NEW NEW NEWS!

As you might have noticed, bloggie got a brand new outfit!  What do you think?  I'm in love, but I suppose I should be since I'm the one that spends the most time here - I think.  Just in case you haven't seen, I have a few new tabs & a new button you can steal!  The new tabs include: Home, About Me, House Tour, Polaroid of the Week, & DIY of the Week.  The other little changes include a new background, header, font, color story, music playlist, etc.....  I hope you enjoy perusing, I had lots of fun makin' her pretty!

Day 15: Favorite Bible Verse

This one is a little hard to pin down, because I love the whole book.  But I suppose one of my favorites would have to be II Corinthians 5:17-20.

II CORINTHIANS 5:17-20

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 
¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 
¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 
²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we imploreyou on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Verse 17 reminds me that I was once dead in my sins, but because I was born again, I am a new creation!  God no longer sees me as a sinner, but as a perfect work in Him - how amazing is that.  It also reminds me that others too are new creations, and that I need to view fellow christians as a finished work because we both were once dead in our trespasses.

Verse 18 reminds me that God came this world and reconciled His people back to Himself through the death on the cross and that because He did this for us, we need to tell others of such reconciliation and that it's not too late for them to believe in what Christ did for the church.

Verse 19 reminds me of God's love for us - not that he sent Christ to judge the earth, but that Jesus is committed to finding the lost sheep and reconciling the world.

Verse 20 is our commission!  We need to be fishers of men.  Because Jesus is no longer physically present in flesh, we need to be Christ for others!  We need to a be a light to this world and our ministry must be reconciling the lost people of this world on Christ's behalf!

These few verses remind me of my past (the pit that God brought me out of), how He saved me (through the crucifixion & resurrection), and how I need to live out my life for Christ (by telling others!).  They neatly tie up the free gift of salvation in just a few short verses! I love that the bible can be so concise, and yet deep with few words.  What's your favorite verse? Why?

Day 14: A Picture I Love

(October 2010, finding out that her dessert was sugar free - love the expression)

This is Estelle.  She is a 92 year old spit fire that I joyfully call my very own grandmother.  She lives part time with my Mom and part time with my Aunt.  She survived the great depression, has had a triple bi-pass, been diabetic for years, fallen a few times, and up until just a few years ago, lived alone for much of her elderly life.  Her husband, Richard, died before I was born so I never got the chance to know him, but I can only imagine that as a pair they were nothing other than a sweet, funny, and loving couple.  GB (Grandma Bussman) reads just about a book a day, loves reading about animals, and enjoys sneaking any kind of "sweet" she can get her hands on, although she't not supposed to - but hey she is a spit fire isn't she?  She is the sweetest thing and speaks her mind which only adds to her charm.  I love that she used to babysit me & my brother before I could even walk.  She use to always reminds me how cute of a little baby I was and that she loved pushing my in my basinet throughout her neighborhood.  I will forever cherish our summers spent at her community pool and house, eating grilled cheese, watching Nickelodeon (because we didn't have that channel at our house), going to her annual rummage sales, eating the famous sloppy joes they always sold there, and playing cards just the three of us, or sometimes five if Aunt Thelma & Aunt Norma were in town.  I love you Grandma!  You're the best of the best!  I hope to be just as joyful, sentimental, and compassionate as you should I live as long! Much Love!

Blogging Newb

Since I have less than 100 followers, I have decided to link up to this blog newb party over at Debbiedoos. In order to enter, you have to have been blogging for less than six months (sadly I have been blogging for over a year and a half) or have less than 100 followers (that's me - I have eight).  See if you can find my post (okay okay, I'm #106).  If you fall under either of these categories, join in on the fun! You'll be sure to get at least a couple more followers by doing so!

Day 13: Goals

My goals are a mixed bag of funny, strange, and sincere.  None of them are life or death scenarios, so it's more of a "bucket list" if you will.  Also, I haven't really thought about them all that much up until now, so these aren't exactly concrete or "long sought after" but interesting none the less.  Enjoy.

• visit Europe (Italy, Germany & France preferably) 
• own a honda element
• live in "the little yellow house" we used to always drive by
• get married
• start a family
• try homeschooling 
• go on vacation somewhere out of state annually (so far so good)
• own a home and put lots of love into it
• learn to coupon (trying to)
• finish college 
• have a pottery studio in my house (I WISH!)
• become more submissive 
• learn the rules of football (oy)
• teach sign language
• become sign language interpreter?
• learn how to play guitar (I know the bare minimum)
• learn how to sew on a sewing machine
• ride in a gondola 
• attend a live television show (like Emeril Live or something)
• go to a concert
• see a show on broadway
• learn how to use photoshop
• start a photography business
• live in another country
• read through the entire bible every year (have once)
• buy a vitamix and use it daily
• write a book (maybe)
• go hang gliding
• see all of our nation's great landmarks
• grand canyon
• the hoover dam
• the hollywood sign
• niagra falls
• the golden gate bridge
• lombard street in San Fran
• seattle space needle
• redwood national forest
• mount rushmore
• the white house
• statue of liberty
• central park
• the empire state building
• capitol hill
• the lincoln memorial
• the liberty bell

Anyways, I'm sure some of my goals are pretty universal - travel, have fun, own a home, etc.... What are some of your goals?  I'd love to know!

Day 12: What I Believe

This is a great opportunity to share what I believe.  If you are not a believer and you know me at all, you may know what I am going to write and have probably Xed out of this window, but that's okay because I'm not writing to impress.  I am writing to encourage, to bare my soul, and to witness Christ's love for His bride - that's you friend.  


I believe in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Not only do I believe in Him, (even Satan believes in Jesus) I believe that He knows & loves me intimately and died on the cross for my sins and for yours.  He took on every sin for every human (past, present, & future), became flesh & dwelt among us.  I believe in Him, not because I am a generational Christian or because it's any easy "religion" filled with "cheap grace." No. I believe in Him because I guarantee that there is NO ONE like Jesus.  He is the only One who came to this earth, lived a sinless life, dwelt among us, died for all of humanity, and rose again three days later to show how Great He is.  He is the only "God" for which YOU have nothing to do with.  What I mean by this is, I don't have to DO anything to receive Christ's love because He has already done it for me, He is the propitiation for my sin because He died on the cross at Calvary. The only thing I have to do is believe on Him and what He did for me.


I don't know about you, but I know myself pretty well.  I know the many imperfections, the sin and the wretchedness that encompasses me. I know every thought or deed that I do that isn't exactly what you'd call "nice."  I also know that there are people that are better than me, and people that are worse than me, that's just the way it is.  But to think, only on my own behalf, that someone would die for ME.  And I'm not talking, my husband dodging a bullet for me (which I know he would) I am talking Jesus dying not just for me, but for everyone!  In my mind, and I think you'd probably agree - sure I'd die for my spouse, sure I'd die for my kids or my family (some people might not even go that far), but to die for a serial killer? A rapist? A druggie or alcoholic or child predator? For a theif, a homeless man, a liar, or even a jerk?  Wait wait wait, that's a little close for comfort. But hey, its okay because Jesus did die for all of the above and He loves them all just the same as He loves me.  That blows my mind.


"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;  When I awake, I am still with You." 
-Psalm 139:17-18


Most importantly, no act of kindness or life of works will get me to heaven.  This is even more mind boggling folks.  Although I owe my LIFE to Christ, he only wants my heart, that's it.  I don't have to move to Africa and start an orphanage, I can, but I don't have to.  I just have to love Him with all that I am.  It's only through God's grace that I get to be His daughter.  Now, maintaining fellowship with God is obviously a plus for both sides; it keeps me closer to Him, and allows me to yield to His will and become more like Him (by reading His word and praying).  For Him, the Lord loves when we spend time with Him.  Again, He doesn't need ME or any of us, but He wants us.  This is where the true transformation begins.  So although I don't have to "do nice things" to get into heaven, I want to because I want to be more like Jesus!  I do serve others not because I have to, but because I want to become more like the greatest Servant of all and because I find great joy in living humbly and meekly! 


"No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,  that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."
- John 3:13-20


That's what I believe, but not just "believe" but know it to be the absolute truth, and the only truth.  Please, if this has tugged at your heart at all, ask me any question that you may have.  The Lord might be using this silly little blog post to draw you to Himself.  Wouldn't that be amazing.  If you are already a believer then seek Him with all of your heart, soul, and mind and if you aren't walking tightly, pray and read and get in fellowship with a bible teaching & believing church!  His mercies are new each morning and He wants to talk to you today - He is coming quickly folks.  Nothing more needs to happen according to the prophecies in the Bible, He can come at any moment!  I can't wait to be caught up  in the clouds and I hope to see you there!


"But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.  For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,  who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.  Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." 
-1 Thessalonians 5:1-11


I pray this encourages you and stirs up your heart.


Blessings,

Day 11: Favorite TV Shows

Theses are in no particular order of favor or frequency, I like them all.

Extreme Home Makeover

Everyday Italian

Gilmore Girls

 The Cosby Show

 Pushing Daisies

The Jack Benny Show

 Secrets of a Restaurant Chef

Barefoot Contessa

What's your favorite?