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I Really would LIKE…

…to win one of the prizes of the marvelous giveaway at ‘IHeartFaces‘. I don’t enter many giveaways, but this one I just could not pass up 🙂 …

I am trying to build my portrait business, so winning a 6 months membership to “Photo Talk Forum” would be sooooooooooo awesome. The forum is led by one of the top portrait photographers, Lori Nordstrom. Not only does Lori have a successful portrait business for a little over 10 years, she also is a speaker for photography associations around the world.

What an awesome opportunity to learn about the portrait business by being mentored by Lori Nordstrom…

Thanks for stopping by today…

grace_iris1

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Excuse the Dust…

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
~ Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV)

I think I need to ‘undust’ (maybe that is not a word 😆 ) my little corner of the blogging world. I have been away for little while…needed to figure out where I am going with life in general; and blogging in specific.

You see, I wanted always be real on my blog. I wanted to be an encouragement to others. But how could I encourage others, if I myself was discouraged. I think my biggest discouragement came that I couldn’t keep up with all the demands that blogging brings. Due to my job-change in 2006, I was unable to keep up with all the wonderful women bloggers out there…

I also looked at the success of others in the blogging world. That was just plain wrong…I should have just looked at who I am in Him. I totally lost focus on what this blog suppose to be about. About Him and making Him know to a hurting world…If I was to encourage some of my sisters along the way…Praise to Him!!!!

As some of you might know, Max Lucado is my all-time favorite Christian writer. I have quoted Him often here and elsewhere. Currently I am reading some of his books that were republished in one volume – just marvelous! One quote that really stuck from one of the books is my new motto:

“Changing direction in life is not tragic. Losing passion in life is…”
~ Max Lucado, ‘When God Whispers Your Name‘

Yes, I lost passion in life for a little while. I forgot my purpose…Lord, thank you for the not-so-gentle reminder…

Ezekiel-button

What else is new? My wonderful friend Lori is hosting a Bible study 😛 …Please check it out every Friday (just click on the button above — it will take you there). Ezekiel you are wondering? Heavy, but also encouraging to the ones who put their trust in Him…

Oh, and this week I will be reviling something that I have been working on over the last couple of months…So, stay tuned. I am very excited about it 😀 …

Okay, I better up-date my sidebar with a couple of things…Thanks for stopping by today (and thank you for not forgetting about me)…Until next time…

grace_iris1

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New Year’s Meditation 2009

***Scroll down for Thankful Thursday***

NewYear

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ~ Matthew 19:26 (ESV)

A brand new year…new goals, dreams, hopes for a year ahead. As Lori mentioned on her blog, she does not like to make new years ‘Resolutions’ — I don’t either. I break them within the first week. But I do have goals, dreams, and hopes for 2009…Allow me to share them with you:

  • Spiritual Growth: Realizing in 2008 how much I like to be in control of things, having pride-issues (still), self doubt, feeling worthless…I believe that the study of Esther by Beth Moore is just perfect for me. Reading through Esther is the last part of 2008, I realized how much Esther relied on God’s timing. She didn’t rush anything but waited on His ‘green light’. I also plan on attending the Phoenix “Women of Faith Conference” in October 2009

  • Marriage: With God’s help taking the focus off of my own needs. Continue to pray for our marriage. We have been married for almost 26 years, waves hit our marriage, but I trust God to continue to protect it.

  • Motherhood: Keeping out of the affairs of our son. He is grown up — I need to acknowledge that (hard one for me – 😆 )

  • Work: Let God handle the details. Keep my eyes focused on my own tasks to complete. Don’t worry about the work ethics of my co-workers.

  • Writing/blogging: Take one day/blog at a time. Continue hosting Thankful Thursdays — as long as the interest is there. Sharing His Word, grace, love with a world to read/see/respond. With His help, I will find the time to do so. As I have mentioned often (but can’t say it enough), God truly has blessed me with a wonderful writing team at Laced with Grace. I hope to deepen the friendships I have made through the team blog this year. These women are an incredible encouragement to me personally.

  • Photography/Scrapping: My dream for photography — get published or sell a photo or two (I know dreaming here 😉 ). One thing that I want to finish though this year is my Faithbook to have it printed. I hope that God uses my scrapping to make Him known through a different medium – digital layouts.

Maybe some of my goals, dreams and hopes for 2009 are a little lofty…but you know – all things a possible with God (thus Matthew 19:26 as my verse for the year 😛 )

If you would like to read more bloggers sharing their goals for 2009, stop by Lori’s blog “New Year’s Meditations”…

Be blessed today and as always…

grace_iris1

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Looking ahead to 2009

NewYear

Do you remember 2 years ago? Laurel hosted a marvelous “New Year’s Meditation“. Well, my sweet friend is hosting again this year. Click on the graphic on top of this post to find out more about it.

As for me, I am looking forward to 2009. 2008 has not been a great year, but I know that I needed the growing experience 😉 . I am glad that I had Jeremiah 29:11 as ‘my verse’ for 2008. I hope that God will reveal a verse for 2009 soon.

Well, I hope you will join Laurel, me and others on January 1st to meditate on 2009.

Thanks for stopping by today. Blessings to you and yours…

grace_iris1