Ashes into Beauty~

October 25, 2012 by 59 Comments
Who am I you ask?
Well, I will tell you, I’m a Southern lady, that grew up in the South, with parents that  made it through the great depression.. And through that hardship, taught my brother and I to be frugal, thrifty, among so many things. Something I am thankful for to this day. I was a young teen heading down the wrong path around 1970 or so, a path of drugs, like so many teens in my area in those days.. Travling the South, staying here and there.. I guess I thought I was a FREE SPIRIT, only to find out many years later, I wasn’t. I was a spirit, that belonged to  God, and he paid the price for me, that wasn’t free by any means of the word.. ..
 One reason I speak so much about God, is that I am a born again believer, and God saved me, from myself.. He took away the desire for drugs. And I am eternally grateful to this very day..  For so many years I was surrounded by addicts, I see first hand what the strong holds of Satan can do to a persons life, through addictions such as drugs,  as well as any addictions. Do not kid yourself, addictions of any kind are harmful, I believe it is a strong hold from the enemy himself, every last  addictions..
Life went by fast, and  I soon became a young Mother of two, divorced again, trying to raise my sons alone, and doing what I thought was right, and best by them. Turns out not all of it was for the best, but we stood strong, my boys and I.. Choosing addicts with each marriage,  but truly not knowing that at the time, and becoming co dependent , years later.. I found myself going through the motions of an everyday dysfunction family life.. I recall one day, being at my wits end. I stopped my car on the side of the road, and yelled as loud as I could WHY, WHY GOD, just tell me please, or show me Lord, WHY.
Why I keep going around, and around in a circle.. Well, God heard me,  loud and clear. But, it took about 15 more years for him to allow  me to go  in those same circles, until I finally GOT it.. Whew, what a BLESSING, to finally know, that you know, that you KNOW, what God want’s  for you, for your life.. What gifts he has given to you, and where to use them . .Why, some of us are born to know that, and others have to struggle, even to the brink of death, to get there  is beyond me.. But, God will reveal to you in HIS time, when he knows  you are ready for your gifts, and will use them for his glory..

Why, I had to repeat my life’s hurtful lesions, I now feel was so that I could be more compassionate, a better steward, and make better choices… I knew God was trying to reach me, and teach me, that my choices, were not HIS choices for me.. But, I wanted to do it MY way. Oh the heartache, the hardship, and the places God allowed me to go, and the things he taught me through those years on that journey, are PRICELESS, and just between  God and myself, well and mu Mother, there wan’t anything she didn’t know about me…
I wouldn’t take anything away from what I’ve been through, what God has shown me through my own self educed heartache. That is a huge part of why, I am happier with life, see so much beauty in the simply things, and why I wish to share with all of you here daily. God, himself has blessed me time and time again, from the darkness, and  brought LIGHT, and healing to me. And from the ashes of a life that had been burnt, broken and parts of it  had even been buried. God shows up, and it was by HIS grace, he brought healing, joy, and a peace that I otherwise would have never known in this lifetime. If you have been burnt, broken, hurt, and  you feel all that is left are the ashes. Know that God can turn ashes into BEAUTY.. And pain into GLORY.. Sadness into JOY.  I’m sure of what I write to you, I’ve been there, and made it back. The ashes of my life, are now  beauty, from God..  I’m just getting started..  I dedicate this drop in the bucket of my life, to my Mother, who prayed for me, loved them through ever trial.. It was her unconditional love here on this earth that kept me pressing on many days… Tomorrow, Oct 26,2012 marks her 2 year passing.. She lives on through me, and in my heart everyday. God rest her sweet, humble, and Godly soul..
~Debbie~
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Seasons Of Stillness ~ Reposted from God’s Grace Fullness

October 17, 2012 by 10 Comments

Right now I’m in a season of stillness. To me and to the world my life seems hidden.  This means that when I pray for my family or myself I don’t see any fruit. God is silent, not in a way that He is ignoring me but silence, to allow me to grow in my faithfulness. It’s very hard and I struggle, not everyday but some days… I get discouraged.

Everyone around me is flourishing while my spiritual life appears dead. I’m left thinking did I offend God? Maybe I prayed for something I shouldn’t have.  I press in and seek His face and I’m still not hearing Him.

But you know what? I may get discouraged, yet I don’t stay discouraged. I continue to seek His face, His Word, His heart and stay faithful in this season of stillness. Why? Because I think about how far He’s brought me and not how far I need to go.

Once this season is over, His promise will breakthrough like sunshine on a gray cloudy day. It will give way to new life.

Paul tells us, our troubles are light and momentary and are in fact achieving for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all. Is this not encouraging enough to continue to press in?

In our human thinking we think we should not be faithful because there is nothing to be faithful for because our circumstances do not appear good. However, from God’s perspective you can be faithful and need to be faithful, because He is in charge and is working things out behind closed doors for His purposes. His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts than our thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

This is the scripture I’ve been meditating on; That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2Cor 4:16-18

Will you continue to press in with me? Seek Him, who is the author and finisher of our faith? Let’s allow God to work so we can come into full bloom! Xoxo!

 

http://godsgracefulness.com/?p=4807

 

 

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Beautiful Vintage Wedding hankies, and Pillowcases

October 16, 2012 by 93 Comments

OUR NEXT BLOG GIVEAWAY STARTING OCTOBER 20th HERE AT www.ohsoshabbybydebbie.com

Sponsored by Roses And Teacups ~ Check out their beautiful  shop, at http://roses-and-teacups.com/wedding-hanky-hankies.php, and their facebook page a thttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Roses-And-Teacups/129829287064849   And don’t miss this giveaway..

 

Debbie

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It was 1944

October 2, 2012 by 48 Comments

This month, the 2 year anniversary of my Mothers passing ~ her stories, love, and legacy lives on through me, for my grandchildren. I love and miss you Mother..

One of the many stories told to me by my Mother, when I was young, of her life, coming up right after the  great depression as a young child. And being poor was something they had no idea about as kids, everyone around them was poor.. But, they survived with love, family, neighbors, and their faith in God.

 

She was born March 23, 1936 in a small Alabama town. She remembers him heading out early, six days a week as a child. He always said the earth waits for him. Him, and his tractor, the tractor the plow, that digs the dirt for planting. Long hours in the fields, from daylight until dark.. That was daddys job, she told me.. He had too, there we ten of us,  Ma’ ma, Daddy, me, and seven siblings. We all would pray for just enough rain, and sun, hoping this years crop would be our best ever.. Daddy believed in the power of prayer..
 
Daddy worked the fields, plowing, hoeing, each and every day, from sun up, till sundown.. All but Sunday, that was the Lords day in their rural Southern little town.. And her Daddy, my grandfather, who passed away before I was born, was the preacher at the little Baptist church down the dirt road. She shares with me how her Ma’ma takes the wash to the creek, and all the  girls would go with her.
 
She was right along her Mama’s side helping, while the others played in the creek. They are still young yet, and do not see what I see, Ma’ma would say. She knew her mother and father worked hard together, to feed, cloth, and care for 8 children, in times of hardship, and coming out of the great depression times seemed doubley hard. I reckon it’s a good thing the younger ones didn’t get it, Ma’ma  would tell me.  Three of us was enough in this family to know about, and worry over hard times, she said..
 
We depended on each other, and our neighbors, she told me.. They all  shared with each other in times of need. Neighbor’s were there to help, in whatever situation they could for each other Ma’ma said.
 Ma’ma told me they were poor, but didnt know no difference, because  everyone around us was in the same situation, we were all poor , but we had no idea we were, she said..
 I thought to myself  a few times when she would share her stories with me, how did they not know they were poor.. But, I get it now.
 
She said that they were taught that hard work, dedication, and prayer  was what it took to make all things come together for their good. We had LOVE, real close family love, no fighting, or gossip, no time for the devils workshop in  our home, Ma’am would say.. Daddy would never have that.. She talked a lot about how they were blessed with Love, Joy, and  our Faith, as her  Daddy spoke the very words of God each Sunday, and to each of us during the week. We were taught to respect our elders, do our chores.And look to God for all our troubles, and needs, she told me. And that is what I  am trying to teach you Debbie, so that you can teach it to your children, and they, theirs. The seeds of a strong, God fearing family carry on..
 
This is one of  the stories  my Mother shared with me of her life, when I was younger. Story after story she would tell me, about being a child coming out of the depression, growing up poor, but so blessed with the love of a family unit. I wonder sometimes to myself,  has the family unit left this world for good today? It sure seems as though it has .. And I feel so blessed to know what it is like to have a strong family, loving, and blessed by the strong faith of the generations before me.. I loved for my Ma’ma to tell me stories of her life as a child, it was so sweet, and soothing to me then, and now..
 
~Debbie~
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