Happy Birthday to ME!

Today is my birthday! June 18th. I am celebrating life! The life that God gave to me.
He breathed into me, and brought me to life 56 years ago. I am so thankful.

I am learning to be happy with where I am at. To rest in the moment, instead of pushing through, trying to become "better", by doing more. Learning to rest in who God made me to be. That it is okay to "do" things that I enjoy, and bring refreshment to my soul...it isn't selfish. It is part of caring for the self that God designed and made me to be. Appreciating who I am, and how He made me.

I'm easily distracted and become distorted in my thinking. I start to believe that my life is based on my performance, instead of who I am in Christ Jesus.

I am so thankful for my Shepherd. Jesus. Who gently leads and guides me back onto the path. My kind Shepherd pokes and prods, ever so gently to steer me back on course. My Shepherd is also, El Shammah- The LORD who is there.

Today, I will celebrate by spending quiet time by the "still waters". I will "lie down in green grass" by enjoying being in the outdoors...breathing in fresh air. Filling my lungs with life giving air. I will spend time doing things that restore my soul. Creating with my hands. Spending time with family.

Needle Felting

I have been needle felting for 6 months now. It is a new craft for me and I am loving the process of how the fibers, condense and make a sculpture after time.


This got me thinking in the spiritual realm of how The Master Artist works on each of His pieces, individually, and uniquely. One thing I've learned is you can't be in a hurry. Each piece takes time and care. Continual needle poking is what makes the fibers blend together. That's just the way The Master does with each of us. He treats us individually, giving attention to detail and what makes us, us! He is never in a hurry. The process is the avenue He uses to form, mold, shape and make us more like The Great Shepherd, Jesus.

I've recently been working on a little sheep, and I find that I add a tuft of wool here and then there, getting the sheep to look just right. I use my needle to fiddle with his ears, I mold his face, I add facial features that make him smile and give him appeal. Sometimes, I am in a hurry wanting the project to be done, so I can move onto something else.

How unlike our Father that is. He is always patiently working on His pieces of art. He is not anxiously waiting to wipe His hands together signaling that He is finished with this piece and is ready to move onto the next. Unlike us, He delights in continuing to work with the piece. Instead of wiping His hands with an " I'm finished" gesture, He instead "claps His hands" with a joyful anticipation of working with each piece to completion.

Knowing this, makes me pause and shout out to God; "THANK YOU"...thank you for not giving up and discarding this piece of art. Thank you for continuing to work in me. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for your love and patience...and the "thank yous" go on.

I hope today you can have joy in knowing that Your Father is lovingly tending to His pieces of art, even though it may not feel loving as pricks and prods may penetrate our beings; God is creating His masterpiece in you!

Philippians 1:6 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

A Little Sheepish

My dear sister, who knows me inside and out, suggested I write a little bit about why I enjoy making sheep themed gifts.

Of course, being the "stubborn sheep" that I am, I thought to myself: "Isn't it obvious?" Jesus is our Shepherd, if we follow Him we are called His sheep.
But, then after thinking it through (usually sheep don't do this well); I realized that maybe my older and wiser sister had some good points.

I have recently finished reading Phillip Kellers book; A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.
Quote from the book: "It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways ...Our mass mind (or mob instincts), our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, our perverse habits are all parallels of profound importance. Yet despite these adverse characteristics Christ chooses us, buys us, call us by name, makes us His own and delights in caring for us."

Today, this little sheep is in need of the Shepherd's Rod and Staff of correction and comfort. So thankful that My Shepherd is ever living to guide and care for me!

That is just one of the reasons that I enjoy making and wearing my little sheep pins. They are a continual reminder to me to keep following. My Shepherd is GOOD and He has exciting jouneys and vistas to lead me through.

Hope your day is worry free as you choose to follow Christ.