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I love taking trips with my family and it is so enjoyable with friends along too.

Well, that's all from this weekend.  I'll some more next month (unless I get to scrapping in my own room before then).  Keep your heart open and let your creativity lift someone up.  Susan

Broken-hearted

12 "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God. — Joel 2:12-14 (NIV)


I read this passage in my devotions this morning the phrase in v13 Rend your heart really struck me.  What does that mean?  Rending (or tearing) one's garment is a sign of mourning.  This verse is telling us we should tear our hearts - become broken-hearted - and return tot he Lord. 

When I ask the Lord for forgiveness am I coming to Him in shame or true repentance.  Is my heart stinging or has it been torn apart.  Am I sorry that I got caught or do I really want to change.

I'm afraid I haven't approached God in true repentance about some things.  He deserves my broken-heartedness - actually, He requires it.

Have a blessed day.  Susan

More layouts

Some more older pictures - my baby shower which was over 22 years ago!

Our last "formal" family pictures - about 5 years ago

Thanks for stopping by.  Susan

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Some fun pages

My husband is not a thrift store shopper.   I like going in there to find ribbons (the other day I got 5 almost-full spools of grosgrain ribbon for $1.92).  He has 7 shirts and he paid about $10!

 My son bought a truck at Carmax and the finance lady (Anita) was very friendly.  I was taking pictures to send to his dad and Anita said "Hey mom come over here" so I could her picture with David!  She also told him that he better not miss a payment because he'd have to deal with her - she'd be there when he least expected it.

 

 This picture is great.  I saw it on my niece's facebook (her 3 kids) and knew I had to scrap it.  It shows my great niece and 2 great nephews showing their personalities.  My niece is in a sparkly dance dress, one nephew has on a t-shirt and diaper, and the other nephew has on sweats and snow boots.  Their mom does a great job of letting them be their own person.  Oh, yes, by the way, I do know that I spelled different wrong.  I don't like rub-ons but at least I got to sneak the "r" in there.   :P

 

Thanks for stopping.  Let your creativity change a life.  Susan

Some more layouts from Saturday.

Thanks for stopping by.  Susan

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Here are a couple of pages from Saturday.

Always having fun at the zoo

 

My son's first birthday party (okay I'm only 21 years behind).

Thanks for stopping by - keep your heart open and your creativity can change someone.  Susan

Church Scrapping Saturday

I love my monthly scrapping days at church.  Since I've been doing the page kits, I get so much done!

Here are my two favorite from this weekend.

  I really like the tree with the scalloped circles making up the leaves!

My son and his fiance had fun one afternoon flying kites.  They did much better in an open field instead of the backyard.

I'll share more throughout the week.  Thanks for stopping by...Susan

The Lord's Table

I wanted to share again from The Lord's Table devotion for today.

I'm amazed at the vast amount of published material today (some of it Christian) that seems to exist for no other reason than to inflate our egos. Titles like Choosing Your Own Greatness, You're Nature's Greatest Miracle, You've Got What It Takes, or Unlocking Your Potential are indicative of our man-focused society.


You've heard it said "God helps those who help themselves"—but this is simply not true. According to Scripture, God helps the helpless!

Our study today will help us recognize our own helplessness in overcoming bad eating habits of all kinds. We'll learn that "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Or put another way: "Happy are the helpless!"

Let's first understand what the term "poor in spirit" means. Here are some definitions:
• Bankrupt in myself (I am totally without resources)
• I am nothing without God
• All I am, have, and do is worthless apart from God
• I understand my total inability before God

Linguistically, the word "poor" carries connotations of "one who crouches or cowers" and refers to one who is beggarly.


Question 1:  Have you approached God as a beggar? Or do you feel that you're doing OK, have what you need in life, and can overcome sin without God?

Let's explore the importance of recognizing our spiritual bankruptcy before God.
• This spiritual poverty is, in reality, the foundation of all graces. God gives grace to the humble, not to the proud. The humble—those who recognize their own impoverished condition—are given grace.
• Emptiness precedes fullness. We cannot receive anything from God until we have empty hands. He who recognizes he has nothing to offer God will receive everything from God.
• Self must be denied in order for Christ to be wanted. If our goal is to honor ourselves, Christ will be far from us. But he who honors God will himself be honored.
• A starving heart will give all to have the Bread of Life. It is only the hungry person—not the full—who senses his need of Jesus.

If you struggle with controlling food, I highly recommend this online devotion.  It is free to do and you have contact with a counselor (if you want) via email.  I get emails 3-4 times a week just encouraging me.
 
Today's lesson opened my eyes to something...I have not completely surrendered to Christ.  I go to Him when I need something that is out of my control (like protection for my family).  But the truth is, I can't do anything worthwhile without Him.  I need Him every moment of every day.  I struggle with issues because I struggle with them and I don't admit them to God and ask for His strength to overcome.  He knows about them already so why don't I work with Him to overcome them?  I see I have some work to do in my life.
 
Thanks for stopping by...I pray that God has opened your eyes up to anything you may need to take to Him.  Susan

Some thoughts from Today's Devotion

I have been working through the devotion The Lord’s Table. You can do this online for free at The Lord's Table. Today’s lesson was really eye-opening and I wanted to share some things from it with you. Keep in mind that these are excerpts so it may sound a little choppy.

Here is the first scripture we read:
20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. — Colossians 2:20-23

It's also important to test our assumptions in the area of food and weight loss issues. Most diet "experts" tell us that, if we are overweight, the problem is in the type of food we've been eating. To correct the problem, they tell us, we need to avoid "wrong" foods and begin eating "right" foods. They insist that the problem is with the food.

My thoughts: These rules do not address the real problem - the sensual indulgence. So much of what we eat is because it looks good or tastes good and this causes a reaction in us - much like being attracted to another person. It causes a stir in bodies/minds. So we eat to satisfy this stir. We don't think about it being good or bad for us, we just want it.

The Scripture passage above reveals the real problem: indulgence of the flesh! It makes perfect sense if you think about it: what is it that makes me want to eat the entire gallon of ice cream? What makes me crave a late-night snack that turns into an all-you-can-eat buffet? The answer is that I want to indulge my flesh. My flesh cries out to be gratified and, lacking self-control, I indulge it. That is the problem—not food in itself.
This realization requires us to re-evaluate our struggle and our goals. If our condition is a result of indulging the flesh, it's useless to change the types of foods with which we indulge the flesh. If I forsake eating breads and only indulge with meat, what have I profited? My heart and lifestyle have not changed; even if I lose weight for a time, it will certainly come back until I identify the real problem: that I have a habit of indulging my flesh.

Susan, at the Lord's Table, we do not suggest denying the body any type of food—on the contrary, we ought to receive every type of food with thanksgiving. It is man-made religion to say "Taste not ice cream, touch not meat," etc. Instead, we suggest eating in a disciplined manner. If you want ice cream, choose when you eat it and how much of it to eat before sitting down to eat it. If you enjoy Cinnabons (as I do!), then you may have one... but first you must choose when to eat it, and then eat it in a controlled, thankful manner. Food is not the problem; indulging the flesh is.

The Christian life is not about legalistically following a set of rules or denying ourselves certain foods. Instead, it's about being full of Christ and enjoying Him.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. — 1 Timothy 4:1-5

The Bible teaches that we are to receive all types of food with thanksgiving to God. The Scriptures specifically state that "nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving." Food is not the problem! Try telling that to the diet gurus.

So how do we lose and manage weight if we eat anything and everything? The answer is straightforward: eat in moderation. Eat in a disciplined manner. Eat with self control. Plan your intake of food. And importantly, be accountable to someone for the amount you eat.

Back to me: WOW! This is freeing when you really think about it. I don’t have to give up my favorites –Pizza and Ice Cream. I just need to eat them with moderation and thank God for giving us the wisdom to make such yummy food. The key is THINKING about what I’m eating and how much I’m eating. Am I eating to meet an emotional need that I should be relying on God to meet? If so, I’m using food in place of God – it has become an idol.


Wow, what a strong word – Idol. But isn’t that what we are doing. Replacing God with food. Isn’t that the definition of an idol?


Alright, I’ll get off the soapbox. This just really moved me today and I wanted to share it with you. Thanks for stopping by. Susan

Who cares for me?

John 10:²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, ²⁹ for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

I love this verse.  No one can snatch me from my Savior's hand.  God gave me to Jesus and He holds on tight.

So what about those times when I was unprotected?  It's because I chose to move out from His protection because God doesn't change...He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). 


May you feel the love of the Savior in your life and embrace His love for you...love that led Him to immense suffering and death in your place...and to rise again so we can be with Him for eternity.  Susan

Happy Easter

I'm so glad that He died for my sins...but I'm even happier that He rose again!!  May Easter be a reminder that you are loved and cherished.  That your Father loves you and desires a relationship with you.  He sacrificed His own self - a very part of Himself for you.

God Bless You, Susan

thanks

Most of my scrapping time has been spent on pages of "vintage" pictures - okay, they aren't that old...but they are ones pre-digital that I've finally got scanned on my computer.

Here is a card for OperationWriteHome that I was inspired by Me, My Stamps, and I's design.

Thanks for stopping by.  Susan

Birthday Card

My nephew turns 18 in a few weeks and we are going to his birthday dinner today.  I made him this card and it fits the OWH Stars & Stamps challenge (almost).

Have a blessed Holy Week.  Susan