Things I Love: Fall Edition, Part 2

Part Two is here! Here are a few more things that I have always loved or I have recently discovered. Check them out!

My best friend's coffee shop, Mocha Giraffe. I'm addicted to the Peppermint Mochas and the Chai Tea Lattes! Sooo yummy! She just got a new pastry case, and she's carrying Paul's Pastry. Ugh, I'm gonna gain weight! Haha!


Bath and Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom lotion and body cream. Yum! I looooove this smell. Not too heavy and not too sweet. Perfect.

The Rosette bedding from Anthropologie in the dark purple. It's ruched heaven! So romantic, and it would be so gorgeous in my master bedroom. On my Christmas list!

I only have one piece of Peter's Pottery but I LOVE it! It's so beautiful and unique. And rustic. Which is perfect for my little farmhouse!



Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Townsend. And I'm leaving in a couple days! YAY!

Must Download!

You seriously must go download "Here is Love" from Bethel Church. So anointed!

I have it on repeat. Two of my favorites are "I Need You More" sung by Kim Walker and "Your Presence" sung by Jenn Johnson. I love how they reference David Gray's lyrics from "Babylon". So cool, you must get this one.

Psalm 119

This chapter has become one of my favorite passages in the Bible. I love reading it in the Message paraphrase. Here are a few highlights from throughout the chapter that I wanted to share with you all.

"You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God....you walk straight along the road he set....Then I'd never have any regrets.

I'm single-minded in pursuit of you.

My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!- insatiable for your nourishing commands.

Barricade the road that goes Nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation....I'll run the course you lay out for me if you'll just show me how.

I set your instructions to music and sing them as I walk this pilgrim way. (That's so me!! Ha)

I'm thoroughly committed to living your way....My troubles turned out all for the best- they forced me to learn from your textbook.

And let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high.

I've committed myself and I'll never turn back from living by your righteous order.

Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning. Mouth open and panting, I wanted your commands more than anything. (Desperation!)

Let my cry come right into your presence, God.

Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well."

All I can say is "Wow" and I hope He speaks to you through this passage the way that He has to me.

Be a follower.

I'd like to encourage you to become a follower of my blog if you aren't already! And if I'm not following yours, leave me a comment to let me know! :) I'm always interested to see who's keeping up with what I'm posting!

Things I love: Fall Edition, Part 1

1. J dot art: This is one of my sweet friends from highschool, and her work is amazing! I love all of the Christmas items. Totally on my wish list!

2. Red Letter Words: OH my gosh, I LOVE their stuff. Reallllly wanting this one.

3. Smart Mom Jewelry: I was the lucky winner of a giveaway from Sarah Mae at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee for a Teething Bling necklace and bracelet. All I can say is GENIUS! I wish I had thought of this. Of all three of my boys, Trace is the one who LOVES to chew on my necklaces. We are definitely using these items! Thanks Sarah Mae!!

4. Crazy Love by Francis Chan: Even if you aren't reading the book, go to his website and check out the videos called "The Awe Factor of God" and "Just Stop and Think". Pretty amazing stuff!

5. My church: Loving that I can listen online to past sermons. The latest series we had on "God's Sovereign Love" was taught from the book of Ruth. I learned SO much from it! I really encourage you to go listen. Just click on Wiggins, Media, and then Sunday Morning Messages to download the MP3s. You will be blessed!

Part 2 coming soon! Stay tuned.

Around the House

I copied this idea from Sarah at Life in the Parsonage! She's so cute; stop by and say Hi!


Around the House: October

Reading: Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Enjoying: Cooler weather. Coffee with peppermint mocha creamer. Spending time outside with my boys. My husband. Worship team. Singing my heart out to Jesus. Growing closer to Him each day.

Learning: How to give even more.

Watching: House, Lie to Me

Anticipating: Christmas. I can't wait to spend time around the tree and the table with my family. I love my three little boys and this time of year with all of its traditions and festivities excites me. I really want to find some creative ways to give as a family this year. Any suggestions anyone?

Realizing: That you can never out-give God.

Pondering: How I can convince my neighbor to let me take his two teenage boys to our church on Sundays. Praying!

Studying: The One Year Bible and Esther

Wondering: Why God would choose to use me?

Remembering: That God is in control. He is Faithful!

Praying: I can make a difference in someone's life every day.

Worth It

Funny how God gives you great opportunities to give when it's least convenient.

The sacrifice is worth it.

Look.

Beyond the ordinary in your day and realize that God is at work.

Give.

And be blessed beyond measure.

Beyond whatever sacrifice you had to make. It's worth it.

Week Wrap-Up

I didn't do a great job of posting this week! I just really felt like I didn't have that much to say I guess. Here's a recap:

* Sunday's worship was AMAZING! I was so proud of the worship team; it was probably the best worship service yet with our new band. The flow and transitions were great. The Holy Spirit showed up and it was just awesome. I could really do this forever.

* The boys were out of school Monday. We really didn't do anything incredibly exciting; it was just nice to be home and not have anything pressing to do. It rained all day, which I don't mind at all. Minus the fact that my boys got a little wild!

* Tuesday was back to work and school. I had my Life Group in the morning. Our topic over the next few weeks is Giving. I LOVED this lesson! Everyone had so many testimonies to share about their giving and how God blessed them for it. So uplifting to hear.

* That night Jeffry attended a meeting with the local car club here that is helping us host the first ever Jack's Home Improvement Center Antique Car Show! It's next Saturday, October 24th, from 9-2. We are expecting 100+ cars to show up and tons of people from the community. I really think it's going to be a great event. Please pray that we have great weather!

* Wednesday I don't know what I did. Hmmm....where did that day go?

* Yesterday I got soooooo much done at work! I was sick of my desk having a million papers on it that everyone just keeps piling on. Apparently, my desk is the place to put things when you aren't sure where to put them. Ahem. Anyway, I devised a couple of new organized stations, CLEARLY LABELED, so that people will have no excuse to pile on the paper. I feel so accomplished with a clean desk. Worship team practice last night was great. AND my house cleaner came. SO blessed!

* Today is FRIDAY! Woo-hoo! I woke up and it was FREEZING outside! Seriously, yesterday the high was in the mid-80's and today when I left for work it was 58 degrees outside. I had kind of a rough morning bc someone made a rude comment to me which I overheard. Why do people do that? Anyway, I'm over it now. I have a great husband and great friends who reassured me it was fine. I'm really looking forward to relaxing at home in my clean house tonight.

* Saturday is our second meeting of The Current 601, the newly formed young adult ministry at our church that Jeffry and I are spearheading. We are having a fall get-together at our farm complete with bonfire, Smores, hayride, skeet shooting, chili, potato soup, cupcakes, and FRIENDS! I really can't wait! Oh except that I am speaking tomorrow night. I could really avoid that whole part...but Pastor Mike asked me to speak about Getting Real: Living Real in a Fake World. Cool topic! I really can't wait to see what God is going to do with this great group of people!!

That's all for now! Everyone have a great weekend and ENJOY this COLD weather!

Wordless Wednesday

Updates to come soon, I promise :)

Wordless Wednesday

More of Him

Friday night was kind of a "wow" moment for me. After some great worship from Misty Edwards, Pastor Mike brought a great message in which he talked about our flesh. One thing I really gleaned from that time was this,

"Focusing on myself is the complete opposite of focusing on God. I want to experience life on God's terms!"

Yeah. Focusing on myself...I do that a lot.

After the message, we had some time to get on our knees alone with the Lord. I was really searching my heart and just crying out to God for more of Him.

I said, "Lord, take me in, past the outer courts, further in..."

I was a little shocked and surprised when He responded, "I'm trying. But until you take me there in your life, I can't bring you any further in."

WOW. Talk about a "spanking". But it really broke me down...it's funny how we think we've let God into every single area of our hearts, but there are still areas that we hope He hasn't seen, or He will just glance past. How thankful I am that God cares enough to answer me honestly! I repented right then and there.

I am resolved to go deeper in the Lord. The great thing is...you can ALWAYS go deeper. There's always more of Him. We can never get enough.

As for me, I'm letting Him go deeper in my life...so He can let me in on more of Him.

Fine-tuning

I have a new blog template since the last time many of you visited. However, I'm really not happy with the 2-column layout of my blog right now. I'd love a three column layout. Actually, what I'd really love is to have someone design my blog for me. Do you all have any recommendations for a designer or a place for free layouts? Please let me know.

Also, how do I list the post labels so that someone can click "Trace" and all of the posts that I've labeled "Trace" come up? Anybody know? Thanks for your help!

I'll have my regular post up later this afternoon. It's been a crazy morning at work!

God is Moving!

I have so many things coursing through my brain right now...God has been really moving in my life the past week. I've got a couple of great post ideas from what He's been teaching me (more like from the spankings I've been getting!! Ha!).

We had the privilege of attending Consecration Weekend at our church this past weekend. It's basically a weekend to get rid of your flesh.

Eww, even that word just sounds bad.

You know our flesh rises up DAILY. That's why Paul says to take up our cross daily. The bad attitude, the outbursts of anger, the lustful glances or thoughts, the gossip that you mask as a "prayer request", the filth you allow into your mind from what our society calls "entertainment", the feelings of guilt or failure....stop blaming all of this on the devil! Yes, the devil tempts us but wake up! YOU are responsible for your flesh! Start TODAY and let's get rid of our fleshly desires and attitudes. Just confess to the Lord that you aren't perfect; He already knows! And He already knows what you're going to confess! Haha...why do we act like God doesn't already see what we've done wrong? All He wants is for us to come clean before Him and let Him redeem us.

Because He's already paid the price- all we have to do is ask.

Wow, our God is awesome!

God taught me so much this weekend, and I can't wait to share it with you! Stop by again soon! :)