He Saw YOU!

Last evening I ran across a birthday card I had received from my son, Casie, several years ago. It always blessed me so…and last night did not disappoint. As I read it just prior to retiring for the night, I knew I had to share it with you. It is by Roy Lessin. I will share more about him at the end.
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Once, before the foundation of the world, Jesus and His Father had a conversation about the great plan of redemption.

That conversation included you. Jesus looked down the corridors of time and knew that you would be born. He saw your needs when He said to His Father, “I will go”.

At the Father’s appointed time, Jesus came to earth so that you would never need to be far from Him. What an incredible journey He made; what an overwhelming expression of love He made; what an awesome purpose He had in mind. You were on His heart. When He left His home in heave, He was seeking you; when He stretched out His hands upon the cross, He was reaching out to you; when He returned to His Father, He was preparing a place of you.

You are the sheep He has come to shepherd, to guide, to feed, to protect, to shelter, and to carry.

You are the one He calls His own.
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Roy Lessin came to know Jesus as his personal savior at the age of nineteen. He has been in ministry his entire adult life including mission work in Mexico and Puerto Rico. In 1971, Roy, and three other men started a Christian publishing company called Outreach Publications. After a year in business the company created a Christmas card with the message “When you get right down to it, Jesus is the only thing that matters”. That card was the beginning of DaySpring Cards. Today, Roy is an active Bible teachers and continues to be involved with DaySpring Cards, serving in various pastoral roles. One of those roles is writing a daily devotional online called “Meet Me in the Meadow”. Read these daily devotionals at: http://www.roy.dayspring.com

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What is the Condition of Your Warp and the Color of Your Weft?

I am sure you are sitting there thinking, “The condition and color of my WHAT? …and why would…or should, I care…I thought this blog was about beauty?”

Yes, you are right. Inherent Beauty is about the beauty God has placed within each of us that shows outwardly. However, this is a great analogy to begin this blog with, because tapestries are not only beautiful – they are beautiful because of the process by which they are made…just like you and me.

Tapestries are made with different types of yarn that will be used for either the warp or the weft. The warp is the base yarn, which is strung vertically onto the loom. All warp ends must be attached to a rigid frame on the weaving loom or the weft yarns will not be able to be woven in properly. The weft, then, is woven into the warp horizontally. The warp yarn itself needs to be a perfect blend of texture, strength and resiliency. These qualities will insure that the weaving will go smoothly and that the tapestry will be of the finest quality when completed.

A good design always includes contrast, whether in color or shape. It is the most important principle in tapestry design because the opposition creates the tapestry’s dynamic beauty AND significance.

One person, called the overseer weaver, has the total responsibility for the work from its inception to completion. However there are generally several additional weavers that help with the process. The process is very slow with the average progress being only one to two square yards per month.

As with any piece of fine art when the tapestry is completed the overseer weaver will sign it. That signature demonstrates not only ownership, but also the courage to be known as the owner. It may also be titled in which case the overseer weaver chooses that title.

Each of us is an unfinished “tapestry”. As a newborn Christian woman you were placed onto a loom (just like the warp yarn). You are daily held in place by the spiritual laws and love of God. If you were not attached to His laws and love your tapestry could never withstand the weft yarn being inserted. The weft yarn is your environment. It is daily life circumstances from health or illness to prosperity or need. The colors of this environment are sometimes vibrant and full of life. Then there are times they are dull and seemingly insignificant. Still other times they are dark and dangerous. The weaver knows that although the weft yarn is soft, so as not to tear the warp yarn, it will not come apart in order to form the contrast so important to your beautiful tapestry. He diligently keeps at his work despite what seems, for the moment perhaps, “painful weaving”. It is imperative, at times like this, to remember what the Bible says in I Corinthians 10:13. This verse promises that God will not give you more than you can bear. Without this uncomfortable opposition the “dynamic beauty and significance” of your tapestry would never appear. God, the overseer weaver, is responsible for your tapestry’s progress and completion. However, He uses other people, both Christians and non-Christians, as weavers of your tapestry. Remember – they cannot do anything to your tapestry the God has not already designed! The progress may seem inordinately slow; however the overseer weaver knows it is progressing at exactly the right pace.

There are two very important distinctions between the human weaver and your divine weaver.

The first is that the human weaver waits until the tapestry is completed to decide if he wants to accept ownership by signing the piece. Your loving divine weaver signs His name to you when you are just the warp yarn stretched out on the loom. He knows that your tapestry is worthy of His signature from the beginning because with every weft yarn that is inserted His design is being woven perfectly.

Secondly, He also titles each of His tapestries – and that means YOU, and He titles you from your birth.

What do you suppose YOUR title might be? Here are a few to consider. “Yaweh’s Daughter” “Beautiful to God” “Beloved Child”

I invite you to share what you think your tapestry is titled. I know you will be blessed as you consider this and share it here. Here, let me start: “Carin g Hansen / Intricately Woven by God” (You do not have to include your name.)

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior – I invite you to send Suzie and me a message. We would be overjoyed to show you how to know Jesus personally and let Him begin weaving your beautiful tapestry.

Spring has Sprung!

     Spring is synonymous with colorful flowers, baby animals and budding trees.  It is an exciting time of the year…watching the world come back to life after the winter months.  I love how God makes each season special – and personally I am the greatest fan of fall here in Colorado.  But, spring is truly wonderful!  Bright green new growth everywhere and wonderful smells as fruit trees blossom!
     Maybe your spring isn’t starting out that wonderful.  You may have just been diagnosed with cancer and right now life, let alone new life, seems somewhat of a dream and nearly impossible to imagine. 
     I would like to offer encouragement.  Now, perhaps more than ever before, you need a solid faith in God the Father.  Yes, I am talking about an unwavering belief in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for your sins.  The Bible says that whoever will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved.  Saved from what?  Eternal death without hope.
     Do you need hope today?  I would love to point the way.  Please contact me.  I will offer
caring, compassionate understanding as a cancer survivor.  Additionally, I can offer insight and knowledge as you begin your cancer journey.  Please feel free to check out my website at www.bridges2beauty.net  Let me know if you would like a half hour complimentary phone consultation. 

caring for you,
Carin g Hansen

The Most Powerful Medicine Ever

    Whether you yourself are journeying though breast cancer, another kind of cancer, a life-threatening disease or someone you love – I want to share the most powerful medicine with you.

    This medicine is offered free – yes, free!  It is a well-documented fact that having a positive attitude can help healing both emotionally and mentally, but I am here to tell you that a positive attitude cannot be mustered up sometimes no matter how much you want to.  During my breast cancer journey I found the strength and positive attitude I needed, not within myself, but from my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
     I know it is considered a crutch, old-fashioned and down-right stupid by many to believe in Jesus Christ and everything the Bible says in this time of history.   We think of ourselves as enlightened, empowered and capable of  keeping a positive attitude all in our own strength, however – that simply is not true.  What IS true is that God has offered us salvation (healing spiritually, mentally and emotionally) through Jesus Christ’s death, burial and most importantly his resurrection. 
     During this holy week please drink of this powerful medicine.   No, you may not find yourself physically healed but you will find strength to understand that a positive attitude comes from knowing you are not in control and that you do not have to “fake” feeling and thinking positively.  It is this knowledge and assurance that your faith in Christ is all you need that will create a positive attitude to travel life’s journey. 

   Cancer support via organizations, books, articles, e-booksconsultations and natural beauty products to help you through the journey are all wonderful and even necessary – but the best, most powerful medicine ever – a positive attitude can only truly come from believing that Jesus Christ is God’s son and accepting His gift of salvation. 

caring for you,
Carin g Hansen

Women of Faith

In our current society we often rely on what we see and hear on television, the web and radio versus checking things out for ourselves. 

If we are going to be taken seriously when offering caring compassion and understanding we must make certain that we have knowledge of what we speak or write about.  In addition, we must base that knowledge on our principles as women of faith.  That is what integrity is all about.  According to Wikepedia “the concept of integrity is directly linked to responsibility in that implementation (dispersement of knowledge) spawning from principles that are designed with a specific outcome in mind.”  That outcome is showing caring compassion.  

It is of utmost importance to speak knowledgeably to maintain your credbility as a women of faith.  I am certain each of us can remember times when the Christian community has been discredited by some act of ignorance, hate or false teaching.  Those in the world can often excuse their fellow unbelievers for improprieties, false beliefs and moral indiscretions.  That does not happen with women and men of faith.   

Know what you believe, what you desire to share and share it with all the knowledge necessary to show caring compassion.

caring for you,
Carin g Hansen

Women of Faith

Who are women of faith at their core?  I believe they are women of integrity, first of all.

Several years ago I made the following statement by Buckminster Fuller my life motto:
“Integrity is the essence of everything successful”.

I truly believe that if we say we are a woman of faith – integrity must be placed first in all our daily interactions.  In addition to integrity, there should be caring compassion – not just superficial concern.  Today’s world does not encourage this, but we must make time and find energy to show caring compassion to those around us.  There will be times when we do not completely understand the situation.  However, when we do not understand we need to show an understanding spirit despite our inability to completely understand the given situation. 

Finally, we need to have knowledge regarding things that we talk about.  There is nothing that discredits a person any quicker than speaking without knowledge of what we speak.  I will look at this more in detail in my next blog.

caring for you,
Carin g Hansen

Keep the Christmas Spirit

     Christmas – the day of the year – is over but each of us should keep the spirit of Christmas in our hears year round.
     Every day remember – God’s plan to save every human because of His great LOVE for us through…
         The miraculous virgin birth
         The baby Jesus: God in the flesh
         Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection that provide salvation simply by believing.

     It is not by believing plus works that one is saved from eternal damnation but by believing  plus nothing.  Share this incredible gift with someone else.  After all;  this is the season for giving. 

caring for you,
Carin g Hansen    

I couldn’t say it better

     I heard a simple phrase earlier this week and wanted to pass it on.  This was the wording on an ad in a local newspaper for a family owned cleaners.  With the phrase was a simple hand-drawn manger and baby.

THE CRIB THAT ROCKED THE WORLD!

      Wow!  That says it all, doesn’t it?  Even at this season when we are thinking of Jesus as a helpless babe in a manger – do not lose sight of the power He represented and possessed as “God in skin”.

     caring for you,
     Carin g Hansen

BE STILL!

     BE STILL this time of year?! 
     Yes, that’s what I am saying.  At a time when our schedules can get out of control with great activities, events and family outings…we have Christmas cards to get out and shopping to do…AND don’t forget all the things we normally do – being still is so important!
     When we are still we get things sorted out, we de-stress and we can hear God’s still small voice.  It is so easy to miss His voice in the noisy clutter. 
     Even if you only have a few minutes a day to sit alone to pray and read the Bible it can make your day.  If you are always trying to find the perfect time to be still – it simply won’t happen. 
     Being still does not neccessarily mean being passive.  It can mean taking action in the stillness through prayer and spiritual warfare.  I love the words to a song some years ago by the Imperials.  They offer such an incredible word picture.  The reverence and awe that comes when we take this stance before our God is unparalled by anything our physical world can offer.  I leave you with these words.

      Be still my soul and know that He is God – Stand quietly He is the Lord.

      caring for you,
      Carin g Hansen