My face will never be ashamed. Psalm 34:4

Does anyone else out there find it as completely refreshing as I do that I can just SEEK the LORD... he answers and delivers me from my fears? 

Oh, I have so many fears people! I simply cannot tell you the things that spin through my brain on a daily basis. The BEAUTIFUL thing is - the LORD gets it. He understands better than I do what is going on in that space. 

So basically, what I am getting from this verse is, I just need to look to Him. I look to Him and I actually begin to radiate something of Him that is beautiful for all to see. With that...

-WITH THAT-

our faces NEVER need to be ASHAMED!

This is BEAUTY!

Is that priceless or what? Can you put that on and wear it around today? and everyday following...can you remember? Warriors, we must! Hear it, Believe it and ACT ON IT! 

Beautiful Daughter of the King. Take hold of your position in Christ and LIVE IT OUT to the FULLEST! Let nothing hold you back! 

Carry on PRECIOUS WARRIOR! 

Let fear be behind you and the face of God be in front of you.

Goodbye Fear >>-----------> Hello Purpose!  

-Simply Sublime

Merry Christmas from our Family to YOURS! Don't be afraid.

So thankful for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. To think he would lovingly come here to this earth on our behalf. Oh, it was difficult. We know this well, right? Being human isn't always easy. We reach, we grasp, we fall, we bruise. You know there had to be moments where he wanted to flee the pain and the anguish he was enduring, especially towards the end. Yet he couldn't unwrap his heart from the complete love of his life...YOU!!! He did it all for you! He came here for you!

Can you wrap your head around his heart for you? It's a bit hard to receive the fullness of it - COMPLETE. PERFECT.LOVE. He is just waiting for you to get to know Him. He has so very much to tell you, so many words and actions to love on you with. He is the Papa your heart has been longing for since the moment you came into existence. Why not accept the amazing gift? Time with Him, the one who created you to be in relationship with Him.

It's simple. Just start talking. No perfect words to be said. There is no magic prayer. He knows you completely anyway. He so admires you. He finds you to be smart, funny, beautiful and caring. He knows you have messed up but that isn't His focus. He simply wants to just love on you and show you the wonders he has to share with you. Turn your heart towards him and start some dialogue.

The moment you start doubting his love because of your past, remember this:

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He may not like every single choice we make, but he gets us and loves us with a deep abiding love. His love covers it all.

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He isn't about fixing us to make us acceptable to him. We are acceptable just as we are RIGHT NOW! Hard to believe isn't it? That even with our current yucky, messed up choices he is welcoming us into his arms? Picture a scruffy little street boy who's clothes are full of holes, saturated with grime and smelling of an unidentifiable stench. His slimey dripping nose is running down his face and he has wiped it across his cheek. He is a complete mess - and there in the distance is Papa. His arms are wide open. He kneels down on one knee and gently calls the boys name. As the boy skeptically approaches him Papa meets him with knowing eyes full of love and compassion. The boy can recognize that Papa knows all and has nothing but love for him. Papa wraps the boy in his arms, kisses his forehead, sweetly washes his face and wraps a cozy blanket around him. This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship - where Papa leads the boy next is not for us to know right now. We can be sure, however, that life from this point on is going to be full of adventure and wonder. 

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We can't confuse his perfect accepting love with a belief that he is okay with our sin. He isn't. I am sure Papa is going to have some heart to heart conversations with the boy on where he has been. There are probably some wounds that need to be tended to with some healing balm. The boy will also probably need some new essentials to face the exciting journey ahead and be fully equipped.

Papa's love for us can cover our sin when we bring it to him and ask. Sometimes we are even unaware of our ick but through a very gentle process he will show us areas we can release to Him that can help us to be a bit more unhindered by the things that weigh us down. It is all done through love though. The more we know of him the more we are freed up to enjoy all that is around us.

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Many times I find people are afraid to approach God. They spend a great amount of effort actually running away from him, pushing him out of their mind. They are unknowingly exhausted by the effort it has taken them to run away. The belief is if they face him they will be crushed and humiliated with the mistakes of their past. What they don't understand is running away in fear is so much more work and exhausting. The truth is we were created to be in relationship with our Creator. Just turn around and face the ONE who sees you, the ONE who knows you, the ONE who loves you to pieces.

Praying that your Christmas and all the days following are absolutely full of the love Jesus Christ. 

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-Simply Sublime

Treasured Memories with Tootles

Meet my Grandma Tootles. Her given name is Lorraine but my Grandpa's term of endearment for her was "Tootles", and so it carries on in our FAMILY. Plus don't you think Tootles is just the cutest name ever? I love it!

I know most of us would say our Grandma's are amazing - and I am sure they are...but my Grandma is really truly outstanding. (Before you get all possessive of the Awesome Grandma Award just take a deep breath and read through my post. I am MOST certain by the end you will agree our Grandma's can indeed share the title.)  ;)

You may know the Bible verse that says

 " Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches."

-Proverbs 10:4

This verse so beautifully captures the very essence of my Grandma. 

Let me take a second to clarify one thing. The word "riches" to me is not speaking of money, earthly wealth and acquired possessions. I believe to my very core the word RICHES describes the quality of a person's life, a person's spirit, a measurement of love lived. You see the verse goes on to say...

"The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot."

For years, well for a lifetime, Grandma Tootles has kept her hands, heart and spirit hard at work in order for others to feel appreciated, cared for & loved. She spent time with lil' old me reading stories, disco dancing, swimming, driving all over Seattle searching high and low for Bugles & Green River Soda, taken me to see the Easter Bunny, sang songs on the piano, taken me to downtown Seattle finding the perfect Snoopy outfits at Nordstroms Department Store, searched for agates by the hours while chatting with me about sillyness I now know must have made her giggle. Oh the list goes on, and on. This type of love is not always an easy task, although somehow she makes it seem as if it were light work. I am constantly seeing the LOVE of Jesus every time I am with her.

This last weekend we helped my Grandma  move from her lakefront home with beautifully manicured, parkscaped property to an apartment in a nearby historical city that is nestled on the Puget Sound. It is a FABULOUS & FUN new location for her. She grew up on the salt water shores and will absolutely LOVE being able to smell the salty air on a daily basis. She will finally be able to have some time to relax from all of the hard labor that her large property required of her.  I am really, truly happy for her...and yet I am also a teensy bit sad.

SO. MANY. MEMORIES!

A couple years ago my Grandma introduced me to one of her friends with an additional title. "This is my Granddaughter Kimi, she is the nostalgic one." I pondered on this for awhile... hmmm. Could this be true?

nos·tal·gia

 [no-stal-juh, -jee-uh, nuh-] 

noun

1.

a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time

After the bustle of the move we returned to my Grandparents house of 40 years. It was quiet, it was empty and it was speaking so loudly in my heart. Nostalgia was most assuredly brewing deep within my very being...and it could not keep contained. It was about to blow...

I needed to walk, smell, see and touch the places where so many of my childhood memories were formed. 

You see my Grandparents would have me come stay with them for a few weeks every summer. The cousins would come for part or all of the mini-vaca. It was a BLAST!

We would :

Swim, Fish and bob Bologna on a string 

to catch Crawdads. 

 We would:

 Run on the pathways, play in the grass and picnic.

We would:

Play make believe in the trees

It was a magical time!

 As I walked around the old stomping grounds all of my senses came alive - I could hear, see and smell my memories. Days gone by flooded me with such a vivid recollection I began to tear up a bit. Okay, truth is I ended up SOBBING.  I SO LOVE my family. What an incredibly RICH heritage I have been gifted with. I simply cannot take this for granted. My Grandma has worked hard to lead our family in LOVE and she really has accomplished it. I am so thankful for her faith, love, laughter and her heart.

We ended our time together that day by going through some of the books belonging to the generations before us. If there were any that sparked our interest Grandma wanted us to take them. Looking through the stacks led to some great conversations and stories of the past. Do I need to tell you these are some of my very favorite pastimes?

All of a sudden Gram pulls out the hidden treasure chest...

BILLY GRAHAM

When Grandma pulled out the Billy Graham books I knew we had struck gold. I knew the honorable place that Billy Graham held in our family. His calling transformed our family for an eternity.

My Great Grandma, Grace Carter, changed the lives of her children, grandchildren & great grandchildren she would never meet by going to one of his Revivals. She made one decision at a Billy Graham Crusade that would forever change her family downline... RICHES. 

I didn't get to know Great Grandma Grace very well, I was in 1st grade when she passed away. Although I am certain she will be greeting me again one day. I do know her life choices impacted my Grandma Tootles deeply, who in turn has greatly impacted my Mom and myself. We stand strong,  sure-footed in our FAITH, because of our loved ones before us.

Keep in mind that the LORD your God is the only God. 

He is a faithful God, who keeps his promise and is merciful to thousands of generations of those who love him and 

obey his commands.       

-Deuteronomy 7:9

The things of today make an impression on tomorrow. 

What you stand for today will be represented later by your littles who are watching you, and following...trust me!  My Grandma Tootles and I have spent quite a bit of time talking about Jesus and living it out for HIM! Over the last few years I have started up the "spend-the-nights" with Grandma again. We have had some precious times chatting about God's tremendous love reaching out to our family. I cherish every word she shares, every second I witness her living it out. 

Even in the move she had people she was reaching out to - she had specific things she wanted specific people to do. Not because they could do a better job - but because it was her way of reaching out to help them. She was hiring them for odds n' ends because she knew they were in need. What appeared to be the smallest of details were instead seeds of love being planted by Grandma Tootles. Even in the stressful situation of moving lives were being changed because she cared and she took the time to show them. 

She is an INSPIRING Woman...

I truly want to be like her when I GROW UP. 

(Now tell the truth...doesn't she deserve every bit of the

"AWESOME GRANDMA AWARD"?)

Direct your children onto the right path, 

and when they are older, they will not leave it. 

- Proverbs 22:6

-Simply SUBLIME 

p.s. all of the photos on this post were taken at my Grandma's House. Amazing right?

Artwork & Inspiration from the HEART

Ya know - sometimes I am so incredibly inspired by others. I love it when God uses the thoughts, vision and actions of someone to make my heart feel like it could burst. This is exactly what happened to me today. As I was attempting to update some things on my blog (in major frustration I might add) I stumbled upon this amazing young woman's blog, Jill Davis @ year27.com. She has dedicated her 27th year of life to an INCREDIBLE cause. Words straight from her blog:

"I want to translate a book of the Bible into another language. Through OneVerse.org, I’d like YOU to help me raise the funds to translate the equivalent of the book of John into the language of the Ehty people in South Asia. That’s 879 verses at $26/verse. Yes…that’s a lot and I need your help. So, in case you are wondering, I’d like scripture translation for my 28th birthday." - Jill Davis

He is not just God, He is YOUR God!
year 27

I have never met this woman but I can tell you I have an immediate heart string attached to her. I am so impressed with her love for others. I also love and I do mean LOVE her artwork. Isn't it FAB? 

The words behind this particular piece are amazing. You must take a quick peek at the write up on it. Trust me - it will bring a smile to your face and a stirring in your heart. So encouraging.

-Simply SUBLIME

Memorizing the Word, Transforming the MIND with James: Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore

SCRIPTURE MEMORY BOOK

click to purchase in my etsy store

Feeling crafty? Below I have a HOW-TO create your own handcrafted version.

I LOVE a good Bible Study - in addition I LOVE to create systems, projects - to bring a concept to life.   Well in this new study I am participating in at our Church - Beth Moore's 

James: Mercy Triumphs 

there are several different levels you can choose to participate in. One option in the study is to memorize the entire book of James. Yes you read me right.... the ENTIRE book. Now we do have 5 months to accomplish this - so broken down enough this is VERY DO-able! The key would be to finding a system that works, a system that you will stick with. 

Many people have offered creative ideas about how to accomplish this. Sheet protectors with a chapter per page. Index cards. Use the first letter of each word to spur your memory. For the auditory learners say it out loud to yourself. All of these GREAT! 

Well I decided to take the ideas I knew would work for me and PRETTIFY them. Yeah - I made that word up. I like it though! Don't you? 

After a few minutes cutting and pasting scripture into my graphic program I decided to see if anyone else had  already accomplished this & had it to share out in cyberland. Sure enough I found this lovely blog by Laura @ Lauraboggess.com who created 3 x 5 cards. 

(you may need to scroll down her page a little to find this link - it is a hotlink that says "PDF" after some photos of her journal with the cards posted on the pages.)

On this blog Laura decided to spread verses out over 54 weeks but to keep it simple I decided I would memorize 2-3 of her weekly cards each week to fit them into my 5 month timeline. This made my task at hand SO MUCH easier. 

I printed out one copy of the cards and trimmed each one down to the size of the border. There are 54 cards total. Once they were all stacked up Week 1 to Week 54 I began trimming my craft paper to 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". 

As this was my first attempt I ended up making my pages one sided, one week card placed on the front of the page and the back of each page is blank. (for the current ones I am making for friends I decided to put the weekly cards on the front and back of each page to decrease the number of pages total = less materials)

Once I had enough craft paper cut I began using a wee bit of adhesive to tack the scripture cards onto the craft paper - just enough to hold it in place temporarily. After this phase was completed it was time to run them through my heat sealer. I LOVE ME SOME Laminated Pages!!!! Did I sound like Beth there? :) 

As with all laminated projects trimming with a small border of the protector left around the edges is important to keep the seal - also remember to round corners as they can be quite sharp. 

I have a Zutter Binder System for Wired binding projects and I always DELIGHT in the finished product when using it. Love the finished look. You could also one hole punch the corner and use a ring binder. or use two or three ring binders down the side to hold them together. 

As you can see this is my first book I made which is quite thick - the new ones are about half the thickness of this one. Which will make them so, so easy to pack around in your bag, everywhere you go.  Now here is what makes this SUBLIME.... are you ready?

This great tip came from my Mentor...With the laminated pages you can have whoever checks you use a DRY ERASE pen and highlight areas you need to improve on without interrupting you mid-way. How AWESOME is that? No really... 

and isn't this just the CUTEST?

If you don't have access to a heat sealer you can go to your local office supply store and they can laminate for you. They can even bind it. Now - this is just my idea of what will work for me. I love it SO MUCH I want to pack it in my bag, hold it, even HUG it!!! I know call me crazy. 

-Simply Sublime!

UPDATE: I have created a thinner, easier to pack around version and I have it for sale in my etsy store. So if you don't feel like making your own you are just one simple click away from being able to buy one or link here.