Brokenness and Imperfections

Happy New Year, dear friend! How are you? How's your 2013 so far? I don't know why, but this week has DRAGGED. It's not like I'm not doing stuff, but oh, well. :D

If you're my friend on Facebook, you probably know all about what I've been up to. (If you're not, and you'd like to be, send me a request! LORI STILGER. :) ) But let me share a bit, anyway. I mean, that's why I started this blog, right? :D

I spent two weeks in College Station, Texas, taking care of my then-three-month-old niece. This is my baby sister's baby. You know there are VERY few people in the entire world I'd take two weeks out of my December to do something like that for. :D But it was an honor. And hard work! LOL! Fortunately, the baby is SO easy to care for, not fussy at all, and such a beautiful baby. Here, I'll put a picture of us from that visit here!Isn't she beautiful?

ANYWAY. :D

While I was there, Baby and I made some presents for the rest of the family; they were salt dough ornaments, and we used ONE hand and ONE foot to mark the dough, then let them dry.

Well, as you can see from my photo at the top of this post, mine is the imperfect one. When we first made this one, I thought, "Oh, no! It's ruined! Man, if only I'd gotten her hand straighter before we put pressure on the dough!"

But you know what? The more I watched it dry, the more I started to cherish this plaque in particular. the rest might have been more "perfect", but THIS one, I understood. THIS one, her delight in the texture and feel of the dough are made evident in the way she wanted to FEEL it - first with her hand, then with her big toe!

And it tied itself right into a lesson God's been developing in my heart over the last few months.

See, many times we come to a place in our lives where we have to fight despising the brokenness and imperfections in our past (or current) lives. The cracks and chips that happen when we choose to go our own ways, to live how WE think we want to. When we allow God to put us back together, those aren't glossed over. They're still there; we may be held together by His grace, but we can still see every crack, still feel where the chips are glued back together.

Dear friend, what He's been teaching me is that our brokenness and imperfections are SO useable by Him! Think about a candle holder (there's a really special one that I cannot find the info on, so I'll have to explain!!!) that's been cracked and broken. The owner puts it back together, and puts a candle into it. The light of the candle shines through the cracks, shedding light and warmth through where it couldn't shine through before.

God's the One Who puts us back together again. The candle is the Holy Spirit, shining the light of Jesus through us to the world. What a MIRACLE that is. So, I try not to despise those things in my life anymore, but turn them over to the Father, so He can use them to shed His light into others' lives. And to not give Satan something to hold over me. If it's out in the open, he can't torment me with feelings of guilt and condemnation!

I've been learning a lot. It takes a while to solidify into words, but I hope these words help you in some way. :) Be BLESSED, dear one. Know you are loved with an everlasting love, and that God does ALL things well! That includes creating YOU.

Don't Live a Garbage Truck Life!

Good morning! A dear new friend sent this to me today, after receiving what I had to say in the Heavenly Perspective Good News email (went as a 5-day devotional; please let me know if you'd like to receive it!). I love it - it's SO TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you enjoy this thought, and let me know if it has an impact on your day. :) I love you, dear friend!!!

Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, say a prayer for them and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so . . . love the people who treat you right. Forgive the ones who don't. We're not always responsible for everything that happens to us, but we are responsible for how we react to what happens. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a wonderful, garbage-free day!

What's your duck?

A dear friend sent me this last week, and I've been wanting to post it. So, here it is. :) Be blessed, my dear friend, and consider what your duck might be!

Here’s a great story by Richard Hoeffer:

A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot.
He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. He went back to
Grandma’s back yard, where he spied her pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let
fly. The stone hit. The duck fell dead. The boy panicked. Desperately he hid the dead
duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all,
but she said nothing.

After lunch that day, Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said,
“Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you, Johnny?”

And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!”

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later Grandpa asked if anyone wanted to go fishing. Grandma said, “I’m sorry, but I
need Sally to help make supper.” Sally smiled and said, “That’s all taken care of. Johnny
wants to do it.”

Again she whispered, “Remember the duck!”

Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing.

Several days went like this: Johnny was doing both his chores and Sally’s. Finally he
couldn’t stand it. He confessed to Grandma that he had killed the duck.
“I know, Johnny,” Grandma said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and
saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you
would let Sally hold it over you.”

The question is: What’s your duck?

I just had to share this with you - I received it in my email today! ENJOY and be blessed!


1. Give God what's right -- not what's left.

2. Man's way leads to a hopeless end! -- God's way leads to an endless hope. (AMEN!!!!)

3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma--but never let him be the period.

6. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.

7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a face-lift.

8. When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty.

9. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.

10. We don't change God's message -- His message changes us.

11. The church is prayer-conditioned.

12. When God ordains, He sustains.

13. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.

14. Plan ahead -- It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

15. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

16. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.

17. Exercise daily -- walk with the Lord.

18. Never give the devil a ride -- he will always want to drive.

19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

21. He who angers you controls you!

22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

23. Give Satan an inch & he'll be a ruler.

24. Be ye fishers of men -- you catch them & He'll clean them..

25. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Well, here we are again. :) We've been together on this blog for a whole year. Last year, we started out setting goals - and while we might have done ok, we didn't do too well at all on the whole.

SO! Who's up to setting new goals this year? :) I'll start, and you can post in the comments section - and I'll ask once a month how we're doing. Be honest, OK? :D

I will read at least one verse FROM MY BIBLE daily, not online, not trying to find a verse for our devotional, but FROM MY BIBLE.

I will post at least once a week to this blog.

I will send at least one card to someone a month.

I have a couple of others I MIGHT do, but those three for sure are ones I want to commit to. Your turn!!

Dear friend, as we go into 2009, may you know with all your heart that God loves you, that He cherishes you and longs for you to intimately know Him. Seek Him, know Him, and be IN Him in '09!!!! BE BLESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas, Christmastime is HERE!

Hello, dear friends! How are you this beautiful day? It's SUNNY here - I know Kenn will be THRILLED about that. he's been bemoaning the fact he hasn't seen the sun in days. It makes him even crankier. LOL!

It's the 19th of December. Only a few more days until we celebrate the birthday of our King! Our church held its birthday celebration on Wednesday - it was a HUGE party. :) There was dancing everywhere, and so many carols - so much jubilation! Many, many different ways of giving thanks for the amazing grace that came from Heaven were shown Wednesday night. It was amazing.

Have you been too caught up in the hustle and bustle of this season? Have you been able to just SIT, and dwell on His amazing love for you? Or to celebrate the gratitude in your heart towards Him? I would encourage you to do so! :D

The picture above is one of our newest acquisitions for our decorating in the kitchen (I'll try to get a few pictures from the open house up soon....). He was originally made to be a paper towel holder, but I LOVE this little snowman's attitude: HUG ME! BE HAPPY!!!!!! :D

I encourage you, dear friend, to bring someone to your house this season. A close friend you want to enjoy, a friend who's having a difficult time this year due to stress or loss, someone you want to get to know better. Welcome them. Treat them to an hour of your time. Share a season of peace and hope with them. Bless them - and you will be absolutely AMAZED at how blessed you are in return.

YOU ARE LOVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace on earth, good will toward men....

Happy December, my friends! Thank you for those of you who have checked in; things have been rough for me the last few weeks - but I KNOW my God is in control, so I continue to struggle back to rest in Him. :) I KNOW you know how it goes. What's that saying? :Life is what happens to you while you're making plans"? :D

ANYWAY. This picture is my little tree in the stamping area. I love this tree; it's silver, but it's a 4-footer. Maybe that makes it easier to love? :D The stamping area is done in blue, white, and sliver; it's VERY peaceful. I can sit in here and work just by Christmas lights. RUDOLPH is on the TV behind me, Kenn's upstairs working, and I am sitting here counting my blessings again. I'm HOME. I have some of my loved ones here with me during this special time of the year. God send His only Son to live a humble life - to live and be tempted by things we're all tempted by, to know pain and joy. I am so blessed. I live in a beautiful home. I am loved.

So are you. :) I hope you find a quiet moment to sit and count your blessings this week, too. It helps keeping Christ the middle of your season! :)

TOMORROW WILL BE A BLOG CANDY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you're interested in reading our Christmas newsletter this year, you can find it HERE.

Be blessed, my dear friend!

From a Friend....

A dear friend sent me this a month or so ago. Some of you know Kenn and I are sick with head colds - so silly when it's 85 outside!!!!! - but I thought I'd let this say what I want to say today. :) I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!!! BE BLESSED, dear one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE LOVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful Christian Sister
by Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin''
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!
Pretty is as Pretty does... but beautiful is just plain beautiful!

Good Wednesday Morning!

Quick post today - I'm SO FRIGGIN' BUSY!!! - but I wanted to poke my head in and ask you:

HOW IS YOUR WEEK GOING???????????????????

:)

Happy Sunday Evening!

I know it's been a while since I posted, and I do apologize. This problem with the banking is eating up my concentration - I'm really hoping to clear the remains up in the next two days....

ANYWAY. It's not QUITE Monday, but sharing about God and His awesome goodness, grace, and mercy should never have limits, should it? :)

We had a WONDERFUL day. We slept in - we went to see Encore Theatre Company's presentation of SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN last night - if you're in the greater Nashville area, you should DEFINITELY go check it out!!! Paula Fox directs, and they've prayed this show into an annointed effort. PRAISE GOD FOR GODLY THEATER PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES!!! They need your SUPPORT, dear ones - we are FEW and FAR BETWEEN!

ANYWAY. Wow, not sure where that came from!. :D Anyway. On our way to church, we talked about a lot of "hot topics" - well, Kenn did. :) Our old church and the way things happened there still bother him, and this banking thing means we're running out of funds to live on, and and and. :)

May I just say, GOD IS TOTALLY ALL I NEED?!?!?!?!?!

He spent the whole service affirming His sufficiency to us. We sing a lot of songs at our new church that I don't know, and one of them the chorus was, "When we're lifting up Jesus, we're putting demons down". :) The lyrics to the verses were awesome - I've requested them from the worship leader, so I'm hoping to be able to share them with you.

Anyway. The message about tithing was from Malachi, chapter 3 verses 10-11:

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this,”

Says the LORD of hosts,

“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven

And pour out for you such blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it.

“ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,

So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,

Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”

Says the LORD of hosts;

(emphasis mine! :))

The cool thing is, we'd both pulled out our tithes already. :) With all the fnancial stuff going on this week, it would have been easy to justify not giving. But we really feel the pull these days!!!

So, anyway. He went on to talk about the historical context of this - the land was in a deep famine, and even though we NORMALLY interpret this to be Satan, it's really "the devourer". So, the things that seem to devour our resources - God will rebuke them FOR MY SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah, what a GOD we serve!!!!!!!!!!! You KNOW I'm claiming that one!!! :)

The sermon was the last of the six-week series on HOLINESS. In a nutshell: we do not have to strive to be holy. We cannot MAKE ourselves holy. WE ARE HOLY. And instead of trying to prove it, we need to walk in it. As I Peter 1:13 says, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

First, prepare. How very silly it is for us to not expect an attack daily. Pastor Ronnie was funny; he said, "It's like we get up in the morning, and think,'I think today Satan's taking a day off. He and some of his minions. I think I'm not going to have to worry about being attacked today.'" It IS silly, isn't it. Why do we not prepare ourselves first thing in the morning? For instance, our whole married life, Satan has attacked us in the financial area. It's certainly still happening! :D WHY do I expect anything different?

Next, show the Fruit of the Holy Spirit who resides in you!

HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL BE FAITHFUL TO COMPLETE IT UPON THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS!!! (Philippians 1:6)

God is SO good. Please don't stop praying for us - but know that God is much, much bigger than anything that I'm going through. Same for you, dear one. HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Wednesday! :)

Well, OK, I'm not feeling so happy today. I'm feeling kind of beat up again. But I'm getting ready to go spend some time with Daddy, and studying a bit of His Word - so I'll be OK. :) I just wanted to give you something to meditate on today. Here's a photo:

And what, exactly, is love? Well, we ALL know that answer!

1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I would ask you to seek your Daddy today, too. Ask Him to reveal to you if you're truly loving "one another" as He would have you to. Especially in your fellowship of believers! William E.H. Lecky, an Irish poet, is quoted as saying, "There is no wild beast so ferocious as Christians who differ concerning their faith." Or maybe it's happened to you, too - friends one day simply vanish because of something that has happened between you.

Dearest Lord!!!! Teach us to love AS YOU LOVE US!

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday! Oh, I said that already, didn't I. :D Well, I meant it! LOL!

This picture was featured in Monday's devotional that Kenn & I send out, so I apologize if it's a repeat for you - but I REALLY liked this shot. :)

Have you heard about the WOMEN OF JOY conference? Well, I'm BLESSED - I get to go to the one in Branson, MO this month!!! Here's the link, if you're interested in finding out a bit more:

http://www.mywomensevents.com/

If you're going to be there, please drop me a note! I'd LOVE to meet up with you!

So, what's everyone up to today? It's the beginning of allergy season here, and I'm starting to pay for it. I've got a wicked sore throat, so I'm taking it easy today - because I have four more days of show, and Sunday's going to be DIFFICULT, with strike and church and show.

Please talk to me! :) I may take a little long to get back to you, but I promise, I will eventually! :) There are a lot of you hurting right now; thank you for trusting me enough to tell me about it. I am praying for you, dear one. God knows your heart! He loves you, and knows the plans He has for you. He knows the desires of your heart - and they're His desires! You've sought after Him, and He loves you, SO MUCH. Rest in Him today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BE BLESSED. You ARE blessed, and highly favored! Now, go BE BLESSED!!!!

Nancy, this is the sharing about God's LOVE I mentioned two weeks ago. :D

Hello, dear friend. I'm still not feeling too great, but God's GOOD! :)

I mentioned being scared of asking my Father for ANYTHING - well, in this excerpt that was in my study Bible, Max sure threw some light on why I feel this way! I can't wait to hear YOUR take on it....

AUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I *knew* I should have marked it! I've spent two hours looking for it, and still can't find it. I'll keep looking, but I want to give you the gist of the excerpt.

Max's wife had been away, and he was in charge of the girls for the time. If they had been good, the family was going to do something special. They went to the airport to pick her up; when she asked if the children had been good, he said yes.

The oldest piped up from the back seat, and told her daddy he was wrong; they'd done this and this and this bad, so they shouldn't get to go.

Daddy had forgiven the little trespasses. But we don't expect OUR Daddy to do that, do we. We keep track of the things we do wrong, and say, "How can You love me, God? See how filthy and dirty I am?" But HE says, "I've forgiven that. You're washed in the blood. Quit bringing it back up, dear one. It is DONE."

Did you miss me???

Lori P. contacted me to make sure I was OK. :) Thanks, Lori! I appreciate your concern.

But I'm fine. I have been SUPER-busy the past two days. After the men finished the flooring in my bedroom, Mom and I painted - and then Kenn & I rushed off to meet up with some friends who are in town from Oregon.

Yesterday was spent putting everything back in the bedroom, trying out new furniture positions, etc. And finishing sorting my clothing - I got rid of about half of what I had! - and organizing my closet again. Phew. Was I ever tired!!!!!!

Then last night, we had a general membership meeting for the theater company we do a lot of work with. Kenn and I are co-directing the next show, OUR TOWN, and tryouts are this Sunday & Monday - so it was important that we were there. We got to see our budget, and you can pray that this show is as successful as it has potential to be; the theater company needs to have a good turnout, or we'll be in trouble financially. Kenn & I have already done something to make it a little easier for the show to turn a profit, and we've sent out audition notices to about 200 people ourselves, so we're really trying. It's going to keep us busy for a while, that's for sure!!!

Anyway. I'm here! :) Yes, the diabetes thing is still up and down, but I'm still plugging away. I have a specialist appointment this coming week, and I'm going to discuss some changes, for SURE. :) (The photo is sugar-free pudding. Don't you just love creamy chocolate anything? LOL!)

Today is SHOW & TELL FRIDAY, so I'll be thinking about what I want to share and do so later.

Right now, I want to start a discussion about GRACE.

What is your personal definition of grace? Not some platitude you heard from someone else, but how YOU define it. Go ahead, think about it.

Ready? Have you defined it for yourself? I'm still thinking....

Grace is OFFICIALLY defined as "unmerited favor". But what does that MEAN?

God's grace is incredible, ladies. I'm sure you've seen this:

God's

Redemption

At

Christ's

Expense

But WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???

The infinite, perfect, all-knowing, all-seeing God of the universe loves ME. He loves me enough that He sacrificed His perfect Son as a blood sacrifice for me. Because He loves me, He FORGIVES me. He has allowed me to be covered in that blood, so He sees me as able to come into His presence. I'm FORGIVEN, SANCTIFIED, and BEING MADE HOLY because of His grace. I could NEVER earn His favor. He GIVES it to me.

SUCH a hard concept to understand for a lot of us!!!! I'll be talking more about GRACE in the next few days; I think it's an important concept to at least try to understand - not only God's grace to us, but our responsibility to extend grace to others. And to be brutally frank about why we have a hard time both accepting and extending grace.

So, let's discuss! :) What's YOUR definition of grace? Do you have a hard time accepting grace - or is it something that you never really think about?