The body of Christ

Good morning!

I'd like to share this message card from (in)courage website, which makes my heart really happy.

I love how the (in)courage folks are up to make things happen in such creative and faithful way. 

It always inspires me in such depth.

Thank you for visiting my blog and God Bless you.

Psalms 139:7-10

This is how I feel like most of the times when things seem to be so obvious or not-so-funny to me.
Then I remind myself of the fact that God may be working right on the "spot" needing to be fixed, as He has a greater plan that can be very different from what I'd like to see, and I have to stay still and wait for His work, DONE.

In the Psalms 139: 7-10 I see how this "working process" can start and end with God's Amazing Grace.
⁷ 7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ 10 even there your hand will guide me,    your right hand will hold me fast. 



Above is another postcard from (in)courage people. Just beautiful.

Have a blessed day.

from the heart

Hope this finds you well.

Just thought I would share this beautiful banner from in[courage] post this week.

Then this verse to get us thinking:

You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. ~James 3:18, MSG (emphasis by author of the post).

And here are my feelings...

A true Friendship can be more than having fun together. It can heal deep wounds and can warm a frozen soul. Reach out for yours today.

This heart

We all need a good friend. Many of them. Lots of them when we are so blessed.

Love does not require interest or giving back of any sort of. 

Just love each other. This is friendship - a GOOD one.

I do have some of these good ones. I am so grateful for each of them. I so miss them when time and distance set us apart, and I do love them just like my dearest sisters and brothers.

As you read this post today, I hope it can inspire you somehow and be encouraged to call or email(hey, how about a snail mail too?) a GOOD, old friend of yours? 

I'm pretty sure he/she will smile and you will make their day brighter!

Blessings,

Summer memories

August is still celebrating hot days of summer...
There are kids late wake-ups and playful afternoons. It is the best time for outdoor fun!
So it is also the season we get those gorgeous photos for summer layouts or projects!

This is a photo I took of my kid from last Summer when we're in our apartment tennis court.
He loves to play in that place!

I have been making few scrapbook projects with his photos, it is just so fun to watch!
What paper craft projects are you doing this summer?

a beautiful tote and cup with...

...reminders of God's love for us.
This post is about what people believe and what they do based on this belief.

I'm honored to be able to participate in May's review for the Dayspring "Inspired Deals".

I have always been a lover of Dayspring cards and products, for their quality and wonderful message found in each of them.

About a couple of months ago, I started to visit (in)courage, and since then this place has been like fresh air to my soul, in my moments of quietness or struggles, I like to stop by and stay for a while.

It makes me happy. It makes me cry or smile. It brings sunshine to my heart.

It's a place to find inspirations.

For this month, Dayspring sent me this beautiful set of tote and cup for review. it's a gorgeous set of tote and cup. The front of the tote has the words of Psalm 103:2 "I will bless the Lord". And the cup...well, it's just so pretty.

These are the things we can use everyday while thinking about how God's presence can change our life.

Visit the Dayspring (in)spired deals page to order the set - it's in the May's featured items and you'll get a great discount!

I was given this tote and teacup from the Dayspring (in)spired line of products in exchange for a review. Although I was given a free product, opinions expressed here are all my own. No other form of compensation was received.

God Bless you and yours,

Wednesday [4] celebrate: memories of friends

Because of my trip to mom's and our plans to stay with her while the treatment (chemo) goes, I'll be missing the annual scrapbook convention I've been attending for couples years now.

I was looking to my digital albums and then found this one which belongs to the 2010 CTMH DC convention album. I took the picture from the inside of the elevator of the Gaylord Resort Hotel where we were at.

Everything is beautiful in there. My camera registered some of the favorite places I found.

As I won't be in the convention for 2012, just wanted to remember the fun moments and friendship during the event, again, with this photo.

God Bless you and all friends out there,

Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house - Job 29:4

Wednesday [3] celebrate: food for good

Today we're keeping an eye on my mom's and how she's reacting to the chemo, started yesterday morning.

Doctors gave us basic instructions of care and warning signs plus possible side effects like severe vomits and diarrhea. It's a list to follow through.

And to be honest, it's been a complex process of learning for us.

We found here in the local farmer market something we didn't know before. At least not in its natural form. It's fun to see how God takes care of us, even in unexpected, exotic ways, in this case, through some fun-look fruits or colorful veggies.

The green fruits with rough skin are called NONI and the other are peppers(quite big ones) with one type in dark purple. All new stuff. All good stuff.

Both dad and I are in the look for healthy and good food for mom's diet because we do believe in the power of foods that heals, naturally. And NONI is one of these findings.

Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

Genesis 9:3

Eat healthy - live happy!

Wednesday [2] celebrate: being alive

If we get stuck and start to question all bad or unwanted things and annoying people that are around us, life would be much fuzzier and unhappy.

But as human beings, we are susceptible to stupid acts or influences that may affect us or even be harmful to our peace. And forget to open the window of the heart and let the sunshine in.

Each family has its own story with difficulties and unwanted things behind the scenes. Ours is not different.

When younger I used to be very romantic (*P.S.: I still am, just not the "fool romantic" type anymore :D) - and I had many questions regarding the things I didn't like or approve. Obviously the answers didn't come throughout the years and although I didn't give up to find them I wouldn't let the question marks take over to other more important things in life.

Right now, our family are focused in my mom's illness. We DO have tons of questions, new and old ones. We all need answers. And hopefully very good ones.

But despite of all bad or unwanted, I'm grateful.

For being with my mom, in her weakest moments, for her, being ALIVE.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

What May brings

May, for the sake of the passionate people who loves to keep their memories into the artful form of scrapbooks - it's named National Month of Scrapbook.

So, if you like and appreciate scrapbooking like I DO, you are probably getting ready for some small and big projects, to organize and embellish those photos from last vacation or some loved one's party.

No matter how or what, just the fact of willing to spend some time to do this work is already something memorable. Crafty, artistic or simply putting onto premade kits.

It does not really matter.

But the matters of leaving a beautiful legacy of love.

my (in)RL box!

This morning has been a time just for contacting and calling phones.

I got to talk to everyone I needed but boy, I was tired!

But then I heard the door bell and after a while I was told there's a box for me.

Finally something good to cheer me up...(my little one wasn't happy though, he thought it was his gift coming).

Later today I chose few cards with some friends in mind - from the card pack that came along with my [pretty white]t-shirt, so these will be mailed out before I travel this weekend.

Even though with all things happening with me and my family, I'm grateful for being able to sign up and join this one event!

Thank you, Dayspring and (in)courage people!

@pawfaith

"Deus Pode Fazer(o impossivel acontecer)"

The title today is in Brasilian Portuguese, which means "God Can Make A Way...".

Months ago I taught a gospel song in portuguese to my 5 years-young son. While we're playing and singing along, I knew he would learn the new words and keeping the melody in his little mind, but i never thought that he would remember and sing this song to me, few hours before I receive a shocking news and would need all the strength I could get...

And would be a blessing to me and to remind me of God's Love and Faith - through my little one's innocence reflected on to the meaning of its lyrics.

Today I was told by my dad that my mom's doctors found through her newest exams, images that are probably related to malign tumors. She has been in unknown pain for a while and suddenly I saw the reason of her sufferings. Those were not only connected to muscle and bone disfunctions, not a simple fibromyalgia, but something else, with much impact and surely deeper.

She's been into so many things in her life, during past years and now, I can see how this will be a life changing event to her, definitely.

I pray that God keeps her heart strong and makes her feel she is not alone. Give us wisdom to deal with all the upcoming changes to ours and specially her routine.

This is part of the song, in portuguese:

Deus pode fazer, o impossivel acontecer.

Ira fazer, acontecer, o que nao posso entender..

Sempre me guiara - e tambem me guardara.

Com forca e amor, a cada dia, Ele ira fazer...algo novo acontecer.

The photo you see is when we got the guitar and my little J enjoying his new "toy'.

This is a brazilian version of "God can make a way". One of my firsts and favorites.

Here's an English version video i found.

God so loved

To celebrate the Easter weekend, I thought I'd share this picture took from the one of newest addition of our porch.

Magnolia.

Few buds, big flower, beautifully white.

I'm loving it and so glad to have it as another proof of God's creativity and love for us.

Have a blessed one!

@pawfaith

Beautiful things in April

Do you like flowers?

So you may want to know this is the Month of Gardening...

Take sometime and flutter yourself with the awesomeness of God by His beautiful creations...FLOWERS - by starting one of your own today! Plant something you like and watch it grow!

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
Song of Songs 2:12

strawberries...once again

We're finally getting some strawberries growing again - after this vigorous winter that resulted in many unsuccessful ones.

These little flowers make my heart so very happy!

Love LOVE Spring - praise to Lord for this wonderful season!

"With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders.
Deuteronomy 29:3

Wishes of a Happy Spring!

@pawfaith

Fresh air ~ new life

It's a new year coming...this means new life too.

It's again time for [some] resolutions and the good will to keep them going.

I'd like to start this year's post in here by sharing the picture I took in the morning, while I was so appreciative with how amazing life can be, when we think it may no longer able to resist, it is in there, ready to surprise us.

I'm so very happy for these 3 little plants, that were one of my faves last year. They were almost "gone" due to the severe cold nights in the past weeks of this winter.

I'm so glad they made it.

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

James 1:12

@ pawfaith