A fun project

A while ago I was in my favorite town (SLO, of course!) and saw a paper bird garland for sale at a great little store downtown called Paper Sky. I was unwilling to pay the price for something I thought I could pretty easily, and very inexpensively, make. So that's what I did a few weeks back - I used paper in colors that I like, cut out birds from it (getting the stencil to look just right was the hard part, glad I had my mom's help), and then used a sewing machine to sew across their little bodies. Voila! I love how it's added some color and fun to a wall in my living room. . .and how you can see their reflections in the mirror:

There's something about birds right now that I love. . .they're the picture of freedom, and they sing joyfully in response. They don't earn their freedom, it is freely given to them. This is how I feel in Christ - it's for freedom that He's set me free. I'm so thankful for the freedom from sin, guilt, and condemnation that are only fully found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus - it's this freedom that causes me to sing joyfully in response. . .especially since I don't have to earn it, but it has been freely given to me!

Ireland

So, thanks to that "pray for Europe" website I told you about earlier. . .I prayed for Ireland today. I also read a blurp on their spiritual background which ended with this paragraph, a paragraph that sums up the present reality while keeping in mind the past and future (and current!) work of Christ. . .this is true for every country:

So now we face an uncertain economic future, a nation steeped in a religion that has failed them, and a church bruised and broken. In light of all that calls itself impossible, we believe in the God that parted the Red Sea, that broke down the walls of Jericho, that slays the giants, and that raises from the dead. We know He has a plan for our nation, a restoration of hope, of peace, and of broken lives being made whole. We trust Him to be the hope of our nation- not any one prophet, or denomination, or book or 5-step guideline. We look to him alone as the author and finisher of our faith, knowing he is faithful to complete that which began thousands of years ago.

Life

Wow - I've got life on the mind right now because I just got a text from a friend saying she's engaged, exciting!, and a minute before that I read an email from one of my Greek girls letting me know her dad suddenly passed away last week. Please pray for her. Isn't it true that He gives and takes away - let's choose to bless His name together.

With the mention of "engaged" my mind goes to the 2 weddings I went to the past 2 weekends. What incredible Christ-centered celebrations they were!

Here we have Andrew and Cara Henry! Cara and I went to elementary school together and reunited, thanks to Campus Crusade, in college. She is so dear to me and I am thrilled that the Lord blessed her with such a godly man. During the reception he asked all of us to hold them accountable to spending their lives together sharing the Gospel - love that! I also loved the daffodils, the tri-tip, seeing friends from long ago, and of course. . .the dancing!

And here we have Kelly (and Matt) Grieve! I got to know Kelly her freshmen year at Cal Poly. I was her Bible study leader and discipler for 3 precious years. How I love this girl - and though I do not have a picture of her hubby know that I think he complements her so sweetly. It was a huge honor to do a scripture reading for them during the ceremony - now I will always think of them when I read those wonderful verses in Romans 12. I also loved being a part of the set-up and tear-down, the 20 different desserts at the reception, and the incredible hospitality of her whole family, and the beautiful bouquet of orange tulips that I was sent home with.

I would show you more pictures but it's not letting me so this will do for now. Praise God for His design of and intent for marriage and that these 2 couples get to live their lives for His glory together!