Nothing is wasted. He works all things for our good!!

As I was driving today and listening to Elevations- Nothing is wasted I had this moment of realizing what this song is actually about. Usually we sing songs about God and 'know' what were singing but then sometimes it hits you how powerful and gracious God is. That is the kind of moment I had. The lyrics say 

'You are loving 

You are wise

There is nothing in my life you cannot revive

Nothing is wasted 

You work all things for good

Nothing is wasted 

Your promise remains 

Forever you reign ' 

Nothing is wasted. Do you get how crazy that is? Let me give it to you the way I saw it. The year we were separated I could look and sometimes looked at as wasted but it wasn't. Just like it says what the enemy meant for bad God turned to good. Well that was suppose to be a victory the enemy thought he had. Tearing apart something that was suppose to be. But then God worked it out and restored our marriage and that year of separation He turned to good for our benefit. It only helped us in the long run. How amazing is that. Now we have two beautiful baby boys who are going to do great things in the Kingdom of God.

The other way I saw it is with this family in our church. This boy had a severe drug addiction for what I understand as quite a few years. The enemy thought he had this guy, his brothers, his family defeated. But by the grace and mercy of God he is clean and now saved. Now he's being the witness and example, the influence on others. Including his brothers and family, there's one just checked into rehab, the same place He found Jesus. Not only his brother but his father came to The Lord last night. That, is working things for his good!! Those years of addiction and being lost are not wasted even though you would naturally think they were. Because of what he went thru and came out of God has used him to bring others to Him.

But it doesn't stop there now God can and will revive all the lost relationships and dreams that disappeared because of the addictions and being lost. Wow! right? Not just that but God will also give us back the years we think were wasted and the best is always yet to come. I don't know maybe you already grasped this concept but it was such a 'aha' moment for me. I knew all these things but I've never really thought them out like this. 

What you say you believe..

It seems to me so many young people these days are confused. They say they believe in one thing but do another. You cannot believe in Jesus and live for Him and believe in gay rights. But being a Christian means you still love the person but hate the sin. That does not mean you bully others who think they are gay etc. you pray for them and you try to witness to them. But if you never tell them about Jesus and act like their life along with other everyday sins we all do are okay then you aren't doing what God called for us to do. In return you will be judged for that in the end. You also do not want to be the reason someone didn't make it to heaven.. 

God puts people in your life for all different reasons. Some are there for you and others are there for you to speak into them. So how would you feel if when you get to heaven your friends that you loved soo much weren't there. Instead Jesus says to them ' depart from Me for I do not know you' and they go to hell. All because you wanted to be cool and not hurt any bodies feelings by not talking to them showing them about the truth when it comes to their sexualities.  I know its tough but if you care for your friends you will do your part. 

That doesn't mean you beat them with it or talk down to them. And once you've said what you needed to its no longer on your hands. They've now been told so what they choose to do at that point is up to them. Even if they never change at least you can have a clean conscious especially when you get to heaven. It's so important for us Jesus believers to stand out in the world. To be frank about it if your legit you don't even have to speak to stand out people should be able to tell by your presence and the way you carry yourself that your a Christian. If you have to try and tell me or convince me you are something odds are your not. 

I know nobody likes to talk about these things but we should. Just because we believe God created man and woman and called them Adam and Eve and made us in the image of Him which is pure and holy doesn't make us homophobic or hateful. It should make us loving and caring, kind and respectful, honorable and loyal. So take time and think about who maybe your suppose to be a witness to. Think about the people who you do not want to go to hell for eternity because its real and it's not a joke. It is torment and gnashing of teeth its burning for the rest of time. If you love your friends and family then it shouldn't be something you are afraid to bring up. Don't let there souls be In your hands. 

I hope I did this justice. It's just something that hits home because I see these middle school and high school kids even the ones who go to my church and my little step sister. There all over social media thinking they are being loving and cool because they want to put up equality for all. Then also put in the same sentence I believe in Jesus and I am a Christian. I know they mean good by being nice and 'supportive' but they don't quite get it. It's a much bigger and serious deal than they think. But you can't do that. It's actually dangerous territory your stomping in...

-- This post is not just about friends who say they are not straight, it's about friends who do not live in a way that lines up with Gods Word. Any sin. Anyone who is not saved who does not have a real relationship with Jesus. We are to be a light, not a stumbling block--

Birthday Boys... almost

It's that time....

Their first birthday is right around the corner! I have got to start getting everything ready for it or else like everything else this year it will creep up on me and I won't be ready. I know everybody says the first birthday is more for the parents than the child or in my case children and I can see how that is true now! I am so excited for more than the fact my babies are now a year old but we made it the first year! Still married haha still sane, still happy and stronger than I think we may have ever been.

I am wanting to do a sock monkey themed party, when I was stuck in the hospital we would walk to the gift shop to waste time and they always had sock monkeys in there but of course they were always ridiculously overpriced so we never did buy them. But I've loved the idea of the boys having a sock monkey to carry around and play with from day one. It's this idea of this is what 'stuffed animals' were back in the day and I still think they are just as neat now. So I been pining things on Pinterest left and right trying to get ideas and figure out how I wanna go about doing this. I know I just want one main table that the decorations are on and the cake and foods. The display table I guess is what it would be. I don't want to decorate anything else just keep it really simple and the focus on the birthday boys!!!! Teal, red and brown is the color scheme, I will post a few pictures of some ideas I have been finding and would like to recreate.

I am keeping it open to everyone who wants to come or stop by because theres something about twins that attracts people more so than usual. I also don't expect gifts I just want people to come and love on the boys and have a fun little time in sharing this huge milestone with us. I really would like to do this outside but I don't know if its going to be a cold November or a nice November so I will have a back up plan for sure. M&E will be doing their cake smash photo session on a different day than their party or then again maybe not! Maybe we will make that part of the fun and do it during! My best friend will be shooting that for us and my other good friend from church will be shooting the party in general I think as well. YAY!!!

Well heres a few ideas I going to take from..

this is the onsesies and hats I am buying off Etsy.

 Cake smash photo ideas..

 Definitely like this idea of a chalk board with all the info and current likes and cuteness

 another set up I was liking..

 The tables I like. That way there is one focal point and should be some what easy and affordable to do..

 I want a cake very similar to this! although on a smaller scale I don't need to feed 100 people!

 I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures on the wall!! If Sara and I can work it out to do those photos ahead of time for me to get them up like this I really want to!

So that's kinda where I am headed for their first birthday! So much fun! I love it!