forgive again?

forgiveness is hard
it makes you dig down deep and fight your selfish self
it boils the evil out and lets the good in us live

forgiveness means there has been a wrong
a burden
a splotch on your canvas
and often when you look around that's you all you see
the dirty spot against you

and forgiveness would mean that you still care about this brother or sister
and forgiveness might mean they would hurt you again...

and I've heard it said
"but I can only forgive so many times...." or "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on you"

but what does Jesus say.....

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.^"


forgive again and again and again .....even if its the 8th time or 75th time



linking up with Lisa Jo and some awesome writers, we take five minutes and write on a topic....check 'em out

Five Minute Friday

cherish

john adams said "let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge.  let us dare to read, think, speak, and write." 

most of the time I don't cherish my thoughts, my writing, my books when i'm in them, only in retrospect and reflection do i value them at all. 

i didn't cherish my education while i got it but now i do. 
i have never ever cherished a trial or test but i am always thankful for the lessons and knowledge learned. 

why is that we can't cherish the moment.....we only cherish the memory.

today i seek to cherish, hold tight, to the means of my knowledge,
                            the writing, the thoughts, the trials.....



I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Phillipians 4:11

prayers for my baby girl.....she had tubes put in this morning...but she is doing great

ironmans secret identity revealed

dive

love owen's face...."this is my family...scary"

i imagine diving to be beautiful and graceful
i imagine the lean Olympic athlete on the diving board preparing to plummet with skill 
gliding through the water like this is a natural part of life

i am not a diver
i do not arrive lean and courageous
i often arrive on the diving board of life scared and second guessing
and when i jump it is not graceful and the water is not always smooth when i hit the water

and i may not have earthly grace  and i may not have or continue to do life in the right steps with the right technique

but i will still have His grace and He will always be at the bottom of every dive

opportunity of togetherness

as we returned home christmas day from my grandparents for lunch and then my parents for supper, i looked to the back seat and said "what was your favorite thing you got for christmas."  i waited for an answer, expecting one of the many toys, games, perhaps the kindle fire, but the response i received..."getting to spend the whole day together."  and all i could choke back was "me too." 

every day we are given the opportunity to give.  and for the most part all people want is time.  all God wants is time...togetherness.   even the most expensive gifts and toys and the piles of clothes can't compete with the gift of togetherness.

did you take the opportunity to be give the gift of togetherness this Christmas? this day?

can you hear me now

no resolutions
no new years solutions
just one word
one action
one "to do"

LISTEN

can you hear....
that still small voice...
do you hear the things your husband....your children...your coworkers.....
GOD......say
do they resonate, hold firm, or just pass right through


“Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” Mark 4:24-25

2012 in review

 The big moments come out of no where sometimes and other times they are planned for months, even years.  2012 was filled with big moments.  Addie learned to walk and Owen learned to read.  Big moments for little people.  I moved schools and jobs.  Friends were married and babies were born.  Big moments.

 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

 a time to be born and a time to die,
 a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 a time to kill and a time to heal,
 a time to tear down and a time to build

   a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
   a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Lord for the gifts of 2012.  Let us not remember the arguments, the disagreements, the troubles, but hold tight to the love and laughter we shared and the big moments you walked us through.

      I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—
this is the gift of God.

 

 

Merry Christmas

Last night, we had our candle light service at church.  The pastor read the Christmas story and passed the light.  We sang Christmas carol after Christmas carol.  I held my sweet baby girl who curled up in my lap.  She looked in awe at the candle light and sighed and smiled at the Christmas songs.  I fought back the tears at the simpleness of it all. 

 I heard my husband and son singing

"O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye,
O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord."

I hope you find enough Christmas this year to fill your heart till next year.

 

My Favorite Christmas Carol

O Little Town of Bethlehem

What is yours?

 

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.    Matthew 1:23

 

 

lovely linkys

 

Hear it on Sunday

 

for the friend

for the friend....

for the friend whose children are screaming

for the friend who just can't seem to stop crying

for the friend who has as sick baby or lost a child
for the friend who just doesn't feel good
for the friend who just wants to make a difference
for the friend who just wants happiness

for the friend....

i pray for you....

hope to make it just through the day
guidance to follow your heart
courage to do what God calls you to
trust that you know you are loved
passion for the people around you
faith to know God is in control

i pray for you...



 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 1:15-20

Good Deed Challenge update

I challenged you to do good deeds....how is it going for you??

Have you focused on making the extra effort or are you waiting for the opportunity?

Let me tell you about some good deeds happening around me.....

A friend stopped at a wreck and took hold of the grief......
do you ever stop or do you drive past?

We delivered and put a Christmas tree in the stand for a "young" couple we know.

My "sister" Jamie came by my house, when she heard I had sick kids, with Jello and books and a Christmas CD.

A collegue cleaned up a mess she didn't make.

My mom helped me prepare food for school.

A student picked up books for a student whose hands were full. 

What have you been doing or have you seen a good deed?

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ -Matthew 25:40

Thankful Thursday 2012 Week 5

101. the smell of christmas trees
102. working students
103.  calling out a good deed
104.  cozy scarfs
105.  car line in the cold to refresh my mind
106.  cold sunrises to bring warmth
107.  dash, the elf
108.  my principal
109.  a new computer
110.  a new desk to put it on
111.  gingerbread men making messes 
112.  cookies and watching addie sign for cookies
113.  students who don't complain about christmas music
114.  tangelos
115.  jokes from the pulpit..Why can't you take a turkey to church?  He uses foul language :)
116.  mucinex
117.  clean water to drink
118.  a charlie brown christmas
119.  hot tea
120.  buds on a christmas cactus
121.  the best friends
122.  bloggers who inspire
123.  packages
124.  christmas cards!
125.  my mom

The Good Deeds Challenge

The Christmas season is upon us, the season of giving, and the most wonderful time of the year.  My pastor challenged us Sunday with a Good Deeds Challenge:  to do as many good deeds as possible in the next five weeks, set your own personal record.  Now, I listened intently, even took notes, but in my mind I was rolling over all the ideas of good deeds there are.   So, when God speaks to me it is usually not a soft whisper, it is a yell, in your face, Karrie DO SOMETHING.   

My friends, Amy and Kendal, have started using the wonderful pinterest for good deeds, good shopping, and just plain good stuff.  And by doing so they have done a good deed.  I have been inspired, directed really, by people close to me to do something different, to stray from the status quo and to do what most people don't do - to think of others before myself.  In a season where we glorify giving, but practice selfishness.  I must be a light.  And in turn I call you to be a light as well. 

⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.  Galatians 6: 7-10

Sometimes, it may feel like we are losing by doing good, but we must keep being do gooders. 

It is our call, it is our difference, it is our signature trait. 

And the best part and the biggest secret of all about kindness, good deeds, service is......
      it is contagious.


Here we go, my pastors challenge to our church.....

do as many good deeds as possible

my challenge to you......

come tell us what you did!

Can't wait to hear about your good deeds, I know you are doing them!

Here is a place to start:

• take a treat to a neighbor
• send someone a handwritten note
• give up your seat to someone else
• say thank you
• send a day brighten text
• tell a young mother she is doing a good job
• put some ones grocery cart up for them

my black friday

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Christmas cards ordered

DaySpring gifts confirmed.


New computer on its way :)

all from the comfort of my recliner

I declare a success.

Thankful Thursday 2012 Week 4

51.  my granaw
52.  singing carols on a train coming home from the north pole
53.  items delivered to the homeless shelter
54.  an excellent checkup for addie
55.  the magic of christmas
56.  family meals
57.  my husband, my husband, my husband
58.  pintos with friends
59.  shampooed carpet
60.  my mom!
61.  bandaids
62.  my cell phone
63.  new shampoo
64.  owen listening
65.  a week off
66.  heat
67.  a fixed toilet
68.  jessica's mini van
69.  a night out with friends
70.  best friends who know your story
71.  pictures
72.  unexpected texts
73.  the holy spirit's filling power
74.  addie noises
75.   a helpful son

Thankful Thursday 2012 Week 3

51.  parents who care about their kids
52.  beautiful saturdays
53.  a local community college
54.  owen saving a wooly worm
55.  78 OCC shoeboxes
56.  frost
57.  phone case cover, the very next day i got i slung my phone across the parking lot - not a scratch ;)
58.  mountain dew in the drink machine
59.  owen wants a n.c. state birthday party!
60.  the perfect song on the radio
61.  the email that says no faculty meeting
62.  finding a penny
63.  that my sunday school class is willing to bring food to people they have never meet
64.  a week off
65.  a week filled with family
66.  shoes that feel good on my feet
67.  a helping husband
68.  addie's giggles
69.  addie's loving
70.  my pillow
71.  that everything is funny to 11 year olds EVERYTHING
72.  rocking a sleeping baby
73.  cool rocks
74.  recipes
75.  sleep







Lovely Linky's

when in doubt....serve

i wasn't sure it would work

i had no idea how it would

we set a goal of 30 boxes

who knew we would end with 78.

they brought toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, pencils, sharpeners, crayons, markers, coloring books, socks, combs, brushes, paper, pens, erasers, shirts, hats, gloves, toboggans, hair bows, bands, and clips, balls, yo-yos, jump ropes, candy, puzzles, bandaids, stuffed animals.......and we packed and wrapped and laughed and prayed

we ended with the exact amount of stuff and boxes and I know God already knew what we needed and He knows what the child who receives this box needs also.

so don't choose not to serve when you aren't sure.

when in doubt....serve any way!

"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake" 2 Corinthians 4:5

If you aren't familar with the organization Samaritan's Purse, let me introduce you.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

They do service and they do it well, from diaster relief to operation christmas child they reach out to those who need and you can easily get involved, which I encourage you to do.

thankful thursday 2012 week 2

26. revival
27. surprise visits from family
28. pacifers
29. forgiveness
30. days off work
31. dinner with family
32. baby animals - visited the zoo this weekend
33. watching my son go pray at the alter and when i asked what he prayed for "when Jesus is ready, I want him to come into my heart"
34.  hugs from best friends 
35.  the privilege to vote
36.  our troops
37.  team teaching
38.  mom's homemade soup
39.  coffee!
40.  christmas music
41.  my mom
42.  listening to owen play the mandolin
43.  addie's dancing skills
44.   Jesus Qoute: “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 
45.  time change - driving to work in the daylight
46.  beautiful colors of fall
47.  new coats
48.  text with best friend
49.  hubby making sweet tea for me
50.  excitement for things ahead










lovely linkys:

Emily at Imperfect Prose
Paula at Welcoming Spirit

learning



Crazy Hair Day 11/1/12

my son is learning lots of new things like
what the middle finger is
and the a word and the s word
and "what is the real f word because i don't think its fat maybe its fatious, mom"
and i want to put him in his room until he is 18 and only send food in
but i can't
so i keep teaching right from wrong
and keep being the meanest parent in the whole world
because its the right thing to do


any great parenting advice?



thankful thursday 2012 week 1

wow....another year of thankfuls

i usually write a long thing for each, but now i have not 1 kid but 2 and laundry and papers to grade and boards to work on and the list goes on.....so snippets is what you get :)


1.  husband who will be a goat in a puppet show
2.  son picking up the whole bag of crackers he poured in the floor, without complaining
3.  the brisk fall air
4.  riding to school with a cool 6th grader
5.  a church family that helps each other
6.  baby girl sleeping all night in her bed
7.  gates on the porches!!
8.  listening to owen read
9.  watching addie pretend to read like her big brother
10.  sharing kids, secrets, and life with my brothers wife
11.  my students
12.  the student who says "thank you for taking the the time to teach us" everyday!
13.  mom's potato soup
14.  shopping with the hubby
15.  seeing the moon and stars out my living room window
16.  carving pumpkins with the best friends
17.  The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:10
18.  losing 10 pounds
19.  Christmas is 53 days away!!!
20.  emails from my hallmates
21.  russian tea
22.  trust
23.  3 day weekend
24.  bestie having a baby
25.  handmade quilts made by my great grandma



lovely linky's
http://jenbucketlist.blogspot.com/2012/11/thankfulliving-begins-link-up.html

my five minute ramble on voice

the voices i hear!

I only have 5 minutes to talk about voice.  So, I better type fast. 

It amazes me what people are able to do with their voice. 
They can bring people way, way up and they can squish people all the way down. 
They can make you second guess your beliefs, your thoughts, and your actions. 
A voice can make you change your path, a voice can make you go the extra mile.

Chances are I'll never meet the presidental candidates so all I have is their voice and the way they choice to use it does not excite me.  The voice of bullies is what hear.

It took me many many years, 29 to be exact, to figure out that I didn't always have to use my voice, that sometimes silence speaks louder.

looking

looking out my front door

just by looking at my life

you might think i have have it all together

balancing family, work, church, sports, friends

but you would be wrong

i have been a bad friend at times

i have forgotten to send lunch money

i don't always get my bills paid on time

i argue with my husband

i fuss at my children

i have laundry piles and dirty floors

but looking at all this just makes me real

if you look into my heart

i hope you see love

 

as you look others look past the outside

the realness of people

look into the depths of the heart and yours?

what do you find?

 

 

 

 

lovely linkys

five minute friday

fingerprint friday

worry wart

#2 Cause of Worry

i am a worry wart
no really i am
my grandmother bought me a worry rock
when i was 8 years old
it was bad then
and it hasn't gotten any better

so as we discussed the difference between guilt and conviction
i began to worry
which do i have?
which do i answer too?
is there a difference?

are you a person of worry?
do respond to guilt or conviction?



lovely linkys

Jen @ The Soli Deo Gloria
Shanda @ A Pause on the Path