Heard at Church

A young man who was a former prison inmate convicted of murder came to speak to our church. The biggest message that he was imparting is that young people need to be lifted up. They need to hear positive messages and be in relationships that build up self-esteem and self-worth not tear it down. He had the entire congregation repeat this message:

I am lovable
I am valueable
I am powerful
I am important

So even if someone did not hear this from the people around them, they could tell it to themselves. I found it very powerful.

Celebrate what is right in the world

"When we celebrate what is right in the world or in a situation, we find the energy to fix what is wrong" - Dewitt Jones, National Geographic Photographer

Heard this in a video at church last week and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I guess it's that whole being grateful thing again. If you feel grateful for what you have you are not unhappy because you are wishing you had more. Defintely need to work on that one!

Erin and Jeff

Edited with my new Pioneer Woman actions above, original below.

Organization Rocks!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/55565243/magnetic-chalkboard-weekly-calendar

Love this idea! Wish I had a big blank wall somewhere!!!

Love these all in one place!

You say: 'It's impossible'
- God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: 'I'm too tired'
- God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
- God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: 'I can't go on'
- God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: 'I can't figure things out'
- God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: 'I can't do it'
- God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: 'I'm not able'
- God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: 'It's not worth it'
- God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
- God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: 'I can't manage'
- God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: 'I'm afraid'
- God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy1:7)

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
- God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: 'I don't have enough faith'
- God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
- God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: 'I feel all alone'
- God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews13:5)

Inspiration

Found on Ali Edwards site - http://aliedwards.com/

Inspiration

Look back and thank God
Look forward and trust God
Look around and serve God
Look within and find God

In a little book called "God Always Has a Plan B", there is a chapter on HOPE. Here is an excerpt of it:
"Who knows how God might fulfill and surpass your hopes? It might surprise you, but it will happen. So never, ever give up hope. You can count on this: Hope didn't happen only to people in Bible times. Hope happens here, hope happens now."
Isn't that perfect?

These all found me on one day...

...and it was just the day I needed them!

Fear less, hope more. Eat less, chew more. Whine less, breathe more. Talk less, say more. Love more and all good things will be yours. ~ Swedish Proverb (via Christopher Plourde)

His grace is sufficient. which is especially good on the days when my grace is GONE.

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard...is what makes it great." - A League of Their Own

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.
I wish you a wonderfully normal, ordinary day.

Cute Fabric Flower

Cluck Cluck Sew

I just love how these looked pinned to...well, anything!

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. - Emerson

Cute Storage

Mason Jar Monday « Weeping Cherries

And who couldn't use more storage. I have a gillion of these jars around here!

Beef Stew - Yummy!

I have made this yummy beef stew twice now and it has been so delicious each time! The original recipe came from Joye Baumgartner and we had it fireside at the Carlson's cabin.

Beef Stew

2 pounds beef roast or any cut of beef slow cooked in beef broth until it is tender

Your choice of veggies - I use carrots, parsnips and potatoes. You could add any root vegetable that you enjoy. Par boil until slighty tender.

2 jars beef gravy
1 -2 cans beef broth
1 can diced tomatoes

Mix everything together and heat through! Serve with crusty bread. Super easy and so good!!!

Inspiration - relationships

Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. ~Simone Signoret

More color

Great colors in this one!

from http://www.cluckclucksew.com/

Love this color combo!

Ouilt and color

Love the way this quilt is backed!

from http://www.cluckclucksew.com/

Cute!

I've not only ignored this blog for almost two years, it's been almost that long since I've scrapbooked! I miss it terribly! I really need to be creative to feel balance in my life. I am hoping to slowly start up again.

I love the colors of this layout and the design - so fun and happy!

Not sure where I found this. I would love to give you credit if it is yours.

Inspiration - relationships

"Love is not just the feeling, it's the fight."

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did..'

When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

Concentrate on this sentence...
'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

Inspiration

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain

Happy Halloween

Such a cute, easy and inexpensive idea! Tutorial found at http://notsoidlehands.blogspot.com/

Ok, it's been almost two years since I've posted here. I'll blame it all on Facebook. I started posting there and totally ignored this blog. I stumbled over Kelly Lautenbach's favorites blog and thought instead of putting all of the things that catch my eye or inspire me only in a file on my computer or on Facebook to be buried forever, that I would post them here. Then they will all be in one place and much easier for me to find.

I will start with two quotes that caught my eye this evening. We've been going through a tough financial time lately as most of the country is right now. I loved how these two quotes made me feel when I read them:

"Happy moments, PRAISE God. Difficult moments, SEEK God. Quiet moments,WORSHIP God. Painful moments, TRUST God. Every moment, THANK God." - taken off of Sam Broberg's Facebook wall.

“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better. ” ~Maya Angelou
This one made me feel very empowered.

Have a great day!!!