Undeveloiped Photos

Over the past weekend, Sam Hinn has ministered to our church for two services.  He said something that will forever be engrained in my mind.  Sewn seeds are like undeveloped photos of our future.  I thought that was soo good.  He ministered in so many different ways, that I'm sure I'll continue to reap from those services.

I also felt a connection with a woman in the church that I greatly admire.  Regardless of what comes of it, I'm grateful that it has happened.  There is nothing like the feeling of your promised future becoming a reality....nothing.

As I type, my husband is on his way home from Louisiana.  He went there because he scheduled an evangelistic outreach at a local youth group.  I am so proud of him!  I haven't seen him since Tuesday, so I'm super ready for him to come home.

Over the past month or so, God has brought me out of a season of isolation.  I now have people around me that I know God wants me to let into my heart.  It was scary and difficult to say the least, and I still haven't completely conquered the ability to not guard myself in an unhealthy way.  I'm working on it, though.  I was told through prophesy that I have to stop letting people love me through a straw.  That straw represents the only way I will accept love.  I have to abandon that way of thinking and allow people to love me just how they love me instead of me only seeing myself loved if they do it my way on my terms.  I have been finding so much fulfillment from this.

A bible verse that has encouraged me greatly recently says that, "Blessed are the righteous that are persecuted, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." I looked up persecuted in the Hebrew and it says that persecution means to be put away or mistreated.  How much more does this verse cover in our lives when we discover that meaning.  God is my vindicator, and I am finally finding the strength to let go of situations.

I hope this blog doesn't sound negative, but I've been in a pruning stage...not because I serve a God that is harsh and requires sacrifice, but because I have seen my Father high and lifted up.  I have fell in love with Him and there are things I GET to change to become more of His image.  It is so wonderful that love inspires change.  I serve a king!

Jesus' Crayons

I was thinking today about how I demand that my students make good use of the crayons that I have for them.  It always seems, without fail, that one student out of my current sight will let one roll off their desk.  Of course, someone's foot then manages to smash it and break it into uselessness.  My student asked me right before school let out for summer if she could use a fresh box.  I told her that she must take care of them and make sure nothing happens to them.  She assured me that they would be in great condition upon their return.

The first similarity where I could relate to stewardship is that I only let her use the fresh crayons when I knew that it was an important project she was working on.  Consequently, I would have also let her use them if it was just important to her...not just relatively important.  The second similarity is that those crayons represented my resource as the teacher.  However close I manged them may seem silly; however, I do understand that countless other students benefit or suffer from one student's use.  I love how this reminded me that when God blesses me financially, that I need to make sure that it (for the most part) is used to benefit others.  Lastly,  I have tucked away the bigger box of crayons in my desk drawer.  Do you think I would ever let one of my wild and crazy coloring kids have them?...No sir!  I would love to bless a student with many more colors and choices if I know they will be used as intended.

I learned from these simple crayolas that stewardship is about alot more than meets the eye, especially when it comes to finances.  Some may say I analyze and take things just too far....I prefer to find meaning wherever and whenever I can.  On a lighter note, I have been learning to completely let go of my thoughts.  I have never known such freedom as I have known it lately.

I've been working 9-2 and it has been heaven!  We are moving at the end of the month, so my drive to work will be MUCH less.  I plan on decorating it more than I have the one we are in currently.  My ten dollar couch has truely inspired me.

My friend Melissa has just recently launched her photography website.  It is truely magnificent.  She has natural talent.. She especially loves taking pictures of infants.  She is an annointed mother although she has no kids of her own just yet.  I could go on and on about how my heart leaps at the upcoming success for her, but I'll just give you the site.  If your one of my Texas friends or a friend from home (LA), you are definately within her range.

http://www.melissaperkinsphotography.com/