Spring is coming!

Well, while living in NE Ohio, I have truly begun to LOVE spring in a whole new way!  Spring has always been my favorite season, but after what seems to be an eternity of winter (complete with record snow fall this year and short, dark and dreary days), I have longed for Spring and am looking forward to it! 

We have new little green things sprouting up (daffodils I believe) and in all of this, I can't help but make the parallels between this season of our lives, spiritually speaking. 

It seems that even as we continue to walk through some difficult circumstances in life (infertility, the decisions regarding our future place of service), that there is a new hope that has come, like the coming of spring rains.  Our perspective has been renewed as we look forward to the beauty that will surely come out of it all, like the flowers in springtime. 

We would love your prayers as we continue on this path and soon will be exploring a few possibilities regarding our future place of service.  Pray for wisdom for us and for all those involved in making the decision.  And pray that we will continue to be surrounded by the peace that has come through our obedience to the Lord's leading.  Pray that we would have grace in these days.

I also wanted to include these two videos, which have been a huge blessing and encouragement to me lately.

Trust

As I alluded to in my last post, our lives are beginning to move towards huge life-changing things. What a relief it is for me that some of the waiting for unknown things is over.

We have made one decision, after much prayer and counsel from people who love us and pray for us. Now we wait. Again.

As we wait, we will move ahead bold and confident.

He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through. (Crazy Love by Francis Chan, p. 124)

Funny that fear is often what hinders complete trust. And as I'm learning, it's a moment by moment thing.

Yes, He has shown us where He wants us to walk today. And He promises He will be with us. Still, I (as most of us do) struggle with acting in fear instead of trust. Not having a "plan B" in case God doesn't come through.

Then, as I was trying to figure out why I felt I needed a plan B to begin with (at least in this situation), I read this:

People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress. (Chan, 133).

Wow. I know that I have a ways to grow in this. And while I won't be looking for pain or distress, I need to trust that God will do what is necessary in my life to make me more like Him, not necessarily to shield me from hard things.

Trusting. It's a hard thing. It's a matter of obedience. A matter of setting my face like flint.

But not trusting, that's certain failure, destruction, and disobedience.

I am so thankful for a God who gives us grace when we fail, and the strength to rise again as we learn to trust Him completely.

Change

What a word. It's 2011 and still January. This year looks to be a year of many changes for us. 2011. The year of change.

I'm looking forward to when the changes actually are in motion. For me, it's the waiting that's hard. The holding your breath while hoping and trusting. The not knowing for sure. The quiet place where you're wondering what it is you're listening for. The moments where you know that what God's doing in you is greater than you can see at the time.

He will answer.

Spring will come.

And in the process, I'll grow closer to Him.

That's the whole point, when it's all said and done. Not the actual decisions or details, but that He is using them as tools to draw me nearer. To make me into someone who looks more like Him than I did before.

Where You go, I'll go; where You stay, I'll stay; when You move, I'll move. I will follow....I will trust in You alone.

That's the cry of my heart. Where I want to be, even when I'm not quite there yet. And my prayer of faith.

Oh the peace that comes with surrender.

A few of my favorite winter things (part 4) Christmas edition

CHRISTMAS! Celebrating Jesus. Advent. The waiting. The anticipation of His coming now, in our hearts, and soon, for an eternity together with those who love Him.

A few of my favorite winter things (part 3)

Fresh squeezed orange juice and Florida oranges!

A few of my favorite winter things (part 2)

The ladies' Christmas brunch which our fellowship hosts annually. We had a fantastic time!


And the hubby with Diego after a long night of snow (around 6 inches here on top of the 2 we already had). You can see Diego barely. He jumps and kind of "belly-surfs" through the snow. Now he has a place shoveled out specially for him. :)



This has to perhaps be the funniest one. Because Diego is so small (9.5lbs) but has LOTS of energy and still needs to be walked daily even in freezing temps & snow, José trained him to run on the treadmill. Here's a picture & a short video clip. :) We sometimes teach him tricks to entertain ourselves. This turned out to be a great thing and very practical!

What it's all about

So my thoughts this Christmas have been perhaps shocking to some, but there's something in the making. I just keep thinking about why all the stress, the rush, the spending money on things friends and relatives may not even like or want? How can I celebrate in a way that is worthy of the coming of our King, Jesus?

The thoughts will continue forming, and perhaps spill over into this blog from time to time, but for now, this video (below) really says some of what is going on in our heads and hearts this Christmas.







Please don't comment on how good or impacting this video is, but please consider what you will do. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that!

A few of my favorite winter things (part 1)

Snow (especially when the first one is in December - not before)

Christmas Lights

How about you?
What are some of your winter favorites?

Precious Metal Clay

Here's what I've been experimenting with lately. It's precious metal clay which when fired and polished becomes .999 fine silver. Here are the two pieces I made:

I was looking to do something like an antique seal (think wax seal) or a kind of crest for our family and I LOVE the results!

The impression on the back of first piece,

My second piece. It also has the same back as the first piece. A significant word for life for me lately. Embellished with a coin-pearl and a bali silver flower.

Wordless Wednesday