Eye Makeup

The morning was off to a beautiful start with a hot cup of coffee, the news on television and all I needed to do was put on my makeup. 


I have loved makeup since middle school. My friend Alana and I would spend hours to apply just the right amount of eyeshadow and mascara. I hate to admit it but we even used a safety pin to separate our eyelashes!  Something I later told my daughters to NEVER do! 


On this morning the eyeshadow had been applied with just enough highlighter on the brow, a darker color in the crease and a middle color on the lid. The finishing touch was to add the eyeliner.


I opened the bottle, drew a line across the lid and as soon as I had finished, it happened! I sneezed!  Now you may not think this is so bad, but my freshly lined eyes were now a black goopy mess!  The wet liner was above and below my eye! It looked as though I had put my makeup on in the dark!  


I freaked out a little!  Why now? Of course I only had 5 minutes to finish before I needed to leave for work. This meant that I had to quickly remove the makeup and try to salvage my eyeshadow! 


I spent a moment to ask God to settle my heart and prepare me for the day.


Somehow, I accomplished the task, arrived at work on time and throughout the day removed what remained of the goopy black in my eyes!


What did I learn from this? 


Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT)


It only takes a moment for things to get crazy in life. How you respond depends on that one little moment of asking God to settle your heart.

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

Psalm 107:29

If Jesus can calm the storms on the water, He can calm your heart!

Father, thank you for calming our anxious hearts! 

A little adventure!

What began as a simple dinner out with a friend turned into an unplanned adventure. 

Early in the afternoon my friend Kathy and I met at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. We walked around the grounds taking pictures and being a little goofy. The air was crisp and cool with a light breeze blowing through.  What a great afternoon of laughing and enjoying the flowers and fall leaves. 

As dinner time approached we left mine in the parking lot and rode together in Kathy's car. "I hope they don't lock my car in", I jokingly spouted! 

Dinner was full of yummy mac and cheese, other tasty treats and good conversation!

On our way back to pick up my car, we had no idea what was waiting for us!

We drove into the entrance and there at 7:30pm they had locked the gates! What I thought was a flippant comment was actually coming true! 

Anxiously, we drove to another entrance trying to be confident that things would work out! There we noticed that the gate was slightly ajar, but it would not open far enough to drive through. As Kathy waited for me, I briskly walked down the parking lot and into the building to see if there might be a security guard who could open the gate.

It is amazing how much energy and adrenaline rush through your body when faced with this type of adventure. I was trying to muster some composure as I approached the doors. They were locked! I could see that a security guard was coming towards me. "What if he thinks I am a robber", I mumble. Praying that he would see me, I knocked on the glass and flailed my hands to make sure that he saw me! I was a little nervous that he might pull out a gun!  Maybe I have been watching too many TV shows!

"Just drive your car up to the gate and it will open", he politely directed me. Within minutes I was on the other side of the gate. 

What did I learn from this adventure? 

Rejoice in our confident hope.

 Be patient in trouble,

 and keep on praying.

Romans 12:12 NLT

Father, I love living life as an adventure! You are always near, always guiding and I am sure laughing! Thank you for being my hope! 

Home sweet Home!

I don’t know what I would do without the church!

I became a Christ follower at the

age of 14.  From that moment,

 the church has been my

refuge,

confidant,

family,

motivator,

life builder,

strengthener

encourager

home

I love the Church

 because

 Christ loves the church! 

Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her" (Eph 5:25).

Our Mission as the church is to  Luke 10:25-29

1. Love God-With all of yourself 

2. Love Others-Love your neighbor as yourself

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35

“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. 1 John 3:16 

Father thank you for giving us the church as an example of Christ's love.  Help us to be completely devoted to each other and to your mission for us! 

She made me feel Special!

Have you ever had a person in your life that always made you feel loved? 

Someone who did things that no one else did? 

They remembered your birthday, favorite flavor of birthday cake and had it decorated in whatever theme was your new trend?

Growing up we could always count on Aunt Margaret to make our birthdays special. When money was tough and there weren’t any presents, knowing that she would have something just for me was a great comfort.

Her example in providing for others has had a lasting imprint on my life.

The memory of her loving actions reminds me of a verse in Hebrews

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16

I want to offer a sacrifice of praise and share with others too.

Father, direct me to whoever you want me to do good things for. Show me what to share and how to do it. May these things be pleasing to you.

Pumpkin Apple Bread

The fall makes me want to make yummy things!  There is something so comforting when the house is filled with the pleasant aroma of food baking in the oven. 

I wanted to make something new so I Googled "pumpkin bread" and up popped a recipe that also had apples in it. 

You never know when trying a new recipe if it will be as good as promised. 

After making this new recipe I was not disappointed! It is scrumptious! Full of cinnamon spice and appley goodness! Spread on top is a crumbly mixture that even now makes my mouth water.  This recipe was found at the amateur gourmet and it is definitely a winner!

All I can say is yummy, yummy, in my tummy.

Thankfully, God's recipe for life will never disappoint.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9

When we follow His recipe we will have life abundant.

All I can say about God's recipe is comfort, comfort in my soul! 

His recipe will fill you with joy, peace and love. 

You will be satisfied when you follow his directions.

Father, thank you for showing me your goodness through apple pumpkin bread! Your recipe for life will always be perfect and will never disappoint! 

Grace Abounds

Almost a year ago as I was driving past a mobile home park, I heard the Lord say to me, "go there". I kept on driving,  I knew what He was asking and frankly I pretended that I did not hear. 


The next time I went by, I heard Him again say, "Go in there". I kept on driving but this time I replied with, "I don't have any more time"! 
Months later, I drove by this mobile home park and i began to wonder, "what does the Lord have for me here"? I still kept on driving.


This month, the Lord reminded me that He had a plan for me to carry out. All I could do was throw up my hands and say yes! What happened as soon as I said yes is a remarkable yet oh so gracious way that God works.


As soon as I said yes to God, several other women joined me in this journey of exploration.  We had been studying Acts and had seen the way that God had told Paul to Get up, Go, and then he would be told his assignment. After meeting and praying we went to look at the mobile home park and explore. 
What we found was grace, after grace, after grace!


Grace #1

Upon arriving at the community center of the park we discovered that the address was 7777! 
We were excited to see God's number welcoming us! We stopped and prayed at the door. 


Grace #2
We called the office number that was listed and discovered that the owners of the park were Christians and that one of them attended our church and the other was in a small group with one of our friends!


Grace #3
We spent a day passing out flyer's for a harvest festival.  Our small team went door to door inviting people. Some invited us in. One family told us that they were hoping for someone to offer something for Halloween.


Grace #4
Many people donated candy, costumes, prizes and food for the event.


Grace #5
On the day of the event, I drove around the park nervously looking for children to invite.  I was having cold feet and was having difficulty trusting that God would give us abounding grace. We stopped at a house, knocked on the door and inside were 2 of my students! They were visiting their Grandma!


Grace #6
At 1:00 there was a line at the door of young and old eager to participate in our festival! His grace was abounding in numbers and in wonderful conversations!


Grace #7

People kept asking us why we were there? They wondered if we lived in the park. They were curious to why we would love on them this way. We simply answered, "God brought us here".

Thank you Lord for speaking, even when I pretend to be hard of hearing. Your grace flows down! I am so excited to find out what the next assignment is going to be!

 Brag on God Fridays

Enter His Rest

There will always be things that can keep us from entering into His rest.

Laundry

       Cleaning

           Dishes

                   Meetings

                Television

     Family

     Schedules
                Disobedience
          Guilt
                       Shame 


Sometimes the things that keep us from His rest are everyday mundane things that take our attention and other times they are things that we desperately try to keep hidden.            

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5

One of my favorite verses speaks about finding rest in Jesus. 

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NLT

So when you are tired, take a rest and go be with Jesus. He is waiting to restore you.

I love that it doesn't say that we have to be perfect, or have everything figured out. We just need to come to Jesus!

Father, remove from me the distractions that keep vying for my time and energy. I need, desire, crave your rest. Nothing will satisfy me until I have entered into that rest. Thank you for offering it to us, so simply and easily. 

The best and worst day!

I am a teacher of English language learners and one day a week I provide language instruction at the preschool. Today was the best and worst day all wrapped up in one!


In the morning I worked with a student who is not very communicative.  By the end our our time together he had accomplished some communication skills that we had been working on. "I love my job" I declared out loud! 

Later in the day I was working with a group of students identifying colors and shapes when all of a sudden one of the 4yr old little girls told me that she did NOT want to do this anymore.

As directly as I could, I explained that she needed to stay with the group and finish the task that we were working on. With all of her strength and power she began to scream! I think that she meant it to be frightening to me or at least a declaration of her dislike for what I had told her.

Then, when I had ignored her shriek, she tried to get up from the table and go and do what she wanted. Immediately I redirected her to her seat and explained that when she was finished with the group work she would be free to go and do what she wanted to do. 

The sequence of screaming, standing up, and being redirected to sit down was repeated over and over again. The rest of the group sat at the table working and watching as this little girl tried her hardest to get her way. 

Finally when her tantrums had been ignored and the rest of the children at the table were now doing what she wanted to do, she said one word. "Pink!"  Praising her I said, "Thank you, great job! You may now go and paint."

I realized later that I give God these type of days over and over again. I can be like the student who made growth in one area and then later in the same day I can be the screaming girl who throws a tantrum when I do not get my own way!


Going back through my blogs I realized that I have spoken before about having tantrums. In 2009 I wrote Give God the Leash. Obviously this is still an ongoing issue for me. 

Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. psalm 86:11

Father, sometimes I forget that I am still such a child! Someday I hope to be a grownup Christian.  Thank you for bearing with my tantrums and cheering me on when I make growth.  Use these lessons to make me a better teacher. Teach Lord to walk in your way, and not to demand my own!

How deep is your love?

 Guest Blog by Emily Cook

Today is “Sweetest Day”. I’ve been thinking about what exactly this ‘holiday’ means to me. A few years ago it used to mean that I would want a really thoughtful card with a heartfelt message scribed by my sweetie, maybe some flowers or a gift and a nice dinner. This year though, someone asked me if I was planning anything special for this day and I replied ‘I doubt it…I like to think every day is sweetest day in my house’. After having said that though, I decided I wanted to know what the real origin of sweetest day was. Turns out, contrary to popular belief about it being a holiday made up by card companies to boost revenue, it’s actually been around for almost 100 years. 

This is what proflowers.com has to say about Sweetest Day.

So what is Sweetest Day? Sweetest Day is a day on which we celebrate romance, love, and friendship, showing our appreciation for friends, family, and co-workers with bouquets of flowers, gifts, candies, and other tokens of affection. But it wasn't always this way... Depending on whom you believe, the first Sweetest Day was either the idea of philanthropist/candy company employee Herbert Birch Kingston, or it was planned by a team of twelve confectioners who dubbed themselves "The Sweetest Day of the Year Committee."
In any case, the first Sweetest Day took place in Cleveland, Ohio (hence its popularity in the American heartland) in the early 1920s. It was an occasion not to give gifts to sweethearts and family necessarily, but to give to the less fortunate of the city: its orphans, shut-ins, and charitable institutions.While it has yet to take its place alongside Valentine's Day as a holiday for pure romance, it grows in popularity each year, as people raised with the Sweetest Day tradition tend to carry it with them into new towns and even countries.No matter your feelings about Sweetest Day, one thing is certain: a day for people to be romantic, kind, or just to show their appreciation is always a good thing.

How is it that a day that started out with such a noble cause of doing nice deeds for those less fortunate then yourself has turned into a day where people feel forced to be romantic and kind. Shouldn’t we be trying to do this every day?

I used to be a huge sucker for romantic comedies. I could watch one every day and there are some I could watch over and over. 5 or 6 years ago I was convinced that men like those depicted in these kinds of movies really existed and that I wouldn’t be happy until I found and married one. Well, then I met the man who would become my husband. This man would rather buy 5 quarts of oil to change the oil in my car then a bunch of flowers that will die in a week anyway. He’ll probably never write me a poem or sing sappy love songs and that’s ok. He does know what kind of ice cream I like, doesn’t groan when I turn on yet another cake-decorating show and he knows just how to tuck the blanket under my feet when they are cold. When I really think about all the ways he shows his love for me on a daily basis, I’m overwhelmed and humbled. I still watch the occasional chick flick but I no longer feel the need for that kind of man to make me happy.

What about the relationship I have with God? What kind of expectations do I have from Him? Sometimes I wonder why He doesn’t give me everything I want or think I can’t live without. In those times, I am gently reminded to take a step back, get over myself and think about how my life really is pretty great. 

The best thing happened when I asked God to be the Lord of my life and live forever in my heart….and He said yes!! From that point on, I have become more thankful for what God does provide and not bitter or angry things I don’t have. I want to live my life so that people know I have this great God in my life and he blesses me more than I could ever even begin to know.

“How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He should give His only Son to make a wretch his treasure.”

Father thank you for the depth of your love. Thank you for the roof over my head and the food on my plate. Thank you for my husband and my family and friends. Thank you that I have job and a car that runs. Thank you for the sun when it shines and the sky when it rains. Thank you that I live in a country where I am free to worship you and share the love I have for you with others. Thank you for allowing your love to change my heart in ways I never would have imagined. Lord, please help me to continue to remain humble towards the things you are doing in my life and give me opportunities to share You with others. Emily

Change oil soon

Every day for the past two weeks I have had a reminder of something that needs to be done. It is rather annoying to say the least! Each morning as I get into the car I push the button so that it is not staring me down!

Looking at it, I am reminded of what I should do, but I just push it aside. 

My car is trying to tell me something and I just don’t have time!

To read the rest join me as I Guest blog at http://jalapenosandchocolate.com/

Come over for a visit!  Jann

Faith Lesson #2 God WiIl Provide!

Genesis 22 Abraham and Isaac are walking up Mount Moriah and there God provides!

The place that they stood, Abraham called Jehovah Jireh.  This means

 God will provide. God provided an animal for them to sacrifice.

Many years later on a hill named Golgotha in the area of Mt. Moriah, God provided another lamb for us. 

There on a cross, Jesus became our Jehovah Jireh.

Today let us be thankful that God provides!

When there is not enough

When all seems lost

When frustration sets in

When all energy is gone

When there is no direction

When hope can not be found

God will Provide!  He is Jehovah Jireh!

The question is do you trust Him to provide? 

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLV

Father we often forget that You are the great provider. Remind us that you will provide for us, just as you did for Abraham, Isaac and countless others!  We praise you Jehovah Jireh for providing Jesus for us.  May we trust you in our every day lives for all of our needs.

Kenya Cake Recipe

I have a dear friend, Elizabeth who lives in Kenya on Mfangano Island.  She recently shared this story of what it takes to bake some wedding cakes with me.

 "I do not bake wedding cakes, I do not have what it takes to do so. I bake cakes just for eating in the house using local fire and doing so quite manually. I feel very challenged to do this yet everyone is looking up to me. I tried to refuse several times but finally gave in. Pray that all will go well."

The following are some of the steps that it took to make the cake that I found interesting.

1. Measure and put I levelled cup of sugar into a plastic bowl. (Use a tea cup in case you do not have a measuring cup).

Jiko open oven

2. Use a wooden spoon to mix everything in the plastic bowl going only one direction either  clockwise or anticlockwise to ensure proper aeration. Add flour and milk alternately. 

3. Grease an aluminium pot with margarine up to the level you expect the cake will rise.

4. Cover the pot with an aluminium lid and put/spread red hot coal on it. It should be measured "off head" to the intensity of the required oven heat. You can only approximate. It is very challenging to be exact on this.

5. Leave barely no coal (very little fire) on the "jiko" local open oven and rest the pot on it.

6. Keep checking the coal to ensure it does not go off and that it is not too much.

7. Bake it for about 25-30 minutes. If all goes well, there should be a lovely scent to indicate that the cooking is okay. Without this scent, there is a likelihood of a problem.

8. Note that too much of anything will cause it to crack. If air enters the pot after the baking has began this will also cause a crack.

 She added, "The wedding went on well and the cakes were nice. I kept blowing the coal so that it does not go off."

This story also reminded me that it is God's job to regulate the coals in our lives.  He knows how much we need to grow and become what He has intended us to be.  Can't you picture God checking the coals, adding more when needed, watching the time, waiting for the perfect aroma? 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

Father, thank you for knowing exactly what is needed to cause us to grow and become your perfect creation. Help us to have joy in the midst of difficulties putting our trust in the you, the one who controls the coals. 

bananas

Bananas are such a cool fruit! 

They come in their own wrapper, are portable, don't need refrigeration and are yummy!

The downside is that they don't last long once they are picked from the tree.  A soon as they are severed from the tree they begin to ripen and eventually they will become brown and mushy.

The tree is their source of nourishment. the moment they are not grafted into the tree they begin to die.

The same is true for us.

The moment that we pull away from, become disconnected from, separate from the life giving source of Jesus. We will begin to deteriorate and die.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Unlike bananas, we can reconnect any time to the source of life. 

Father, help us to stay connected, stay in touch with you. Pull us back when we try to do things on our own. 

The Lord is my Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd;

 I shall not want. 

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; 

He leads me beside the still waters. 

He restores my soul; 

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 

Psalm 23:1-3

Because the Lord is the shepherd that provides

I will have everything that I need.

Because the Lord is the shepherd that gives rest

I will find peace

Because the Lord is the shepherd that refreshes

I have life quenching water

Because the Lord is the shepherd that restores

I have new life and I am a new creation

Because the Lord is the shepherd that leads

I can walk in righteousness

Because the Lord is my shepherd!

Father, this Psalm is my prayer for today. Thank you for reminding us that you will provide, give rest, refresh, restore, lead and shepherd us. We need your touch today.