Tribulation

Have you experienced tribulation?  I am sure you are answering "yes" to that question.  All of us have tribulation. Tribulation is defined as a state of great trouble or suffering.  Tribulation surfaces in our personal lives, in the lives of those around us and in the world.  It is a part of daily living here on planet earth, but for those of us who follow Jesus Christ there is extra tribulation.  As 2 Timothy 3:12 says, "Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Persecution is defined as hostility and ill treatment.  So as a Christian it is a given that at some point I will face some kind of hostility or ill treatment due to my faith.   

In Matthew 5:10-12 Jesus says this:  "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

I have not endured physical persecution, but I have endured hostility, false words against me and loss of relationship.  It hurts when these things happen, especially at the hands of those who are supposed to love us. That is why the Lord said we have to love Him more than our father, brother, mother, children, etc.  To be honest, there are times I have wanted to lash back, but then I remember vengeance belongs to the Lord.  I also remember how the Lord wants us to love our enemies and do good to those who would spitefully use us.  It is a sad day when a loved one becomes an enemy, but then it is all spiritual as it says in Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

So, I went to the Lord and told Him that I forgive these people. I sure did not feel like doing that, but our Lord commands us to forgive.  Once I spoke my forgiveness to the Father, the chains were broken.  Then the above verses washed and cleansed the hurt and brought comfort. It is my hope that in some small way this post has helped you to deal with your tribulation.  God bless and keep saying those prayers...its critical.  ;-)

Autumn is Here!

It is Autumn!  Been so busy with taking care of my grandson and keeping up with world events in light of the Bible, as well as taking care of our home.  As for my grandson,  I take care of him 4 to 6 days a week.  I've been so blessed to spend so much time with him.  This week we have had some Autumn outings.  First, Mark and I took a weekend Autumn drive in the mountains to enjoy the Aspens.  We always seem to catch the tail end of them.  Even so, we enjoy our time on the road.

 The golden aspens near Georgetown on Guanella Pass.

Me enjoying an Autumn day.

The mountains on Guanella Pass.

 

On our way home we stopped into a small cafe in the town of Bailey (on the 285) and had a piece of pie and coffee.  So much fun!

On Tuesday this week, Mark decided to take a day off  from work so that we could take our grandson to the pumpkin patch.  He absolutely loved it!

Here he is enjoying a pumpkin.

The Lord certainly has blessed our Autumn and we are so thankful for the time we have shared together.  Hope you are having a blessed Autumn as well.  Happy Autumn! 

Autumn is coming...Update

Wow! I looked at the date on my last post and I cannot believe that much time has passed!  This is going to be a long post as I have got to get you all caught up.

I have been struggling with a wrist injury.  Before our vacation at the end of May I had fell in our kitchen and injured my wrist.  It was not too bad and I did great on vacation.  Sometime after our return I re-injured it.  It got so bad that I went to the doctor and they put me in a brace thingy.  So I have been trying to get through life in this brace and it doesn't make things easy, not to mention the pain I've had.  At first they thought it was fractured, but on closer examination ruled that out.  It is sprained and I have to wear the brace till September 21, at which point I am to evaluate it.  If it is still in pain and is giving me trouble then I am to schedule another appointment with my doctor.  On the bright side it has made some progress, but it is slow in coming.  Praying that the Lord will heal it completely.

So as you can imagine, typing has been a bit of a challenge.  I can do it, but it isn't the most comfortable position for my wrist and I keep hitting wrong keys here and there making the job a bit longer and more tiresome.  Anyway, I wanted to get a post up to share my excitement for Autumn while I have it.  I have been a bit apprehensive to be excited about the season as there are so many things going down in the world that have "end times" written all over them.  Its been pretty scary, but then the Lord is always with us, even to the end of the age.

Okay, so, its time to evaluate my Project Use It Up progress.  I have to say that I really did not use up much of anything.  Off the top of my head I remember using up a bar of soap and a shower gel.  I got a couple items out of storage for summer, but did not use them up.  I like the whole idea of matching my bath products to the season.  Since Autumn begins hitting Colorado in September (Fall color has already started showing in the mountains here.) I've been in the Autumn mood.  So I went to my storage to look for Autumn scents, but had nothing except a bar of apple soap.  So I had some fun buying a few items.

Pictured here is a Brown Sugar & Vanilla pump soap by Deep Steep.  And a body butter in Milk & Honey by SHE.  Both are good products and smell delightful.  I also picked up a pump lotion by Pure & Basic in Apple Berry scent to match my apple bar soap.  These items should last me through November.

Pictured here is my last lemon shower gel from Germany and a new lotion from Desert Essence, I think called Lemon Ice.  The lotion smells really good and I plan to use these next summer.

Here is another item I picked up.  I already had the Andalou mint lotion and happened upon the matching shower gel at Marshal's, so I picked it up.  Looking forward to using these items in the winter.

Since I am in the Autumn mood, I've been busy changing my decor to match.  So far I've gotten my bathrooms decorated.  Here are some pics!  Forgive the quality.

My husband and I have our own bathrooms.  We of course share, but I mainly use the blue bathroom and he uses the gold colored one.  The above pic is of my bathroom.  I've been partial to a French theme, so its Autumn in Paris!  The wall decal says "Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful".

My bronze tray is filled with Autumn-ish goodies.  A mini-candle from Bath & Body Works in the scent "Autumn" and some A La Maison.  I used up the lotion, but like to refill the bottle with other lotions to keep that Paris vibe.

Here is the sink area.  I just got the vase with the fake sunflower at Burlington Coat Factory, they also sell them at Marshal's for $6.99.  And the hand towel I got a Joann's Fabric last year.  The pump soap is Orange Blossom Honey is from Trader Joe's.  The scent is delightful and gentle on your hands if you have eczema issues like I do.

Here is a picture of my husband's bathroom sink area decorated for Autumn.  I am using an old Bath & Body Works pump soap bottle for decoration.  Love the rusty color and I love to recycle soap & lotin bottles.  Its really easy to refill soap bottles.  I buy big bottles of Dr. Bonner's soap and for a foam pump you add 2/3 water to 1/3 soap and walla!  You can even add essential oils to get a scent you prefer.

The other passion in my life is my grandson, pictured here in my backyard.  He is now 18 months old and spends 4 to 5 days a week with his Grandma while his mommy & daddy work.  At first he was reserved and sort of withdrawn, but the more time he has spent with me the more he has blossomed.  He is beginning to talk and he calls Mark & I, mama & papa.  He loves being outdoors and exploring.  In this picture he is holding a leaf and looking up at the trees.  Of course I love him to pieces.  Oh and one of the words he has learned recently is "Bible".  So proud of him!

So that is my update.  I hope you enjoyed it and you too are inspired for Autumn.  Enjoy & God Bless!

End Times News

Would you be interested to know how current events are fitting into Bible prophecy?  Here is a link to a site called Rapture Ready.  For quite awhile now I have been visiting this site on a daily basis.  If you want to be a well informed believer this site is essential.  God bless!

Are you Awake?

Speaking as a follower of Jesus Christ, I have to ask:  Are you feeling a heaviness in your spirit these days?  Is your soul vexed?  If your answer is "yes", bless God you are alive!  If not, then I encourage you to wake up and look around.  Things are not what they may seem.  The tide has turned and the "soon" return of Christ is drawing nearer everyday.  I've had to wake up myself and ask Jesus for salve for my eyes so that I might see.  One thing that really touched my heart this past Sunday is news from the Temple Institute in Israel.  They have released the plans for the 3rd temple!  The building of the 3rd temple is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy and a sign that I have been looking for.  As I watched the video tears ran down my face in realization that Jesus is really coming. 

Here below I am leaving a few links to terrific men & women of God that are telling it like it is and dealing with issues that are facing the body of Christ.  It has been such a comfort to listen to these dear souls of God.  I hope you will find comfort in their message as I have.

Fellowship Bible Chapel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLkJuTKF2csS-8hBILRkOz
Pastor John Haller does a prophecy update every Sunday.

Calvary Chapel in Hawaii - Pastor JD Farag:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLkJuTKF2csS-8hBILRkOzw
Pastor JD is so very dear, a blessed man of God.  He does prophecy updates every Sunday.

Jan Markell - Olive Tree Ministries:
http://www.olivetreeviews.org/
Jan is a very solid woman of God.  She has a weekly radio show.  Check out the archives.

Love for the Truth Radio - Cindy Hartline:
http://www.loveforthetruthradio.com/
Cindy's weekly radio program is an eye opener.

Update on my Vera Collection

Well, my obsession with Vera is continuing, I am way too addicted to color.  I thought I would share my collection with you.  Just to let you know, I've always been a practical gal when it comes to purses.  Now in my 50's I don't feel like being practical anymore.  I probably should be ashamed to own so many purses, but I can't tell you how much fun it has been.

Here is Daisy kitty with my spring/summer collection of purses.  Don't these Veras look so pretty together?  All of these patterns are retired and purchased on-line.  Starting at the lower left is a bucket tote in Hope Toile (from Ebay), next is a Clare in Priscilla Pink (Vera Bradley). Back to the left is another bucket tote in Flutterby (Vera Bradley), next to that is a Clare in Jazzy Blooms (Amazon), next is another bucket tote in Petal Pink (Twice). Above Jazzy Blooms is a Betsy in Twirly Bird Pink (Ebay) and last is a Clare in Twirly Bird Navy (Ebay).

This is the beginnings of my autumn/winter collection.  Again all of these are retired patterns and were purchased on-line.  On the left is a Clare in Very Berry Paisley (Ebay), next to that is a Hipster in Totally Turq (Twice) and on top is a Clare in English Rose (Ebay).  If you will notice I buy a lot of Clare bags.  They are my favorite, they are rounded which feels good worn as a shoulder or crossbody bag.

Any regrets you may ask?  Yes, I bought three little hipsters, thinking they would work well for me.  I used one and it did not sit right on my body as a crossbody.  They are rectangular and for some reason it is uncomfortable for me.  As a shoulder bag it works alright, but still not thrilled with it.  I prefer the Frannie much better.  The little hipster in the pattern Clementine (a very pretty pattern) I sent to my niece as part of her high school graduation present.  I hope she likes it better than I did.  I used the one in the pattern Petal Paisley and have not used the Baroque one.  I intend to gift the Baroque to a lucky gal.  If you read this and would like a little hipster in the pattern Baroque, let me know, I just may send it to you. *wink*

Project Use It Up - AKA: BUS

Hello friends, I am changing the name of my monthly BUS report to "Project Use It Up".  Just thinking it better describes what I am trying to do.  Its been awhile since I have done an update.  I went on vacation and when I got back a number of things went down.  I had a changing of the babies.  Isaac went on to big time daycare, so I had to say goodbye (sniff).  And I began taking care of my grandson (smile).  And then there was some big events that happened with my younger son and his wife.  So I just did not feel like blogging too much. Anyway, here is my Project Use It Up report. 

Okie dokie, pictured above is the current shampoo I am using, Andalou lavender & biotin.  I am about halfway done with it.  I smells good and is gentle, but for the most part I don't notice anything special.

I have been using these A La Maison products in the scent Thousand Flowers.  I've used about a 1/3 of the soap and probably 1/2 of the lotion.  I like the smell which is very light and springy.  The lotion is light and absorbs quickly.  I like the lotion a lot, but they have discontinued making it.  Bummer!

In this picture of products I used up the lavender scented snowflake soap and the blue bottle of lavender lotion.  I've only used a 1/4 of the liquid soap.

I finally got my lemon collection out.  I am currently using all of these products.  The Hugo lotion in the scent Lemon & Bergamot is 3/4 gone.  The bar soap is about 1/2 gone.  And the lemon shower gel from Germany, I actually have two tubes of it.  I've just about finished one tube and will soon be using the second one.  As far as the Out of Africa lotion, I am using that as a face cream, I've used maybe a 1/4 of it.  And last, but not least, the Deo from Germany (which I LOVE), I've used about a 1/4 of it.

So that is my update.  I am so happy with myself because I have not been buying any new products the past month or so.  I do look every once in awhile, but I know I have stuff at home so I tell myself not to buy.  I have 3 collections yet to get through which are:  Coconut, Sea Salt, and Honeysuckle.