Random Question - When Did You Seek Him?

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You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

When did you seek Him with all your heart and what did finding Him look like?
If you never have, today might be a good day to do so. He promises to be found. :)

This scripture tells us that we need to seek Him with ALL of our heart. Some translations say "with your WHOLE heart. Not just a part of it. Not half-heartedly, but with everything you've got. There are times where I have to admit that I've taken a half-hearted approach to seeking Him, but today we're focusing on a time when I have sought Him with my whole heart. There have been lots of times but I'm going to go back to one of the first times.

In my high school years I was an agnostic. I did not know if there was a God. Growing up I had believed that there was, but due to wrong doctrine being crammed down my throat, followed by bad influence from my "friends", I ended up questioning the truth of it. By providence there was enough of a seed of Truth planted in my heart that God had more than enough to work with.

I wondered if God was real and figured that if He was then He was certainly more than capable of telling me Himself. I was tired of people and their opinions. I didn't believe anyone knew for sure, at least not the people I knew, and all they wanted to do was make me believe their opinions. So I prayed. I asked God if He was real to prove it to me. Not prove in a disrespectful way. I told Him that I wouldn't believe people because I've already heard them, but for Him to tell me Himself in whatever way He wanted to. I prayed this a lot. I wanted the Truth of the matter. Not so that I could satisfy my curiosity, but so that I could work on getting right with Him. It only made sense that if He was real that I should want to be on His side. I mean really the alternative wasn't too appealing. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.

One day I was sitting on the steps outside of our apartment with a friend, just talking about whatever, and God said "I am real." Not audibly but inside my heart. I had never heard that phrase before but I knew that it was spoken inside my heart. That was the only way to describe it. Who knew your heart had ears!? I looked at my friend and said "God just spoke to me! He told me He was real!" I don't remember what my friend said, and it didn't matter because I knew the Truth of the matter. God was REAL. He didn't tell me to do anything, He simply answered my question. I SO LOVE that He does that. He is so personal with us that all we need to do is ask a question and know that He is big enough to answer it. He is after all, GOD.

There's more to this story and I will post about it later if you're interested. For now it's your turn. Write a post on your blog about a time when you sought Him with your whole heart and what it looked like to find Him. Use Mr Linky below to link to your post so we can read about it.

Ashleigh's New Look

Need I say more?

Keep reading below. I did four quick picture type posts in a row. :D

Grandma's Little Helpers

Good help is hard to come by. But God is good and provides for all our needs. :D

Awards

My friend Lorie at Encouragement From My Heart awarded her bloggy friends with these two awards and included me. How very sweet of her! Thank you Lorie! She really is a joy and encouragement to everyone so please stop her blog by and say hello.

Now I would like to pass these on to my good bloggy friends too. To save myself a little time (cause I have two little ones here in desperate need of attention this morning) I'm not going to list your names in this post BUT go look in my sidebar. ------------------->
Scroll down to the part that says "Bloggy Friends I Like to Visit". \/ Find your name in the list and consider yourself awarded!

You are a Rich Gift to me and I appreciate you. Really I do! :D

Vote Values!

I know you all know but just in case it has slipped your mind ...
PLEASE VOTE!

I have borrowed this video from Rebecca's Place and make the same statement she did. I am unashamedly Republican and I have voted for the McCain-Palin ticket. I am not a Catholic, but I love how the Catholics who produced this film got down to the foundational elements of this election.

Committed or Submitted

I was reading a friend's blog and he brought up a discussion on being committed to Christ vs being submitted to Christ. He asked if one could be committed to Christ without being submitted to Him. Well this got me thinking and I decided to see what the definitions of these words actually were.

Most of the definitions for "commit" show that we generally commit (to) someTHING; an action, idea, thought, position, or belief. Even #1 & #5 below refer to entrusting but with no responsibility from the one who is doing the entrusting.

Commit:

1. to give in trust or charge; consign.

2. to consign for preservation: to commit ideas to writing; to commit a poem to memory.

3. to pledge (oneself) to a position on an issue or question; express (one's intention, feeling, etc.): Asked if he was a candidate, he refused to commit himself.

4. to bind or obligate, as by pledge or assurance; pledge: to commit oneself to a promise; to be committed to a course of action.

5. to entrust, esp. for safekeeping; commend: to commit one's soul to God.

6. to do; perform; perpetrate: to commit murder; to commit an error.

7. to consign to custody: to commit a delinquent to a reformatory.

8. to place in a mental institution or hospital by or as if by legal authority: He was committed on the certificate of two psychiatrists.

9. to deliver for treatment, disposal, etc.; relegate: to commit a manuscript to the flames.

10. to send into a battle: The commander has committed all his troops to the front lines.

11. Parliamentary Procedure. to refer (a bill or the like) to a committee for consideration. –verb (used without object)

12. to pledge or engage oneself: an athlete who commits to the highest standards.

The definitions for "submit" show that we submit to someONE. We yield to the authority, power, treatment, influence, or approval of another.

Submit:
1. to give over or yield to the power or authority of another (often used reflexively).
2. to subject to some kind of treatment or influence.
3. to present for the approval, consideration, or decision of another or others: to submit a plan; to submit an application.
4. to state or urge with deference; suggest or propose (usually fol. by a clause): I submit that full proof should be required. –verb (used without object)
5. to yield oneself to the power or authority of another: to submit to a conqueror.
6. to allow oneself to be subjected to some kind of treatment: to submit to chemotherapy.
7. to defer to another's judgment, opinion, decision, etc.: I submit to your superior judgment.

I think that often we have a misconception of the definitions and are committed to the things of Christ without being submitted to His authority over our lives. I'm working on being more fully submitted. What about you? Are you more committed than submitted?

Barb's New Blog

As you may remember, Barb at Just Between Us was the winner of my Blog Makeover Contest hosted by Chatty Kelly. Well her makeover is complete and I had a great time working with her to design something that fit her lively personality! Please head over there to say hi and take a look at her new blog.

You can see more of my designs at Rich Gifts Graphics & Blog Design too.

A Place to Start

The economy is affecting all of us these days and we don't know even if it will improve or get worse. It will do one or the other because nothing ever stays the same. Nothing except God that is. I have noticed that there is one scripture that God always brings me back to whenever I need to refocus. It seems to be the starting point of all circumstances in my walk with Christ.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will
be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

I love that so often in scripture we find a command and a promise bundled together. I have also come to realize that it is much easier, and quite common to focus on the promise (God's part) more than the act of obedience (my part). God gives the promise, in part to motivate us into obedience. One thing this scripture is saying is that I need to focus my attention on my part (acting in obedience), and let Him focus on His part (fullfulling His promise).

My part: Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
is a requirement in order for...
His part: Provide all that I need.
to be fullfilled.


Here is a copy of a daily devotion from Charles Spurgeon on this scripture:

God First, Then Extras

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

See how the Bible opens: "In the beginning God." Let your life open in the same way. Seek with your whole soul, first and foremost, the kingdom of God, as the place of your citizenship, and His righteousness as the character of your life. As for the rest, it will come from the Lord Himself without your being anxious concerning it. All that is needful for this life and godliness "shall be added unto you."

What a promise this is! Food, raiment, home, and so forth, God undertakes to add to you while you seek Him. You mind His business, and He will mind yours. If you want paper and string, you get them given in when you buy more important goods; and just so all that we need of earthly things we shall have thrown in with the kingdom. He who is an heir of salvation shall not die of starvation; and he who clothes his soul with the righteousness of God cannot be left of the Lord with a naked body. Away with carking care. Set all your mind upon seeking the Lord.

Covetousness is poverty, and anxiety is misery: trust in God is an estate, and likeness of God is a heavenly inheritance. Lord, I seek Thee; be found of me.

Random Question ~ Take Your Pick

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Happy Friday to you bloggy friends! It's time for our Random Question. I love giving people choices so today I'm letting you choose.

Romans 12:1-2 is packed with multiple bits of wisdom, instruction, and promises. Today I'm asking that you choose any part of this scripture and write about how it is speaking to your heart.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

God has put Romans 12:2 in my path several times these last couple of weeks. Today as I sat down to study my Bible, He sent me there again, only this time He had me include verse one. I broke down these scriptures and wrote out the definitions of each section as you see below.

1. "In view of God's mercy" - Because God is merciful (takes pity on us.)
2. "Offer your bodies" - Voluntarily give yourself, all of yourself.
3. "As living sacrafices" - Releasing to God ALL rights to live my life as I choose, and accepting what God has chosen instead.
4. "Holy and pleasing to God" - Pure, perfect, blameless.
5. "This is your spiritual act of worship" - This is what it means to worship.
6. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world" - Do not be shaped into the likeness of this world in your thinking, speech, or actions.
7. "But be transformed" - Be changed into something completely different.
8. "By the renewing of your mind" - By getting a new mind, or replenishing your mind.
9. "Then you will be able to test" - Then you will be able to prove.
10. "and approve" - And be in favorable agreement with.
11. "What God's will is" - What God desires.
12. "His good, pleasing, and perfect will" - The highest and best of what God desires that will bring Him pleasure.

As I wrote these out, God stopped me on number 3, "As living sacrafices" - Releasing to God ALL rights to live my life as I choose, and accepting what God has chosen instead.

Writing out the definition of a living sacrafice really makes an impact. Yes I've read that scripture before, lots of times. I've thought that I had offered myself as a living sacrafice, and yes in some ways I suppose I have ... a little. But it dawned on me as I wrote that definition that somewhere in the back of my mind I seemed to have this image of happily sitting on this alter with little or no discomfort. Oh, I've never actually believed that's what it was, but still that image was there.

Releasing to God ALL rights to live my life as I choose. Am I really willing to let go of all my rights, all of my dreams, all that I desire, and hand everything to Him no matter what He chooses to do with me? I have thought that I had done that before, more than once, but today He asked it of me. I chose to say YES to my God.

Now it's your turn. Is there something in these verses that speaks to your heart? Write about it on your blog then come back here and use Mr Linky to link to your post. To use Mr Linky, just fill in the field boxes and it will automatically link for you.

Out on a Limb ... er, um... Post

Today I'm joining 'B' at B His Girl for her Turtle Tuesdays. I'm a little late but hey, most people who participate in my Friday RQ, post in the days following, so I figure I'm in good company. I 'met' B when she joined our blog makeover contest and I'm so thrilled that I did. From my first visit to her blog I knew that it was by divine appointment. (Of course I think I can say that about all of my close blogging buddies!) I am always encouraged when I stop by B's blog. Be sure to pay her a visit, you'll be glad you did.

Ever feel like this little turtle, stranded at the top of the fence post? When I saw this picture my heart went out to this little turtle! Unless someone comes to rescue her she will surely fall or die. Either way, it appears that disaster awaits her. No matter how much she paddles those little legs she cannot help herself in this situation. She cannot change her circumstances on her own. She cannot provide for herself. If she panics she will start paddling those little legs as fast as possible and knock herself right off of her safe little spot on that post. She is completely dependent on someone else helping her. By the same token, No one looks at the turtle and thinks she put herself there. Quite the contrary. The turtle was placed there. And it is WAY obvious.

I realized that this is a perfect picture of where I'm at in my life right now. I have had to fend off feelings of being stranded in a place where I have no power to do anything. This is a scary place to be but it is exactly where God has placed me. It is even the adventure I prayed He would give me. Of course I didn't know it looked quite like this but that's ok. Like that little turtle, I have to trust that the One who put me there is keeping His eye on me and will show me the next step at the right time. I can't see what He is doing or how in the world He will work this out. At times it looks hopeless but that is only when I stop looking at Him. This is what it means to walk (and wait) in Faith. To Trust that He means what He says. It is an Adventure and I want my life to be an Adventure with my God.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you
nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:10)

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, " I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," (Hebrews 13:5)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5,6)

Dear Lord I praise you for your unfailing Love. Thank you for giving me the courage to take this adventure with you. Thank you that you have not left me stranded. Thank you that you will never leave me, forsake me, or desert me. You are my God. I Trust you with all that is within me. I will follow wherever you lead and do whatever you say. Show me the next step. I love you my Lord, much more than words can ever express. In Christ - Amen

Oh No!

Random Question - Are We Still a Nation Under God?

I know I usually have a deep, thought provoking question on Fridays, but today I felt led to ask something that everyone can answer. This nation is at a critical time right now. We are a powerful nation ONLY because we began as a nation under God.

Are we still a nation under God?

I believe that this nation is at a very critical crossroad right now. We have lived all of our lives with the freedom to do and say just about whatever we want. We have been given much power and wealth compared to other nations. Now many in this country seem to have this idea that we deserve this freedom and that we are invincible. We take these things for granted. We have come to depend on ourselves instead of our God. To many, God is something you can have on the sidelines, but should not affect your decisions or your job or any person who holds a different view. It is not only the unbeliever who holds these views but many who say they are Christian also hold these views.

That is not what the Bible teaches. God should affect every thought, decision, action, and word spoken from His people. For a very long time and more and more, God's people have remained silent and allowed the enemy to take over this country bit by bit. This country reeks of immorality, oppression, abuse, greed, and evil of all kinds.

I have to say that I don't believe that we are living as a nation under God. I do believe that we can be again. As I watch and listen to the people in this country, two thoughts continually come to my mind. The first one is that the wheat is being seperated from the chaff, the sheep from the goats. This nation is so clearly divided that there is almost no mistaking one side from the other. The second thing that continually comes to my mind is a scripture. Ok two.

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve" ... (Joshua 24:15)

"If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster
on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you." (Joshua 24:20)

I believe that God is saying these words to the people of this nation. We are not invincible. God can bring this nation down if He chose to do so, and it would be highy arrogant of us to think that He would never choose to no matter how we behave. He is a God who loves us enough to dicipline us.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln

I am asking you today, are we still a nation under God? Please write about
this on your blog and include a prayer for this nation. Please ask all who read
it to do the same.

Dear Lord forgive me for my own complacency in praying for those that you have placed in positions of authority over this nation. It is by the Power of the Name of Jesus Christ that we have become a great nation. Lord we have become a terribly sinful nation. Please pierce our hearts Lord. Call on your people thoughout this nation to bow before you in prayer. Save us from ourselves Lord. Open wide our eyes to see all that is happening in this country from your perspective. Cleanse our hearts. Holy Spirit stir the hearts of your people. Create an intense love for our Savior and desire within us to follow hard after you and to obey all that you command. I lift up all those you have placed in authority over this nation, that they would have hearts to seek your counsel and to obey you. I pray that you would choose leaders thoughout this country who will call on the Name of Jesus Christ. I pray that you would infuse courage into all of your people that we would no longer be silent but speak up for the Name of Christ. Lord give us one mind as we vote this election, the mind of Christ. I ask these things for your Glory and your Name's Sake. In Christ ~ Amen

I Am Not Alone

Natalie Grant is such an inspiration to me. I heard her say that when she began her singing carreer, she had $200.00 and no place to live.

But God ...

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all
things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

"If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you
can do nothing." (John 15:15)

Crank up the sound and WORSHIP the LORD!

Where Am I

If you haven't heard about the Blog Makeover Contest I have going on right now, Click Here for details.

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Last week I focused on how God designed us and what He designed us to do. Earlier this week Lidna Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee (there's always a fresh cup brewing over there) asked a question that focused on what we are not designed to do. "What's the most ill-suited job you've ever had?" Now she challenges us to write about that and I have decided to take up the challenge.

This is going to get embarrasing, in part because of the job, but more than that because this story will so completely reveal one of my ... eh hem ... greatest weaknesses. I have a lot of difficulty processing my thoughts when dealing with unexpected situations. My brain works well in emergency situations and when the Holy Spirit is completely taking over but in those regular, unexpected situations I seem to think in slow motion.

Quite a number of years ago I had been layed off from my job and was looking for employment. I was a single mom and had no other financial assistance. That was back in the day before the courts got serious about mandatory child support. In any case, I decided to go though a temporary agency to find something that might become permanent. My experience was in accounts receivable in medical offices, so this agency told me they had a position in A/R at a bookstore. I have to add here that handling A/R for a supplier is very different than in a medical office. I didn't worry about it because I was confident that when they trained me I would quickly learn whatever I didn't know.

I showed up at the bookstore, went inside, and the person at the counter was the only one there at the moment so he led me upstairs to the break room to wait for the manager. I noticed that the building was a bit old and shabby looking but oh well, I needed the income. As we walked through the hall and in the break room, the pictures on the wall struck me as a bit odd for a business. (That slow motion thought process is kicking in about now.)


So I sat there waiting for the manager to come in, staring at these pictures trying to figure out why in the world they would hang stuff like this on the wall. Well I soon discovered that this was not just any bookstore. It was a ga*y por*no bookstore that sold books and videos. (Thinking process is getting slower. I'm visualizing lots of ?question marks? but can't quite formulate the questions.) Let me sidestep here and give you a tiny bit of information. I grew up in California, I had friends who were ho*mo****** , but this was really a stretch for me to deal with. This was also just before I became a Christian. So I was really grappling to get my thoughts in the proper perspective. I really needed the money but was extremely uncomfortable.

All of the employees came in at different times and I discovered that all but one (he said) of the male employees was ga*y. There was one woman that worked there and she was le*s*bi*an. And the real kicker was the last one that I met. *He* was a tr*ans*ve*st*ite. He really decked himself out too in low cut frilly femine clothing. Now I have to tell you that I have always been a people watcher. Especially in California because of the unique variety of people. I have always been genuinly interested in uniqueness. Well to this day I would have to say that *he* was the most unique person I had ever run across. 'Nuf said. I will add that everyone there was very nice but the environment was still intensly uncomfortable.

Thankfully, God watches out for us even before we give our lives to Him and He jumped in to save me. (Thank you Lord!) No one knew anything about the accounting system or the job I was to do, so there was absolutely NO training. I did stay there for one week. During that time the computer broke down every day, at least once, and for long periods of time, so I did absolutely NOTHING the entire week except watch people try to fix the computer. At the end of the week my thoughts finally came together and I told them I would not be back. I left in tears that I had actually stayed the week. I did not return to the temp agency either as I was amazed that they never bothered to tell me the type of place they were sending me.

To this day, I don't have a clue what the name of that bookstore was! LOL

SITS - Nice Comments Blog

I just wanted to share a blog that I discovered from Sonya at Truth 4 the Journey. A nice place to meet other nice bloggers and win prizes. Don't we all love to do that! :) Stop by and visit them when you get a chance.

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If you haven't seen the Blog Makeover Contest Announcement be sure to read the post right below this one!!

Contest Announcement!

DONT MISS OUT!

Contest Dates: 10/13/08 to 10/17/08
Add This Button To Your Blog

<a href="http://richgift.blogspot.com"><center><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/ed77ie/my%20graphics/buttons/contest01.png" alt="Win a Blog Makeover at Rich Gifts Graphics & Blog Design" border="0" /></a></center>

~ BLOG MAKEOVER BY EDIE AT RICH GIFTS & GRAPHICS ~
~ CONTEST HOSTED BY CHATTY KELLY ~
~ CONTEST JUDGES ~ LEA at SHABBY OLDE POTTING SHED, KELLY at CHATTY KELLY, EDIE at RICH GIFTS & GRAPHICS ~

A Treasured Gift

This has been a very busy week and I didn't get this posted as soon as I would have liked. My dear friend Lea at Thee Shabby Olde Potting Shed sent me a Wonderful gift straight from her heart, and she has a VERY precious heart indeed.

Last week she posted about her special Lydia Jar and blessed me when she told me that she wanted me to have one. Then when I received it I was even more BLESSED with all of the creative and oh so thoughtful little extras she included. Take a look!

The Lydia Jar with purple trinkets to get me started.
A BEAUTIFUL card that she made just for me (you can tell she knows the colors I like) with the sweetest note inside.
A "Grattitude Attitude" pin and earrings that were wrapped up so beautifully that I didn't even want to open it. Look the paper she used to wrap it in says "Friends Forever" all over it!

And a very cute hang tag that she also made just for me. Look at that long purple tassel.

Now I have to show you the BOX that she mailed everything in! She went all out and made me feel like a million!

This says Nehamiah 8:10 on the bottom left corner.
"Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

The bottom right says Soli Deo Gloria which means - for the Glory of God Alone.

Thank you Lea for these precious gifts and for the Blessing of your friendship.

Random Question - What's Your deSign?

Well all week long we've been talking about the way God designed us, surely you knew it was leading up to something. :) This week's question is ...

"What's Your deSign?"
What specific qualities did God implant in you when He designed you? These could be talents, skills, passions, etc. They are things that you do well and could spend hours doing without feeling the time pass.

Over the past several years God has really been teaching me so much about Himself as He is teaching me about how He designed me. It's hard to choose the exact starting point since I can take everything back to birth practically, but none of us has that much time and I seriously doubt that any of you has that much interest either.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) NIV ~ [emphasis mine]

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
NKJV ~ [emphasis mine]

Have you ever really looked at that scripture, at those words? I have, and realized that my life was anything but abundant. I certainly felt the impact the thief was having on my life but I had to admit that I did not feel that I was living the life Jesus said He came to give. This is not just a spiritual truth intended for the other side of eternity only. It's for this life as well. So I asked God to show me what this is supposed to look like in my life. How can I live this kind of a life? I'm so glad God likes deep questions. :)

I felt like I was plodding through life. Walking from one day to the next in oppression, boredom, lifelessness, and without purpose. Was this it? Was this what I was to do until I reached the end of this life? Ugh! But God ... two of my favorite words. God began teaching me many things. Among them, He has put a great deal of emphasis on the way He designed me. You see, first I had to get a right view of myself, His view of me. Ok sometimes I still think to low of myself and sometimes I still think to highly of myself but He has brought me a lot closer to His view, the proper perspective.

I am still learning, but He began to show me some of the specific strengths and abilities that He gave me. Some of these came so naturally to me that I thought everyone possessed these qualities. That is one way you can tell they are a true strength in you. I began paying a lot of attention to things I said and did and what things got me really motivated when I did them. And I noticed how the specific set of qualities that He gave me, worked together to form the unique way that I applied them.

I'm an analyzer. Someone recently said to me that my favorite word was "however" because I tend look at, examine, and dissect every possible aspect of a situation.

Creating structure and efficiency comes naturally to me. I discovered that this was one of the major things that frustrated me where I worked because the owners of the company were absolutely opposed to structure.

I love details. I have always loved details. I'm one of those people that will notice if a picture is hanging crooked and I will straighten it. I notice details in creation, in art, in animals, and in people. I tend to pick up on individuality traits, preferences, and tendencies in other people fairly quickly.

I love helping others, doing for others. We all do in different ways. In me, I have discovered that when I hear someone express a need or desire for something, it motivates me into action.

I love to create. More specifically, I love to design. When I was a little girl someone said something to me that sent the message that I had no creative or artistic ability in me at all and that no one would want anything that I made. I lived with this belief throughout the majority of my life. As a matter of fact, up until just recently.

"And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works ..... I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded" (Exodus 31:3-6)

My desire to create became overwhelming within me. God showed me that He designed me to design, to be an artist. Now this is not to say that I think I'm "All That", but that God has shown me that He has created me to be artistic. I also realized that designing without a purpose was just as frustrating as not designing at all. No, God designed me to design for others. He designs each of us with the very "tools", skills, abilities, talents, and passions that we will need in order to accomplish the work that He has for us.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Eric Liddell, an Olympic runner, said "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." I used to wonder about that statement. How do you feel God's pleasure when you run? How can I feel God's pleasure? Eric Liddell felt God's pleasure when He did what God designed him to do, Run. I have come to realize that I feel God's pleasure when I do what I am designed to do, Design.

We are all created to glorify God. I deeply desire to glorify my Designer in and through what He designed me to do. I still don't know exactly what that will look like but He has been so faithful to bring me this far, I am sure He will not fail me now. I pray that He will use the skills He gave me to further the Kingdom and to Spread the Word.

So how are you designed? Write about it on your blog and come back and use Mr Linky to link to it. I'm looking forward to reading about you! Don't forget to leave a comment.

If you are interested in learning more on discovering who God created you to be and what that looks like in your life, take a look through my favorite books list for some great resources.

It's Here! It's Here!

It's arrived! It's here! Woo hoo! Yippee!

You don't know what I'm talking about? Oh, I forgot, some of you may not know, some of you have not yet been blessed to meet ADHD-Jo at Monkey's are Funny. Now don't let the name scare you away! ADHD-Jo is NOT a monkey but she IS funny. She has quite a "cheerful heart" healing ministry over at her blog so you must go check it out.

Anyway ~ A couple of weeks ago she decided to join the "Prize Give-away" band wagon so she held a drawing to whoever entered. Here are some of the details from her blog, of what the contest entailed just so you don't get confused.

"Everyone that adds a comment to this post and/or my next three (that's 4 posts total for those of you that are mathematically challenged) will win a prize. I'm not sure what it will be.

So maybe the prize will be a book. maybe it will be something else. It could be a piece of candy or maybe even a clothespin, or a Shrinky Dink---(if you have kids or at least know someone who does, you know what a shrinky dink is) Maybe the prize will be a brand new PENCIL!. The options are endless."

You can imagine how much I wanted to win this can't you! Well, You guessed it, I won! And I've saved this moment to open this unknown prize with you. So are you ready? Ok, let's get started.

Here is the package as it arrived in the mail, except the postman could actually read the addresses.

Hmmm, looks like a white box.

I was RIGHT! It IS a white box.

But wait, there's more!

There is something wrapped up inside this pink tissue paper.

A baggie full of paraphanalia - but shhh don't tell Mac. (To get that you must visit Monkeys are Funny)

I Junior Firefighter Badge! Woohoo! And I didn't even have to endure any training, thank goodness. And look, a beautifully hand-crafted keychain with ADHD-Jo's logo. I Love It!

A scroll. This is sure to be a secret message.

Just as I thought ~ Monkeys are Funny!

HaHa! Don't worry, I want to keep all of these fun little treasures all to myself!
Thank you ADHD-Jo!