Made to... Inspire, Encourage and Equip

Have you ever wondered if your emotional pain matters? I have! When I compare my pain to that of starving children, persecuted christians, and women that are being bought and sold through sex trafficking my pain seems small and insignificant. I tell myself to suck it up, deny my pain, my fear, and my anxiety because I have so much to be grateful for. Does my denial help? Nope. Pain is pain. Emotional pain is not something that can be compared or measured it needs to be acknowledged, understood and healed. I don't know about you, but I get stuck in the comparison game. I get stuck in a cycle of comparing my pain to others, denying that it matters, then guilt and shame that I can't stop myself from feeling it and letting it affect me. Here's what I'm learning and practicing: I must take the time to feel my emotional pain. A walk, a quiet moment alone, asking for a few minutes if I'm in the middle off a difficult conversation, whatever it takes to create a sa...

Sooo it's been forever since I posted anything :)  Life has changed a ton for us in the last few years and as always God has orchestrated everything.  We have landed in a great community that has encouraged our whole family to grow in our faith. I have been challenged often in my personal walk with God to live my life as a reflection of who he is to others. I often fail..... I keep trying..... but I want more than failure.  I want the chance to be awesome and make a difference!!! Lately I've been mulling over the subject of GENEROSITY and the questions  "I say that I am a follow of Jesus, how does my life reflect it?" and "Are these two subjects linked somehow?"  ( If you would like to see some great sermons on the subject go to liferotp.com under the media tab to listen or watch online)   We started a new series at church about generosity about a month ago.  During the first weeks sermon I was struggling to see what the personal application...

Our Room It used to be a dining room I think :) The Kitchen I redid the wallpaper and the handles The living room and entry way complete with wood stove! One of my wants that God provided for without even my asking :)  Hallway Laundry nook in the hallway Triston's room The bathroom I redid the wallpaper  in here too.   I didn't want a shot of the toilet so you get see the wall :) The girls room Front porch the view from the porch The Barn, Critters, and Pasture

Thinking today about my relationship with God.  Do I really live every day as if he is vital to me or do I only respond to him in circumstances of stress or fear.  I think for me it's a little of both.  As I grow in my relationship with Jesus I turn to him sooner and sooner in times of stress and fear.  Jesus is a vital part of my everyday life too but I don't always act like it.  I get caught up in the moments of my day.  Usually the expectations put on me by others or myself.  I can really relate to what Paul says in Romans 7:15 "I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."  The desire of my heart is to put God first in every circumstance, every conversation, every encounter.  But often my fear of what people will think takes over.  I believe we should tell people about Jesus and use words only if necessary.  But I forgo so many opportunities to love on people because of my fear of...

This song is the first I've recorded :)  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Grief and loss are funny things.  They catch you off guard all the time.  Something silly like making deviled eggs will tear you up :)  My brother-in-law Jim killed himself July 3rd and our family has been in a really tough time of grief and questioning why.  I have experienced death in my family before but it's been grandparents or accidents.  Suicide is a whole different ball game.  Along with all the grief come feelings of betrayal and questions, ton's of questions. The hard thing is for us is that there are no answers.  I'll be honest and say that I've been mad at God.  I had great plans for Jim.   He was a great guy with a big heart.  Him dying didn't fit into my plans anywhere!  At first the shock was so massive that I almost couldn't feel anything.  Then I got angry! Really angry.  I love God, my faith is a firm unwavering foundation that holds me together, but I threw a fit!  It was a two year o...