Shelly A. Faust

Wednesday’s Word

by

Matthew 11-28

Hi friends!

I’m excited (and having a few other emotions – see confession at bottom of post) to let you in on something that’s been on my heart for a while. Starting today, every Wednesday I’ll be sharing encouragement via a video right here on the blog. I’d rather we sit down together and have a chat over coffee but this will have to do for now. :)

https://vimeo.com/112316008/settings

(Click here if you can’t see the video in your email)

Scripture references:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] ~ Matthew 11:28 AMP

The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. ~Psalm 145:14  NIV

How can I pray for you today? Leave your request in the comment section or send me a private email – prayer@shellyafaust.com

Remember, you can choose have my posts sent directly to your email. Click here to sign up!

Confession: I have been trying to post videos for about two years now. I do not like watching or hearing myself. My voice sounds funny, my teeth aren’t straight . . . you know all those little things we pick ourselves apart with. Seriously, you should’ve seen me and my mom laughing on the porch about this video. But, I’m posting anyway. I’m getting over myself and all those things that don’t matter. And I’ll keep watching and listening until I no longer break out in hives about sharing here with you. In the meantime, I know I’m collecting funny videos to use as part of my testimony one day Lol 😉 Thanks for being here and keeping me company while God continues to force me out of my comfort zone. 

One more thing. After watching the video and seeing the title, I think I like “A Word on Wednesday” better than “Wednesday’s Word.” What do you think?

Can’t We Just All Eat Cake?

by

Can't we just all eat cake

Some days I just want to gather you all up

And run to my kitchen to bake you a cake

And celebrate you

And tell you how beautiful you are

Because you are, you know?

You are created in the image of a beautiful, amazing, creative, loving God.

You have gifts and talents on the inside of you that are destined to make this world a better place.

Your smile? It warms hearts and spreads joy.

Your encouraging words?  They breathe hope and give courage.

Those little acts of kindness you do that no one else sees? They offer life and gift glimpses of our Savior.

Yep.

You’re pretty special.

Don’t ever forget that, okay?

Because sometimes life is crazy and hard and we are tempted to forget.

But if we do, we stop helping make this world better.

And that’s too sad to think about.

People need us.

They need you.

Because you’re beautiful and you are the light of the world.

And one day, when I build that new house?

I’m going to gather you all up in my living room.

And we’ll eat cake.

I’m totally serious.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ~Matthew 5:14
 
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. ~ Psalm 139:13-16
 
 
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ~ Ephesians 2:10
 

Can You Hear Me Now?

by

We interrupt this program

For one whole year I’ve had this new website. And for one whole year I’ve posted (quite sporadically, I might add) here without one single post going to your email. Can I just say I’m sorry? I’m terrible at all the technical stuff and really didn’t even know where or how to communicate to those of you who have been kind enough to place your email on my subscription list (thank you for that, by the way).

That being said, a friend’s very smart husband has graciously worked his magic and set up what should have been set up last year. So I’m writing this update and crossing my fingers that you’ll see it in your inbox when I hit publish.

Can you let me know if you can hear me now? :)  Maybe come back here and leave a comment?

You’re the BEST!

Now back to that whole sporadic posting thing.

Things are shifting yet again for me. More changes on the horizon but they are good things. So I’m hopeful that this little space on the internet will begin to hum once more with words and pictures and whatever else we can get into together.

For now, here are a few places you can find me.

If you haven’t signed up yet but would like to be put on my mailing list, you can do that HERE.

Ok, I think that about does it with the links! Whew.

Coming up soon will be some fun posts and pictures about my time at the Proverbs 31 OBS Real Life Dreams Retreat in Asheville, North Carolina. I’m still trying to put into words what God did that weekend. So, so good.

Here’s a sneak peek of some of our fun.

1502232_10152333420835614_3682447276097647829_o
Proverbs 31 OBS Real Life Dreams Retreat 2014 – Photo Credit: Shelly Cantrell

Oh, and did I tell you I’m homeschooling now? You can BET there will be some posts (and maybe some cries for help) about that little journey.

One last thing. I posted this on my Facebook page this morning. I’m praying that if it’s for you, it will be like a warm, fuzzy blanket placed over your shoulders on a cold, winter evening.

That hard place you’re in right now? That thing you’re not sure if you can do? God is there. He is big enough. And HIs grace? It’s sufficient, my friend.

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and [a]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9a AMP

I’m praying for you tonight. Really, I am.

Love,

Shelly

I’m Spending Today With My Eyes Open

by

With pillow and blanket in tow and eyes heavy from a long day of playing, he stretches out on the couch beside me. Nudging his head against my arm and sending secret coded messages with those sleepy, puppy dog eyes, he has my full attention. Because these moments, at nine years old, don’t come as often as they once did. I stop typing and softly outline every detail of his face with my fingers by the glow of the computer screen in my lap.

Without thinking, I start singing a familiar song and he smiles. A praise song we first learned together while he snuggled soundly in my belly.

God of wonders beyond our galaxy, You are holy. Holy.

The universe declares Your majesty. You are holy. Holy.

We both grew in that season – he in my belly and I in my spirit (and certainly my flesh, too). God placed this promise of life on the inside of me as cancer made threats on the outside of me. He gave me joy when life tempted to bring me sadness. And He took what the enemy meant to harm me with and used it for good.

And when I look at this beautiful boy next to me my heart grows tender. Every breath he breathes reminds me of God’s mercy and grace. Reminds me that God is a God of second chances. That God’s plans are so much greater than my own. And that this life I’m living is about so much more than the girl I see in the mirror every morning.

Hold your family this weekend, friends. Take time to snuggle on the couch. Trace the freckles and memorize the curves of your child’s face.

Put the computer down. Stop work for a moment. Be fully present.

Breathe in the fullness of this day. No matter what you’re going through find something to be thankful for. Though we walk through seasons of difficulty, God is ever present. His mercy and grace remain, enabling and empowering us to get through to the other side – stronger, better, fuller.

Those hard places we walk (and sometimes crawl) through have a way of changing us. Our perspective. Our priorities. Our way of thinking. Everything, really.

The hard days have a way of opening our eyes to the good days, don’t they?

I’m spending today with my eyes open. And I hope you will, too.

xo

Shelly

Meta