Where I Belong - Building 429
This song is one of my absolute favorites right now. I was a vocal music major so I appreciate a lot about the song... But I can just completely loose myself in this song.
It speaks to me. On soo many levels.
See... This world is NOT where we belong. We were created for another world... By a Creator that is out of this world. I'm reading "Captivating" right now... I encourage you to read it if you haven't yet... Wow! As a woman it is showing me so much about myself... It's crazy. Anyways! The part I am reading right now is talking about how the whole earth is filled with HIS Glory... And how God delights in beauty and how He created beauty and that if we can see the beauty of this world... It's nothing compared to the beauty we will experience when we meet with our Creator face to face.
I'm glad I wasn't created for this world.
This world there are many pains and trials and tribulations... Things that aren't beautiful.
We don't belong here. We were made with eternity in mind. We were made to find ourselves and our true beauty in Him. And to finally be at home, in heaven, with Jesus.
My prayer is that MY true beauty will be one that comes from my Daddy in Heaven... and that it will point others to Him so that they too can know and go, one day, to the Home that they were created for. Our true beauty comes from our identity in Christ. That's the only way to truly radiate beauty and peace. Proverbs 31 says "charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting..." - Beauty IS fleeting... Outer beauty is anyways... But an inner beauty that comes from a walk with The Lord and knowing Him will never fade... And it will ultimately lead us to the beautiful place we were created for, Heaven... to be with our Heavenly Daddy for all eternity.
Whatever you are going through, it's only temporary. This life is only temporary. The beauty of this life is only temporary. I'm so thankful that Jesus came and died for me, in the world that I don't belong in, so that I can experience the Heaven that I was made for and the eternal beauty of my relationship with Him.
And that's an invitation for anyone and everyone... Are you ready to experience the most beautiful thing in this world that leads to eternal beauty and life with the Beautiful One that created you? I know I am.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
The Storm
I really haven't used this blog much in the last couple years, but for some reason I felt like God was calling me back to writing in it during this time in my life... I'm not going to write out details about what I am going through right now... but what I feel like HE (God - the not-so-scary-but-loving-big-man-upstairs) is showing me in my daily life and in our times together.
Soo... Here goes... And bare with me here because I have a.d.d.d.d.d.d.oh shiny.d.d.d.SPARKLES!!! Which totally makes me sound like a super duper girly girl... But I'm not... Maybe "SQUIRREL!!" would have been better than "SPARKLES".... and here we go with my a.d.d. and rabbit trails... You get the picture, ha!
The Storm.
Wednesday (June 12th, 2013) - It was a rough day. Thankfully I have some very close friends that I can speak candidly with and fear no judgement from them, only love.
I was very honest with two of my friends with my feelings and they said to me "Get out of the house... Start a project... Do something..." So I did. I went to the pool with an old church friend and hung out with her family and ended the evening at the lake.... enjoying the beautiful sunset and the kids splashing around in the water and laughing.
Our oldest daughter made friends fast, so she stayed the night... Which meant Thursday evening I was having dinner and enjoying karaoke night and picking my I-can't-believe-she's-a-middle-schooler-girl up.... About a 25-30min drive but I enjoyed the scenery and the company so it was worth it.
While out, I got texts from both my husband and my mother in law. My husband was at an event (he's a SPECTACULAR event/wedding DJ) and my mother in law lives over an hour away from us, north. Apparently there were some nasty storms brewing and they wanted to make sure the girls and I were ok. I don't do storms. At all. I am a big ole scaredy cat. My husband called even. He doesn't take time away from weddings to call... The wedding was being cut short because of the impending doom that was the weather (did I say I don't like storms??).
I was now in my father in law's truck. Driving home. 3 little girls in tow. 30min drive home... Looked up... And we were heading right into The Storm.
I could see it coming. I was terrified. I DON'T do storms. (just in case you didn't already gather that)
It got dark very fast. Lightning. Hail. Strong winds that moved the truck. HEAVY rain. Even pulled over at one point because I didn't feel okay driving in it.
I just knew that this was going to end up a scene from The Wizard of Oz and we were NOT about to be in Kansas (or Georgia) anymore. But with no sparkly red slippers to click our heels back to safety.
I don't do storms. And apparently I have passed that on to my daughters. I faked calm. I couldn't let my daughters see my fear because I wanted them to know it would be ok. We were on our way home... We would soon be safe.... I prayed. God knows I don't love storms and He could calm me, His child that He loves so very much.
Well... IT happened.
God spoke to me. HE spoke. TO ME.
Using my own words. To my daughters. To speak to me. In the middle of this terrifying storm.
My girls were afraid of the storm. In tears. Our conversation went something like this.
Me: Who is bigger than fear and this storm?
Kenz: God.
Me: Who could stop the storm if He wanted to?
Kenz: God.
Me: Who is in control and EVEN if He wanted to could make the storm stop just around our vehicle?
Kenz: God.
Me: Do you trust God?
Kenz: Yes, I do. Just this storm is scary and I don't like it.
Me: Do you trust me? That God made me your mommy for a reason and that I wouldn't do anything that would harm you?
Kenz: Yes mommy, but I've never seen lightning like this and it's bad and it's scaring me pretty bad.
Me: Well then, since God is bigger than it all... Let's pray and we will ask Him to comfort us and bring us through this safely.
Kenz: Ok mommy.
Me: You know, we can pray for God to stop the storm, and He could if He wanted to, but it doesn't mean He will. He could stop the storm completely, but we need the rain and He is control of the storm, 100% and He will take care of us, even when we are scared. ((...my words as we head into praying...))
God? Really? Is this what it's like talking to me? Your calming reassurance to me... When I am so frantic about what storm is going on in my life... Because you know that I'm going to be ok and that you have the power to stop whatever is coming to me... And that nothing comes to me, that you haven't first seen...
I love how God uses conversations that I lovingly have with my daughters to speak to me. I may beg and plead and cry for Him to stop the storm... But I need the rain. I may tremble in fear because I don't know if there is a tornado around the corner, but He says, I've got you Ashley in MY grasp, there is NO place safer than in MY arms. You may go through a tornado or a hurricane BUT I have authority of it all and it all obeys my command. Do you trust me?
Well... Of COURSE I trust God... I mean we all do right? I think we think we do, but not in the way He wants us to. He wants blind trust and faith. No matter the storm. We can't be safer than when we are completely lost and surrendered to Him.
I'm daily learning what it's like to completely trust Him with a child like faith. Yes, I have critics and nay sayers. But it doesn't matter. My God is bigger than them and bigger than my storm. He wants to carry me through the storm... He loves me soo much that He wants to sweep me up into His arms and carry me, HIS bride, HIS beloved, HIS child, HIS chosen one... Through the storms, the calm, the valleys, the mountain tops... Because He loves me and doesn't want me to go it alone.
God doesn't promise all rainbows and flowers for His children. He doesn't promise that we won't be tossed about. He doesn't promise that life will be "fair" - He only promises that HE is fair and that we don't have to go through life alone. He wants to carry us through the hardest times in life. He wants to hold us while the winds and waves try to toss us. Remember the "Footprints" poem/picture? The two sets of footprints and then only one? Yeah. That's how much He loves us. "Those are the times I carried you". Don't you want to be carried through the storms of life by the One that has the power to stop them all? I know I do. And I know He wants me there too.
There is peace that comes from knowing God. There is peace when you allow Him to carry you through the storms. He has a purpose for everything that we go through in our lives. We may never know the exact purpose, but He does. And we can trust Him.
Don't you want that peace? The knowing that no matter what happens, we/you will be ok? That we/you can face any storm that there is because we are in the arms of the One that can stop the storm with just a whispered "Peace. Be still." I know I do...
I leave you with these song lyrics from a song my dad shared with me (& had me sing some) when I was in middle school... Because life is FULL of storms... Sometimes God will calm the storms... But sometimes He wants us to look to Him in complete surrender, so that even though He isn't calming the storm, He can calm us-you-me, His child.
All who sail the sea of faithFind out before too longHow quickly blue skies can grow darkAnd gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white waterPounding on the soulStill we sail on knowingThat our Lord is in control
Sometimes He calms the stormWith a whispered peace be stillHe can settle any seaBut it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us closeAnd lets the wind and waves go wildSometimes He calms the stormAnd other times He calms His child
He has a reason for each trialThat we pass through in lifeAnd though we're shakenWe cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats downOn those who hold to faithA heart of trust will always Be a quiet peaceful place
Soo... Here goes... And bare with me here because I have a.d.d.d.d.d.d.oh shiny.d.d.d.SPARKLES!!! Which totally makes me sound like a super duper girly girl... But I'm not... Maybe "SQUIRREL!!" would have been better than "SPARKLES".... and here we go with my a.d.d. and rabbit trails... You get the picture, ha!
The Storm.
Wednesday (June 12th, 2013) - It was a rough day. Thankfully I have some very close friends that I can speak candidly with and fear no judgement from them, only love.
I was very honest with two of my friends with my feelings and they said to me "Get out of the house... Start a project... Do something..." So I did. I went to the pool with an old church friend and hung out with her family and ended the evening at the lake.... enjoying the beautiful sunset and the kids splashing around in the water and laughing.
Our oldest daughter made friends fast, so she stayed the night... Which meant Thursday evening I was having dinner and enjoying karaoke night and picking my I-can't-believe-she's-a-middle-schooler-girl up.... About a 25-30min drive but I enjoyed the scenery and the company so it was worth it.
While out, I got texts from both my husband and my mother in law. My husband was at an event (he's a SPECTACULAR event/wedding DJ) and my mother in law lives over an hour away from us, north. Apparently there were some nasty storms brewing and they wanted to make sure the girls and I were ok. I don't do storms. At all. I am a big ole scaredy cat. My husband called even. He doesn't take time away from weddings to call... The wedding was being cut short because of the impending doom that was the weather (did I say I don't like storms??).
I was now in my father in law's truck. Driving home. 3 little girls in tow. 30min drive home... Looked up... And we were heading right into The Storm.
I could see it coming. I was terrified. I DON'T do storms. (just in case you didn't already gather that)
It got dark very fast. Lightning. Hail. Strong winds that moved the truck. HEAVY rain. Even pulled over at one point because I didn't feel okay driving in it.
I just knew that this was going to end up a scene from The Wizard of Oz and we were NOT about to be in Kansas (or Georgia) anymore. But with no sparkly red slippers to click our heels back to safety.
I don't do storms. And apparently I have passed that on to my daughters. I faked calm. I couldn't let my daughters see my fear because I wanted them to know it would be ok. We were on our way home... We would soon be safe.... I prayed. God knows I don't love storms and He could calm me, His child that He loves so very much.
Well... IT happened.
God spoke to me. HE spoke. TO ME.
Using my own words. To my daughters. To speak to me. In the middle of this terrifying storm.
My girls were afraid of the storm. In tears. Our conversation went something like this.
Me: Who is bigger than fear and this storm?
Kenz: God.
Me: Who could stop the storm if He wanted to?
Kenz: God.
Me: Who is in control and EVEN if He wanted to could make the storm stop just around our vehicle?
Kenz: God.
Me: Do you trust God?
Kenz: Yes, I do. Just this storm is scary and I don't like it.
Me: Do you trust me? That God made me your mommy for a reason and that I wouldn't do anything that would harm you?
Kenz: Yes mommy, but I've never seen lightning like this and it's bad and it's scaring me pretty bad.
Me: Well then, since God is bigger than it all... Let's pray and we will ask Him to comfort us and bring us through this safely.
Kenz: Ok mommy.
Me: You know, we can pray for God to stop the storm, and He could if He wanted to, but it doesn't mean He will. He could stop the storm completely, but we need the rain and He is control of the storm, 100% and He will take care of us, even when we are scared. ((...my words as we head into praying...))
God? Really? Is this what it's like talking to me? Your calming reassurance to me... When I am so frantic about what storm is going on in my life... Because you know that I'm going to be ok and that you have the power to stop whatever is coming to me... And that nothing comes to me, that you haven't first seen...
I love how God uses conversations that I lovingly have with my daughters to speak to me. I may beg and plead and cry for Him to stop the storm... But I need the rain. I may tremble in fear because I don't know if there is a tornado around the corner, but He says, I've got you Ashley in MY grasp, there is NO place safer than in MY arms. You may go through a tornado or a hurricane BUT I have authority of it all and it all obeys my command. Do you trust me?
Well... Of COURSE I trust God... I mean we all do right? I think we think we do, but not in the way He wants us to. He wants blind trust and faith. No matter the storm. We can't be safer than when we are completely lost and surrendered to Him.
I'm daily learning what it's like to completely trust Him with a child like faith. Yes, I have critics and nay sayers. But it doesn't matter. My God is bigger than them and bigger than my storm. He wants to carry me through the storm... He loves me soo much that He wants to sweep me up into His arms and carry me, HIS bride, HIS beloved, HIS child, HIS chosen one... Through the storms, the calm, the valleys, the mountain tops... Because He loves me and doesn't want me to go it alone.
God doesn't promise all rainbows and flowers for His children. He doesn't promise that we won't be tossed about. He doesn't promise that life will be "fair" - He only promises that HE is fair and that we don't have to go through life alone. He wants to carry us through the hardest times in life. He wants to hold us while the winds and waves try to toss us. Remember the "Footprints" poem/picture? The two sets of footprints and then only one? Yeah. That's how much He loves us. "Those are the times I carried you". Don't you want to be carried through the storms of life by the One that has the power to stop them all? I know I do. And I know He wants me there too.
There is peace that comes from knowing God. There is peace when you allow Him to carry you through the storms. He has a purpose for everything that we go through in our lives. We may never know the exact purpose, but He does. And we can trust Him.
Don't you want that peace? The knowing that no matter what happens, we/you will be ok? That we/you can face any storm that there is because we are in the arms of the One that can stop the storm with just a whispered "Peace. Be still." I know I do...
I leave you with these song lyrics from a song my dad shared with me (& had me sing some) when I was in middle school... Because life is FULL of storms... Sometimes God will calm the storms... But sometimes He wants us to look to Him in complete surrender, so that even though He isn't calming the storm, He can calm us-you-me, His child.
All who sail the sea of faithFind out before too longHow quickly blue skies can grow darkAnd gentle winds grow strong
Sometimes He holds us closeAnd lets the wind and waves go wildSometimes He calms the stormAnd other times He calms His child
Monday, July 25, 2011
re.made.
been working on the house lately. it's hard for me to work from home when my house is in disarray - that combined with being sick for nearly 3weeks and my life has been completely chaotic. if you follow me at all, you know i have a love for beachy things, shabby chic, vintage, etc... basically really relaxed colors and decorating... i want to be able to chill in my house and really chill.
when we first bought this sofa table, it was perfect for what i wanted, but since then i have come to love-it-not-so-much... it was time for some t.l.c. and t.l.c. is just what it got!! above is the before and after picture :) - it brightens up the room soo much and i LOVE it now!! it's like a brand new piece of furniture and all i had to do was buy a can of paint! :)
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
My 365
Well... I just found out today that APPARENTLY you are supposed to have a blog with your 365 photos in it... And I hadnt a clue. Sooo... Here is my attempt at maintaining yet another blog :).
Here it is:
my20eleven3six5.wordpress.com
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