Identity and Labeling Nothing.

Identity - We continually try to box things up. We read books, download apps and take quizzes.

We put ourselves in one box, our goals in another; our relationships in this one, and God in that. We label and define.

But we are not naturally organized. There's some scientific law I'm remembering learning during grade school that says, "everything tends toward disorder". Things don't just get organized by themselves. Broken down cars don't repair themselves when you leave them lay in the junk yard. Houses crumble when they aren't lived in.

We had two Sunday's of remembrance at my church in April. Communion Sunday and Easter directly following.

But do we really remember?? Did we understand enough in the beginning to actually grasp the severity of the gospel? To then remember and know the full power residing within us, as children of God?

Identity - "He didn't die for us because we were worth dying for, He died for us to make us worth dying for." [Mike Donehey]

It's not about me, as much as I'd like it to be. It's about Jesus. It's about His suffering. His struggle. His strength and resurrection.

Identity - It is Christ, making worthy the worthless. Beauty from ashes. [Is. 61:1-3]

"God isn't going to move because of me, He's going to move in spite of me... If you have grown weary, take rest in the thought that all He wants from you is praise, not performance. If we come to Jesus with anything more than nothing, we come with too much... Nothing is all we bring to Him, because nothing is the place He can fill" [Mike Donehey]

The label on my box should say, "nothing". But really, I don't even have a box. I am nothing.

"Job 28 speaks of the 'way of' wisdom and 'the place thereof'. It tells of how God finds the way for the wind, water and lightening. The way for the wind is the region of greatest emptiness, the way of the water is to the place of lowest depth, the way for the lightening, as science proves, is along the line of greatest weakness. 'If any man lack'. There is God's condition for His inflow of the spiritual understanding." [Amy Carmichael]

I am empty, so that Christ can fill.
I am lowest, so that Christ can be made high.
I am weak, so that Christ will be known as strong.

He, Christ, can only come to the weak, low and empty.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted." Matt 5:3-4

"Even when were worn out, worn thin and feel like we've got nothing left to offer Him, all He demands is our nothing." [Mike Donehey]

"Make me broken, so I can be healed. 'Cause I'm so calloused, and now I can't feel.
I want to run to You, with heart wide open, make me broken. 

Make me empty, so I can be filled. 'Cause I'm still holding onto my will. 
And I'm completed, when You are with me. Make me empty.

Make me lonely, so I can be Yours. 'Til I want no one more than You, Lord.
'Cause in the darkness I know You will hold me. Make me lonely.

'Til You are my one desire.
'Til You are my one true love.

'Til You are my breath, my everything.
Lord, please keep making me."

-Keep Making Me by Sidewalk Prophets

An Unexpected Party - Part 2 - Food Fit for a Hobbit

Last September my cousin, Josh, turned 9, and he is a huge fan of The Hobbit. So he wanted to have a Lord Of The Rings themed birthday party!! [see part 1 here]

You can follow Grace's pinterest board to see where many of the ideas came from! Links below to other blogs where the Lembas Bread recipe and templets came from...

The food and drink was one of the most fun parts! [And certainly the most important part, if you ask any decent hobbit]. I'll let the food speak for itself...

"It comes in pints?? I'm getting me one!"

Get the Leaf Wrapper Template and Lembas Bread Recipe 

[Grace used green cardstock tied with string instead of the craft foam they suggest].

"One small bite can fill a grown mans stomach"

Drum roll please.....

Surly there was something among these to tantalize your taste buds!! Leave a comment below if we left something out! What are your Middle Earth Food Favorites??

Blessings - Kerry

**Up next? Peoples of Middle Earth! Check back soon!**

An Unexpected Party - Part 1 - Invitation and Decor

Last September my cousin, Josh, turned 9, and he is a huge fan of The Hobbit [book, and movies] and is nearly completed his first read through The Lord Of the Rings. 

He wanted to have a Hobbit/LOTR themed party, and that is just what we did! Grace [Josh's big sister] made these incredibly cute invitations to look like Bilbo's door, at Bagend!

[back of the invite]

We used reclaimed white newsprint paper [like the kind used as packing material] and made a tree shape in a corner to be The White Tree of Gondor. [This was an idea from Pinterest, I believe, but it was a jungle tree, or some other theme, with brown and green paper]

The little girl wanted her picture by the White Tree...

Such tourists! [Couldn't NOT share these smiles!]

--> The Birthday Boy dressed up like Bilbo Baggins! Here he is eating second breakfast [an apple] standing outside of Bagend. [Grace set up a dome tent and covered it with a sheet, then drew the door out of more packing paper, and added greenery around]

Here is Bilbo in Shelob's Layer! Look out behind you!!!

They made a large banner [just like in the movie] to wish a happy birthday to Josh.

The Black Arrow. This was a game, I think Grace thought up. She drew the picture of Smaug, including his missing scale, and taped it to a cardboard box. Then they had a couple bows and arrows and everyone got a chance to try and slay the dragon! This was a LOT of fun!!

Another fun game [and more appropriate for the younger hobbits in attendance] was Mount Doom Ring Toss! The target was a picture of the top of the Mount Doom volcano, and each contestant got to toss The Ring into the burning depths! [they were actually small washers] :^) 

A welcome for the front door of the house. 

The Mark Gandalf leaves on Bilbo's door so the Dwarves know they are at the right house when they arrive to seek Bilbo's services as a burglar.  

There were fun goodie bags/party favors for everyone to take home! 

Paper and yarn bunting completed the look on the porch. [get a printable template here!]

This is Part 1 of at least 3... Stay tuned!!

Blessings - Kerry