{What Do I Know of Holy}: JOY

{What Do I Know of Holy}: JOY

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

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2011 was a rough year and I am not sad to see it go. Anyone else feel this way?

Ministry triumphs were in abundance but unfortunately, so were personal trials.

As the freshly fallen snow covers the cold, hard ground, may the grace of God cover over a multitude of sins as he washes us whiter than snow.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. {Philippians 3:13-14}

As for 2012, I look forward with great hope to the possibilities it brings. A new beginning. A clean slate. A fresh start.

And after much thought and prayer, I have decided that my one word for 2012 will be...JOY!

Have you heard of the one word movement? Do you have a word that you are going to focus on this year?

I am not much for resolutions. I usually get overwhelmed and quit. So last year when I discovered the one word movement, I was so excited. It simply gives me one thing to focus on in the new year. One thing that I want to accomplish. One thing to filter everything else through to make sure that I stay on track and am not adding anything to my life/schedule that does not fit with my God-given purpose and goals.

I suggest you consider doing it too. That way you can head into the new year with a goal, but without setting yourself up for disappointment, failure and frustration.

What do you say? 

Tough things may come my way. Unknowns may be scary. Yet, I am determined to find joy in the journey in 2012!

This print designed for us by 517 Creations, which has also been featured at Be Different Act Normal, 517 Creations and Printable Decor.

I may have to look hard to find it at times, and some days I may even have to choose joy, but the bottom line is that my God is with me, he has a plan for me and his mercies are new every morning.

A big part of this is going to be living a life of gratitude, being thankful for all of his blessings, not taking the little things for granted. And learning to embrace/cherish the special moments along the way.

My husband is a wonderful, loving, Godly man of character and integrity. I have 2 beautiful, healthy boys who light up our home. And if nothing else, by the grace of God {through faith}, I have a personal relationship with my savior Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life in heaven with him!

I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. {Philippians 3:8}

These are the things I will cling to when the going gets tough. 

So, whose with me? Tell me your 2012 word!

Go here for 5 tips to help you decide your one word.

And by the way, I plan to print the {above} 517 Creations  print to display in my home this year, as a reminder of my one word and my goals. I already put it on the left sidebar of my blog. I also plan to purchase this necklace from The Adopt Shoppe to wear as a daily reminder as well.

I am sure that Cap Creations or my talented friends over at The Adopt Shoppe and 517 Creations would love to design a necklace and/or a word art print with your word on it for you. Just let them know that I sent you!

Also, my friend Melanie at Only a Breath is giving away free blog buttons with your one word on it!

Happy New Year, friends! May God bless you as you seek him in 2012!

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. {Jeremiah 29:13}

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What Do I Know of Holy? {Thankful}

What Do I Know of Holy? {Thankful}

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

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I just realized that Cat made a blog button for our time together every Wednesday. Isn't it cute?!

If you want to put it on your blog, grab the button code on the left sidebar. Thanks Cat! :)

So, as we continue our thoughts on Thanksgiving this month, I would like to share this quote with you:

Source: kerryskronicles.blogspot.com via Worthy of the Prize on Pinterest

Wow. That really hit me when I read it. As I mentioned earlier, it can be so easy to get caught up focusing on what we DO NOT have instead of what we DO have, especially this time of year, around the holidays.

If you have lost loved ones or jobs, or for whatever reason are having a tougher time being "thankful" this year, I want to encourage you to count your blessings.

As you write down 1 thing you are thankful for each day {even if they are simple, small things}, find a way to display them in your home as a reminder of the many blessings God has lavished up on you.

One way to do this that I have seen around blogland is to create a {Thankful Tree} where you can hang your blessings from the branches.

Source: simplyvintagegirl.com via Worthy of the Prize on Pinterest

You could make it a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner table or you could make it 1 dimensional out of paper or fabric and hang it on your wall or refrigerator.

One thing we do in our home is hang up this {Thankful Turkey} made by 517 Creations. Then we write things we are thankful for on slips of paper that we slide into the plastic pocket on each feather.

You could also do a {Blessings Box}. We were actually given one of these as a wedding gift. The idea is to daily, or weekly, or monthly or just whenever you think about it, write down something you are thankful for onto a piece of paper and put it into the box. Then at a designated time each year, maybe Thanksgiving, open it up and praise God for His blessings from the previous year.

Concentrating on what you don't have, leaves you depressed.
Concentrating on what you do have, leaves you blessed.

This week I am thankful for our veterans, those who have/are/will fight for the daily freedoms that we tend to take for granted. What about you?

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. {Psalm 100:4-5}

Sidenote: Speaking of being thankful, be sure to hop on over to the Worthy of the Prize facebook page and enter our {1000 Fans} week FULL of giveaways! We are having 1 giveaway a day for an entire week as a THANK YOU to those who have supported our little ministry. 4 are already posted and 4 more will be posted in the next 4 days, including something from the lovely Cap Creations!  Goodluck! :)

Linking up to:

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What Do I Know of Holy? {Give Thanks}

What Do I Know of Holy? {Give Thanks}

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

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Source: atsecondstreet.blogspot.com via Worthy of the Prize on Pinterest

Last week I told you that this month we will be focusing on Thanksgiving each Wednesday in November.

Go here if you missed my introductory post on gratitude.

I think it is really important for us to give thanks and praise to God for the things he has blessed us with, including the simple, small things that we usually take for granted. I hope that you have taken my advice and are writing down 1 thing you are thankful for each day this month. Focusing on these things will help us have a joyful attitude and outlook, even when things are not going our way.

Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father. {Ephesians 5:20}

God calls us to "give thanks in all circumstances," good, bad or indifferent. We should trust Him enough to thank Him for everything we experience, knowing that He is in control, that He knows what is best for us, that His will is perfect, and that "He works all things together for good" and for His ultimate glory.

Easier said than done, right?!

I suggest you display a reminder in your home. One idea is to print out the banner pictured above. You can hang this anywhere in your home, preferably somewhere that you will see it each day. And everytime you see it, simply send up a prayer to God thanking Him for 1 thing He has blessed you with.

Click here for the free printable.

I have a similar banner hanging in my home. It was made by 517 Creations out of fabric and it says, "thankful." I have it hanging on my mantel, making it the first thing you see when you walk through the front door. I love this simple reminder.



I am sure Mary Jo would make one for you too if you would rather have a fabric banner and do not sew. You can choose your fabric and saying.

If you do not want to mess with a banner, another idea is to display the following verse somewhere in your home.

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. {1 Thessalonians 5:16-18}

Go here for the free printable.

So tell me, what are you thankful for this week? I am thankful for a roof over my head, clothes to wear, food to eat and a beautiful, loving family to share my life with.

Are you grateful for what God has done in your life? Ask Him to give you a thankful heart.

Side note: Today is the last day you can bid on fabulous items to help the Mercy House, a maternity home that brings hope to the woman of Kenya, including a fun prize package from Worthy of the Prize and Scripture Art Designs. Go here to do a little Christmas shopping and support a great cause! Spread the word!!

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What Do I Know of Holy? {Mighty to Save}

What Do I Know of Holy? {Mighty to Save}

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

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Today I have another free printable designed for you by 517 Creations!

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this saying!

And this is one of my favorite passages of scripture in the entire Bible.

What a beautiful picture of how powerful and at the same time how loving our God is.

You can frame it and display it in your home as a reminder of our great God who saves!

Or simply download it and use it as a desktop background or screensaver for your computer!

It was inspired by one of my favorite worship songs of all-time, Laura Story's "Mighty to Save."

Go HERE to listen to it if you are not familiar.

For some reason God has laid it on my heart to pray that he will "move the mountains."

I have been praying this prayer for several months now related to different things.

I love the line in the song that says, "Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save. He is mighty to save."

No matter what the mountains are in our lives, we need to know that God is capable of moving them.

Will you {I} trust that God is in control and that He knows what is best for us {me}?

The hard part for me is not knowing that God is powerful enough but being able to say like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego...

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. {Daniel 3: 17-18}

If you are familiar with the story of my friend Melanie of Happy Hartman Farm, you know she faced some major mountains in bringing her son home and that she saw the faithful hand of God through them.

Listen to what she said on her blog after FINALLY rescuing her boy and bringing him home from the mental institution in Eastern Europe that her family adopted him out of after he was put there because he was born with down syndrome...

I am reading a book I picked up in the airport and I really like it and highly reccomend it,,, Title: THE DIRTY LIFE a Memoir of farming, food, and Love. There was something I read that really struck me... here it is

When we would talk about our future in private, I would ask Mark if he really thought we had a chance. Of course we had a chance, he`d say, and anyway, it didn`t matter if this venture failed. In his view, we were already a success, because we were doing something hard and it was something that mattered to us. You don`t measure things like that with words like success or failure, he said. Satisfaction comes from trying hard things and then going on to the next hard thing, regardless of the outcome. What mattered was whether or not you were moving in a direction you thought was right.

This paragraph comes after she explains all of the subtle comments and actions of those around them that were giving help and support but really didn`t think they`d make it and it was obvious. And how it would wear on her.

I don`t know, I can see alot of paralells of this to our adoption process,,, not just about all of the uncertainty of it all... And the months of hard work... where others pitched in to help, but couldn`t help to let their concerns be heard,,, sometimes more obvious and sometimes a bit more manipulatively. But also our hearts... many cannot understand our hearts. And then there are those that just seemed to get it completely, even if it was not something they were interested in doing at the time. Don`t get me wrong, I am not complaining, we appreciate every penny, every prayer, and every encouraging word... Even from the doubters :)! Trust me we know that we have struggles ahead... We have older children, they are not special needs and there has been heartbreak and trials and our patience tested to the core. We have little bitty ones, and they are not perfect, nor are we... So such as life... Here we go... My husband always says that nothing worth having ever comes easy!

Oh how she inspires me.

She will never know how much her journey has blessed me.

And I love how my friend Jen of Team Chase 4 and Counting {who is in the process of adopting 2 children from Ethiopia} put it when she said...

The journey is difficult, it stretches me in every aspect, but it is SO worth it. Not just because of the end result {which I look forward to with great hope}, but because of what I am learning along the way.

And that, my friends, is what I truly believe it is all about: the journey.

I encourage you to cherish the journey.

God uses it to bless us, to teach us and to make us more like Christ.

And even though it is tough, it is worth it.

And you just never know who you are blessing along the way.

Linking Up With {Encouraging Words Wednesday}

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A giveaway anyone???

A giveaway anyone???

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

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Hello, just a quick note to let you, our lovely readers know there is a giveaway going on over at 517 Creations for their 100 followers milestone! Winner gets one of these and can customize the bottom word.

Go check it out HERE.

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Ruffle Clutch Winner & Chase Family Adoption Auction

Ruffle Clutch Winner & Chase Family Adoption Auction

Friday, June 3, 2011

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Before we announce the winner of the Ruffle Clutch we want to take a moment to tell you about something. One of our sponsored adoption families is having an online auction to help raise funds for their adoption.

Now I have been over to the Chase Family blog to see what's up for auction and oh my gosh they have tons of pretty great stuff! I have my eye on a few. Please go check it out, we all need gifts for many occasions throughout the year and why not support an adopting family at the same time.

Though we are not all called to adopt the Bible does command us the help the orphans (and widows) and this is one such way!

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 Now the winner of the Ruffle Clutch from 517 Creations is

comment #50 who is LOVELY!!!

We have been in touch Lovely, please check your email!

Have a great weekend all!

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Giveaway fun with 517 Creations.

Giveaway fun with 517 Creations.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

58 comments

Hi friends! Today I want to share a little bit of 517 Creations. MJ is the very creative lady behind 517 Creations and she creates some wonderful handmade items. These first 2 are my personal favorites!

I need one of these superhero capes for each of my boys. Don't you love when they play superhero? I sure do! But I love anything they play that requires them to use their imagination and these may be just the thing! And they're personalized!

 And the camera strap cover, ahhhh. Love. I'll take several of these please!

She creates these very cool Chosen Child shirts and donates $5 from each one to our adopting families! (Go HERE for more info about our adopting families.) It's the shape of your chosen country and a heart sewn on! I think one of the USA with a heart over your state would be cool too.

And at the 517 Creations blog you'll find some great stuff like the ruler growth chart which is a Pottery Barn knock off! Also some great tutorials and her fab kitchen redo! ↓↓↓

I always love a giveaway. Don't you? 517 Creations and I have decided to swap giveaways. So today I'm posting hers and she will be posting mine sometime soon on her blog. Where she'll be giving away the i am necklace.

So what's up for grabs here? I thought you'd never ask! How about this loveliness!

 A new ruffle clutch!!! Isn't it pretty?! I love it. If you win can I have it? lol just kidding!

to enter:

Go visit 517 Creations then come back here and tell us which item is your fave. This must be done before extra entries will count.

extra entries:

• Like 517 Creations on facebook and leave them some comment love there saying Cap Creations sent ya!

• Follow the 517 Creations blog.

• Follow the Cap blog.
• Like Cap on facebook.

Easy enough right? Leave a separate comment here for each entry and make sure we have a way to contact you if you should win. | Last day to enter 5/31/11.

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(CLOSED) GIVEAWAY TIME

(CLOSED) GIVEAWAY TIME

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

86 comments

Hi friends! Today we have a fantastic giveaway for you in the name of adoption! Can you say fantastic?! Three wonderful prizes and all for one lucky winner! What's up for grabs you say? Glad you asked!

A Chosen Child Adoption Band from Worthy of the Prize! These are super for your keys!

Winner's choice of Chosen Child Adoption T-Shirt from 517 Creations! These are so neat! Your state or country is appliqued on and a heart marks your town or state.

And a $40 Gift Certificate to Cap Creations to buy yourself some new jewels!

Winner gets it all!

Remember for each Chosen product 50% of each band, $5 from each shirt and $10 from each necklace sold is donated to help a family raise the needed funds for their adoption.

To Enter: Simply leave a comment on this post.

Extra Entries:
- Spread the word about the adoption cause and include a link to HERE. Blog, tweet or facebook it, leave a separate comment for each that you do.

- Follow any of our blogs and leave a comment for each that you follow.
  Worthy of the Prize
  517 Creations
  Cap Creations

Open to US residents through Monday, Sept. 13. Winner will have 72 hrs to respond and claim their prize. Make sure we have a way to contact you if you should win.

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Chosen Child {Adoption T-Shirts}

Chosen Child {Adoption T-Shirts}

Thursday, August 12, 2010

7 comments

Remember my friends over at Worthy of the Prize Ministries? Well they have created the Chosen Child {Adoption T-Shirts} to benefit adopting families!

A 100% cotton shirt with an applique of the shape of your chosen country or state! You can even have a heart stitched over the city or town of your choice!

These shirts are completely custom made. You choose your shirt style and color, country or state, fabric for your country or state and where you want the heart (if you want one)! Available for men, women and children!

The best part...$5 from each shirt sold goes toward helping adopting families raise money for their adoptions!

Think about the possibilities!

• place that you are or did adopt your child from
• place that a friend/family member is/has adopted a child from
• place that you are sponsoring a child from
• your own home country/state/town, mark it with the heart

Available at 517 Creations, click HERE to order yours today!

And it would be super great if you could help spread the word about all of the wonderful products that help these families.

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