Philippian 1:4-6

Philippians 1:4-6
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Oh Paul, his words are almost always encouraging to me. As I go through a time of struggle and disappointment in what I see my life doing, this verse gives me hope. All these callings I f elt like God placed in my life seem impossible now, but if God starts it he will make a way.

I cant say it is easy to keep hope and faith through every trial, but God is not a liar. I may not live out my dreams how I imagined them, but God put them in my heart for a reason. I look forward to seeing how he will make it come to pass.

I also long for him to give me that passion I once had, even though my ability has changes. He uses the weak to show up the strong and the simple to amaze the wise.

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5

 Today, October 15th is Pregnancy loss and awareness day. Please take a moment to pray for those who have been affected by this very real loss. For more information you can visit my personal page, Casseruola Dolce Della Vita.

The Art of Celebration

 I received this album for reviewing purposes and was pleasantly surprised. I am a big fan of Christian music, but I am terrible with keeping up with band names. Before it arrived, Rend Collective had never really crossed my radar. It just wasn't one of those bands that stood out to me. However, its now become one of my family's music staples. In fact, my husband gladly "stole" the CD for his car. It has a unique sound and uplifting and encouraging lyrics. The sound is a mix of Irish folk, pop, and rock.
My husband has been the primary listener of this CD since it arrived. He truly feels like it has brought him closer to God and helped him go through some rough days. His favorite song is "Boldly I Approach Your Throne." Although the CD is not specified as just worship, it has definitely got the feel through out it. "My Lighthouse" is my favorite on the whole CD. It makes a perfect playlist for heading to work or running errands! I would highly recommend it.

If you are hoping to get a chance to listen to it yourself, you can purchase it at Family Christian or you can enter my giveaway below!    
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Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

This verse is my son's Scripture verse of the week. I've read it everyday since last Wednesday. However, today after I read it and went to get ready for bed, God spoke to me about myself. I have always been involved in the Body Love Movement. I have a respect for who God made me to be. However, I never really SAW what I believed. I was a fake until you make it kind of person. I acted like I loved what I saw, but I didn't always feel it on the inside.  

Today when I looked in the mirror, I saw that I was wonderfully made. I didn't look at my flaws or weird marks, I saw what God sees. I saw a woman, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. I saw someone God made perfectly.

There can be no more perfect me. There is no such thing as a perfect person, so what reason would I have to wish and hope for that. However, each person is the only version of themselves, and that is amazing!

So, I cant say that I still love every aspect of me, but today I looked in the mirror and what I saw was BEAUTIFUL.

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?


²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34 

I have had these verses on my mind as of late. Recently my husband lost his job and my family is having to lean heavily on these words. When God first brought these verses to my mind, I was frustrated because I was seeing them incorrectly. In my head I read the verses as saying that God takes care of those things, so he will take care if us. However, I  realize (just as Matthew did), that flowers are quickly withered, stepped on, or killed by frost. I compared myself to that flower. Something to just be withered and tossed away, but that is not at all what these verses say.

If you truly read the words, you will find that Matthew is not comparing us those things, just pointing out that they have no need to worry. Even without worrying they are beautiful, whether their life be short or long, they fulfill their purpose and lose nothing to worry. As God's people, we are given the great gift to have that same kind of freedom. Worry will add nothing to the situation but frustration and pain. Whether our time in struggle is long or short lived, will we not make it until tomorrow if God's will is for us to?

Our heavenly Father is clearly aware of what it really takes for us to live. If we are living for him and doing as he desires, he will be sure to provide those needs. Its not to say that life will get easier, or that you wont feel the sting of going without... its that each day has enough of its own problems to let those things infect every aspect of your life.

I hope today that you are encouraged in the fact that God is aware of our situation and is working behind the scenes to help us bloom. It is always dark when a seed grows its roots but its always reaching for the sun. Just as we should reach for the SON in our darkest times. Once there is roots are strong, there is a beautiful result.