Jesus is my True Love

The Tattoo I Designed 

Size Imagined: 

 4 inches tall, 5 inches wide on upper left outer arm. 

Sailor, Classic American style:

My Pinterest board: 

 Colors needed - bold black lines, white highlights, yellow, robins egg blue, red. Blended to make greens and neutrals. 

Symbols

Heart- passion, relation, center 

moth- all physical will crumble, 

weakness of human love, earth is temporary

yellow rose- beauty, growth, strength, 

fragrance of worship,  Texas 

Jesus banner ribbon- never going back, true love, unashamed

Sticker Burrs & Boken Blue Egg

Woke a little early to work outside. I'm working on getting rid of these spotted clover patches I found. They look harmless, green and kinda sweet. But looks can be deceiving. Upon closer inspection, I see a green little, sticky ball inside this patch. 

The key to maintaining a lively & productive garden, I'm slowly learning, is to identify the good and bad. Leave the good, kill the bad. Knowing is the first step in this battle. I know the truth about those little green balls. I know what it intends to do. It will get in Todd Quinton Morgan 's socks this Summer after mowing, it will get in our garden, it will choke the beauty from our flowers. It will cause pain. I want it gone for Easter so we can celebrate new life. While picking up these burr patches, I started to feel defeated. I can never do all this alone. There's too much here. If I leave just a little on accident it will all come back! Ive already filled a washtub. How much is left? 

Just then, I found a blue broken Robin's egg. Never seen one. I realized what God was speaking to me at this point...

 A reoccurring theme has been circling my walk with Christ over the last 7 years. The theme is "thorns". They were what my late husband, Shannon Seaton, spent his last hours removing from our home. He held armor for it across his chest when he left. Coincidence? No. Message? Yes. I believe this was his last message to me, his family and everyone. "Rid the weeds". In Genesis 3:18, God purposely put weeds on the earth because of our sins. Before that, food grew from the Earth with no labor. Ever since then we had to labor to live. Is we do not uproot the thistle from the ground, it will come back. There is no quick easy way other than pulling it up. I know because before the day Shannon left, he tried every method. He resorted to hands and knees. Hands and knees will rid the weeds. It's a humbling experience that is guaranteed to relieve the pull of the thistle. God says, in Hebrew 12, to run the race of life with perseverance, being careful to not let the snares at our feet entangle us. Lots of us are running with Christ. Thorns still exist on our journey. But if we catch them before they brown & harden, the roots are weaker and the pull is less painful. In all this struggle to get out what slows us down from our walk it can seem as though we will never win. We won't. There's too much of it. We've filled our buckets. If we left any out there, It will just grow back... right? This is False news. Good true NewS!! Easter is here! Something happened. Someone is here in your garden to get rid off all that sticker bur, He's gonna pull it ALL out. He's gonna make it new and beautiful! He's been sitting in the garden the entire time. He was just waiting for you to notice the blue broken egg laying there. Notice the tomb cracked open and laying empty. This is for real!!! Celebrate the end of the thorns! The crown of thorns is replaced with a crown of beauty. God can s look weak to you too. Open your eyes and ears. Go be alone with Him somewhere. Ask Him to help you garden. Ask Him to sit on the porch. ASK him to go on a walk. ASK Him to dance silly with you. Ask Him to come into your pain and pull out the weeds in your heart. Ask Him to soften the soil in your hearts so that love can grow again. Ask Him. He is there. He is alive. I know.

Life before and after Christ. 

Working gloves with sticker bur on them. 

Naked hands with no shame because He defeated death. The tomb is empty. 

Reflections of Christ all day everyday.

As I go through life, I find myself developing a sensor for sincerity and genuineness. I've been hurt and disappointed by people that I look up to and think of them as God's hands and feet. I continually ask for discernment for these things. I often think if I had one superpower, it would be to know if somebody is lying or not. I wish everybody had Pinocchio noses, but it's not that simple. I have tired to chose friends and mates based on these senses. For if you cannot know sincerity from your loved ones, what can you really know? My biggest turn off for friends and love is a fake person. I want friends that are the same everywhere, around every person everyday. I do not want a chameleon friend that changes their personality when they are around other people. I know certain people may bring out certain finer qualities in you (humor, tastes, conversations, interests), but I do not think you should change your character, what you believe in what is right and wrong, when your environment, company and circumstances change. 

                 Proverbs 27:19 

As water reflects the face,

    so one’s life reflects the heart

2 Corinthians 3:18

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Being a Christian makes this even harder. Especially when you have not had the same beliefs all your life, you may find yourself slipping back to your old ways when you are around old friends. Or maybe you are doing the same types of activities you did before, but find it hard to get in the Jesus groove in this activity. This is where we must decide, "Does this friend or activity make me a better person, or is is pulling me down?" I heard somebody say, you don't just need Christian friends to lift you up, you need lost friend that you can life up too. But if your lost friend are pulling you down, either your faith needs more work or you need to lose that friend. We are a reflection or Christ everywhere we go. When people know you as Christian, you are a constant target of their ideas of who Jesus really is. We have to be very careful. There's nothing Satan loves more that a wavering Christian. He uses them to make faith look weak. We need to be changed if He changed us. We need to be consistent in our Christianity. I think we should just imagine Jesus with us all the time. Easier maybe, wear a symbol of Christ everywhere we go, knowing that people see that symbol and are looking to us for a reflection of Christ. If you don't cuss at church, you should not cuss at home. If you wouldn't have certain conversations at church, don't have those conversations anywhere. If Christ is inside of you, you take Him everywhere you go. You should remember Peter. When Jesus was right there by his side, he thought he would never deny Jesus. But as soon as Jesus was out of sight and headed to the cross, Peter felt as though if was more comfortable to blend in with the crowd. He denied his beloved Jesus three times, as Jesus had told him he would. Our love for Him is not a physical reminder that can be taken off and put on when we feel appropriate. 

In Him was Life

I created this drawing based on John 1:4-5.

Breaking this verse down was where I started. The verse is very deep. I asked my husband, Todd, for help with his idea of the verse. We both started simple with the idea of a glowing figure with flame light inside. After further thought, Todd thought of maybe having life showing inside the figure rather than a flame of light. Although this was more challenging, I really liked this idea. 

I see the "Life" as things growing and living. God created life from nothing in the Garden of Eden. Life sprung from Him. He is the Creator. 

That created life was the guiding light of truth for all other Creation to come.

 Life itself is a testament to a Creator. 

Romans 1:20 says, 

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse". 

This light that has been there since the beginning, shines in the darkness. We do not have to be afraid of being overcome by sin, darkness or satan. His light is always with us in the dark world if we choose to carry it. By GOd's Son, Jesus, death and darkness have been overcome. He won already. We know the end. It is not a mystery how it will turn out. It is promised. 

1 Corinthian's 15:55-57 says, 

"O Death, where is your sting? O death, where is your victory? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sing its power. But thank GOD! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I wanted to snake to be in the darkness, looming powerless behind God. 

The butterflies came from this creation and light, 

Ephesians 5:8

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light. 

John 8:12, says

Jesus spoke again to them, I am the light of the world: he that follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 

1 John 1:5 says, 

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 

When the butterflies flutter together in fellowship, they are stronger. 

1 John 1:7

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin."

If our lights are on in the darkness, the sin cannot hurt us. We are fluttering with His salvation inside us. We are no longer like Adam and Eve, we have Him inside us everywhere we go. There is no forbidden fruit, slithering sneaky snake or lie that can smother the light of the truth. 

Lukie 10 :19 says, 

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions

 and to overcome all power of he enemy: 

nothing will harm you. "

These butterflies cannot be taken by the snake. 

Satan tried to ruin it from the start with the first created beings. 

But Jesus came and fixed it all, giving the snake no more power. 

The fruitful tree satan once used against us is known for what it truly is... a lie. 

God will have His way, no matter what. 

His way is the whirlwind in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 

Nahum 1:3

So, look up and know that he watches over you. 

If He is for you, then who can be against you?  Romans 8:31

Have peace that He is with you on your journey. 

Doing What's Good

 

 

"Let Us Not Grow Weary of doing what's GOOD, for in due season we will Reap A Harvest." This verse keeps popping up in front of me this last couple weeks. I think God is trying to tell me something. Too often we "do good" hoping to get praise from humans. Too often nobody notices and we get all bent up. Do you clean house hoping the kids will notice? Have fun with that! Do you work hard at your job hoping your boss with throw you a bone? May never happen. As a teacher, the ki...ds at school that do good just becuase they see me holding stickers behind my back get on my nerves! Am I that kid? Just hoping for a pat on the back?
In reality, we ( or "I" really) should be happy to do good when NOBODY sees us. For it is these "good things" that He sees. These good deeds that do not gain us earthly praise that He holds onto and gives us blessing either here or in eternity. They are the riches. Character is what you are in the dark, right? So, do good always. No matter if you are noticed by anyone. Know that He notices is proud of you, His child. If we hunger fro human appreciation for every good deed we do, we will starve. Look to Him above who sees it all. He loves you.

Illustrated Truths continued...

Psalm 56

Lord, have mercy on me; all day long the enemy troops press in.

So many are proud to fight against me; how they long to conquer me.

^3-4 But when I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you.

Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I am trusting him,

what can mere man do to me? ⁵ They are always twisting what I say.

All their thoughts are how to harm me. 

⁶ They meet together to perfect their plans;

they hide beside the trail, listening for my steps, waiting to kill me.

 ⁷ They expect to get away with it. Don’t let them, Lord. In anger cast them to the ground.

⁸ You have seen me tossing and turning through the night.

You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle!

You have recorded every one in your book.

⁹ The very day I call for help, the tide of battle turns.

My enemies flee! This one thing I know: God is for me! 

 ^10-11 I am trusting God—oh, praise his promises!

I am not afraid of anything mere man can do to me! Yes, praise his promises.

 ¹² I will surely do what I have promised, Lord, and thank you for your help. 

¹³ For you have saved me from death and my feet from slipping,

so that I can walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

 

1 Peter 3:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I love this quote from Kid President.

It is similar to others I have heard.

 

"Nobody cares about how much you know,

until the know how much you care."

 

and

 

"It's nice to be important,

It's more important to be nice."

 

It all reminds me of what The Bible taught us...

 

Philippians 2:3-5

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

 Let each of you look not only to his own interests,

but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves,

which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Thankful He"ART"

Often I struggle with negative thoughts within myself that I must wrestle with on a daily basis. Being Thankful in every circumstance is an exercise of faith. Sometimes our "muscles" in faith get weak and tired, inviting negativism and pity to take over. Once we believe these lies and negative words inside our minds, they are sprung from out mouth. Once released, Satan (John 8:44) grabs a hold of them and gets creative, taking us down creative roads of doubt and dread with no hope in sight.
Today is a day that we should be exercising our faith the most. I pray that it be a spiritual fitness boost to prepare each one of you for the hope that is coming. The birth of The Savior from our own Selfish Negativism has come to clean our sinful slates. When Satan has made a foot on our thoughts or actions, it strangles our hope and joy like weeds. Ask Jesus to weed your thoughts and clean out your garden in your heart, so that hope can grown tall reaching for the Truth and the Light. May your garden produce much fruit for others to eat and taste to see how sweet the Truth is (Psalm 34:8).

God shared a Word of Truth to me in one of my states of pitiful faithlessness. He showed me Ephesians 4:13. I read the entire chapter and let it take root in my heart until I really digested the meaning of it in my life at this point I am in.
God was showing me that it's not about ME. He has greater plans for the Kingdom. If I want to be a part of it, then I need to get over myself and focus on greater things. He will pull us through whatever we are going through if we just keep being obedient to His will (being thankful, sharing the Truth, and loving others). I needed to get out of my bottle, break the glass surrounding my comfort, reach out, be a light to others, stop being so immature and use what He has done for me in the past to grow out of the glass. When we take on Christ and all that He stands for, it is no longer about US. It is not longer about trying to make this life on Earth "fair". It's not about "what we deserve"! We deserve NOTHING! We are sinful. Christ was not... but He lived the most Unfair life in history. He hung like  a prisoner and plead guilty for what we did, do and will do. Without Him, we are nothing.

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”...

 ¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

SYMBOLISM

Ship in a bottle-

A person in their own bottle of faith, deciding what to take from the Word and what to leave.

An immature Christian. In their own world, not contributing to the Kingdom of Christ, but more subtracting in their lack of faith, not sharing the faith, not stepping out of their comfort for Him.

James 1:6

"But let him ask in faith, never wavering; for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind."

Ephesian 4:14

" Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. "

LIGHTHOUSE

Christ is the source of light from which out light comes from. Nothing can be hidden from His light.

Christ's Light, His word, guidance, searching shepherd

Psalm 119:105

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

Matthew 5:14

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

Hebrew 4:13

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

CITY

Kingdom of God, the believers here on earth working together to build the kingdom.

A city lit on a hill for the lost to see. This kingdom includes those working on earth and those working as witnesses in the clouds in the unseen spiritual realm around us.

Biblical Backing

Luke 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

²¹ Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

John 14:2

My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Hebrews 12

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Christ's Comfortable Cottage

 I dream of a little cottage in the woods, hidden behind the safety of tall trees. Safely surrounded by the Creator's work. I cannot wait for the day that this hope becomes reality. I cannot wait for the day I can sit on the shady porch, listen to the birds, sip my coffee and create for my Creator. This day may or may not come, but hope is still present. It is not the physical things of this world that should comfort us... a home is not our comfort just as a pastor is not the "church". It is "He alone that is my refuge, my place of safety, my God in whom I trust." We cannot count on this world to fulfill our hopes and dreams. But my heart is ok with knowing this. I know that when I reach my final destination, comfort with surround me continually in the beauty of His Light.

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he^[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Rest In Him

 

Breathe deep, give thanks, give him your burdens, trust him, ask for peace, be still, rest in the comfort of His presence. 

Psalms 23:1

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

God of All Comfort

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.^[a]

Our Wedding!

 

 

 

 

 

THE CAKE!!!