Mornings

I like mornings.

Because they are fresh.

Because they are quiet & still.

Because they are clean & bright.

Because there are beautiful songs from the birds.

Because the air is a little chilly.

Because everyone else is still asleep.

Because my day is still a surprise.

Because the sunlight makes the grass sparkle.

Because new flowers have bloomed.

Because my house smells like coffee.

Because I feel God so near.

I like mornings because they remind me how lucky I am to be alive!

Wake Up Call

There's no beating around the bush here! No excuses. Do what is right. The end.

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud NO to the devil & watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God & he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, cry your eyes out. The fun & games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet!

James 4:7-10

Light

Meditation in a Toolshed by CS Lewis

I was standing today in the dark toolshed. the sun was shining outside & through the crack at the top of the door there came a sunbeam. From where I stood that beam of light, with the specks of dust floating in it, was the most striking thing in the place.  Everything else was almost pitch-black. I was seeing the beam, not seeing things by it.

Then I moved, so that the beam fell on my eyes.  Instantly the whole previous picture vanished. I saw no toolshed, & (above all) no beam.  Instead I saw, framed in the irregular cranny at the top of the door, green leaves moving on the branches of a tree outside & beyond that, ninety-odd million miles away, the sun.  Looking along the beam, & looking at the beam are very different experiences.

I'm working on some art work these days all themed around light.

Why?

Because I am so afraid of the dark.

Not in the way one is afraid of the dark as a child & not in the way one is afraid of the dark after watching Paranormal Activity (ew).

It was only this past winter that this fear awakened in me.

Came literally out of no where.

I couldn't be home alone. I couldn't handle the night. I dreaded every day because it was cold & gray.

Something terrible happened inside me & I went about fixing it the absolute worst way.

Instead of running towards the light, I settled in darkness.

I embraced it reluctantly thinking I would eventually find my way out.

Things only got darker. 

Bad decision followed by bad decision led me farther away from the light to a place where anxiety & depression found me.

I didn't know how to shake it.

I felt so stuck.

The light was just a pinhole.

But winter ended & as always, summer came.

And somehow, with summer, the light found its way back to me.

I thawed out. Mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually.

The light was warm & I was me again.

I can't really explain why it all happened.

Had you seen me or interacted with me you probably wouldn't have known I was in one of the darkest times of my life.

I don't know where it came from.

But I do know I am never going back.

I will not stand in the dark toolshed gazing enviously at the light.

I will not be scared of it, I will not tiptoe around it, I will not ignore it or reject it.

I will stand in it completely.

I will let it consume me.

I will stare directly towards its' source & I will forget about the darkness.

Winter will find me this year.

Darkness will not.

The Definition of Me

You, Lord, define who I am.
Not my past, not my present, not my future.
Not my mistakes or accomplishments.
Not the good decisions I have made, not the bad.
The world dos not get to tell me who I am.
No other person defines me.
Not my parents, not my friends, not my peers, no authority, no man, not the media.
I do not even define myself.
And Satan has absolutely no power or say in who I am.
Christ has spoken for me!
He has made me who & what I am:
Beloved
     Redeemed
          Precious
               New
                    Clean
                          Bold
                                Free
Hallelujah! What a Savior!


From now on, everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ! -Colossians 3:11

Peace for Despair

When what you've done keeps you from moving on,

When fear wants to make itself home in your heart

Know that forgiveness brings wholeness & healing

God knows your need, just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes,

Strength for fear,

Gladness for mourning,

& peace for despair

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray! Let petitions & praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come & settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it up friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds & meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned, what you heard & saw & realized. Do that & God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies! Philippians 4:6-9

My chains are gone.

I've been set free,

My God, my Savior, has ransomed me!

& like a flood, his mercy reigns,

Unending love, Amazing grace

Peter urged them over & over again saying, "Get out while you can, get out of this sick & stupid culture!" Acts 2:40

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the World by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ 

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

'Til He returns or calls me home 

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand 

Worry rules my life.
Fear & anxiety & guilt & shame & panic consume me.
But I am going to overcome these things.
Not alone, but with Christ.
There is power in the blood!

These are a few of my favorite things...

I'm doing an Oprah inspired post where I talk about my favorite thing!
However, I will not be giving any of them away for free!
But you'll be glad to know that I shop cheap so if you want some of these things, it's not gonna cost you much!


1. Texas Pete Buffalo Wing Sauce.
    Weird huh? But true! I eat this with almost everything. No joke. If I can put hot sauce on it, I will. It's a love hate relationship though. Mostly because I want to pull my tongue out of my head because it stings so bad, but I continue to eat it.  It also makes me break out in a sweat. But I continue to buy it! My favorite way to eat it is with Veggie Straws. Which brings me to my #2...

2. Veggie Straws
    Y'all. Go find some of these.  They are super crunchy, not too salty, & not bad for you!  No preservatives, no transfat, cholesterol free, made wiht real spinach, potato, & tomato. We eat them all the time at my house. They're also fantastic with hummus, if you're into that. (we are!)

3. Hobby Lobby
     This is my happy place.  I don't buy anything here other than canvases very often, but I can spend hours walking the isles getting my creative juices flowing.  My number one reason for loving Hobby Lobby? It's always Christmas there! Even in the middle of summer there are at least 5 or 6 Christmas aisles. Also, they are closed on Sundays. (bet they support Chik-fil-a)

4. Spotify
    Y'all don't use Spotify yet? Pandora is gathering dust in my browser thanks to this new music app.  It's fantastic! You can't download or buy songs through Spotify (at least not that I know of), but you can make playlists, listen to any song you want, for however long you want!  There are some ad's now & again, but nothing too distracting.  It also syncs up with your Facebook account so you can see what music your friends are listening to. I am always logged in & listening!

5. The Olympics.
    This is self explanatory. Or you can read my previous post about it. AMERICA!


6. JCrew Rain flats
    I purchase these just this week! I love rockin my rain boots on a stormy day, but sometimes they overpower an outfit.  Rain flats are much for subtle & easy to slip off & put something else on if it stops raining.  I'm also going to wear them when it isn't raining. Too cute to restrict them! Best part, they were only $20!

7. Friday Night Lights
    As in the TV show, not the movie.  I love how it is filmed, I love the cast, I love the real life feel, I love the story line, I love the football! I grew up with a football coach for a Father & I think this show is pretty realistic.  They don't glam it all up or make everyone look like supermodels, jut real people, living life as best they can.  Not to mention it is SO funny. Great show. All the seasons are on Netflix so look it up!

8. TJMaxx.
   Where would I be without my man TJ? Probably driving a fancier car or jetting off somewhere beautiful on vacation.  Most of my paychecks end up being spent here, but I could spend my money on worse things! It you don't frequent TJMaxx or if the store near you doesn't offer a good variety, I feel sorry for you. It's close to Hobby Lobby so I stop by a lot!


9. Nail Polish
     I am getting better at going into a drug store for one thing & buying just that! It's so easy to just grab a new bottle every time! So tempting, but bad for the checkbook.  Of course Essie is my favorite, but who can afford $8 a bottle?! I usually pick up an Essie bottle & carry it around with me, holding it up to cheaper brands to find a similar color.  Revlon is my go-to, but lately Maybelline's new line called Color Show is impressing me. Get them at Wal-Mart. Much cheaper than Walgreen's. Sorry Walgreen's. I love you.

10.  Dollywood.
    Don't judge it till you try it.  It's not going to be like 6 Flags, or Disney World, or Universal Studios, so don't start comparing. Apples & Oranges people.  You have to appreciate Dollywood for what it is! More of an experience than a park full of insane rides (but the new coaster Wild Eagle, really is something). I just love it because it does a great job of displaying East Tennessee Heritage. And I looooooooove Dolly Parton.  She is confident in who she is & doesn't apologize for it.  She has always inspired me.  The shows are hear-felt & spirited, the atmosphere is homey, & if you're into people watching, well, this is prime time! I'm proud to say that I have a Gold Pass to Dollywood & will probably go 3 times this week. We're going to church there tomorrow morning for the first time. I'll have to let y'all know how that turns out.

That's all for now! Nothing TOO exciting or unpredictable, I know, but something a little light hearted & happy!
To close, I'll include a pic of me today, because putting together outfits is also one of my favorite things! =)