Me and God

Let me share another song with you as I try to get my groove back. 🙂

I really love this song! My husband and I are huge fans of Josh Turner! He is an awesome singer, husband, father, and follower of Christ. In fact, I bought his book,Man Stuff for my husband for Christmas and he really enjoyed it. It’s a great idea for Father’s Day!

A lot has been going on in my home and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. No matter what is going on in life I know that nothing can come between Me and God. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”- Romans 8:37-39

He is my help.

I just wanted to pop in really quickly today to share this song with all of you. If this is your first time watching this video, warning: you might need a tissue (Maybe I’m just sensitive though).

He is my help through all that I am and all that I want to be. On the days I feel lonely because I haven’t had an adult conversation all day. The days when I’m overwhelmed and I want to cry. The longest days that feel like bedtime will never come. These are days I feel His help surround me. Through Him, I have a friend, a comforter, and all the support I need. As a Christian I’m not suddenly exempt from these emotions. What I do have is help through all of it. Thank you Lord.

Have a good week everyone!

-Lauren

Encourage Faith

My kids and I have been sick the last few weeks. First one was sick, then the other one was sick, and then I got sick. So this stretches out this yucky cold to about 3 weeks long of someone being sick. I’m the last one to get better and I’m still coughing with sniffles.

Since the last few weeks have been difficult, I have only sat down to read my Bible a handful of times. I was stuck on Romans 1. Over and over about 5 times, I have read and reread it.  The way I read is kind of weird. I set my bible app to read aloud for my ears to hear as my eyes follow along in my Bible. I have found that to be the best way that I personally absorb the information.  I have to stop whenever the dogs want let out, the cats want fed, the kids want breakfast, my nose is running, the kids are fighting, the kids want to play and so on. So every time I stop my app before Romans 1 is finished playing, it starts over the next time. I could have skipped over it but I kept feeling like I’m missing something.

Well, today I get it. When Paul tells the Gentiles in Rome, “that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” -Romans 1:12.   What he is telling them, applies to how I feel about all of you, whoever you are. If you are just simply reading, you have encouraged me. If you have left me feedback, you have encouraged me. If you are sharing His word on your blog, you have encouraged me. All of you have encouraged me in my faith. Thank you.

Paul discusses all the sinful desires of the world. These sinful desires extend farther than I want to imagine. I’m sure that I am going to take this lighter than it was meant to be. “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator- who is forever praised. Amen.” Romans 1:25 . What I immediately think of is all of these normal distractions all around us.

What is normal?

“They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.” – Romans 1:29-31

The world is still filled with all these sinful desires that Paul is talking about. Idolizing and lusting over celebrities is “normal”. Focusing on vanity and envying other is “normal”. Gossip is “normal”. Being arrogant and boastful is how everyone gets ahead, its “normal”.

I tend to focus on the good in the world instead of all the sin. After all, I have small children and I daily see the good that is God’s creation. So while I focus on the good, I think of all of you and what you do to educate yourself and share God’s word with the world. YOU are the good in the world! Keep encouraging faith! Keep doing what you are doing and remember to not be “normal”!

-Lauren

Watching You

Yep, they are watching, this is so true. The good and the bad, if they see or hear it chances are they will repeat it.

This can be a pain when you’re a stay at home mom. If they say anything bad, ever, guess whose fault it is? Yep, that’s right, Daddy’s! Just kidding! It’s all on me. My son had a problem saying “no way!” to everyone for everything a few months back. Now I can’t recall saying that but I take the blame anyways. And a couple of weeks ago he dropped something and said, “deeemit!” …yeah. *Sigh* that’s my fault too. I just redirected him and said, “you mean aw man! Right?” and he was like “yeah that.”

This has a lot of benefits when it comes to accountability. The last thing I want to do is disappoint my children. If I said we would go to the park I better follow through. They count on me and depend on me to do what I said I would do. This has recently become obvious to me as my children are coming out of the baby stages and more into the kid stages. The accountability can be a huge blessing for being a better person in general.

When they stand beside me while I exercise and pretend they are exercising too. When my toddler reaches her toes and giggles. Or when I hear my son singing a song I taught him while he is suppose to be sleeping. In those moments I realize that almost everything they are learning is from me. How awesome and overwhelming is that?!

I see my husband in my kids all the time. The other day my son leaned on me and kissed my arm and said, “I love you mom”. It was the sweetest thing and I know it’s because he see his daddy do it all the time.  Both of my kids hug me a lot all day, I can’t help but think it’s because my husband is a hugger too.

I wonder if God ever sees himself when he looks at us …

Lord ,

Thank you for these children who are amazing little reminders of your love. Thank you for giving me this huge responsibility and believing that I can do it right. Continue to help me, just as you do every day. When this world gets the best of me, remind me that you are everything. When I know who you are, I know they will know you too. After all, they are watching me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Blame, Guilt and Peace

Thank you Lisa for letting me share my story in your series! It was such a blessing for me to get to share it!

Mom Inspired Adventures

I’m Lauren, a wife and stay at home mom to two little kiddos. We live in Texas. I have a new found love for being home with my children. I’m embracing everything about this time in my life, sleepless nights, yucky messes and all. I love how the Lord uses all of our difficulties in life as stepping stones to bring us closer to Him.  https://letfaithgrow.wordpress.com/

Thank You Lauren for sharing a very real and honest story about your struggle.

I am not in any position to tell anyone how depression works. I don’t know how depression works. I just know I was healed from it. The Lord knew I was hurting, even when no one acknowledged my pain, He did. I mattered to Him and His love healed me. He knows my name.

I was twenty three years old with two babies two years apart. How blessed was…

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Easter printable cards

With Easter less than 2 weeks away, I think it’s the perfect time to share some Easter pintables!

I like to take the fun with the serious when enjoying Easter. Easter bunnies, egg decorating, and candy eating are all lots of fun. But, just like Christmas, let us not forget the true meaning of Easter. Our Savior lives!!

Here is a silly poem I came up with:

To get this silly poem in PDF 3″x3.5″ cards, Click Here

I just had to include these Easter pups in some card printables.Here is two different ones:

To get these 3″x3.5″ cards in PDF format, Click Here

And one more

To get these 3″x3.5″ cards in PDF format, Click Here

Lately, I haven’t been writing much while I gain more skills with design. Believe it or not there is SO much to learn about graphic design without taking classes. I didn’t intend on making this blog all about printables but this seems to be where it is headed. I don’t know where the Lord is leading me with this skill, but I’m following His direction. This blog is what I call, “My journey through Christ” which includes any new passions I find Him in.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” -Colossians 3:23 

More Dog Bookmarks

Learning new techniques, so I’m putting out more free bookmark printables. I am having so much fun with dog features this week.

After printing these myself, I realized these might be a little large for some books but they work for me nonetheless. Today I have Dachshund, Shih tzu, Australian Kelpie, and Saint bernard.

To get this bookmark set in PDF format, Click Here.

-Lauren

Dog Bookmarks

Hi everyone, I have another fun free printable to share today! I have been trying to sharpen and expand my new graphic skills. So as a result I would like to offer you some of the designs I have created so far.

Out of so many adorable breeds I could have designed, I picked four different breeds. I had so much fun making the French bulldog, Boxer, Border Collie, and Beagle. These dog breeds have such unique features that are so fun to create graphically. I plan on making matching journal pages next. Other suggestions welcomed.

To get these bookmarks in pdf format, Click Here.

If printed on 8.5″ x 11″  cardstock paper, they should be the perfect size for bookmarks.

Enjoy!

-Lauren

The Lost

For a few months, I have been trying to read my Bible more in depth than I have before. I’ve only just skimmed it in comparison to giving each section deep thought. As I read throughout the day, I get caught up on my understanding of some scripture, especially parables. My husband has an amazing gift of explaining scripture. Not just to me, but to anyone who asks him. I am always saying, “OK, what the heck does this mean?” or “wait a minute this seems to contradict this, help?” and he always knows how to explain it.

The parables in Luke 15 talks about people who are lost. Jesus talks about having 100 sheep and 1 goes missing, the shepherd would go out to find the sheep and when he does, he would put the sheep on his shoulders and rejoice in his lost sheep.  “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”(Luke 5:7) The woman who had 10 coins and loses 1 coin, when she finds it she rejoices in her lost coin. “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(Luke 5:10)

And the last parable is, Luke 15:11-32. To summarize, it is about the father who has 2 sons. 1 of his sons wants his inheritance ASAP. He gets his way and goes off and spends every last dime. He becomes broke with nowhere to go. He starts working, feeding pigs. He is starving and he wishes he could eat the pig’s food. He thinks of his father and how even his father’s servants are better off than he is. While feeling unworthy to be his father’s son he goes home to ask to be his father’s servant instead. His father rejoices in his lost son and he throws a big celebration. The other son is unhappy because he has never disobeyed his father. But, his brother is the one who gets the celebration. “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”(Luke 15:31-32)

At first, when I pondered this parable, I could really relate to the son who followed the rules. I thought it really isn’t fair that I never wonder very far yet those who are lost, He rejoices in. After asking for my husband’s advice to grasp the meaning of these parables I started to understand. And now I have a hard time remembering what was so difficult to understand.

But anyways, what was I thinking!?! Of course it’s fair! Those who have been lost and suffering absolutely deserve to be rejoiced. They deserve a celebration. Making way to the Lord isn’t always easy and He doesn’t claim it to be. I came to Christ at a young age compared to many. And I have been with the father all along. Since finding Christ, I have been spared the suffering of feeling lost! That alone is praise worthy!

Lord,

Thank you for your love that never fails. I pray that your love speaks to the lost, those who are wondering aimlessly with no direction. I pray that when they catch a glimpse of you that their heart overflows. Let them know that with you, unimaginable blessings are in store. When you find them and you put them on your mighty shoulders, let them feel you rejoice! I pray that they know their void is now filled through you, Christ Jesus. Amen.

-Lauren

Cautious

I grew up in a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. It started out a wonderful neighborhood but year by year became more and more swallowed up by the city. My older sister’s experienced the best of this neighborhood wondering the streets no matter what time of day. It was safe. As teenagers my sisters would often mow the grass in their bathing suits without causing much commotion. When I was a teenager and mowed the grass fully clothed, it caused a lot of commotion and I could never finish the job without being harassed.

My little brother stood out like a sore thumb. He was often verbally accused of juvenile crimes. He was always proven innocent before the accusations could ever leave the front door (praise the Lord). One time he was picking up random trash along the sidewalk and put it inside someone’s trashcan on the curb and he was scolded. I was terrified when he would leave the house. He was a little white boy with a smart mouth and he was jumped (beat up) frequently. This caused him to become focused on his fitness and health, to assure no one would jump him again and he succeeded.

When I was in middle school, there was a group of beggars that moved into the neighborhood. Theft, drug, and human trafficking were rumored with this “family”.  They would beg every day throughout the neighborhood. If you passed them in your car or on foot, they would always try to get your attention. Your best bet was to ignore them, like I always did.

When I turned 16, I got a job less than a mile away from my house. I witnessed stealing and scamming very often. A few times I was tricked and was the one who got scammed. There was always a distraction of some kind. This is what scammers do; they prey on your compassion. One lady I remember very clearly. She scammed me with kindness. She complimented me and told me all about her Church project she was working on. And then, days later I was told her check was faked and somehow I was the one to process it. My company had insurance and was reimbursed for scams like this. But man, that made me more skeptical.

My husband has a different view of being cautious than I do. I remember when I was discovering that he didn’t know how to say no to anyone. I was so upset at him. One time, He was unemployed and going school, we had one baby and one on the way. We were shopping at goodwill (yes of all places) and someone stopped him and asked for money. He told the guy he had to ask his wife. I stepped over with my big pregnant belly and shook my head, NO!  I had no empathy and I don’t know why.

Last year we were leaving target with two carts. One had the kiddos and one was full of the groceries. This woman with a sign and a young girl approached us and before I even read her sign or heard what she had to say, the mama bear inside me shooed her away. My husband was embarrassed. I felt kind of proud. I didn’t know if she was part of a distraction with a team around the corner preying on innocent families or what.

While reading Missy’s blog, live His love today, I realized this is something I still struggle with today. While trying to find some middle grounds, I’ve decided to seek Him. That’s the best answer to any problem.

I don’t want my kids to hear me talk about Jesus but not see Him in my actions. I don’t want to make excuses for why I am the way I am. But it seems to be the most logical way to explain why I am this way. Everyone’s past makes them who they are today. When we give it to Christ, we don’t have to let it define us in a negative way.

I am thankful for those in my life who give me a different perspective. My husband gives me a different view on life that I am grateful to see. I know he is also grateful that I am the way I am, with certain experiences in our lives. On one hand this person may just need someone to tell them Jesus loves them and show them an act of His love. But on the other hand this person may be glad to hear you are a believer and try to take you for every penny you have. You just never know. I ask for the Lord’s Guidance and the ability to know the difference. I pray to remain calm when dealing with these situations. I pray to clearly see which action to take when proceeding. I pray for His will to be done through any circumstance.

(This font was made from Tara’s handwriting from Verse Doodles. Thanks Tara for letting me turn your awesome handwriting into a font!)