Amazima

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

The feeling I get, the emotions I feel every single time I read and reread her blog, the purpose that is obvious in Katie's life...I crave this, more of this. Can I have this in my life right here and right now? There is a lot going on, there is joy and sadness, frustration and conflict, peace and confusion all around. Am I so consumed by myself and oblivious that I am missing on the opportunities of service and grace and fullfillment around me? Or am I being called somewhere else...maybe not so much right now but in the future?
I believe it takes discipline to focus, to not be self-centered. It is not our nature to seek for others but to seek for ourselves. I want a full life. Not in money or a big house or whatever but in my heart. I think I have only been looking at life through a peephole. So I'm not sure what the plan is but over the next few days/weeks I am going to figure out how to have and keep the bigger picture as my view.

Always good to hear and be reminded

In Touch - Charles Stanley
July 7, 2011
When a Child Dies
2 SAMUEL 12:16-23
Understandably, people who lose a child want assurance that their little one is safe in the arms of God. The Bible is not explicit about what happens to those who are too young to make a proclamation of faith. However, the Lord's mercy upon them becomes clear as we study His Word.
Over the years, people have created unbiblical explanations for what happens to little ones who die. There are those who argue that salvation is available to some but not to others, which is scripturally inaccurate (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9). Another more complicated theory holds that God uses His foreknowledge to determine whether a child who dies will enter heaven or hell. The idea is that He rescues those who He knows would have grown up and been saved, but He rejects the rest. What terrible uncertainty that would mean for family members left behind.
God doesn't keep people guessing. What His Word teaches is that during the early years of life, a child does not know how to choose good from evil (Deut. 1:39; Isa. 7:16) and therefore isn't held responsible for his moral conduct. Accordingly, when a little one departs from life, the Lord is waiting with open arms. This is the only theology that makes biblical sense, given the Father's character, desires, and plan.
Until a child is mature enough to decide about whether to serve the Lord, he or she is safe from divine judgment. Our just and loving God does not punish children for being too young to grasp their need of a Savior. Believers join their departed little ones in heaven (2 Sam. 12:23).

Happy Birthday Luke

I didn't want to do anything extreme, didn't want to make a production but I needed, wanted to do something special today for Luke's birthday so I decided to make a homemade, from scratch cake. It's something I can do every year - by myself or for everyone to share, whatever the mood leads to. My mom always made our birthday cakes except for one year because I so wanted a bakery cake she got me one....it wasn't as good as mom's. It seems weird to call it Luke's birthday though I guess literally it is, but it's definitely Luke's day. I wanted to make something special, not your run of the mill birthday cake. I decided either a carrot cake  or  an Italian creme cake - Tony likes both of these and made the final decision on the Italian creme cheese. It was a success! (Some of you might know of my not so excellent kitchen skills but baking I can do...usually...this time didn't dissappoint thank goodness!) And the peach rose is something that came to be special as well so I bought one to have. Tony and I have spent the day together and it has been perfect. Jesus kiss my Luke, watch over us, use this to bring us to You, to make us better parents if we are blessed with more children, Thank you for getting us through.