Monday Musing-For Saving My Soul

Belinda Kersey 9/19/07

My Thoughts

When I experienced my first MRI, I was quite frightened.  The doctor informed me he was pretty certain we would find multiple sclerosis lesions in my brain.  As well, the closed MRI did nothing for my claustrophobia.  As I lay as still as could be, I had to get my mind off of where I was and what the probable diagnosis would be.

In my mind, I began to sing every song of victory and hope that I knew.  But, the one song that I repeatedly returned to simply said, “Thank you Lord for saving my soul, thank you Lord for making me whole.  Thank you Lord for giving to me so great a salvation so rich and free.”

This was not a favorite song of mine nor one I considered particularly beautiful or stirring.  However, as the day unfolded with the news I had MS and as the months of weakness and decline ensued, this song continued to play in my mind.  As I pondered the reason this particular song seemed embedded in my psyche, I realized that the words conveyed the very crux of what was enabling me to deal with this hopeless diagnosis and all of the devastating changes it was causing in my body and life. 

Without God first saving me, I would have had no hope. No hope of healing and no hope of a life free from pain.  Some affected by MS suffer depression and suicide. Without Christ’s salvation, I could never hope to be whole. Without this great gift, I would never be free of the fear of my disease. 

I am so very thankful for God’s salvation of my soul.  It gives me a purpose as I awake each morning from dreams of running and am confronted by my wheelchair.  His salvation gives me hope of being healed miraculously or of a miraculous cure being discovered.  His salvation enables me to believe if I am never healed on this earth, then I can still live a life content in Him.  His salvation offers me hope in a victorious life He has planned for me both in this world and in the eternal one that follows.

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross comes to us freely offered and richly abundant for all.  With His saving grace, He offers us a life of meaning no matter the circumstances.  He offers comfort when our way becomes more than we can handle.  He gives mercy to us that is new every morning.
 

Your Response

Have you experienced Jesus’ saving grace?  Have you come before him and asked him to live and rule in your life?  If so, thank Him now for his salvation.  If not, just take a moment to do so.  You truly have nothing to lose and so very much to gain.  Simply ask him to forgive you of any sin in your life and invite Him to live within you. Let Him know you believe He is alive and waiting for you to take this step, confess that without Him you are nothing and with Him your life becomes everything He planned it to be.  Welcome Home child of God!  The angels are dancing and singing over your salvation this very moment.

The Song

“Thank You Lord” words & music by Mr. & Mrs. Seth Sykes

Simple Card-color challenge

Heart2Heart Challenges is back and better than ever at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com.  They have a new challenge to use Pear, Sky and Colonial White with a bit of Sorbet thrown in if you want.  Since I have been feeling a bit puny this week, I wanted to try my hand at just a sweet, simple card.  Then my order arrived from Close To My Heart with our soon to be released Petite Perks stamps and our new Craft Cardstock.

I made a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card from the Craft paper.  I cut a tiny hole in the bottom side of the fold of the card and threaded through a Colonial White ribbon then knotted it to the side.  At first I thought I would stamp a whole background piece for the front of the card and just let a bit of the craft paper show as a frame.  However, while stamping the deisgn, I decided I liked the idea of just a portion of the color and a large  "white space" of the Craft paper.   I started with Colonial White cardstock and stamped the background stamp in Crystal Blue Ink (I didn't have Sky), I then stamped Love in the center in Pear.  I did not like the white spaces the stamp left for this project so I used a blender pen to fill in the space with more Pear and then covered it in Liquid Glass to make it stand out more.  I stamped the hearts in Pear and the flowers in Sorbet.  I used Liquid Glass to adhere "skittles" to the center of the flowers.

The cute little heart at the top is stamped in Pear and sponged with Crystal Blue.  It was made to cover a little accident that occurred when I discovered the Craft paper really shows thumb prints if you're hands aren't COMPLETELY dry/clean.  Accident or serendipity,  I like how it finished off the card!  BTW this cute little powerhouse of a stamp set  is yours free in February-just ask me how!

Wings Canvas and Candle

I had so much fun creating these 2 items for my bathroom!  I absolutely love the way they turned out.  The candle was not my idea.  I can not remember whose video I  watched to learn how to do this technique-I apologize!  Anyway, the candle is one I picked up cheap on clearance.  I cut the CTMH cardstock from the Cricut cartridge "Cindy Loo".  I then wrapped it around the candle and started on one edge with a heat gun and shot the candle with heat for a few seconds and then pressed the paper in to the softened wax.  I went all the way around until it was secured.  I decorated it further with pearls, ribbon and pearled hat pins.  I finished it off with a butterfly stamped with the "Find Your Style" stamp set from CTMH (only available through the end of the month).  I wrapped the middle of the butterfly with embroidery floss.

The canvas started out white.  I sprayed  on a mixture of Vineyard Berry re-inker, Pearl Paint and water mixed in our Spray Pen.  I then adhered a strip of paper from CTMH's "Wings" paper pack.  I printed the quote on a piece of vellum and adhered it with our cute little button brads.  The shoe and corner butterfly were stamped and embossed in black-both from the January "Find Your Style" stamps.  I sponged various colors in the blank spots and then added sparkle with our Glitz glitter glue.  The center embellishments are from our Wings Stickease.  I finished off the canvas with our ruffled ribbon and black lace from Michael's.  Let me know whatcha think!  I have plans to make 2 more small canvases and a large one to coordinate with this one.

Monday Musings-In His Hands

Hi everyone, I am making a different post today than usual.  When I started this blog, it was always my intent to have "musings" on it-thus the name!  However, my paper obsession took over and I never seemed to find the time to post my writing.  I have written a devotional book but have not had the power (money) to publish it.   I've decided that I will put a chapter from it every Monday on my blog.  It is my sincere desire that my words will touch someone's heart out there in the blogosphere.  My book is called "When Words Fail, Music Speaks".  I am a vocalist and music is another passion of mine and Christian songs have touched me and sustained me through many struggles the last several years so songs are the starting point for each of these writings.  When available, I will post the full song for you to hear.  Please let me know what you think about my Monday Musings.

My Thoughts-  Written by Belinda Kersey 1/07/07  Writing a month-long devotional book has been in my heart for about 4 years but I believe it began on the day my doctor told me he “thought” I had multiple sclerosis.  I saw him in September 2001 with a complaint of blurry vision.  He sent me to an ophthalmologist, who couldn’t pinpoint the problem, so he sent me to a specialist who sent me to another specialist.  I really wasn’t too concerned, I just figured it was a temporary or repairable problem.  But I was about to learn the truth to this line from the song,  “Life can be so good, life can be so hard.  Never knowing what each day will bring to where you are.”  By late November 2001, my legs weakened.  I tried to ignore it until I was in our backyard trying to gather up herbs in my garden before a freeze arrived.  I walked with difficulty and actually staggered around the yard like a drunk. 

This finally caught my attention so I made an appointment for the day before Thanksgiving.  Dr. B asked me if the eye specialists had determined my eye problems.  I told him, “no and I was scheduled for a retina test the next week”.  With a look of concern, he told me I could cancel that appointment because he thought it was optic neuritis from MS.  I was shocked.  I expected him to tell me that I needed vitamins and a little rest, not I had an incurable disease.

Unfortunately, he could not schedule an MRI for me since it was the day before a holiday.  He told me to “go home, have a good Thanksgiving and try not to worry.”  Yeah, sure doc!  When I got in the car, the tears and prayers started.  As I drove home, this song came on the radio.  I completely believe God sent it to me at the very moment I needed to hear “My life is in your hands,  my heart is in your keeping.  I'm never without love not when my future is with you.  My life is in your hands And though I may not see clearly, I will lift my voice and sing”. The words I’ve repeated through the  last several years have been “Lord, I know, my life is in your hands.”

My friend, if you are going through a time where you “can't see that whatever comes (your) way.
(God will ) be with (you)”. I want you to know you can find your way, yes,  you will find your peace.  You can know He will meet your every need.  Don’t ignore the One who has your life in His hands, turn to him in your time of trouble!

At times, my journey with this disease has been difficult.  I was hospitalized within 3 months of my diagnosis unable to walk or control my bladder.  I left a job I loved and declared full disability.  I had many hospitalizations, surgeries and physical therapy in the ensuing years.  But, I can say with certainty “when I'm at my weakest (He will) carry me.  Then I become my strongest in (His) hands.”  

 Your Response

Let your heavenly Father know you believe He holds your life in His capable hands.  Tell Him your fears and ask Him to replace them with His peace.  Thank Him for turning your weakness into strength.

First Video-Wings LO

OK, so I know this isn't the greatest but it is my FIRST ever and so please be kind:-)  I will work on a "real" video soon!  Constructive criticism welcome here:-)

1st Video Sneak Peak

Hello everyone!  I am hoping to post my first video this week and wanted to give you a sneak peak of the layout I will be showing.  Stay tuned!

Wonderful Wings!

 

I really love our January sneak peak products at Close To My Heart.  These are a select group of papers, embellishments and stamps available to you in January taken from our 2011 Idea Book that will be released on February 1.  When you purchase the beautiful Wings Workshop in January, you will be eligible to purchase other items at a significant savings.  

My favorite item is the January Stamp of The Month Set featured in the artwork above. It is yours FREE when you buy the Wings Workshop on the Go and any 4 items (some under $6) in the Inspiration brochure.  Go see the beauty and savings for yourself at https://belindak.myctmh.com.