I've moved my blog!

I've recently moved my blog to Weebly. I have my web page through them and it will be much easier for me to edit. So visit my newly-updated blog here: htttp://www.thekingandijewelry.com

"Because I have cleansed you, and you were not cleansed." Ezekiel 24:13

Wow. This one stood out to me this morning! The Israelites were God's chosen and beloved people that He had brought out of Egypt. Over the years they began to worship other gods as well as the One True God. Basically, they were having an affair with their Beloved. God likened them to a prostitute because they choose to break the covenant they had made with Him. Even though He had cleansed them, they were not cleansed...they choose to not be clean.

So God can do something and I can choose to go against what He has done. He can do something and I can choose not to believe it.

That got me thinking about some things.

Just like the Israelites, I too made a covenant with the Most High God when I asked Jesus to live in my heart. I am His beloved.

God says I am a new creation.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

And because Jesus lives in me I am really righteous!
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I am really chosen.
I am really royal.
I am really holy.
I really belong to God.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." (2 Peter 2:9)

I can choose to really set my mind to agree with these truths, or I can choose to believe that I'm unworthy, that I'm not righteous, that I'm not really God's daughter, that He really doesn't hear me, that He doesn't really move on my behalf, that my prayers aren't effective and powerful, etc. The list goes on and on and on and on...

"Lord, thank You for Your encouragement! You have cleansed (purified) me! You have made me into a new creation! I am not the 'old me'. I will choose to believe what You say about me and about the circumstances I face today. I will set my mind and renew my mind in Your truth. I'm tired of washing my mind with dirty water--the thoughts of my flesh and the thoughts of the world. You wash my mind with the cleanest, most purest, most freshest, most Living Water. Thank You Lord!"

(My little one - I will greet this Tuesday!)


There is something strange about being scheduled to go in and deliver a baby. There's excitement and apprehension. I hear of women giving birth and it never fazes me...it's just a natural part of life. Yet, when it's my turn to do it...woah...that's another story! And a person would think that after having three children already, this would be an easy task for me- but it's not. The past experience doesn't take away all nervousness.

About a month and a half ago, I got up in the middle of the night for one of my many trips to the bathroom. As I sat up and took a deep breath I heard the soft, stillness of God's voice speak to my heart: "Not much longer". Those words were warm and comforting to me, but they also were like a sledgehammer breaking the dam of emotions within me that I had tried to hide..."But I'm afraid, Daddy...I've been trying to be so strong and I can't get past this fear of the unknown." He then revealed to my heart that it was going to be ok and that I didn't have to be the Strong One. He would be my Strength. !! Once again, my heart was warmed as His hope was being poured into me! When I returned from my bathroom break and was getting ready to roll back into bed He again spoke..."You'll receive power when my Holy Spirit comes upon you." WOAH...how awesome is that?! (I looked up that verse the next day - it's found in Acts 1:8).

Over these past couple of days I've been meditating on God's strength. He gives strength when I have none. He wants to use circumstances like this to bring glory to His name. And His power is more than what I can comprehend...if the whole earth is merely a place to rest His feet, then surely His power is great.

oh the beauty of buttons!

so i went to a local antique store last week...i found 2 cram-packed full jars of vintage buttons for only $4 a piece!! btw, the name of the store is Uniontown Antique Mall in Uniontown, Ohio...the owners are kind and helpful--what a great experience to go and browse with no baby-tag-alongs!! i had also purchased some buttons on ebay...what BEAUTIES!

i've been so excited and inspired to sit down and create unique, vintage button bracelets with these buttons! it's my latest creative venture. come check out the bracelets i've made with them at my etsy shop: http://www.thekingandi.etsy.com/

my daughter is also attracted to the buttons AND the camera! she instantly grins and poses when she sees the camera...so of course i had to add her to the pics too ;)

my first blog

well, here i am. i have never wanted to have a blog because sometimes i just feel silly writing things down and having others read them. i am the type that will write something and then go back and read it and think, "why on earth did i write that??!!" i guess it really is an issue of self-security and although i am an "open" person and some may even think an outgoing person, it is very difficult for me to bear the thoughts and feelings of my heart and soul and not feel silly doing it.

i got to thinking today though that i would really like to have an archive of my "creative endeavors"....so here it is...enjoy :)