Blessings on the 4th!!!

Vic, me and the kids

First time holding a sparkler, I know I'm 35, so it took a little while!!!!!!!!!

The kids loved the sparklers and the neighbors were so kind and generous to share!!!
Terri and Cindy!!!

I won a basket at ULTA!!!!!!!!!! whoo hooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hello! I hope you all had a great 4th of July! This year we decided not to go the park that we usually go to. Instead we stayed on the block and sure enough the neighbors had a great big show planned. Fireworks went off for at least an hour. The kids got to play with sparklers and heck I got to hold my first sparkler ever. I know it only took 35 years! In any case it was nice to be home and enjoy some fellowship with girlfriends.

I also received a call from ULTA saying I won the first prize basket in their drawing, I couldn't believe it. I have never won anything before. So of course I headed right over there to see what I'd won and wowee!!!!!. Tons of make up and skin care for days to come. I was like a kid in a candy store and sounded like one too!!! Thank you Lord, what a blessing!

Glam Girl Layout

This layout is from my daughter's 7th birthday last Oct. Ok so it took me awhile to scrap them but considering the last birthday of hers that I scrapped was when she turned 1, I'm really doing good!!

For the title I painted the chipboard letters with white paint and then a layer of CTMH create a shade to add iridescence, then I ran them through my xyron sticker maker and then covered them with CTMH prisma glitter. I also did that for the chipboard star as well as add silver stickles to outline it. The bl/wh paper is from CTMH stylin, the glitter paper and pink/silver paper is from the DCWV or whatever those letters are supposed to be, lol. I I used my sizzix to cut the stars and the rhinestone strips are from the Dollar Spot at Target, they are body tatoos.

Scrappin Through my Daughter's Eyes

Today Lexi decided to start on one of her albums. She was blessed with a stash of supplies last year for her birthday and Christmas. After a very productive day of homeschool, I rewarded Lexi by allowing her to scrap in my craft room and use whatever supplies of mine that she wanted. Fortunately, I held on to an old stash of supplies which contains tons of stickers and embellishments for all occasions. Many of them worked for her. Lexi amazed me today. I sat working on my 2 page layout all day, while she whipped out page after page. She knows what she likes and doesn't waste anytime. No need to look at magazines or online boards for inspiration for this 7 year old. I simply gave her some pictures I had lying around my scrap room and she took it from there. I took a video because I was amazed by her activity. I just need to figure out how to post it. We'll keep you up to date with the progress of her first album. 8x8 is a great size for kids. She even figured out how many was too many pictures for one page. Oh to be as quick as her, that's my goal!

Doubt Your Doubts

July 1, 2008

Doubt Your Doubts

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Friend to Friend

Billy Graham once said, "Most of us do not understand nuclear fission, but we accept it. I don't understand television, but I accept it. I don't understand radio, but every week my voice goes out around the world, and I accept it. Why is it so easy to accept all these man-made miracles and so difficult to accept the miracles of the Bible?"

Faith is a personal issue and often demands that we give up what we can see for what we cannot see, but just because we can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there. Let me share some ways to weaken your doubts and strengthen your faith:

• Read the bible consistently.

Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

You may have heard the familiar Old Chinese saying, "There is a good dog and a bad dog fighting within each of us. The one that is going to win is the one we feed the most". The same is true when it comes to faith and doubt. We weaken our doubt by strengthening our faith in God. The Word of God feeds the new nature God gives us when we surrender our life to Him. As that new nature grows stronger, the old sinful nature becomes weaker and as that old nature becomes weaker, faith in God grows. A steady diet of the Word produces strong faith. Read the bible each day. Memorize a verse of scripture each week.

• Turn to God constantly.

Mark 9:14-29 tells of the man who brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus Christ and pleads, "If you can do anything, take pit on us and help us". Jesus responds, "If I can! All things are possible to him who believes". The dad exclaimed, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!"

Sounds just like us! We believe but we also doubt. In those moments, we must be honest enough to cry out to God! Jesus didn't punish this man for his doubt. He healed his son. God always responds to honesty!

• Focus on God continually.

Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

We focus on the mountain while crying out to God for help, wondering if He really will do anything. We need to remember what God promises and does not promise. God does not promise to remove the mountain or that we will even understand the mountain. However, God does promise to help us climb the mountain and He does promise to climb it with us. We must make the continual choice to fix our gaze on God and our glance on the circumstances. When doubt comes, refuse it.

• Seek out faith-builders persistently.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

We need to look for people who will encourage us to be faithful instead of constantly looking for ways to undermine our faith. Did you hear about the farmer that had a brilliant dog? He also had a neighbor that was negative - no matter what. If it was raining, the farmer would say to his neighbor, "Boy, look at it rain. God's washing everything clean." The neighbor said, "Yeah, but if this rain keeps up, it's going to flood." Then the sun would come out and the neighbor would say, "If it keeps that up, it's going to burn the crops." The farmer thought, "What am I going to do with this guy?" He made a plan! The farmer trained his dog to walk on water. He didn't tell his neighbor - just took him duck hunting. Boom! Boom! They got two ducks. The farmer said to his dog, "Go get 'em." The dog sprinted across the water, picked up the ducks and hopped back in the boat, nothing wet, just his paws. With a confident smile, the farmer asked his doubting neighbor, "What do you think of that?" The neighbor quickly replied, "He can't swim, can he?" Do you know people like the neighbor? Run from the doubters in your life. We struggle enough with doubt on our own and should not compound it by investing time in doubters and cynics. Look for people who walk in faith, who believe God and study His Word. They will encourage and build your faith while weakening your doubts.

Women have so much in common. We have the same problems, the same fears and the same doubts. Don't let fear and doubt wreak havoc in your heart and mind. Stay in God's Word. Don't be afraid or ashamed to cry out to Him when you are afraid. Keep your eyes on Him and look for other women who do the same. Will you join me in a new commitment to becoming a woman of faith? Remember, when doubt knocks on the door, just send faith to answer it - and you will find no one there!

Let's pray

Father God, I want to become a woman of faith, but I am so weak. I constantly battle fear and my faith seems so small. Please give me a new thirst for Your Word. I choose to focus on You, Father, instead of focusing on my circumstances. Help me to find faith and to be a faith-builder each day. I now turn to You, Lord.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Now it's Your Turn

• Make a list of your top five fears.
• Choose one verse from today's devotion for each fear.
• When that fear comes, cry out to God and pray that verse of Scripture aloud.
• Memorize Proverbs 3:5-6 and record it in your journal.
• Share your decision to be a woman of faith with other women who have the same desire.

Hugs,

Melanie

2 Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said:
"My son, the battle is between 'two wolves' inside us all... One is Evil: It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good: It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."


The grandson thought about it for a minute, and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"


The old Cherokee simply replied: "The one you feed.

Have a great day,
Be blessed
And be a blessing to others

Melanie

Only a few days left!!!

Only a few days left for STAMPAGANZA!!!! Buy 2 get 1 FREE stamp sets for the month of June only. Don't forget to get your order in before the end of the month. Please call or email me your order if you are local. I'll be placing the order on Sun. Visit my website for further info

Smiles,

Melanie

The Ocean

Here's a layout from our recent trip to Delray Beach, Fl. Cameron just loved the ocean, the sand in his toes, the waves and of course his water toys.

The journaling is in black pen around the photos

Supplies

Paper: CTMH Free Spirit paper pack
Accessories: chipboard letters, CTMH chalk, black ZIG pen for journaling, vellum quotes