What Have I done?

We had a good service today. The kind that really makes you start to think. So if you will bear with me, I am going to share my thoughts with you. Not because I want to seem Holier than thou or to show how Heavenly minded I am. My reason for this is simply because I think I should and I care.

OK so here goes.

I was thinking about how, for many years, people have been saying, “Get right with God, He is coming soon! Repent!” There are so many ways for people to disregard this warning. Even in the Bible they say that the time of the Lord’s returning is at hand. I think that this warning has become more like the boy who cried wolf than anything else, to most people. No one takes it seriously anymore. Not even Christians.

However, for me, I know in my heart that the return of Jesus is soon and my spirit confirms this. Much sooner than anyone would like to think. The bible tells us that He will come when no one is looking for Him. Well, if this is really the case, right now could be considered the perfect time.

You know, this thought should not bring sorrow, fear or worry. For those of us who know the Christ, we should be comforted in this time.
There are a few things that should be considered right now.

The first should be:
Do you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when the heavenly trumpet sounds, you will be called up to meet your savior?
Will you be among those saints that are taken from this world and kept from the great tribulation?

For those that said No:
Will you recognize the rapture after it has happened?
Will you know that you were left behind?
What will you do then?
Do you think that you will turn to God at that time?
If so, do you think it will be easier to live your life for God then rather than now, when you will face persecution like no one here has before?
Or, will you decide to do something about it now instead of then?
I beg of you, do not take these questions lightly! My heart goes out to those who do not know the Lord or who is not secure in their relationship with Him. Please! Please! Please consider these things! Do not disregard these questions but ponder over them in your heart.

For those that said Yes:
What will you do now?
You know that you are safe from the tribulation, but what of those around you?
Do you have loved ones that are not so confident?
Do you plan on taking anyone with you to meet Jesus?

These are not questions that I ask without first asking myself the same things.

What have I done to warn others of the danger in waiting until it’s too late?
What can I say to people who have not chosen a God centered life?
Is there anything that I can say?
How long am I going to be afraid to say anything because I don’t want to offend someone or make them mad at me?
Do I live my life for God, Man or Myself?

I can no longer afford to walk on my tiptoes. I have to determine in my own heart how I will live the rest of my days with the knowledge that the return of Christ is soon. I have to overcome my fears and reach out to people. I do not want to get to the throne of heaven and be told, “You knew! Why then, did you not tell anyone else?”
The Bible tells us to go out into all the world and tell people of Jesus, the son of God, and what He did for us.
Have I done my part?

These are my thoughts. I wanted to share them with you, if for no other reason than to just let them out. Maybe it’s just to let someone else know that they are not alone in what they are thinking.

I love you and God be with you.

Renaissance Festival

I know that this may make me geeky but I am so excited about going to the Renaissance Festival this weekend! I went to one back in the summer and had a lot of fun. This one is suppose to be a lot bigger. This weekend is Pirates weekend. I wonder if I can find me a pirate!

Part of me wants to go dressed in the renaissance garb like everyone else but part of me is afraid to. I plan on trying a turkey leg. I have never had one. I am taking a friend with me. I hope she doesn't regret agreeing to go. One things for sure, I should have something to scrapbook when I get back. Oh well, that's what's getting me through this day. Not been a great one but hopefully it will get better.

OK that's the end of my ramblings.

The last of my baby book

These are the last of my baby paper bag book pages.
There isn't anything fancy here. These are the first two that I did. I guess I was just trying to get back into it again.





I loved this paper. It had the word Mother written all over it in several different languages. I just love that.







I only used one of my stamps with this book, primarily because I realized that I didn't have or at lest couldn't find the stuff to clean my stamps with. I hate leaving them with ink on them.



I am not really crazy about this paper but I think it came together well and still looks little girlish.





Out of these three this one is my favorite.



These pages I really wanted to be designated for Dad but I couldn't find anything that I had that said Dad on it. Oh well I guess it doesn't really matter.





This one was kind of tedious. I don't think I realized how long it would take to cut this out. However, I like the results.



OK that's it. I know that I am going to have to start something new now but I am at a loss as to what. I may try to join in more challenges and really begin to do some things for me. I haven't done much for myself. I like to do things for other people. I would really like to do an album based on maps maybe I could try that next. We shall see. Thanks for all the comments. :)

Second, Third and Fourth Challenge! and then some.

OK well I am going to try to put up more of my paper bag book that I have been working on. I decided to try my hand at a few more challenges. This one is for Scrapbooking Stampede's sketch.



I loved this paper.

The next challenge I decided to try was for Mojo Monday sketch. I like the way it turned out, however once it was done I see things that I could have done better. I guess everyone is like that thou.



The last one I did was for a sketch from Unscripted Sketches.



OK so that's all that I did for challenges. I did get some inspiration for the rest of my pages from looking at every one's work. Thanks for posting such pretty and interesting pages.

This idea came out of a magazine, pulse the bedding that's being used in her baby's room is all done in mushrooms and snails. I Love mushrooms, almost as much as Momiji loves owls. ;)



another page using mushrooms. I am not showing them in order, I hope no one cares.



The insert that I did to match it.



The next three pages I did are probably my favorite. I got this idea out of a magazine as well.







I have a few more pages that I can post but at the moment I need to go for now. If anyone has any suggestions on what to do to improve I am all ears. Thanks.

My First Challenge!!

I haven't done any scrapbooking in a really long time. I decided to make a paper bag book for a woman that I work with who just had a baby girl. While I was working on this book my friend, Momiji, told me about these challenges she was doing on her blog. After some time I decided to check it out and it helped me to get back into the spirit of scrapbooking.

I have finally finished a page that I am going to enter into Get Sketchy's SG4#. I like this one because it was so different from what I am use to doing.



I am going to post the rest hopefully tomorrow. It's a bit late and I think Hollie would like me to leave now. :)

Blogg candy drawing for spreading the word

* Martha Stewart gem stone glitter set (18 total colors!)
*Martha Stewart Drippy Goo border punch
*Martha Stewart Heart & Flower clear stamp set (18 stamps!)
* THREE different Rachelle Anne Miller clear stamps by Stampavie!
*1 wood mounted "Riley on hammock" stamp from Hanna Stamps
*1 wood mounted "Ewe are Beary Special" stamp from Darcie's
*Basic Grey Wisteria paper pack
*Basic Grey Wisteria glazed brads pkg.
*39 piece set of K & Company chipboard die-cut shapes
*pkg. of 6 winter style paper pins (archival safe)
*pkg. of 4 acrylic rhinestone flourish accents
*pkg. of Daisy d's scrapbook wallet kit
*pkg. of Miss Elizabeth's Floral 12" x 12" designer papers
*Quick Quotes "The Best Vacation" journal title
*Quick Quotes vellum quotes Fall themed
*Quick Quotes vellum quotes & tags friendship themed
*pkg. of 3 metal word stickers
*2 spools of metallic ribbon (silver & gold 5 yds each)
*15 spools of various colored ribbon!!!! (10 yds. each)
*pkg. of 75 tiny pastel buttons
*pkg. of 12 gold metal book plates
*pkg of 40 pieces of red & pink photo holders

Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential

Go check it out!

Fall

I Love Fall! I know it wont be fall until September 22 but today, to me at lest, feels like a fall day. The leaves on the trees outside my house are starting to change colors and the stores are getting all the cold weather cloths in. It makes me want to pull out my boots and sweaters. I am also feeling my knitting fever coming on. I need to get all my UFOs (unfinished objects) out and get some work done. Now that my friend has Finally gotten me to start blogging I am thinking about trying to find some knitting challenges to get involved with. Maybe it will do for me what the scrap booking challenges have done for her.
Oh well, thats what I have been thinking about today.

Sorrow and Joy?

Over the past few days I have been thinking about these two things. Earlier in the week I received an email with this link, A Call to Anguish-David Wilkerson. I don't know if it will touch everyone the way it did me but I was truly convicted by it. I am one who wanted to take things easy. I was concerned but didn't want the get too involved with things. I wanted to be happy. I still want to be happy.

Just after listening to this I heard a short segment on Klove radio station by Jesus Freaks. This was talking about how the deciples were promised that they would experience constant sorrow and joy. Sorrow and Joy? My first thought was of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban. There is a part where Ron is trying to read Harry's tea leaves and he says ''your going to suffer but your going to be happy about it" with a very doubtfully look on his face. I guess that's kind of how I was feeling. How can you have both at the same time? Can you feel anguish and joy?

I am not sure I have the answer to that yet but I am beginning to understand that I can't hide from sorrow any more, not that I ever could to begin with. I am terrified of what's to come and what I may have to face. It scares me to think about sharing in God's anguish but I can't let my fear keep me from God. I know that is just what I was doing. I think that I let the fear start to control me more than I it. I know that spirit of fear does not come from God.

God does give us the promise that He will never give us more than we can handle and that He will be there with us all the way, no matter what. There are levels to God's power that I haven't even begun to comprehend yet. This is one of them. I pray that God will help me to overcome my fears and give me the courage that I need to face what I must to grow strong in Him. Keep me in your prayers.