Lovely July Giveaway

I'm honored that these lovely ladies have generously donated great prizes for my group giveaway this month.  Click on the images below to visit their fabulous blogs!!  Happy entering!

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Stripped All Glorious Within

Well Hey there Baxtron{Life} Readers.
I can't even begin to tell you how stoked I am that Courtney is giving me the priviledge of sharing my heart with you guys today.

I should probably explain who I am right....

My name is L and I blog at All Glorious Within. 

I have a heart for encouraging others in their walk with the Lord,
so my blog is me sharing things I am learning in my relationship with Christ.
I married my wonderful husband in July 2010, so I often include newlywed bumps along the way.
So with that said....I what to share with you guys some thoughts I had on trials and how each of us is Made to Shine for Jesus.


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In the last few months I have been able to help a couple of different friends with their house projects. Two of them have just bought fixer-uppers and are so brave in tackling them with a deadline in mind.  These homes needed serious work I tell you.
One of them had no electricity or plumbing and people had broken in and pretty much stolen anything they could from it.
Crazy right.


So as I was helping one friend strip paint in her new hallway, we discovered that under all those layers of old paint which looked pretty awful, there was beautiful dark wood.
So we began heating the paint up and removing it piece by piece from the wood.
And I realised, that's how the imperfections are in each of us.

We all have these layers of imperfections & sin that need removing from our life.
It makes each of us look awful.
But as we allow God to help us remove them and piece by piece get them out of our lives for good.
We begin to see the way we were supposed to be.
We begin to shine from the inside out, as the inside is finally visible.

We begin to shine the way God made us.
We allow Him to shine through us, people around us begin to see Him.
To see beauty.
But it is through His incredible grace that He is helping us become the person we were originally made to be.
Just like that wood, we were made to beautifully reflect the Lord.
But all that paint that gets added on top, sinful patterns, pride, our past.....
It prevents people around us and even ourselves from seeing that beautiful person that was created.

Isn't it funny how you can put those imperfections under heat and they get removed.
Just like in life when trials come our way and we are refined.
The imperfections are painfully removed sometimes.
But they are really worth it when they free us to shine for Him.


Some ponderings for me to remember the next time a painful trial comes my way.
Want to ponder with me?

Much Love,
L

Connect with L:
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / BlogLovin' / Pinterest

Strengths & Weaknesses Special Feature

What is your greatest strength?  What is your greatest weakness?  Are you like me and have the easiest time coming up with your flaws, but a difficult time acknowledging your strengths?  Let me challenge you today to think on the things you do well, your strengths.  I'd love to hear what you come up with.   I'll share mine in a minute, too.

Every month I get the privilege of partnering with amazing women who continuously impress me!  These women share their lives, passions and inspirations in a way that is refreshing, uplifting and vulnerable.  This month I asked these lovelies to divulge not only their biggest strength but also their biggest weakness.

Brooke | Covered in Grace / @CoveredinGrace / Facebook / BlogLovin' / HelloCotton

Weakness:This is so hard. I'm going to say, though, that it's ONE of my greatest weaknesses ... I tend not to believe in myself enough, or rather, I don't have enough confidence in myself sometimes. I think that's a pretty big weakness because it trickles into so many other facets of my life, affecting them all. It's something that I constantly struggle with and need to continually lean into Jesus to overcome.Strength:My greatest strength... I want to say it's my capacity to love and encourage others . But really...my greatest strength is my savior, Jesus Christ. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Lish | Imprintalish / Shop / @Imprintalish / Facebook / Pinterest

Weakness:I'm an introvert in 'real' life. I think this holds me back in promoting myself and even making new friends... I would much rather sit at home, then go anywhere , especially if it means I have to meet new people. I hate putting myself out there , and am so shy!Strength:My creativity. It's my passion and as long as I am in that creative state of mind , I am fueled and can't go wrong. Or at least I feel that way, lol, things always go wrong. Creativity for me equals strength and happiness.

Stephany | 'ol Mother Hyder / @HyderMommy / Facebook / G+ / Pinterest / Instagram

Weakness:I am a very, very blunt person. I do not see holding back the truth. And, a very firm believer that "the truth just hurts." (if it is not what you want to hear, of coarse). BUT sometimes people think I am being cruel or negative towards them . That's not it. I am just not fake. I never want to hurt feelings, but if it's the truth...it will probably be said.Strength:Creativity. I do love to use my imagination. If it's on my blog, decorating my home or preparing my son's lunch...I want it to be creative. Creativity defines an individual and brings ones life out.

Chelsea | In These Shoes

Weakness:I am a people-pleaser. I so desperately want everyone to like me--even people that I honestly don't like. I have grown a lot in this area. But still, sometimes I can get so self-conscious or convince myself that someone doesn't like me for no reason. I feel like I have to earn everyone's love and that if I mess up too much everyone will just decide they don't like me and don't want to be in my life . Every day I am trying to lean on the fact that Jesus chose to show me the most love when I was at my absolute worst.Strength:My greatest strength is compassion. If I can do one thing, it's care. I'm often brought to tears by the pain of a stranger or friend. This allows me to come alongside others in empathy and to help lift them up with encouragement. I have to flip the channel when those sad puppy commercials come on because I just can't handle it. Sometimes something sad I heard during the day keeps me awake at night thinking and praying. My friend once said I model "godly sorrow." Ungodly sorrow would be the kind where you think there is no hope. Godly sorrow is being so broken about your puny human condition or the condition of the world that you cry to Jesus because he is the only hope. This is what I do best.

Megan | Absolute Mommy / @AbsoluteMommy / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Weakness:

Headstrong. It causes a lot of problems.

Strength:

Love. To love and be loved.

Yesenia | Then There Was Us / Facebook / BlogLovin' / Pinterest / Instagram

Weakness:

A big weakness of mine is that I tend to talk over people during conversation. And I don't realize it until I'm already doing it.

Strength:

My greatest strength would have to be that I am a very independent person and have always been a quick learner. I have a pretty good ability to grasp new concepts and skills quickly. This always worked to my advantage in the workplace.

Me

Weakness:

One of my greatest weaknesses is that I can be too direct.  

When I'm short and to the point, it can come across as harsh, and unloving.

Strength:

Reliability.  I am committed to keeping my word - and my commitments to people.  

I would go great distances for a friend in need.

What is your greatest strength?  Weakness?  We'd love to hear your thoughts!

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Featured on Single[d]oubt Lessons Learned from A Season of Lack

#prayer #shereadstruth via baxtronlife

When Jerry and I moved back to NYC in the Fall of 2009, we had no idea that we'd be literally living out of our car, and at the grace of good friends for the first whole month. We had spent the last year and a half completely oblivious to the very real struggles that the dwindling economy were causing people in places outside of Southern Louisiana.

We were reading the articles and seeing the news about millions of Americans being jobless, but we weren't feeling the effect at all. We were in a bubble, making above average and paying below average, in the small community where we lived.

Continue reading on Single[d]oubt...