Royal Husband delights in your beauty.....

I wanted to share this great message by Sheri Rose Shepherd.

Things have been a bit difficult lately. My son is still just struggling so much with Mitochondrial Disease. It's heartbreaking and heart wrenching. Please lift my son Devin up in prayer as well as our entire family (mama included please). I know that God has the big picture and knows the outcome, it's just hard to remember that sometimes when everything starts crumbling around you. On a good note....we have some exciting things happening in May! My oldest son turns 18! YAY! My daughter turns 23! YAY! My son graduates High School! YAY! I have a Mothers Day! YAY! God will be with us every step in every way! YAY!  I just wanted to pass this message on from Sheri...it encouraged me today and I hope that it encourages you too. 

God bless <><

I Think You're Beautiful

 

My Beautiful Bride,

You are so beautiful to Me. I wish for one moment that you could see what I see when I look at you. When I gaze at you I see a treasure ready to be discovered, a princess ready to shine, and a bride ready to be loved. When I look at you... I love what I see!

If you could grasp how beautiful you are in My eyes, then you would never feel insecure again. The beauty I created you to be is a reflection of Me, My love. I created you in My image, so never doubt again that your eternal beauty is a breath of heaven!

Love,

Your adoring Prince   

~

"For your royal husband delights in your beauty; Honor him, for he is your lord."
~Psalm 45:11  (NLT)~

True Beauty......

If only we saw ourselves the way Jesus sees us and the way others see us.......

This is something that I've always struggled with, like most people. I think this is an amazing way to show the world that we do NOT see ourselves the way others do.

Have a great day! Reflect and embrace your beauty inside and out.

Be blessed,

Shawna

Love Languages.....

I remember when I first came to know the Lord- I kept hearing about love languages. What the heck is a love language? I know English and Pig Latin and that is IT!

So, I picked up the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Wow! I learned so much about me! I thought that I knew my wants, needs, desires, etc...and I did to some degree but I didn't really understand how people are so different. That just because I crave affirmations doesn't mean that everyone does. Or that just because physical touch wasn't as important to me that others may need it more than affirmations.

1. Physical Touch - this person feels love when others touch them lovingly.
   
2. Acts of Service - this person feels love when others help them out or serve them.
   
3. Words of Affirmation - this person feels love when others verbally approve or affirm them.
   
4. Quality Time - this person feels love when others spend time with them.
   
5. Gifts - this person feels love when others give them thoughtful things.

The book goes into great detail on each but this is a brief explanation. My languages have changed over the years. I do believe that at the tops on my list are definitely Words of Affirmation, Quality Time and Acts of Service,  I've always wanted to hear that I'm good enough, smart enough, pretty enough etc and I remember even as a child that if I received a gift then I must've been important or good enough. Unfortunately that is how I based my importance in life so when I wasn't having those needs met, I felt that I was worthless and not good enough. Jesus is the ONLY one that could fill those holes and needs...no person could.

So do I not need those because Jesus is filling me with His affirmations? Ummmm NO! I still need it from my friends and family but I am not dependent on them for happiness. Make sense? 

There are so many different love language books...5 Love languages for couples, singles, moms, teenagers, etc.

When we share our lives with people (husbands, wives, kids, friends) They also have love languages and they feel that they need certain things more than others...take the time to learn their language so that we can meet the important needs of others.

Ok so I'll wrap this up with this....I love affirmations! (Anytime you want to tell me something nice about me, I still love it :-)) I still crave Acts of Service.(Makes me feel so good when someone helps with my yard, garden, having dinner made for me and my family unexpectedly) then Quality Time (to spend time with me intentionally and my kids, it is such a sweet treat) and Gifts! Seriously who doesn't like a gift?? haha and then Physical Touch- it is on the last of my list but after years of counseling and lots of love around me, it really should be right up there at the top. 

If you'd like to come over and tell me all kinds of sweet things, help me clean the house, spend time hanging out, and bring me a gift......I'll give you a great big hug! HAHA!

Be blessed and be a blessing! Take the time to get to know the needs of others. 

Shawna

The Library Books of the Bible Broken Down

I used to lead a single mom’s small group at church back in 2007 and found this helpful for not only me but all of my ladies in the group. I just found it in my documents at work and thought I’d share. It makes a huge confusing Bible more understandable. 

The Bible is a library of books.  It contains 66 different books, which all together tell the story of God’s wonderful love for people.  It also teaches us how to live our life.

The Old Testament-

This testament is about how God created the world.  There are 39 books in the Old Testament.

The first 5 books of the Old Testament are

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

These are the Books of Law because they contain laws God gave to the Jewish people to keep them pure and holy.

The next 12 are

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings,1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

These are the Books of History.

The next 5 are

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.

These are Books of Poetry.

The last 17 are

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

These are about God’s prophets. The first 5 are “major” prophets and the last 12 are “minor” prophets.

Major is not considered more important..the books are just longer!

The New Testament begins with the birth of Jesus.  It tells about Jesus’ life and teachings and how he was killed, buried, and how he rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. Also, that He’ll be back someday.  There are 27 books in the New Testament.

The first 4 are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They are called Gospels. These are the greatest stories ever told. They are all the same story but told in a slightly different way. That are all about Jesus, His life and what He did.

The 5^th Book is the Acts of the Apostles.  It’s the historical account of the tremendous spread and growth of the early church. The church that began in those pages is still alive and growing today. (History of the Church)

The next 21 books are Letters… Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-2-3 John, and Jude.  The apostle Paul wrote 13 of these letters. They were written because people were confused about Jesus.

The last book of the Bible is Revelation.  This is the book of Prophecy. It was written to Christians who were facing great danger. The apostle John has a wonderful message. He told us Christians that we should expect hard times and trouble but we’d be winners in the end. He tells us not to lose hope because we will share in the final victory at the end of times because He’ll return for us! 

Don't let the size of the Bible overwhelm you...God's Word is powerful, Life changing, and Truth. God bless you all ~ Shawna

Nails didn't hold God to a cross....Love did!

Today is such an awesome day! Good Friday!  This is something that I wanted to share from Max Lucado. It says it all!

Six hours, one Friday.  Mundane to the casual observer.   A shepherd with his sheep, a housewife with her thoughts, a doctor with his patients.  But to a handful of awestruck witnesses, the most maddening of miracles is occurring. God is on a cross.  The creator of the universe is being executed.

It is no normal six hours.  It is no normal Friday.  Far worse than the breaking of his body is the shredding of his heart.  And now his own father is beginning to turn his back on him, leaving him alone. What do you do with that day in history?  What do you do with its claims?  They were the most critical hours in history.

Nails didn't hold God to a cross.  Love did. The sinless One took on the face of a sinner so that we sinners could take on the face of a saint!

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

from Six Hours One Friday

2013-Redeemed!

So HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'm a little late but that's ok. What's the saying?? "Better late than never!"

I am THRILLED about this new year! 2013 screams all kinds of awesome things. New beginnings, New friendships, New classes, New gym membership ;-), New healthy menus for the family, New New New!

I absolutely love being refreshed. 2012 is gone! YAY! Sometimes I don't get as excited about a year ending...Some years were soooo good that I had wished I could've kept them longer. 1990, 1995, and 1997 were THE BEST! I had my babies and boy has time gone by way too fast! Some years were terrible and they couldn't end fast enough. 2012 was one of those years. From start to finish there were just bricks on top of bricks thrown on me. It seemed like I was barely getting by in the end. However, 12/31/12 I made it! I made it to the finish line!! YES!

This year I am focusing on one word all year! My word for this 2013 year is.....REDEEMED!



I am REDEEMED! I am so blessed that even in my stress, I've been REDEEMED, in my divorce...I've been REDEEMED, in my fears..I'm being REDEEMED, in my finances...I'm being REDEEMED. Yes!

Ok some days I say I've been redeemed, some days I say that I'm being redeemed. Every day is a new day and some days I need more of a reminder of redemption.

I have no idea what this year has in store for me, I don't know how it will end, but I know that through it all JESUS is guiding me, protecting me, directing me, and loving me. He loves every one of us! He has great plans for us and I cannot wait to see what He's doing in my life and my children!

Happy New Year Friends!

Wanted to share this from Max Lucado.....

God Uses People

Sinners, the ungodly, the imperfect, the fearful!  Why does God choose such losers to change the world? I’m thinking it’s because there’s a lot more of us to choose from!

God uses people to change the world.  Abraham the liar.  David the adulterer and murderer.  Are you getting the picture?  What they lacked in perfection, God made up for in love. How can God possibly use you to make a difference?  Look at those He’s already used and take heart!  Because you are imperfect, you can speak of making mistakes. Because you’re a sinner, you can give testimony to forgiveness.  God restores the broken and the brittle, then parades them before the world as trophies of his love and strength!  If God chose only righteous people, you could count them all on one finger—Jesus!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Yes, Shawna...ALL THINGS! Happy Thanksgiving!

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV 1984)


I've read the scripture, I've recited the scripture and I've ummmmm failed at believing the scripture!

I'm supposed to give thanks in ALL circumstances? ALL? I mean every circumstance? Say what? But God you don't realize that a lot of my circumstances are very difficult..Yes, Shawna, I do!

I'm supposed to be thankful that my son Devin has Mitochondrial disease? That my son Brandon has bone/hip diseases? Not to mention any of my medical illnesses? Shawna, be thankful that I'm a great healer!

I'm supposed to be thankful for a painful relationship that ended? Yes, I'm molding you and preparing you for great things...you are my child and I have great plans for you! I'm also molding your husband that I'm preparing for you, Don't go out of my will and my timing.

I'm supposed to be thankful that my kids put the clothes ON the hamper and not IN the hamper? Yes, Shawna, you are blessed with a home and children.

I'm supposed to be thankful for hitting a pole and wrecking my car? Yes, Shawna, you are blessed with a car.

I really could go on and on, thankful when the dog leaves a nice big present right in my walkway? when I leave my leftovers in the car all weekend and the car smells baaddd? when my feelings are hurt? when I'm exhausted in the morning and would do anything not to go to work? when I'm running to work at 10:30 at night to print a report for my son that is due the NEXT morning? (nothing like kids waiting until the night before, right?) when I don't know how my finances will work that month being a single mom? when I feel lonely? when I feel overwhelmed? when....when....when....I mean, couldn't we all just keep on going??? BTW- God answered those questions too.

Yes, Shawna, give thanks in ALL circumstances! WOW God, Can I ever live up to your expectations?

Yes, Shawna...with Me you can do ALL things!

I'm so thankful this Thanksgiving! I'm thankful that I have 3 amazing children that know You Lord! I am thankful for my family and friends and so thankful for the struggles in my life. They've brought me closer to God, they've made me go before the throne and admit that I'm nothing without Him and that I cannot do anything without my Lord who gives me strength. 

Hope that you all have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!