"DoBe.. DoBe... Do..."

If you are thinking that I'm going to break out in song...you are mistaken. :)
No, the title reflects a continual struggle of mine...whether to do or be.
I am a recovering workaholic. Recovering because I will never have reached completeness this side of heaven. I often have wrong thoughts that tell me; "You must be DOing something! That is where your worth and value lie...in your performance."
Sometimes I muddle in this puddle of incorrect thinking, until I reach out for the life line that is always available through Jesus. He offers a rope of hope. He reminds me that I am precious in His sight. That He chose me. He offers abiding in Him for peace, stability, comfort, and correct thinking.

With starting my business I have definitely been in the "DOing" mode. The feeling of having to "make it." It's all up to me to make this happen...you know...that kind of thinking.
Then Jesus reminds me, often through friends and family, that it is not about ME, "making it"...but about HIM accomplishing HIS work in and through me.

Ah...now that is the amazing difference of doing and being. Doing requires pressure and time limits and the thinking that says; "It's all up to me." Being requires resting in God's promises...that He is able.

To sum up my continual lesson: When I get in my "DOing" mode I get anxious, fearful, irritable, confused, questioning, and all the doubts that come with functioning in my own abilities. When I am "BEing", I relax in the truth of knowing God and His word and His character.
Yes, I still "do" in the "BEing"...but the difference is?: I am listening to my Father's voice directing me in the work that He has for me. I have a little cross stitch picture that I made almost 20 years ago; to remind me of this very thing. The picture is of an Amish couple sitting by a door with the words above reading: "My God is able"

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
2 Cor. 9:8 NIV

When I get stuck in the DOing mode, one thing I do is reflect on God's word...and one of my favorite ways to do this is by looking at Angela's beautiful photography of Cades Cove in Tennessee...one of my favorite places to visit.

This is one of her photos that I am fond of. Please check out more of her work at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/angelasheartwork

Projects

Do you ever start projects that you don't finish? Do you get excited about starting a new project versus finishing one that has been shelved for sometime? Do you feel guilty about not finishing?
I can answer yes to all of the above questions. Sometimes I so frustrate myself with my lack of discipline to finish something or even my procrastination in starting something new.

I guess this is something we will continue to live with while we are on this earth, because we too, are in the process of becoming completed in Jesus. God is working in our lives to make us like Jesus. We are not finished and will not be completed until we reach our eternal destination. The uneasiness and uncomfortableness that come when we are in the midst of "not being finished"; may not be a "bad" feeling. Maybe, it is a reminder to turn our eyes off of ourselves and our current "projects" and onto the source and the one who sustains all of life. Could it be that we get too focused on our "projects" that we forget that this is not all there is too life?

Thank you Father God, for showing me again, that you are not in a hurry. You are not behind schedule..you are right on time for the work that you are doing in me to transform me into becoming like Jesus.

On Purpose

We all long to have a purpose, to make a difference while we are here on this earth. We never know how long we have to live and make a difference..

Often I, in my own ways try to make my purpose happen. Do you ever do that? Being aware that you have a limited time, you try to rush, and make things happen, so you can feel satisfied that you have "done your purpose."

I am so thankful that God is very aware of this weakness of mine; and I'm so grateful when He reminds me that it is not about me "doing my part"...but Him. He is always present and active in my life. And you know what my purpose is?
To glorify Him.
Not try and get people "saved" from eternal destruction, not to help them overcome an addiction...and all the other ideas that we have of what our "purpose is".

My soul purpose is to love God.

He will decide how and when He will use me to accomplish His purposes...not my decision. That is so freeing. If only I could remember this truth. It would save me from a lot of worry and anxiety. But, I am so thankful that even though I can't always remember this on my own...my loving Father is patiently reminding me of it.

"Father God, when I forget this truth, please remind me once again that my purpose is YOU. Loving You, desiring You, serving You how You lead, living in fellowship with You."

I love this quote from Ruth Myers book: The Satisfied Heart

"Every soul is a vast reservoir from which God can receive eternal pleasure."

Ephesians 3:14-20

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 Story of Friendship Through Etsy

I would love to share this story with you because I have been so blessed by it, and I think others will be too.

I am new to Etsy and on-line social networking. After 12 years of being in the corporate world, God closed that door early this year. I have experienced all the emotions that come with leaving a job: fear, anger, insecurity, as well as some freedom to rediscover who God made me to be.

One of the first items I made for my Etsy shop were little needle felted sheep. I wanted to convey how comforting it is to live in the care of The Great Shepherd. As sheep we often daily wander away, and we need the Shepherd to help lead us back into His fold. With this, one of my favorite Shepherd verses is: Isaiah 40:11. "He will feed His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young."

It was one of these sheep that I made that was featured on an Etsy Treasury where a wonderful godly women found my shop. Her name is Jennifer. God led Jennifer to my shop and to purchase one of my sheep. I received such joy from this, and since then we've be communicating off and on.

Jennifer shared with me her passion for the country of Latvia and how she heard of a family from my home town that I know of through my children; that would be traveling for a missions trip to Latvia. Jennifer knew that the family needed to raise money for their trip, so God led her to donate everything out of her shop to the Petrick family to help raise money for their trip.

I was able to meet Nichole Petrick (the mother who will be taking her 3 small children to Latvia)), at a restaurant where she was our waitress! I shared with her our mutual connection of Jennifer, a woman we have only met on-line. She broke into tears right at our table and shared with me how blessed and overjoyed she is to be a recipient of such generosity. Everyone at the table got teary-eyed as we reveled in God's abundance. How small acts of faithfulness are being turned into tremendous acts because God is behind all of them. So now, I have a connection with Jennifer and with Nichole as we share this common story. When we feel overwhelmed, or like we are not be "useful" for the Kingdom of God, we recall this story of God's faithful leading and weaving of our lives together for His greater purposes.

The story, I'm sure will continue to unfold as the Petrick Family goes to Latvia in a few weeks; but I just had to share as their prayer letter and photo card card came home from church today to be placed on my "prayer wall" (refrigerator)...the verse that is leading them???
Isaiah 40:11

Praise be to God for His mercies that are new everyday!

And The Journey Continues

Yes, it has been quite some time since I've written anything. Partially due to a hurting heart, and partially due to a joyous heart.
How can that happen you ask?

Well, the hurting part of my heart has to do with my son being deployed. I'm not worried per se, but more like part of me is missing since he left the states. Kind of a different feeling in that he has been gone from home over 4 years, and has been married for a good part of that time. I think it is more the distance and being out of country, and being in the Middle East. Probably all those things combined make my mom heart a little uneasy.
Those are the times that I remember that he is God's son before he was ever our son, and that God's plans for his life are for good! PTL!

The joy comes in knowing that we are going to be first time grandparents around the first part of December. Our daughter and her husband are expecting and are so excited at becoming parents. Choosing names, registering for shower gifts, all the planning that new parents do...they are busy doing. I'm busy planning on all the cute things I can make this precious little one...ooohh it's going to be so fun.

So, maybe it is a little easier to understand the mixed emotions.

Right now, I'm working on a secret for when the baby arrives, so I can't write about it yet...but boy is it going to be fun!

Stay tuned...thanks for following.

Laughter in the Walls

Through out the changing seasons of life, I believe that laughter is the one emotion that you can't live without.

Children are born to parents. Parents nurture and care for their children; something that changes in method, over time, but the message never changes; "I love you for who you are."

Remember the cases of "spilled milk?" Our parental reaction may not have been the best at the time, but through the course of daily living with children, then adolescents, and onto young adults, parents mellow. They realize that somewhere between the disappointments of life and the triumphs of life; laughter serves as a healer, a stress reliever, a "don't-take-things-so-seriously-enjoy-the-moment-because-it-may-never-come-again" feeling.

Laughter ties a family unit together with an unseen thread of belonging. Shared experiences, funny photos, jokes told; all of these are parts of the weaving process of a family tapestry.

Today, I was able to share laughter with my parents as we recalled previous generations. The way they did business, the way they did chores, the way they did life. We weren't laughing at them, but maybe more at ourselves as we identified with parts of their experiences. A sense of warmth, comfort and belonging came over me.

Then later, this evening, laughing with my children over some of the antics they pulled, silly things like dressing the dog in boxers and a t-shirt. All of the memories lead to one thing...gratefulness for a full life of love and laughter.

Thank you God for creating laughter. Help me to be quick to laugh and love, and slow to be critical and angry. Sharpen my ears to hear the laughter in the walls of our home from days gone by, and to cherish the thoughts and memories as one of my most precious possessions.

"God has brought me laughter...." Gen 21:6