He Delights in You

Aug 092010

Have you ever known someone who had a really contagious laugh? One who took such delight in something that you couldn’t help but join in?

My son was like that as a little boy. His laughter would get all of us rolling in laughter.

One memory that will always stick in my mind is the watching “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”. He was just a little guy back then, but he found Max the dog so funny, and laughed with such contagious enjoyment that the whole family ended up laughing with him as he took complete delight in the antics of that funny little dog!

The bible tells us that God takes that kind of delight in each of us. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true… He really does!

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

There are times in my life that sin gets in the way of my experiencing God’s delight in me. Thankfully, all I have to do is confess that sin and I am again right with God.

More often, however, it’s not sin that keeps me from experiencing God’s love and delight, but it’s my own expectations. I try to squeeze myself into the “perfect” mold and when I don’t fit, I feel unacceptable.

With my chronic illness, much of what I used to “do for God” has been left behind and replaced with fatigue and pain. I’ve found myself wondering how God is going to delight in me if I’m not doing all the things I used to do for Him.

God has forced me out of my mold to show me that it’s not what I “accomplish” that brings him delight. It’s me he sings over. Just being who he made me to be brings him great delight!

I am beginning to understand that I can stay in my pajamas all day and know I bring him delight.  I can blog a little and even miss spelling or grammar errors and still know I bring him delight. I can sit and paint and know I bring him delight. I can spend most of my day in a recliner, and not even get a dinner made and know I bring him delight. Some days I can hardly account for what I did or accomplished, but God still rejoices over me with singing.

Wow! It’s hard to believe, but it’s true!

God delights in you too! He made you and he delights in who you are!

I pray that you, too, will begin to experience the depth of his love, just as I have begun to experience it with great delight and rejoicing. And the amazing thing is that God’s delight is contagious, just like my son’s laughter. The more we experience his delight over us, the more we love Him and want to be with him and suddenly the delight becomes quite mutual!

My PRAYER – Pray it with me?

Heavenly Father, I don’t always like who I am. It’s hard to believe that you do. Please help me to understand your love for me and to experience your great delight.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When have you experienced God’s great delight in you?

Is there anything keeping you from hearing Him rejoicing over you?



iFellowship

I’m joining in the Blog Hop at Seeds of Faith today!

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Relax…Uwind…Breathe… WIN a Marc Enfroy CD Award Winning Musician

Aug 062010

“Marc Enfroy’s serene blend of instrumental piano music and beautiful orchestral arrangements will touch your heart and lift your soul.”

I discovered Marc Enfroy‘s music just as his first CD was coming out. We connected on MySpace and after listening to the selections of his music on his page, I accepted him as a friend. (BTW – I am no longer on MySpace so don’t look for me there). I continued to follow him as he developed his website, and I signed up for his newsletter and received several free downloads from his first album “Unbounded”

I loved the music so much that I purchased the album for my husband to play in his office. I was also impressed with how personable Marc was, and he even developed a forum where his fans could interact with him and his music!

But aside from what a “nice guy” Marc is – his music totally envelopes me and carries me away! It’s like it sinks deep into my soul – soothing my aches. I received a copy of Marc’s newest album “Awakening” and, though the music has his fingerprints all over it, I found that it has even more orchestration and lovely flute added in many of the songs.

I listen to Marc Enfroy‘s music when I’m painting – in fact, it was part of the inspiration for this painting that won 2nd place in the SW Washington Watercolor Society Show! (it’s SOLD and now lives in NY)

I also listen to his music when I am laying out in the sun getting my Vit D and my imagination takes me to to far off places.

One of the things that is very important for M.E./CFS patients is to learn to pace themselves through the day. I’m not very good at that, but at the advice of Dr. Lapp I am learning and I use this music when I lay down to rest (not sleep). I breathe deeply, and my heart rate lowers and my mind relaxes and I feel so refreshed!

Let me share a little bit more about Marc Enfroy that I found on his website:

Inspired by the tragic death of his sister from melanoma cancer, Marc Enfroy (pronounced EN-froy) began teaching himself to compose music in 2006.  By interweaving beautiful instrumental piano melodies with touching orchestral arrangements in a style he calls Cinematic Piano, Marc has soothed many hearts with his warm and original compositions.  This prompted radio broadcasters worldwide to bestow Marc with the Best Neo-Classical Album Award for his debut CD, Unbounded, in the 2008 NAR Lifestyle Music Awards, where he also received a nomination for Best New Artist.

Building on the success of his debut effort, Marc Enfroy has released his highly anticipated second CD, Awakening, a soothing blend of piano, flute, violin and ethereal voice to warm the heart, melt away stress and inspire dreams.  ”My goal with this new music is to awaken feelings of peace, love and wonder in the listener,” says Marc.  He adds, “On top of that, I really wanted to evolve my sound to a new level so I enlisted the help of some world class musicians on the project.”  Complementing Marc’s signature piano melodies are Jillian Aversa (vocal), Janet Sullins (violin), and Jack Chen (flute).

I feel so fortunate to have met Marc online and learn about his amazing music! I also feel extremely thankful and fortunate to have received his album “Awakening” to review. And I’m so excited to offer one of my readers their very own CD of “Awakening”!!!

Yes, that’s right! You can WIN this fantastic CD! Marc sent me a demo CD for me – and a sealed brand new CD for one of my readers!

How to Enter:

One comment will enter you into the giveaway. All you need to do is visit Marc Enfroy’s Website, browse around a bit and make sure you end up on his “Listen and Own” section where you can sample his music. Leave a comment telling me the title of one song that you enjoyed and which album it is on.

Extra Entries:

Yes – you can get extra entries into this giveaway. You can do any or all of the following. Remember – you must leave a separate comment for every extra entry!

  • Sign up for Marc Enfroy’s Newsletter (in your comment tell me the email address you signed up with so I can confirm your entry)
  • Follow my blog using Google Friend Connect on the left sidebar (leave a separate comment telling me you now follow or that you already follow)
  • Follow Marc Enfroy on Facebook
  • Sign up to receive my blog directly to your email through Feedburner (leave a separate comment including the email address you sign up with or have already signed up with so I can confirm your entry)
  • Follow Marc Enfroy on Twitter
  • Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can tweet and leave a comment once a day during the giveaway period. (Please leave a link if you do not use #CreatorsPalette or @CreatorsPalette in your tweet so I can confirm your entries)     Here is a sample tweet you may use every day if you would like: WIN awarding winning CD from Cinematic Piano Artist @MarcEnfroy ENTER here http://tinyurl.com/2bo2hxz #CreatorsPalette

Giveaway ends Monday August 16 at 7:00PM PT

The little details: This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only.  All entries will be checked for accuracy and false entries will be deleted before winner is drawn. Winner will be drawn by random using WordPress plug-in “And The Winner Is..” Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Winner will be announced as soon as confirmed. I did not receive any payment for this review and all opinions are my own. I received a demo CD to review and keep.

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Thankful for Mentors

Aug 052010

I’m sitting here in my house, alone. The quietness surrounds me and all I hear is the trickle of the fountain outside, and my fingers softly typing.

It hasn’t always been like this, but more and more I get to have the long periods of alone time that I used to long for as I was raising 3 children. (You know, all those moments you wish you could just go to the bathroom by yourself – or take a bath without someone knocking or hearing things crash outside the door?)

I love the still quiet where my mind can think, my soul can rest and my body relaxes.

But as I began to think about what I was thankful for today, my mind flew back to all those years of young children… the noise, the needs, the play, the fights, the T.V. shows, the constant making of snacks and meals…

Looking back, I loved raising my 3 children as much as I thought I would. But as I sit here quietly remembering, I am also very thankful for the mentors in my life that helped me through those turbulent unrestful years!

There was one who began mentoring me to be a great Mommy, even before I was pregnant with my first child. She not only shared her thoughts and wisdom on raising children, she modeled it for me. I still remember sitting in her living room the first time I ever felt my first baby move inside me! Her patience, tenderness and devotion to the needs of her children have always been a sweet influence in my life.

Then there was a dear neighbor who moved in when my first child was just one and a half. She had 2 children that she homeschooled and she spent many hours with me, having coffee, talking through the trials of learning to discipline a young child, teaching me to become a more economical and accompished homemaker, and listening to the trials of my heart. We baked homemade bread together, and her children played with my baby so I could have a much needed break with an adult.

Later, there were Moms all raising children the same age as mine who would meet and pray together. We didn’t have a lot of advice for each other, and yet, each of us, in our own way shared in the pool of ideas to be the best Mommy’s we could be.

And then there was a lovely woman who loved God and loved me! She met with me regularly. We shared a similar life change as our husbands both quit their jobs and went to Bible College, but her children were pre-teen and teen. So we encouraged each other through those changes, but she was a great example to me of the kind of  Mother that I wanted to be as my children grew. She gave me vision and something to strive for in the midst of the daily grind.

All of these women were mentors to me – encouraging me through those noisy busy years of raising children.

And now, here I sit, so proud of my 3! Each one in her/his own way, have blossomed into three unique young adults that I am proud to claim as my children. And I think, from what they tell me, that I did a pretty good job as a Mommy… thanks to those wonderful women who came along side me at just the right time in my life.

Who has influenced you the most in your life’s  journey?

Are you influencing anyone else right now?

I’d love to hear from you!


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A Perfect Summer Day – (mostly) Wordless Wednesday

Aug 042010

Every summer, my son and I must play several games of Monopoly. Even though he’s 17.5 we stuck to our tradition and played our first summer game, complete with a huge bowl of M &M’s.

We gorged on M&M’s, tossed them in the air to catch in our mouths, threw them at each other.

He smeared me this game … I’ll get him next time!

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Tuesday Tea

Aug 032010

T4Tuesday - T4Tea

Seems the perfect day to share my favorite iced tea recipes! I review teas on TeaViews so I get my hands on some wonderful teas! This is the first summer, though, that I have really kept up on making quality, healthy green, white and Oolong based iced teas!

All tea comes from the same plant – though there are hybrids and the taste varies based on where it’s grown and how it’s processed. Green teas, White teas and Oolong teas are all processed in unique ways, and are extremely healthy, being low in caffeine, and very high in antioxidants.

POTS(Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) is just one of the many symptoms I deal with every day. It requires staying extremely hydrated to keep my blood volume up. So, among other things, I’ve been drinking iced tea all summer long! I love my insulated cup that my daughter (who works at Starbucks) bought me!

First, let me tell you the process I use to make my iced tea (green, white, or oolong):

I use my glass 4 cup measuring cup and four good heaping teaspoonfuls of tea (measuring spoon, not eating spoon). Green tea and oolong tea should never be brewed in boiling water as it will over cook the leaves and ruin the tea. White is a little more forgiving, however, I pour the water before it boils for white tea as well.

I brew the tea in the measuring cup for 2-4 min (depending on the tea I’m using). While it’s brewing, I put 2 cups of cold water in my pitcher. Then, when the tea is done brewing I pour it through a strainer into the pitcher. I let it cool fully before putting it in the fridge.

Then I’m ready to fill my insulated cup with ice, pour the tea in and drink it all day long!

So what have been some of my favorite teas this summer? Let me share a few with you!

Golden Moon Tea has some great teas, but the one I’ve been enjoying iced this summer is their Coconut Pouchong. (Pouchong is a green Oolong). This is not flavored with coconut flavoring. Instead, the leaves are soaked in coconut milk. It brews up very light colored and has a lovely gentle flavor with a coconut creaminess.

BourgeaTEA is a wonderful new place to purchase tea. It was started by a college student who mixed and sold quality teas to campus friends. Sharing his passion for tea has blossomed into BourgeaTEA company and their blends are fantastic! I love this white tea – it blends several whites, with peaches and it brews an excellent cup of iced tea!

Two more teas I’ve been enjoying iced this summer come from Indonique. I love their teas, and they have a great program. 10% of every purchase made from Indonique is donated to International non-Governmental Organizations like Mercy Corps and Feed the Children, to fund programs that positively impact the people who work the fields!

The two teas I’ve been enjoying iced this summer are:

Ginger Peach Oolong which has a lovely fresh peach flavor and a gentle ginger undertone

Ginger Peach Orange Green Tea which is a smooth gentle green with a great citrus flavor. The Peach is an undertone and the ginger barely noticeable when iced.

None of these companies have paid me for this post – in fact, only one knows I might be writing it because I mentioned it on twitter. Maybe they’ll see this post and sponsor a tea giveaway! (*grin*) Maybe if you all leave messages saying you’d love a tea giveaway we’ll have here soon.

I hope you’ll visit each of these shops and that this post gives you some ideas of how to stay hydrated this summer, and enjoy drinking something extremely healthy! I know I am!

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And the Winner is…..

Aug 022010

The winner of the Castle Baths Spa Products was chosen by random by the wonderful WordPress plug-in “And the winner is”. If you have a WordPress blog and do giveaways, you’ve got to get this plug in… it’s super and easy!

So… our winner chose the Bath Salts! Great Choice! Though I am totally addicted to the Dead Sea Mud mask now too!

Who is the winner? Doreen Riopel!

Congratulationd Doreen!

My next giveaway will be posted later this week – so keep an eye out. It’s a wonderfully unique giveaway that I’m very excited about!


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Thankful I was stuck in bed

Jul 292010

Thankful Thursday (c) Melanie Pruitt

The harder the day, the harder it is to be thankful.

I waited until the end of the day to write this “Thankful Thursday” post. That’s mostly because I was having a pretty hard day. As I wrote yesterday in my Yo-Yo post, life is so unpredictable when you have M.E./CFS, or any other number of chronic illness, for that matter.

Having had a flare begin 2.5 days ago, and a late doctors appointment yesterday afternoon that really tired me out, I awoke again today with aches and low fever at 6AM. I took tylenol and dosed but got up at my normal time to drink my tea.

I spent a little time online, reading emails, some of the blogs I follow and by 9:30 I thought I needed to go back to sleep. I had two emails left and then I was going to shut down my computer, when up popped a chat from a friend.

This is a very dear friend, who lives quite far from me. She’s been experiencing some extremely difficult things in her life lately.

I am SO so thankful that it was a Pajama Day and I was stuck in bed. My dear friend really needed to connect with someone, and I’m thankful to have been that someone today.

Never underestimate your value. I felt very worthless today, and yet, my “stuck in bed” day turned into a day I got to spend with my friend.

I am very thankful for that!

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