Thank you for your faith

One thing that I have learned this year, or have had repeatedly pounded into my head (so it seems), is that as Christians we need to step out in our faith and surround each other in prayer. We need to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and when we have a word or feel that we need to pray for them, we need to set aside our inhibitions, step out of our comfort zone, and move in the Spirit. Because when we do, we are blessing that other person, and in return being blessed.

I have to say that I better understand that now. And not because of anything I did, but because a friend stepped out in her faith and followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit and blessed me.

I was having a hard time on Thursday. I was at war spiritually all day. Brandon and I were scheduled to lead worship for the college group. I was to be the lead singer, and I knew from my previous leading experience that I could not do it on my own. I knew that in order for God to be glorified by the worship that evening, I had to let go and let God. I needed to release my fears, worries, and anxieties about leading worship and put my self in the mind set that it was not about me and the band and how we did or how I led; whether I sang the chorus enough times, or sang the right song (which I had a problem with before *wink *wink * for those who remember) but that it was about God being glorified through that evenings music.

No matter how I tried to reason with myself though, no matter how much or hard I prayed, something inside of me wouldn’t let go of the fear and anxiety. A voice kept telling me that I would fail, that I wasn’t good enough. It lied to me about everything and anything it could get its hands on to tear me down. I really just wanted to stand in the back that night and worship with my voice loud and hands raised high just for Jesus. While that isn’t wrong to want that and to do it, I knew it was wrong for me. God had asked us to step out and fill a need for time in the college group, and Thursday was the night that He had asked us to, that He had asked ME to step out in faith and be a leader.

Well we got through practice, kind of ungracefully, and I was more worried and anxious than before. But I still couldn’t let go of my self. I couldn’t drown out the noise of all the lies the enemy was whispering to me. Tony broke us off into our own individual prayer time afterwards and I went to the back of the room behind the sound system where I felt I was in my box. I prayed and pleaded for release and comfort and the lifting of the “I-Centered” view I was holding, but it wouldn’t let go. We were then asked to spread out around the room and cover it with prayer. I decided to stay where I was on my own. I still wasn’t ready, I needed more prayer.

I saw my friends move around praying over the room. Charis (I hope I don’t embarrass you) moved towards the back of the room. I realized that I hadn’t said hi to her yet that evening since I was onstage when she came in. She moved to the back corner of the room near to where I was. I lost sight of her once she was out of my peripherals, but soon I found she was right next to me asking if she could pray for me (thinking about it now is making me tear up).

I told her I would love it (or something like that) and she prayed over me. She prayed SPECIFICALLY for what I was feeling right then, and what I had been feeling all day. She prayed for the release of the struggle with the enemy that I was going through and the release from all the lies I had been told that evening. I hadn’t talked to Charis at all before now, and I hadn’t told anyone but God my struggles and fears that I was feeling that day.

You see, God had prompted Charis that day to move to the back of the room and then over to me to pray. And her step of faith, her step out of her comfort zone to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit blessed me that evening and released me from the bondage I had felt that day that I couldn’t be released from on my own.

I want to encourage everyone to listen to the little nudges we feel from the Holy Spirit especially when it is stepping out to pray for someone or share a word or a vision. We can’t see how it will effect them from our very limited view. But it may truly release that person from what they are going through like it did for me that night. I just wanted to say thank you so much for your faith Charis, it has encouraged me and made mine stronger. I am incredibly blessed to call you my friend.

Monday

A good way to start a Monday?
With a flat tire...no way.
But I did.
I went to fill up my tire.
And a very nice gas attendant did it for me.
That was a very good start to a Monday.

Rainy Day Thoughts

As I was driving to work last week, it was raining. No big surprise here in Oregon right?
Well this day was not a hard rainy day nor was it a light misty day, but somewhere in between. More of a drizzle, but a steady one. And this particular rain fall put my mind in a set that I haven't been in for a while.
I didn't really enjoy high school. I pretty much complained about it everyday. I loved my friends. And most of the time my classes were tolerable. I didn't like the whole "school-clique-lameness" parts. I was pretty good in school. The only C's I got were in math cause I was never good at that but everything else came pretty easy.
I was a "goodie-two-shoes", at least in other peoples eyes, and it was really that I was nice, I respected the teachers, and I did my work, so I was likable by teachers and others. And I knew how to look smart. And I was in "smart" classes, or had the opportunity to be in them (like a few AP classes that I decided to NOT take).
Anyways, this rainy day reminded me of days like this in high school when I was really a zombie. I had a routine down and I would easily fall into it so that I would not have to use any real brain power.
I contributed nothing to classroom discussions unless directly asked, I listened and observed other people during conversation for when to respond with the correct emotion they were looking for without actually having to listen intently. I would brush off inquiries of my distance with a comment of being tired.
I wasn't tired though, just brainless.
The rain reminded me of that. Another mundane rainy day with nothing going on.
I wonder now what I missed those days I checked out.

Crafty Craftiness!

I am having fun and relaxing while being productive!! What could be better I ask you?

Well I am making cards and scrapbooking for a contest, but even if I don't win, I will love my new ideas and finding more creative cards and layouts!

I don't have the two scrapbook page layouts I want yet, but I have pretty much everything else. I kind of need to make a decision on my cards though cause I can only submit 2 different types.

This was a fun card. I love the ribbon! It's silky and reminds me of chocolate!


This is one of my fav's!! It looks so cool and delicious! I got this pattern from Brandon's mom at one of her stamp classes!


This is attempt 1 and 2. 2 turned out better. I think I may take the sliding cover on the blue one and create a new card to match it better. I like these but I think I used too much stamp for the contest. But they are still pretty!!!



I LOVE THESE OWLS!!! They are so cute!! I found the card online and made my own pattern, which I will totally share! I used sparkly puffy paint for the colorful owls' (which is my favorite owl) feathers.




This is a trifold card and I like it but I may make another model. A different one...hmm...






I like this one. This was fun to make and it's super colorful! Which I love! And it has ribbons and sparkles!

I have a job now which I am so very excited about!! I will be working at Horizon Christian Daycare Center. I will work with preschool and kindergarten kids all day 5 days a week and it's in a Christian school!! Which is a super blessing!! I am so thankful that God has provided this job for me. And I am so very grateful and blessed!!

So all my free time is going out the window. :( but it's not really all that sad. I will finally have something productive to do that makes money.
Speaking of being productive... I made this today. And I wore it tonight when I went to see WICKED!! (And I got a comment from some one at the theater too!!)



I got to see Wicked and it was AWESOME!!! I really loved it and we had pretty god seats too. I really really loved it!! Even if I did have a very sick fiance there too. I felt bad that I dragged him out of bed to come with me since he wouldn't let me go alone. Which was very gentlemanly of him. But I hope he gets better and I don't get sick!

I did some research on the cameo cause I was interested in where it started and all that. It became popular through Queen Victoria in England. It started about 300 years before the birth of Christ in Egypt. It appeared in many cultures like the Greeks and the Romans and many Europeans. Used for various things through time like as lessons of morals and epic heroes. Memories of people, memories of travels to places, pictures of beautiful women, of gods and goddesses, Biblical stories, or worn by young women to express desire. They were also frequently worn by men and Napoleon even started a school that taught how to make them!!
Sigh... oh the history...

Cameos have been made out of rocks, shells, gems, and lava.

Time for Num-Nums!!!

I love to eat food! And I love to make food and make it fun and pretty!! So here are some pics of a new treat I made for tonight! I got the idea from a picture, so it's not really original.

I <3 Kutless!!

Kutless rocks!!
I went to the concert this last weekend with Crystal and her parents, who bought us tickets WAY back!

They are so amazing and I got this really cool hoodie!!
So here are some pics.





And Disciple and Esterlyn were there too. Both rocked!