Blogger Gift Exchange!

I am so glad I joined the Blog party gift exchange! 

"What's that" you ask? Well, its a gift exchange/link up party hosted by Casey Wiegand, Danielle @ Changing Lanes, and Alycia @ Crowley Party. 

And if I hadn't joined up, I never would have met and been partnered up with the beautiful blogger of

I swear, whoever did the partnering did a GREAT job!  Michelle at Texas Tanners not only has an awesome name - Michelle Tanner, like in Full House - but she also loves Jesus! She also happens to be an Alabama fan, so she has a lot in common with the hubs as well. 

When Michelle asked some questions about to me to get some ideas for her side of the gift exchange, I told her I'd love for her to just pick whatever she likes!  That way I could discover some new treasures.  And boy did she hook me up!

even her daughter played a part ;)

Michelle really outdid herself!  I couldn't believe how many of her favorite things she sent me! And I love them ALL!

I'm slightly obsessed with this necklace!  Michelle has the same one, so now we're twinsies!

I've already started reading this and its all about taking this life God gave us - this gift - and enjoying every little piece of it.

More of Michelle's favorite/signature beauty products! Little did she know, I was totally thinking that I need to paint my nails (so I will stop biting them!) but didn't want to use a bold color because everyone would notice how short they are!  PERFECT!

Don't judge my shorty nails! I'm working on it ;)
**update** I was asked the color and it is Made to Honor. Subtle and beautiful!

"Delight yourself in the Lord" -- SO THOUGHTFUL! I seriously need this reminder, everyday! (again, we're twins because she has this in her home as well!)

Wade and I had a little bit of fun taking pictures of me wearing my new owl necklace from Michelle.

Thank you Michelle! You are so sweet and I'm so glad we met and I'm even MORE glad that I know we will keep in touch from here on out!  You have a beautiful soul and you made my WEEK when you told me how much you loved the gift I made you!  Seriously. 

So, friends, please please PLEASE head over to visit Michelle @ Texas Tanners and give her some love for me! Plus, you can see what I made her!

Church at the Barrel

What a great weekend!  I was overwhelmed at the 35+ people that showed up to go to Montgomery and hang out with the homeless on Saturday!  We started by plating some meals and then headed over to the "church at the barrel", also known as "bird and the Word" because it usually consists of some chicken and Bible study.

We handed out the trailer-full of donations (thank you to everyone who donated!) in a Free Yardsale kinda way.  There was even a grocery store section! It was like a free baby walmart. Then we all grabbed a stump and sat down for worship and a great message of how God reaches into the nastiness we place ourselves in - how Jesus got dirty (taking our sin upon himself) - and saves us from addiction, sin, and many times from ourselves!

Highlights of my day:

• stump-hopping with Elijah
• worshipping God together
• praying with Ms. Vera
• learning to play the jimbay... ok, failing to learn. but still.

I was reminded on this trip that the mission field is right in front of us. I was challenged to put myself in it. There is no such thing as "short-term missions".  We live on a mission, day in and day out. And my time is not my own. 

::Give it all away::

a quiet walk

Sometimes I just need to get away and walk.

My thoughts get so jumbled up.  

God's direction looks hazy, and I need time to think and pray.

 I don't get away enough, but when I do, I come back feeling refreshed.  

I may not come back with all of the answers to my questions,

but a sense of calm goes hand-in-hand with quiet time with God.

I really needed this time today.

There are some things (aren't there always) that I just don't understand.

I want to know answers, see the path ahead!

But I know God's ways are above my own.

I know God is all knowing, all powerful, and He is in charge.

And there is comfort in that!

So, thank you God for beautiful sunsets and for meeting me where I am. 

You are too good to me!

"No eye has seen

no ear has heard

the depths of your love, Lord"

"No mind can fathom

the love you deserve,

how great you are!"

-- Rhythms of Grace, Hillsong

All this time He spends loving me - and He deserves the love. No mind can fathom the amount He deserves!

Well, hello sir!

I know I'm band-wagon hopper, but I love the mustache craze as much as the next Pinterester. 

You see, I was driving down the road the other day, minding my own business, when this awesome mustache passed me by.  It was black and gold (not your typical mustache color), but since it was on a car I guess it doesn't need to by typical.  

Inspiration hit.

"I am going to STEAL that idea!"

So, I detoured my outing and hit up Walmart for supplies. 

I chose the cheapest car tag I could find, which happened to be this plastic license plate cover, and some spray paint (for plastic surfaces). 

And, well, the pictures are pretty self-explanatory...

For the 'stache, I used my handy-dandy Silhouette machine that has been collecting dust waiting patiently to be used. (Yes, I just did the taboo scratch-out-the-words-you-really-mean thing.)

And Voila! Mustache license plate awesomeness!

(I'm thinking if you don't have a vinyl cutter like a Silhouette or Cricket, you could just made a big stencil and spray paint the mustache)

The hard part was attaching this little bugger.  But that's mostly my car's fault. Thanks to the hubs and the nice neighbor, it somehow got attached.

Now enjoy the cuteness and just wait, because everyone will ask you the significance of the mustache.  I need to think of a clever answer for this, because the answer "there is none" doesn't seem to satisfy the masses.  Any suggestions?  Humorous ones appreciated. 

*note - do not do what I did to finish this project off.  I made the mistake of using my arch nemesis -- Modge Podge -- as a sealer, which gave it an undesired crackling effect.  No Bueno.

***

**Pray for me and the group from my church who are spending today with the Homeless in Montgomery! Pray for needs to be met and lives to be changed -- both theirs and ours!

Wait, He said what?

In the book of Genesis, God tells Adam and Eve, "you may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden -- except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die." (Gen 2:16-17) 

Enter Satan. (and his tricky little ways)

"Did God really say that you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?"

"Of course not!" says Eve, "He just said we couldn't eat from that one tree over there. 

If we eat from it or even touch it, we will die."

(Genesis 3, my translation)

Wait, huh?  God never said they couldn't touch the tree -- just that they couldn't eat from it! 

  

I wonder how many times I "quote" God incorrectly.  How many times I put words in His mouth.  How we can totally miss it, even if we spend each and every day walking in the garden with Him.

There's a phrase, we all know it, that has been brought to my attention again and again lately - that we use it like Scripture when it's really not.

It's this:
"God will never give you more than you can handle"
...
nope. It's not in there.
Although I'm sure we all wish it was!  Wouldn't that make life easier?

The Bible does say that we are equipped to fight against any temptations (from sin) that we come across.

"The tempations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptations to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (1 Cor.10:13)

  But most people use this phrase (in reference to the above passage) when they are going through a hard time or situation.

And ya know what?  He will give you (or allow) more than you can handle.  He does!  Because if he didn't, and we really could handle everything life throws at us, we wouldn't need Him would we?

And I need Him.  Desperately. 

Maybe we should rephrase this to "God will not give us more than HE can handle."

***
I'm challenged by Eve's mistake to really know the Word of God - to seek out the truth -  and not allow Satan to trip me up.

*For my blog friends who don't know, I help lead worship on occasion at church. The idea of seeking brought my mind to a song I sing with the awesome, Stephanie.  (fast forward to minute 11 or enjoy the whole worship service and message on GOD - who better?)*

1/22/12 from LifePoint Church on Vimeo.

"The more I seek You,

the more I find You.

The more I find You,

the more I love You.

I wanna sit at Your feet,

drink from the cup in Your hand,

lay back against You and breath,

feel Your heart beat.

This love is so deep,

it's more than I can stand.

I melt in You're peace.

It's overwhelming."

- Kari Jobe.

"Keep on seeking, and you will find." - Matt. 7:7

I'm Zip Tied

So.. guess what??  I'm doing my first ever guest post today!  

Crazy, nerve-wracking, and exciting!

Thanks Megan @ Zip Tied for [a.] loving missions and Jesus and [b.] asking me to guest post over at your place about what it looks like to live "life on a mission!"

Do me a favor and head over to check out her [blog] and leave a little love!

Be sure to check back tomorrow. God's been challenging me and I can't wait to share how!

::Yous guys are the best::

Mid-week Photo drop

[butterfinger cupcakes Wade brought home from work. Yum.]

[quickie sewing project - new phone case]

[my current go-to snack: chocolate rice cake with dark-chocolate peanut butter.  Amazing and packed with protein/good calories]

[My awesome blog supporters! Wade promised a dinner-out celebration for 100 haha]

[Excitement over a beautifully warm day in the middle of January!]

[Sunset over Alabama]

[An encouraging little card I received yesterday from a woman at my church]

follow me on twitter! (if ya wanna)

::peace out my homies::