Enough.

Starting week two of this new awesome year, and I am sure that many of you are feeling like me... I've already blown it.  I've not done enough, I haven't read enough, I haven't created enough, I haven't eaten well enough, I haven't been to the gym enough, I haven't been who I planned on being... enough. Enough. 

When your heart gets overwhelmed by comparing, listening to the negativity in your head, too many tv ads telling you are not enough, then we need to say "enough!".  Enough. 

Let the new day wash over you like the waves of the ocean and know that you are enough.

When you heart gets overwhelmed turn to the one who stills the seas, calms the roaring waves, and whispers... enough. You are enough. 

On this beautiful blustery winter day, quiet yourself enough to hear God whisper, you are enough... 

because you are, just the way you are.

Share the love,

M.

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November?!

How did November sneak up on us so fast? How is it that Christmas is almost here? How is it that our time in Vietnam is coming to a close? How is it that I signed an illustrating contract for 3 books? (I cannot wait to share this with you guys!) How is it that I do not know what is coming and as the time draws closer... I am still breathing, standing in the hallway, waiting for a door to open? How is it that everything is going crazy fast, and I am experiencing under all of the crazy a calm sense of peace... 

...because my word for the year is Trust. Trust. So many ups and downs this year, emotional highs and lows... when I look back on 2017 it will be one for the books. But through all of this, Trust is my word. When you get the word Trust for the year... you know it will take all of the courage you can muster to trust. 

Throughout this year, there have been many opportunities for me to flex my trust muscles, and it usually looked a lot like me with tears streaming down my face, fists balled up, quietly whispering, "But why... I know I don't need to know... but why... can't You at some point just tell me....this isn't how it's suppose to go, this isn't what I want, I know You know best, but can I have an opinion?  I know Father, you know best, I know that... but can't we just... ok... I love you, and I trust you. "  

I am not the only person in the world whose life looks messy, whose ups and downs feel like the highest highs and the lowest lows... I know that some of you are out there trusting, hoping, praying... don't ever give up!  Continue on this journey of trusting Him. I know that throughout the entire journey of my life, His ways are better than mine... yet I still question. I'm doing that less now... but I still do. 

There is a country song, that has the line "oh I thank God, for unanswered prayers" as I look back on my life's journey, I can whisper those words unapologetically. I admit that I thank God for unanswered prayers, and I thank God that I can trust Him.

This verse has been a song in my heart this year...

Let me hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for I trust in You. Teach me the way I should go for I lift up my soul to You.  

Psalm 143:8 

As this year comes to a close... this verse will be on my desktop, to remember... I trust Him... and I know He will show me where to go, which path to take, and I can have confidence in Him to know, He's got this... I can let go, and let God...

Share the love,
M.

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Made Well a Book Review from the Heart.

A Book Review: Made Well: Finding Wholeness in the Everyday Sacred Moments. Written By Jenny Simmons

When we think about healing we think of this miraculous, one moment sick-the next moment healthy, kind of healing. But what happens when that doesn’t happen? What happens when we are called to a journey of becoming whole, a journey that is marked with hard work, emotional battles, a journey that takes putting one foot in front of the other everyday to being made well. When we respond to the invitation that Jesus gave so long ago, and still gives every day, an open hand, a sweet whisper to our hearts “Do you want to be made well?”, with a resounding yes… our journey can look different than expected. This book is a guide, a love letter, a soothing balm to the soul on a healing journey. A Journey through pain, through hurt, through sickness to a place of peace, a peace that passes all understanding… That can only be received if we accept this invitation.

As I was reading though this book there were so many moments when my heart leapt because she was speaking directly to pain and hurt in my own life. Jenny has interwoven personal stories all throughout this book -weaving a tapestry that we can all recognize even though our journey may look different, we see the common threads, the heart hurts, the unseen hand, that hind sight as 20/20, and even though we may never know the purpose, we know that we are on the road to being made well. 

The concept is simple, yet so profound. It grasped me in the first few pages, my heart recognized that I needed to read this book, that this was a message for me, for my hurt moments, for my hurt heart. 

If you are ready to accept the invitation “Do you want to be made well?” then this book is for you. It will encourage you - you are not alone, you are being made well, we are being made well… and You are worth being made well. I am worth it. And we are so loved. 

As many of you know I have had my own hurt heart, my own issues with fertility and no babies, and a hurt heart, a mother’s heart that has never been filled, a heart that is mourning the loss of a lifetime of dreams, a heart that is on a journey to being made well. A heart that has chosen gratitude and hope… a heart that somedays physically aches in my body. I live a life that sometimes catches me off guard and takes my breath away, drops me to my knees, hurt. I don’t understand, I may never understand, but what I do know is that I responded to the invitation “Do you want to be made well?” and in doing so, I have journeyed a long way on a road of healing.

Healing hurts. Healing is hard work. Healing takes time, healing can take a life time… sometimes healing may only come on the other side of glory, but healing does come… and we will be made well.

Thank you Jenny for writing this book, sharing your heart, your hurts, your victories, your stories. Thank you for re-introducing us to Jesus, the ultimate healer, friend, confidant and Saviour.  This book is such an encouragement to me, it read my pain, it spoke a healing balm to my heart, and it has moved me in ways I cannot express.

What a beautiful way to start a new year… knowing that healing takes time, healing hurts, but we’re all going to make it through, because we have accepted the most beautiful invitation ever… 

Do you want to be made well? 

Share the love,
M.

Please Note: Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc .

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Live Your Life On Purpose!

8x8 FREE PRINTABLE

Africa Update! We are so excited to tell you that we have been accepted to go and work in the orphanage. It has been a long journey of back and forth, lots of conversations, applications, letters of reference, etc. But since August 2014 we have been living our life on purpose.   (If you'd like to read about the beginnings of our journey, click this link: Living Live On Purpose AFRICA 2015 )

Financial Update: Oh!!! I am so excited to tell you that we are halfway to our financial goal. Thank you to all who have given, those who have ordered family portraits,  those who have told me they believe in what we are doing and have just given towards our journey, those who have clicked the donation button to the right and gave, those who have bought from Etsy. Thank you, We are so honoured.

Everything little thing counts and we are so honoured. I will continue to create in order to raise funds, please keep checking into the Etsy Shop ~ Everything purchased on my Etsy shop-Affectionately known as LostBumblebee Ink., any special requests I do,  and all funds from my art are going directly to this journey! 

Side Note: I just about bought our tickets last night- I am only slightly worried that a 2 hour layover in Brussels isn't quite enough time, but it is the same airline, so I'm hoping that it is, because we are looking for the least expensive prices so that we can leave as much financial blessing at the orphanage as possible for these children. (anyone been to the Brussel's Airport? how big is it? is the Lufthansa pavilion HUGE??) 

I wanted to create this little reminder for you to- Live Your Life On Purpose. It changes your perspective. Our hearts are so full, our gratitude is at its highest, we are working so hard towards something that is outside of ourselves and way outside of our comfort zone. Even with being so far outside of our comfort zone, I have never felt more peace, knowing that all of the work we are doing is going to impact a these little lives. 

Remember to live your life on purpose... choose something outside of yourself to focus on. Trust me, your thighs won't seem nearly as wiggly or dimply, the size of your butt won't take up so much space in your head, you know those crows feet happening around your eyes, well if you look outside of yourself, you will smile more, and your wrinkles (which are inevitable) will all end up in the right place and you will be gorgeous.  Look outside of yourself towards things much bigger than our own insecurities, go beyond thinking about you- trust me, it does the heart good.

It may not mean Africa for you, it could be the local food bank, it could be reading stories to sick kids at the hospital, it could be buying the homeless guy you see everyday a nice hot coffee, it could be smiling at your fellow human, making eye contact, it could be shovelling your neighbours walkway, it could be taking the time to stop in and visit your Nan at the seniors home and paint her nails... sometimes the simplest acts of kindness can change your world.

Live your Life on Purpose
and Share the love,
M.

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This verse was a request... while I was creating this printable, it just overwhelmed me with peace...
Just wanted to share the peace.
Share the love,
M.

Want to add this overlay to your own personal photos to make them works of art? >> Click here <<

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Your Cares.

Who do you go to when you are overwhelmed? When your heart is heavy? When you have too much to do? When you look around, the weeds have over taken your front walk, the dog is shedding big time,  and the house is a mess and you know you are leaving for a week in a few days ... oy.

I have a secret. It might just blow your mind.

I talk to God. Like a lot. (I don’t mean a lot sometimes, I mean a lot all of the time. Day in, day out. I have this ongoing conversation with the creator of the universe.)

I don’t pray, in the way that you might expect. I just talk. and talk, and talk. 

I tell him everything. Even though, I believe he already knows everything, I tell him anyway.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? try it, have a conversation with the creator of the universe... let him hear your heart straight from your mouth...

This verse is one of my favourites- "Cast your cares on him (tell him everything, let him know, share your heavy heart because...) he cares (loves, wants to hear it, already knows, but loves it when you take a minute to tell him) about YOU! (yup, you!)

Share the love,

M.


I want to say Thank you to everyone who has donated! I will be putting up our "thermometer" with our goal and where we are at shortly! I want to send love and hugs to you all! ~Melissa 

If you haven't read about our Living Life on Purpose Africa 2015  >> Please take a read and if you love free printables please consider giving a donation to help us on our journey! 

 

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