Control or Chisel?

God, take her hurt. Lord, take her pain. Give my friend freedom through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

God, You have made her to be a masterpiece. Give her the freedom in You. Let her know that she has never let you down...that YOU hold HER up!

We are scared children acting as adults. When You chisel at us all -- help us to know that YOU would NEVER make junk! You are the Master and Creator. The name above ALL names.

Take her heart and keep her close to You.

Help her to turn everything over to You. Use her to do great things.

Open her heart.

My friend.
SHE is God's original masterpiece!

The Red Bar

Gotta love my Bestie!

We went to The Red Bar on the way home from Destin. It was one of the coolest restaurants that I have ever been in!

The Voice of Truth

Do not withhold Your tendermercies from me, O Lord; let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me. Psalm 40:11 

Casting Crowns - Voice of Truth

Oh what I would do to have

The kind of faith it takes

To climb out of this boat I'm in

Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone

Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is

And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name

And they laugh at me

Reminding me of all the times

I've tried before and failed

The waves they keep on telling me

Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"

"You'll never win!"

Chorus:

But the voice of truth tells me a different story

the voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"

The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have

The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant

With just a sling and a stone

Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors

Shaking in their armor

Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

 But the giant's calling out my name

And he laughs at me

Reminding me of all the times

I've tried before and failed

The giant keeps on telling me

Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"

"You'll never win!"

 But the stone was just the right size

To put the giant on the ground

And the waves they don't seem so high

From on top of them lookin' down

I will soar with the wings of eagles

When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus

Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

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Daddy's Heart

This little has certainly got a good chunk of her Daddy's heart! Can you blame him, really?

Likes Her Accessories

Shoes, purses, bracelets, necklaces, hats, and even goggles!

Found This...

If this picture doesn't just explain Emmy, I don't know what does.

Look at how much she's grown!!

Convertible Crusin'

Sam got to ride with Mrs. Eileen in her Mustang convertible. He was SO excited! It's pretty sad though...the boy's already been in a convertible by the age of 4, and I'm nearly 30, and have never ridden in one! What's that about, anyway?

Some Random Pics from Summer

Sarah - 4 Months

I find it hard to believe that Sarah has already reached 4 months old. That means that Emmy is 20 months, Sam is 4 years, Rachel is 10 years, and I don't even want to admit that Cody is now 17, so I won't!

Sarah is such a joy! She loves everyone that she meets. She smiles, chuckles, and even sometimes, guffaws. I am pretty sure that the only time that she cries is when she is hungry or sleepy, and occasionally, when she needs to be changed.

With the exception of two nights this week (for some reason), she has been sleeping all night long. She goes to sleep between 7 and 8, and wakes up between 7 and 8. Unlike Emmy, Sarah prefers to be rocked before bed, and neither Rusty or I mind the extra cuddle time! 

It wouldn't be the Corley Clan in true form if we didn't call Sarah all sorts of strange names (including, but not limited to the names of her siblings and the number in which she falls in the line of littles - #5)

Here are some of her "names":

Sarah

Sarah Bear

Bear

Sar Sar

Little Bitty

Bitty

Bitty Bear

Snookie Wookums

Little Little

I'm sure more will develop over time, but I'd say we have successfully confused her!

The other littles actually love her more and more because she has started to make noises in response to their gestures, she chuckles at them, and she plays on the mat with them. She also enjoys playing with her arms, grabbing her feet, sticking her hands in her mouth, and really likes to hold onto a blanket, burp rag, or her "lovey". I think that her "lovey" may very well become the next "bear" in the house. Every time we give her the "lovey", she smiles and snuggles up to it. It is absolutely adorable!

What a precious little pea we have been blessed with. At night, we wrap her up like a burrito, give her the binky, the lovey, and settle into the rocking chair. Sarah gets comfortable, snuggles up to lovey, and looks up with those big brown eyes, and just smiles.

  

Is That a Tree?

Yes. That is a tree. Rachel and Sam were playing in the yard the other day, and found this branch. They decided to turn it into a "tree" for us as a gift. They grabbed some bricks and somehow managed to support the "tree" so that it stood straight up.

It was pretty cool, I must admit. The part that's not so cool? That they are getting kinda tired of actually smiling for the camera. Ughhh...

Zzzzzzzzzzz.....

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When Your Courage is Tested

Even the most dedicated Christian women may find her courage tested by the inevitable disappointments and tragedies of life. After all, we live in a world filled with uncertainty, hardship, sickness, and danger. Old Man Trouble, it seems, is never too far from the front door.

When we focus upon our fears and our doubts, we may find many reasons to lie awake and fret about the uncertainties of the coming day. A better strategy, of course, is to focus not upon our fears, but instead upon our God.

God is as near as your next breath, and He is in control. He offers salvation to all His children, including you. God is your shield and your strength; you are His forever. So don't focus your thoughts upon the fears of the day. Instead, trust God's plan and His eternal love for you. And remember: whatever the size of your challenge, God is bigger.

Psalm 31:24

Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord.

-excerpt from my daily devotional

CC Ink

I "inked" two of the littles today. Sam was quite desperate for a Batman sign, and Rachel was just thrilled to death to get just "random" drawings on her foot. I have to admit: it was pretty fun!

Rachel Gift Ideas

Angelyn got Rachel her very own American Girl Doll a few weeks ago, and ever since, "Christie" joins in with the rest of the family in whatever activity we are doing (dinner, TV time, etc). 10-year-old girls are impossible to shop for. Not anymore!!! I can tell you now, whatever the occasion, Rach will be THRILLED to get ANYTHING from this website that can be used for the newest addition to the Corley Clan!

American Girl Website

Is This Even Possible?

These days, I really only watch MAYBE two hours of television a week. I just don't have the time anymore. But, I spend my two hours wisely. I love, love, love, love the Fox show, "So You Think You Can Dance." These dancers in this video clip put the SYTYCD dancers to shame.

Click here

A-MAY-ZING Dancers

The Perfect Friend

Let's get this picture straight in your heads before I ramble on about my day. Rusty teaches Sunday School (Grapple) for the 5th graders, and one of the other teachers in the room is about-to-pop pregnant! She was unable to be there this morning, so I offered to help out until the fall semester begins. So, there you have it. Rebekah -- the Sunday School Teacher. Take a minute and pause...let that soak into your brains before you keep reading because this stuff is good, and I'd hate for my Total God Makeover into a Sunday School Teacher to be a distraction.

Ok. If you've taken a moment, you may now continue.

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I Samuel 18 speaks about an amazing friendship between Jonathan and David.

....Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt....

Just think about that..."because he loved him as his own soul?" A "covenant?" 

How many people do you know that you can truly say that you love them that much?!

The girls in Grapple said that they loved ALL of their friends as much as they loved themselves. Of course, they did. Then, when I asked them if they would take all of their clothes off and stand there naked (like Jonathan may have done for David), they all hesitated. I snickered a little because I knew the answers, but I wanted them to really think about it.

How MUCH do you really LOVE your friends?

Then, I took it to the next level.

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Proverbs 18:24

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

I asked the girls what the "key" word was in this passage. Of course, it took them a little bit, but finally, my point was made. ...there is "A" friend. If we have trouble giving up just our clothes for our friends, imagine how difficult it was for Jesus to give up His LIFE for us!? Imagine how much He must love us?!

You probably aren't in 5th grade if you are reading this, but there's a pretty good chance that you have a best friend...or two....or, if you're lucky...several. But, ask yourself this: would you give your friend all of your clothes?

Would you die?

Jesus Died for us!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

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 What kind of friend are you?

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~~~

~

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed

he was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

For each scene he noticed two sets of

footprints in the sand: one belonging

to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,

he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of

his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very

lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he

questioned the Lord about it:

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow

you, you'd walk with me all the way.

But I have noticed that during the most

troublesome times in my life,

there is only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why when

I needed you most you would leave me."

The Lord replied:

"My son, my precious child,

I love you and I would never leave you.

During your times of trial and suffering,

when you see only one set of footprints,

it was then that I carried you."

-Mary Stevenson

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~ Some Notes I Needed ~

I love it when I look back at my notes from church, and even though the notes applied to something in my life at that time, it's amazing how they can apply to something completely and totally different today...something that I never expected them to apply to.

Kent taught out of Philippians 3: 12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I was faced with my own selfishness and pride today, but isn't that normal for us as human beings? I think where I went wrong was that I was assuming that my way was the right way...even though it wasn't. The "right way" is to completely follow God's instruction for your life; to totally trust in Him for everything. Today, I felt that because someone was not following "my" way, that made them "wrong", but here God goes again with those subtle reminders (more like a slap in the back of the head). "There is none righteous, no, not one..." (Rom. 3:10).

As I picked up my Hannah Montana note pad that I use for notes (I only had to pay $.50 for it!), I opened up to the teaching out of Philippians. My notes are pretty scattered about, and really only make sense to me, but if you read it like a story, they seem to make a little bit more sense...I think.

• Something that may be so obvious for you may not make a bit of sense to someone else. Their eyes aren't open. We can't open their eyes; only God can
• There is so much for us all to learn.
• Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. (Prov. 12:1)
• We are to be corrected, and continue to receive instruction. We can never know it all. -- teachable, learning attitude.
• We should always grow in our walk.
• A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgement. (Prov. 18:1)
• The best is yet to come!
• Don't focus on the past!
• The end of a thing is better than its beginning.
• Push forward
• Walk by faith


• Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:1,6)

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Walk by Faith. Keep Pressing Forward. Forget the Past.

Happy Little

I swear, she's ALWAYS this happy!