To Paint or Not to Paint? I don't know!...

I need your opinion on something... 

Kevin and I were talking about possibly painting our fireplace mantel white. We thought painting it white might make it pop more in this room. I don't know though! Once we paint it we can't go back.

Do you think it would look better white?    Or should we leave it as it is?

What are your thoughts!?  I need your opinion, please!

Also, wanted to show you something new we have on one of our dining room walls.

Bought this frame from Ikea a few weeks ago [i & <3 ikea; who doesn't?] and then spray painted the center with chalk.

{.I like it.}

This is what love on the wall looks like:

[a great] marriage...

...is something God has blessed me with. :)

Kevin and I recently attended our first marriage retreat at the Berry Hill Resort {VERY COOL PLACE}. It was awesome. I'm really hoping BWood will do them more!! [wink::wink::hint::hint::]  - I know we aren't the only ones who appreciated it. :)

The main concept that I took away from the retreat - was to be all in with all of my heart. Below you will see a heart diagram and what facets of our hearts should be all in.

It was a great time, and I look forward to growing more and more with the love of my life.

Thank you Lord for him.

[Random pictures]

CREEPY EYES

.Picnic with friends.

.Made Bird Houses, as a team effort challenge...believe me, IT WAS Challenging.

.Millions of him.

.All Ready for the Dinner Date Night.

.At Dinner.

.Exploring.

[[BOLD]]ness like a Treasure.

L - O
          L - O
                    L - O

"L - O - V - E

with

Boundaries

&
 B O L Dness"

{famous Matt Cote words at church tonight; taken from the life of Christ}

Praying for the BOLDness:

to love those who may never love me back.
to take a holy stand.
to give with o p e n hearts, and hold with warming hands.
to forgive the "crazies" when they get louder.
to set the boundaries that make us stronger.
to dance in the darkness; knowing we are free.


Loving with BOLDness;
Christ-like: through --> you & --> me.

I thought this might be fitting:

Here's a piece to something I wrote (in my journal) on 1.26.09 when I was going through some pretty tough stuff. I like this because it's real but yet hopeful...

Though the pain remains

retrieves me and holds me back,

God takes my right hand & says, 

"I'm stronger then that."

He steps beneath my shadows

begins to clear a spot, 

Says he'll stay forever

planted like a ROCK.

Anchored through the darkness

swaying through the rain,

This must be LOVE...

He who stays through the pain. 

. action verse .

Really?!? **if you read nothing in this post, please at least read the letter at the bottom**

Paul sure does sound like a people pleaser to me.

Have you read 1 Corinthians 10 lately?  Yeah, I hadn't either till recent.

Has anyone ever told you, "You shouldn't be a people pleaser," or "You're such a people pleaser!"
Yeah, I've heard that a lot, maybe not always directed towards me, but it's the word on the street.

After reading 1 Cor. 10 (& other parts of the bible) I'm starting to differ on the "people pleaser" mentality.

**Mind you, I am not/nor do I claim to be a bible scholar. It may seem that I am taking these line out of context, but the principle behind it is where my thoughts went. So take what you will with a grain of salt.

Read these lines & tell me what they say to you.

• 1 Corinthians 10:24 - Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 
• 1 Corinthians 10:31-33a - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God---even as I try to please everybody in every way. 
• 1 Corinthians 10:33b - For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so they may be saved.  11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 

People pleaser?

OK Paul, your saying I should not seek my own good...ever? AND do whatever I can to please people?

I think if Paul were here and I was able to ask him these questions, he would blatantly say, Yes. He then might nod his head towards me, look up with all seriousness in his eyes and ask this question back at me: "Who [pause] exactly did you say you follow again?"     


Christ. I said I follow Christ. [thinking: is this a trick question?]

{again with all seriousness in his eyes}: "What example did I say I follow?"


Christ. You said you follow Christ. 

So [pause] Paul, your saying people pleasing is a good thing?

{with all sincereness and love}: "I'm saying [pause], what did Jesus do?"

Gosh we are stupid smart people. We I clearly have trouble grasping the cross of Christ. Least I do.
[[God knew my intelligence wasn't so wise, hence the cross. I need him]]

HE DIED.  THAT is Paul's example. How am I suppose to follow that!? 

Is that really who Paul is following? Someone who blesses his enemies by dying for them? Yes. 
Yikes! I don't even know if my friends would do that for me let alone my ENEMIES!  Thank goodness someone stepped up to the plate and carried it all for us. Seriously.
Romans10:4 - Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

That's pretty selfless and might tip the scales of people pleasing if you ask me. Yet, I plow through life as if people owe me; as if they should love me. But Christ's example is that I should love you. 

I'm working on it. I promise. Give me grace please.  :)

And so it continues....

Love.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rom. 12:14

Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. Rom. 12:17

If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Rom. 12:19b

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom. 12:21

....But the greatest of these is love. Cor. 13b

After reading these passages, I'm inspired to become the people pleaser Christ was. 

How can we love greater? 

Lord help us get this. 

This might inspire you. 

Just as I finished writing this post Kevin (ironically) asked if he could read me an email that he received today. It's from a student he helped (while working at Liberty) who had little faith that she could succeed in school after recovering from a brain injury. Some of my take from this email is that what we do does matter and that we have the opportunity to influence people; either for good or evil, better or for worse. 

In this case it was for better: 

Kevin -
Guess what?!!!  I just completed my graduation request form!!!  Praise Jesus Forever!  He is soooo incredible!  I can't tell you how many times I felt like giving up - but He would never let me.  I just finished re-taking the one class from that not so nice prof and get this - I have an A (the prof makes a big diff).  So I have all B's and ~5 A's - not bad for a brain injury survivor!  Thank you, thank you a million for helping me with so many things, Kevin.  Your rewards are huge in Heaven, but may God bless you immensely on earth as well.

I will continue taking classes as it has helped my memory so much.  I no longer leave the oven or stove on for 12 hours at a time or leave the vehicle running.  I do still lock myself out of the house a lot - but what can you do (but hide a key - lol). 

Take care, my friend and I thank you for everything!

In Him,
Sharon


*PS -Sharon is graduating with her MBA from Liberty.

[e]Nough said.