Day 3:: Tony's Testimony

He stared at the mantle in his living room with an ensuing loneliness that led him to wonder what the purpose of life was.  A series of events had brought Tony to this point of questioning what life was all about.

Within a few weeks, several small occurrences began to form a path in his heart and mind to a greater purpose and meaning to life.  While shopping at Nordstrom's a woman and her child came up to him to say that she felt led to tell him that Jesus loved him.  A friend of his, who he caroused with on the weekends, let him know that he had become a Christian and would no longer be clubbing with him.  On a random afternoon at work, a sign was placed in the window of his office that read, "Be aware of God." 

If you would've asked him about his religious background, he would've told you that he did not believe in God.  It was becoming quite clear to him, however, that he needed to look deeper into this God, who was obviously pursuing him.  After a few weeks of reading the bible, he was ready to go to church and called his friend who had recently given his life to Christ.  Unbeknownst to him, this friend had rallied up a group of people to pray for Tony's salvation just the night before the call.

Tony is my husband.  Today, he is is an amazing man of God.  A wonderful husband and father, full of wisdom and integrity.  Such a different person from the man he was back in those days of uncertainty.

The journey of finding Christ began before any one person shared the gospel with him.  It began with a prompting from the Holy Spirit to question the greater meaning in life.  Along the way, different individuals made themselves available to be used to touch his life.  The mom with the child, the friend, the person who placed the sign, the people who prayed for his salvation.  One planted the seed, others watered, and the Lord brought the increase of faith in Tony's life.

Lord, help us to be willing to be used by You to become a part of someone's testimony.  

Find all 31 days here. 

 

Day 2:: One Plants, One Waters...

I used to think that the whole measure of a person's salvation rested on what I was going to say to them at that moment...on that street corner, park bench, Starbuck's line...and what their response would be.  I had built the process up so considerably in my head, that I infused a great deal of fear into something that was not mine to worry about.  My role was merely to share.

 Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

 Mark 16:15

Freedom from those fears came when I realized that I am not responsible for the eternal salvation of another.  Or even any measure of eloquence or persuasiveness for that matter.  I am to be obedient to the call to share the Good News and put the rest in God's hands.  It really has little to do with me, and it has everything to do with what He will do in their lives.  Of course we do want to be sensitive, prayerful, and loving in what we say to others about Christ, but our focus alters from what "I can do" to what "He does".

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:7

Oftentimes, there is a progression of  faith in an individual's life which comes from a series of experiences, conversations or just plain observation of God's work within one's surroundings.  In fact, I have heard it said that it takes between 7-15 times for a person to hear the gospel before they make a decision to follow Christ.  Our willingness to share, could be the one proverbial seed or watering that a person needs to have their spiritual eyes opened. 

What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.

Luke 13:18-19

Find all 31 days here.

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!