from humbled hands

destitue, displaced, distraught all I give, I give for naught intentions immoral, I quarrel with my pride mechanical motions busting out notions of love and charity for me my glory my honor  my story is me. not You. take me, break me make me Yours- use me. use me for Your story,  for Your glory. give me a burning passion to bring honor to Your name. i'm sick of satan and this game. forget about me and my wicked desires. i turn to you and live with a passion full of raging fire. i'm at your will,  waiting for Your call. Lord, You have my all. from humbled hands,  Jessie Rediger

I live in a place surrounded by death. W e live by dead people, work with the families of dead people, and even mark where those dead people will be buried.  (Occupation= Cemetery Sexton...its real, look it up ) Strangers come to me after they have lost a loved one and I help them with some of the essential aspects of a funeral.  We determine the location of the grave and I schedule the opening/closing of the grave.  I go through the motions, I deal with the emotions.  I empathize with the hurt and try to be as helpful, understanding, and comforting as possible.   I tell people, "It's not supposed to be like this.  You aren't supposed to lose your teenage son."  What I mean is that God didn't intend for us to live in a world marred by sin and thus by death.  We were made for eternity.  That is why death is so hard.  Death hurts because we were made for life, eternal life with our Father God and Savior Jesus Christ.  While deat...

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5 Amen. Thankful for that truth today. It has not ever been overcome by darkness and it will not ever be overcome by darkness. Even in the dimmest and bleakest of situations God's light is shining.  Today is it from a small crack in the wall, a faint flicker of light from a distance- God's promise that he is there through the trials and pain, through the hurt and sin? Look for it, it is there. Or is it like the sun, an overwhelming reminder that His abundant grace is new each day bringing life, healing, growth, and restoration?  Whatever it looks like or feels like in your situation, it is there ever reaching, ever shining, ever piercing the darkness in this world.  From humbled hands,  Jessie Rediger http://www.flickr.com/photos/wtlphotos/1010219236/

I have this problem. Generally, its called sin. Specifically, its called believing false things about myself and my Lord and Savior.  I picture it as looking at things other than Jesus. My eyes often stray from Him, the founder and perfecter of my faith, to, say, lies of the Enemy.  Lately these lies have been debilitating.  When my eyes shift, things become disproportionate.  My perspective becomes distorted. I look at myself as a failure. I believe that lie. Then I begin to wrench my neck around to see more.  I see my situation as hopeless.  I believe that lie.  I take a step to turn myself around so I can get a better picture of what else I am supposed to see. I am already walking the other direction when I realize how low and discouraged I have become.  My head is down.  All I can see are lies.  Only darkness.  Everything feels heavy and unbearable. We can't do it on our own.  Thankfully, Jesus doesn't let us.  He is...

Pinterest. You haven't lived until you've joined! That's how I feel.  Suddenly I want to cook, create, collaborate. I want to decorate, dazzle, design.  It is truly inspiring.  Lately I feel like there isn't enough time in the day for me to discover more and more recipes, tips, and home remedies on Pinterest .  The thing is-I haven't actually tried any of my "repins."  I keep telling myself that I'll make the projects when I have time, I'll make the recipes when I go to the store to get the ingredients.  Who am I kidding?? When I go to the store I get the staples: popcorn, granola bars, apple juice, and peanut butter.  I don't typically run to the store to get fun things like vintage tea cups and lacy doily things or cool desks for bookshelves.  I can't just run and pick up a sewing machine.  Golly, I figured that in order to save money and live healthy I have to buy a sewing machine, kitchen aid mixer, double boiler,...

What do those letters even mean?  I took a personality test and apparently those four letters ( INFJ ) mean I'm rare.  I would say, "like a gem, rare?" or, "like a thick juicy steak, rare? but some might say, "no, you're like a mosquito bite with Lyme disease, rare."  Ouch.  So I'm a little different, ok? I always thought I was complicated, and this test proves it.  It was a little discouraging.  I was thinking some more about it, though, and realized I was actually grateful that someone had catagorized me, even me ! I don't exactly prefer to be "in the box," but I at least like to be known, understood .  I am thankful for this personality, though I don't often understand it myself.  I am thankful for it because without INFJ's this world would lack the intuitive feeler, the self-sacrificing nurterer, the compassionate leader, and the logical and creative visionary.  I suppose I am proud to be one.  (I'll just subtly leav...

(cue the Trumpets) The Dishes Are Done. For now... I'll have to get down and dirty in the sink after I finish making this honey whole wheat bread (I'll let you know how it goes) and then again after we eat dinner.  My hands get all soggy.  I splash dirty, soapy water on my shirt.  AND, if that's not bad enough, there isn't enough room to dry them all.  So, I'll stop halfway and dry and put them away and then finish washing the rest. I'll intend on washing them right after we eat or right after I finish baking.  But a lot of times I put it off.  Vince will distract me or I'll find something better to do.  I'll say "Oh I'll do it later, after I write in my blog or after I read this chapter or, or, or.."  What I've found is that it is more of a burden the longer I wait.  The longer I wait, the more I don't want to do them and the more necessary it becomes that I do them.  This reminds me of sin (I always have the most ran...

Those of you who read my last post, or know me, know that I struggle with coupons.  Here is the account of my first real attempt at couponing : I got a coupon in the mail from Target. One free loaf of bread. I continued to read the size 1 font, ensuring there were no "catches." Simple. All I had to do was go claim my free, fluffy, fresh (and healthy) loaf of bread before October 1, 2011.  It would be whole wheat, of course. I prepared our trip to the grocery store: had a list, highlighted "bread" knowing that I had to get the Archer Farms brand AND that it was a priority (like I would forget it), double-checked the pantry to make sure I had recorded everything that we needed, and we made our way to the car. As we pulled out of our apartment parking lot, through our security gate, I realized I forgot the most important item...the coupon.  Great start . Vince pulled over, I ran inside, snatched it up, ran back, and we were off. I was excited to be usin...

A date with my hubby at the DTS library...check! Free wi-fi...check! Bible reading...check! Journaling...check! Prayer...check! Wow, I am doing good today! I've been thinking a lot lately (what's new?) about my devotional time, the time I spend with God throughout my day.  I try to sit down and have a "quiet time" with just me and Him, my Eternal Father.  Oftentimes I get stuck in a rut and just read the Bible to read the Bible. How can I forget that the Bible, the word of God, is living and active?! Am I so proud as to think that I know what the Creator God is going to reveal to me in His word?  I hope not, though I act like it all too often.  And when I pray, I feel like I am speaking empty thoughts. Father, God, change my heart; mold my heart to be more like Yours.  May I no longer heap up empty phrases to You, may I no longer pay You lip service.  You deserve my all: thoughts, actions, AND time.  Everything belongs to You because You hold...