There is a blog I read often. You can find the link on the right side of my page. She is an amazing godly woman. I soak up her posts that are just filled with wisdom. Recently she lost everything. Her house was flattened to the ground from a recent tornado. Wow!!! Convicting and encouraging. Talk about praising God in the storm.
You just never know how you will respond when life turns upside down. Her morning started off with her father having a major heart attack...little did she know, that was just the begining.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Pie Safe Project
My Fabo MIL gave me this beautiful pie safe recently. I was very excited to get my hands on this one!! Here is the before pic. I know, totally not my contemporary style but I love it!!
After...(click on pic to see close up detail)
Sunday, May 22, 2011
DIY Projects
So, lately I have been sooooo into the whole DIY projects. I have been inspired by some other web-sites out there.
There are about 6 projects I have been working on. I'll start with my paintings...I have never painted a picture before in my life...well I take that back. I may have painted a picture in kindergarten way back when, not sure if that counts. So I saw this really cool picture on Art.com and thought... I bet I could create something like that. Why spend $60.00 on each picture when I could spend $14 on two!! Thanks to Hobby Lobby.
I started with drawing the stencil...
cutting the Stencil...
I then took the stencil traced it on my canvas, painted it... and wah lah...
The next project...I purchased this really great bookcase from Dawn. I have been wanting to reorganize the kids toys, puzzles and such. When I saw this bookcase I instantly got an idea. Forgive me because I am really bad at taking before pictures but I am going to try to get better because I have many ideas up my sleeve. So since I don't have a before pic I went on-line to find something close to the color of the bookcase...
I found the fabric at none other than Hobby Lobby (love them!). I purchased fabric stiffener and rolled that on the back of the bookcase. I then laid the fabric down and rolled the fabric stiffener on top of the fabric. Once it dried I cut the extra fabric off with a razor blade. The great thing is, it was soooooo easy and when I am done with this look it peels off fairly easy and the fabric is reusable after a quick wash. Yea for plan B!!
There are about 6 projects I have been working on. I'll start with my paintings...I have never painted a picture before in my life...well I take that back. I may have painted a picture in kindergarten way back when, not sure if that counts. So I saw this really cool picture on Art.com and thought... I bet I could create something like that. Why spend $60.00 on each picture when I could spend $14 on two!! Thanks to Hobby Lobby.
I started with drawing the stencil...
Okay, so it's not perfect and maybe it looks like the picture I painted in kindergarten, but it works for this low budget gal. I didn't realize I already had this print in my house until after the project was done. It's the mail/ keys/ sunglasses/anything else that can fit into it, holder by the door. By the way...do you see butterflies or circles with diamonds??? I saw butterflies.
I knew when I purchased it I was going to paint it white but I wanted to add some flair to it. So I decided I was going to find some funky print and wallpaper the back of the bookcase. HOLY SMOLY!! Wallpaper is so expensive!! For the type of look I was going for the wallpaper was going to cost anywhere from $75-$100. No Way!! So I then began to brain storm and came up with the thought of finding a cool fabric and putting fabric on the back of the bookcase. I googled the idea and wah lah... (click on the pic so you can get a closer look at the print)
So there, 2 of the 6 projects I have been working on. I will post some more later. I think I am addicted to DIY projects. The great thing is, it has inspired my kids. They copied me in using my stencil and painted their own picture. I suck because I didn't take a picture of that. They also have become great little sanders.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
"Come"
For some time our Pastor has been reading Matthew 11:28 and the word "Come" has been on my mind. I recently heard someone say "It is our responsibility to come" as if it were our choice. That did not sit well with me so I have been asking the Lord to give me wisdom in the word "Come". It just seems that if it were our responsibility then we would have a reason to boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
The Lord would never give us that opportunity to boast in ourselves. "It was I who chose the Lord. It was I that came to the Lord. It was I that made the decision for the Lord."
I think we are forgetting and not giving credit where credit is due...The Holy Spirit convicts of our sins (John 16:7-11), giving us the knowledge of sin, once we understand our condition, we begin the search for salvation.
We would never understand our state of depravity if it were not for the Holy Spirit. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. Romans 3:10&11
Jesus taught Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit gives us a spiritual rebirth, without which we cannot see, or understand, the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Paul refers to this process as being "made alive," and John, James, and Peter speak of our being "begotten." We speak of "regeneration," or being re-created in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). It is the work of the Spirit to awaken our hearts to God, to call us from death to life, to bring us to faith, and to seal us with a guarantee of our eternal inheritance.
So the word "Come" we would never hear nor understand if it were not for the work of the Holy Spirit. So what do we do with the word "Come"... We respond in humble obedience only because we have been given the ability to "Come". We no longer live in the bondage of sin, we have the freedom to come.
I love how one pastor put it...A cow eats grain; the cow would never eat meat, he wouldn't even think to eat meat because that is not in his nature.
The cow has free will to eat meat. No one is stopping him...but, it would never even cross his mind.
It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit, the rebirth He begins in us, that we are able to do something that is not in our nature.
Which leads me to the previous post...Compassion for the ones "who know not what they do"
The Lord would never give us that opportunity to boast in ourselves. "It was I who chose the Lord. It was I that came to the Lord. It was I that made the decision for the Lord."
I think we are forgetting and not giving credit where credit is due...The Holy Spirit convicts of our sins (John 16:7-11), giving us the knowledge of sin, once we understand our condition, we begin the search for salvation.
We would never understand our state of depravity if it were not for the Holy Spirit. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. Romans 3:10&11
Jesus taught Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit gives us a spiritual rebirth, without which we cannot see, or understand, the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Paul refers to this process as being "made alive," and John, James, and Peter speak of our being "begotten." We speak of "regeneration," or being re-created in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). It is the work of the Spirit to awaken our hearts to God, to call us from death to life, to bring us to faith, and to seal us with a guarantee of our eternal inheritance.
So the word "Come" we would never hear nor understand if it were not for the work of the Holy Spirit. So what do we do with the word "Come"... We respond in humble obedience only because we have been given the ability to "Come". We no longer live in the bondage of sin, we have the freedom to come.
I love how one pastor put it...A cow eats grain; the cow would never eat meat, he wouldn't even think to eat meat because that is not in his nature.
The cow has free will to eat meat. No one is stopping him...but, it would never even cross his mind.
It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit, the rebirth He begins in us, that we are able to do something that is not in our nature.
Which leads me to the previous post...Compassion for the ones "who know not what they do"
Compassion
Lord, Increase my compassion for the lost. Help me to realize daily it is darkness we are up against and not flesh. Help me to have the heart of Christ...""Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."
Dead people do dead things...should I expect more??? Take my judging heart and replace it with compassion. Even towards those I expect more from. Thank you for revealing weak areas in the body. Remind me to choose prayer over judgment, give me that broken and contrite spirit. I also pray that those whom you choose to reveal my weakness to would pray for me and not judge.
Dead people do dead things...should I expect more??? Take my judging heart and replace it with compassion. Even towards those I expect more from. Thank you for revealing weak areas in the body. Remind me to choose prayer over judgment, give me that broken and contrite spirit. I also pray that those whom you choose to reveal my weakness to would pray for me and not judge.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Amish Grace
Watch it! Watch it with your children. Talk about it with your children. So good!!
I would love to say that I would respond the way these families responded...but, in all honesty, I am not sure that I could say that.
You know the quote I have on my blog...the one by Spurgeon..."Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of." I thought of that while watching this movie. You see that very thing that Spurgeon is talking about take place in this movie. Gosh, so much to think about, talk about, pray about after watching this.
To truly forgive, to really choose love, to completely turn over those fleshly emotions to the Lord, those emotions we feel we have the right to hold on to. The emotions we seem proud to hold on to because vengeance is a virtue? Like it’s a point of strength. A sort of moral hostility against what is wrong.
In the movie one of the news casters is speaking to one of the Amish men about his faith. She did not understand this kind of forgiveness they were offering? Forgive when there is no regret or remorse? Ouch is all I have to say after watching that particular scene. He replies to her with this "forgiveness comes from an open heart and it comes without condition...or it does not come at all." Condition...ouch!
"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either." "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount." "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Luke 6:27-35
This movie is a perfect example to this scripture.
I would love to say that I would respond the way these families responded...but, in all honesty, I am not sure that I could say that.
You know the quote I have on my blog...the one by Spurgeon..."Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of." I thought of that while watching this movie. You see that very thing that Spurgeon is talking about take place in this movie. Gosh, so much to think about, talk about, pray about after watching this.
To truly forgive, to really choose love, to completely turn over those fleshly emotions to the Lord, those emotions we feel we have the right to hold on to. The emotions we seem proud to hold on to because vengeance is a virtue? Like it’s a point of strength. A sort of moral hostility against what is wrong.
In the movie one of the news casters is speaking to one of the Amish men about his faith. She did not understand this kind of forgiveness they were offering? Forgive when there is no regret or remorse? Ouch is all I have to say after watching that particular scene. He replies to her with this "forgiveness comes from an open heart and it comes without condition...or it does not come at all." Condition...ouch!
"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either." "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount." "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Luke 6:27-35
This movie is a perfect example to this scripture.
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