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The blog has a new home: blog.justinandkathryn.com.

Tonight I wrote a little on Luke 17:11-19, go check it out! 

Birthday Present for Grandma

Miles away or right next door

Good thing my love reaches near and far.

This poster wasn't really Do-it all by myself. I Justin, my husband, found pictures from Bing maps of all the places where my Grandma's family live. On the bottom of each picture Justin added a banner with the family name. Since some people live "right next door" it was easy to fit everyone in four different maps. The saying, while not stunning or exciting, is all my own. I hand wrote "Miles away or right next door" above the four pictures and "Good thing my love reaches near and far" along the bottom.

The frame and mat, I bought at Hobby Lobby. The mat was custom so it cost around $15 and the frame was 40% off bringing it to about $12. I'm really wishing I ever kept my receipts right about now. It all came together really easy and I think my Grandma loved her birthday present. The only remark people had was to add a marker pinpointing the place on the map where each family lives. I wish I would have added little hearts to the maps to mark the households. 

Finding Direction

While my blog is very much random in it's intent. Random still needs focus and themes. I myself am random, but I still grow and develop through focus. I've decided to try and pre-plan my blog for the next month. Not all of the blogs are completely planned out yet, but I have decided on some recurring themes.

Monday will be- Made by me Mondays- where I will share a craft that I've made.

Wednesday will be- Rest for the weary Wednesdays- a day to share a short devotional from something I've been reading in scripture.

Friday will be- Friday night dinners- on this day I will share a recipe. Tthe name comes from my favorite TV show Gilmore Girls.

Sunday- "Sunday school" kids say the cutest things- a short story of the cute things our Sunday School kiddos say or do.

I hope you like the direction I'm taking.

Psalm 143

Psalm 143

1O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy;

in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.

2Do not bring your servant into judgment,

for no one living is righteous before you.

3The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground;

he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead.

4So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.

5I remember the days of long ago;

I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

6I spread out my hands to you;

my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

7Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails.

Do not hide your face from me

or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

8Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

9Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord,

for I hide myself in you.

10Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;

may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

11For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life;

in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

12In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;

destroy my foes, for I am your servant.

This chapter describes how I've been feeling lately. "The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed" Psalm 143:3-4. These days I have been struggling immensely with finding joy in my life. At work I sit in my office by myself, not talking to my friends, I'm quiet at home and I don't talk with my family much.

I feel pursued and crushed by the enemy. The enemy in my life can be described as stress at work and a deep desire for God to bless us with a baby. Waiting is so hard, but verse eight reminds me, to "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." God's love is unfailing. As much as I know that God never fails and I should trust him, I don't always believe.

He's proven that's he trustworthy over and over; I need to remember and meditate on those times. Verse five talks about remembering all that God has done before. Whether it's the things He's done in Scripture or the things He's done for me. "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done." Our pastor calls it preaching to to ourselves, and that's what I must do.

Yes, I feel crushed, covered in darkness, dead, dismayed, faint... Yet, "In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant." I am His and He will hear my prayer.