This is Inconvenient

How’s that for an intro to my first blog post in four and half years?  Things are inconvenient right now, and frustratingly so.  As it would happen, yesterday’s First 5 devotion by Kayla Ferris was spot on.  Here are a few bullet points from inconvenient life this week:

• My electricity is out again, AND I’m the only house on my street without power.
• I just replaced the groceries that went bad in the first outage, and the new ones are now ruining.
• (Bonus Bullet Point) I ALSO BOUGHT ICE CREAM!
• The small trees partially blocking my driveway are still in my way.
• My lawn mowers haven’t shown up for three weeks.

"So let me esplain.  No, there is too much.  Let me sum up."  Middle TN had a derecho  Sunday night.  I was lucky in that my power was out for 12 hours only.  That was enough time for several new items to go bad (or iffy) in my fridge.  The electricity went off and on several times on Monday, but then it was steady through Wednesday morning.  Mind you about 50,000 are still without power, but I thought I was out of the woods. 

My alarm system alerted me to a power outage while I was at work yesterday morning.  I got busy and forgot to check back to see if/when the power was restored.  Had I remembered to check my app; I wouldn’t have gone to the store.  I repurchased cheese, meat, a gallon of milk, and a dozen eggs, just to name a few items.  All those items are now warming in my fridge.  I can’t bring myself to dwell on the mint chocolate chip ice cream. 

I went to work today wearing a ball cap and straightened my hair in my office.  I should have waited to put on make up as well.  (Pro Tip: Wait until you have proper lighting for makeup.  Applying concealer by flashlight is not a smart move.)

Then there are the small trees in my driveway…

The guy who was supposed to cut them down never showed up.  That means I am creating a groove in the yard off the side of the driveway each time I go around the trees.  I will tackle cutting them myself.  I should have done that in the first place.

The yard is another story.  I don’t have a lawn mower, and mowing is part of my contract.  My yard looks like all those people waiting for the hair salons to open up.

(Bonus, Bonus Bullet Point) My Fitbit didn’t record ANY steps I took during my futile Kroger run yesterday.  Not only did I walk around for 30 minutes gathering items to throw away, but I didn’t get any “steps credit” to boot.  It seems that if your hand is pushing a cart it doesn’t count - literally.  I’m sure I would have logged 2,500 more steps, or maybe even 50,000 more.  Once I realized it wasn’t counting my steps, I attempted to push the mini-cart with one hand while swinging my Fitbit arm.  I looked rather flamboyant.

Today I will go back to the store to buy some things to put in a cooler to tide me over during my Laura Ingalls period.  This time I will get a handbasket so I won’t look so conspicuous swinging my free arm. 

All in all, each of these issues are first world problems.  That doesn’t mean I’m happy about how some things are playing out right now.  God and I have had many conversations about life recently.  Life is NOT what I thought it would be.  I do NOT like melted ice cream, nor several more serious issues going on at this time.  But I choose to trust God.  I didn’t say I’m trusting Him to make things better, but I hope He will.  I am trusting Him.  I am trying to look at these things as invitations to participate in God's plan.It isn’t always easy, so Mark 9:24 is a recurring prayer.

“…I do believe but help me overcome my unbelief!”

God LOVES me.  He took care of my greatest need when He sent Jesus to save my soul. 

So I’m well… even when I have to gut out my faith.

I hope anyone reading this is well.  Please know you are always welcome to leave a happy note, funny anecdote, or prayer request.

Satan's Desires vs. God's Desires

The enemy is a liar. He is a liar, a cheat, a thief, and arrogant.

He’s a punk, but he doesn’t get to win.

Here are a few example of what he wants for you versus what God wants for you. 

Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 21:4 - He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

2 Samuel 22:32 - For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?

Romans 8:38,39 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angel nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:6,7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Isaiah 40:29 - He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

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Squeezing September & Overflowing October

Life has been good. 

Scratch that. God has been good, and life has been busy. 

The last few weeks have been a tornado of activity. The next few are slated to be the same, and I like it!

Here's some of what has been going on...

 I went on a mission trip to Seattle to work with The Landing Church. Our group did landscaping and clean up at a local elementary school. We also fed the faculty and staff a yummy lunch from Q'doba.

Andy and Trang Brown moved from Arkansas to the Seattle area earlier this year to start The Landing Church. They are doing a fabulous job of getting to know the people in their area, and showing them that God's love is all about relationship.

I spent the day helping in a classroom. That is where I met THE MOST AMAZING kindergarten teacher EVAH! Mrs. Menon has the enthusiasm of a brand new teacher - even after more than a decade in the classroom. She struck a beautiful harmony between discipline and fun, and her communication skills were a joy to witness. Mrs. Menon used words that were above her students, but then she would follow up by repeating her instructions with a synonym of the hard word. Why wait to expand a child's vocabulary? 

Their brains are sponges, they can take it.

I enjoyed the art instillation that decorated downtown.

The flowers at Pike's Place Market overwhelmed my happy senses.

Another project we accomplished was to serve the homeless population downtown. We packed duffle bags with socks, blankets, hygiene products, and a Bible. My group met Mike and Trish. We bought their lunch, and talked with one another. I sat next to Trish in the dirty parking lot between a car and a concrete wall and let her tell me her story.We prayed for them before we left. I'm still praying for them. 

This is the famous Gum Wall at Pike's Place Market.

A view of Puget sound from the top of an apartment building.

When I returned from Seattle I got to do a senior photo shoot with this BEAUTIFUL young lady.

Anna was is such a doll. We had a lot of fun at this horse ranch.

She even makes an old shed look good.

What a beauty.

I also started working at a pumpkin patch on the weekends. The Hicks family are a blast. They make me laugh. 

I am overwhelmed with God's provision and opportunities. I am blessed.

Next I'm off to NYC to see my crazy friend Jerri. I'll be there in less than 48 hours and I'm shaking with excitement. She may find me living in her basement refusing to come home. If I do make it back, I have a couple of more photo shoots lined up and a few more activities on the calendar.

Stay tuned. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for stopping by. If you like what you've seen then "like" my page creative confetti (website)  on Facebook, and subscribe on the right. Feel free to pin and share via the green widget to the left. I'd also love to hear from you, so leave a comment or send me an email.

Psalm 46:10

Recently my friend Jennifer mentioned the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10 on her blog. It was another reminder that I truly need to stop letting so many things get in the way of spending time with my beautiful LORD. 

Thanks for stopping by. If you like what you've seen then "like" my page creative confetti (website)  on Facebook, and subscribe on the right. Feel free to pin and share via the green widget to the left. I'd also love to hear from you, so leave a comment or send me an email.

What Does Easter Mean to You?

The Problem With Being Ordinary

Earlier in the week, as I was getting dressed with the television on, I heard a news anchor comment on Prince Harry's "incident" in Las Vegas. If it is possible that someone hasn't heard about this story, I'll give a one bullet point summation.

• Prince Harry went to Vegas for a vacay, partied hard, ended up with nude pics of himself and a woman which made their way  to the internet and news.

Just to be clear, this post isn't about Harry. It's about the attitude I've seen/heard displayed regarding his "PR nightmare."

As I listened to the program coming from the TV, I heard the anchor talking about all the support that has been shown for Harry's discretion. He went on to say, more than once, that Harry was just a normal guy. He wasn't a bad person. It's perfectly normal for a guy to do something like that- he just happened to make the news because he was a prince. He's a normal guy, and that's okay.

Now before I go any further, you need to know that I'm not calling Harry a bad person. Please hear that. I don't know him, so I do not know his character. I'd like to think that he, like anyone, is not the sum of his mistakes. With that established, I want to say that it makes my heart sad to think that we consider such behavior as "normal," and "okay."

Less than 10  minutes earlier in the program that same anchor spoke of how he loved being a dad. He enthusiastically exclaimed that it had changed his life. Then he showed a picture of his young daughter. (I did not see the picture as I was in the next room.) It was positively adorable listening to him speak of his little girl and what it meant to be her daddy.

So now I'm wondering if his definition of a "normal" guy will be acceptable for his daughter when she is of dating age. I wouldn't think so, or at least I hope not.

Call me old fashioned or a straight-laced goody-two-shoes, but I think we need to be encouraging our children to be extraordinary. I've said to my kids (niece and nephews) several times that they should never settle for ordinary. And aren't we called to a higher way? The example set before us is Christ himself. That's pretty spectacular

Then I recalled a button I've seen several times on Pinterest.

It's true the world needs better behavior, but too many people think that is enough. It isn't. Being a good person isn't your ticket to eternity. The only true way to have eternal life is through the sacrifice of Jesus. 

I'd like to challenge the popular quote above. I think that your beliefs dictate your behavior, and if that's the case then we need to go back to the example of Christ. So I'd like to offer an alternative button... 

Let's encourage one another to be outstanding. Don't settle. Embrace the gift God has given, and be amazing.

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Obey Right Away, All the Way, and With a Happy Heart

Have you ever had to make a decision that you knew would be unpopular? Even with yourself? That's where I was this morning. It's actually silly since it's something that God had called me to do months ago. However, there is a deadline racing toward me that made me hesitate and panic a wee bit.

It has to do with security. God asked me to trust him, and I said I would. Then days turned to weeks, weeks to months (yada yada yada), and I still didn't see his promised outcome. 

So I did what I do best. I began looking around for my own solution to help Him out a little- just until his plan fell into place. I'm sure he appreciated the fact that he had to herd a crazy, little kitten back into his arms.

Reading about Peter has helped. He suffered from a wishy-washy commitment too. At the Last Supper (Luke 22) he said to Jesus, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death," (v 33). But when asked Peter denied being one of Christ's disciples, or even knowing him- three times (v 56-60). The worst part? Back at the supper, after Peter had heralded his devotion, Jesus looked him in the eye and told Peter about the denials to come (v 34, 61). 

Ouch. That had to hurt. I'm sure Peter must have been a bit miffed. I bet Peter meant what he said to Jesus in verse 33. At least he meant it at the time.

I'm a lot like Peter, and maybe you are too. God calls me to trust him and follow, and I enthusiastically agree. Then the calendar pages start turning, and I'm still waiting. Eventually I begin to think of ways to start working without God. I turn to what I've done in the past- not bad things, just not what he has called me to.

Peter did that too. After Jesus raised himself from the grave, Peter went back to fishing (John 21). It was his comfort zone. He'd been a fisherman when Jesus called him to follow. Do you know what Jesus did? He met Peter and the others where they were. Jesus was on the shoreline. Jesus took Peter aside and reinstated him, removing the guilt of denial and a flip-flopping commitment. He gave Peter three opportunities to say how much he loved his Lord. 

Three for three. You have to love that.

So I was reminded that God doesn't need my help, and he isn't concerned with my timeline. Even though I am confined by deadlines, he is not. 

I've decided to ignore the deadline that's chasing me down. I took a stand this morning and told God that I would follow him even though it had my stomach in knots. 

That wasn't good enough. God wanted my obedience with a joyful heart. 

Really?

I'd just declared my devotion to his plan even though I was clueless as to what that may be. Surely that counted for something! 

Not so much.

God wanted me to be excited again. It's like what my friend Melissa tells her children, "Obey right away, all the way, and with a happy heart." (That doesn't mean it be smooth sailing.)

God wants me to be filled with joy as I wait for him. My trepidation and worry was destroying my joy. God gently quieted my heart with his love (Zep 3:17).

So I choose to obey with a happy heart, and I can't help but wonder if most of the blessing will be found in the joy rather than the outcome.

Thank you for visiting creative confetti!  Please take a moment to "like" creative confetti (website) on Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter. And I'd love to hear from you via the comment section or the email option on my profile page! 

Not Too Small for a BIG God

Have you ever felt so small that you were sure you didn't matter in this great and mighty universe? Chances are you have. We all have at times, and the truth of the matter is that we are small compared to everything, but there is hope. REAL hope.

My hope lies in my knowledge that God loves me. And if God loves me (which He obviously does based on what He sacrificed for me*), it makes sense that He cares about my everyday situations. 

Does this mean life will be a piece of cake? I'm insulting you by even asking that. Forgive me. Of course life isn't easy, but He is there for me. Unfortunately we (man) messed up His perfect plan a long time ago. Thankfully He stepped in to provide a way back to redemption. (That would be Jesus, the cross, and a mighty resurrection.)

I have real needs and real deadlines. God may or may not choose to meet the deadlines in which I am bound, but I won't turn away. Even when I find myself beginning to get anxious,   I trust that He knows what He's doing. Saying that He sees the whole picture is a bit myopic. He is painting the whole picture.

If you are feeling small and insignificant I encourage you to chase down these verses. They may be familiar or completely new to you, but I pray they express His love and care in you.

Jeremiah 1:5  Before I formed you in the womb I knew you
Isaiah 43:1  Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name. You are mine.
Psalm 139  You have searched me LORD and you know me

There are many verses that tell of God's love for us. I've seen that love proven time and again in my life. I hope you find rest in His declarations.

* 1 John 3:16 
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

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Heart Song

There are a couple of songs that express, so uniquely, what is in me. It's as if the author climbed inside me and read the walls of my heart. This is one of those songs. It's All Around Me by Flyleaf. I'll put a link for it at the bottom of the post.


My hands are searching for you
My arms are outstretched towards you

God, I'm reaching for you. My arms are wide. I want to catch every bit of You. I know You are here. You permeate me. 

I feel you on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for you

I can feel you around me, in me, through me. I have no words, but my mouth tries to capture who You are to me. You understand anyway.

This fire rising through my being
Burning I'm not used to seeing you

I'm intoxicated in Your presence. Almighty God set me on fire. 

I'm alive
I'm alive

It's You living in me.

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing

You are near. You are here. I am Yours. You are mine. You give me breath. I can't live without You.

Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

Without You I would melt into despair and anxiety (but you calm my heart with Your love. You adore me. Your heart jumps and laughs with mine, and hurts when Your girl aches*). 

My hands float up above me
And you whisper you love me
And I begin to fade

Into our secret place 

I'm still reaching for You. You reach down to me. Your welcome is overwhelming. I melt in Your grace.

The music makes me sway
The angels singing say we are alone with you
I am alone and they are too with you

I can't be still. My joy moves me. I am Yours. You are mine.

Father God
no words
only You

* Zephaniah 3:17

All Around Me - Flyleaf

Also check out Lacey Sturm's testimony HERE.

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Young and Wise

A short while ago I dedicated one of my focused on Glory installments on an amazing young woman named Melonie. I had the honor of getting to know Mel when I worked with the student ministry at my church in TN. She is now a sophomore in college, and the growth I've seen in her is a challenge to us all.


As I said in this post, Melonie participated in a mission trip to Kenya. Now she is recording her memories and encounters in a new blog entitled ONE.


I want to invite readers to stop by Melonie's new blog. I think you will be amazed and blessed by this young woman of God. 

ONE

(Melonie wanted to point out that she will not be a regular blogger due to her college schedule. I plan on adding her to my reading list so I can be alerted to when she is able to post new material.

focused on Glory (in need)

This one is a little tough. I am making a choice to focus on God. I will see His Glory if I look.


As you can see, I shattered the glass on my phone. This is the latest straw on my haystack, and I'm praying it's the last for a while. I'm not able to get everything repaired that has broken lately.


Now let me point out that I am well aware that a smart phone is a luxury rather than a need. It simply represents that things seem to be falling apart at an alarming rate, and I can't keep up. There are six pricey issues that have popped up with my car in the last several weeks. The car is 10 ½ years old, but replacing it isn't an option at this time.


There are other major issues that also require the almighty dollar, but I don't want to get into that. You'll just have to trust me that I have a death grip on Philippians 4:19, and I can't wait to see how it shows off God's Glory.

And if any of you know of a job lead, feel free to inbox me. 

Jeremiah 29:13

A little promise from God.

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New & Great

focused on Glory (painted sky)

This is last night's sunset.

I know the verse is a repeat, but repetition is good 

for remembering. 

focused on Glory (the simple answer)

I know that my faith is sometimes looked upon as silly, weak, and for the simple minded. Well I can be silly, and I can be weak, and if believing that nothing of this world happened by accident- that there must be a creator behind it all- makes me simple minded, then I'm that too. 

Sometimes we like to complicate things when the best, most trustworthy answer is the simplest. There is no way I, or anyone, was created by cosmic accident. Every where I look there is evidence that this world was designed. The odds that all of this happened as a result of a chain of events are astronomical. I think you have to work harder to believe that theory than to believe the truth. The verification of God's glory is everywhere.

... "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the  whole earth is full of his glory."

Isaiah 6:3

Here are examples of two things I do no believe are accidents. In fact, I am amazed at the creativity (and I love anything creative) involved with coming up with thousands of species of watermelons and mushrooms. 

As a bonus, there are links to recipes at the bottom of today's post. Enjoy.

Watermelon is a favorite of mine!

Don't you love the crack in this old bowl? I do.

These little guys were growing in the front yard. I think they are adorable, and I'm big fan of the ones you can eat.

Here are the recipes. The mushroom page has instructions for 30 dishes. Just click on the thumbnails to take you to a specific one. Enjoy!

http://westchesterdish.com/2007/06/ten-facts-you-never-knew-about-watermelon/

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/healthy_mushroom_recipes?slide=1#leaderboardad

As always, I want to shout out to Jennifer's blog Ponderings of an Exect Exile. You might enjoy her simple minded faith as well.

Thank you for visiting creative confetti!  Please take a moment to "like" creative confetti (website) on Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter. And I'd love to hear from you via the comment section or the email option on my profile page!  

focused on Glory (through the rain)

focused on Glory is a weekly (or almost weekly) post on creative confetti 
and Ponderings of an Elect Exile. 
Each post features a photo from that week 
that reminds us of God's glory.

After weeks of drought, it finally rained. It was little more than a long sprinkle, and all it did was wash the dust off the landscape, but I'll take it. Thank you Lord. Please send more.

Rain drops in the old birdbath. 

I will try to post another foG post later in the week to catch up. In the meantime, check out Jennifer's BLOG. She always has something interesting, touching, inspiring, or funny to pass on, and don't miss her past foG posts either.

focused on Glory (answering a call)

I LOVE THIS FAMILY!!

Was that too much? Too many exclamation marks? I don't think so. In fact, I think I will add a few more. 

!!!

Even that isn't enough, but I should continue with this post. I've fulfilled the photo requirement for foG, and now I'll tell you a small bit about how this image represents God's glory.

This is part of the Wagner family.  Andy and Katie were missing because they were out of state. :(   But I did get to see Ken, Tammi, and Melonie during my trip home to Nashville, and it did my heart good to spend time with them.

Ken and Tammi are fun loving, fall-on-the-floor-and-spit-out-your-drink-funny! They. make. me. smile. They can evoke a smile in me even when their hearts are heavy, and they've been carrying a pretty hefty payload lately. The reason can be found in their impenetrable faith- a faith they have worked to pass on to their children and those they encounter.

And speaking of their children, let me introduce you to Melonie. She is 19 and has just completed her freshman year of college. She is extraordinary, and I adore this young woman. We became close when I worked with the student ministry in Nashville. I had the honor of being a Bible study teacher for Melonie and several other fabulous girls. Now Melonie is teaching me.

As I write this, she is in Kenya on a mission trip with International Sports Federation. I can't wait to hear about her experiences when she returns. It's a life changing trip, and I'm excited to see how it grows her. She truly lives for His glory.

While I was in Nashville Melonie told me she was speaking to the students at church, so I went to hear what she had to say. She spoke of how her relationship with Christ had grown over her year at university. She stressed the importance of having a daily study/worship time with God. 

It was during a one-on-one moment with God when she prayed a six word prayer that led to new revelations and new continents. She opened her heart and mind and said, "Wreck my world. I am yours."

Wow! What a great concept. Total abandon for what could be expected.

She also reminded us (ME) to pray big... something I had forgotten as of late. I appreciated that little kick in the faith.

Father God, thank you for Melonie and her desire to know You more. Pour Yourself in and through her as she follows Your plan. Draw her near and bless her faithfulness LORD.