31 Steps to Sharing the Gospel of Christ

Day 1:: Sharing the Gospel of Christ

Day 2:: One Plants, One Waters

Day 3:: Tony's Testimony

Day 4:: Time

Day 5:: The Grocery Story Checker

Day 6:: Life's Little Interruptions

Day 7:: Healing to a Hurting World

Day 8: What Happens in the Afterlife?

Day 9:: He Was Clearly Offended

Day 10:: But A Vapor

Day 11:: A Life That Ended Too Soon

Day 12:: Sharing Tools: Building Upon His Foundation

Day 13:: Sharing Tools: Sharing the Gospel with Muslims


Please tell me your stories in the comments section!

Day 1:: Sharing the Gospel of Christ in 31 Days

Palms get sweaty, butterflies begin their flight, encircling the deepest parts of the stomach.  Thoughts of uncertainty begin contending with the determination that brought you to the point of making that effort to open your mouth and share...

These impulses began for me the first time I was taken out by our youth group to street evangelize.  In my heart, I was willing to share the gospel with others, but to actually find the nerve to approach a complete stranger seemed an impossibility in my mind.

It's been 15 years since the first opportunity I had to share.  Since then, I have gone on short-term mission trips, lived in Japan as a missionary, become a wife and mother, and now live a very quiet and simple life as a housewife and homeschool mother.  It's no longer my job to share the gospel with others, but the call to be a light in my community endures.  We have all been given this wonderful gift of salvation, and we are called to share the gospel to a hurting world of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates...

I'm linking up with the lovely ladies at write31days.com.  Join me for these 31 days in October as we look into the scriptures to seek the Lord's wisdom in fulfilling the call of sharing His good news and to challenge ourselves to take that step in sharing with someone.  We'll look at:

• Excuses that impede us from sharing
• Why it is important to share with others
• Tool belt of resources we have been equipped with
• Practical sharing tips
• Personal stories

You can find all 31 steps here.  I look forward to being encouraged by your stories in the comments section!

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen"

Matthew 28:19-20 

Cuban Style Party

My lovely friend Karen turned 40 this year, and her husband asked me and a couple of our friends to help him give her a surprise party.  When he mentioned that he was ordering Cuban food, our minds instantly went to Havana themed party, and since Karen is Cuban, it just seemed all the more appropriate!

We kept our table settings simple with cigar boxes, fedoras, palm fronds and flowers in coffee can vases.  The cigar boxes were found at the local smoke shop for $1 a box.  The shopkeeper thought it was bizarre that we wanted to boxes and not the cigars!

 We scoured the community for palm branches and asked our neighbors if they wouldn't mind us taking some cuttings.  No palm tree was safe!

 

  

As well as being a very talented photographer, our friend Jacque put these flower arrangements together. 

Some pineapples, wooden skewers, your neighbor's palm fronds and voila, the perfect centerpiece for a tropical party!

There were so many inquiries about where the food came from that I am adding a link to Rumba's Cafe.

Rumba's Cafe in Whittier

We asked our friends to come decked out in their Cuban garb.

Here is my inspiration photo for my outfit.

Photo Source

Photos by Portrait Bliss Photography

Karen and Jacque

Happy Birthday Karen!  We love you!

DIY:: Pineapple Tree Centerpiece

 

Supplies:

4 Pineapples

6 Wooden skewers

6 Palm fronds

1 Tray or plate

Directions:

1. Cut the top and bottom ends of 3 of the pineapple and cutting only the bottom end of one of the pineapples

2.  Place the first pineapple on your plate making sure that the plate is sturdy

3.  Stick 3 skewers into the pineapple

4. Slide the second pineapple over the skewers

5. Stick 3 more skewers into the pineapples

6.  Continue to add more pineapples, placing the final pineapple that only had one side sliced at the very top

7.  Trim the palm fronds to be proportional to the tree

8.  Stick the ends of the palm fronds into the pineapple

Place your choice of fruit around the tree!  We put grapes around ours and used it to decorate our food table. 

 Dressed up our food table nicely!

It was a nice touch to our friend's 40th Cuban Surprise Party.

Photos by Portrait Bliss Photography

Cuban Style Outfit

We got all dolled up for our friend's 40th surprise birthday party.  Found some inspiration for the look I was hoping for.  It was a Cuban themed party:

Photo Source

Added the red flower for a finishing touch.

Photos by Portrait Bliss Photography

Decorating Your House with Yard Sale Finds

When we first purchased our home, finances were allotted to new homeowner expenses and  renovations that were so desperately needed.  Moving into a house with more square footage made our current furnishings look so inadequate.

Today's find: Set of 2 Gold Peacocks

The cure for a small decorating budget?  YARD SALES!!!!!

Two years later, I am still at it.  In fact, my daughter really enjoys it too, and it's become our time to hang out together.  Just the two of us on a Saturday morning. 

Growing Vegetables in the Backyard

It's been so wonderful cooking dinner with vegetables from my own yard.  Feels so fresh and organic.

Summer Mantle

I shamelessly steal rocks from the beaches I visit as my souvenir.  Surrounded by so much beauty on our trips, I feel like I want to bring some of that beauty into my home this summer!

Earthquake Casualty

So we had a medium-sized earthquake recently.  We live near the epicenter and were quite rocked by all the little aftershocks.  Not a big deal compared to Chile or Japan, but when I grabbed my camera to get a shot of a picture of my family getting picked up by a school bus to head off on a fun birthday adventure, I was shocked!  Apparently, my camera fell off the shelf during the earthquake.  So bummed! 

10 Years

It rains very little in Southern California, but 10 years ago, we managed to get married on the rainiest day of the year.  Although it was challenging for our photographer, it made for a very romantic honeymoon  :)

10 years later, we managed to find ourselves in the biggest storm of the year!  We were, however,  able to enjoy the sunset on the first night of our stay.

We will have to come back to enjoy the beach another time :) 

This is the very same bluff where I said yes to his proposal.  

The scenery may look untouched but much transformation has occurred within the two of us.  Not just more wrinkles around the eyes or thinning of the hair, but a real appreciation for one another.  Life has brought us added responsibilities, loss of a parent, little hearts to shepherd...circumstances that have challenged us to truly get to know one another for who we really are good or bad.  And we hold each other close on this bluff and the smiles on our faces don't show two people who are giddy to start something new together, but one unit who are living life and loving one another.  Love you Mi Amor!