How to turn YOUR Mess into a Message!

Hello my friend, 

GirlFriends, Professor Tammi Gitto and myself
In-joying a latte in Bari, Italy.

I decided at this point to "sum it ALL up" for you from a total "Hindsight" perspective, because I am starting to see that if I am not careful to take care, even this blog can easily become "A Run On,  Hot  Mess" and  "Ain't Nobody Got Time for Dat."  LOL

 I am thoroughly convinced that God has a plan for our lives, both individually as well as collectively.  So with that in mind, you must acknowledge His "MISSION Possible" for you. My goal through this blog is to always:

1. Layout / Share Resources that  point you back to Him.
2. In-courage and Challenge you, where you are.
3. Transparently share my life, as I too travel along "The King's Highway."

Know that I humbly thank my God for you, as you take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to tune into my Travel Blog at earlineBlumhagen.com. Nothing could be more humbling, so

" Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God."  Phillippians 1:3 Please note that this particular blog post is a summary of my recent Study Abroad trip through Frankfurt, Germany to: Italy, Vatican City and Greece with TEAM Valencia, from Valencia College in Orlando, Florida.

TEAM Valencia College  ... Good People! 

Ruins from Athens Greece 

It has been 17 days since I've been back home from my studies abroad and it's really hard for me to even imagine that. I mean REALLY ...  I'm still trying to figure out what happened between March 10th and today, which is the 27th.  For one, my ipad went out to recovery and they called and said that they could not recover any of of my pictures from Rome, for REALLY.  ... actually,  I lost everything, notes, contacts, videos, manuscripts for my books, note for and from speaking engagements,  did I say all my notes, and ALL my pictures from Rome, church, Christmas with Uncle Freddie and Aunt Gladys, my daddy's siblings who are 95 and 89 respectively.

Owners of a country side grocer in Greece 

How that all happened is a long story that I will spare you from, actually I'll spare myself from repeating it again, as not to weep and wail. LOL  But for really, I lost everything that was on my ipad because it wasn't backed up, pretty much, that's the bottom line.  But who knew??? Lesson learned, Hindsight. "Back your stuff up" if you want it, Back It Up!  Even in the spirit realm, if you want to hold on to the vision, the promises of God for your life ... Back It Up! Back Up The promises of God in your life. Period. But maybe you're asking HOW So ??? Well, I am glad you asked. Here's what the scripture says about "Backing Up" the things of God in your life.

 ¹⁸ “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ²⁰ Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, ²¹ so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21

You back up what God has given you by taking a step of IMMEDIATE obedience, keeping in mind that delayed obedience is simply disobedience. But, immediate obedience will always point you in the right direction, and from there you keep it moving.

You see,  immediate obedience properly saves God's blessing, His vision for your life and His promises of Yea and Amen to your Heart-Drive. And can't no devil in Hell delete that. Amen!!!

They called this fruit stand in Bari "The Fish Market"
I think it was based on some history they were
keeping Backed Up.  

Kinda like the people of old did, they backed up/preserved their heritage, their language, and their history. Hmmmmmm  Just "Back it up."  OK?

I loved the flowers everywhere

My sisters and I .. I met and left them in Italy

The Trevi Fountain in Rome 

The Trevi Fountain
 collects more than 30,000 daily. 

Inside of The Vatican, I was there .. no pictures. : (

The Front of The Vatican 

I know, that loss  hit me like a bag of bricks, but life goes on. Right? Needless to say,  the daily details are getting cloudier and life is getting busier everyday, but I am determined .... and that's what it takes. Determination and a little bit of encouragement ... so be encouraged, better yet my friend, Be IN-couraged!!! In-courage yourself in The Lord. Just like David did. Besides, as far as I know, nobody's planning to stone me to death.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. 1st Samuel 30:6 Paul's sermon On Mars Hill is inscribed here  What a message that is for us all. I am reminded of the apostle Paul saying that he was encouraged by his friends and fellow christian sisters and brothers even as he went through his own trials and tribulations. Just like I am encouraged by the fact that you're reading this blog some 17 plus days later. See 2 Corithians 7:4 ... yep, for really, I choose to be in-couraged because I still have life. The pictures below are actual people for whom death came really quickly.  Have you ever heard about Mt. Vesuvius in Pompeii and how it erupted and the residents of the town all died in a matter of minutes. Then the hot lava from the volcano created a cast around the skeletons of those that died on that fateful day.

The cast of a slave who died in Pompeii,
note the belt around him. 

A cast of a man covering his mouth, trying to breath

Nevertheless, maybe you're feeling like throwing in the towel today, I know that feeling, more importantly, Jesus knows how you feel, and when you've done all you know to do, you've tried everything you know to try and LIFE keeps on happening,  look up and determine within yourself that you MUST tell the ONLY One that can help you, Jesus alone.

"I Must Tell Jesus,"  was one of my daddy's favorite songs, and now, after a few years on this side of heaven,  I finally understand why.

The Pantheon 

I Must Tell Jesus 

Songwriters: TRADITIONAL/BOONE

I must tell Jesus
All of my trials
I cannot bear these burdens alone
In my distress
He kindly will help me
He ever cares and loves His own

I must tell Jesus
All of my troubles
He's a kind and compassionate friend
If I but ask Him
He will deliver
Make of my troubles
Quickly an end

[Chorus]
I must tell Jesus
I must tell Jesus
I cannot bear these burdens alone
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone

Tempted and tried I need a great savior
One who can help my burdens to bear
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus
He all my cares and sorrows will share

[Chorus]

A Pompeii Bakery

So, go ahead and tell Jesus about it so that you can get up from where you are and move forward in His plan for your life. Just know that if you're planning to accomplish the things that God Himself has placed in your heart, often time the journey will be uphill.

So, I'm gonna close this post by linking you up to a  GREAT message on how you can be "Armed and Dangerous," by my friend Joyce Meyer. My friend, please listen closely and Joyce shares with you how you can skillfully fight and win. In the interim, Seek to In-JOY life my friend and

" ... let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." Galatians 6:9 From Mars Hill  On this Study Abroad tour I took away much In-couragement from: God's use of The Roman Empire, The Catacombs, Vatican City, The Colosseum, The Pantheon, The Greeco-Roman culture, The people, The language, The preservation of such rich history, The Mediterranean, The apostles Peter and Paul and their commitment to the cause of Christ, and yet, the half has not been told. I pray that this blog post has in-couraged you to delve deeper into God truths, as you seek to let Him turn your Mess into a Message for the Masses. He wants to  use you my friend, so please, join me in this pray of invitation. Dear God, I believe that You sent Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus to this world to be born of a virgin, to suffer and die on a cross for all of my sin. And I believe that Jesus  rose from death to life again victoriously on the third day. I also believe that Jesus is now in Heaven with You interceding on my behalf. Dear God, through  my faith in Jesus,  I am asking You to save me, change me, come live in me through Your Holy Spirit and work through me. "If you can use anything Lord, I give You permission to use me and my mess, to proclaim Your message to the masses. I love You God, teach me how to love You and live for You, until you come to take me Home with You. In Jesus' name I pray this prayer and for Your Glory alone. Amen. Something beautiful  in Pompeii Dear friend, if I can be of any assistance to you or someone you know, let me know. God has called me to serve. To that I say, "If you can use ANYTHING Lord, like you used this Pizza machine in Italy, You can use me." LOL ... and that's a wrap.