Reminder

God is faithful. He will provide. Even when I can't see it right now, even when I'm in this weird limbo, even when it seems like things are at a standstill, He is faithful. He is faithful in ALL He does. And knowing that makes all the worry and anxiety melt away.

For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.

[Psalm 33:4]

Truth Tuesday: Prayer

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you have know him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…

{Ephesians 1:16-18}

Prayer:  

One night, confused and frustrated over life, I broke down, got off my high horses of stubbornness and pride, and went to ask for help and insight.  After word vomiting all over my dear friend, I was still hurt but seeing a little clearer. I realized Jesus still had a lot He wanted to process through with me.

but I was left with a lingering question. 

Why do I bother to continue to pray about it?  He already knows all my thoughts and what He is going to do…duh.

My dear wise friend threw this at me to chew on for a while…

“Prayer is not so that God may know our thoughts
but
that we might know out thoughts as God does.”

Talk about pretty cool.  I read back through my journal and realized God had not only been answering my prayers, but guiding my thoughts in my prayers to see Him in action.  I am telling you now it wasn’t easy to go through, but all the while He was showing me what He wanted me to look at and think about the situation. 

Lesson learned: I not only get to look back and see how He has worked in my life but also get to see Him working in my life.  Yeah for prayer!

And the universe was silent.

I saw this at church yesterday... please take the 6 1/2 minutes to watch it. It is a chillingly beautiful re-telling of Genesis 3. I don't even know what to say about it, other than you should just watch it! AND, I love me some good spoken word!

Freedom Friday

[On Fridays we will be providing you with facts, stats, scripture, resources, thoughts, links, etc. having to do with freedom and justice. We serve a just, loving God who has a HUGE heart for those oppressed and those in need. Our hope is that you can come away from Fridays here at "Things that make us tick" a little more educated about the injustice around us and with a bigger heart for those who are afflicted.] 

Lord, break out heart for what breaks yours.

Key word: HE.

HE (God) will deliver the needy and afflicted. How fortunate we are that He delivered US, and now chooses to include and use us in his redemptive plan for the world.

New Neighbor Series: Why we sign off with "live loved." [Part 4]

I have never been a big fan of [Good-byes] 

Reason # one: They seem to leave this air of permanent absence.

Reason # two: I have always loved the quote…

                      

“Do not cry because it is over.  Smile because it happened”

Reason # three: Saying “see you later gator” never ceases to make me laugh

This leads me to explain the choice of our sign-off….

Why { LIVE LOVED }?

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across a video by Mike Donehey from Tenth Avenue North.  It hit me hard as I realized I how much I didn’t believe or understand that [He] loved me.  I started looking back at my reactions to situations, people and events that proved my disbelief true.  Talk about eye opening. 

There is truth in the fact that knowing that Jesus loves me changes everything.

When we live as if we truly believed that we are deeply loved by the Creator of all things created, by the Savior of the world, by the Lord of all, we are free. Free to be who we were created to be, free to live without regret or plagued by guilt, without care of what others think of us, free to just be. We are no longer pulled down by our insecurities or the lies of the enemy. We are free to relate to others out of the depths of our heart, rather than the surface of what we allow them to see. We are free to think good thoughts [about ourselves, others, and God] because we know that God is a loving God and that He loves me and the people I interact with. Living in the knowledge that we are loved by the Father brings freedom to every area of our lives…

so how will it change your life if you LIVE LOVED ?

New Neighbor Series: Who is HB? [Part 3]

Who is HB?

For starters, I am forgiven and free! If I had to describe myself in one word it would be REDEEMED. When I think about where I've been and where I am, I am so incredibly thankful! 

My name is [Heather]
thanks to a teenage boy named Heath that my dad was friends with and helped on his paper route [the kid's, not my dad's]. My middle name is Leigh thanks to the fact that that is also the middle name of my grandpa and dad [both Lee]. I'm pretty sure my parents must have been hoping for a boy since both my first and middle name come from boys.


[I LOVE]
+ lions.
   Because they remind me of God- strong, powerful, and terrifying, but gentle and cuddly at the same time.
+ crafts/decorating/designing.
   Because they allow me to express myself creatively. Plus they're fun.
+ reading.
   Fiction, because it engages my imagination... one of my favorite things ever!
   Non-fiction, because I get to learn... another one of those favorites!

[MY STANCE ON]
+ colors.
   Like KC, I also like mismatched colors. I recently [yesterday] discovered this in my art class when
   everyone but me thought two colors looked horrible together. However, I will allow all colors of socks on my feet!
+ shoes.
   They are good to wear! Especially when it's cold out. Also, shoes make the outfit. Sometimes I will pick out my outfit based on what shoes I will be wearing that day. Tis true!

[I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT]
+ people.
   Especially the hurting kind. I love motivating and encouraging people, helping them solve their problems, and seeing them grow in their relationship with Jesus. I also love helping women find their identity in Christ, discover what they are passionate about, and heal from their past so they can have a greater impact for God's Kingdom in the future.
+ teaching and learning.
   I want to learn more. And I want people to know the things I have learned. A whole new world opens up when you learn something new. I have found that so much of the difficulties I've encountered could have been avoided had I only known something. But hindsight is 20/20... which is why I want to share as much of my hindsight as I can with others.

[RANDOM FACTS]

1. My parents currently live in Mongolia, but will be coming back this summer.
2. If I could wear a neutral pair of jeans and a Hanes men's white v-neck undershirt everyday I would.
3. My favorite thing to eat is sushi, or crab legs, because both are delicious and fun to eat! 

New Neighbor Series: Who is KC? [Part 2]

Who is KC?

Excellent question…I am learning that too!

The past year has been the most challenging
and amazing year        -because-

I have learned more in the last year about life
than I think I have in the last 20.

So who is KC?

I hope you are ready for an adventure because I am not only excited to share with you but take you along with me on this journey as I continue to discover who I was created to be.  

My prayer is that you might find something from my story to identify with and to encourage you on your own journey.  I love to smile & laugh, but I have shed a fair amount of tears from hard times and mistakes.  But [good news], even through I am broken; I am loved. I am forgiven because I have faith in someone greater.

            { My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect
             in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about
             my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power many rest on me. That
             is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in
             hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
                                                    For when I am weak, I am strong. }

                                                                                   -  2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

Let the journey continue.


--> --> -->

So for now, to skip all the awkwardness that can come along with meeting a new friend and I’ll start by sharing with you a small glimpse at ‘what makes [KC] tick’ as of April 2012!

My name is….[Casey] . 

            Thanks to my mom’s love for a country music song!

A small list of things I get excited about….

{Colors} everywhere and anywhere! It makes me so happy.
            I love decorating with color.

I love all the colors of nature!

I love wearing color (the more mismatched the better)
            *disclaimer: I only wear black socks. J

            {Crafts}

                        Modge Podge
                        Sewing…so far a have made a couple awesome bags!

            {Books}

Currently in my stack…

                        Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson  (the adventure of passionately pursuing God)

The Hunger Games 

            {Travel}
                   I want to see and go everywhere!

{8} Random Fun Facts for Casey Trivia…

           1- I can struggle to find the right words, but I probably have a noise that could explain more clearly 

           2- Recent discovery: the key ingredient in most coffee based drinks is eSpresso not eXpresso.

           3- I have an irrational fear of pink eye and birds.

           4- I know the secret to making a mighty tasty PB&J.
           5- Fashion goal: to bring back jean overalls.  

           6- I enjoy naming inanimate objects
           7- I lack depth perception, but I can be super lucky at catching flying objects
           8- Nervous twitch or/and mindless habit: playing with scotch tape