Friday, January 24, 2014

Refined

We as Christians can be sure of so many things.
We can freely trust in God because He has done it ALL before us.
We can fall safely back into His arms knowing His security is solid.
We can also know, that when we ask of Him in faith, He answers.
When we ask the Lord to begin preparing us, 
to began weeding out the wicked and replacing with righteousness, He answers. 
And for us He answered. Swiftly.
I have mentioned before we are moving to Vermont. 
The least churched state in America.
A battlefield for believers.
 Confirmed in our calling, we began to pray the Lord would start growing us.
And there is no growing without some growing pains. 
Pruning isnt done with a dull pair of kiddy scissors, it is done with sharp shears.
Pruning is not randomly snipping and hacking here and there like hedge trimming.
Pruning is done decisively, efficiently, it is done to allow the plant to produce more and better fruit.
Each pruning decision is made for the better of the plant as a whole.
Not only are we pruned as fruitful trees, we are also being refined as gold.
We are being cast, purposefully, into a fire, 
in order that on the other side of that burn is a beautiful, flawless, precious resource.
We can trust that in the midst of the heat, in the flames that burn the hottest.
Jesus stands there.
As with the three believers in the king's hottest furnace, God is there.
Our God is the ultimate gardener and metal worker. 
He prunes and refines, and during the heat and the cutting He stands there with us.
Whether in the Southern belt, or the dark winters of Vermont,
Christ stands there.














(image found here https://www.google.com/search?q=vermont&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=8XHiUs2RGqnMsQT3j4DIDw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=6NNMv9JdKr9djM%253A%3BTv_xBZKblIm46M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.michaelyamashita.com%252Fblog%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252FVermont_Fall.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.michaelyamashita.com%252Fblog%252F%253Fp%253D60%3B1140%3B738)

Sunday, January 19, 2014

a simple style post

There is something rewarding about being able to walk out the door of my house dressed in a comfortable, simple and affordable outfit.
Even if I have to run to the store, I know yoga pants and a t shirt are not my only options.
Don't get me wrong, yoga pants and t shirts are my favorite outfit, of ALL time.
Yoga pants are the most forgiving of pants (my butt shouts a hooray!)and tshirts are comfy and who doesnt love comfy?

But it's nice to switch things up a bit.
So for me I like to grab my faithful skinnys and riding boots, pick out a graphic tee (there's horsies on mine, like the grown up version of My Little Pony) and a blazer.
Let's all thank the fashion world for blazers.  
I can wear that guy with anything, except my yoga pants but those dont count right now.
I will admit, it has been a battle adjusting to this new body of mine.
I am thankful for it, it's carried three sweet babes into the world.
But it is new to me. It is like we are strangers still trying to get acquainted.
 I wake up and attempt to put on pants I wore when I was 18,
and it yells at me saying "no way girlfriend, took you ten minutes just to get into these guys!"
So my goodwill pile grows daily.
But you know what? It's ok.
Just means my pile of comfy clothes that I can feel confident in grows too. 




Thursday, January 16, 2014

Pardon my absence

Please pardon my absence.
I was planning on doing a few posts, but a few things came up.
By a few things I mean everything I have eaten since I was 10.
Just kidding, but seriously.
Hubs and I were stricken with the vicious stomach virus that has been traveling around the east coast.
And crazy enough, it hit him at work at the firehouse (oh yes my hubs is a fireman, its sexy I know) at 6 pm, and me at home(miles away) at 3:30 am.
Pretty much all day yesterday we were bed ridden (or toilet ridden).
Seriously, I only wish I was over exaggerating.
If you are one of the unfortuante ones to get this, I am praying for you now.
Stock up on gatorade, crackers, ginger ale, hammers.
The hammers are to knock yourselves out with so you wont feel the nausea anymore.
I may or may not have contemplated asking my husband to knock me out with a hammer yesterday.
Too bad that is not a good idea, or legal.
Be back soon with some more interesting posts!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Wanted! Insecurity-For robbing my joy, and other foolery

Let's give insecurities, doubt and second-guessing ourselves a swift kick in the rear.
Let's claim this year as ours.
To embrace our roles.

Mother, wife, disciple, friend.   
To praise the talents of others,
as unique gifts given by a loving Father.
Let the roots of jealousy and bitterness be ripped out.
Let their thorns untangle.
Insecurity, there is a bounty on your head.
And I am cashing it in.
Insecurity, you are found guilty of robbing my joy.
Thievery of contentment.
And you are hereby banned outside my heart.







(image found here http://simply-boho.tumblr.com/post/50350166347/need-more-color-in-your-life-click-here)

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Things are happening

This year has already brought forth so much productiveness. 
So much inspiration, so much hope.
And only on day 4?!
 This year I pray, to be feasting on the Lord's goodness daily.
Already things are happening.
This little space will be getting a face lift soon.
Hubs and I are starting an etsy shop.
I had an ad designed for this space.
 
 And the Lord is working, encouraging, changing our thought patterns to "no you can't"
to "yes I will in you."
This year, my word is "prepare."
We are told many times throughout Scripture to wait on the Lord.
And in that waiting we are to prepare.
Prepare for the work He is doing in our hearts, to His coming, to prepare for all He has for us in the upcoming year, whether good or bad.
By far my favorite Christmas gift was Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening" devotionals, and it never disappoints.
Let me leave you with this thought from day three to carry with you into you new year.
"O that this evening the Lord may find in my heart a highway PREPARED by His grace, that His progression to the farthest limits of my soul will be triumphal from the beginning of this year to its end."
~Morning and Evening- Charles Spurgeon (emphasis added)