Goodbye 2014! Hello 2015!

I am so happy to say goodbye to the year 2014.  2014 was a really tough year for me and I am embracing all the hope a new year brings.

Last year I blogged about the 10 things I learned this year, but I think I can sum up everything I learned in 2014 with the words to this song.

I thought number one would surely be me,
I thought I could be what I wanted to be.
I thought I could build on life's sinking sand
But I can't even walk without You holding my hand.

I can't even walk without You holding my hand.
The mountain's too high and the valley's too wide.
Down on my knees, I learned to stand.
And I can't even walk without You holding my hand.

I think I'll make Jesus my One and my All
From now on when in trouble, only His name I'll call
And If I can't trust Him, I'll be less of a man
'Cause I can't even walk without You holding my hand.

Although I would not want to repeat the year 2014 in any way, I am so thankful for every test and trial that brought me closer to Jesus Christ.  My word for 2014 was “renew” and I suppose you can’t renew if you don’t get rid of the old.  I learned a lot about myself this year and there were some things in my life that needed to go.  I am thankful that the Lord loves me enough to not give up on me and to keep working on me.  I know that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away and everything He does is for my good even if I don’t understand or see the good in the moment.

I give my word of the year a lot of thought and prayer and started thinking about my word for this year several weeks ago.  I had nothing, but then as I was driving by myself I started talking to God and wasn’t thinking at all about my word and I heard this little voice say, “Victory, that’s your word for 2015”.  I thought, “That’s a really great word, but really?  Can I really choose a word that hopeful after the year I’ve had?”  I just kind of set the thought aside as I just wasn’t feeling that optimistic.  I’m being honest here, I don’t consider myself a pessimistic person at all.  A few days later we went to church and my pastor was speaking and do you know he said, “2015 is your year of victory” and I about lost it.  I felt like God was talking right to me.  So I am claiming “Victory” as my word for 2015. 

I always like to prayerfully choose a verse of the year to go with my word of the year.  I searched for a verse on victory, victorious, and every other form of victory and could not find one that spoke to me.  About a week later, I was reading my Bible and came across a verse and it was like a light was shining on it and I knew this was my verse for the year.

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ,

and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

2 Corinthians 2:14,15 NKJV

I love how this verse speaks about God leading us in triumph through Christ, but my favorite part of this verse is where it talks about us being a fragrance of Christ to those around us.  I recently developed an interest in essential oils and love to diffuse them in my home so that came to mind when I read this verse.  When I diffuse those oils, they spread throughout my home.  They not only have a wonderful fragrance, but they are pure and healthy and beneficial to those who breath them in.  When you smell their fragrance, it makes you look for where the smell is coming from.  I want to be that way in the world around me, to diffuse His fragrance, so pure and good…to make a difference to those around me.  To point others back to Him.  It is not about me, but Him.  What good is leading a triumphant, victorious life if I’m not affecting those around me and they don’t see the source of the victory?  My excitement about 2015 is not about me, but about what Christ can do through me.  I am so excited to see where He takes me this year.

God bless your 2015!

 

10 Things I’ve Learned in 2013

Twenty thirteen.

It’s hard to believe it’s over.  It has been quite the year for my family, probably one of the most difficult years I have lived through.  I have heard others say the same thing about this year so I know that I am not alone in this.  2013 has been a year of disappointments, heartbreak, loss, seemingly impossible challenges, and some financial struggles (and some victories, Praise the Lord!).  This year we unexpectantly lost our dad/father-in-law/Grandpa and gained a beautiful grandson/nephew.

When the year started out just all wrong, I prayed and told the Lord that I didn’t want to go thru what we were facing and become bitter, but that I wanted to grow from it and be able to help others through my experiences.  I awoke in the middle of the night several weeks ago thinking about all that has happened this year and I was reminded of that prayer I prayed.  I realized then that God answered that prayer for me.  I have learned so much this year about the Lord and His love and grace; I realized this has been a year of spiritual growth for me.  I wanted to share some of the things I have learned, hoping that it will be a blessing to you.  These are in no particular order.

1.  I have learned that I am nothing without Jesus Christ.  I need Him for every. single. thing, every. single. second.  I have realized this year how truly dependent I am on Him and I am perfectly okay with that.

2.  I have learned that He sees the big picture when I only see what’s right in front of me.  So many times this year I have wondered why certain things have happened.  I have questioned and complained, not understanding at all.  It just didn’t make any sense to me, but then a few months later, looking back, I could see how it all worked together and it all made sense.  God was working things out for the good all along!  “And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

3.  I have learned that I love being a Grandma!  I have given much thought on how to explain the love I feel for my grandchildren and there are no words.  I love them so much!  It is different from the love I have for my own children, but no less powerful.  They bring me so much joy and I am so thankful to have them in my life.  It makes me think of just how great God’s love is for us.  His love is even so much greater for us than the love I have for my children or my grandchildren.

4.  I have learned that seeing my children suffer hurt and loss is the most devastating experience I have ever had as a parent.  To see your children hurting so much and not be able to take that burden from them and carry it for them is heartbreaking as a mom.  It is a tremendous burden that I have to lay at the feet of Jesus again and again, because it is not a burden that I can carry (yet I find myself trying to over and over).  1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”  I have learned that, although it is not always easy to cast my cares on Him, that once I do, He gives me the peace, strength, and wisdom that I need to be there for my children.  And if I want so badly to carry my children’s burdens, how much greater does He want to carry mine for me.

5.  I have learned that sometimes when we go through trials that seem so impossible at the time, those trials turn out to be the greatest faith builders.  God has done some miraculous things for us this year.  They may seem so small and insignificant to others, but to me they were a great faith builder as to what God can do.  While facing a seemingly impossible mountain, I can look back and see the other mountains that God has safely brought us through and it builds my faith as I journey on, knowing that He will get us safely through this as well.  I am so thankful for the testimonies that God gives us!  “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11

6.  I have learned that even though we don’t see God AT work, it does not mean He is not working.  I would probably classify this as the most important, most eye-opening thing I have learned this year.  It has come by those little steps of faith…of seeing God’s answered prayers come seemingly out of nowhere.  To realize that the whole time I was stressing over something, God was at work already making it happen.  He is teaching me that I just need to trust Him and leave things in His hands, KNOWING that He is at work even though I cannot see the results I want to see right now. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1

7.  I have learned that God’s timing is ALWAYS perfect.  This kind of builds from the last point, but I am always amazed how God comes through ALWAYS right on time.  I like to feel that I have things altogether and that I know what to expect, but this year there hasn’t been too much of that going on.  I have had to learn to lean on His timing like never before.

8.  I have learned that His ways are not my ways, and that His thought are not my thoughts.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:8,9  I am so thankful for this, because there have been many times when I would have (and sometimes have) done things differently, but God’s way is ALWAYS better.  I don’t understand His thoughts and how and why He does things the way He does, but I have learned that He knows what He’s doing.  Is it always easy to trust Him when you don’t understand? No!  Is it worth waiting for Him to work things out His way? Yes!

9.  I have learned that the Word of God is more precious to me than ever.  I have developed a new love for the Word of God this year.  It has been my counselor, my guide, my cheerleader, my inspiration.  I have found so much comfort and direction from His Word.  It is a beautiful thing to come into His presence and sit with His Word and let Him speak to your heart.  There were times this year when I was feeling so low and I would just take my Bible to a quiet place and say, “Lord, I need something from you right now.  Please lead me to a scripture that is exactly what I need in this moment.”  And you know, I would open my Bible and turn to a scripture that was exactly what I needed.  It was as if He was speaking it right to me, and in that quiet place I could almost feel His arms wrap around me and give me the strength to go on. It is amazing to me how you can read the Bible over and over and then a scripture can pop out at you and be exactly what you need at that moment…how a scripture can speak to you in a whole new way in a moment of need.  God’s Word is so precious!  “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  Psalm 119:105

10.  I have learned that God places people in your life at the exact time you need them.  Some of my greatest encouragement this year has come from my blog readers and the people I have met through my blog and my Etsy shop.  I don’t think that (you) they have even realized that God has used (you) them to encourage me at exactly the time that I have needed it most.  An email, a convo, a comment left would say exactly what I needed at that moment, put a smile on my face, and a warmth in my heart, and motivate me to keep doing what I feel God has called me to do.  It is hard to feel creative when your heart is heavy, but God is good and He has a way of always providing what you need when you need it.  So, thank you, to all of you that have taken a moment this year to send encouragement my way and for letting God use you.

I know this has been really lengthy and I don’t consider myself a writer at all, so if you managed to get to the end, I applaud you for putting up with me this long.  I hope this has been an encouragement to you.  I don’t mean it to be a downer in any way, but my purpose in sharing this is to glorify God.  He deserves all the praise and glory.  Yes, 2013 was a tough year, but God brought us through it and I am so grateful for the things I have learned and the closeness I have found with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  God is good ALL the time!  I am looking forward to a year of victory in Jesus in 2014!

Thank you for letting me share my heart with you.

Happy Resurrection Day!

 

(source)

I am so thankful for Jesus being willing to die on the cross for me.  Oh, what a love!  To be honest, I have a hard time to really focus on the cruelty and suffering that He suffered for me.  It is so hard for me to even think about the pain He must have felt when they drove the crown of thorns upon His head or how it felt when they nailed those spikes into His hands and feet.  I cannot comprehend it.  While I am so grateful for His death, it is His resurrection that makes forgiveness, healing and grace possible.  It would all have been for naught if He had not rose from the grave.  He overcame death and became the Victor.  I can experience victory in my life because He already won the victory for me.  He made it possible for me to have a personal relationship with Him.  Can you imagine this mighty King, the Creator of the Universe,  the Lord of Lords desires to be MY friend!  He has even gone to heaven to prepare a place for me to spend all of eternity with Him.  I am thankful that I have that hope…all because of the cross and His resurrection.

May you feel the presence of our RISEN Savior this Resurrection Sunday.

~Karen

I'm thankful for....

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have been thinking a lot about what I am thankful for this year. It seems I am overflowing with so much thankfulness. I am thankful for the friends I have made in cyberspace and the outlet this has been for me. I enjoy sharing with everyone and the wonderful comments I have received have been so encouraging and so supportive. I am thankful for all of you who take the time to read my blog and to leave comments.

I am thankful for my family...
...for my husband, who is my biggest fan and is so wonderfully supportive of my dreams and of me having time for me to do what I love to do. I couldn't ask for a better man to spend my life with. I am so thankful for the love we share.
...for my children--I have been truly blessed with some great kids. That doesn't mean that things are always rosey around here, but they are such a blessing to me and I love them so much.
...I am thankful for my parents and the way they have raised me. My life was not perfect growing up, but I wouldn't trade my childhood for anything. I am thankful for the sacrifices my parents made for me and my siblings. I am so thankful for their love for God and for showing us that God is our provider.

I am thankful for the basic necessities in life that God has blessed me with that we so often take for granted, my home, food on my table, clothes, shoes, a vehicle, my health and for a healthy family, my husband's job, friends, a wonderful church family, the opportunity to homeschool my children, stamping supplies, money to buy more stamping supplies :) You know all the little things that we tend to overlook.

Mostly, I am so thankful that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Not only does He love me, but He cares about ME. He knows MY name and cares about the smallest details of MY life, things that I would never share with anyone else, I can talk to Him about. I have learned (and continue to learn) that He is my everything! When all the world around me is falling apart, when I am feeling all alone, He is always there. He ministers to my smallest needs and knows just what I need and when I need it. I love the Lord so much and I am overwhelmed with His love and compassion and mercy. He is such and AWESOME God, and I am so grateful to know Him.

I pray all of you have a wonderful time with your families and friends this Thanksgiving Day! Take a little time out of your day to reflect on those things you are most thankful for.

Reflections

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

I just wanted to share something on my heart today. I can not get this song out of my head. I am just in awe that I have a relationship with a God who loves me and cares so much about me, about what is happening with me in my life, right here, right now. That the same God who created the world, who hung the stars and breathed life into man, knows my name and cares about my hurts, my dreams... ME! In the uncertainty of the world today, I am extremely thankful to know that I don't have to worry about tomorrow, because I am His! I belong to Him and He cares and He knows what tomorrow holds. I can have that assurance that everything is gonna be ok, that no matter what happens, I am His child and He is my Father. He will be there to hear me when I call, to catch me when I fall. I am His! What an awesome, awesome God!!

If you would like to listen to this song, this video is amazing.


I pray that you have a blessed day and that you feel the love of God in your life today.