DIY Nautical Rope frame

 

WHAT YOU NEED:

Frame...Mine was from Ikea

Map...I found mine at a thrift store for 25 cents.

Rope...size of your choice. I chose a chunky rope. I got mine from Lowes. You can buy it by the foot.

Glue gun & glue sticks.

 

Cut & insert the map into the frame.

Cut your rope to the right length so it will go all the way around the frame.

Use your glue gun and glue the rope right on the frame.

 

EASY AS PIE!

 

 

 

Remember, life is a journey and the Bible is our map. If we follow our "map" and obey our instructions then we will have a wonderful journey full of blessings and prosperity.

 

But also remember that every journey has their hills and mountians to over come. We may have to tromp through muddy terrain in rain but after the rain has passed there is a rainbow.

 

The rainbow is our reward for staying on path even when it is hard.

 

The rainbow is God's promise to us.

 

Stay on track even when it hard.

 

You will be rewarded for never quitting and being a finisher!

 

PRESS ON TOWARDS THE GOAL!

 

 

Fruits of the Spirit {Series} Faithfulness

 

Welcome back friends to week three of the Fruits of the Spirit series.

If you want, you can go back and read about Kindness and Goodness.

This week I want to touch on Faithfulness.

Galatians 5:22-23

New International Version (NIV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

faithful·ness n.

Synonyms: faithful, loyal, true, constant, fast¹, steadfast, staunch¹
These adjectives mean adhering firmly and devotedly to someone or something that elicits or demands one's fidelity. Faithful and loyal both suggest undeviating attachment, though loyal applies more often to political allegiance

Being Faithful is an action. It means that we stand up for what we believe. Being faithful is making the decision to follow God and not the world. If we can be faithful to a specific television series and never miss an episode, why can't we be faithful to the Lord? What about being faithful to friends and family or a specific sports team? Doesn't God deserve all of us and not just what we want to allow?

 

Having Faith can move mountains, but exercising the fruit of faithfulness is part of our daily character. Having faith and portraying faithfulness is a sign of obedience to our Lord. Showing signs of obedience we will be rewarded.

 

For example. The story of Noah. We all know the story of Noah's Ark right? {Genesis 6}God told Noah to build an Ark, collect two of each species and bring his family on board. Because God found Noah's heart pure and obedient he and his family would be spared from Gods wrath on the corrupt world. Every time you see a rainbow, remember that God is faithful.

 

Another example of Faithfulness. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (cool names!) You can read more details about their story in Daniel 3:8-28. But they were 3 slaves/prisoners to King Nebuchadnezzar. The King wanted everyone to worship him. These 3 men wouldn't bow. So the King ordered them into a fire to burn. The men prayed to the One and ONLY God, they were faithful. God delivered them from their transgressor. God rewards faithful obedience!

 

 

 

 

What Faith Can Do

Today I'm reflecting on faith. For many reasons. First, this week my tiny baby boy turned 6 months old. (He's not so tiny anymore.) I am reminded every single day what a gift and a blessing he is. I waited for him for a long time. I was patient in the waiting. But in the process of trying to start a family, I lost two babies. I was angry, hurt, grieving. But those losses allowed me to experience God's peace that passes all understanding. It allowed me to see the quiet, unspoken world of countless women who have also lost babies. God prepared me to reach out to friends who were grieving for their unborn children as well. That waiting... taught me to grow stronger in my faith. And God reassured me that He had a plan; He had a special baby just for my husband and I. And it was HIS timing, NOT mine, that mattered the most. Thank you Jesus for strengthening my faith in those times. Thank you for my 6 month old Miles.

I have a friend that has been trying to have their second child for over a year. She watched me go through my second miscarriage and then my pregnancy, and eventual birth of Miles all the while hurting inside for her chance. She also watch with hidden anger many of her friends had babies with no trouble getting pregnant at all. My friend has had her faith tested and tried. She has wanted to give up many many times; she was angry with God. BUT today... praise God that she is in her second trimester with a healthy baby growing! She kept her faith. She let go of her plans, decided that God was in control and chose to have faith.

I also have another friend who cannot physical carry a child. Her and her husband have been in the process of adopting for a while. In the last few weeks, they have had many opportunities from birth mothers looking for a caring, loving family to take their child in and raise them. Soon my friend will be going to California to meet their baby's mother and be able to go to a doctor appt to meet their little one via ultrasound for the first time. Their faith in God's plan and miracles has strengthened them during the waiting, wondering, and dreaming of their own baby. 

 Reading Andee's post  yesterday about faith, waiting, and trusting in God about her future reminded me about my own journey of faith. What we want for our lives and when we think it should come about... is not necessarily what God KNOWS is best for us. There are lessons to be learned when we are asked to waiting. There is trust to be maintained when we are asked to do something we aren't comfortable with. Miracles can happen. Silent prayers can be answered. Broken hearts can be renewed.

That's what FAITH can do.

Blessing Restored

This past week I feel as if I have been floating through my days. I am here...but not really. My mind is racing, my heart is skipping beats, my prayers have been answered. My story is a very similar to what Julie talked about a few weeks ago....

2008, my family went through a life changing experience. We lost our home. We were the group that went through the first wave of foreclosures. My husband switched jobs and went through 4 months of out of town training. In doing so his pay was cut nearly in half of what he had been originally making...barely enough to get us by. I was working full time, paying for 2 children in daycare and VERY pregnant with our third. Finances began to get ugly. We were too proud to ask family to help us out. We did everything we "thought" was right. But it was just too much for us.

During the months that seemed like years, we tried to work with our Mortgage Company. We tried to get a lower rate. Tried to speak to someone "higher" up. They absolutely would NOT work with us, at all! We wanted to keep our home, we wanted to make our payments, but they would not hear us out. We begun living off of credit cards to just survive. Friends...we were in BAD BAD shape. Finally after almost a full year of fighting with our Mortgage Company, we threw up our hand and gave up. We quit, we were tapped out! Our funds were negative, we now had 3 kids to provide for.
We ended up walking away from our home. We called the bank and told them, "take the keys, we tried to work with you. We can not afford to stay here any more." We ended up renting a home from our in laws to get us through the years. Currently this is where we are now. During this time in our life we attended a small local church. I was steady in my attendance, I came, I listened, I tried to participate, I was luke warm. We did not tithe, we did not outreach...my husband was not on board.

Fast forward 3 years. Over the course of those past 3 years, we managed to erase nearly ALL of our debt! Pay off cars, credit cards, school loans...everything was gone except one car payment. We thought "YES, finally we can buy a home and get back on track!" My husbands job was providing more then we could ever imagine. Now with a foreclosure the wait time to purchase another home is 3 years. So my husband and I went to talk to a Home Loan officer. We wanted to see where we were in the means of purchasing another home. We sat through the meeting. We were told our credit was now EXCELLENT. We could afford X amount mortgage payment, we could qualify for X amount...but..."looks like the Mortgage filed a year later on your Foreclosure." WHAT!?! I kinda threw up a bit. My stomach was in knots. We were told we had to wait another year! My faith...gone! We were never going to own a home. Why God? Why? During this time, we had switched to another church. We attended regularly, we paid our tithes...sometimes, more then before. But God was not getting his full 10%. We still were not outreaching, we still didn't get involved in Church activities. We simply filled a seat on Sundays and paid enough tithes to fill a few coffee cups after service.

Jump ahead to present day. My husband and I started looking at houses in Aug 2012. We looked at old houses, houses with land, Track homes, we looked out of town. We were almost desperate to find a house. Finally after much heartache, lots of chocolate, hours of stressing, I finally just said "take it God...I can not do this anymore, if you want us to have a home, it will be under your terms." I had friends praying for us, family, I mean we were giving all back to him. Mind you, at this time I started attending a Women's Bible study with Tiffany and Teryn. After attending these studies I felt a tug at my heart to check out the Church service at this church. So I attended alone, without my husband. Weekend after weekend, study after study. I was burning for God. My heart was set a blaze for the word. I talked my husband into attending with the kids and I. He was skeptical at first. Weeks passed and he began to really enjoy it. We began to pay our tithes. All of it...the full 10% and then some. I became deep in the word...he started reading his bible. The kids were reading their bible. Girls of Gods Heart formed. I started speaking out about God. God was finally able to use me. I was finally allowing myself to be used.

Last week, while cooking dinner I received a text message. The message was, "we want to help you guys out, we want you to have the opportunity to buy the house." Is this real life? Am I on Punk'd? Is Ashton Kutcher here?

I had been praying for THIS house. Praying that God would work out all the details. AND he did! You see my friend...all those years my husband and I went without REALLY giving ourselves to Christ. We were mearly just existing. We believed, we attended, but we were not sanctified through and through. We did not sew into Gods kingdom. God allowed us to be dealt with, he allowed us to go through that experience so we could gain so so much more! We were told to wait ONE more year...what are the odds of that? We cleared our debt, I became at stay at home mom, our finances have doubled and we now are moving into a house that is twice the size of the one we live in now. My friend, God does not want us to live an ordinary life, he wants us to live an extraordinary life. We go through trial after trial so he can mold us and shape us to our full potential...according to his will.

Had my husband not changed jobs and we lost our house...we would probably still be living in that same house. Going to that same church...sometimes. I would have never had the opportunity to be here sharing my story.

Satan is out there trying to steal your blessings. Trying to rob you blind of all you have in your life. Your family, your spouse. Your friends, your job, even your finances. I hope that what ever you are going through in your life, know that it is not for nothing. The bible says, what the thief (Satan) steals away, he has to pay it back sevenfold! Proverbs 6:30-31 Yes beloved...your blessings are a coming...more then you have ever imagined! It may seem dark now...but in the midst of that darkness is light...HE is light. Claim your blessings! Believe it and see all your blessings RESTORED...and more!

Proverbs 6:30-31

English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁰ People do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,
³¹ but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold;
he will give all the goods of his house.

 

Yet will I trust him

Friends! This past weekend has been a trying time for me. If it was not one thing it was another. I mean my cell phone was stolen to top it off...COME ON! Surely Satan had my name on his top priority list. Let me tell you, he almost had me...almost. I was so close to resorting back to my old ways. Giving in to his schemes. Allowing my fleshly ways of handling things come in to play. By the grace of God and all that I have learned over the last three months, I remained strong in my faith and Satan got a taste of some powerful fighting words. Prayer! Oh yes my friends...I came at him like a ninja. Kung Fo Prayer Ninja.

Tiffany and I had just come off of a great bible study session. I know God placed that lesson in my hands THAT week because he knew what Satan had in store for me. We covered one verse in our study that I just kept repeating to myself during my dark weekend. Praise God I made it through the weekend and nobody came up missing. But I know Satan is not done with me yet...he will be back. This I can count on...but I am so blessed to know that I have the victory. God is faithful and I have the warriors to back me. My prayer warriors.

In our Bible Study "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things" Beth Moore. We discussed a scripture in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 29:11
¹¹ 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.

Sit on that for a minute. We have all heard this a million times. Amazing right!?! Just to know that God has my back. He wants me to have the victory.

BUT on the other side of the spectrum is...Satan. Waiting...scheming...plotting that POISON. Waiting to counterfeit Gods victory. He has an agenda and my friend...you and I are TOP PRIORITY. I was still on a spiritual high from our bible study. Of course Satan had a bulls eye on me.

I want you to take that same verse...Jeremiah 29:11, now what do you think of what Satan would say?
If you are thinking..."For I know the plans I have for you, plans to mentally and physically bankrupt you, rip away all hope and destroy your life" BINGO! He does not want to see any victory in your life. Friends, that just gave me some major goose bumps! This is how I felt this weekend. Totally mentally and physically lost, I had no idea what was going to happen and my life...psh...good heavens I was entering the Debby Downer stage. Christ surely whipped me out of that nonsense real quick.

I am human. The flesh will always steer in one direction. It is up to me/us to snap ourselves out of it and hold on tight to Gods word. That is why it is so very important to imprint his word in our hearts. For seasons just as I was having. I was about ready to hit a full blown rampage. Then just about as I was about to break down...I cried. Prayed and cried some more and I kept remembering "For I KNOW the plans I HAVE FOR YOU...plans to PROSPER you and NOT to harm you...plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE". God just sent a calmness over me and I was able to just chill. I was still deeply hurting inside but I was able to have a sound mind about myself.

I sit here in tears knowing that God has a greater plan for me. I don't know why I was attacked this weekend. BUT I do believe that I was allowed to be tested by Satan to prove faithful to God. I am still sorting through what happened. Taking it a day at a time and prayer after prayer. I know that there was a reason my phone was stolen. God wanted me to seek his wisdom, his guidance rather then calling my friends or someone else. He works all things together for our good.

Beloved, I ask you to please keep me in prayer. An unspoken prayer request would be gladly appreciated. I believe God is doing a work in my life and this situation this weekend was just the start of a positive change for those dear to my heart. I believe I believe I believe. This is what I am asking God for this Christmas.

Draw near to Me, and I will draw near to you

Every so often God gives me a huge revelation about the most simplest things. I am here to stir your faith up and encourage you because God is GOOD!

I was driving in my car just thinking and praying one day. I was asking God why others seem to appear more close to Him. What's so special about them that they are basking in the glory, mountains are moving, they are experiencing the prophetic and are hearing God unlike anyone else?? When I thought of this Jesse Duplantis came to mind. God immediately spoke to me and said, "You can be as close to me as you want to be"

It clicked! REVELATION!! It's not about God CHOOSING "special" people who only get to experience Him in those ways, it's about YOU! It's your decision not His!! It's about how willing you are to SEEK HIS FACE, communicate with Him all the time and have a relationship with Him. DRAW NEAR TO HIM AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU!. Uh Duuuhh! God is a genius. Just sayin.

How can it be that simple yet nobody gets it? Alot of people don't want to do the work. Yes, it takes work and discipline to be basking in the Glory. Thats the Lord's treasure and if you want some of it, you follow the map and find it. The map is the bible. Read it, study it and learn from it. It is a life manual created by the creator Himself. It contains the secret to getting close to God.

During my drive, I also thought of Moses. . That man obeyed his every command and sought his face. Ask and you shall recieve was definitely shown with his story. He asked God to see His Glory and that's what he got! If you draw near to Him and fully give your heart then God can show you himself in a real way.

Don't get confused with the supernatural and glory. People often are looking for the supernatural and miss God. God isn't smoke and lights. He's LOVE. His glory is his goodness! Don't seek the manifestations, seek His face just for the sake of knowing Him.

I love how God can take a simple question and explain everything in one sentence with the help of the Holy Spirit. Deep revelation for simple things.

Who knew "you can be as close to me as you want to be" meant so much.

So I encourage you to seek, pray and learn. When you are in the presence you learn new things about Him every time. Show yourself faithful and you will be rewarded because God is faithful and a rewarder who diligently seek him.

Be faithful with your gift

I am coming off of a high. Actually I am still enduring the high.

A high of a conference I'm attending at church.

And holy cow, the place is so spirit filled with people that are so broken & have the love of Jesus Christ. Oh & yes I fit into both of those categories.

The amount of people I watch get saved, I was in awe. My eyes welled up with tears. Tears of happiness, tears of joy, tears of oh my gosh can I just give you a big ole hug?

But me.. I quietly sat there fighting back those tears of joy but screaming in the inside. WOOHOO you just received the best gift of your life.

As I sat there during the sermons & watched the speakers preach... I felt the Spirit. And by felt.. I get the chills all over my arms. Every single time. It gives me goosebumps & it makes me giddy.

I think for me what hit most close to home is being faithful to God & using the gifts He created for me.

And by gifts I do not mean your house, your car, your kids, your fantabulous rock you have on your finger.. I mean the gift of teaching, gift of preaching, the gift of writing, the gift of leading, the gift of ___________ you fill in the blank.

If you know me on a personal level you know I have been more than unhappy in my job but I tell you I pray every morning in the car, "please God pour your love through me, let me have a great day, & let you shine through me." By the end of the day is, "God please place me in a new job, guide me, show me, direct me, I am begging you."

Big difference. I thank Him for the job I do have at every moment, mad or happy because financially it helps provide.

But this weekend John Bevere, stated God gives us gifts - a specific gift of grace that gives ME the empowerment to fulfill what I've been created for.

I can't help but think holy crap the gift God has given me is not where I am at professionally. But I am questioning what this "gift" is He has provided me with. Did I miss that somewhere? Do I really know it? Am I just running from it? Do I keep pushing it to the side?

No I didn't miss it. Yes I do know it. Yes I am running from it. And yes... I do keep pushing it to the side.

Matthew 25:25 -- So I was afraid & went out & hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.

Well if that wasn't a slap in the face I don't know what is. 

And in Matthew 25:26 He states - His master replied, "You wicked lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown & gather where I have not scattered seed?"

Let me show you this

• God does NOT distribute gifts evenly. So you may have 10 gifts, where me.. I have 2. 
• If you are not multiplying you have the wrong perception of God. So... Am I multiplying?
• Your fear & intimidation will hide your gifts. Quit running Tiffany, quit running.
• Those who multiply = faithful & good. TRUTH
• Those who maintain = wicked & lazy. HELLO WAKE UP CALL
• God does NOT bless the lazy person. AMEN

photo credit: tiffany

Remember faithful = multiply

1 Peter 4:10 -- Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others faithfully administering God's grace in various forms.   

Remember your gift is different from mine, from the next person & the next.