Beauty for Ashes

he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
--Isaiah 61:3

This week has been fabulous and difficult in many ways! I have rejoiced as God has laid things out before me that weren't expected and were "immeasurably more" than I thought they would be, yet I have struggled through other times of missing the familiarity of home and friends while at the same time enjoying new people and sites. Needless to say it has been different levels of up and down all week! I have been here A WEEK! In some ways it feels longer, in other ways I can hardly believe it has been that long already!

The above Scripture spoke to me today, as I have been having a hard time and almost mourning the things and people I left behind in my ol' Kentucky home. This Scripture reminded me that He HAS proven this to be true this week, and I have received so much more than I thought was possible, because of His people here on Earth living out His word. I have truly received a "joyous blessing instead of mourning" and am striving to give "festive praise instead of despair" and the people in my life along the way have been "like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory."

Thank you Father for working in my life and the life of others!

Ohio

I have moved to Ohio...

Well, it isn't looking exactly like I imagined...but, AGAIN, nothing ever does! I am quickly learning that whatever I imagine is usually outdone by God...He is such a showoff! I most certainly love HIM for it!!! Thank you God for knowing what I need more than I myself know!

Here is the story...

If you read the last post you got the part about moving up here and the help He provided. Well, I came up here yesterday expecting to work on my apartment and to stay there this week and work on it so that I could live in it before I began work on the 8th, this coming Monday.

Well, I arrived, and the landlord was completing a few last minute things, so I drove to Target to pick up some cleaning supplies. Well, it wasn't until I was about to place a big pack of paper towels in my cart that I realized not one more thing was going to fit into my car because it was still packed to the gills! So, frustrated, I returned to my car, in which the low fuel light turned on and I headed to the gas station...

While at the gas station, Ryan's dad, Rod, called and told me that a gentleman called the church office today. He said that since I was coming up here to help with the Romanian mission that he would let me rent one of his apartments for what it costs him...PRAISE THE LORD!!!

The timing couldn't have been more perfect...I went to see it today...

I was not complaining about the other apartment that I was planning on moving into but I was also missing some of the things my old house had including ceramic tile, a back porch, etc. Well, the new place has ceramic tile AND a back deck! Praise the LORD, who is able to provide immeasurably more than I could imagine or ask!

I am amazed daily at how God is working in my life and in the lives of those around me...so, don't forget, when little details work out...give Him praise! When little details don't work, He probably has something better in mind!

Whose Blood?

Whose blood is it that ties us together?

Is it the blood of our parents or grandparents that tie us together as family? Or is it bigger than that?

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us

Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

--Ephesians 2:13-14, 16, 20-21

I found out this weekend that God's family can be as close or closer to me than the family I was born into physically.

On Friday I was getting things ready to move up to Ohio. I had planned on using a friends pickup truck, however when I opened up my storage unit I quickly realized that it would take more than that. So, I called U-Haul and ordered a truck, which ended up being overkill but it took care of it!

So, I asked my mom to help me go get the truck, she wasn't able to. I asked several members of my family to help me load it...I guess they were too busy because I never got a response. So, there I was upset and feeling very much alone...

(In walks God)

A friend of mine helped me pick up the truck and her and her husband and my mom helped me load the truck...

Saturday, when it was time to move everything up to Ohio, my friend Becky came along in her car, for a 4 HOUR DRIVE BOTH WAYS so that I could drop the truck off and get back down here for another couple of days. While unloading the truck, we had several helpers from Ohio available, and it was actually like I was more of a helper in that situation because the men did all the hard work! PRAISE THE LORD!

I was so drained emotionally and physically and I don't think I realized I needed the help until it arrived and I physically felt the tension release...God IS in control...why do I forget???

It just goes to show, that AGAIN, I had expectations of HOW things were going to work, not that they simply would work. So, when they began working out differently that I expected, I freaked a little.

God is so good and provides for our every need in His own ways and timing...PRAISE HIS NAME!

I am so blessed to know that there are people who care about me and love me and we are tied together by the blood of Jesus and/or the blood in our veins...at some point it becomes irrelevant which tie binds...we are ALL family.

Father and Daughter

This weekend was full of hustle and bustle and lots of plans and a visit from a college friend! I had a blast!

Sunday marked the 3 year anniversary of my dad's death. My dad and I used to attend Reds games together and since his death I have attended Reds games by myself to commemorate that time we shared and to remember him. I usually attend on Father's day but since I don't know where I will be this Father's day, I went Sunday!

I had a friend with me this time which was fun and so I hadn't thought a whole lot about my dad. So, when we went to sit down, someone else was in our seats and we settled into some a couple of rows ahead. Well, then along came two others to sit in the seats next to us, a single father with his 9 year old daughter. As I type this the tears are fresh as I realize how fabulous the God I serve is. It was a great reminder as to how my dad and I enjoyed each others company, though neither of us were perfect in our relationship and it was strained at times due to his alcoholism. The little girl was sassy, as I was, and she even got put on the scoreboard while singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

I just thank God for the reminders of how GOOD He is and how good my dad and I were, in the midst of the busy weekend!

AND...Most important! HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!

Body watch...

So, about 5 months ago I found a class that I love...it is a dance class to me and if you call it a workout I might not like it anymore so don't call it that! So, I began going about 3 times a week. I don't weigh myself because I am not out to be a certain weight or size. In fact if it becomes about that then I will probably quit because it is too much pressure for me. But, I have since lost about 2 pant sizes. I have muscles in places that I haven't had them in a really long time! I did used to be a gymnast, acrobat, dancer, back in the day...

Anyhow, this class is something I have come to enjoy. Not just because I can shake it, but also because of the fellowship I have found and the relationships I have built with the other women AND men in there! Yes there ARE men!

Last summer I began running, to become "fit" and because I needed a change! I did ok, but not close to the goal I wanted to accomplish! I wanted to train for a 5k but was never able to reach that goal. Well, I ran about a mile in the EARLY spring this year, which was typical of last summer. Then, on Monday, I completed my first 3 mile run!!! I was astonished! This dance class is hardcore, REALLY, and had prepared me for the cardio training needed for running, though my leg muscles begged to differ!

I was super excited and want to encourage those out there that might be struggling in the areas of weight, body shape, etc. to find something you like, in an environment you like! It is so important to enjoy it! If you need alone time, maybe walking in a beautiful park in the evening or morning is right for you. Or if you like community then there are all kinds of group classes out there to join, swimming, aerobics, dancing, spinning, team sports, and the list goes on! Heck, I think roller skating is still around!

God gave us bodies and He wants us to stay in them for as long as possible to carry out His work here on earth...So, be faithful and take care of them!

God on the throne

I am so tired of being afraid, of holding back, and not living out what I feel God calling me to...it is because I forget to die to myself each day...I put myself on the throne way more than I should!



In this world so many of us hold back. Far too many of us are living in our comfort zones and not living out what God has called us to. For us to live the way God wants, we should die to ourselves each day. Paul says so in 1 Corinthians 15:31, "I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We should be taking up our crosses and following Him...

I heard a song today (I am not sure of the artist or title of the song, if anyone knows please leave me a comment so I can find it again!)

Anyhow the lyrics were something like this:

You have your Savior on the cross
While you sit on the throne
Put yourself up on that cross
Put your Savior on the throne.

It is so true, until we die, thus putting ourselves on the cross, we will continuously live for ourselves, thinking we are above everything, sitting on a throne.

God belongs on the throne...it is time we put Him there and leave Him!

CRAZY!

I promise you God knew what I needed to hear today!!!

Sometimes, I feel like the things I believe, the things I say or write, or the things I do, are over the top. I feel like they are so over the top that others might think I am crazy...

Take, for instance, my 40 day trip that I took across the country this past fall. Soooo many people made comments about how I was "not being safe" or in one instance that I know of for sure, the person said I was "crazy" because I was telling everybody that I was traveling with Jesus.

hahahaha...

Today, I was reading in 2 Corinthians 5:13-15

If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

This passage helps me to feel a little less self conscious about some of the "crazy" things I might do and I wanted to share...I am not afraid to be crazy...especially if it glorifies my God!

Watch the video...