Have you ever noticed when you're reading a magazine they often include a huge list of symptoms with a catchy headline? Its followed by a random disease that maybe 7 people in the entire world have. But the symptoms are so real that by the time you are finished reading it, you are convinced you have whatever disease it is. I do it all the time. In fact, when I was at the doctor's office last month, I was looking at one of those posters with skin rashes on it, and I self-diagnosed myself with about 13 different things (even though I don't have any of them). I felt the same way when I heard this song last night. I kept waiting for MWS (Michael W Smith, amazing Christian musician popular in the 90's) to get to something I wasn't. The list went on and on and on, and I realized I am every single thing he mentioned. Not all at once, but I have been every one of the things listed below. That was a hard thought to swallow. As Christians, we are taught that Jesus forgives us when we ask Him to. But I think sometimes we take that for granted. I know I do. I forget that my walk with Christ is a marathon, not a sprint. And that each and every day, sometimes each and every minute, I have to make a conscious decision to act like Him. Sometimes my actions, attitudes and moods come so naturally that I forget I have a choice to make. I, and I alone, am the only one who can choose how to behave, how to react, how to respond to things. The closer I walk with Christ, the closer my actions and reactions will reflect Him. But of all of the things my sinful nature causes me to be, the one thing I can never be is unloved. And I am so thankful for that. There is nothing that can separate me from the love of Christ. "Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38 "Never Been Unloved by Michael W. Smith
I have been unfaithful I have been unworthy I have been unrighteous And I have been unmerciful I have been unreachable I have been unteachable I have been unwilling And I've been undesirable And sometimes I have been unwise I've been undone by what I'm unsure of But because of you And all that you went through I know that I have never been unloved I have been unbroken I have been unmended I have been uneasy And I've been unapprochable I've been unemotional I've been unexceptional I've been undecided And I have been unqualified Unaware - I have been unfair I've been unfit for blessings from above But even I can see The sacrifice You made for me To show that I have never been unloved Unaware - I have been unfair I've been unfit for blessings from above But even I can see The sacrifice You made for me To show that I have never been unloved It's because of you And all that you went through I know that I have never been unloved
3 Comments
Here is the list of participants for the Summer Vacation Blog Hop Challenge!! Karin King: maverickbeads.blogspot.ca
Annette Rivers: http://mamaowlsmess.blogspot.com Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi: micheladasmusings.blogspot.com Leanne Loftus: https://www.firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com Dolores Raml: http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/ Christie Murrow: www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com Paula Hisel: http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html I signed up for the Earring Swap Blog Hop hosted by Jessica Murray of Whimsical Monkey Artisan Jewelry several weeks ago. We were paired up and tasked with making a pair of earrings to swap with our partner. My partner was the lovely and talented Mimi Gardner of Other Curiosities. I love the concept of this swap--to make something fun to share with our partner. And since I LOVE earrings, I was hooked from the get go! Mimi was a delight to work with and I hope we are able to work together again in the future :)
Blog Participants:
Jessica Murray: http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com/2013/05/earring-swap-blog-hop.html Inge von Roos: ingetraud.wordpress.com Nancy Smith: wirednan.blogspot.ca Marianne Baxter: http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com/ Leah Tees: mybeadylittleeyes.blogspot.ca Andrea Trank: www.heavenlanecreations.com Miranda Ackerley: http://blog.mirandack.com/ Cheri Mitchell-Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/ Susan Kennedy: www.suebeads.blogspot.com Michele Dotson: http://star-jewels.blogspot.com/ Deanna Cox: www.deannaaki.WordPress.com Shelley Graham Turner: www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com Ingrid McCue: www.wrappedinsilver.com Lennis Carrier: http://windbent.wordpress.com Ginger Davis Allman: http://thebluebottletree.com/ Mary Anne Flesch: www.handcraftedserenity.blogspot.com Nicole Valentine Rimmer: www.nvalentine.blogspot.com Stephanie Weiss: uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/ Silvia Sernicola: http://pipa-the-latest.blogspot.it/ Karla Morgan: www.TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com Kay Thomerson: http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com Paula Hisel: http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html Carol Dillman: http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/ Spun Sugar Beadworks: Spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com Tara Plote: http://newbiebeader.blogspot.com/ Rachel Baron: http://rbarondesigns.blogspot.com/ Laurie Keefe: http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/ Kashmira Patel: http://sadafulee.blogspot.com Gina Hockett: http://www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com Shellie Grindy: http://www.creativeeclectica.com/ Shai Williams: http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/ Dyanne Cantrell: http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com Mimi Gardner: www.OtherCuriosities.blogspot.com Jessica McMullen: http://pheonixgatedesigns.blogspot.com/ Jennifer LaVite: www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com Laura Medeiros: http://zoeowyn.blogspot.com/ Alenka Obid: www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com Elsie Fonseca: http://www.ladelizchica.blogspot.com/ Cheryl Dunham: www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com Sandra McGriff: http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca Tania Spivey: http://moobiegrace.blogspot.com/ Mowse Doyle: http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com Facebook: Beccy Peterson: Beccy's Baubles Mischelle Fanucchi: www.facebook.com/micheladasmusings Marde Lowe: FanciMar Designs My happy place, that magical place I go to in my mind when life has me down, is from my childhood. When I close my eyes, I go back to all of those wonderful vacations we took as a family to Table Rock Lake. in Southwestern Missouri. If you have never been there, you should go...its wonderful.
We would spend our time on the water enjoying all that the lake had to offer--boating, swimming, tubing, fishing. It was a time of family togetherness, laughter and sheer happiness. I loved it so much that when it was time to get married, it seemed only right to have the wedding at the lake :) With this in mind, my challenge is to make something inspired by your favorite summer vacation. Whether it be a trip around the world, camping in the backyard, or going to the lake, I am challenging you to make a piece (or two) inspired by your memories from that trip. If you don't have a favorite summer vacation memory, that's ok. I'm including a few favorite pictures from my trips to the lake you can use as inspiration. If you would like to participate, please send me an email at [email protected] with your name, shop/business name (if you have one) and your blog address. Sign-ups will be open through May 15th, 2013. Our big reveal date will be June 26th, 2013. That gives you about 6 weeks to find your inspiration and create your piece(s). And if you have pictures of your vacation to share--please do!! We would love to see what exactly inspired you to create your piece(s). A week before the reveal date, I will send out an email and/or blog post with the full list of participants so that we can each include all of the participants in our reveal. I'm looking forward to seeing what memories you share through your work! |
Archives
November 2015
Categories
All
|