Living a Purposeful Life

Hello, lovelies! I know it's been quite some time since my last post, and my only explanation is that I have nothing interesting to say, like, ever. I always thought that if I had a blog or a website that I would be full of topics that people would want to read that could inspire or enlighten them, but I just hadn't had any subject like that in a long time. I can't promise that this is the start of something glorious and new. Right now, I just can't fall asleep and thought this would be a productive way to spend my sleepless night.

I really want to try and explain my thoughts and feelings on living a purposeful life (in my eyes at least). Lately, I've noticed that my days go by quickly and in a blur, but I often can not look back on a moment that was important or defining in my life. It started to make me sad to be quite honest. I'd like to think I have more to offer to this world than just going through the motions with life passing by me. 

In response to feeling like I'm wasting my life away, I really started to pray and just ask God what did living a purposeful life look like for me. I personally don't feel led to start a ministry locally or in other countries, and I most certainly don't feel like writing a inspiring novel. So what then? What is there for me to do? How am I not wasting this precious life God gave me? Here are some things I've come up with so far...

1. Purposefully apply God to every  moment. 

If I'm not comfortable in doing great acts to change the world like Martin Luther King or Mother Teresa, the LEAST I can do is wake up every morning ready with praise to give God. I can discipline myself to read his word and pray for those around me. Or to pray during the day when I see a need instead of thinking, "Oh I'll pray about that later". 

When I see a beautiful sunset or hear the mesmerizing pitter patter of rain, I can focus my thoughts on God the creator and give him glory. What an imagination you have, Lord, to create the beauty of a sunrise and the music of rain! 

I've also just been hyper aware of my mortality, and I want to focus my thoughts on Christ and his selfless act of love dying on the cross for my sins. I can look towards the future and know that it is bright with love, promise, and hope. I must never forget. I must stay purposeful for God the father, Christ his son, and his Holy Spirit. 

2.  Purposefully sharing the Gospel.

My church's mission statement in short terms is "to make disciples making disciples". Sharing the gospel, so that others can know Christ and what he did for them is the greatest act of love I can ever accomplish. I know it's uncomfortable sometimes, but the thought of that person I share the gospel with being in heaven with me makes it worth it. Even if I never know if they turn to Christ or not, at least I could stand before God knowing that person's blood wasn't on MY hands. 

My point in saying all this is that I don't want anymore days that I don't just share Christ's love. I want to be more purposeful in expressing what Christ has done for all of us by sharing what he's done personally for me. 

I had a tea party this past weekend, and I got to share some amazing truths in scripture with a new and learning Christian. It wasn't much, and I'm sure it didn't completely blow this person's mind, but it felt so good to just share scripture. And maybe, just maybe, that person will look back on that conversation when things get tough and their faith is tested and persevere because of the seed of truth that was planted. 

Well, that's all I got for now. It was a rambling (an unorganized one at that), but that's what I do best. My friend, Michelle, jokes I analyze what I analyzed about the analyzation of the analysis of my thoughts and feelings. No matter how my I analyze, though, it comes out in a rambling! Haha, have a good night and God bless.

cute overload!

I had no choice but to give this cutie a bath today. She was turning yellow, oops. Of course, she wasn't pleased with it at all. Sage would hold still and let me bathe her. Apple Mint always try to escape. 

Wet guinea pigs are so cute! I had to wrap her up pretty quick, so that she wouldn't get a cold. Sorry that towel keeps you from seeing the cuteness but can't have a sick guinea pig : / 

But she looks pretty grumpy, doesn't she? 

favorite bible verse and hubby's birthday

I was challenged by my aunt on Instagram to share my favorite Bible verse. I know I've shared this with you before, but one more time wouldn't hurt. 

I find so much joy in being kind, and I try to remember to thank Jesus everyday for His. 

Also, a happy birthday to this hunk!! We had a nice steak dinner and a celebratory  esspresso cheesecake. It was really nice.

Cake, cake, and more cake

Ta-da! I made a few more cakes, and they're all pretty cute. As you can see, I had polymer clay pieces to them. I ordered the marshmallow twists, chocolate bars, and strawberries from Delish Beads. The mini cookies and cinnamon roll I got from Hobby Lobby, and they're Mayberry Streets Minitiatures "Sweet Treats".

My chocolate cake got a chocolate/vanilla marshmallow twist, a dark chocolate piece, and a gingerbread cookie. The strawberry cake was decorated with a strawberry/vanilla twist, two strawberries, and a strawberry chocolate piece.

My yellow cake with chocolate swirl, chocolate icing, and vanilla drizzle recieved two blue/yellow twists, a yellow cookie with red sprinkles, and a marble chocolate piece (I accidently got white paint on it, so this is how I'm going to cover it up, ha). 

I was going to make a red velvet cake, and I guess it can still be considered that even with the pieces on top and chocolate drizzle. The toppings are a chocolate/vanilla twist, a milk chocolate piece, a gingerbread cookie, and creme-filled chocolate cookie, a cinnamon roll, and a dark chocolate piece. Maybe this can be called the diabetes cake? 

Finally, I have a green tea cake with orange icing, strawberry swirl, and vanilla drizzle. It's topped with five strawberries and an orange cookie with a single red sprinkle. 

I had tons of fun making these little guys. My last step that I'll probably do is wrap them will cellophane and tie the tops to make cute wrapped treats. It'll give another cutsie factor and protect them from dust. 

I hope you had fun following along! I know my posts must have seem repetitive this week. I'm pretty sure I'm done making foam foods since my hands are missing crotchet needles and soft yarn. 

Until the next the creation! Have a wonderful day : )

my love for Sundays...

I had a fun Saturday with my family. It was so nice to see their beautiful faces! They left this morning, and I'm proud to say no tears were present. 

Since we were already late to church, Brian and I decided to go antique shopping instead. Of course, I'm the one who bought stuff 😅 a new teacup, a cross stich piece that has flowers and "January" at the bottom, and a ceramic pumpkin for fall. Then we ate lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. Delicious! 

Now, we're lounging around. I'm so thankful God has blessed me with a perfect little family 😊 I just love Sundays.

When God calls you to be with Him, you get up...

Hello all! I'm currently experiencing insomnia, and all I can think about is the sermon by Chris Bogstad, our youth pastor. Like most sermons from the elders of Bible Church, it was extremely good. I can't help but feel something more about it than just "good" though. Once again, it's sticking with me, and I should just share it. Here it goes.

Bogstad decided to make today's message about busyness focusing on the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10: 38-42. For background and content purposes, let's do a short overview of what happens.

Jesus travels to a village where there are two women, Martha and Mary. Martha gets the honor of having THE Jesus Christ in her home. Remember, this is the man who has performed so many wonderful miracles as well as teaches these amazing things, and His name causes a stir. Martha has a lot on her plate to serve this man especially in a culture (and it's still true to today) where hospitality is important and is one of the key services a woman performs.

So, there's Martha bustling around to gather all the preparations and serving. Luke 10:40 says that she was much distracted. Of course, she must have felt a lot of pressure along with anxiety.

Then there's Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus perfectly content just listening and soaking every word up. This is a weird scene. Normally, the women weren't sitting with the men learning. Mary typically would have been running around with Martha. In Mark's version, we find out that she even took an expensive oil to use on Jesus' feet, an act of worship.

Finally, Martha has enough of it. She approaches Jesus and accuses Him of not caring that she does all the work. Then she commands the Lord to make Mary get up and help her. Bogstad comments that this must have made the room go silent and VERY awkward.

Jesus rebukes Martha, and I agree with Bogstad that it wasn't a soft, gentle correction. He uses her name twice. Not to mention, she was very distracted to begin with, and it probably wasn't easy to grab her attention. I could imagine Jesus getting slightly loud and urgent with Martha.

He told her that she was worried and troubled about things,  yet only one thing was needed. Mary had chosen the good thing, which was Jesus.

I won't share all my notes, but I will share the bits that keep standing out in my mind.

Jesus doesn't always want us to act on our culture but to focus on him.

Martha was concerned with the principle of hospitality, which her culture put high expectations on. In our culture, working hard and bringing in the big bucks is a great deal of importance.

I kept thinking of when I got my second job with Dunkin Donuts that I had actually considered getting a third job to take up the hours I'd get off there and wasn't going straight to Hobby Lobby. Of course, Brian discouraged me from that. There just wasn't enough time for me to do that.

I wanted us to be ahead though! I wanted to get things done and paid in a fashion that I'd prefer. I'm sure you see the problem in this.

The more time I focused on the money I was making and the goals I had the more I wasn't focusing or depending on God. He wasn't my main priority. I thought He still was, but I was mistaken.

Even now with a full time position, I have to be careful. I want to be a great worker and to be able to do all that my higher-ups need from me, but I cannot sacrifice my relationship with God.

There should be care for things to get done but not anxiety.

I relate this to bills, pet care, and housework. I have always been a person who loves to plan things minute by minute. When I was in school, the night before class I planned in my head over and over how I was going to wake up and get ready.

First, I'll turn off my alarm. Then I'll grab my towels. Wait, will I want to make my bed first? No, no, go take a shower first. I'll wash my hair for sure...will I need to shave? Well, what will I be wearing? Pants? Okay, no shaving. 

See the craziness? I go to that extent anymore, but I do plan my day. Get up, go to work, then the house-chore list. Getting all the housework done in a day is exhausting and impossible.

Only God can finish His list in a day. Yes, I want things to get done. Does it HAVE to be done by 4:00 PM (I get off at 3:30) tomorrow? No and I don't have to worry about it.

Why do I do what I do? 

Oh, this question...Why do I put up with all this junk at work? All these mean customers? Why do I come home and clean all these stupid messes ALL the time? Why do we have to get up at 7:30 in the morning for bible study classes? Why, why, why. 

Well, it is a part of the burden I carry. I do have to work, but I work for God. I get up and face the world for God. I clean and serve my household for God. I go to the bible study for God.

It is a burden, but it's for a glorious reason.

Our primary assignment is to be a disciple of God. Am I being faithful to what God wants me to do? 

I must value my relationship with God above all else. My work and servitude must reflect that.

I just looked at my time, and I have to be up in about five hours. The moments to reflect on God's word are worth the cost of sleep. I hope I didn't bore you with my sleep deprived ramblings. Sweet dreams!

Guard Flowers

"Guard Flowers"

Written by Reggie Deputy 

Pink, white, yellow, purple, and green.

Memories of my most cherished moments out to be seen.

I gaze up upon them fondly and proudly.

Remembering the young girl who wanted them so badly.

Each flower representing all the sweat, tears, and stubbed fingers.

Their petals counting how many times we felt like winners. 

Our small collection of bouquets together make the garden we all share.

Our bond that was forever strong and nothing could make it tear.

Pink, white, yellow, purple, and green.

The colors of my joy out to be seen. 

I wrote this poem on August 5th, 2012, at ten in the evening. By the way, I don't have that great of a memory. I made a note of it at the end of the page. I thought about it, and remembering how proud I was of it I decided to share it. 

I'm sure many of you already know that I did winterguard/colorguard from eighth grade and all through high school. It was the best thing about high school for me. Period. It made me confident, taught me the value of hard work, allowed me to be strong yet beautiful, it expressed my artistic side, and I had something to look forward to each day. 

At the end of each season, my instructor always had a little bouquet of fake flowers for each of us. They were always the color of either our costumes or our flags for that show. I still have every flower I've ever gotten (fun fact: For my sophomore colorguard show, we got wooden yellow roses with our bouquets. So cool! ) I look at them fondly from time to time just taking in what they represent and the stories I'll have to tell my young 'uns. 

I hope you enjoyed it!