Inspired by . . . go forward

We serve no God Whose work is done,

Who rests within His firmament;

Our God, His labors but begun,

Toils evermore, with power unspent.

God was and is and e'er shall be;

Christ lived and loved - and loves us still;

And man goes forward, proud and free,

God's present purpose to fulfill.

~Thomas Curtis Clarke

***

Lord, may we walk from darkness into light,

from weakness into strength, and

from folly into wisdom.

Always forward, according to Your will,

that Thy way may be known upon the earth.

Blessings,

Inspired by . . . 2014 recap

 

 

Wow! Despite the difficulties, it’s been an amazing year!

My one word for 2014 was Intentional and part of that was being more intentional here on the blog. I topped out at 161 posts for 2014 – whoot! I’d say goal accomplished!

It wasn’t easy reviewing all those posts and deciding which pictures to feature for 2014, I tell ya! After getting my new camera in April, I was off and running!

Looking back over the year was like  unfurling a beautiful tapestry, and your sweet comments were a golden thread running through it all.

Thank you, sweet friends, for your encouragement, your inspiration and, most of all, your love!

God used this blog, in 2014, to inspire me most of all!

But isn’t that just like Him? to reward us when we obey? That was the other part about being intentional this year. Putting Him first. Being a good steward of the time He has given me. I tried really hard to do that this year.  Seriously, friends, I don’t know what I’d do without Him in my life. He is the ever present rock on which I stand – and some days, cling to with my pinky nail!

But He’s not just a rock, like some talisman with magical powers that has no breath or life.  He is the Living God. An ever present Presence in my life. My heart aches for those who continue to live in darkness.

My prayer for this space in 2015 is that Christ will be more adequately revealed, more fully glorified and that His light will pierce your darkness and change your life!

 

Blessings,

~June

 

Special thanks to Mona for her free template that made putting this collage together super easy!

#TellHisStory

Inspired by . . . looking back

 

For many of us the days between Christmas and New Year’s provides, at least some, time for quiet reflection. It’s hard to refrain from thinking back over the year and even more difficult not to look forward with great expectation.

Why shouldn’t we do both?

They say hindsight is 20/20. Looking back we can more clearly see the mistakes we’ve made, but more importantly, we see the lessons we’ve learned. We can also see the hand and footprints of a mighty God. Corrie Ten Boom said that memories are the key to the future. I believe she was right. God does not waste one single thing in your life, my friend. Whatever you are going through today, He can use to prepare you for the future.

 

 

Ah, the future! 2015 is primed and ready to burst forth in just a few short hours. Father Time, born again with fresh new nappies. Like most new things the excitement quickly wears off and we fall into the mundane. But this need not be so! For there is one thing that truly is new every morning.

His mercy and grace!

No matter what you’ve done, how badly you’ve messed up, you can receive His forgiveness and begin anew.

There is no limit. Just like the manna the Israelites ate each morning in the desert wilderness, the Bread from Heaven, Jesus, gives Himself to you.

This is true every day, of every year.

So look back with an eye to the future – and look ahead with an eye to Christ!

 

Wishing you all JOY in 2015!

 

 

Inspired by. . . looking back

I finally had a few hours moments to sit down last night and create a collage of my blog for 2013.  Looking back, it was harder than I thought it would be to pick the images I wanted to include.

All-in-all, 2013 was a good year. I didn't blog as much as I wanted to, but I'm endeavoring to be more intentional about that in 2014. Some of you may have noticed a lack of DIY and craft blogs in 2013 compared to previous years. My love for DIY projects and all things crafty hasn't changed, but there's just not any a lot of room for them in my life right now. There are plenty of fabulous blogs out there inspiring you to Do It Yourself and offering amazing crafts ideas. Inspired by. . ., at least for the most part, will be seeking to inspire you in less tangible ways; such as written and visual inspiration.

Here's a look at some of last years inspiration:

 

 

I hope that you found something here to inspire you in 2013, and that you will continue to be inspired by visiting my little corner of blogland in 2014!

 

Blessings,

 

Many of my images are textured with textures from Kim & Bonnie. Thank you, ladies, for your generosity.

 

Sharing inspiration here:

 

Inspired by . . . a new year

 

"...one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Php 3:13-14 

 

It's that time of year again. After the let down JOYs of Christmas we seem to slip into a thoughtful, sort of half-awake, repose wherein we dissect the past and make new expectations for the future.

I know many of you make new year's resolutions, or choose words to inspire your focus for the upcoming year. Nothing wrong with either - - in fact, I admire you for it!

But for most of my life I've done little of either. I'm more of a 'by the seat of my pants' kind of gal, albeit in a controlled sort of way.  {I'm sensing some not so quiet laughter from some of you out there}  And, although this may sound cliché to some of you, I really do trust God for what's next.

I suppose, though, if your life happen to take a 180 and/or as you get older you're more apt to be thoughtful about the past and more concerned about the future no matter what personality tendencies you had before.

With all those wonderful, inspirational words floating around out there in blogland it shouldn't surprise me that I'm in a debate with myself about choosing one. Did you get that? The debate is more about the choosing of a word, than about the word itself. Why? Because, as I've already explained, this isn't really my sort of thing and I didn't want to do it just because others were doing it.... blah, blah, blah.

So, although I had a word, I had decided not to choose it. 

That is until Good Morning Girls announced the topic of their January study.

 

 

 

There was no escaping it. The word had chosen me.

So now, like many of you, I have a word to help keep me focused in 2014.

My word is: Intentional

 

And, I am going to begin this year by being intentional with all of YOU and invite you to join my Facebook group for the GMG online winter study, Intentionally Focused. If you're interested you can request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/236810263143915/

 

Wishing you all a healthy and JOYfilled

New Year!

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

Sharing inspiration here:

Inspired by... new beginnings

 

Happy New Year!

Whatever 2011 meant for you personally

it is my hope that 2012 will be better and brighter!

 

 Butterflies symbolize new beginnings and this one is especially pretty combined with Bonnie's Fanciful texture!

 

It's hard to believe January 2012 represents only my 8th month of blogging! I've met so many wonderful people and learned so much, I feel like I've been doing this far longer!  I have so many inspiring and exciting things I want to share with you in 2012!

To start, I have a whimsical January desktop freebie for you today!

Download HERE

 

Featuring the kit Marshmallow World by Dancing Princess Designs!

 

This kit is so fun, just perfect for scrapping all your winter wonderland adventures!

 

Of which I hope you have many in the New Year!

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

Sharing inspiration here: