Muchas Gracias

Well, last night my hubby got back from Guatemala, where he spent 9 days preaching and teaching at a Bible Institute and Orphanage. I am glad he is back and thankful for the wonderful hosts that took such good care of him while he was there. They were so nice and thoughtful, showering many blessings on both of us. He had some wonderful words prophesied over him as well as they prayed for him after he had prayed for them. Even though I was not able to go with him on this trip, I could still feel the love that they extended to me, even though they do not know me. 

Between purchases and gifts, hubby brought 20 lbs of Guatemalan coffee back with him. (This also makes me happy ;) We two are definitely coffee lovers!) He brought me back some lovely gifts, and the people that he stayed with also sent some lovely gifts back for me. I will have to take some pictures of the mounds of coffee we have in one of our cupboards right now!

Well, before hubby left I had made up two thank you cards for the people he would be staying with. I wanted to share them earlier, but have been having some problems with editing my pictures. I was finally able to edit them today, (yay!) so I will be sharing them with you.

I have been having massive mojo loss lately, but praise the Lord, he knew I needed to knock these out (as hubby was leaving the next morning!) and gave me inspiration to whip them up. (sorry they are so blue, I was photographing them in a hurry!)

Supplies:

Paper: Basic Recollections 8x11 card stock; Everyday Flair patterned paper pack from My Minds Eye

Embellishments: white ribbon from Dollar Tree; prima flowers from Michaels, pastel brads from Joann Fabrics (online); paper doilies from a dollar store 

Sentiments: printed from Microsoft Word; letters from dollar aisle at Target.

P.S. I would appreciate prayer - The muscles in my neck flared up over the weekend with the nasty front that came through, and I am in quite a bit of discomfort.

Because they believe not in God...

"Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:" ~ Psalm 78:22

In Psalm 78, the children of Israel were being exhorted to remember all of the miracles that the Lord had done for them. In Psalm 78:1 - 7, it says "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. ² I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: ³ Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. ⁴ We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. ⁵ For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: ⁶ That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: ⁷ That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:"

The Lord wanted Israel to remember continually the things that he had done for them and to teach it to each generation that they might always have their hope in Him. What a father's heart!  He wanted His children to know him, to love Him because he wanted the best for them. He wanted them to stay under His commandments so that he could protect them and yet in Psalm 78:22 it says "Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation..." 

What a statement. Despite all that God had done for them, despite the love and protection He showed them, despite the supernatural provision, they did not trust or believe in Him. As I was meditating on this thought, I started thinking of all of the times we do this in our own lives. 

As a Christian, we can so easily say "Oh, yes, I trust in the Lord," but when it comes to the situations in our lives, how often do we try to fix the situations ourselves? How often do we react in our own wisdom and strength before going to the Lord for His wisdom and will?" It is a convicting thought. I know that I do this in my own life. I pray and I read the Word, but then I run in to a situation and I try to fix it in my own strength, in my own wisdom, trusting not in the Lord to be able to fix a situation without my help.

It is so easy to read through the Bible and look at the children of Israel and judge them and convict them, but when I examine my own life, how often to I fail in the same ways that they did? 

Is there a situation in your own life that you are trying to fix in your own strength today? Give it to God. Psalm 28:6-7 says "Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusteth in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." 

The Lord loves each one of us with the heart of the Father and longs to step in and intervene in our behalf, he only asks that we trust him. So lets do that today, lets believe in him and trust that he can and will help us because he is our strength and our shield.

Be Encouraged

^"Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits." ~ Song of Solomon 4:16

"We are going to experience difficult experiences that will break us, even as the alabaster box was broken to pour out that beautiful oil upon Jesus (Mk. 14:3). Unless the severe cold of the north wind comes, and we have those cold, harsh experiences, our fragrance is not going to flow out: the fragrance is only brought forth through the breaking and the suffering. Nevertheless, we must also have the south wind, for its gentle warmth restores our souls so we are not destroyed by the bitter north wind. Both experiences are essential for the fragrance of our lives to flow out, pleasing in the sight of our Beloved." 
~ The Bride, Dr. Brian J. Bailey

If you are going through that breaking experience today, remember, it is only for a season and if you feel you are close to the breaking point, the gentle warmth of the south wind is on its way. The Lord does not wish to destroy us, but to purify us.

So, regardless of what season you are going through today, be encouraged by the verse above and remember that you are in the Father's hand and when you come through your north wind experience you will have a fragrance that flows out with a beautiful aroma.

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

² Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.

³ Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

⁴ All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

⁵ Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

⁶ He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

⁷ He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.

⁸ O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:

⁹ Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.

¹⁰ For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

¹¹ Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.

¹² Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

¹³ I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,

¹⁴ Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.

¹⁵ I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.

¹⁶ Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

¹⁷ I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

¹⁸ If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

¹⁹ But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

²⁰ Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

~ Psalm 66, KJV