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Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Kindle Cover
No, I am not turning this into a craft blog, but I worked super hard on this homemade kindle cover and I wanted to put it on pinterest, and the only way I can figure to do that is to put it on here. Sorry I don't have any before or in progress pictures. But basically I took an old hard cover book (that ended up being slightly too thin to close flat-ly), cut out the pages and binding, reinforced the spine with electrical tape, and covered the whole thing in cute brown polka-dot fabric, using a hot glue gun. Then I glued on the ribbon and buttons just to make it cuter. On the inside I glued on fleecy fabic to protect it from scratches, and I used thin elastic to keep it in place. This project took me the better part of yesterday, and I had to get a little creative with something to keep it closed when not in use. On the back I glue two buttons stacked together, and on the front Jason punched a hole with a nail, through which he put another piece of blue ribbon that I wrap around the button in back and tie. It's not perfect, but it works!
In case you are wondering, on my kindle I am currently reading The Hands of My Father, The Works of Charles Finney, and a scrapbooking book.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
WHY DOESN'T ANYONE LISTEN TO ME???!!!!
I have children. And I have a dog. Therefore I am often giving out orders, such as "Eat your breakfast (or lunch, or dinner, whatever the case may be)!" "Put your shoes on." "Brush your teeth." "GET IN THE HOUSE NOW!!!" (Tthat one is typically toward the dog.) And while we don't expect perfection from our children, we do expect obedience. I know that kids tend to forget themselves sometimes in the heat of the moment, and do foolish things. But when I give a clear command, I expect obedience, right now, without complaining or arguing. I know, most of you parents are probably thinking, 'Yeah, right, Merissa!' And you're right! More often than not, I get whining or arguing or just plain ignored. But we're working on that! But sometimes, particularly at the end of the day when the dog is outside in the snow barking at some unseen intruder five houses away and refusing to come inside even though I am yelling at him and snapping and clapping like a complete moron that I can't help but think (ok, yell) "Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me???!!!" (And then I decide to leave said dog outside in the snow until I'm ready to answer his banging on the door.) At the same time I'm struck with the thought "God could say the same thing to me. To us." I know how unbelievably frustrated I can get when no one is paying any attention to what I've just told them to do (for the 10th time!), or when someone does the exact opposite of what I've just asked of them. So how must the Lord feel when I do exactly the same thing? God tells me to spend more time in the Word. I don't. He tells me I need to have some self-control. I don't. He tells me to get up early and pray. I set my alarm. When it goes off I turn it off and reset it for a more reasonable time, which actually means 5 minutes before I have to drag Aedan out of bed. And I'm sure you could fill in your own "God tells me to... but I don't." While God doesn't demand perfection from us, he does demand obedience. Right now, without complaining or arguing. Man, I hate when my words come back to bite me!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Hope
"God does his most stunning work where things seem hopeless." - Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire
First of all, if you've not read this book, let me strongly encourage you to do so. With that being said...
The word "hopeless" is so depressing. Just the word itself conjures thoughts of slumped shoulders, downcast faces, and heavy hearts. Hopeless. Dictionary.com defines hopeless as:
1. providing no hope; beyond optimism or hope; desperate
First of all, if you've not read this book, let me strongly encourage you to do so. With that being said...
The word "hopeless" is so depressing. Just the word itself conjures thoughts of slumped shoulders, downcast faces, and heavy hearts. Hopeless. Dictionary.com defines hopeless as:
1. providing no hope; beyond optimism or hope; desperate
3. impossible to accomplish, solve, resolve, etc.
4. not able to learn or act, perform, or work as desired; inadequate for the purpose
A few situations currently occurring in my life (in an indirect way) have left me fighting a feeling of hopelessness. The things that I want to happen seem impossible; no, are impossible. They won't just go away, or work themselves out nicely like a TV show. Money won't just appear, relationships won't suddenly mend, sick bodies won't inexplicably become healthy. Unless... we pray. Unless I pray. When God gets involved, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. And if nothing is impossible, then there is always HOPE.
It's easy to say that we always have hope in God when there's no need for hope. When everything is bright and sunny, calm and peaceful, hope is easy. But when nasty words like cancer, divorce, and empty check book appear, hope takes work. It requires some effort to hold onto hope when all seems hopeless. After all, what if I hope, and am disappointed in the long run? I know you've thought this too! But if I say I believe in God and in his Word, then I have to believe it all. the. time. I can't allow those "what-if's" to whisper in my mind. I can't afford to entertain ideas that are contrary to God's perfect Word. After all, "faith is being sure of what we hope for." Certainty leaves no room for doubt. So today, in the face of some hopeless (from a human perspective) situations, I choose hope. I choose to believe in my faithful God. He will never fail. His Word will never fail. Trust it. Count on it. No alternatives, no Plan B. Just pray, then pray some more, and see God come through.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Jesus is Better than Chocolate!!!
I would like to explain, but let's just say that if God asks you to do something, even if you really don't want to, do it anyway. God is worth any sacrifice, even though it isn't really a sacrifice at all. We just think that going without, when we are so used to having or doing exactly what we want, equals sacrifice. But the truth is, most of us really have no idea what true sacrifice is. And while I'm thankful that we live in a country where we don't experience much lack, sometimes I wonder if that's really so good for us spiritually...
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Can a Shoe Box Change the World?
*Yes, this same post will be on both my blogs, just to make sure you read it! :)*
Yesterday marked the "2 months until Christmas" mark. If you're one of my Type-A friends, you probably already have your list typed and your budget set. You might even already have some gifts purchased. If you're like me, you've probably thought about what to buy for whom, maybe you've discussed it with your spouse or other family members. Or maybe you're a last-minute kind of shopper, who hopes to find some great deal on Christmas Eve. But no matter who you are, chances are that whatever you buy, no matter how great a bargain you get, those gifts are not going to change the life of the recipient. Two months from now, on December 26, we and our children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews/friends will resume our normal activities after the Christmas festivities are over. We might be excited over a new toy or book or purse or shoes. But we will simply add them to the already excessive collection of things in our lives, and continue with life as usual. But for a child in a poverty-stricken country, a shoe box full of gifts, full of hope, can change their life. And by changing the life of a child, you can change the world. And it doesn't take much! Through Operation Christmas Child (OCC), you can bless a child with gifts they would never otherwise receive. They may have never even had a Christmas present before. But what costs so little on our part, gives so much to those who have less than nothing. Besides the gifts you send, OCC also includes a kid-friendly booklet explaining the Gospel in each box. Entire families can receive Christ and have their lives changed by the power of the Gospel, all because of a shoe box.
So how does it work?
It's so easy! Just decide what age and gender child you want to bless, get a shoe box (or like-sized plastic container) and fill it with age appropriate gifts; things like school supplies, toothbrush and toothpaste, stickers, small toys, socks, hair bow/clips, soap, play doh, crayons, etc. Pack it all up, (you can include a letter and picture of your family!) decorate it if you want, attach the OCC label marked with age and gender, and take it and $7 to your local collection site. This is a great family activity that can easily become a favorite tradition. Let your kids decide age/gender, take them shopping and let them choose some of the gifts. OCC is a great way to teach kids about poverty, compassion, and generosity. The Bible commands us to care for the poor, the orphans, and the widows. If we are going to teach our children to follow Christ, this must be part of the lesson. I encourage you, I challenge you, I beg you!!!! Open your eyes to the world, open your hearts to the command of the Lord, and open your wallets to bless a child. Visit samaritanspurse.org. Read the stories. Watch the videos. Get a shoe box. Change the world.
Yesterday marked the "2 months until Christmas" mark. If you're one of my Type-A friends, you probably already have your list typed and your budget set. You might even already have some gifts purchased. If you're like me, you've probably thought about what to buy for whom, maybe you've discussed it with your spouse or other family members. Or maybe you're a last-minute kind of shopper, who hopes to find some great deal on Christmas Eve. But no matter who you are, chances are that whatever you buy, no matter how great a bargain you get, those gifts are not going to change the life of the recipient. Two months from now, on December 26, we and our children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews/friends will resume our normal activities after the Christmas festivities are over. We might be excited over a new toy or book or purse or shoes. But we will simply add them to the already excessive collection of things in our lives, and continue with life as usual. But for a child in a poverty-stricken country, a shoe box full of gifts, full of hope, can change their life. And by changing the life of a child, you can change the world. And it doesn't take much! Through Operation Christmas Child (OCC), you can bless a child with gifts they would never otherwise receive. They may have never even had a Christmas present before. But what costs so little on our part, gives so much to those who have less than nothing. Besides the gifts you send, OCC also includes a kid-friendly booklet explaining the Gospel in each box. Entire families can receive Christ and have their lives changed by the power of the Gospel, all because of a shoe box.
So how does it work?
It's so easy! Just decide what age and gender child you want to bless, get a shoe box (or like-sized plastic container) and fill it with age appropriate gifts; things like school supplies, toothbrush and toothpaste, stickers, small toys, socks, hair bow/clips, soap, play doh, crayons, etc. Pack it all up, (you can include a letter and picture of your family!) decorate it if you want, attach the OCC label marked with age and gender, and take it and $7 to your local collection site. This is a great family activity that can easily become a favorite tradition. Let your kids decide age/gender, take them shopping and let them choose some of the gifts. OCC is a great way to teach kids about poverty, compassion, and generosity. The Bible commands us to care for the poor, the orphans, and the widows. If we are going to teach our children to follow Christ, this must be part of the lesson. I encourage you, I challenge you, I beg you!!!! Open your eyes to the world, open your hearts to the command of the Lord, and open your wallets to bless a child. Visit samaritanspurse.org. Read the stories. Watch the videos. Get a shoe box. Change the world.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Confessions
Well, it's been awhile! And just in case you've missed it on facebook, I have a second blog about our adoption: heartswideopen-merissayusko. Please check it out if you haven't already. Anyway, back to this post...
This is not really the kind of blog I prefer to write. You see, I do not like to admit when I am wrong. I don't actually know anyone who does, but I really, REALLY despise it. And that, my friends, is the very heart of the problem. Today someone kindly (and I do mean that!) drew my attention to a glaring sin in my life. I knew it was there, of course, and I have tried to curb it in other areas, but not in this one. See, I have this giant character flaw that thinks that the way I would do something is naturally better than the way anyone else would do it. It's hard for me to let someone else do something, because they might not do it the way I would, i.e. do as good of a job as I would. In every situation, I seem to think that I can always do a better job, even if that's not necessarily true. So I find myself picking apart everything, thinking about how I would do it, what's wrong with the way the other person did it, and how much better it would be if they just agreed with me, or did it my way. And most of the time, no one ever knows. No one but me and Jesus. So to those of you I have mentally judged or criticized, I am sorry. (Now I know that if I were you, reading this, I'd be thinking, "Oh, has she ever done that to me??" and get all paranoid. So please don't do that. If you really want to know, ask me, and I will be humble enough to answer honestly.) Because humility is the answer to pride, which needs to be destroyed in me before it destroys me.
This is not really the kind of blog I prefer to write. You see, I do not like to admit when I am wrong. I don't actually know anyone who does, but I really, REALLY despise it. And that, my friends, is the very heart of the problem. Today someone kindly (and I do mean that!) drew my attention to a glaring sin in my life. I knew it was there, of course, and I have tried to curb it in other areas, but not in this one. See, I have this giant character flaw that thinks that the way I would do something is naturally better than the way anyone else would do it. It's hard for me to let someone else do something, because they might not do it the way I would, i.e. do as good of a job as I would. In every situation, I seem to think that I can always do a better job, even if that's not necessarily true. So I find myself picking apart everything, thinking about how I would do it, what's wrong with the way the other person did it, and how much better it would be if they just agreed with me, or did it my way. And most of the time, no one ever knows. No one but me and Jesus. So to those of you I have mentally judged or criticized, I am sorry. (Now I know that if I were you, reading this, I'd be thinking, "Oh, has she ever done that to me??" and get all paranoid. So please don't do that. If you really want to know, ask me, and I will be humble enough to answer honestly.) Because humility is the answer to pride, which needs to be destroyed in me before it destroys me.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Suffering and Comfort
So I know I haven't written anything in ages, much to your great disappointment I'm sure. :) But today is the day you've been waiting for!
I am currently reading the New Testament backwards. Don't ask me why, I just am. Today began 2 Corinthians... 1:3-11
7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
I just want to share with you some thoughts from this passage. Nothing earth-shatteringly profound, but reminders that someone may need to hear today.
1. Christ suffered. I made a list of everything I could think of that we see Christ suffer in the Gospels: temptation, discomfort (hunger, heat, cold, fatigue, etc.) rejection, homesickness (for heaven!), betrayal, humiliation, being misunderstood, homelessness, personal attacks, death threats, etc. And of course, the ultimate suffering of crucifixion and death. This is obviously not an exhaustive list, and I'm sure you could add your own ideas.
2. We suffer. Paul writes that Christ's sufferings flow over into our lives. Don't we experience many of these things as well?? Certainly some more than others, and it seems, some people suffer more than other people too. But now comes the good part!!!
3. Christ comforts us in our sufferings!!! In fact, verse 5 says that our comfort "overflows." Not just a little bandaid, or slight relief. But overflowing comfort. Notice that nowhere does it promise that our suffering ends, only that we will be comforted by Christ himself in our suffering. Hallelujah!
4. We must use that comfort to comfort others.
5. Our sufferings must produce a dependence on God, who alone is able to deliver us from death should he so choose. Take another look at verses 8 and 9. First, let me just say that this verse right here proves that the statement 'God never gives you more than you can handle.' is a pack of lies. You might have heard me say this before, if you've ever said that statement in my presence. If we could handle life on our own, we would have no need of God! So yes, folks, sorry to disappoint you, but sometimes you will experience more than your "ability to endure." But there is good news too! Being in that place of overwhelming ___________________ (you fill in the blank) leads you to depend solely on God, who can DO ALL THINGS. Amen and amen!
6. God will be glorified and praised. When we put our hope and trust in the Lord, He will do what He has promised, thus bringing glory to Himself and to Jesus Christ, and many people will praise Him for his good works and faithfulness.
If this is you today, if you find yourself in the midst of suffering, whether great or small, take comfort in Christ, and in God's Word to you. He loves you more than you can imagine and is doing everything He can to draw you to Himself. Trust Him, believe Him. He will not disappoint you.
I am currently reading the New Testament backwards. Don't ask me why, I just am. Today began 2 Corinthians... 1:3-11
The God of All Comfort
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
I just want to share with you some thoughts from this passage. Nothing earth-shatteringly profound, but reminders that someone may need to hear today.
1. Christ suffered. I made a list of everything I could think of that we see Christ suffer in the Gospels: temptation, discomfort (hunger, heat, cold, fatigue, etc.) rejection, homesickness (for heaven!), betrayal, humiliation, being misunderstood, homelessness, personal attacks, death threats, etc. And of course, the ultimate suffering of crucifixion and death. This is obviously not an exhaustive list, and I'm sure you could add your own ideas.
2. We suffer. Paul writes that Christ's sufferings flow over into our lives. Don't we experience many of these things as well?? Certainly some more than others, and it seems, some people suffer more than other people too. But now comes the good part!!!
3. Christ comforts us in our sufferings!!! In fact, verse 5 says that our comfort "overflows." Not just a little bandaid, or slight relief. But overflowing comfort. Notice that nowhere does it promise that our suffering ends, only that we will be comforted by Christ himself in our suffering. Hallelujah!
4. We must use that comfort to comfort others.
5. Our sufferings must produce a dependence on God, who alone is able to deliver us from death should he so choose. Take another look at verses 8 and 9. First, let me just say that this verse right here proves that the statement 'God never gives you more than you can handle.' is a pack of lies. You might have heard me say this before, if you've ever said that statement in my presence. If we could handle life on our own, we would have no need of God! So yes, folks, sorry to disappoint you, but sometimes you will experience more than your "ability to endure." But there is good news too! Being in that place of overwhelming ___________________ (you fill in the blank) leads you to depend solely on God, who can DO ALL THINGS. Amen and amen!
6. God will be glorified and praised. When we put our hope and trust in the Lord, He will do what He has promised, thus bringing glory to Himself and to Jesus Christ, and many people will praise Him for his good works and faithfulness.
If this is you today, if you find yourself in the midst of suffering, whether great or small, take comfort in Christ, and in God's Word to you. He loves you more than you can imagine and is doing everything He can to draw you to Himself. Trust Him, believe Him. He will not disappoint you.
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