The Extraordinary Making Of An Ordinary Trash-to-Treasure Wall Vase

 

 

I stood in the hardware store asking the lady who worked there.... where I could find....

The Invisible. 

The seemingly overlooked.

The common bolt, nut, washer and electrical clamp.  I was looking for the "overlooked".  I had to find them. I was pursuing them in that hardware store.  Sought after and looking....calling out,
"Where are you?" 
I had a purpose for them....

to be seen.

____________________

 

I stood over the sink scrubbing the sticky grime from the labels off two old wine bottles.  Their contents used up and their empty bodies that had only earlier been set far far to the side on the counter.

Throw-aways.  The rejected.  The trash.  The outcast.

No value. 
No worth. 
Not needed.

The remnants of their former lives now stripped away.  After some cleaning, they were revealing shiny qualities, simple elegance in their lines and subtle tints of greens and blues.  They sparkled in the sunlight coming in the window over the sink. 

I saw beauty and great worth. 

________________

My husband told me of a hauling trailer at work that had an "old" wooden bottom that needed replacing.
The wood's luster and sheen gone.
It's sturdiness questioned.
Yet... he saw something in this "old". 

A rare quality...character. 
Story.

He salvaged the wood pieces and tucked them safely into a corner of our garage.
Their stories begged to be heard once again. 
To be of use... again.

I grabbed two like pieces from the top of the pile. 
I spoke to the pieces in my hands, "You will have an ... again".

__________________

I was making something.  It had been too long for this creative expresser.  So long I itched to see the vision in my mind take form.  Somehow I needed...needed...needed to see these objects transformed.  An earthly reminder of HIS renewing.  His love.  I was feeling lost and separated from Him. 

"Where are you Lord?  I need to see your promises."

The deep meaning of this simple design project was His way of reaching out to my aching heart in this holiday season of the year. 
This season of mid-womanhood.  
This season of healing the next layer for the little girl within. 
I needed to SEE His love with my eyes in a living metaphor of art and design.

This, after all, is how we meet one another.  This is how He pursues me.  In the art.   

After working awhile, the pursuing was done.  My wall vase was finally finished...and the transformation of each of it's once forgotten despairing parts....complete. 

I hung it on my wall for ALL to see.  A testament to what His Grace can do. 
I stood back and eyed the work...His work. 
The message he had just given me in this creative project, this everyday art, was a deep and profound reminder that....

 

In the Artist's hands, dear ones,....

the invisible are Pursued and Seen.

The rejected are Adopted, Renewed and shown their Beauty and Worth.

The old are told they are Needed and Respected, their Stories important for Teaching.

 

All of the "seemingly" invisible, rejected and old are Loved and Purposed by Him...for Him.

 

___________________________________________________________________

What individual part of the wall vase did you relate to?  The hardware?  The wine bottles?  The old wood?  All of them?  Can you find a moment in this busy holiday season to look and listen for HIS pursuing of you?  How does He pursue you?  Do you feel far away from God in this season of to-do lists and go, go, go?  How can you draw closer to Him?  Is there a way for you to have a reminder in front of you, of His promise of Love?

*Want to know how to make this trash-to-treasure Wall Vase?  Check out the Trash-To-Treasure Projects Page.* 

It Is Forever Written

I wrote a poem yesterday.  Not my usual choice of writing style.  But the words were flowing, so I went with it.  My heart poured.  God always meets me on the page (or computer screen).  It was an intimate and beautiful moment He and I.  A moment for me to be thankful and praise Him.  Sacred, deep and part of how I worship Him.  My love to my Lord and our story....forever written.

Though, as I finished writing ...my computer flickered and a window appeared to ask me if I wanted to save my document and before I could respond...it flickered again and started shutting down.  It does this periodically to reconfigure things.  It always kicks back on and brings all windows and documents back up that had originally been on my screen.  I hoped that all would be there when it came back on.  Everything came back except the ONE document.  The one with my poem of praise and thanksgiving.  OF COURSE!  Right? 

I just sat there.  Dumbfounded.  Now what?  How can I write that all over again? Can I even remember it?  Is it now forever UNwritten?  Gone? 

Then I thought, how ironic that the very poem my computer erased, talked of how I used to be silenced and how when I accepted Christ, He had given me a voice.  It spoke of what He had done for me, in me and through me.  It spoke of His Grace and Love.  It spoke of the call He put within me for writing and speaking.  All now gone from my computer.

The praise music thumping in my ear buds, penetrated the moment....the words of the song encouraged me.

I was reminded of a verse that speaks of how God never takes away what he has already freely given.  This beautiful relationship that God and I have and our story can never be erased.  It is forever written. This story of God and I will always be within me, no matter how many times Satan tries to shut it down.  I felt a nudge to try again.

I opened up a new document.  Closed my eyes and saw in my mind's eye the first line of the poem I had originally written.  My fingers moved.  I typed and typed.  The words of the poem gradually appeared on the screen.  It flowed from the same place from which it had before.   And once again, it was in it's finished form.

I realized as I looked at the screen that the poem was exactly word for word as it had been before.  I saw in a simple everyday living moment that that which has been given can never be taken or erased.  My story is forever written.  The story of what God has done for me and how he shines through me, can never be darkened.  His love and grace are never to be undone. 

"For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. (He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.)" - Romans 11:29 AMP   

It is forever written.

Friends, if you are a new Christian or new returning Christian, I want you to know that what has been given to you can not be taken away.  What ever God has done in your life since you accepted Him, it is for all time.  He will never remove his love or grace for you.  He doesn't suddenly think one day, "You know, she/he just isn't acting the way I would like.  I just won't love her/him anymore."  This new walk you are on may have some challenging moments, but be encouraged that you will always he HIS chosen son or daughter.  He will never stop loving you.  And that when ever Satan tries to put out God's light in you, he will not succeed.  Your story is forever written.

I included the poem I was working on below.  Make sure you read the VERY last line.  It was not in the original poem.   It is definitely the cherry on top.  I love how my God used Satan's computer shut down and erasing of my document for the beautiful reminder in this post.

A Chosen Daughter

My little girl heart was orphaned.
Father of Father's you adopted me.
If adoption means to be chosen,
then I am Your "Chosen" Daughter.
My name written long ago.
My life upon your lips.
You breathed life in me twice.
Once at first light.
The other, as I slumped weeping 
at the foot of your sacrifice.
I cried for purpose of 
the scattered pieces beneath my knees.
You promised.

You took my once silenced heart and whispers
and brought the words into the light
and gave volume to a voice once unheard.
You took my hand and pulled me up
and told me of my worth and your great love for me.
YOU TOLD ME WHO I AM.

You en-dwelled a spirit in this brokenness.
The beautiful began to tether the shattered ugly together.
Your LIGHT shining through, using my beautiful mess
as a beacon .... to...You.

It is forever written.

Being A "Newbie Christian" Alongside Our Children



It's exciting when we are a new or returning Christian and there is a desire in our heart to learn more about God, what is in the Bible and to start a prayer life.  But it can feel daunting looking at that big intimidating book!  I mean we want to learn, and find encouragement and comfort, but the Bible is full of big words and sentence structure that is NOT from our modern times!  We want to start a prayer life, but what does that look like?  Where do we begin?  And as if we didn't feel overwhelmed enough, we would love for our children to start learning and praying as well, but how can we help our children when we are learning alongside them?

I found it was easiest to start very small and simple.  It was best to be patient and gentle with myself on my own process and know that it is going to take time.  And that it is MORE about the "journey" than an end arrival or place.

That's why I love this idea of the Prayer Pail below. It's a decorated tin can or bucket that is filled with craft sticks with scripture glued to each one.  AND/ OR has topics, issues or people to pray for written on each stick.  Sit it on the kitchen table and pull one out each time you sit down to dinner (or lunch or breakfast).  Read it or have your "emerging reader" read the scripture, words or names.  Take a moment to talk about what is on the stick and/or say a quick prayer.



As you are gathering scripture for the sticks feel NO SHAME in using the Table of Contents and Concordance (in the back of the Bible) to help you find scripture.  Never feel embarrassed in Googling scripture on a particular topic either. 

Take this month of November and find scripture on thankfulness and gratitude.  Write the ones that speak to you or jump out at you.  Write a week's worth down on the craft sticks and put in your Prayer Pail.  Write names of people, issues or topics of interest that you would like to take time to pray over. Pull one out each evening at the dinner table (or any meal).  Don't worry about repeats!  Start small.

As far as praying.  I know this can be awkward at first.  When I started, my children were my only audience.  They were the most nonjudgmental group.  Yay!  So any way that I did pray was okay with them.  Kind of like when they ask us to sing a song to them?  They don't care how well we sing, just that we do.  If it's still too hard, let your children pray.  If that is still too far too fast, have a quiet moment with your thoughts or wait until you are ready.  It's okay if it takes time, God is there.  He knows the desires of your heart and He is not pushing you:-) 

Friends, be patient and gentle with yourselves in this process.  And know it is ok to be in the same starting place as our children.  (It may actually be a more forgiving process than for those who are just coming to Christ without young children.)  For many this "Christian thing" is brand new and for others there are old wounds to heal from former faith communities.  There is not a right or wrong way and there is no time limit.  Worry not where someone else is in their journey or if anyone tells you where they think you should be as a new Christian.  God already has your process and your children's journeys planned.  His perfect timing is your soul's peace. 
 

"God Never Gives Us More Than We Can Handle." - WHAT?????

 

 

I found this quote this morning and was instantly encouraged.  The number of times I have gone through some of the most difficult situations of my life, I have had well meaning family and friends use the following sentence as a hope filled statement,

 

"God never gives us more than we can handle."

 

 

Ug!!!  I never heard it more than when my husband's best friend died and then two weeks later I miscarried our second child.  We were at such an all time low.  The loving people in our lives used this phrase to uplift us.  It did anything but, and became a discussion my husband and I had on a daily basis on how it was the most frustrating and empty phrase we had ever heard.  When this band aid statement was being said to us through this time, it was all before my husband and I had embraced Jesus as our savior.  I now know why that phrase was so disheartening and hollow.

It wasn't Biblically True.  

 

In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

 

And in James 1:13 it says, "Let no one say he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God.', for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one."  God is not handing you the evil hardship you are going through, but he will use it to grow us closer to Him.

 

God does not expect you to "handle" this on your own and He will come to you in your weakness of "not being able to handle it" and provide a way out of the darkness.  And in the process you'll become closer in your relationship with our Heavenly Father, by the act of "pressing into Him". 

 

If a well meaning friend or family member uses the all too familiar, "God never gives us more than we can handle," re frame it for yourself into the above quote and know you are not alone.

 

Be encouraged friend! 

 

Challenge Questions:

Is there a well intended statement that keeps rubbing you the wrong way? 

Have you checked with scripture to see if it is True?

If it isn't True, can you find a way to re frame the phrase for yourself?

If it is True, can you identify why you're upset?





"I'm Not Qualified"

 



Paul says, "I came to you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom but on God's power." 1 Corinthians 2

 

Paul says, "I glory in my weaknesses."  "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses that Christ's power may rest on me."  2 Corinthians 12

My palms were sweaty and my heart was racing.  Seriously?!  This wasn't like me.  I'm usually your "git up thar an git'er done girl".  I get up on stage and up in front of people impromptu all the time and never have a problem.  But today was different.  For whatever reason, I felt I was not the best person to do the job and I was feeling emotionally messy on the inside.  My outside circumstance was pushing me to get it together on the inside and fast, as I needed to go on stage in a matter of minutes.  I struggled to gather my thoughts and I finally told myself, "I think I need to quickly grab someone else to do the job because in this moment, I'm not qualified."  And then I said it over and over.  Then it started to morph and repeat in other versions like...

"I can't do this."

"I'm not ready." 

"I'm too emotional and messy to do this right now."

"__________, would be better.  I am not the best person for this."

"I'm too this and not enough of that".

It was silly really, I just needed to go on stage after the speaker was finished and segue into a discussion time for a group of 150 women.  It wasn't like I was giving testimony or a speaking for 45 minutes.  Seriously, it was a segue!  Just a few simple words!  But this day's verbal transition was following a topic near and dear to my heart that tapped into my own past of being a sexual abuse survivor.  And to be quite honest, I felt pretty unglued on the inside after listening to the speaker's statistics and descriptions.  How was I going to get up and follow this difficult subject when I felt messy and personally attached on the inside?  "I'm so not qualified."

I took a moment and stepped outside and took a long deep breath of the cool air and closed my eyes and prayed to God to step in and take over.  And like always, He did and totally carried me through the moment I needed Him most. 

Saying, "I'm not qualified." could be looked at by some as a weak or negative statement.

But it actually opens the door to our Heavenly Father. 

Seriously.  Can't you just see it? 

We say "I'm not qualified." and the door heaves and creaks open.

God is on the other side. 

He says, "Hello Sweetheart!  Thank you for opening the door and letting me in.  All I want is to help you and be here for you.  Now, come here and let me hold you. Crawl up into my arms and I'll carry you through this.  I've got this.  I've got you."

Messy Christian: THIS WAY =>

 



I knew this day was coming.  I had pushed the needle sitting on “e” too far this time.  The purr of my car engine sputtered and finally gave in.  All was quiet.  The car slowed …. I eased us to the shoulder.  I heaved a heavy sigh.  Our morning was going to look a little different.  My phone dinged with texts from people who needed my responses.  I picked it up to quickly respond but a message flashed onto the screen that 10% was left on my cell phone battery. (God's blessing, for 10%).  I sighed putting it back down.  Staring down the road I visually gauged  just how far it really was to walk with two children to the gas station.  (God's blessing, we were close to one.) “We can do this.”  I muttered to myself.  “We can do this.  We can do this.”  I grabbed a random full water bottle (another blessing) in my car, locked it up and left it behind.  The kids and I started walking.  It was farther than I had realized.  The “self beat-up” started about this time.  When had I become too busy to fill my car up with gas?  

My phone was fading fast. Another text dinged in.  I could not use what little battery I had left to respond to those few people.  I got conservative and decisive with my communication and chose only my husband’s text as the one to respond to.  Hoping this would be the most efficient use of my cell battery.  (Blessing,...it was enough charge to send a few texts).

 

How interesting….my car had run out of gas and was sitting on the side of the road.  Empty.  My phone was fading.  Almost empty.  Me, taking a very long quiet walk on the side of the road.  Empty.  I realized I identified with my car and my phone in that moment.  I had been fading like my phone for quite some time, due to my choices with certain endeavors and situations.  And like my car, when you don’t take the time to fill it up with what keeps it running, it stops.  The car must sit and wait until it gets filled up before it runs again.  The phone must take time to recharge. 

 

 Alright GOD, I’m listening.

I realized in the moment that God had put it painfully in my face that I need to fill up and recharge.  That it is necessary to take the time and maybe even money to do that.  That I may have to cut out certain things in my life and put more time into things that fill me up.  And it may even be time to grab onto a new direction.   Or a new perspective on an old idea.  HE also had put me in that moment in a position to only depend on HIM.  The moment was stripped or diminished of the “things” I depended on daily.    

 

We reached the gas station and bought the “last” gas can  (blessing) on their shelves.  Filled it up and began our journey back to the car.  As we walked back, the kids were silent.  They were tired.  The gas can was heavy to carry.  I switched from hand to hand as each arm grew weary.  I was getting grumpier with every step.  I watched as car after car passed us; swerving over in their lane each time to accommodate us.  It wasn’t like they didn’t see us.   I grew angry.  Needless to say, I was so over my current situation (and many other situations in my life).  I was down right weary in spirit.  Not one person had stopped to ask if we needed help.  Like a woman with a “red gas can of shame” in hand and two children is NOT obvious?!  We didn't really need help...but somehow I needed to know someone cared.  I watched as more cars swerved and stared, rubber necking even.  My anger turned to hate.  And when I say hate, I mean the kind of hate that makes you hot and prickly all over.  The kind of HATE that makes you imagine yourself throwing a rock at the windshields of each passing car.  The kind of hate that leads you to fantasize about having a good ole fashioned temper tantrum on the side of the road.  Empty.

God had brought my life to a screeching halt to have a conversation and deal with what was really bothering me. 

I was mad at God.  I didn't feel like he cared or valued me anymore.

I wasn’t mad at Him for my current situation, but rather because of other life endeavors and multiple situations.  My current circumstance was more of a great living metaphor for where I had been in my heart for some time. I felt rejected by Him.  I felt of no worth to Him.  That He had taken back what he had given me years ago.  I thought of all the projects, works and circumstances I've been involved with over the years and how I had been striving.  Striving hard.  Empty.  I kept trying to prove myself of worth and value through them.  To myself and others.  Constantly. 

On the side of the road lugging a gas can and motivating two whiny kids to keep moving….. I was on empty and I was ready to have it out with God.  My “Fightin’ Irish” came out.   I got really nasty with God at that moment as I watched HIS children pass HIS other children, my kids and I.  “God, you ask me as a Christian to be the hands and feet of Jesus to THEM?!  Why?”  I had no Grace for my fellow man.  Empty.  More hate.  “I have given and given and given and it seems that people just want more and more.  It is never enough.  And my unique gifts?  That YOU gave me?  Don’t even seem to be enough or valued.  Thanks for nothing!  And all of these people passing by?…just proves you don’t love me or find me of worth and value.”  (Blessing...I, full of so much anger and no grace for anyone.  He, full of unending Love and Grace for me in that moment.) 

It’s a no-brainer that I have deep issues with worth and value that extend back to a father who molested me and a mother who ignored the situation.  It’s painfully obvious.  That morning God and I were down to the basics and the root of it all.  When I accepted Jesus four years ago, I told Him, “You are my new parent.”  But when your only reference point of a parent is of rejection, emotional abandonment, abuse, manipulation, and distrust…sometimes it can be a long hard road to trust and continually accept the love of God.  I'm a messy Christian....it’s a journey....a process.  Sometimes, like our own children, even we test our parent.  I was testing Him.  And like a “good” parent, He loved me through my tirade at Him on the side of the road.

 

Just then an elderly gentleman slowed to ask if he could be of assistance.  My car was feet in front of me.  I assured him we were fine.  He drove on.  (Blessing.)

God sent someone to show me He cared.

“Ok, so you love me.” 

Can’t you just see the child in me with crossed arms, pouty lip, and a tapping foot at this point?  Still fighting His love?

We made it back to the car.  My husband showed up by this time.  (Blessing.)  He even poured the gas in the tank for me.  All relieved.  I drove my kids to school. 

I got back in the car after dropping off the kids and heard Tenth Avenue North’s song “By Your Side”.  I came undone.  So many times I pick back up the very thing I originally laid down at the cross 4 years ago.  It wasn’t until that moment that morning, I let His love wash over me and accept how much he loves me and finds me of worth and value.  I’m a tough nut and a real pill sometimes.  Well,… all the time.  The words of the song tied the entire morning together and I finally fully received His love in the words, of "By Your Side" as if they were straight from God himself at that moment.   (BLESSING .... RECEIVED!!!!)

 

I hope you'll be encouraged by the song too. 

 

Big hugs to ALL of my fellow beautiful messy peeps!

-Erin Myers 

Childlike Faith - Part 2

Beloved ones, I want to share a story with you about what has recently transpired in my son's life.   It takes a bit to tell,...but it's a goodie.  So, sweet ones, go grab yourself a cup of coffee and take a 5 minute "soul break" and sit back and be encouraged by this storyteller momma's recent life moments.

For the last couple of years my son has grumbled every Sunday morning that he "has to go to church" and "has to go to Sunday school".  (As I said in my last blog post, "Childlike Faith - Part 1", I'm newish in my relationship with God as well.)  We started my youngest, young enough in this journey, that she readily accepts and believes in God.  But my oldest has held steadfast in his grumpy skepticism of church, Sunday school, and God.  And most of the time my husband and I are patient in God's plan for him and remain patient.

 

But I must admit, there have been times, my husband and I have reacted in not the most grace-filled ways with him in his grumbling over church attendance and God.  Many times getting frustrated in getting him to get out the door on a Sunday morning and over anxious for him to believe.  I tell you this fellow parents, so that if you see yourself in my husband and I, you will know you are not alone in this messy journey of parenthood.  I shudder as I think about how I've pushed too hard.  But I remind myself, God loves me right where I am...that I'm beautiful in my messy, frazzled, pushy momma state.

It wasn't until one evening, this past Christmas, while at my in-law's church when I was completely and thoroughly frustrated with my son looking so obviously bored, audibly sighing over and over and refusing to stand to sing when two pew rows of our family all stood in unison.  It was then in my frustration as I leaned over and wrapped my hand around his arm to tell him to stand for the Christmas song already in progress, that the question came to mind, "Oh honey, what are you doing?  If it was one of the 'new-to-God' women you work with in your women's ministry at church, would you grab their arm firmly and tell them to stand and sing?"  No! Never!   I retracted my hand from my son's arm and stood up again.  So if I would never do this with the women I work with, why was I doing this with my own child?  I needed to let go of my "when's, how's, and where's" on my son's faith journey.  I decided then and there to let go and went to God with childlike faith and trusted his plan for when, how, and where He and my son would meet.

My husband and I decided to take a class this past April, at church for one month. In taking this class it meant we had to be at church on Sunday's at an earlier hour than we normally attended.  So this meant our children went to the earlier Sunday school time while we were in the class on Sunday mornings.  For my son this meant different teachers in his class.  As it so happened, one of our friends volunteers as a teacher in that class as well.  As the month progressed with our family attending this earlier time at church, my husband and I noticed a change in our son.  He had started asking questions about God and our friend reported he was more involved in discussion in Sunday school.

Around this same time, things for my son were changing at school.  His best friend had let him know he was not going to be attending their school next year and his other good friend was angry with him and wasn't speaking to him.  After dealing with the combination, for about 2 weeks, it eventually became too much.  One evening, before school ended, my son broke down in tears.  I had said everything a mother would or could say about the two situations to help guide him through.  But somehow it was not enough.  So as I sat with him, and since I was "at the end of me" and all I could offer,....I went to God with childlike faith

"God, I do not have the words to help my son in his time of hurting, confusion and fear."  

 

Immediately it was laid on my heart to pray over him...out loud.

 

For those who know me best, they know I struggle with awkwardness to pray out loud in front of others,...including my family.   I pray for my children, but my prayer time is spent alone.  In the quietness of early mornings.  In.  My.  Head.  OF COURSE, God would ask me to pray out loud! 

 

As I looked at the boy-man in my arms, still softly sobbing,...I asked if he would mind if I prayed for him.  Of course my oh so sweet "hallmark moment" was interrupted with a tone only a "tween-aged boy" could summon, as he said, "Uh,....I guess?"

 

I proceeded to close my eyes and with childlike faith I began to pray a prayer ... that did not come from me.  As I sat there listening to the words tumble effortlessly from my own lips,...I was in awe.  As I heard myself speak, I heard the words that were exactly what my son needed to hear.  I knew I had gotten out of the way and God was using me to speak to my child.  I knew we were not alone in the family room as I prayed.  The words came too easily and too perfectly and with such confidence and assuredness.  Such exactness and sweetness.  I ended the prayer and we both said Amen.  I waited...with breath held. 

 

The first words from my son's mouth were, "That was weird."
(Remember he's a tween boy...so...anyway.)  I waited. 
"Mom?..... I think I just felt God.  I've never felt that before.  It was like He was right here." 
(Insert a big Momma "gulp" right.... about.... here!)  So, I remained calm on the outside but inside I was all like, "Holy smokes!  Did God just use me for my son?  Did I just witness my child's first time to ever experience God's presence?  That's awesome!"  Goosebumps!

 

 

 

School is out for summer break now.  And as the days slowly pass, my husband and I are hearing my son make small comments at random moments.  "Last night I talked to God about....."  or  "I asked God about that."  or  "God answered me and said...".  Childlike Faith.

 

Sweet ones, I don't have this parenting thing all figured out AT ALL.  But our God is so good and faithful.  He has us.  He is carrying us in the beautiful messiness of our parenting and he has our children too.  He is parenting us in our parenting and parenting our children in their lives.  Going to him and letting him know even in our clumsy way, "Hey, yeah, God...I know I'm the parent, but uh,...I need you to take over...like....NOW!"  It's ok!

 It's ok for us as parents to give ourselves permission to go to God as "his" child with childlike faith and ask him to help us parent our children. 

We aren't supposed to have it already all figured out.  And in watching us in our messy states and ways, our kids see it's ok for them to go to God just how they are and right where they are, too.


Challenge:  What do you struggle with in your faith journey?  How can you give it to God and let go and trust with childlike faith?  How can you go to God as a child, with your parenting issues?  What do you need to let go of in your child's faith journey or life in order to trust with "childlike faith" in God's plan for their lives?  What does "childlike faith" look like for you?
 

Childlike Faith - Part 1

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. 
The Lord be with all of you." - 2 Thessalonians 3:16



 

Last night my 7 year old daughter struggled to fall asleep.  I admit there was an inner groan of "not again"!  She was afraid of the dark.  Afraid of what might be in her closet.  Afraid that something was under her bed.  Something was outside her window.  Someone was in the hallway.  Arg!  At one point, she had worked herself up so much that she was slightly shaking and definitely sobbing.  Her fear had taken over. 

I went into her room and we talked.  And as I talked to her I heard myself telling her that she of course new the "truth" that nothing was there, but her own thoughts were what were scaring her...all of her "what-if's" and her imagination.  She insisted she needed someone to sleep with her in order to feel better.  It was so hard not to just give in and lay down next to her until she fell asleep. 

I reminded her that her brother was in the room next to her.  And that mommy and daddy were in the room on the other side of her.  Her whole family was with her in the house.  She insisted this wasn't the same as someone being in the room with her.

 

Now, let me back up and be totally honest.  I was tired.  So sleepy and I just wanted to get back to my bed and return to my sweet slumber.  And my daughter's main concern was that someone be in the room with her. So in this sleep deprived moment, I decided to pick God as the guy to fill the bill.  I admit my initial reasons to pass the buck to God, were all selfish and out of irritability and exhaustion in the moment. You see, I'm still a "Baby Christian".  I say this in meaning that I'm about 4 years new in my relationship with God and still learning about how he works.  So helping my children navigate getting to know God and helping them understand is really a moment by moment thing in our house.  Admittedly it is sloppy and often by accident. Thank goodness God took the mess of the moment and made a message out of it for both of us.  Yay God!!!  A message for her to learn to turn to God in times of trouble and rely on him.  And a message for me to remember to incorporate God into parenting and rely on him when I've "run out of me" as a parent.



Doing everyday life "with" God is Artful Living. 
 He is big enough to parent both myself and my children. 

 

So I told my daughter that she was not alone and that God was with her even when mommy, daddy, and her brother can't be with her at night.  We then talked about all the places she already goes that her family is not with her, school, the baby sitter's.... but that God is always with her.  She then asked,
 

 "So God is bigger than my family? 
And God is there for me when my family is not? 
So is God a bigger parent than you and Daddy?" 

 

Her questions were amazing and kind of a lot to take in in my sleep deprived state.  It was hard to admit that yes Daddy and I were not always going to be there for her whether physically or out of some lack of our own.  But He would be there for her when we would or could not.   

 

I answered each of her questions with a "yes".  

Yes, God is bigger than your family. 

Yes God is there for you when your family is not. 

Yes, God is a bigger parent than Daddy and I. 

 

I realized in this moment that God was there for me as a parent as well.  That yes indeed he was bigger than I.  He didn't need to sleep and he could be here for my daughter when I was struggling to do so.  Which of course will be the situation many times in my children's lives.   God was definitely using this moment to show my daughter He was the one to turn to and that he is always there even when mommy and daddy can not.  We talked then about how she could talk to God, and tell him how scared she was right at this moment and tell him what she needed.  She then took her moment and talked with him.  I asked her how it went and she said that he would give her what she asked for..."bravery".  Wow.  (You know... this "God stuff" in parenting is awesome!) 

 

I told her that even when I leave the room to go back to my bed, God will still be here in the room for her to continue to talk to.  And that her family's love for her always exists in her heart.  I walked out of the room and thanked God for totally providing for me in that moment and for her to turn to Him and waited. 

 

She peacefully fell asleep.

 

"Now may the Lord of peace himself

give you peace at all times and in every way. 

The Lord be with all of you." - 2 Thessalonians 3:16

 

She woke up this morning and her first words were filled with excitement, "Mommy, you were right, I took your advice!" (Thank goodness I was sitting down, because when a mom hears this particular statement from their child, it could cause sudden fainting.)  "Mommy, God was there for me!  I talked and talked to him and I got really relaxed and just fell asleep!  I slept so well all night!" 

 

I love my God.  He was there for me in a tired and exhausted mommy moment.  He was there for my daughter in a moment of being overcome with gripping fear.  He was a parent to us both.  That is Artful Living!  I love my God!  He is awesome!  Especially when he takes over so I can sleep (wink). 

 

Challenge:  When was the last time you talked to God?  Do you know that God is with you always?  How can you turn to God more often with the "daily" of life?  What steps can you take to rely more heavily on Him and less on others, things, environments, situations or yourself?   





Little Flower Gifts

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. - James 1:17

My daughter loves flowers.  Flowers outside.  Flowers on her bedspread and curtains.  Flowers on her clothes.  And... she gives them as tokens of her affection.  Just this morning as we were headed out the door, she announced with backpack on her back, "Wait!  Mommy!  I need to get a flower for my teacher!"  She then turned around and promptly went and snipped a flower from the leftover Easter bouquet on the kitchen table.  As the mother of this sweet child, she has given me so many flowers that I am now unable to keep up with their crispy remnants around the house.  I have one on my nightstand right now that is taped to a post-it with the words, "I love you Mommy."  There are many in the cup holder in my car. There is one on the island in my kitchen.  And as I sit here typing there is a collection of dried yellow, purple, and blue flowers on the base of my desk lamp.  The delicate gifts sprinkled by a little girl with love and affection for her mother.  Can I have an "awwwww"?

Though...there have been times when her tokens of affection have not been fully appreciated by me.  Like the time she left some very long weeds on my computer keyboard.  And the cat thought they looked alot like his long cat toy and he decided to play with the flowers.  In his exuberance, he successfully clawed off numerous keys on my computer keyboard and managed to embed the seeds under the other keys.  Or the times when "insect laden blossoms" have been placed ever so sweetly as beautiful decorations.... on my full plate of food.  You get the picture.  I could go on, but feel too guilty and like a "curmudgeony" mom to tell anymore stories, as I do know these gestures are because she loves me.  I am sad to report that sometimes, this control freak mom, finds these gifts messy.  I grumble about the messes that come along with these precious gifts.  They start out sweet and innocent and then they sometimes become messy and I see them as a nuisance or just "another" mess for me to clean, or a problem to be fixed.  (Sigh)...Not my finer moments of mommy hood. 

So it was in one of these moments of grumbling about cleaning up flower and weed dust remains in the food prep area of the kitchen, that God smacked me up side the head.

Everything we have in life is a gift from God.  He is constantly providing and proving His love and favor for us.  Just like my daughter in leaving the flowers around the house for me.

We readily accept His gifts when they are beautiful and come how we expect them.  But when our gifts don't come how we expect or turn messy and become a problem...we sometimes reject His gifts....His love. 

So in that moment of grumbling, I decided to change my attitude about my daughter's flowers when they turned messy or caused a problem.   Slowly, my attitude changed and now, I find I can't bring myself to toss them out.  I find no matter how messy, all I see is my little girl's love for me.

The other day, I decided to let her know just how special those little gifts of love and favor mean and I drew her a picture of her giving me one of her flowers and my loving response to her gift.  I handed her the picture as my own token of affection and love for her being her beautiful self.  By giving her that picture, was another "small-big" way for me to show my love and appreciation for God's biggest and truest gift in this story... my daughter. 

That is Artful Living! 

Challenge: What gifts have you received from God that were easy to love and appreciate?  What gifts from God have turned sour or came to you a mess?  Is there a way for you to see them as a gift?  Can you express, outwardly, your gratitude, joy, and appreciation of these gifts from God? 

When Your Best Girlfriend Has "The Ugly Cry"

We've all been there.  We've lovingly looked into the face of our girlfriend while she was ...yes, smack dab in the middle of a dreaded "ugly cry".  Puffy eyes, snot running down her upper lip, heart wrenching unintelligible sentences that sound more like a sound from Star Wars' Chewbacca than your sweet friend.  In her sentence fragments you are able to gather that she is over-committed, exhausted, running on empty, grumpy, stressed, overwhelmed, doesn't feel "perdy" any more, hasn't showered in 3 days, and she just found a hair growing where it shouldn't be. You grab her a tissue... and rub her arm.... and continue to let her tell you whatever is bothering her.  She finally calms down as she is completely spent and is ready to hear comfort from you,.. her girlfriend.  You tell her:

"Oh Honey, you need to take better care of yourself.  You need to take time for just you!  When was the last time you did something for yourself? Sweetie, if you aren't taking care of YOU, you can't take good care of anyone or anything else!" 

You continue to talk soothing words as she dabs at her remaining tears and tries to stifle the hiccuping aftermath of her sobs.  Your tone is sweet and loving, you give her lots of hugs, and tell her MANY, MANY, MANY times over how "PERDY" she really is.  You have a point to make though.  She needs to be taking better care of herself.  So, you point out all the things she used to do before she had kids or was married that were the ways she gave back to herself.  You point out she may need to say "no" to some things. You suggest that she take a date night with her hubby.  You offer to watch the kids.  She says, "You're right, but how?", to everything you just said.  You then start asking her to think what is doable today that is an action step she can take to helping herself out. You relay what you've tried.  You validate her along the way as she resists, and refocus her back to the issue at hand,...her need for SELF CARE.  She finally sees that she does need to take better care of herself.  She agrees to getting out with her girlfriends more, makes plans for her favorite hobby, assesses her daily life for smaller moments of self care, and puts herself in her appointment book as a true apppointment. She is ready to commit to better SELF CARE.

We've all been there for a girlfriend, right?  It's so easy to love on them, and say amazing loving words at times like these.  They melt your heart and all you want to do is give them big hugs and love on them the best way you know, and offer any help that you can. It's easy for us to see that they need more SELF CARE. And we waste no time pointing it out and reminding them with the whole "hands-on-the-hip-head-tipped-sideways-look" when they aren't staying true to their own Self Care.

So back to our girlfriend....

So you're looking at your "exhausted-just-had-an-ugly-cry" friend and.... (are you ready for this?)
YOU are actually looking in the MIRROR at YOURSELF!  Yes, the "girlfriend" who just had an ugly cry was you! (Sorry to say, sweetie, it was you who sounded like Chewbacca.)  YOU just talked to yourself like you would your best girlfriend!  Can you imagine IF we did that?  It is so easy for us to do this for our girlfriends when they need it.  Why not do it for ourselves as well? Why not see that we too need to pencil ourselves in as an appointment in our planners or phones?  Why not speak loving words to ourselves at these times and see that we need to commit to better SELF CARE?  We TOTALLY see it in our girlfriends lives and we encourage those sweethearts all the time. 

We should take our own advice and treat ourselves like we would our "best gal pals"! 

Seriously ladies, this is a good one for all of us. We all need to treat ourselves like we would our best girlfriend.  We need to listen to our own GREAT advice for Self Care.  Self Care is an area of my life, too, that is just begging for alot of "Artful Living" moments.  In Joshua it says:

 Protect your life very much; as a way of loving God. - Joshua 23:11

 

I, like many women, will throw myself into a volunteer project, my kids, my home, school, job, etc. and yep...you guessed it, I can tend to neglect myself in the process. But I need to remember that each time I follow up with that needed doctors visit, read a book, go for a walk, journal, take a hot bath, choose healthy food, have a date with hubby, or take a self imposed "time-out" in my closet (yep, I have been known to do that and not ashamed to say it), I am not only loving myself...but I am also loving God.  I am loving my body and my life that He has entrusted to me.  Girlfriends, we need to remember that we are so precious to God.  He thinks we are the most precious things he created.  He delights in us and finds great joy in us.  Each time we make a choice for Self Care, we are getting in agreement with Him.  So from one girlfriend to another, "Be gentle with yourself.  Treat yourself like you would your best-gal-pal.  Get a refill on your "soul-cup"...because when you do, you will feel better equipped to give to others and ...best of all,...you'll be loving God in the process." So as I go on my own journey to better Self Care, I would love for you to join me...

 

 

How can we CHOOSE to find and create ARTFUL LIVING Self Care moments in our everyday lives?

 

  

 

Challenge:  Let's get creative!  What are some ways, this week, that we can treat ourselves like we would our very best girlfriend?  What steps, this week, can we take for better SELF CARE?

 

 

 

 

Related Scripture:

 

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you midst?" - 1 Corinthians 3:16

 

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

 

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." - 3 John 1:2

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

 

 



The Grateful "Grass Whisperer"

The above picture is the handiwork of "The Grass Whisperer" with lots of help from "The Big Guy Upstairs".

"As a Golf Course Superintendent, I have always considered myself a farmer that never has a harvest.  Now,...I believe that my harvest is being able to drive my cart around the course in the afternoon after the daily work is finished and appreciate how awesome (this course) is and how great the view is from my office." - The Grass Whisperer (aka, My Hubby)

My husband is a Golf Course Superintendent.  He would be the first to say he is not an artist.  But in my eyes, he is what I like to affectionately call the "Grass Whisperer".  Definitely an artist who works with God on the most basic of levels everyday.  As a Superintendent he lovingly manages the maintenance of the grass on the course.  The color, texture, and movement he is able to paint on the canvas he calls a golf course, rivals that of any "en plein air" artist.  His whisperings move even his crew into a synchronized motion over the acres of earthen canvas, where the grass bends and shapes into the most magnificent version of itself.  Each blade will ripen to it's jolliest shade of green, at the gentle encouragement of his master plan.  He has returned month after month to his canvas and has been able to pluck the vision from his mind to recreate and pull forth his ideas.  His paint brushes are his crew and machines. His paint colors are a mixture of what Mother Nature offers up in plants, water , and sunshine.  And the earth, is his canvas.  Yet he still says, he is not an artist.  I beg to differ.  He is definitely an artist each day in conjunction with God himself.  He has most assuredly found his "artistic voice"and is using his God given gift each day. 

Life wasn't always so idyllic for my husband in his career.  Or for us in our family.  A few years ago, the course he worked for, at that time, was going bankrupt.  The economy had tanked and the golf industry in Arizona had taken quite a hit.  The last two years he worked at that course, his income was slashed nearly in half and each week he was told to lay off another member of his crew until the once 60 person crew had shrunk to 8 people including himself.  He worked on such a small budget that made it difficult to even get his job done.  Each day there existed such a fear for those that were still left employed, that they often turned on each other.  Moral was very low.  And if that wasn't fun enough, his own job was a roller coaster of week to week threats of layoff for 2 solid years. While he did remain employed, the stressful circumstances forced us both to search each day for things to be thankful for.

More handiwork of "The Grass Whisperer" and God.

"Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." - 1 Corinthians 3:7

 

He has since found a new opportunity to work at a different course, that thankfully is financially stable.  He now has a full crew, he has a good budget, he is earning what is needed, and to top it off ... he gets to work in the beauty of the outdoors.  As I said before, he works with God on the most basic of levels each day.  The above scripture has been in my husband's office for many years and he truly believes what it says.  That it is God who gives the growth and the bounty.  Even when it was the leanest of times,...He still provided.  My husband is truly thankful for his job and all of it's gifts and he enjoys finding the large and small joys in his work each day.  I am thankful that he too has his "dream job".  Though it makes me wonder, with the right attitude, might we ALL already have our "dream job"?  "Dream home"?  "Dream spouse"?  etc. etc.  And all it requires is a simple choice of appreciating what God has already given us?  To look at everything in our life as a gift that has been given to us especially by God?  To trust that He knows exactly what we need in our lives? What IF...we made the choice to approach each day with abundant Gratitude?   

Gratitude is a powerful link to Joy. 

My husband is a man of few words.  He is a hard worker.  Humble.  A down to earth man.  He would much rather be working outside than in his office.  He doesn't often speak up.  But when he does, he speaks with a profound simplicity.  So... it recently came as a surprise when he took a suggestion of mine (gasp) regarding his "corner" of his work's monthly newsletter and ran with it.  He decided to write something that was a bit of a departure from his usual fair.  I've included it, so that you may see how

 

one man has used "GRATITUDE" to find the beauty in his everyday work life.

 

_________________________________________________________________



 

"A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to play in a golf event with many other Golf Course Superintendents from Arizona.  After the event, a group of us were discussing our successes and our issues at our own courses.  One of the questions that came up was "What is your dream job?"

 

As many answers were given around the table, I said my dream job was the one I currently had.  I think a few guys thought I was kidding but I told them that working at (my current course) was truly a privilege.  Being able to show up to work at such a beautiful place and do what I love was not something I would ever take for granted. 

 

I have always been very into nature so whether it is watching the sun rise over the mountains or seeing the wide array of wildlife on the course, there are very few other places that measure up.  Even having the opportunity to play such a great golf course and possibly even hitting a couple of shots where they were intended, makes me feel very lucky.

 

I believe that my entire staff feels that way as well.  The ideas of spending every day at a place that appreciates the work and effort involved with maintaining a golf course is truly a blessing.  When you add in fantastic support from owners, members, other managers, a great staff in every department, and an incredible facility, how can it get any better.

 

As a Golf Course Superintendent, I have always considered myself a farmer that never has a harvest.  Now, I believe that my harvest is being able to drive my cart around the course in the afternoon after the daily work is finished and appreciate how awesome (the course) is and how great the view is from my office.

 

(This course) is a great example of how great a place can be.  There is not a day that goes by that I am not truly grateful for being able to spend the day at such a unique and wonderful place.  Thank you to everyone that makes (this golf course) possible." - (My Husband) "The Grass Whisperer"

......that is ARTFUL LIVING!

______________________________________________________________________

Challenge:

Can you find 3 things to be thankful for in your work and/or home life today?  Would you be willing to try daily GRATITUDE if it meant you could have Joy, Peace, Happiness, Contentment? 

 

 

 Related Scripture:
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." - James 1:17

 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:17

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." - Psalm 136:1

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is at the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful." - Colossians 3:15