What do Easter eggs and orange slices have to do with this beautiful mirror?  [I'm glad you asked]

I bought a small round mirror awhile back, but needed a larger one to make my entryway really pop. Since I didn't want to pay the money for a big mirror, I searched the house for something I could use to make the mirror larger...and what I found gave me what I needed to create this giant bubble mirror!

To read through the steps of how this beautiful mirror was created, click here: Creatively Living Blog - DIY Bubble Mirror

**********

In this article we use Easter eggs to complete this project. I encourage you to read about the meaning of Easter and what Jesus did for you and me. You can read the Easter story here in the book of Matthew.

Author, Creatively Living Blog

When I look at the definition of peace, I find things like, "mental calm, serenity, freedom from or the cessation of war or violence." When it is used as an exclamation, it could be, "a greeting or an order to remain silent."

I can think of instances in my life where any one of these definitions could apply. Let's look at scripture and see how Jesus used it.

In John 14:26-27, Jesus says, "but when the father sends the advocate as my representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid."

In Mark 4:39, we see that Jesus is on the boat sleeping and there is a fearsome storm threatening the lives of the disciples. Remember, these men were experienced fisherman, and they had been in many bad storms before. This storm frightened them to the point that they...

Acts 3:19-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

We have been studying John Brevere’s book Driven by Eternity with our group this season and he writes a God inspirited story about judgement day and what that will look like.

Scriptures tell us Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. However God has also already given us the direction for entrance to His kingdom in the scriptures.  Our journey is to read, learn understand and align our lives in partnership with eternity.

We have made God out to be loving, kind, merciful, accepting, and all though He is...

by Payton Oakes |  Guest Blogger

Costa Rica Part 3: His Promise 20 Years Later
It was another hot day in the lovely country of Costa Rica, and we had moved to another YWAM (Youth With A Mission)  base that was in the mountains. This base was a little smaller in the country side which was nice. A little break from the city cars honking, along with dogs barking, not missing a beat.

The morning was January 18, 2010. The team had breakfast in the kitchen area consisting of powder milk that you added water to, cereal, and toast with the accommodations of jelly. Today we as a team were partnering with the YWAM base to put a bible in every hand in the community. I was so excited because by this time I really enjoyed talking with people about Jesus along with asking them if there was a prayer they needed or just listening to stories from their lives.

One of my favorite people that we were able to talk to was a little old man. You could tell that he had seen many years and that he...

by Payton Oakes |  Guest Blogger

One of my favorite stories during the time in Costa Rica was when the day that I met my friend Cello.

See, I was still getting used to talking with people in public about Jesus along with trying to figure out ways how to approach people in public about the topic. I never saw it very effective to tell people where they were going to go, even if it may be downstairs or up.

God really opened up my eyes that we are who he created us to be and when we love those for who they are, walls come down naturally. Even though sometimes I may not fully see, understand, or accept what someone believes, they are still an image bearer of the Most High.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

(Mark 12:30-31 ESV)

I sat next to Cello in a...

Christmas In Costa Rica
by Payton Oakes  | Guest Blogger

I remember thinking to myself what it would ever be like to be away from family on a Christmas morning. The thought would bring a lump to my throat because Christmas was a very special time of year for my family.

I grew up going between my dad’s house and to my mom’s house for the holidays. Each side would do things a little differently but it was a time that family would get together, enjoying the time we had together. Then in 2009-2010, I was in Costa Rica with the team on the first mission trip that I had been on, overseas.

This was going to be my first Christmas away from home.

The night before as a family we would go to a church service where we sang Christmas songs praising God for the birth of the newborn Jesus Christ. As kids, we would drive with parents knowing that on our mind was the question “ do we get to open presents tonight?”

It would usually come with the result of yes, and...

by Payton Oakes |  Guest Blogger

I remember Costa Rica as a launching platform for what God had in store. So many times people come out of high school into college trying to figure out who they really want to be. There can be many different motives from different areas of life if it be family, friends or even a lifestyle.

It was a 180 degree turn for me in 2009 when I decided to step into the world of ministry. I was on a mission trip in the middle of downtown Atlanta Georgia, feeding the homeless and I just knew that this is what God had for me: a life in ministry.

I traveled with YWAM (Youth With A Mission), a mission organization that is all around the world. I was attending a DTS (disciple training school) in Lakeside, Montana in 2009. This was a three month lecture phase school including a two month outreach. The lecture phase was an eye-opener to who God was in the life of the young man that I was.

In that time all that really was on my mind was skateboarding,...

by Candra 
Three ways to grow deeper in your intimacy with God

I often hear people that say “I can’t hear God.” or “God does not speak to me like He does you.” Scripture tells us that we all can hear the voice of God.  John 10:27 says “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”  I believe we just get distracted with business and fail to be still and know that He is God. The enemy’s whole intent is to separate us from God and so he will try to seed lies that we are incapable or unworthy of hearing the voice of God. This is why we must align our thinking and our mind with the mind of Christ.  Intimacy in any relationship takes intentionality, time and communication.

So Here are 3 easy steps to grow deeper in your intimacy with God

Worship – Worship intentionally aligns our heart with the heart of the Father. We focus on His promises and truths while posturing our spirit for deeper intimacy with...

by Candra Niswanger  
Leadership

Hebrews 13:17

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

I’ve been in leadership for over 20 years and it has been mostly wonderful and sometimes a frustrating journey of events.

Learning to be a good leader starts with being a good follower.

Early in my years of business and working under individuals, I always wanted to be a blessing to those that would employ me. I mean think about it, someone is choosing to invest in you by allowing you to be on their payroll. Now that is favor, because employers, owners, bosses have choices, and you should count it a blessing to be chosen.

Now along with that comes your role in being an honorable student of your leader. It’s always funny as I see over and over again entitlement issues with individuals believing...