journey

Again so timely .... From God Calling

Fret not your souls with puzzles that you cannot solve. The solution may never be shown you until you have left this flesh-life. Remember what I have so often told you , "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." Only step by step, and stage by stage, can you proceed, in your journey upward. The one thing to be sure of is that it is a journey with ME. There does come a Joy known to those how suffer with ME. But that is not the result of the suffering, but the result of the close intimacy with ME, to which suffering drove you.

How often I find myself trying to solve - find the answers ... when what I am called to do is draw near to HIM. I need to continue to develop intimacy with HIM. Oh how I draw HIM near ... he is always there. Revealing what I need in the right time. gives me chills.

Last night was the first custom bead party ... AWESOME! It was thrilling. One of the coolest things was when a dear friend that I have not seen in many months said " Beth, you look like YOU" that was amazing, I was in my groove talking about creative ideas for jewelry and helping make decisions ... it was intoxicating.

When I finish this entry, I am hitting the beads. I am looking forward to creating the items ordered last night. The next event is Monday 12/7th followed by a 3rd on Wednesday 12/9 .... on a ROLL! The creative juices are flowing - PRAISE THE LORD!

Continue to draw near to HIM .... this is a journey - perfectly planned and ordered.

GRACE AND PEACE!

Rob Bell - Drops Like Stars Tour

Rob Bell (from Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI) will be in Indy December 11th for the Drops Likes Stars tour ...

description:

We plot, we plan, we assume things are going to go A certain way and then they don’t and we find ourselves
In a new place, a place we haven’t been before, a place
We never would have imagined on our own,

And so it was difficult and unexpected and maybe even
Tragic and yet it opened us up and freed us to see
Things in a whole new way

Suffering does that—
It hurts,
But it also creates.

How many of the most significant moments in your
Life came not because it all went right, but because
It all fell apart?

It’s strange how there can be art in the agony…

The Drops Like Stars tour is a two
Hour exploration of the endlessly complex
Relationship between suffering and creativity—
And I’d love to see you there.



Doors 7pm
Event 8pm

Tickets:
http://robbell.com/dropslikestars

GRACE AND PEACE

Just real.

So for the past few days I have been in the dumps. Feeling blah. My mind is focused on Jeremy. I keep thinking about the holiday season and nearing his birthday - I am missing him terrible. I am consumed with thoughts of memories that we do not have. I find myself in the middle of anything crying. It really stinks. While, I am pretty sure this is part of the grieving process, it is a part I am not too fond of.

in my journal I wrote today:

Lord, be with me. Your Spirit makes me strong. Lord in your strength this time will glorify you. My mind is feeling weak, my heart is aching for Jeremy. Thank you Lord that you are close, that you know my sadness. Praise you Lord that I can lean on you - trusting and stepping in faith, following your Love, Grace and Mercy.

Then I read todays God Calling, this is a portion:

I am beside you.

A very human Jesus, who understands all your weaknesses, and sees too your struggles and conquests.

So fainting and need, by the lakeside of life, know that I will supply your need, not grudgingly, but in full measure.

The Lord is so quick to answer - and I am always surprised.

Lord, I love you and praise you for your support in my utter and complete weakness. Thank you that I can lean on you and your strength sustains me.

BUT IT DOES NOT STOP THERE ... I went on the read Psalm 31 ... the parts that spoke to me this morning:

1 In you O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame: deliver me in your righteousness.

4 Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.

5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me. O Lord, the God of truth.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

9 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.

14 But I trust in you O LORD; I say "YOU ARE MY GOD"

15My times are in your hands.

21 Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me.

23 Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.

24 Be strong and take heart, ALL you who hope in the Lord.

I am so filled by the Spirit - and I was then reminded of one of the 5.6 class memory verses ... John 16:24 Until now your have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

I need to allow my grief to get out of me - I have continued to suppress my emotions and feelings. Moving along like all is well, things are fine when actually that is not the case at all -- these feelings and emotions needed to get out! And wow, the peace that fills me now - thank you Jesus!

There are some hard days ahead, I simply Pray for the Lord to continue to carry me.

GRACE AND PEACE!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

GRACE AND PEACE!

he makes ALL things new

So in my last post, I wrote this has been a hard year ...

Saturday night our life group met to have our Celebration at the conclusion of the RESET spiritual growth campaign. Everyone was supposed to create "something" that described them. The creation could be ANYTHING: you could bring something, make something, do an interpretive dance .... it was limitless. Aaron and I happened to be in Greece when the group received the assignment, so ours was on the fly. BUT we were so impressed by our Life Group - after 4 years you think you know people - right??? Well no, the evening was full of insight and we continue to get to know each other better and better.

While there were no interpretive dances, one completely blew me away!

Tish is an artist, her occupation (in addition to being an awesome mommy) she does creative design - for her project she elected to create a painting. Something that has been on her heart for sometime. Her inspiration ... Jeremy. Our little Angel Man, my sweet son. That was enough for me to lose it Saturday.

She created a beautiful butterfly, to represent how God can use anything - regardless of how ugly a situation is he can use it .... here is her painting:

It is beautiful. At the conclusion of her presentation she gave the painting to Aaron and I. WHAT! We are thinking it will go in our bedroom, the walls are a deep purple, the wings stand out in a luminescent manner - it is the constant reminder that God Makes ALL things new. A wonderful image to see when going to bed and getting up ... how do you thank someone for such a insightful and powerful gift. ( I am still working on it)

It is hard to explain, but it is so meaningful when friends and family continue to honor Jeremy. I did not know that would mean so much to me, but I love talking about him. It is such a blessing for me, when asked about Jeremy. It is an honor to remember him:)

THANK YOU DEAR TISH!

GRACE AND PEACE!

My Desire ...

My devotion from God Calling this morning describes the Desire of my heart ....

Not only must you rejoice, but your JOY must be made manifest. "Known unto all men." A candle must not be set under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that it may give light to all who are in the house. Men must see and know your JOY, and seeing it, know, without any doubt, that it springs from trust in Me, from living with Me.

The hard dull way of resignation is not My Way. When I entered Jerusalem, knowing well that scorn and reviling and death awaited Me, it was with cries of Hosanna, and with a triumphal procession. Not just a few "Lost Cause"followers creeping with Me into the city. THere was no note of sadness in My Last Supper Talk with My disciples, and "when we had sung an hymn" we went out unto the Mount of Olives. So trust, so conquer, so joy. Love colors the way. Love takes the sting out of the wind of adversity. LOVE .LOVE. LOVE of Me. The consciousness of MY Presence, and that of My Father, we are ONE, and HE - God - is LOVE.

I desire to radiate the JOY of the Lord ... this year has been tough.

It is my prayer that I manifest His Joy ... entering into the Holiday Season, Thanksgiving, Christmas - I pray that the glory of the Lord will shine through me and I am able to radiate HIS joy. I pray that each of you will also radiate his JOY too ... imagine the Love that we can spread with the conscious effort to manifest Joy.

GRACE AND PEACE!

On a Limb

I am taking my business to the next level .....

Announcing: Custom Beads by Beth Parties!

Gather your friends, check out my work and order custom pieces.

Simple steps to follow:

Book a party (bethshelby@gmail.com)

Invite some friends over

check out my work

fill out the custom order form

For each order placed, I request a $10 deposit with full payment on delivery.

Orders will be completed in 5-10 days.

At the suggestion of a dear friend

... I will also be creating Gift Certificates.

Details to follow ...

To book a party, send me an email bethshelby@gmail.com

check out my work: beadsbybeth.blogspot.com

GRACE AND PEACE!