Dandelion Christianity

A Dandelion:

A flower pesky, hard to remove, and constantly spreading it's seeds. It is not a pretty flower, like a rose is. Yet compared to a rose, a dandelion is much hardier. A dandelion can be found anywhere, from gardens, to palaces, to a meadow, or a sidewalk crack in a city. Anywhere and everywhere their seeds can grow, they do so.

Dandelion Christianity?

Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20a, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

Dandelions do the finest job in my opinion. They are firmly planted, whether in areas of fertile land or literally between a rock & a hard place. They just need the sun (or Son as the case may be) to grow. They spread their seeds the same way we are called to spread the gospel.

Today I want to challenge you to be a dandelion.

Stand firm where you are right now (1 Corinthians 16:13)! Be a light to those around you, even if you're not the best at sharing the gospel, because your actions will speak louder than your words (Matthew 5:13-16). Don't let the trials of life crumple you just because you're a rose that can't take the stress of life, but let God use you to spread love and grace to those around you.

Show others that you're not afraid of the life on this world, for Jesus says in John 16:33, "I have said these things to you, that you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Dandelions aren't the prettiest, the fanciest, or the greatest flowers on this earth. But they are practical in the fact they know their job and do it well. Lastly, I ask you to remember this: some flowers last after they have been picked, and they keep the appearance of being alive inside, but on the inside they are dead. If you pick a dandelion, they wither within the hour. If you leave God, or give up when times get tough, you will wither just like the dandelion.

Be a dandelion in a world of roses.

Beautiful Blessings - 9/4/15

~ Seeing Gillie attack the yarn viciously and subsquently teasing her with it! ;~)

~ Seeing my sisters do things I never could do on the play ground! I never was one for crazy stunts on the playground. Heehee!! And then watching them use the seesaws! I never seesawed much as a kid since I was an only child back then ;~)

 

(Just Lil' G)

(L-Jo joins her)

(trying another seesaw)

(figuring out the best seat)

(T-Tot and T-Bug joined them)

(deciding which seat is best)

(happily seesawing!!)

~ Deciding the pine tree is all decorated for Christmas! Ornaments au naturel!

~ Lil' G requesting to watch "A Christmas Carol" with George C. Scott & enjoying some Christmas music!!!! (Denver and the Mile High Orchestra's Timeless Christmas!) Only 111 days till Christmas! :~D

~ Spotting the chickadees in the rose bush with Mom!

Photo-A-Day - Day 10!

"Orange" - found these lovely roses at a rose garden in Rochester, NY! I especially love the ruffled edges of these roses.

Please Pray!

This morning as I was spending time in prayer, I felt led to find out how LeTourneau Christian Camp is doing. I told y'all a bit about them this past summer. They are still currently trying to raise money so that they may procure the deed to the property so that they may be able to do so much more with it. They'd like to upgrade things that are outdated, weatherize the tabernacle, and so much more!

The camp is located about 10 minutes away from the city of Canandaigua, and is on the shore of Canandaigua Lake. One of the most beautiful places to be is when the sun rises behind you, and the sun sets in front of you when you're on the shore of the lake.

I've gone to LeTourneau for the past 4 summers, and for a couple winter retreats. It sounds cliche, but they have impacted me there. Being able to serve by encouraging and reaching out to those in my group, and be served in similar ways, is a blessing. Before I end this post, I would like to share my experiences from this past year when I took Child Evangelism Fellowship's Christian Youth in Action training for the 4th time.

Monday: I arrived and I settled into my room. I met my roommate who was a sweet girl. We all went up for lunch, and right after we prayed I went to stand up, but felt nauseous and sick. Lunch smelled horrible to me, so I went straight to bed for 3 hours. I felt miserable. I told myself if I didn't feel better by 6:30 I was calling home. Thankfully I improved over the afternoon, and by evening I was 90% myself. Being sick changed something in me. I can't quite put my finger on it. I sang on the praise and worship team which really lifted my spirits. 

Tuesday: A long day with classes all day. I learned many things in the Bible, adding a few more sticky notes, bookmarks, and underlined passages. God's word really spoke to me that day. I also began to consider sharing a testimony on prayer. I almost did it that night during praise and worship, but something held me back. In my diary it says "When you open your heart in Scripture, praise or prayer, it's simply amazing how God shows things to you."

Wednesday: This was the first day of our practicums. The interns (I was an intern) were taken out for ice cream. I also demonstrated the first lesson of the missionary story on this day. I "over-dramatized" it, and I will probably be teased for years! It was a wonderful day.

Thursday: From my diary "POWERFUL day! Wow! The awesome power of God is unexplainable! I shared a testimony during praise and worship that had a ripple effect that was all GOD. Praise God for his glorious plans!" God said yes to my desire to share something. I shared a testimony about the fox attack and how prayer sustained me. I then shared that during the time this spring with my Mom off her ankle for a month, and then her sinus infection for 2 weeks, my prayer life grew in leaps and bounds. I would not have gotten through it without God. I used 1st Thessalonians 5:17. Right after I shared that, one of the leaders shared something on prayer, which lead to many heartache-filled testimonies which we prayed for as we went through them. I would have never guessed the stories from some of them. God's hand was moving that night. Tears and prayers were lifted to God and burdens were lifted. (That night still amazes me to this day!)

Friday: I had a few people come to me for prayer, as I had offered to pray for them, and one person told me that morning that the verse I told them to look up was an answer to prayer. They had asked God for someone to give them a verse to encourage them. God answered not only that prayer, but another one. From my diary - "God is so good. I praise him for the glorious things he has done. <3 He is truly amazing! A lovely day @ camp & some heavy prayer requests" 

Saturday: "This is the best year yet! I'm so sad it's almost over!!!! I miss everyone though. Thank you God for this lovely day you've blessed us with!" Monday and Tuesday were hot. Wednesday was nice. Thursday and Friday were very chilly in the morning and evening but nice in the afternoon. By Saturday the weather was quite enjoyable. 

Sunday and Monday were days filled with busyness as it was the end of the training, we went to Church, finished up our practicums, packed up, and were commissioned for the work we were doing that summer. It was a long powerful week, and I still look back on this past summer as the best summer I've ever had. Why do I say that? Because I grew remarkably in my faith in God.

In closing, I ask that you pray for LeTourneau as they continue to raise the money needed to procure the deed. They have a wonderful ministry, and after 80+ years, it's still going strong! Praise God!

(Here is a video about the camp!)

Throwback Tuesday: By the Christmas Tree!

Sometimes during the Christmas season, you need something special to wear to a fancy fete! A dress like this always does the trick. Especially if it has roses and sparkles! It's also a good dress for a bit of dancing around the Christmas tree or under a star-filled sky! This is one of my favorite vintage dresses as it twirls deliciously! Heehee!! 

A Cry of Roses

Roses are beautiful!

Each one is unique in it's own way.

This is a cry of roses. These roses may not be here next year. These roses are on the property of LeTourneau Christian Center. The camp is celebrating it's 80th anniversary this year. Over the past 2 years (2012-now), they've been trying to raise $850,000 dollars to buy the deed of the property so that they can apply for a grant in order to update and keep the camp going. Right now they have until Dec. 31st to raise this. As of now, they have about $105,000. I ask that you share, give, and pray that they will be able to raise the money to keep this camp going.  I've been to this camp, and the time I've spent there has impacted me to grow in my faith in God.

God's timing is powerful. I have faith that they will have the money in his perfect timing.

Please pray, share, and if you are able to give, please give!

Roses!

I love roses!

*note, I did edit these :~) 

Valentine's Day Short Story #2

 *All stories are fiction for friends. Any resemblance to people, places, or events are purely coincidental!

Wedding Planning

1 Corinthians 13:5b

It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.

February 1st, Dear Diary, Being engaged makes me the happiest girl in the world! Travis and I shall start picking out colors, so we can pick out the ties for the groomsmen, dresses for the bridesmaids, and my wedding dress! I set up an date next week to go shopping. I think Selah and Sarah shall be coming along. I'm planning on asking them to be my bridesmaids. Oh, I love planning! I can't wait to start picking out flours and decorations!

February 2nd, Dear Diary, I'm trying to be irritable right now, but Travis had to work late tonight so he couldn't come over to discuss the color scheme. I'm absolutely certain he'll love the colors I picked out, sea foam green and turquoise. Plus other sea themed things like starfishes, sea shells, and fish. It would be so cute to have bowls of gold fish on the reception tables! I have to wait and see what Travis says though. It's so hard to wait!

February 3rd, Dear Diary, I saw Travis today, yet it completely slipped my mind to talk to him about the color scheme. After running errands, and babysitting kids, I'm ready for an early bedtime. I kinda wish I had an engagement ring to prove I'm engaged. Travis didn't have enough money to get one, so I must wait. 

February 4th, Dear Diary, I called Travis today, and we decided to get together tomorrow to discuss wedding plans. He was so sweet, he texted me today and said "You my dear Kelsie are more precious than gold!" I showed it to Selah and Sarah, and they said he is definitely a keeper. He is so sweet, kind, and ready to do anything for me, and I for him.

February 5th, Dear Diary, I am so furious with Travis right now. He doesn't like the color scheme I picked out for our wedding. I've been dreaming of a turquoise, sea foam, and sea themed wedding since I was a little girl. I don't know what to do. I should compromise but I'm too angry with him to do so at this moment. I am trying my hardest not to insist on my own way, but I'm failing miserably. Oh, what am I going to do? How can I face him after this argument? 

February 6th, Dear Diary, Travis called me a couple times, and texted a couple times. I ignored him. I don't feel like compromising right now. He's always picture his wedding with royal blue, and I am not too sure about that. It's just not like what I have dreamed of. Thankfully we already agreed on the style for my wedding dress. Tomorrow I'll be going out with Selah and Sarah to pick out my dress. I'm trying to feel excited, but I still feel blue. Royal blue to be exact.

February 7th, Dear Diary, I'm so excited! I've found the dress of my dreams! It is a soft white, with a dropped waist, and crystals all over the bodice, with a matching pattern on the hem. Travis will think I'm drop-dead gorgeous. Speaking of Travis, I finally got the gumption to call him back. We calmly discussed are thoughts on the matter. Thankfully he understood how I felt about the color scheme. 

February 8th, Dear Diary, I'm trying not to get resentful about this whole matter, but it is so hard. I did show Travis a picture of my dress, (without me in it), he loved it! We talked a little bit more today, but we still haven't reached a decision. I'm hoping we can settle on the color scheme before Valentine's day so we can have a wonderful day together. I think we are going to go out to dinner. I'm hoping we'll go for a drive afterwards, or maybe find a place to dance under the full moon. 

February 9th, Dear Diary, We finally had a chance to sit down and discuss this again. I think we will do a royal blue and turquoise mix. It's not what I've always dreamed, but I think it's a good compromise. We are still going with the sea shells and star fish, so I'm happy. Travis is happy to be getting his royal blue. I'm glad we were able to agree on this! 

February 10th, Dear Diary, How on earth am I going to pick out bridesmaid dresses? Selah and Sarah went shopping with me today, yet we couldn't find anything that would look right. Travis brought me a bouquet of flowers today. They were pink roses with baby's breath. Such a pretty combination! Which then reminded me of the wedding! I need to pick out flowers for that too!

February 11th, Dear Diary, Hydrangeas, blue and white! I think those would look pretty for my wedding! It seems like wedding planning is easier than I expected! In some ways, yes it's hard, but it's been pretty easy so far. I can't believe that there is almost exactly 3 months till May 10th, when I'll become Mrs. Travis McCaden. I feel like Travis has a surprise up his sleeve for Valentine's day, but I have yet to figure it out! I suppose I only have to wait a little bit longer. 

February 12th, Dear Diary, It's odd being engaged, yet not having a ring. I suppose it's not important, but I'd really like to be able to show it off! Selah and Sarah have been searching for dresses, and so have I. Some day we shall find the dresses, someday. I just hope that day comes soon! 

February 13th, Dear Diary, I wrote a Valentine to give to Travis tomorrow. I am so glad he's such a patient person, he never gets very irritated or resentful with me. He even offered to go for sea foam green instead of royal blue, but I said, "No, you can have your royal blue, I insist!" It seems so silly to think we argued over something so silly. Someday, it won't even matter, and that's okay!

February 14th, Dear Diary, Happy Valentine's day! Travis gave me, my engagement ring!!! I was so stunned! After he gave it to me, the valentine I made for him, paled in comparison! He truly is a special man! I'm am so excited to marry him in 3 months! For better, for worse, for royal blue or for sea green, he's one of a kind! We danced under the full moon, went out to dinner, and everything was a dream come true!