Watching, Waiting...

This morning as I read my Bible, I came across a portion of scripture in Luke 12:35-39 that brought me to tears.

I've read before in Matthew 20:28 this... "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." And I've always attributed that to His going to the cross for us. But after reading Luke 12, I saw so much more.

I saw One Who serves because He loves

I saw One Who serves because it is Who He is

I saw One Who serves as an example to us to serve one another through love


Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming
35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning,
36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.
37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!
38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.[a] But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into.


Did you see the part that brought me to tears? HE will serve ME... I will sit "at the table of the Lord" and He will put on an apron and serve me. Hasn't He done enough already?! I can't imagine... (the tears again...)


This reminds me of a beautiful song that I've loved for a long time. Please listen.





Wounded and forsaken
I was shattered by the fall
Broken and forgotten
Feeling lost and all alone
Summoned by the King
Into the Master's courts
Lifted by the Savior
And cradled in His arms

I was carried to the table
Seated where I don't belong
Carried to the table
Swept away by His love
And I don't see my brokenness anymore
When I'm seated at the table of the Lord
I'm carried to the table
The table of the Lord

Fighting thoughts of fear
Wond'ring why He called my name
Am I good enough to share this cup
This world has left me lame
Even in my weakness
The Savior called my name
In His holy presence
I'm healed and unashamed

You carried me my God
You carried me
You carried me my God
You carried me


Are you watching? Are you waiting? How are you serving through love?

TODAY is the day... watch, wait and serve through love. Go on! Do something to serve someone in love TODAY!

Do You Answer When a Friend "Calls"?

I do! Especially when we have been friends for 22+ years. She asks and I jump!
That is love...

My good friend Sheila Atchley recently did an unstyled photo shoot through her home for her blog and it has taken off like wildfire. She has asked some of her friends to do the same to get the ball rolling for a community effort in helping we women share our "real" lives. Today, my readers and friends, you will see real... LOL!

I'll begin in my art / business area. In this space, I create my art pieces, write my blog, sell items online (I've made $2000 toward our next daughter's wedding!), etc.

And yes, that's my blue exercise ball that I sit on sometimes - but not since back surgery a year ago - it hurts my leg that's still healing on the sciatic nerve path. Soon!

This is my livingroom, with several art projects to share. I redesigned and repainted the letter "K", redesigned, repurposed and repainted the tree with the word "thrive" (see my blog post on the word the Lord gave me for the year). I made the garland on my fireplace - and if you look very closely, you might see a Sheila Atchley original on a shelf to the right of the fireplace "In Christ Alone" - my strong belief!

The master bedroom (we are almost empty nesters - except for a son who comes and goes, and comes and goes... and... ) This is one of my favorite spaces. As you'll see, today is "clean sheet and towel" day so things are a little messy. Good news - clean sheets and towels are coming. Bad news... wait for the last picture...

Something new - I've been fascinated with essential oils for a while now and finally had the opportunity to attend a class on Saturday. I'm in love with my new oils AND best part? After using some on my leg and foot that are still healing after surgery, I spent most of yesterday with minimal pain which is very unusual, especially for a Sunday which usually wears me out.

What do I read at night? A Christmas gift from hubby. I happen to love sci-fi and some fantasy / adventure, so Lord of the Rings it is - in a leather bound set! (Don't you love the color pink in that shirt?!)

And finally... the good news and the bad news. I'm getting a new floor in my laundry room after having our vinyl ripped for about 2 years! Yea! Bad news? The house is a WRECK! LOL! AND I can't do laundry. But my sweet daughter and son-in-law have been taking our laundry for us the last few days so it's all good. And I have extra towels and sheets so we'll still get to enjoy those later today. (Oohhh, I just noticed that door and wood trim are WAY TOO CLOSE to our Jonathan Howe original painting!!) Better get that moved...

So, there you have it! My "unstyled" photos of my home as it is today. Still lots of beauty amid the chaos, but isn't all of life that way?!

Be blessed today friends!

Three Ways to Re-purpose Sale Items

I've been looking for my "artistic voice" the past several months. I'm not saying I've found it totally, but I'm having some fun along the way.

For several years I've realized I'm drawn to natural materials: wood, metal, textiles, glass, etc. I also love the Arts & Crafts style of decorating, which incorporates all these natural materials well. And as is typical with A&C style, handmade items are a treasured part, whether passed down to you or personally created.

A few weeks ago, I saw a beautiful metal and glass "tree" wall art on an online store, but it was $100 or so, which I thought was a crazy price to pay! So, I started asking around and keeping my eyes open for my own version. (Look at the verse at the top of my blog to understand why a tree was needed to go along with my word for the year!)

My thoughts were to:
Redesign
Repaint
Embellish

A friend found a "tree" at Hobby Lobby that was 50% off (the only way I shop H.L.) The paint on the leaves was a little dull, so I spruced that up (Repainted), added glass pieces (Embellished) and then painted my word for the year on the wall (yes, directly on the wall!) below. (Redesigned)

Here's the finished project along with a detail of the leaves.

I purchased a letter "K" at the same time, but it was a dull, boring teal color and I decided it fit into the Redesign and Repaint category!

Here is my "new and improved" "K" made to look like a stained glass piece (another favorite!)

What's next for this wall area? I'm not sure, but I know this project will evolve. I'm going to be on the lookout for an "e" an "a" and an "r" so that our last name is spelled out on the wall using different fonts and materials. Won't that be fun!

And I think my tree needs some birds... I have a few on order that I found in the clearance section online.

Stay tuned for my next Redesign, Repaint and Embellish project!

Clay Pots

Exodus is an exciting book in the Bible until you get to the details of God telling Moses how to build a Tabernacle for His presence. So often I’ve read mindlessly through the “boring” details of what metals, thread, linens, etc. to use for this important task. I’ve noted some of my favorite colors were used – purple, red and blue!


But today, as I was reading chapter 25, the word “ark” stuck out in my mind. We all know what the ark was. The ark was where the 10 commandments were kept. And above the ark, between the gold cherubim, the presence of God rested.


An “ark” was first mentioned in Genesis 6:14 when Noah was instructed by God to build this structure to save his family and the animals God would send from the coming flood. God destroyed all the earth, but kept safe those who were in the ark.


In Exodus 2:3 we read that Moses’ mother got a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch so she could put Moses in and save him from Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Hebrew boys when they were born. The Hebrew word for Noah’s “ark” and Moses’ “basket” is the same: Tebah. So an “ark” was constructed to save Moses from impending death.


In Exodus 25:10 Moses is told to have the craftsmen build a chest, or ark, which will contain the Testimony or commandments God is going to give Moses for the Israelites. Under the Old Covenant, the ark was where God’s law was kept, where His presence would rest, and this application was the only one in which the Israelites had a chance of a right relationship with God through the sacrifices the priests offered for them.


Then Jesus came…
He became our place of safety from impending destruction and death. He became our “application” for right relationship with God. Jesus replaced the Ark of the Covenant with Himself.


And now we have become “arks” of His presence. We carry within us the answer to salvation, to rescue and safety from impending death.


In Exodus 27, as the ark is being prepared, it is instructed to make wooden poles covered in gold that will be put through gold rings on the corners of the ark, so that the ark can be carried – so that God’s presence could be carried with the Israelites.
The Tabernacle was being built to be a place where God would meet with men. By making the Tabernacle portable, men could carry God’s presence with them wherever they went. When the Israelites moved, it was the priests’ job to carry the Tabernacle and all its articles.


Men “carried” God.
Men “contained” God.


Today, we who are followers of Jesus Christ are “carriers” or “containers” of the presence of God.
We are “Jars of Clay” carrying the greatest Treasure. And that Treasure is able to give Salvation to all who believe, to rescue and bring to safety from impending death those who are ready to receive.


We are New Testament “arks”


2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Obey or Be Killed?

There are times when I’m reading my Bible and I come across a statement that causes my brain to say, “Say, what?!” Today was one of those. A little background: I’m doing my read through the Bible in a year discipline as part of my personal devotional time each day. And today I’m a day behind, maybe two… no matter – I’ll catch up because I love reading my Bible!! But sometimes I get side-tracked on a verse or two, thus the being behind. Today I had actually determined that I was going to read straight through with no bunny trails – famous last words! So I was reading along and read this in Exodus 4:24 “At a lodging place on the way (Moses and his family are heading back to Egypt after God has sent him to speak to Pharaoh about freeing the Israelites), the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.” WHAT?! At this point I’m realizing that a bunny trail is ahead. I mean, who can read that and just keep going? Seriously… So I got to thinking as I read the next few verses trying to figure out why God was suddenly about to kill Moses. The next thing we see is Moses’ wife, Zipporah, circumcising her son and throwing “it” at Moses’ feet. I think she was pissed! She’s from Midian, so her people didn’t do circumcision. I bet there had been a fight when the son was born about this very issue. Moses, being an Israelite, had to know the law of God that required males be circumcised on the 8th day after birth. They fought, the wife won – Moses gave in. Remind you of another Old Testament couple? (Adam giving in to Eve and eating that piece of fruit!) Here’s the thing. Whether Moses had previously known God or not – whether Moses had been following God’s law or not – now that God has appeared to Moses, calling him as a leader among his own people, the “rules” have changed. Moses has agreed to go and is now accountable for his obedience to God. I’m sure God had been pressing Moses to have his sons circumcised (not sure whether the other son was circumcised or not) and Moses had listened to his wife instead. BUT NOW – Moses is a leader, an example before God’s people and God can no longer allow this disobedience. So – God’s going to kill Moses if he doesn’t obey! Zipporah finally complies when she realizes God is going to kill her husband, but she is certainly not happy about it! (I have no idea how she knew God was going to kill her husband – those details are not in scripture.) Personal application – obey God or He will hunt you down and kill you? NO! Haha! We would all be dead… Leaders must obey and be an example to those who are watching. Leadership costs us our own way. Leaders lead… They go first. They do the hard thing. They sacrifice. Husbands, follow God’s voice above the voice of your wives. Wives, stop arguing with your husbands when they're trying to both obey God and to lead you. Who said being a leader was easy? If you’re called, you can’t get away from that calling so go ahead and answer the call to go – go ahead and lead where God has called you! And if you refuse – run fast! Hehe…

Go or Argue?

Exodus 3-4 Imagine the scene with me. Moses, who was raised as an Egyptian from the age of 2 until about 40 has been taught about Egyptian gods and has probably never met or spoken to the Hebrew God. He’s had to run from his home and is now living in the desert among strangers. He’s out one day tending his father-in-law’s flocks and ends up at the mountain of God at Horeb. He looks over and sees a bush that appears to be on fire, so he goes to investigate. As he gets closer, he hears a voice calling out his name! I’d be freaked out about now! But Moses answers – Here I am. Then God begins to speak to Moses – a God whom Moses has never met and has never heard speak. Maybe Moses was wondering which god this was, because the Egyptians had several deities. Moses listens as God tells him that He’s the Hebrew God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Maybe this part is somewhat familiar to Moses from his very early childhood or from having been around the Israelites in Egypt. God begins to tell Moses about the misery of His people and maybe Moses is thinking, “Why is He telling me this story?” Then next thing you know, God is telling Moses that he wants him to go back to Egypt to rescue His people! LOL! A God that Moses doesn’t know wants him to go rescue a people that he doesn’t know. I’d be wondering if God’s got the wrong guy! Did Moses suspect, or know, that he was not Egyptian, but Hebrew? Did he have an inclination that he was being sent to rescue His own people? Did Moses know that the Hebrew God was the one true God, and if not, how long into the journey was it before Moses realized this? I do know that with every request, Moses had a counter-argument. God said, “Go” – Moses said, “Who am I?” God said, “Go” – Moses said, “What is Your Name?” God said, “Go” – Moses asked, “What if they don’t believe me?” God asked, “What do you have in your hand?” – Moses replied, “A staff.” When he threw that staff on the ground and it became a snake, can you just see Moses running away from the snake and screaming like a girl?? God said, “Pick up the snake” – Moses did. God said, “Put your hand in your cloak and take it out again.” – Moses complied. God said, “Go.” – Moses said, “I am not an eloquent speaker.” God said, “Who gave you your mouth? (Maybe Moses didn’t know this?!) Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” – Moses said, “Send someone else!” SERIOUSLY?! This guy is one stubborn guy! God angrily said, “What about Aaron, your brother?” Can you just imagine this exchange between Moses and God? Moses had no fear in continuing to argue with God! How often do we do the same? God says, “Go!” and we offer a million excuses as to why we can’t go or do or say what He’s calling us to. SERIOUSLY?! Sometimes we are just as stubborn… Now GO! LOL! Grab your next adventure! I promise the LORD himself has gone before you - what FUN awaits!

Repurposed and Re-made

Last week I went through my house and removed the decorative items from my great room. It had become too cluttered. I had what I called my "Wall of Nations" that contained all the mementos from my international travel, as well as gifts from friends who have traveled, as well as gifts from our Chinese friends. (Every time our Chinese friends go to China, they love to bring us presents - it's a blessing to be so loved!) Between my Wall of Nations and the other memories scattered around my great room area, I started to feel boxed in. There was too much stuff! Yes, the stuff is important and special to me, but at some point enough is enough. As I removed all the items, I placed them on a table then eventually moved them to a back, empty bedroom. I told myself, "That is your 'store'. You may chose from there to decide what items to pack safely away and what items to keep displayed." I later found out from my friend Delana that this is one thing interior designers teach - empty your space by putting all your decorative items on a table and decide from there where you want everything to go. She said that moving things from one room to another, or from one purpose to another is a simple and inexpensive way of redecorating. If you know me, you know I love a deal - even if that deal comes from my own stuff! Once all the clutter was gone, the creativity amped up! I saw spots that were begging for a simple expression of beauty. I went back to the bedroom with a certain pair of metal hangings in mind. I brought them out, but noticed they were "blah". I wish I'd done a "before and after" photo, but the creativity was burning a hole in my paint brush so I just jumped right in. The metal pieces are about 12" x 12" but were very "same" in their coloring. The outer rim is a dark oil-rubbed bronze color and the inner pieces were a similar tone of green - BORING! But I loved the design. So I got out my acrylic paint and got to work. These pieces evolved as I went. I started with a layer of what I'll now call my primer and went from that boring bronzy-green color to THIS!

I layered in colors a little at a time and before I knew it I had two pieces that match not only the coloring in the livingroom side of my great room, but also my basic decorating style of Arts & Crafts - don't you think?! I love these pieces!

Oh - I also redid my mantle decor after watching a free series on Becoming, The Unfolding of You. You can find that free series here WELL worth the time! And a friend is one of the guest artists - even better! As I pondered this blog post, I thought about the fact that the Lord has been re-purposing and remaking me in the past year. If you knew my story... my life looks vastly different today than it did a year ago. But it's ALL been good because the LORD is good. I've grown by leaps and bounds in every area of my life and I would do it all over again to gain what the Lord has blessed me with! I can honestly say that I rejoice in the trials of the past year. Lord, thank you for the gift of trials that you brought into my life because today I look more like You!

My friend Sheila Atchley chooses a name for each year - well, the Lord helps her name her years. This is something I've never done, until today! I read Sheila's blog post for her name of the year (Grace) and enjoyed it immensely, rejoicing with her on her year of Grace. I commented on her post as she put her blog post up on facebook, and then I went about my day never suspecting that the Lord would "name" MY year. But that's exactly what He did. I love it best when the Lord shows up in a surprise moment and speaks a word into my life! I'm sure you're wondering, so this is "how it happened" that my year has been named for the first time. I turned on my shower speaker, chose my Spotify worship playlist, hit "shuffle play all" and the first song that came up was "Thrive" by Casting Crowns. As I listened to the words, I clearly heard the Lord say that my word for this year is THRIVE. I laughed and accepted the destiny He has spoken over my life. Here are the words: Here in this worn and weary land, Where many a dream has died. Like a tree planted by the water, We never will run dry. So living water flowing through. God, we thirst for more of You. Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire. Just to know You and to make You known. We lift Your name on high. Shine like the sun, make darkness run and hide. We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives. Its time for us to more than just survive. We were made to thrive. Into Your word, were digging deep, To know our Father's heart. Into the world, were reaching out, To show them who You are. Joy unspeakable, faith unsinkable, Love unstoppable, anything is possible. As I heard these words, I remembered a verse I read yesterday that the Lord had highlighted in my heart. Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the "woman" who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But "her" delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law "she" meditates day and might. "She" is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever "she" does prospers. The Lord confirmed that my word for the year is THRIVE My scripture for the year is Psalm 1:1-3 And my song for the year is Thrive by Casting Crowns Another thing the Lord has told me is to "keep doing what you've been doing". Well, for the past 9 months that has been concentrating on recovering from back surgery with PT, pain, rest, pain, Bible study, pain, exercise, pain... you get the point. Mainly, He's been quite specific that I'm to diligently study His Word and journal, create "teachings" for myself, etc. And this year? Keep doing the same And as I do? I will thrive and prosper BUT only IF I "meditate on his law (His word) day and night" I'm ready. And Lord, thank You for the surprise!