Munchkin's Birthday Cake!!

With help from my sister Puts.. we have finished the cake! I think it looks fantastic! I can't wait to show the birthday girl in the morning!!

Partiality

"But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors" James 2:9. Wait, what did that say? When you show partiality, you are sinning? Yes. Read James 2:1-13. Go ahead.. I'll wait. I'm still waiting.. Wow!! Wasn't that just a bit convicting!? It was for me. Not only is saying that partiality is a sin, he is talking to his fellow believers! How often do we see a struggling believer that isn't doing what we think they should be doing, and we judge them and throw them to the side for someone else to take care of? I love the last verse in this passage on partiality. "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumps over judgment." So if we show no mercy to our fellow believers, then we will recieve no mercy. How incredible is that? God is the judge, we are not. I think of how many times I have written someone off, believers and non-believers alike. How I see that they don't "fit the mold" of who I think a Christian is. And I've even thought that you had to be doing things to be able to be used by God. Reading your Bible, serving, praying, etc. I've even gone as far as judge my husband. Horrible. I know. No one is above sin. God has used my husband in the last year to humble me. Four years ago, my Hunny was deployed. Now four years ago, I wasn't looking at my husband through God's eyes. I was seeing what I wanted to see. So, I of course saw that God wasn't going to use him and that he wasn't "doing what he was supposed to be doing" to be used. While he was deployed, he became friends with a guy in his unit. He was going through a really tough time with his wife and Hunny was able to encourage him, and God was able to use Hunny to plant a seed. Fast forward to last Augst. We returned back to Fort Drum and picked up our friendship where we left off. Through going to church with his wife and God continually seeking him, He accepted the Lord as his Savior! His wife accepted Christ a year before as well. In talking with him, he goes back to the deployment and how God used Hunny to help him and show him Christ. I stood there with goose bumps and tears as I was reminded of how judgmental I was of my husband. How on earth could God use him if he wasn't "doing" what you are "supposed" to be doing. God used that to humble me a lot. God used Hunny because he was willing to be used. There's no magical, Ok, I've read my Bible, I've prayed, I've 'worked' for God and now I can be used. No, there's none of that with God. Again, He does want a personal relationship with you, which is a different topic. I was just taken back. I looked at my husband in a new way. I softened my heart towards him as the leader of our family. 
 In saying all of that, I want to point out that there are those who are super judgmental and there are those who are super lovey and touchy feely with how they approach believers who are in sin. It's hard to let go and let God be the Judge. There is a day when we will be judged. What we as believers are to do among believers is to come along side of them, encourage them, and carry each others burdens. We are not to be showing favoritism amongst each other whether it be because of sin, a fight we have, people arne't dressed the part, etc. We are to extend the same mercy to them as Christ has extended to us. As I've heard in my Bible study, "If I were to compare myself to people here on earth, I'm looking pretty good! But we aren't supposed to compare ourselves to other people. Compare yourself to Jesus and that's another story. I'm very sinful next to him." When we take our eyes off of Christ and onto each other, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Satan wants nothing more than to cause disunity among believers. And fellow belivers, Satan is doing a number on our churches and on our families. 
 I have a loved one who has been away from the Lord for 22 years. This loved one has failed time and time again. But oh believers, how I have seen God drawing this person close to Him since the walked away. Tears running down my face as I think of the long road they've been down. The choices they have made and the suffering they went through due to those choices. I remember the church turning their backs on our family and most of our family giving up on this person as well. The hurt that has gone back and forth and gaping holes that will one day be restored. This story isn't over though. After 22 long years or praying, watching, praying, loving, praying, encouraging.. our God is faithful even we are not faithful. This loved one is back with our Papa. They are seeking him with many questions and they are in love with Him. God is constantly showing me that he doesn't work on our timing. He works in His timing. He shapes and molds and is constantly teaching us, even when we are stubborn. Can't we all agree that we are stubborn often times. No matter what the sin is, whether great or large in our eyes, it is all the same in God's eyes. I am rejoicing with this person as they are continually seeing God in their life. Continually being drawn closer to Him. We all stumble, we all fall, we all struggle, we all sin. God has shown me that he never gives up on His children, na matter how far they want to hide or run away from Him. He will go to great lengths to bring his children back to him. What JOY! Praises! Praises to our Papa who shows us no partiality. Who shows us great mercy. Who loves us enough to let us make our own mistakes only to use those mistakes to bring Glory and honor to His name!! Tears of joy for the loved one who has come back to our Papa! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ65aNv28Jc  

I know that I've shared this song before. But I just wanted to use it again. I am constantly failing God in all that I do. But because of God's Grace, patience, love, and sacrifice, He will always be there to pick me up, dust me off, and put me back on the right path. I fail in the area of partiality. I've not seen it until now and am working on changing it, but only with God. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FribXzqHVE       

In Christ Alone

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

I know! A lot of links! I hope you are able to take the time to listen to them. I think they are amazing!

I GOT IT!

A few weeks ago, I was watching something online.. yes, I know, cheating on the 40 days. But that leads to how I got it. So a few weeks ago, I was watching something online about adoption. God has always placed a special spot in my heart for adoption, unfortunately, it just hasn't worked out to do it. I sat and just wept. I mean that deep down, bottom of your stomach weeping. I was weeping for a child that I know God has out there for us. I sat on my bed trying to compose myself enough to read God's Word. I sat there trying to pray and I just couldn't focus. So I put the radio on, hoping to get more focused on God. When the radio turned on, JJ Heller's song, "What Love Really Means" was on right at the part where God is supposed to be speaking,
"Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside

And it said “I know you’ve murdered
And I know you’ve lied
And I've watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you’re listening I’ll, I'll tell you that I...”

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love, the love that you never knew."

Immediately after hearing that, they had their verse for the day which was 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." God was showing me that my pride and selfishness over the last well, 27 years of my life is my downfall. He was telling me that only by humbling myself before him will I succeed in Him. The last year since leaving Korea has been a huge challenge for me. I felt that God wasn't talking to me anymore. I felt angry and really discontent and I honestly felt as though God had a reason all of that was happening. That He had great plans for my discontentment. Well, He did have plans, but not what I thought, as usual. When I started this 40 day adventure, I didn't really expect to be taken in this way. Before I started this, a friend of mine mentioned that even though God wasn't speaking to me in the way He always has, He was still speaking to me in this totally different way. So I sat and thought about that as I was crying on my bed. Was I that stubborn that God had to use drastic measures and go as far as speaking to me differently than He usually does because I wasn't listening? How could I show God that I was following Him and that He was number one in my life when I couldn't even complete a full 40 days without going online and watching shows? Even farther, How on earth could He entrust us with another child, at some point in our lives, if I didn't humble myself and really have Him as number 1? (side note, it's a desire of mine since high school and there's no plans as of right now to adopt) Not as though God is like that, but that's how I think. I love God with all of my heart and desire after a relationship with Him. And I know that if you are willing, He will use you. You don't have to be in this awe-inspiring-reading-your-Bible-everyday relationship with Him to be used by Him. All He asks is for you to be willing. Of course He wants to me to read His word and know Him and have a relationship with Him. I'm not trying to minimize that at all. God is so awesome! The last however many days has been an eye opener. I am prideful and selfish and really have me as number one. The challenge now is to change it. I can't change it without God. I am constantly putting on His patience, His strength, His love, His understanding, His eyes. I know that my Papa loves me and will go to great lengths to reach me, to help me see, help me hear, and help me stay close to Him. I am so thankful that He showed me that I needed to take a break from all the distractions in my life so that I could finally hear him speaking to me again. I am so in love with my awesome and amazing God who comtinues to shape me and mold me!  

More Cakes..





 

 Wow! I am tired! 3 Birthday cakes and over 100 cupcakes! I have to say that I had fun making these. The characters.. well.. I had a tough time making them the next day after the fondant sat overnight. It just didn't work the same as when I do it on the same day. Anyway. The kids that these were for really liked them, so that is good. The one was like, "What Pokeman is that?" lol. I was like, "I'm sorry, I tried." It was kind of funny. I think I need a nap! I was up Thursday night until 1 and last night.. well, this morning.. I was up until 3:30 finishing everything. Now I get to focus on Munchkin's birthday party next weekend!

Halfway There!

Probably not what you were thinking.. but we are halfway done with Hunny being deployed! Yay! Last night the kids and I and a friend and her kids went to our Battalion's Halfway Party! Wow! That was crowded and definitely a Friday night thing. It was fun though. We came and they had a slide show going, which I got to see a picture of Hunny! That never happens. Then they had Daddy Dolls for the kids and buttons you could make. Then they had popcorn and subs and cake and nachos. Then they had where you could draw a picture or do your hand print and they would laminate it with tape so the kids can send it to their deployed parent. There was an Easdter bunny and bags with candy they passed out. There was even face paingint, but we didn't get that done. It was a really neat idea this party. We had a great time! We are definitely looking forward to R&R and coming home! We love you Hunny!!!

Enjoying the Beautiful Weather...

After we spent all day going through the toys in the toy room, Gabe's room, and the girls' room. :) 

We had a great day today!



Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus and Touching the Hem of Christ's Robe

I've been hearing these two phrases a lot lately and they have me thinking about what they really mean. Let's start with the first one.. Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus. What does that mean? Well, it's easy to be the hands and feet of those people we love and cherish. Ok, maybe not always easy, but it's easier than someone we don't like. Right? I'm pretty sure though, that Jesus ministered to those who weren't always socially accepted, extremely wealthy, or even dressed nice for that matter. Now, Jesus did minister to everyone. An example of this would be the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus isn't leaving anyone out while he is teaching. He wants all of use to hear his words and to have that relationship with him. Take the woman at the well. We've all heard it before that she was a, well, woman of the night so-to-speak in better terms. It would have been socially unacceptable for Jesus to be talking to this woman. Yet, despite her past, or present, God knew her future. Despite all the critcism Christ would maybe get for talking with this woman, no person is worthless in the eyes of Christ. Christ reached out to the needy, the hungry, the poor, the adulterers, the lame, the sick, etc. When we think of being the hands and feet of Christ, we need to know what that really means. It means, to be the hands and feet of Christ. lol. It means to reach out and show the love of Christ not just to those who are in our "circle of friends", but also to those who you probably wouldn't even think of being friends with. To those who the world would consider socially unacceptable. In blessing others, you are in turn blessing yourself as well. Not as though that should be the only reason we are reaching out. lol. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:1-2 that we are to be like Christ. We are to immitate him. I think that even within the church there needs to be some reaching out of our comfort zones. How many people come into a church for the first time and are never once met with a friendly face? Now I am not trying to make people feel guilty here. I am not about that. Guilt-driven service is just not right. (meaning where someone makes you feel guilty to where you serve out of guilt and not out of your own heart and desire) I am passionate about serving. It is my love language. I love to offer up babysitting or offer up to bring food or do small things or big things. For a long time I wanted to glory. I wanted the attention for all the good things I was doing. Through A LOT of humbling, I've actually been enjoying being in the background. I don't like the attention, I don't like the praise, and I don't like what it does to me. It makes me prideful. In reality, it doesn't matter who sees it and what kind of praise you get for whatever because the only one it really matters to is God. Doing it for praise purposes kind of defeats the purpose and elevated self instead of God. Something God is working on with me. I fall into old habits, but am quickly reminded who it's really for. There is that pride word again, but that is for another post. lol. Ok, back to being the hands and feet of Christ. Christ didn't care who saw him talking to who or what people thought about him. He was with the begger, the tax collector, and many others. Honestly, if you look at his lineage, it really doesn't surprise me. He comes from a line of everything under the sun, from murderer to harlet. To me, that is awesome. Anyway, I just wanted to encourage all of you to take some time and really pray about how you can be the hands and feet of Christ. Take some time out of your day to drop cookies at your fire department or police department. Take some time to invite a stressed out mom over for lunch, to the park, or just to come over to your own messy house, just so that she can have an adult conversation. Reach out to the kids in your community or to the elderly couple living next door who needs help with different things. Write your pastor a note of encouragement. Anything! Whatever abilty God gave you, use it to serve him and bless others. You never know how God will use you to plant a seed while being His hands and feet.

Touching the hem of Christ's robe. I hear that and I immediately think of the woman that bled for 12 years. She was living outside the city because in those days a woman was found to be unclean while she bled. So for 12 long years, she was untouched because she was unclean. She had heard of this Jesus who was coming and she, in total and complete faith, just wanted to touch the hem of Christ to be healed. What great faith this woman had. The longing, the desire just to touch her Savior fully knowing she would be healed. I won't go fully into the story, but I think of her faith. She went to this crowd around Christ just be able to touch the hem of his clothes. I think of how often I fail to even come to Christ in prayer for something that is going on. I fail to even believe that Christ will answer my prayers. Imagine how our lives would be if we just had faith that He will take care of us. We like to worry about how we are going to get this or that and how this will work out. Guilty. The Bible tells us to be "anxious for nothing" in Matthew. We are to come to Christ, trusting and knowing that he will answer our prayers. It might not come out how we were thinking, but then again, I have found that none of the "plans" for my life have come out how I really wanted them too or thought they should for that matter. I have to admit that it's hard to come to Christ and have a deep, intimate relationship with Him when you have doubt, pride, anger, jealousy, and the list goes on. God recently has been showing me that I have a pride issue. No, not just a pride issue. I have an enormous pride issue. Pride comes into our lives very subtly until one day, we think we don't need Christ. We think that we have it all and that we are doing it on our own. The truth is that God and God alone gave us that ability, that wisdom, that knowledge, well, everything. It's funny how quickly we forget who we came from or where our talent is from when a little compliment comes our way. I used to throw myself into positions that would get praise. And sometimes it wouldn't even be that. It would be a random note of encouragement telling me how godly of a woman I am and how this person really admires me, etc, etc. Funny how a few innocent comments could fill up my head. This made me feel good. This made me think that "Why yes, yes you are right. I am pretty amazing!" Sad, but true. Then this intense pressure to maintain those compliments becomes very stressful. If I stop getting those compliments, then I must be failing. It's so hard to have all of that pressure on you! Oh wait, it isn't about me. That's right. There is no pressure to be like Christ when everything you do is for His praise, His glory, and His honor. It's amazing how a small compliment can quickly, no rapidly destroy a person's relationship with Christ. Now that is not to say that we shouldn't be encouraging each other or lifting each other up in Christ or paying a nice compliment. What the person does with it is completely on them and God will deal with them. Satan is tricky, very tricky. I think that through the ladies Bible study and Sunday School, I have been learning more and more of how real Satan really is. Not as though I didn't believe before, just real as in, how much he is really really attacking us at every corner. He doesn't want us to seek after God. To desire God. To love God. To grow in God. Satan is not interested in us and does not care about us. We are just pawns in his battle with the Lord, and he will try and try and try and never give up to keep us from touching the hem of Christ's robe. Satan never gives up, which should drive us even more to deepen our relationship with Christ. It should kind of give us a stick-it-to-him type attitude toward Satan. Ok, probably not a good reason to grow closer to God just to get back at Satan, but really, sometimes that is just what I want to do. Kind of say, "What are you going to do now Satan? Bring it!" Yeah, probably not the best attitude. lol. But God did create me this way... just sayin'. lol. Ok, enough being sassy. ;) Touching the hem of Christ seems like it is so hard to accomplish, but it's not. You want to be blessed in touching Him. The Bible tells us, Seek and ye shall find. Knock and it shall be open to you. (paraphrasing) All we have to do is seek after him and trust him and we will touch the hem of Christ's robe.