Welcome 2014!

Well, I guess I'm not that great at keeping up with a personal blog but I keep feeling the urge to start this back up. So..here goes!

Let me get started with an update with what is going on in my life. Almost a year ago, my husband answered the call to pastor. We have since held church in our garage and we are loving every minute of it. We are growing rapidly and are currently trying to purchase some land so that we can enter a new season on this faith journey. I still work outside my home but my heart's desire is still to stay at home with my family and homeschool.

 God has been doing some amazing things in my family and I can not wait to see where He takes us next! One of the biggest "outward" (even though it completely changes the inward too) changes that has taken place in my life is that God has impressioned on my heart to start covering my head during prayer and worship. What?!? Did I just say that? :) Actually, He has been dealing with my heart on this subject for over 3 years...I should have been more worried about how long it took me to be obedient that what others would think...know what I mean? Anyway, about the time we started the church (New Horizon Fellowship) here those feelings came creeping back up in me. I immediately began covering during worship services but then by the 1st part of October 2013, I started covering full time. I know that the subject of covering is a very controversial subject in the Christian world but I truly felt that it was time for me to do what God was impressioning on my heart and write about it. Last week, my covering testimony was published over at www.headcoveringmovement.com.

 You can read more about it here:http://www.headcoveringmovement.com/testimonies/covering-testimony-tasha-cantrell#more-2289

 I also created my own study on this subject if anybody is interested. Please note that I do not post this for any reason other than God told me it was time. :)

 Hopefully I will be back tomorrow with something new. I do not know where God is taking me on this blog and there might not be one person that reads this but that is just fine too. I've just gotta do what God is telling me to do!

Praying you all have a blessed week!

 Tasha

Blessings Unlimted!

So, God is leading me into another season of my life.  I have recently became an Independent Consultant for Blessings Unlimited!  I am so excited about this and can't wait to see where God leads me.  Every product has a scripture on it...from home decor, kitchenware, jewelry, to note cards!  And it is all so beautiful!!!  The best part about it is that I can share my testimony and talk about God while earning a little extra income for my family!!!!  If you haven't heard about it, check it out below!

My personal webpage:
http://www.myblessingsunlimited.net/TashaCantrell/Default.aspx

Be blessed!!!

Tasha

Peace Be Still

Mark 4:39-41


39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

And He arose – To stir up or awaken from sleep. (Are we sleeping in our Spirit? Lord, awaken us! Stir us up in You!)

And rebuked the wind – A violent agitation ..something that troubles us, disturbs us or gives us anxiety!

And said unto the sea – Spoke words out of His mouth. (We must open our mouth and speak to these “agitations”…not necessarily to others by griping or gossiping but speak to them)

Peace – to be silent, hold one’s peace. (Whatever this agitation or disturbance is…SPEAK to it. Tell it, PEACE!...to be silent.)

Be Still – To close the mouth with a muzzle! (Wow! Not only when those words are SPOKEN do they tell this disturbance to be silent but to close the mouth with a muzzle!)

And the wind ceased – Grew weary and tired. To cease from violence, cease raging. (And so this disturbance or anxiety about something will grow weary and tired…it will cease from raging at us.)

And there was a great calm – A stillness (just as it reads….a great calm or stillness)

And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? – Jesus asks us here, Why? He questions why in the world would we fear? Do we not believe He can handle this disturbance?

And they feared exceedingly – They were amazed….A reverent fear.

So…depending on what you are going through in your life this could stand for many things. The main thing I take from this passage of scripture is that when we are faced with uncertainty or something that is agitating us or disturbing us or makes us have anxiety…we are to SPEAK to that “thing”…vocally out of our mouths, not in our minds. SPEAK to it, tell it to be silent and close its mouth or its “taunting” with a muzzle! :)  All we actually have to say is “Peace. Be Still.” That will cause that “thing” in our lives to grow weary…it will get tired and stop. You will be left with an amazing, reverent calm from the Lord! As you do these things, don’t just speak them but believe in FAITH!

I like lots of things about Christmas...

When my son was just a few months old we were preparing for his first Christmas. We came across a book that talks about all the wonderful things about Christmas. "I love lots of things about Christmas. I love all colors of Christmas...red, green and shiny silvers! I love all the sounds of Christmas....people singing! I love all the smells of Christmas....cookies baking, pine wreaths! I love all the time we spend together at Christmas....shopping together, reading together, praying together, just being together! BUT, that's not the best thing about Christmas. So what is the the best thing about Christmas? The birth of Jesus!" OK, these are not he exact words of this book but you know what I mean right? The book goes on to tell us about Jesus. I just love this book and the message it brings to us. My son is now 5 years old and we still read this book. (not just at Christmas time either) I want to encourage each of you to focus on the "best thing" about Christmas this year! So, what is the best thing about Christmas? The birth of Jesus!

A Different take on the Footprints Poem...

The last few days, I have been feeling really down. I'm sure it is the weather! Being as on Friday, the temperatures were in the 70's then on Saturday and Sunday we were snowed in!!! Anyway, I have been feeling really down, not wanting to dig in the word like I truly do love to do. Last night, as I was praying, I was asking God to please help me get back on track. He gave me an illustration of a roller coaster which is exactly how I felt. I feel like I go up and then I go down, it is just never ending! Just like on a roller coaster as we start creeping up toward the top, we slowly start getting excited, feeling the anticipation of being on top. Once on top, we feel like we can see the world. It gives us a feeling of satisfaction. We feel motivated and inspired!......Then comes this unexpected plung! As we tip over the edge, our heart begins to race and our stomach starts to flip...then, as we let out a scream, the whole bottom falls out! But it never fails, WE WILL start that climb back to the top...one click at a time!

So, this was the illustration that God give me last night but that wasn't the best part. The big kicker was when He revealed to me that through the whole ride (this roller coaster we call life), He is right there beside us. He is our Partner on that roller coaster. When we plunge to the bottom (life's valley's), He is right there holding our hand, reassuring us that everything will work out. When we start that slow climb back up to the top, He is the One cheering us on saying, "You can do it! You can do all things through Me*...and I am right here beside you for I will never leave you nor forsake you*!" Then when we finally make it back to the top, He says, "I knew you could do it, I am so proud of you!"

"Lord, thank you for being right beside me every topsy, turvy, curvy, roller coaster path along the way! I pray that through our valley's we will grow. And through this, our mountain tops may seem closer with every trial!"

Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Wow! The weather has been beautiful! We just came out of a week long revival so of course our entire family was drained! Daylight Saving Times was this weekend of course and even though we lose an hour of sleep, I have to admit that I love it! I love having more sunshine in my day! I have this desire in my heart to be healthy. I want to get out and enjoy the warm, fresh air while playing with my kids! On Saturday we played with sidewalk chalk and the kids loved it! I think I had just as much fun as they did though. ( I (heart) Adam covered my driveway. :) ) I think that we sometimes forget to stop and thank God for some of our "everyday" blessings. I thank God for my kids! I thank God for the sunshine! I thank God that he has given me a desire to be active and the energy to fulfil this desire. You know, with this said, I think I will go on into one of my favorite scriptures:

"Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalms 37:4

Did you know that the Hebrew word for "delight" is `anag (pronounced uh-nag). This word refers to being soft and delicate. Sort of like clay. In Isaiah 64:8*, scripture tells us that God is the potter and we are the clay. Wow! Have you every thought about it like that before? Now, when I try to understand Psalms 37:4, I realize that God wants me to be soft and delicate (pliable as clay) in His hands......then He will give me the desires of my heart!

"Lord, help me to be soft and pliable in Your hands. Help me to give up my selfish ways and allow You to mold me and make me as in Your Will! I pray that everyone that reads this will come to understand Your Word in such a way that we absolutely have to share it with others. Amen!"

*Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

My Heart's Desire

Happy afternoon everyone! God has been dealing with me a lot lately about doing a blog. I just feel like He wants me to share with those who may not know of His love as well as have a place for others who do know of His love to encourage and uplift one another. I truly have a desire in my heart to become that woman of God that He has called me to be. I love to write and get creative so I decided to put the two together and give this blog spot a try. I don't exaxtly know what shape this page will take but I plan on writing often. Please be patient as I work out all the kinks that may arise. I look forward to hearing from each of you and what God may be doing in your lives. Feel free to comment at any time!