A happy heart makes the face cheerful

What makes a happy heart?

A nice car?  A full checking account?  Well behaved kids?  Well, these things are nice. And they would relieve a bit of stress, sure. :)  But a "happy" heart goes much deeper than this.

Lately I have been dealing with my "feelings."  Everybody has them, and many of us blame others for them.  But they are "our" feelings, no one elses.

Sometimes things happen and people will hurt our feelings. Not intentionally, not on purpose, not meaning to, whatever.  But it happens.  And we are left with our feelings.  We are responsible to deal with them.  I have heard it said, "A spirit filled man cannot be offended."  Why?  Because we are full of Him, and if we are full of Him, we have to be full of love, forgiveness, grace, etc.  Ahhhh, but what about my feelings?  What about when I am hurt?  Don't my feelings matter at all?

God cares about every little thing.  Every tear, every bumped elbow and scraped knee.  But we have the choice of letting go the things that hold us, such as unforgiveness and hurt feelings.  Sometimes that means going to a person and letting them know how you feel.  Sometimes you just have to hit your knees.  It feels so good just to let it go.

The miracle is joy in Him in a day that goes all wrong. The miracle is standing in awe of abundance as I chop carrots and bathe children and fold laundry. The miracle is a Son sent to die for the very likes of me and His ever-pursuing love for me still. ♥

Keeping our hearts clean is a tough thing, but absolutely necessary.  It's the only way we can hear God, of this I am convinced.  And I believe it's the only way to have a happy heart.

Love,
Christa <3

Peace

We are enveloped in peace when we know that nothing the enemy does can abort the plan of God for our lives.- TD Jakes

Been meditating this morning on peace.  Have read and heard many things about peace, keeping our peace, not allowing anything to take our peace.  I am realizing that for me, what really gives peace is resting in where we are, and blooming where we've been planted.  Obeying the One who I follow and serve, and being me.  


God has great plans for each of us, and we are so easily sidetracked by hurts, disappointments, bumps in the road, etc.  If only we could just remember that there is a bigger picture, and though things will come and people will let us down, hurt our feelings, and not approve of our ways, (efforts of the enemy and weakness of our flesh to take our peace) He has our best interest at heart.  All things work together for our good, if we love Him and are working in our purpose with a pure heart.  


And when we fall short, we can simply ask for grace and forgiveness, and He will pick us up, dust us off and set us back on the path He's chosen for us.  Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. <3  


Love,
Christa  

Father's Day

It's that time of year again...the time where we honor Fathers.  Ever since I was a little girl, this has been difficult for me.  My father was in prison for the majority of my life, and passed away a few years ago while still there.

When the other kids would make father's day crafts for their dad, it was hard.  When other dads would come to my dance recital, but mine couldn't, it was hard.  When my school plays came around, or proms, or graduation, it was hard.  Like someone was missing, because he was.

Don't get me wrong, my dad loved me.  This I know for sure.  The amount of letters he wrote me was ridiculous, I wish I had been smart enough to save them.  In my youth, I believed we had plenty of time.  I was wrong.

He passed away at the federal prison of a massive heart attack.  Just like that, at 50 years old and having the appearance of being healthy, he was gone.  So close to being released, and we were both full of dreams and plans for him spending time with my kids. Spending time with me.

It has taken me time to figure out the purpose in this.  I believe that I have a heavenly Father who has always watched over me, even when my earthly father didn't, couldn't.  My husband is now a regular chaplain in the same prison my dad was in, God has weaved it all together and accomplished great things for His glory.  But it is still hard.

When this time of year comes around, I tend to try and keep myself "busy", but it never fails.  It always hits like a ton of bricks, and I just have to let it out.

I miss what I didn't have, but I am conviced I will see him again.  I will live a life that shows my father honor, and make him proud.  I will cherish the memories I DO have, and be thankful that I had a dad that cared about me with all he had, and loved me the best he knew how.

I will honor my amazing husband, who has shown me what a real man looks like, what a real father AND daddy looks like.

And I will consider myself blessed to know my Jesus, who never leaves and is always listening. <3

Love,
Christa <3

Where is the pause button?

My beautiful babies are growing up.

I keep trying to slow down the clock, but I can't figure out how.

They were just babies 5 minutes ago, right??  

So since I can't find the pause button, I will slow myself down so I don't miss anything.  I will try to be more patient...talk less and listen more...worry less and love more.




  Thankful for this life I've been trusted with.




"Once she stopped rushing through life, she was amazed how much life she had time for."

<3 Christa

My bff :)

A few weeks ago I went on a 10 day trip.  I was home a little over a week, and my husband left for a 10 day trip.  yuck.

We have been married almost 14 years, and have been together for 15 years.  Almost half of the time I've been alive, I have been with him.  My best friend.  My favorite person in the entire world.  The funniest person I've ever known.  My happily ever after.

All couples have the tendency to settle into a routine.  We can't help it, it comes natural.  Familarity creeps in. Daily activities get mundane.  We get into the "Groundhog Day" as I like to call it, like the movie.  Day after day, similar stuff, kids and busyness.  Dealing with ministry issues, life issues, money issues.

As much as I despise being away from him, it is so good for us!  I am pulled away from him every year at this time, and it it terrible and wonderful at the same time.  He is an AMAZING person, and I forget that sometimes.  He is my GIFT, and that is taken for granted when I see him every day.  I forget.  Lord, forgive me for not remembering what a blessing this life is, the ones You've given me to serve.

To have a partner in this crazy life that shares my heart, it is a beautiful thing.  To be able to share my faith in Jesus, to share what He's doing in my heart. To know my purpose, and be encouraged in every area of my life, by someone who believes in my dreams.  And to feel the same way about him.  Grateful, thankful, blessed.

Don't take them for granted...

<3 Christa

What's real?

What's real?  Is tv real? Is the news real?  Are the characters/people real?  Yes and no.

The past few weeks I have been so troubled by these things. When I got back from my trip to Haiti, I could hardly stand looking at the television.  I assumed it was because I hadn't seen one in almost 2 weeks, and just wasn't used to it.  I hardly watched it before I left either, but this was more.  I just kept hearing in my spirit, "it's not real."  I am not saying boycott tv and movies, but I am saying, to think about what you are allowing into your heart, mind and spirit.

My kids thought I was a little crazy when I started saying these things, but I had to tell them, it's not real.  The stuff they make up in the movies and on television is not real.   But we fill ourselves with it, and use the "knowledge" we find on the tv and in a movie and apply it to REAL life.  And we expect it to work!

Nicholas Sparks books, (and I have read lots!) are not real.  The expectations that women have in their heart regarding love aren't real.  A romantic movie isn't real.  Sometimes they are "based off of a true story", which means they took a little thing and dramatized it to make money.  LOL

Maybe this is a rant. Maybe.  But if you're reading this, just ponder it.  What are we letting into ourselves that isn't real?  The eyes ARE the window to the soul, and if you let it in, it's there.  If it's not truth, then it will conflict with the truth in you.  And one will win, the truth or the lie.

My heart is passionate about girls believing in false love.  Oh, the heartache that comes with it.  I remember that heartache. I remember hoping, wishing, even praying.  All in vain.

True love only comes from God, along with the ability to truly love someone.  Real love cost something, and is sacrificial in nature.  Jesus is our example.  Movies are just that...movies.  TV is just that...tv.  Entertainment.  Not real life, but a twisted version of it.

Seek the one that is REAL, and He will put everything else in perspective :)

Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart. Psalm 51: 6

<3 Christa

I did it!

I have been back from Haiti for 10 days now, and am finally getting back into the swing of "normal" life, whatever that is :)   God did so much in my heart during my trip. I met beautiful people, tried new things, saw gorgeous places, and conquered fears that held me down for my whole life.

Being stripped from everything comfortable and predictable, having no one to depend on, to take care of things, to fall back on.   It was a truly humbling experience.  I haven't been on my own in years...if ever.  I am still not sure how I did it, going out of the country for the first time, alone, without speaking the language AT ALL of the country that I am traveling to.  Thinking about it now is laughable :)

I think the greatest thing God did in me during my time in Haiti, was healing in the area of "Daddy."  I have always been insecure in this place.  Needing someone to have my back, to cover me, to take care of me.  It never dawned on me that I didn't need a person for this.  That God, Himself, was with me, watching over me, and had never left me.  Being by myself made me truly consider who and what I placed my trust in.  When no one is around, what do I believe?  My relationship with my Jesus is so much stronger, and has gone to another level.

The beautiful children I met have changed my life.  I will no longer look at a child the same.  The eyes are truly the window to the soul, and I have seen so much beauty in those eyes.  They all have a story to tell, and lots to say.  We could stand to learn a lesson or two from them. The kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.

I am proud of myself.  I got close to the edge, and I jumped.  I didn't fall.  I was afraid, I was nervous, but I jumped.  And my Papa was with me every step of the way. :)

<3 Christa