Condemnation vs. Conviction

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2

That is the verse I'm memorizing the first 2 weeks of February. I'm doing the scripture memorization challenge from the LPM blog although I haven't actually signed up for it. So I guess I'm not officially participating, but participating all the same.

I've recently been able to put a name on the feelings I've been having. Condemnation. Not conviction from the Lord. But condemnation from the enemy.

Perhaps you've felt it too and didn't really know what it was. That feeling of not measuring up. Of thinking you'll never have a powerful quiet time like so-and-so does. Or you aren't worthy of blessings from the Lord. Or if anyone knew your past they would never look at you the same.

Or that because God DOES know your past and your thoughts He doesn't love you like He loves somebody else who seems to have it all together.

Here's a little clue I've received lately that you may or may not know.

NO ONE has it all together.

Not me, not you, not your friend who never seems to yell at her kids. Not your boss, not your pastor, not your Bible study leader.

NO one. Because we are all human. And we all mess up. But we ALL by the grace of God have the same chance to be saved from our crazy past (and present and future) sins and live in FREEDOM!

Salvation means freedom! Freedom from condemnation. Freedom from trying to do it all by yourself. Freedom in life and freedom in death.

"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

i heart faces--week 3--Joy

 

It's week 3 of the photo contest over at i heart faces.   The theme is Joy.

 

                               

Hayes, playing with bubbles

Check out more great pics here.

100th post! (and a new look!)

Well, it took me long enough to get to 100!  Faith and I started blogging the same weekend and she hit 100 back in October!  Anyway, I think it's tradition to write 100 things about yourself or something, but seriously?  I'm pretty sure I couldn't think of 100 things and who wants to read them all?  So maybe I'll just start writing and we'll see.

(Oh and I'm not sure how I feel about the new look.  It's kind of boring, isn't it?  And after you read this post you'll think it just fits!)

1.  I am the oldest of three children.

2.  I have 2 younger brothers.

3. I met my husband when I was 13.

4.  We dated 3 different times over the next 13 yrs before we got married.

5.  I went to public school.

6.  I homeschool my children. (but not because I went to public school! haha)

7.  My dad is the mayor of my hometown.

8.  That always makes me smile.

9.  I have always liked NC State athletics, even before I married a State grad.

10.  I went to Western Carolina University, as did my dad.

11.  I majored in nursing. 

12.  My mom is a nurse too and was surprised when I declared my major.

13.  I worked in L&D, mostly 3rd shift before I got married.

14.  I worked in a family practice clinic for a year after we moved to Charlotte.

15.  My husband told me 2 weeks before the wedding that he had been offered a job in Charlotte. 

16.  We lived in Raleigh for the first 3 months of our married life and then moved to Charlotte.

17.  We had never even lived in the same town until the week after our honeymoon.

18.  We went to Jamaica on our honeymoon.

19.  We went to NYC on our first anniversary.

20.  I was 12 wks pregnant.

21.  We went to NYC last month to celebrate our 10th anniversary in May.

22.  I was NOT pregnant.

23.  I have been in 2 very serious wrecks in my life.

24.  The worst injury I received was a head laceration that needed stitches.

25.  I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior when I was 10 yrs old.

26.  I am still friends with girls I was friends with in the nursery at church.

27.  I had chicken pox during Christmas when I was about 4.

28.  I am not very athletic but I have broken 2 fingers and had knee surgery.

29.  I LOVE to read.

30. I've been known to read 6 books during a week long beach vacation.

31.  I play the piano.

32.  I would love to be able to sing well. 

33.  I love math and thought I wanted to be a math teacher.

34.  Until I took Calculus 2 in college. 

35. Calc 2 is the only class I ever dropped.

36.  I used to love to climb trees.

37.  I am never going to get to 100.

38.  I think I'll stop at 40.

39.  I'm pretty sure I'm the most boring person ever.

40.  And..... finished!

Now I'd like to apologize to those who spent valuable time reading this post.  You rock!

i heart faces--Week 2--Anything Goes!

It's week 2 of the i heart faces photo contest.  And Anything Goes is the theme again. 

                  

It's probably not the best picture from a photography stand point, but I love the blue of his eyes.  This was his first haircut, by the way. 

Go here to see more great faces.

Pray

Pray for this family in AR. Their new baby, born yesterday, has been flown to a hospital in Tulsa, OK. Updates can be found here.

i heart faces

                                             

Check out this new blog!  I found it on 1+1+1=1.  This week's contest is "Anything Goes". 

                     

                        My sweet Becca checking out the leaves.

Visit iheartfaces to see more entries.

        

Apparently blogging isn't my New Year's resolution....

I've been very slack seeing as it's been almost 2 weeks since my last post. I'd like to say I've been oh so busy and really have so much to say that I just can't sit down and write it all out.

Alas, that is not the case. I'm just lazy.

So I'm sending you to my friend Heather's new website. She's the talented architect/photographer who took these pics of our family a few months ago.

Go on over to the website and go to the blog. You'll see some great pictures of my brother, his wife, and new baby Ty. Leave Heather a comment about how awesome you think she is! And book a session with her!! You won't be disappointed!

And come back here and leave a comment for Christy and Mark too, since they don't have a blog (yet!). Every new mom (and dad) needs some encouragement in the first few weeks, so give them some words, friends! Come out of hiding, lurkers, and help a sister out!