no matter what happens today...(printable)

I think it's important to remember that God is sovereign and that His ways are so much higher than ours.  Regardless of who wins or looses today, despite the terrible economic state, in spite of the rampant peril and devastation sweeping our land, God is still God.

Done and Done.

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I dare you...

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I have a good friend who also happens to be a licensed counselor.  She is blessed with the gift of truly speaking her mind and I love that about her, but it can be a bit scary sometimes.  I'll never forget the first time she came into my office.  I personally painted most of the artwork in the room because I wanted to make it my own creative outlet.  I do spend countless hours in there creating.

Being quite the artist herself she took the time to admire my work.  Her first comment was, "Oh, this piece is quite dark."

Can you imagine what's going through my mind?  "What does she mean by that?  Is that a good thing?  Does this painting reveal some negative secret about my personality that I don't even know?"

I didn't think the piece was dark.  I actually saw it--felt it--as warm.  In reflection, I might agree with her.  Instantly our mind thinks of dark as ugly.  But is it really?  Or is it in the dark times, in those times of intense trial, when the most beautiful artwork, melodies, lyrics, rhymes, sentences flow from the deepest cisterns of our hearts.

This is a hard lesson to learn.  To believe that their is beauty is pain and to believe that the pain will make us better.

I think that revelation will only happen when we choose to be thankful in the hard times.  I believe that revelation only dawns on our tired, cold hearts when we become thankful in the pain.

Last Saturday I was confronted with this message again during a women's Bible study.  Honestly, it caught me by surprise.  I came to "work" for my mom, but found myself enveloped in the teaching.

We watched this video from Ann Voskamp.  As I watched the video I immediately recognized Ann from a blog I read called A Holy Experience.  As I was watching this I was absolutely confronted with the beauty...with the joy...that comes from pain.  The book is called One Thousand Gifts.  And I've decided to take the challenge.  A challenge that should bring great change and definitely reflection.  A challenge to find 1,000 things, people, life experiences that I'm thankful for.

• I'm thankful for long beautiful walks where the sun lights the path.
• I'm thankful for colors that completely express all emotions.
• I'm thankful for smells as they overwhelm me taking me back to moments, good and bad, that have shaped my life.
• I'm thankful for coffee.  It makes me happy.
• I'm thankful for my mind because even though it's complicated and difficult and misunderstood most of the time, it's still mine.
• I'm thankful for my parents--for their silent and not so silent love, support and strength.
• I'm thankful for bad times because in all their difficulties they help me remember the good.
• I'm thankful to be in a community where there is love and respect.  Perfect?  No, but still a home.
• I'm thankful for the majesty of the ocean.  It's overwhelming and simple as the tide sweeps in and pulls out. Its gravity pulls me to its shore almost begging me to find life in the waves.
• I'm thankful for flying cardinal birds because they remind me of my great-grandfather and the legacy I have to live to.
• I'm thankful that God cares and loves me so deeply that He has written me on the palm of His hand as a constant reminder.

So that was my first day.  I'm sure there will be many more.  And really what a great time to stop and be thankful and to give to praise to whom it is do:  Jesus, the giver of life and the sustainer of my faith.

I've already asked you, Friend, what you are thankful for.  (here)  Many answered, but I think the challenge here is more than just a simple "I'm thankful for..."

The challenge is live a life of gratitude, thankful for the hardships, and choosing joy in pain.  It's definitely difficult, but so much more rewarding than staying in the meer of this nasty, hard life.  And believe me, life will be hard.  It takes work.

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No Sermon Needed

Sometimes we forget that God's Word is God's word.  He inspired it.  It's directly God breathed for our encouragement, teaching, correction, and comfort.  To try and add something to make His Word more clear is kinda...well...arrogant.

In recent weeks I've felt like I've been in a cloud partly because it's insane in my life right now, partly because it's blistering hot outside, and partly because of some emotional grief that I'm working through.  But in spite of the insanity in my life, I'm standing on the promise of these next verses and believing that as I trust God He will make me more than a conqueror.

I hope they encourage you.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that our faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1: 6,7

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.  This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be save--and that by God.

Philippians 1:27,28

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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

Philippians 4: 6,7

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15: 4

The Lord detests men of perverse heart but He delights in those whose ways are blameless.

Proverbs 11: 20

But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Psalm 73: 28

You might also want to check out Psalm 1, Psalm 119, Proverbs 3: 5,6, Psalm 27, Psalm 35 just to share a few.  Ultimately, we have to remember to take into authority every idle thought that exalts itself above the knowledge of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).  I am a daughter of God through Christ Jesus.  I am a joint heir through Christ Jesus.  I am victorious through Christ Jesus.  I have power through Christ Jesus.

Have a wonderful week finding and declaring who you are in Christ!

All Scriptures taken from the New International Version

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Grey, Orange, & Yellow

I had to share these colors.  I'm loving them.

1-2, 3, 4, 

1, 2, 3, 4

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the Joy of the Lord is my Strength

Sometimes I get on these melancholy kicks.  I don't like myself very much when I feel this way.  I don't even really know why I feel down.  (I've taken many personality tests and they ALL read that I am a choleric/sanguine...never, NEVER, melancholy.)

Maybe it's all of the great students who are graduating and moving away to college.  Even though I know that they can change the world I'll miss them so much.

Maybe it's that my house has been tore up with a bathroom repair for a week.

Maybe it was the end of the season for Criminal Minds.

Maybe it was the 18 wheeler that almost killed injured me this morning. (Thank you, Jesus, for Your protection.)

Maybe it's the changing of the seasons.

Maybe it's just life and busy-ness of it all.

But regardless of the reason one thing is true above all.

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

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Truly, find Him and make Him your joy.  His love is waiting for you.  Does that mean that the bad stuff will just cease to exist?  Does that mean that life will be easy?  Does that mean that you will never have problems.  No, not at all.  His love doesn't prevent or protect us from every pain or hardship, but He walks with us through every situation.  He gives us faith to endure.

I've decided to stick with Him and I hope you will too.

Much love,

Danette

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Sometimes you just have to...well...laugh

Found this video and I just had to share with you.

So seriously, sometimes you just have to laugh at life...find joy in the hard times...hold on to the good memories.  We have to celebrate the possibilities of the future and put to rest the failures of the past.

Here's to you and yours...to your happiness.

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My Heart is Stirred

My heart is stirred with love for Him

     and I am overwhelmed in His love.

Sitting in the solitude of this quiet moment

     I'm embraced

     Held

     Comforted

     At peace

Lost in the image of His undoable light.

I'm very excited for tomorrow night.  At Cathedral we are having a very special night of praise and worship.  We are celebrating our musical heritage.  I hope that you can come join us.  For more information please visit us at cpraise.org.

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My Springfield

I've heard a rumor that some people hate Springfield, Missouri, but I love that town.  I love the history.  I love the culture.  I love that it's a modern day Mecca to a couple of fellowships.  I just love Springfield.  Maybe it's the memories or maybe it's the atmosphere, but whatever it is, it's got it for me, well, with the exception of the drivers.

My sister Dalayna (she blogs over at Pointing Up if you care to meander over there) and I went on a short day trip to Springfield on Friday.  I did almost all the things I love to do and discovered some new treasures troves including some vintage shops.  (Those I know you will love.)

So...in order sequential order...I give you my Springfield.

An original play written and directed by Michaela Harris from Central Bible College. (Website)

Followed by a trip to a great store for all things vintage: Funtiques Market. (Facebook) I found a beautiful vintage hat to wear to Cathedral's ladies tea this weekend.  So beautiful.

If you're going to Springfield and you're going to be downtown then you have to stop in at The Cup and get a cupcake!  Yum.

Have you read A Beautiful Mess?  While if you haven't then you need to and you also have got to visit their vintage store Red Velvet.  Best. Store. Ever...probably.

Toes done.  Coffee drank.  Friend date.  Happiness.  Yes, all those things.

Almost done.  Promise.  So after all of that we came home to find that our little cousin had been in an accident.  I won't go into all those details just because it's quite gruesome, but our family has found time and time again that God heals.  My little cousin is now safe at home in Roland, Oklahoma, and recovering after only spending a short time in the hospital. 

Wonderful weekend with miracles and friendship and family and joy.  True contentment, I do believe.

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A Quotable Line

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down.  Without the rain, there would be no rainbow."

~Jerry Chin

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