HAPPY EASTER!!! I hope today during your Easter Egg Hunts, feasting on ham, and whatever other festivities you may have planned you do not forget the real reason we have a holiday called Easter. What is that real reason you may ask? The meaning behind Easter, the reason we have Easter, began some 3,000 years ago when the Son of God, an innocent, blameless man named Jesus, was crucified on the cross for all the sins of mankind and rose three days later. Easter is the day Jesus rose from the grave, conquering sin and death, allowing us sinners to personally connect with God. This connection allows us access to Heaven when we die, if we accept Christ into our hearts. Easter is a day to celebrate because Jesus is alive! He proved to mankind that death could not hold Him, and He gave us sinners the courage to fight the fear of sin together, becoming more than conquerors through Christ.
Easter in a few sentences? One Light invaded the darkness, and that one Life changed the world because Darkness could not snuff the Light out. The Life had spread His light too far and too deep into the hearts of mankind. On Easter we celebrate His life, because life for us is worth living because He rose and lives today!
Have a Blessed Easter!!! And never forget the real reason we have Easter to celebrate today.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
R.I.P. Thomas Kinkade
Thomas Kinkade. Painter of Light. Instilled Hope & Inspiration through Artwork. Changed Lives by His Talent.
Thomas Kinkade is one of my favorite painters of all time. Each piece of work is a masterpiece, a scavenger hunt, and a chance to open your Bible and read an inspiring passage. It is a tragedy that he passed away so early in life, but it is a blessing that he left such an inspiring, Christian legacy behind him. I am sad that I was never able to make it to one of his art shows, where he would sign paintings and add touch ups to paintings you already owned. My Aunt and Uncle have one of those. I would be lying if I said I was not jealous. I guess that is one thing my mom and I will never be able to cross off our bucket list. I hope at least that I will one day own one of his paintings, in particular his "Blessings of Christmas", my absolute favorite, which I have included below.
Thomas Kinkade is one of my favorite painters of all time. Each piece of work is a masterpiece, a scavenger hunt, and a chance to open your Bible and read an inspiring passage. It is a tragedy that he passed away so early in life, but it is a blessing that he left such an inspiring, Christian legacy behind him. I am sad that I was never able to make it to one of his art shows, where he would sign paintings and add touch ups to paintings you already owned. My Aunt and Uncle have one of those. I would be lying if I said I was not jealous. I guess that is one thing my mom and I will never be able to cross off our bucket list. I hope at least that I will one day own one of his paintings, in particular his "Blessings of Christmas", my absolute favorite, which I have included below.
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| "Blessings of Christmas" by Thomas Kinkade |
Friday, April 6, 2012
Celebrate Christ's Death
HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY!!!!!!! Today Christ may have died, but do not forget He will rise in 3 days. Today is the day He gave up His place in Heaven to become sinners like us so we may live again. Remember that today. Celebrate that today. Praise the Lord that He became sin for us so we may know His righteousness!!! (2 Corinthians 5:21) I am ecstatic I have such an awesome and humble Savior. Join with me in celebration on this Good Friday!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Smile! God Loves You!
Learning to Be the Light by Newworldson
My song for the day. You try listening to this song without smiling. I find it the perfect pick-me-up when your day is going absolutely horrid. Enjoy :)
Lyrics in case you were wondering, can be hard to understand at times:
My song for the day. You try listening to this song without smiling. I find it the perfect pick-me-up when your day is going absolutely horrid. Enjoy :)
Lyrics in case you were wondering, can be hard to understand at times:
When the stars came crashing down
In tiny pieces to the ground
I was all alone down here
Trapped beneath the atmosphere
Then I, thought somebody called my name
I spun around and caught a flame
I gave into a God I didn't know
And now everything is falling into place
A brand new life is calling and I owe it all to grace
It's so much brighter living in your world
Savior what you did for me
You gave me something I want everyone to see
When we stumble and it all goes wrong
Only you can make it right
So I say
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
When a heart is cold as ice
You can't melt it with advice
No one wants to listen to
A list of things they shouldn't do
So I build a city on a hill
And I light a candle on the sill
Knowing you'll be always knocking at the door
Oh God I just want to love on everyone
All I have is yours to give so let the people come
It's so much brighter living in your world
Savior what you did for me
You gave me something I want everyone to see
When we stumble and it all goes wrong
Only you can make it right
So I say
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
im learning to be the light
that makes the shadows hide
the light that breaks the curse of pride
the light that takes the weary in it's arms
When it all came crashing down
There was only darkness all around
But in the distance I could see
A flame
It's so much brighter living in your world
Savior what you did for me
You gave me something I want everyone, and I mean everyone to see
When we stumble and it all goes wrong
Only you can make it right
So I say
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light!!
In tiny pieces to the ground
I was all alone down here
Trapped beneath the atmosphere
Then I, thought somebody called my name
I spun around and caught a flame
I gave into a God I didn't know
And now everything is falling into place
A brand new life is calling and I owe it all to grace
It's so much brighter living in your world
Savior what you did for me
You gave me something I want everyone to see
When we stumble and it all goes wrong
Only you can make it right
So I say
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
When a heart is cold as ice
You can't melt it with advice
No one wants to listen to
A list of things they shouldn't do
So I build a city on a hill
And I light a candle on the sill
Knowing you'll be always knocking at the door
Oh God I just want to love on everyone
All I have is yours to give so let the people come
It's so much brighter living in your world
Savior what you did for me
You gave me something I want everyone to see
When we stumble and it all goes wrong
Only you can make it right
So I say
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
im learning to be the light
that makes the shadows hide
the light that breaks the curse of pride
the light that takes the weary in it's arms
When it all came crashing down
There was only darkness all around
But in the distance I could see
A flame
It's so much brighter living in your world
Savior what you did for me
You gave me something I want everyone, and I mean everyone to see
When we stumble and it all goes wrong
Only you can make it right
So I say
Oh oh oh oh oh
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light
whoa, whoa
I'm learning to be the light!!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
My Destined Song
Our God Is Greater by Chris Tomlin
For the month of March I gave up two things until Easter: Soda and Country Music. I do not drink soda very much but the cravings are still there. But I live and breathe Country music. It is my go to place when I am depressed, angry, or frustrated. Country music makes the hurt go away and brings the smile back to my face. It has been a hard past few weeks, but I am glad for the switch. I have learned to love The Fish, 95.9. It brings a joy, peace, and satisfaction about life I have never felt before. The above song is a song that I feel speaks specifically to my life right now and one that I have enjoyed cranking up to full volume whenever it comes on over the radio. I still love Country music, but I have found a more satisfying peace in God than in the pain of a lost love or revenge, which many Country songs sing about. If the link does not work you should look the song up yourself, definitely is worth your time.
From Damaged to Destined
WOW!!! How time flies! I feel as if I was just toasting to the New Years, blinked, and then it was April. The past two months have been crazy, stressful, and yet rejuvenating in a way that is hard to describe. Over the past three months I have been going through A Confident Heart by Renee Swope with my Biblestudy group. What an incredible book filled with hope to overcome our past mistakes and let God use those mistakes for His glory. I would recommend the book to every woman out there who has ever felt despaired, forgotten, and/or wondered if God really does care.
This book has helped me gain a confidence about myself and a reassurance that God is out there with a plan specifically for my life. I may not know His plan just yet, but I am confident that placing my burdens at His feet will help me eventually become in the loop, so to speak. I am not saying I am a completely confident woman because I read this book, but I can guarantee that I am a growing confident woman in Christ because of this book. One of my favorite parts of this book is Renee challenged us to plan a DATE (Determine A Time Everyday) with God. What I loved about the idea is that I could do something different everyday to spend time with God. I did not have to get up every morning at a specific time and attempt to not fall asleep over my coffee while trying to listen for God to speak to me. Yeah, I have been told that before, but the way she explained her ideas made me feel more confident that I could do the same as well.
So I started reading passages and searching for verses that I felt spoke to my life and circumstances specifically. I stumbled across Psalm 32, a passage suggested by an old professor and mentor of mine when I was going through a tough time a few months back. I had put the passage aside and told myself I would read it later. Well later came, and I was finally ready to hear the words that God had been trying to communicate to me my whole life. I was forgiven! God was my shelter, my strength, and my deliverer from evil. I need not fear with God by my side. And now I have committed my quiet times to reading this passage, searching out how I can specifically use this chapter to help others, and memorizing all eleven verses. I work well with guidelines and tasks that I feel I can accomplish. I believe that this is a good start to a great journey of a wonderful life that God has planned just for me.
No the journey will not be easy. Satan will fight, and is fighting, for me to return to him, but this time I have a weapon that can move the mountains, and I am not afraid. I am more than a conqueror. And with Christ by my side I am certain that no matter the troubles that are waiting ahead I will become the godly, confident woman He destined from the beginning of time I would become.
This book has helped me gain a confidence about myself and a reassurance that God is out there with a plan specifically for my life. I may not know His plan just yet, but I am confident that placing my burdens at His feet will help me eventually become in the loop, so to speak. I am not saying I am a completely confident woman because I read this book, but I can guarantee that I am a growing confident woman in Christ because of this book. One of my favorite parts of this book is Renee challenged us to plan a DATE (Determine A Time Everyday) with God. What I loved about the idea is that I could do something different everyday to spend time with God. I did not have to get up every morning at a specific time and attempt to not fall asleep over my coffee while trying to listen for God to speak to me. Yeah, I have been told that before, but the way she explained her ideas made me feel more confident that I could do the same as well.
So I started reading passages and searching for verses that I felt spoke to my life and circumstances specifically. I stumbled across Psalm 32, a passage suggested by an old professor and mentor of mine when I was going through a tough time a few months back. I had put the passage aside and told myself I would read it later. Well later came, and I was finally ready to hear the words that God had been trying to communicate to me my whole life. I was forgiven! God was my shelter, my strength, and my deliverer from evil. I need not fear with God by my side. And now I have committed my quiet times to reading this passage, searching out how I can specifically use this chapter to help others, and memorizing all eleven verses. I work well with guidelines and tasks that I feel I can accomplish. I believe that this is a good start to a great journey of a wonderful life that God has planned just for me.
No the journey will not be easy. Satan will fight, and is fighting, for me to return to him, but this time I have a weapon that can move the mountains, and I am not afraid. I am more than a conqueror. And with Christ by my side I am certain that no matter the troubles that are waiting ahead I will become the godly, confident woman He destined from the beginning of time I would become.
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