.

THEN last Thursday as I was driving the boys to swim class...

This person came upon my heart suddenly again 

and I started to pray.

I remember saying: 

"Lord, I'm just gonna give it to You. 

If you want me to be a part of this, 

I know You will make a way."

A few minutes later when I arrived to the class this person was sitting in a chair right at the door!

 WOW God!!!

She takes care of children as well.

Turns out- a few of the children were being taught at the SAME time as one of the boys I take care of.

I had only met her once before

 and it had been almost exactly a year since then.

I started talking with her and I'm just amazed at God!

(There are so many connecting things in our lives.)

Really.

He orchestrates 

things that I could never ever

__dream_ or_plan__

He gives the best surprises too!

 Sister in Christ, I am excited to see you very soon :)

Thank You Lord for Your divine appointments!

Lay it down

 The way to find life is to lay life down.

 

This story has nothing to do with me.

But everything to do with Jesus.

------------------------------------------------------------

 

Years ago

God called me to put

My job. My friends. My reputation.

all on the line

-myself-

and lay it all down

Looking at it now

it all was (is) emptiness

in. the. light. of. Jesus.

Really it ALL is

ALL dung

in. the. light. of. Jesus.

I have a choice:

stand for myself or Jesus...

myself

or 

Jesus

I can choose only one way.

Choosing Jesus, I am misunderstood.

But I am in God's Will.

I.N.    H.I.S.     W.I.L.L.

...nothing is more AWEsome...

...nothing more real...

...nothing more powerful and true...

My world can be rocked to the very core

but I am held up by Him.

Held. by. Him.

nothing is greater

He is merciful.

He is just.

He is holy.

 

Again He beckons lay it down

be washed of it

 Lord I lay me down

...all of me

The only life I have is in You alone

...nothing else satisfies...

You are The Giver of True Life 

"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” -John 3:20-21

In AWE

Throughout the last week I've said: 

"I stand in AWE of You, God" many times over.

Well today I can't even stand in AWE. 

I feel blown over by God's goodness! 

So in AWE of Him I need to sit down. Really.

His blessings overflow---
.joy. 
.love. 
.peace. 

These good gifts are SO full in my heart:

"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." -Luke 6:38

People you can't out-give God. You can't. So GIVE.

And while your at it PRAY too!

 Pray every day, all day, and at any given moment. 

Prayer is SO VERY powerful! I can't say it enough.

It's your relationship with The Lord.

As you can see I'm excited! 

...And if you think I'm a looney with so much JOY today

 that's just fine

 because I love The Lord.

He took a woman like me depressed and full of fear I was...

 and set me free

and changed my life

...so regardless I will still praise His name with my

v.e.r.y.     l.a.s.t.       b.r.e.a.t.h.

 I have over a dozen posts on my heart to write about God's goodness in just the last week! 

I suppose by the time I even get to sharing half of them though there will be a dozen more. 

(Which will be a good problem to have, right?!) 

As He leads me with what to share and what not to.
...and when to share...

I can boldly say that His timing is always perfect.

Thank You Lord for giving me wisdom, thank You Lord, thank You!
You protect Your children.

Praises to Jesus!

Dana and I, years ago at The Meadow Brook Ball

    
     With permission from her, meet my good friend "D" aka Dana!   
                       (From the God Story: The Fork in the Road)

She is a beautiful friend and has encouraged me for YEARS!

               Thank you Jesus- He answered prayers!!!

You are Bigger and Greater God than we can imagine!

 I will be flying across country next month to spent time with my good friend Dana! I will get to hug you lady... yayyy!!!

5 days of adventure together... whoa whooo!

Love you Dana!

 I'm just a bit excited if you can't tell ;)!!! 

It has been a LONG time that I've been praying about this. 

IN. HIS. TIME. 

Thank You Lord!!!

-------------------

Thank You Jesus- Remember Mercy?!

 Since that post last Saturday, her once stagnant account of $120.00  has been increased by $371.70 for a total of $491.70! 
Oh, Thank You Lord! 
All glory goes to You! It's ALL Your doing!

 Let's not stop praying for her. Prayer is POWERFUL! 

Let's not forget her- watch Him- God WILL do Great and Mighty things to help this child of His!

 ------------------------

Thank you Jesus-  Regarding an affliction- asthma- I've had relief from it yesterday and today! Praise Jesus! 

No doubt, I have been feeling many prayers from many people.
 I can't thank each prayer warrior enough!

 I am breathing easier now. 

Jesus thank You for giving me air in my lungs!

Dana--- HAD to add this picture. It makes me laugh!

H.A.P.P.Y.     S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. !

What are you praising Jesus for today?

 

Trouble Breathing

I have MANY future posts on my heart, ready to share... 

but they will have to wait for a few urgent prayers needed now.

I have had asthma my whole life. 

There have been times when it's been bad 
(mostly when I was a child)

 but for the most part it's been very controlled.

This week has been another story. 

On Saturday I noticed my asthma getting bad, 

Sunday was worse, and by Monday it was full out horrible. 

The days this week seem blurred together. 

The last few nights have been scary. 

I got around 2 hours of sleep each night because I was having trouble breathing.

Getting air into your lungs doesn't seem so precious until you are struggling to breath.

 I am currently being pumped with steroids for asthma, taking an anti-bodic, and doing breathing treatments around the clock. My pulse ox (oxygen in the blood) has registered slightly low each time it was taken and that is on ALL the medication too. 

I don't want to imagine it without the medicine sustaining my lungs.

I am doing all I can to not be admitted into the hospital. Last year I was admitted for six days for my kidneys, it is no fun staying in a hospital bed. I really don't want to stay another night being admitted to one. But I understand sometimes you have to be. 

 I am being as careful as I can and doing all that I can do.

It's been a vicious cycle though of wanting to sleep because my oxygen is lower and being unable to because the medicines make my whole body shake and cause my heart to beat so quickly.

I am beyond tired.

Prayers are so appreciated!

Lastly, my bloggy friend Linny needs prayers too!  

(You can click on the link above for more info.)

Her daughter, Ruby started seizing early this morning AND her husband is away (along with one of her older daughters, Emma) in Africa. He is holding a Pastors Conference for 1,000 pastors from several countries all over Eastern Africa. Please pray for them all!!!

This verse has been on my heart today:
 "For you have not received the spirit of bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, wherby we cry, Abba Father." 

                            -Romans 8:15

We remember this Lord in the midst of our trials.

We cry out to You Abba Father for help! 
                                          ...And You hear us