Enchanted by the Creator

Graduating!!

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:30:00 -0400

So i am FINALLY graduating and got to make some really neat graduation cards! Since i can’t send them to everyone here’s a digital look at them! Go check out Shutterfly- (http://www.shutterfly.com) it was super fun to design them on there!

Check it!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=1AZuGjNs3btnEw&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET

There's No Place I'd Rather Be, Than Here in Your Love

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 01:00:00 -0400

So lately my life has been surrounded by so many things; so many distractions, so many life to-do’s, so many couples-engagements-weddings, future plans, future talk, graduation plans, family plans, options, work-resigning from work after graduation, summer plans-nannying-what else….. SO MANY THINGS! It’s like walking into a room, packed full of people- all talking simultaneously- where you can barley move- barley think, hear, let alone speak and be heard! Its what i call an overload!

“I cannot do this anymore God! I can’t! And i’m sick of faking it! I cannot hear you, or feel you anymore and my quiet place that i meet you in has become overpopulated! I feel like i’m so frantic and “busy” that i am missing you as if you were the last train out of the station for the night! My frantic hurry and business has literally enabled myself from hearing your Spirit. God i remember that place of quiet and stillness; that place where you met me and I You; i want that place back Jesus PLEASE!!”

These were the very cries of my heart from my journal earlier this very week. I wish i could say that that quiet place returned the very next day and that my selfish desires for myself and things of the world quickly dissolved as things of holy nature flooded in…but that isn’t the case. God is still God and still sovereign and faithful no matter my unfaithfulness- in which i can boast in Him all the more! But i cannot lie in how i feel. And if anything, i feel the Lord has put it on my heart to just confess present day sin that i have been struggling with, in which has also been a prevention for me to meet God the way i had previously know in the presence of His holiness.

This is my confession of my flesh and sin: It is HARD to be content in singleness. No matter how hard i want to fight that reality with my stubbornness to say “NO! no that’s not true! It’s totally fine!” i cannot win! It is hard, but that’s ok! And i’ve come to realize that more and more. I think understanding the desires that we have and are programed with is completely healthy and completely practical and real! I don’t desire to be single the rest of my life, but if i am will i be ok? Will my view and intimacy with the Lord change? The answer to this question this exact time last year was 110%-hands down YES, and no it wont change! The answer to this question this exact time this year…..i hope so, and i hope not!

When God tells us in His word that He wants ALL of us, i believe He truly meant it! That means giving up all things, all desires, all wants, all needs, and what ever else to fully follow Him! Wow…..talk about a tough thing to actually live out day in and day out huh? This means for me personally, leaving my desire to be a in a relationship….a real relationship for once, a girlfriend, a companion, a wife, a mom, a lover…leaving all of that at the foot of the cross and giving it up to God. Just as He set the best example in giving up His son for me.

Now you may be wondering why, why even do that that sounds miserable? Well to be honest i mean yeah it doesn’t sound like the first thing that i want to do on my Saturday night, but it should be! I believe Katie Davis says it beautifully:

“I shudder to think what i could have missed in life because of my disobedience. I am so thankful that God in His grace does not allow me to win. Because usually, the fight is not really about what He is asking me to do. It is about me, trying to figure out just how much control I have over my little life. At this point, not much.

The more i strive to live in the center of God’s will, the more He asks me to give up, the more uncomfortable i become. He teaches me, over and over again, that He does know best. The hard uncomfortable places, they get only more difficult. But i am learning to remember, before i even get there, that eventually this will be what is best for me, and more important, what is best for His glory.”

So if you didn’t get the answer to why from here than here it is, because being disobedient and missing God’s will and call for you and me is much much more unsatisfying and much much less glorifying for the Maker of the Universe! That’s why! If my disobedience occurs, it is to pursue “my” desires. Instead of dropping them find the Lords’. To follow Gods calling of my life in going overseas to be a missionary.

Katie goes on to say: “That thought reminds me quickly that i want to forsake everything to remain in the center of God’s will for my life, that i want to give up everything for the sake of the Gospel. I believe with all of my heart that nothing is a sacrifice in light of the promise that one day i will get to live with Him forever. I want to obey. I want to give my life away.”

This was the exact praise of my heart to the Lord this time last year, and although it’s not this year, it’s not that i’m any less holy, spiritual, intimate or whatever else with Jesus. It just means that my focus has come off the cross and on myself, in which He has made me aware of and i can start repenting and seeking Him more to get back to that place! He still views me perfect and precious in His sight because i stand saturated with the blood of the perfect and holy Lamb. Thank you Jesus so much for that, otherwise i’d be a lost cause….

All i know is that there is NO place i would rather be that in the center of God’s will, and in that standing in the midst of His love which overwhelms me with joy!

My prayer: Father help this be true of my heart, “God i will give everything, no matter the cost. No matter the cost. Because i believe that nothing is a sacrifice in light of eternity with You.” Amen.

To Him Who is Worth Far More:

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:52:16 -0400

So i have been flipping through my old journals from this past summer and semester just to take a walk through memory lane and it’s always a great reminder for me to see how the Lord has actively been moving and working in my life! Gosh it’s not only a lot of times embarrassing looking back on my journal entries, but it is equally just as humbling. As i read i see that the way i acted, thought, and talked to the Lord only seams but immature in accordance to His worth and glory. He is deserving of so much more of my love, adoration and affection that what i give Him. However, thankfully He loves me perfectly and still even thus continues to bless me by tenderly teaching me and loving me in the midst of my immaturities. As i strive to grow more and more into the likeness of The Holy One, i am continuously reminded of the One who was the perfect example. And because of His death on the cross i can stand unashamed in the presence of God one day! Amen to that!!

1 Peter 1:3-9 - Journey The Way/ Pastor Chad Pearce

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 04:01:09 -0500

1 Peter 1:3-9 - Journey The Way/ Pastor Chad Pearce

A Living Hope

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:58:18 -0500

This post is based on a sermon i listened to from my church back in Kansas “Journey The Way”. Phenomenal church and Pastor. So here ‘s my notes from it based on 1 Peter 1:3-9! My prayer is that whatever God wants to use to speak to or encourage you that He would be faithful to do so.

1 Peter 1: 6 says: “in this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…” and many of you and even myself often wonder “ok God why did this have to happen, or why did you take me through this?” After listening to this sermon (link to follow) it was really made clear:

Vs. 6 is meant to show us that as Christians we can rejoice in the sufferings because of the hope in Jesus Christ. Our suffering reveals our hope/or where we put our hope. Our hope should not be the world that we’re suffering in nor the things of the world… but instead in Jesus.

We will have to go through trials, we will be tested and endure. It’s interesting because vs. 6 says that it’s “necessary” to go through trials. As we read this, it’s only but natural to go whhhhhaaaatttt???!! But hear me out!- *It’s necessary to go through trials because we are not the goal! And we HAVE to realize it! *The goal is that we would be conformed into the image of Christ and that we would be the praise of His glory! Because when we go through trials, and rejoice in the living hope, the world looks at that and see’s that there’s a difference…..why?: because their hope is somewhere else.

So always remember as Peter is telling us in this letter, God isn’t mad, He doesn’t hate us or want to tease us by making us go through trials. God IS NOT trying to harm us. He is trying to work for His glory and for our good! The goal of the testing is that we would be for the praise of our glorious Savior! That is my prayer for my own life, and for yours too!

Children: The True Blessing & Why

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 05:09:08 -0500

As i’ve mentioned before, i LOVE children and babies with all my heart! So many of my weekends, week nights, and even days revolve around children in some way, shape or form. Some may think i’m crazy, but i absolutely love it! I have been extremely blessed to know many different families throughout the years that have entrusted me to look after, love on and care for the precious lives of their children. If you are one of those parents, I want to sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me with your child’s life. It has meant the world to me to get to share Jesus’s love with your baby!

In each season of my life that comes i am continually overwhelmed by the blessing that God has orchestrated children to be. Swept away by the sweet faces, tender voices, small hands and the most pure laughter i have heard- God melts my heart day after day by His little ones placed in my life. And that is why i love them so! I see God manifested more through children and their childlike faith than i do anywhere else! I often pray to have faith like the sweet little ones in my life. Faith that trusts ALL the time, and believes what is true, and is excited about ALL things!

To truly see the world through their eyes is incredible! And i think that’s how God designed it to be for us all. When i stop what i’m doing, and get down on my hands and knees to be with them on their level- seeing the world through their eyes…everything changes! I truly feel as though Christ desires this for us too. He desires us to be like a child with Him. To stop what we’re doing, to go to him and get down on our hands and knees humbling ourselves to then and only then be able to see the world through His eyes…..changing everything! It really is the most humbling and yet remarkable thing that the Lord has shown me through all the little ones He’s placed in my life!

Thank you again to all the moms and dads for allowing me to love your children, and for letting God teach me through your precious children! Thank you Father God for using what is most dear to my heart to humble me and teach me! I love you PaPa!

"God will take you where you didn’t intend to go to produce something in you, you can’t..."

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:57:16 -0500

“God will take you where you didn’t intend to go to produce something in you, you can’t produce on your own- uncomfortable grace is what we need.”

- Paul Tripp - (Mark 6:45-52)

"In hard times, you have the choice to focus on the pain, or ask the Lord to open your eyes to the..."

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:51:42 -0500

“In hard times, you have the choice to focus on the pain, or ask the Lord to open your eyes to the joy and blessings He freely gives.”

Audio

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:49:08 -0500

"Being firm in trials comes from the knowledge that God is good."

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:40:03 -0500

“Being firm in trials comes from the knowledge that God is good.”

Though I do not see him anymore, I love him. -1 Peter 1:8

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:36:25 -0500

Though I do not see him anymore, I love him. -1 Peter 1:8

My PaPa and I

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:32:02 -0500

My PaPa and I

His Timing is Perfect

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:28:00 -0500

As i mentioned in my last post my grandpa just recently passed away on December 9, 2012. I received a phone call from my dad at 3 am in tears, telling me that our PaPa passed away in his sleep. My sweet dad and i talked for a while on the phone as my heart raced and tears immediately filled my eyes and made it hard for me to talk. My PaPa is my dad’s dad. My dad is the only son and the youngest out of the four children of my grandma and grandpa.

I grew up most of my life living half a mile down the dirt road from my grandma- who we call Bibi and my grandpa- PaPa. So needless to say they have been a HUGE part of my life and testimony. Every piano recital, spelling bee, honor society award, basketball game, school banquet, and graduation speech… you name it and they were there! Growing up so close to Bibi and PaPa was one of the most precious joys- and i praise God for that blessing everyday. I have SO many sweet and precious memories with them, and those i will never forget but always cherish.

My sweet PaPa was THE strongest man i have ever known or met! He had been battling prostate cancer for 8 years, undergoing radiation, chemotherapy, many many different types of medicines and pills, and not to mention the hardship of growing more and more weak and feeble. The last few years of his life his cancer spread into his bones and grew more and more painful. The most heart breaking thing during all of this was seeing my strong PaPa so frustrated at the realization of his loss of mobility, strength, and things that he had been doing every day since he was 7 years old. Things that he loved and lived for; things like checking the cows, breaking the ice, feeding the horses, working in the barn, fixing the tractor…. he loved workin’ on the family farm. My whole family saw his hurt and frustration at the fact that he only grew weaker and weaker as time passed. And this was more heartbreaking than the cancer that overtook him.

On the upper scale, throughout the 8 years of PaPa’s sickness GOD was in the midst of every moment, every up and every down. His fingerprints were so perfect on every piece of the painting. God listened to every prayer of the many that were lifted up by me, my family, our churches, friends, and even strangers through a prayer chain. He gave my family and i so many things and reasons to praise His name and glorify Him through our answered prayers.

God is a provider. God is a healer. God is faithful. God is merciful. God is the ultimate lover. God holds all things together.

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” - Colossians 1:17

We prayed for time- God answered that and gave us 8 more years with PaPa
We prayed for peace- God answered that and allowed PaPa to have peace through Bibi being there to reassure him and help him with everything.
We prayed for healing- God answered that many times God minimized PaPa’s cancer count to a extremely low number where he could stop treatment for a while.
We prayed for opportunities to have spiritual conversations- God answered that by prompting myself and several other family members to be able to talk to PaPa about Jesus and to know that he knew the gospel and understood eternity because of Jesus’ death on the cross.
We prayed for full assurance of PaPa’s salvation- God answered this by parting the dementia from him for just some time so that he could tell us of his belief and confess sin- as his act of repenting. By the time PaPa passed- my entire family knew full and well that he was with Jesus with confidence.
We prayed for Papa to be able to stay at home instead of a retirement home- God answered this by giving Bibi supernatural Jesus strength to clothe, bathe, feed, and fully serve PaPa in every way possible taking care of him.
We prayed for God to relive PaPa of his pain- God answered this by the medications that he was able to get.
We lastly prayed for God to take PaPa in his sleep- And God answered this by gently picking sweet PaPa up and taking him home, in his sleep, in the middle of the night.

What a Great and Mercifully Loving God we serve! Can i get an amen?!! God and His fingerprints were all over PaPa’s life painting and especially seen during His last 8 years here on Earth. Thank you Father God for allowing me to have those 8 years to soak up and cherish!

I titled this “His Timing is Perfect” because of this: The weekend before PaPa went to be with Jesus, i had to come home to take family pictures with my siblings. I had originally planned a trip to AZ with some of my friends from school to see our friend Josh who was vacationing there with his family from New Hampshire. The opportunity to see Josh was planned two months prior, and i was really excited to get to catch up with such a close friend and brother. My dad had planned these sibling pictures and had to rearrange them due to my brothers coaching schedule, the photographer leaving town, and weather. So due to those circumstances the photo shoot ended only being able to happen the SAME weekend as the AZ trip. I was actually really disappointed and bummed to not be able to go. Little did i know how perfect God and His time was…..

So i drove the 5 hour drive home and dragged one of my best friends home with me. The day of the photo shoot came and we drove about 40 mins out to our farm land and the old school and gym my PaPa actually went to and played in, in high school. Its old and rustic looking- way cool! The photographer completely forgot about our session due to a computer issue at his office, which pushed back our early session an hour and a half to give him enough time to get out there with us. The interesting thing was, he told us that in his 22 years of being a photographer he has NEVER missed or forgotten a shoot…. (God thing! I’ll tell you why!)

This hour and a half allowed my siblings, dad, and i to be able to drive to Bibi & PaPa’s house and spend that time just sitting with them and in their company. All of us kids sat on PaPa’s chair, hugging him, kissing him, talking to him, telling him how much we loved him and what he meant to us, and just cherished that small moment. ……….. That was the last time i saw and spoke to my precious PaPa. Exactly a week later, God met him in the night and took him home to heaven.

Had God not planned my brothers schedule the way he did- we wouldn’t have had to reschedule the photo shoot. Had the photographer not planned to leave town- we wouldn’t have been able to do the shoot so early. Had he remembered, or the computer had given him the reminder- he wouldn’t have been late. Had the photographer not have been late- i wouldn’t have gotten to go to my grandparents and see PaPa for one last time. Had i had gone to AZ- i would never have gotten to tell PaPa one last time how much he means to me, how much i loved him, and hold his strong hands as he touched my face.

If you’re reading this and still with me after the length of this post, i want you to hear this above anything else that i’ve said today: GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! In death, in life, in sorrow, in pain, in heartbreak, in joy, in the day, in the night….He is good! He is faithful! and His timing truly is perfect! Do not ever doubt that! and if you do or are, open up that book sitting next to your bedside table and read it!

Because He is good and because of His grace upon me, i can fully rejoice in sufferings of this life that come- sufferings like my PaPa’s death. (Romans 8:18, 12: 12, 1 Corinthians 1:7) Even though i desperately miss PaPa and seeing him sitting in his chair by the heater when i’d walk in his home i would NEVER wish him back and away from Jesus. Even though i cry often at memories of him, and things that become realizations of never having with him again here on this earth, God is in control. I can rejoice in the Lord and have joy solely because of God and through His goodness. Thank you Jesus for that hope that is in you- because it’s all about you!

"Great God, wrap your arms around this world tonight! And when you hear our cries sing through the..."

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:50:57 -0500

“Great God, wrap your arms around this world tonight! And when you hear our cries sing through the night, so we can join in your song! And sing along, sing along!”

- Christy Nockels

More friends and I with Phil Wickham

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:44:09 -0500

More friends and I with Phil Wickham

My friends and I with one of the Shane’s! (LOL)

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:42:40 -0500

My friends and I with one of the Shane’s! (LOL)

Phil Wickham, Shane&Shane

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:40:55 -0500

Phil Wickham, Shane&Shane

Photo

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:38:44 -0500

Photo

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:37:36 -0500

Photo

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:35:54 -0500