Recent Encouragments

Recently, I have felt very encouraged by many things here are some:

1) God's generosity sparks our gratitude; our gratitude then sparks our generosity toward others; our generosity sparks God's gratitude;which sparks his generosity back on us. God is constantly overwhelming us with generosity, we then choose to notice it and be grateful. Generosity is shared and passed on. Because God was first generous. When we lack in our own gratitude, we lack on being generous; which prevents someone else from experiencing generosity and then being generous. God is the initiator and because of that be can also be initiators.

2) Michelle Duggar from 19 kids and counting shared that she chooses to use a calm, sweet voice with her children. On the outside before her comment, I assumed it was just the voice she was given. This encouraged me becasue I too can choose a calm sweet voice. I too can choose to use loving and kind words to the people in my life. Watching Michelle and see how her choices have given her a beutiful spirit and her children also beautiful spirits.

3) Gabby Gifford's story overwelms me. It is one of those stories that changes you from watching it. I forget that I go through things becasuse it is something that I was ment to over come and encourage others through. Her story is about that and a husbands love (which I am such a sucker for). This story is life and proof that we have an amazing God!
http://abc.go.com/watch/2020/SH559026/VD55153303/gabby-giffords--mark-kelly-courage-and-hope

The Beauty Bowl

It's half time of the big game, (the fight for true beauty)The Beauty Bowl: every women in the world verses Satan giant army, the coach (Jesus) is about to give the big speech becasue the women are down in the first half. It's a big game, a stressful one and important one.

The women  are in the locker room waiting for the coach. Some are fixing their make-up; others are being passive-aggressive becasue their significant other didn't make them a over-sized sign that said, "my wife is awesome, she is so beautiful;" others are so anxious they have shut down; a few have literally taken off their uniforms,  and are about to walk out; several are out signing autographs; but most of them are angry and shouting every shhhhh word in the book. The women so badly want to win but so desperately are failing.

Jesus with a lovingly smile walks into the locker room,
Everyone get in here! Sit down, we are all a team and we all are in this game together! 

Now, "Be careful what you think about becasue your thoughts control your life." (proverbs 4 :23) To many of you have been believing lies this game. You have set yourself expectations, lies for that matter. The need for vanity, being passive-aggressive, feeling anxiety, the need to quit, wanting constant recognition and being overwhelmingly angry. It is an emotional reaction to a lie. Your not good enough, your not beautiful....lie. Your thoughts control your life.......truth. If you think your not good enough, if you think your not beautiful, then it truly controls you. We won't win! Your expectations are wrong! You have expected to be perfect, you fear failing and being rejected by everyone watching! Stop, looking into the stands! Look over at me, this victory isn't for the watchers but for God. Here........Think about the most beautiful women you have ever met. She was sweet, loving, listen intently, was unique and truly believed that everyone was beautiful made. She is our best player! She is beauty. She is the one that tries without the expectation of winning. She is the one who will befriend the unwanted. She is the one who sees perfection in the imperfect. She is the one who easily forgives and loves hard. She doesn't have to be first , right or the best. Beauty is a humbled heart! Humbled warriors will win this game! I want you to win!!!!!!! I believe in you! I think your beautiful! Now get out there and kick some shhhh!

In My Distraction

I know that my life is changing and that their are many things that God is "trying" to show me. Recently, I have had only two forms of motivation; anxiety, which has no motivation or crazy on fire, to do a project or craft. Sadly, that are both extremes and both keep me distracted from actually doing something more important. Also, in this state of mind it's easy to pray for others and see their flaw instead of spending my own quality time with God and being humbled by the reality of my own flaws. It is so easy in a time of change or struggle to almost do everything you can to not really look at reality and be completely distracted. In my distraction it is easy to life day-by-day. But what is not easy but the best thing, is living with God day-by-day.

We all have our distractions or only do the things we are motivated to do. I forget how much I need Him to help me sometime with the little things and not just the big things. I don't mind folding laundry but loath putting it away, as silly as it sounds God loves that I need His strength to put the cloths away. I know I feel loved when I am needed and God feels loved too, to be needed by me. Distractions are great tests of our faith.  We can either be distracted or ask him for the strength to just do it! We can either be distracted by others flaws or ask God for His strength to face our own.

Today I choose to not be distracted!

My Love

We just moved and naturally you go through things. Things get tossed and things get remember. As I was rummaging, I found this beautiful poem Mark wrote me when we were in high school. It really reminds me of how loved I am really am and how loved we really are. God and us have a beautiful love story. I am also blessed to have a love story through Mark too. Love can't be stolen, won't wither, wilt or be lost, it is something deeper and this poem gives truth to that.


"I love you so much. I wanted to show you somehow
I thought and I thought, but I still don't know how
I could by you the perfect rose, but it would wither and wilt, unlike my love for you
I am writing you this poem, but it just won't last
The paper might get torn or forgotten in the past
I bought you a ring, but all my love can't say
That ring might get lost or stolen someday
My love for you can't be stolen, won't wither, wilt or be lost
A gift will not do, I can't show you by cost
There is no way to show all my love, you will just have to know
When I hold you tight, I won't let go."     -Mark Sawyer

What My Purpose Brings

I have one purpose...

.....To Glorify God.


My purpose isn't to serve people
My purpose is to glorify God by serving all people


My purpose isn't to be a good wife
My purpose is to Glorify God by being the best wife I can be

My purpose isn't to be a mother
My purpose is to Glorify God by being a mother


My purpose isn't to give
My purpose is to Glorify God by my giving


My purpose isn't to be creative
My purpose is to Glorify God with my creativity


My purpose isn't to be an Interior Designer
My purpose is to Glorify God by showing people the beauty in there home

My purpose isn't to be weak or strong
My purpose is to Glorify God in my weakness and my strength


My purpose is to Glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31), through this comes joy (Psalm 16:11) and from this He rejoices over me (Isaiah 62:5)


We think too much
It's simple yet complex
Glorify God
It's our purpose

How I respond to "moments, " shows the condition of my heart

This lesson isn't necessarily taken right out of the bible but I believe it to be biblical. This lesson is something that God has really taught me to be more conscious of, and that it taking every moment like JESUS would. I try to image the way Jesus would respond to situations that I am in. I realize that He for 1) Appreciates everyone 2) Never losses a moment to serve someone 3) Never denies someone a blessing 4) Takes each moment with gratitude and 5) Sees every moment as an opportunity.


I think being conscious of "moments" isn't something natural. By moments I mean things like the second you open a gift from someone, that moment. Or the moment a stranger humbly offers to serve you, that moment. Or the moment your enemy enters a room, that moment. I am learning that my response in these moments is truly showing the condition of my heart. Because these moment are authentic and at times come when we are the most vulnerable.

It is hard when you get a gift and it seems more special to the person that gave it to you. But the truth is a selfish, unsatisfied heart disappoints that heartfelt gift. My face in that moment will says I don't like it. But if we are grateful for the fact that we even have a gift to open, that the other person made an effort.....their thoughtfulness should be gift enough. Jesus would take that gift and wrap you in His arms-no matter what it was.

Moments I take for granted are the ones where I forget that God will bless them for them for blessing me. Example: Mark and I were taking a picnic but didn't have a blanket (we were just going to sit on a bench) but A lady saw us and said, "here, use my blanket if you want we just got done with our picnic." Naturally my mind wants to automatically say,"No thanks" but Jesus would say "Yes, thanks you...we would really appreciate it." That moment wasn't about the fact that we need a place to picnic but was I going accept and to choose to help God  bless that lady's effort of serving us. I look for those moment now, and to let a stranger serve me even if it makes me go against my first thought of, "No, thanks."

Also, take advantage of moments that make people feel appreciated or loved. Thoughtfulness is all that really is. I feel like we are so selfish sometimes that we forget our manners and forget to make people feel appreciated or love. Example: When you are in someone house, eat their food or at least attempt. Or asking if they need anything or offering to do something they need help with (even if you don't want too.)

I feel like God gives us so many "Moments!" A lot of times we only get moments to do something great or good for his kingdom. It is important for me to see those moment and be conscious of my responses. God knows my heart and changes my heart to be more like Jesus when I respond in those moments the way He would.

Smoothing the Knots of Anxiety

Anxiety comes in a lot of forms. Anxiety is linked to the future. You could be anxious about waiting for a job; or anxious about a comment you said and the interpretation of it; or big anxious worried about the weather or a family members well-being. Those are a few things that worry me or others I know. I have also noticed that fear triggers a lot of my anxiety and when I become anxious I have physical symptoms like fatigued, tender muscles and loss of appetite.

The physical symptoms are annoying, but the spiritual repercussions have convicted me. I have realized the anxiety in my life is a sin! This sin overtakes my mind, clouds God's voice, makes me selfish, paralyzes me and makes me unable to serve humbly. When I feel anxious, nothing good comes from it. It takes up so much time and no fruit is grown. I have had several blogs about anxiety but none as real and sobering as the realization that my anxiety is a sin. I hate feeling anxious, but I have to fight it and do it with God. I still justify it because, a lot is going on in the world, our country, my family and my life personally. There is so much that I can worry and feel anxious about! But Peter says.....

Humble yourselves, therefore, 

under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

-1 Peter 5:6-7

God is telling me to literally hurl my cares on him. To give Him my anxieties, to be humiliated and weak. He wants them because we have no idea what to do with worry, anxiety and fear. They're consuming and we hate feeling them. As I was desperately giving God my cares one night he gave my this beautiful illustration.When I get worried, anxious and fearful my stomach fills with knots and my mind races- when I closed my eyes, calmed my mind; He one-by-one smoothed out each worry/anxious/fearful knot, with his peaceful heavenly hands.  As I gave him the worry, he smoothed the knot.

God is so faithful! And all I have to do is spend time with Him and give Him my burdens and in return he gives me peace. His presence truly is the only cure for the knots of worry, anxiety and fear.