Randomness on an {early} Friday

First of all, I was VERY excited to find these delights in the grocery store this evening:

(I have been known to eat 7 or 8 bags of these, with the help of my hubby, in about a month's time. Don't judge. You know you have a sweet tooth, too)

I am looking forward to a weekend with some ladies from church. This is my first time going to the women's retreat and I am excited to see what it's like. The weather is supposed to be crazy there, too, so we will be spending a lot of time indoors...but that is perfectly fine by me!

I am also REALLY excited for another much anticipated trip occurring very soon! That trip will definitely get its own blog post when I return.

I'm also wishing I had a million dollars and could buy a lot of the cute stuff I've been seeing in different shops lately. Shops like Just.Lovely.Things, Sugar Money, Gussy Sews, and lollipops.

Did I mention I won a giveaway this week? Just.Lovely.Things had a bunch of giveaways last week on her blog...and I won a custom made scarf from Repent Industries by Nikkisic! I am SO excited to see how it's going to turn out!!

What are some random things in your life today?

Mercy

I've been reading in Romans the past two weeks.

(We've been going through it for my Tuesday night Bible study)

As I was reading through Romans 11 tonight, I came across a couple of verses that really hit me hard.

The first are verses 20-21 (for the full context, read Romans 10 and 11. For a quick synopsis, Paul is talking about the way the Israelites kept hardening their hearts towards God and how the Gentiles now have the chance for salvation):

...But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Ouch.

How many times do I take my salvation for granted?

I am not Jewish.
I am not an Israelite, nor one of God's chosen people.
Yet, Christ extended His hand out to me and offered me salvation.

Why do I act like it's something I can just claim or use when I need it...instead of something that should consume my whole life?



Here's the other verse:

For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
(vs. 32)

How many times do I take His mercy for granted?

I sin.
Every.single.day.

I wouldn't have salvation or the promise of eternal life without His mercies.

I'm a screw up.

And yet, many times I think, "Well, at least I'm not doing that...or that...or that..."


Yeah.
Because God measures different sins differently, doesn't He?

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
(James 2:10)

Yeah.
He sure doesn't.

Just some things He's showing me tonight.

What has He been showing you lately?

Giveaway!

Ok, so I am not hosting a giveaway...though I have been thinking about it quite a bit lately.

Little Miss Momma is hosting a Scentsy giveaway on her blog! It's a $25 gift certificate to buy Scentsy's products! They have a lot of cute new warmers for the spring and summer...and also some new scents! If you have never checked out Scentsy before, be sure to head to Little Miss Momma's blog and click on the link for her friend's Scentsy shop. If you're already a Scentsy fan, then I'm sure you need a new scent or two...or more...or maybe even a new pretty warmer for spring! I especially love the new Heirloom warmer. So pretty with a lace touch!

Anyway, check out Little Miss Momma's blog to enter the giveaway!

The Wacky World of Blogging

I have definitely done a lot of branching out into the blogging world these past couple of months.
When I first started this blog, the only blogs I followed were those of people I physically knew. Six months later, I started following a blog a friend recommended. And, it's only been within the last four or five months that I have truly started seeking out other blogs to read by people I've never met. And, let me tell you, it has been an amazing experience. I am constantly being encouraged by these Christian women in other parts of the country. I never thought I'd ever say that.
Anyway, I wrote this blog back in December...but my comment box was all messed up. Since then, the blog I wrote about my struggles with getting pregnant has had 68 views! It amazes me that people are coming to my blog and reading about my story...and many of them are probably people I've never met before.
I'd love to hear more from my readers. I'd love to know if you agree or disagree with what I post. I'd love for you to ask me questions or give me your thoughts...or share your story with me! I know that God can encourage us in many different ways...and I think, in our age of technology, that He definitely does so in this crazy world of blogging.
Feel free to "follow" me if you don't already...or keep lurking, if that's more your thing. I just feel so blessed in this blogging world...that I have the opportunity to share my story and my thoughts with people I don't even know!
And, thanks for taking the time to read. Thanks for being a part of my world. Thanks for the encouragement that I have received from many of you. I never knew what this would evolve into almost two years ago...but I'm lovin' every minute of it!

Themes

My husband wrote his first blog in a while this week.

It had been brewing for about a month. But, he wanted to make sure he backed everything up with Scripture...and wrote it for the right reasons. If you have the time to read it, you really should. It's good. You can find it here.

I found it interesting that I also read this post tonight...about something very similar. While this guy is not using a Biblical approach, I very much agreed with much of what he said. I know not everyone's marriage is like that...or can be fixed that easily. Every one is different and there are plenty of different reasons people choose to get divorced or try to work things out. So, I know there's not a "perfect" solution for every situation...but I think it's good, for those that aren't even thinking about getting a divorce and are happy in their marriages...to take the time and re-evaluate where they're at. Remember why they made their vows and why they fell in love with that person in the first place.

There are definitely days that I get frustrated with my husband...or with myself...and wonder, "Why did I do this again?" But, then I remember the journey God brought us on, and the way He kept bringing us back to each other...and in that moment, I know why (if you're curious about that journey, I blogged about it a bit in this post).

Marriage isn't supposed to be easy. Life isn't supposed to be easy. Our Christian walk isn't even supposed to be easy. But, I know that the best things in life...my relationship with my Savior, my husband, my relationships with family and friends...they are all worth the hard times...and they're all worth fighting for.


I love how God brings things to my attention in "themes". These two posts being written in the same week a coincidence? I think not. The fact that almost every single week, my Tuesday night Bible study and what we discuss in church on Sunday nights end up being centered around the same section of Scripture a coincidence? Definitely not. I love the way God works to get my attention...even if He has to use multiple means to do so. I think that just means He wants to make sure I get it, that I'm really paying attention. Nothin' wrong with that.

Does God speak to you in "themes"? Are you paying attention to catch what He's trying to speak to you? I know I definitely need to do a better job of listening...especially when it's something I seem to constantly struggle with "getting". Thank God for His grace and mercy!