wordless Wednesday

religion

Religion can be the enemy of God. It’s often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building. A list of instructions where there was once conviction; dogma where once people just did it; a congregation led by a man where once they were led by the Holy Spirit. Discipline replacing discipleship.

- Bono

To read more of the interview with Bono you can go to http://noapologizing.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/u2s-bono-interview-about-christ/

no answers

A baby girl is born but never goes home from the hospital, friends battle cancer, children in a remote part of Zambia are malnourished and in need of mana RUTF. They wait patiently for us to help, because The Salvation Army's Chikankata Mission Hospital  is down to its last two boxes of RUTF.  This list could go on and on.

Life. At times, it is unfair, unjust and sad. I do not understand why babies die, why moms have to battle cancer and why I have so much in my refrigerator and pantry and others have so little. 

When it comes to my plenty and others need, I can do something. I can give and by giving make a difference. But there are other injustices that I can't help to make right.  And let me be honest that is hard... because of my western mind-set, I want answers. I want things explained and I want it to all make sense. I want to have answers to give and I want to be able to give a reason for why things are happening. 

But then I'm reminded that this is my, our desert wandering. This is not home, this world as it is right now is broken and messed up. There are no answers sometimes. And thankfully, this is not all there is to life.   There is a day coming when all will be right, when Jesus returns. All I need to do until then is love. Love with my actions, not just my words. 

Tonight we will go to a memorial service for a sweet baby. I have struggled all week with God...why? There are no answers, but there are  things that I know are truth, no matter what is happening here.

He is...

Shalom/ Prince of Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27

Our Help

So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Hebrews 13:6 

Our Deliverer
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2 NASB

Our Perfect Intercessor 

He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to
God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Our Burden Bearer

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Psalm 55:22

 Our Healer

“... for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Exodus 15:26b

 
Gentle Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need ... Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid, because You are with me. Your rod and Your shepherd’s staff comfort me. Psalm 23:1; 4 NCV

El Roi- The God who sees 

The slave girl gave a name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are ‘God who sees me,’ “ because she said to herself, “Have I really seen God who sees me?” Genesis 16:13

 Breach-Mender

“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell. Isaiah 58:12

 Unconditional Love

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

The Answer
On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.

Psalm 138:3



join us

If you live in Charlotte, like to craft and help others then I have the perfect thing for you..... 

Craft Night at Julia's Cafe and Books!  Please join me and others on Thursday, June 20th from 6-8 to make a craft out of used books. We will be making book letters. Just like the ones in the picture.

I'm sure you have heard of Habitat for Humanity but you may not know about Julia's. Julia's is a coffee shop located in the Wendover Road Habitat for Humanity Re-store.  All of the profits from the drinks and goodies and used books that Julia's sells go directly to Habitat for Humanity.  

As you can imagine, the Habitat Re-store gets tons of donations of used books each week.  While Julia's is able to put out many of those books to sell in the bookstore, there are still many they can't use (you wouldn't believe some of the books they get!). Here is where craft night comes in...we will be using those books that can't be sold in the store to make our crafts. All proceeds from craft night go to Habitat. 

Please join us! 

Here are the important details...

For $19.98 we’ll provide all the materials you’ll need for a book-page project and a local blogger to lead you through the process. We’ll even throw in a drink (we have caffeinated and decaf options). All you have to bring is your creative side. The letters are perfect to hang in your home or use as bookends. All proceeds from Julia’s support Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte. For more information, or to register, visit Julia's or call 704-295-4585. Julia's is located at 1133 Wendover Road Charlotte.

Love

Tracy

linky love and a recipe

front

back

This. Father's. Day. card. I love it.  I cannot  think of a better way to honor dad this year than to invest in the lives of these moms and their children at The Mercy House in Kenya.  My dad and my father in law are getting one of these cards! Go to the Mercy House shop to order yours.   

If you haven't checked out Sacred Made Shop. Go do it. I love their prints and their tagline... adorning  your space with grace and truth! The prints are beautiful and speak words of truth! I have the silhouette print...one for each of my kiddos, and I was able to pick the scripture background for each of the portraits. 

We are attending a wedding this weekend and I needed a gift for a very special couple,  so I ordered a print like this one...

 this one is on my list 

and this one

 Go check out the prints.  It is hard to choose just one!

This song. 

If there's a road I should walk, help me find it 

If I need to be still, give me peace for the moment

Whatever your will, whatever your will 

Help me find it, help me find it 

- Sidewalk Prophets

Banana chocolate chip muffins...my kids love this recipe

1 1/2 cups of flour (unbleached or whole wheat)

2/3 cup of sugar 

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. salt

1 egg

1 1/3 cups of mashed ripe bananas ( about 3 medium)

1/3 cup butter (melted)

1tsp. vanilla extract 

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

In  another bowl, whisk egg, bananas, melted butter, and vanilla until blended. 

Add the egg/banana mixture to the flour mixture, stir until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips.

Grease muffin tin and fill muffin cups 3/4 full. 

Bake for 17-20 minutes. 

Love,

Tracy