Somehow me and Mom ended up with an old kitchen cabinet.

It was dirty, so Mom got me a brush and some oxiclean...


....and the paint came off. IN CHUNKS. 
Literally just years and years (probably dating back to the 1930's-1950's somewhere) of paint layers, from the top coat of off-white to grey and then to black. 
I realized we had a mess on our hands, but at some point we took a step back, looked at it, and realized how Fixer-Upper like it could be. 

There really is potential in it, but we haven't gotten to finish (or start). 
A neighbor of mine is moving, and gave me all these acrylic paints. It's not like I have some great place to store a mini art studio, so I hauled 'em out to the screened in porch, loaded them into the old kitchen cabinet, and closed the doors.

Then I opened it again, and, it felt like celestial music was playing in the back round.

                      can you hear it?


Life is a bit like this chipped old cabinet.

It's got so many flaws, and ugly splotches, and a black beginning. The hinges might be a little awkward, the shelves have an odd scent, and, most people would probably ditch it in the dumpster a.s.a.p.

Yet...

The white makes it bright, the light makes it peaceful, and the chips are scars from old history and lessons now learned.
And inside?
there's enough paint to beautify 30 canvasses.
And somehow, a person can look at it, and think, "I love this ugly thing"

and smile.

...

And you know what, I'm that ugly thing.

And God is that person.

...

No matter how flawed, chipped, or dirty we are, if we have Jesus inside us, we are gloriously beautiful. Just like the expensive acrylics in the old cabinet.
So be beautiful, today, my friends.

Do you relate to the old kitchen cabinet?

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

From April 27-28, an event entitled the "30 Hour Famine", hosted by World Vision, is taking place. During this time period, it's 5,000 + participants will go without food for 30 hours to not only have awareness of the starvation of children all over the world but to raise money while doing so.

How does this work, you ask?
People (family, friends, neighbors) sponsor you by either sending in checks or simply donating to your account online. You can get the word out by text, email, social media, or word of mouth. When they sponsor you, you let them know that you are taking the plunge and raising the awareness of hunger. What's amazing to me is that whatever donations you receive can be multiplied.



And why go to all this trouble, this self-sacrifice?? Because what you are doing will SAVE LIVES. I mean, you're going without food for 30 hours, knowing that when it's done you can feast. But some little 5-year old in Uganda may starve to death. God forbid it--and this is why we participate. When I did it last year, I felt the pain of these children. No, not exactly what they feel. God has blessed me and my family so much I cannot fully experience it. But just a little, a pinch, a glimpse of the world they live in every hour came to me and it was crazy revealing. I truly felt that the hardships and difficulties we go through in life were mere dust compared to these dying people.

We truly do not realize HOW BIG our blessings are till we go without them. It is healthy, then, to deny ourselves at times.

Do you know when your sitting in your room watching your favorite show, and a commercial pops on the screen with some hungry little child. Often they seem "so far away" it is, subconsciously, not as real to us. Likely we might never leave the U.S.
I'm scared to go hungry. Period.
Truth be told, I was a little nervous heading into the famine for my first time last year. I'd never gone without food for that long purposely and it was a little scary. But I really was not hungry until the last few hours (despite the 5-foot burger ad that popped up on the projector screen accidentally at church during a World Vision youtube video).
It really wasn't as bad as you'd think. And my youth group kept us all so busy with food donations, games and etc, that it would have been hard to notice for some time.
Think about it. These kids don't know where their next meal is coming from. We can go without for a little more than a day.

You can do the 30-Hour Famine with a youth group near you, or, I believe you could do it just by yourself, at home. You can click here to go sign up/learn more, etc. World Vision, who made the event, is a worldwide trusted organization that my parents have sponsored children through for over 30 years.

To look back on last year, I'd have to say that participating was not only fun, but I learned a lot. I'm doing it again this year...and I'm excited. It's amazing how easily we can save lives, countries apart.
God loves these children/people just as much as he loves everyone. We have a chance to take ourselves out of our comfort zone, for only 30 hours, and actually help these people.

If you aren't/can't participate (keep in mind you can still raise money by just telling your donors you might need to eat in that time period) you can still donate. Donate to World Vision, or sponsor a participant.

My account is (C'mon I know you were wondering just when I was going to say that)...Michaila@30HourFamine. I'd be genuinely tickled if you all decided to help me reach my goal of $700 (last year my goal was $500 and I raised $515!). Let's change the world together, peoples!!!

Have you experienced real hunger?

Will you take the challenge?

So...there's this thing. It's a march. In the nation's capital.

It's to protect life.

Why do we need it?

Because people are killed.

Babies. Who cannot speak.

Or defend themselves.

Who are we?

We are their voice.

We march for God...we march for life.

Okay, insiders view? It was c-o-l-d. COLD. fierce wind, people. The crowd? It was a sea. People from FRANCE came for this!!

France!

Are you for life?

Did you see the march on the web/t.v?

Are you praying for the U.S babies?

Me talking to Mom "We should make these little gingerbread men into baby Jesus. No, that would be sorta weird."

Me and Mom making sugar cookies....

Mom "Mic likes to make a three-course meal from one."

Me "Well, it looks good."

And THEY DO...DON'T THEY??? There's probably about 60 something sugar cookies, and about 3 dozen gingerbread men. IT'S TOO HARD TO LOOK AND NOT EAT.

(I know you like the 'swoop' hair)

I watched Disney's A Christmas Carol last night. Through the whole movie, I think one gains a sense at the end...the purpose of Christmas. Joy. We are not in darkness any longer. And that is the truest meaning of Christmas...that we have a Saviour, to set us free from sin.

 Well, as my hair is up in pin curls, and my Dad is calling me 'Aunt Jemima'...I must leave.

Merry Christmas, my wonderful blogger people. And to all a good night.

Do you make Christmas cookies?
Have you ever watched the end of Disney's 'A Christmas Carol' feeling like you just came from a hurricane?
What do you love most about Christmas?

Studying about that good ol' way

And who shall wear the starry crown?

Good Lord show me the way!

O sisters let's go down

Let's go down, come on down

O sisters let's go down

Down in the river to pray

❤

(a song I have been singing, cherishing, and in awe over.  The astonishing history of it is as beautiful as the simplicity of the lyrics. It' has an undying, eternal flavor that is as the candle that never burns out. Learn + Listen )

Have you heard this song?
Do you pray outdoors?

There was this a-mazing Christian rally in D.C called Together.

It was a call, for all Christians who love their country, to come together, to pray, and to be united. It was a call for America to wake up and read the Bible.

And there was over 344,000 people who answered.

We came late (no surprise) just in time to hear David Crowder sing about 4 songs and get into a good hoe-down country groove.

We also heard a few speakers, which had amazing testimonies, such as Ravy Zacharias, etc. And Hillsong, Lecrae, Tedashi...plus a lot more Christian artist performed, but my favorite (also who me and my Dad weaved through the crowd to see up-close) was Lauren Daigle! *squee!* Her songs are the best, so full of spirit and voice, and God. Her talent is humongous.

Can I just say the girl sings as wonderfully rawly talented live as recorded.





After this excitement (okay, the whole day) it got HOT HOT HOT. I mean, on the National Mall where the sun is blazing and the humidity is ridiculous-in July-it's just bound to get hot. But then you have a hot day to add to that, and it's ah "scorcher" as we people say 'round here. Let me paraphrase...it was so extremely hot that the Emergency units were flooded with "heat related illness" and due to this the rally was shut down 5 hours before it was supposed to. They literally had a 'cooling station' which was to fire trucks spraying their water hoses.


Nevertheless.........I got a tan *winky laughy face*, and altogether a great experience to remember.




What are your '16 summer highlights?
Did you go to Together?
Have you heard of Lauren Daigle?
Did you ever get a sun-tan in a city?

It is magnificent how much enjoyment one person can have from 200 note cards and a palette of watercolors. Painting is not just the same with every person; it's like writing. It is unique and original to you because it is how you see it. And sometimes it is only you that can see it in that way.




When you look at a blank note card, what do you see?
Do you enjoy watercolors?
Do you find yourself with a desire this world cannot fill?

Me and my family took a drive to a two hour Jesus Culture concert! My Brother and Dad were helping out with the World Vision sponsor children booth-which if you haven't heard of it you really should here-and we all had 'standing' tickets (if you know what I mean, comment below). However, Besides that, it was very fun, the music, instrument and vocals were just as great live as recorded, and the lights were energetic. My favorite song was Good, Good Father.

This superbowl Beyonce is going to perform at half time. Her last superbowl performance was almost as far from decent as one can get, as she was barely dressed and performed a shocking performance; even admitting online she is possessed. I'm asking all of you to share turn off beyonce this superbowl, and share the awareness of the evil she is spreading. Please, young children are watching her at home.

(Painting By Gerard Van Honthorst)

And the angel said unto them:
"Fear not:
'Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy
which will be to all people,
Unto you is born this day
a Savior which is Christ the Lord."