Oh Shoot!

Wordless Saturday

Finding A Balance

So lately I have been convicted of a certain things called vanity.  Not sure it's an actual "sin" but it's something that the Holy Spirit has been drawing to my attention.  Now, this is not meant to condone anyone, I just want to share my thoughts and what I have learned since living in a house that is not my own (i.e. my dearest in-laws).  When we do have a house of our own in the future, I want to be sure that it does one thing: glorifies the Lord.   My in-laws have such a strength in this area, their home is nothing short of hospitable, loving, and welcoming.  Of course it doesn't hurt that it looks nice too, but the heart of the home is in the right place, and that's something I am striving to reach towards.  That's not to say that the walls have to be white, picture-less, and uninteresting, but there should be a balance right?  If all I care about is how my home looks, how clean it is, and how I am perceived as the "home-maker" then I know that my heart isn't in the right place.  Of course this is pretty easy to say now because I am currently a "room-mate" and not a home-owner or renter for that matter.  But, I just want to be sure that when we begin "growing" into our next home that it's with the right heart.  I want it to be beautiful of course, but I want to make sure my focus is the heart and the intent first, and looks second.  Am I making any sense?  I think this applies to many areas of one's life, whether it be looking for a spouse, creating friendships, serving in your personal ministry, etc...  The heart is all that the Lord looks at and I want to be sure that I am making my heavenly Father smile and show my picture around heaven.  I think He probably does that sort of thing, don't you?

Now, if you know me at all, you know that I am ALL about design and decor so my house will mostly likely have painted walls with pictures hanging, throw pillows thrown, and windows shined, but I want to be sure that it's not taking the place of the true substance that sustains me: Jesus!

Again, since I am not in my own home, I have lots of time to peruse the world wide web for ideas and eye candy (decor style).  I have been copy and pastin' like crazy with any DIY idea that I find particularly interesting, cost-efficient, or "to-die-for."  Here are some photos that I think are absolutely adorable. Is it counterproductive to post these photos?  I don't know, but they sure are cute.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 3:12-14

A Valentine's Devotional

The Evidence 

WRITTEN BY SKIP HEIZTIG

A while back, a letter written by Abraham Lincoln to a schoolboy was sold to a collector for $60,000. Here's the story: When Lincoln was running for president in 1860, journalist James Patten interviewed him. Patten took his eight-year-old son George along. But later, when George told his classmates he had met Lincoln, they didn't believe him and they mocked him. The teacher finally wrote the president, and Lincoln responded: "Whom it may concern: I did see and talk with Master George Evans Patten, last May, at Springfield, Illinois. Respectfully, A. Lincoln." The boy had evidence he could show to anybody who doubted him, and that settled the matter.


In Exodus 3 and 4, Moses experienced a much bigger meeting, with God Himself. But Moses anticipated that the Hebrews might not believe him, and he said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The Lord has not appeared to you'" (4:1). So God gave Moses some miraculous signs to convince anyone who was doubtful.


Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior have also had a meeting with God. But what do we have as evidence that we can show the world? Jesus told His disciples, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).


How else will people know that we're really disciples of Jesus Christ? By the bumper sticker on your truck? The Christian slogan on your t-shirt? The big Bible you carry? The cross necklace you wear? You know what? If you wear a cross without having love in their heart, you dishonor the cross!


You could say, "They'll know I'm a Christian because of my dizzying intellect, and my knowledge of theology and apologetics." But people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. They want to know that you love. That's the mark of being a Christian. Simply put, the more spiritual you are, the more loving you are.


So love is the dividing line. And it's not even love for the world that Jesus speaks of. He says if we can just love each other, that'll be enough for the world to understand. Isn't that amazing?
"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14). People may hear that you are His disciple, but they will know it when you love.


Copyright © 2011 by Connection Communications. All rights reserved.

Blog Challenge

Like I said in my first challenge entry, I would quit the 30-days when I felt like the challenge was becoming a bit too "this girl" centered.  I kind of feel like this is happening so I am going to be stopping for a little while - at least.  I want this blog to be encouraging, uplifting, and inspiring.  Also, I want my life to be centered on Christ alone, I want Him to be my everything and my passion in life.  I have enjoyed creating every post and will continue to write, but I want to prioritize my passions.  Although I do enjoy lots of things that this earth provides (decorating, photography, traveling, blogging, writing, cooking, etc...) everything here is really rubbish in comparison to the treasure I have in heaven.  Amen?  


Philippians 3:7-16 
⁷ But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
 ¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,^[b] let us be of the same mind.


Another point is that I am leary of posting too much personal information, (although I doubt many strangers read this blog) you just never know who reads what you write.  Most importantly know this: I thank you for reading, I will continue to write, and please continue to check back here and there.


Much Love,
Kendra

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!