Christian Art Chat- Home of PeaceJoyLove Store

I have spent a lot of my lifetime trying to figure out what God wanted me to do.

Logically, practically, based on my talents and what I like to do and all that stuff that seems like it should matter when making decisions.

I have determined that I made one truly tragic mistake.

I tried to fit God into my plans instead of letting God lead me to where he wanted me to be.

I have decided that the correct process is to meditate, pray, study and then do that again and again. Then God’s plan will become apparent and doors will be opened that we never saw before, cups will overflow, tides will turn, revelations will occur and ideas will flow freely. We will move towards God’s plan for us without any figuring required.

God’s plans and dreams are so much bigger than we can ever imagine.

God’s vision is so much broader than we can see.

God’s power is so much stronger than anything we could ever conjure up on our own.

Let God lead and let go of the anxiety that comes with all that planning and figuring and analyzing….. Just trust and be ready to act when the time is right… YOU will know it.

“Be the Change you wish to see in the world”.. Gandhi

I have been thinking I was bored in church lately. I bet some of you have to.

I want to be entertained. I want to be filled with excitement and passion and zest for the service and all that is happening. I want to be emotionally touched.

I have been thinking a lot about this lately and have come to the conclusion that my boredom can be addressed in a simple way…

1- I need to remember why we worship. It is not to be entertained. It is not to be worked up into an emotional frenzy. It is in reverence to our lord and savior. If the word is being taught and the spirit is genuine then that should be enough. If I can add to this in some way then I need to move on to point 2….

2- Having addressed point 1, there are times when a church becomes stagnant. Sometimes action is required, but that action is not sitting on the pew and whining and complaining. That action is YOU doing something to bring about the change you would like to see.

Get off your tush and be the change… If you want more interesting Sunday School lessons then offer to teach, come up with some ideas, talk with your Sunday School Director. If you want more inspiring music… join the choir, work with the music director on some music you would like to hear. If you want more young people, more excitement, more full services… it is up to you to move towards what you want to see. Don’t just wish it.. make it so.

After you have made sure your worship priorities are straight.

After you have given 100% yourself to make the church more alive and meaningful.

After you have done all YOU can.

If you are still not satisfied, it may be time to seek another church home, but be advised, no matter where you go, YOU need to be involved actively.

Creative inspiration comes in a lot of ways… For me, my inspiration comes from the people around me most of the time.

My two newest tiles were inspired by two ladies I work with.

Linda… is one of those people who everyone loves. She is always the first one there when someone is sick, or troubled, or in pain. She takes the time to get to know each and every one in the office. She knows if they are married, how many kids they have, what their problems are and what their joys are. Recently, she had to have surgery on her hand and it was beautiful how many people took her food, worried about her, and went to see her. It is just proof that the little things we do in life have so much impact and often we never know it. I am glad she got the chance to see how many people she has touched with her kindness and I hope that she was touched by them.

Denise… She was just recently diagnosed with breast cancer and the courage and strength AND grace she has shown has been remarkable. I can only hope that if I am ever faced with something so tough… I will have half the courage and positive energy that she has shown. I truly do believe that whatever energy your spirit sends out
… your body will be listening.

“Your calling is where your greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need”

We had a fantastic guest speaker at our church for revival and I wish with all my heart I could remember his name… I will come back and add it later. He made this statement in one of his sermons and it hit me right where I am.

I realized that I have many talents, but not all of them are my calling.

When I spent some time with God and opened my heart, I realized that when we find that one thing that makes us forget the time, and lose ourselves, and makes our heart sing.. there is a direct and indisputable link (if you look in faith) between that one thing and something the world is in wrenching, desperate need of.

And I believe this is true with everyone, 100% of the time.

Did you ever wonder if some people are just “born angels”… I do and I have some of those sweet spirits in my life.

My mom was diagnosed with cancer this year and it has been amazing how many angels have come across our path during this tough time….

I found this article in Woman’s Day and it blew me away.

Wabi Sabi is an old Japanese philosophy that sees much beauty in the imperfection of everything. The artists that practice Wabi Sabi leave a crack in each vase, or an imperfection in each artwork to express their belief that imperfection and impermanence are to be embraced.

In practical application,

That old beat up floor… Wabi Sabi would say… “What a beautiful Wabi Sabi floor,, it is full of character and imperfect perfection that does not require “fixing” or worrying about.

That old sweatshirt your husband won’t throw away…. Wabi Sabi would say… “What a Wabi Sabi companion I have, his affection for this Wabi Sabi shirt is a reflection of his belief that old does not mean useless..

Get it?

I did and I love it!!!!

I have two stories today that are 100% true and illustrate that God can always surprise you with who, how, and when he communicates.

The Bible

Today I got a Bible from my friend and co-worker Wendy. We had talked about Bible’s yesterday and I said I really needed a new one….one that had big print since I am getting old and can’t see as well as I used to!

The Bible, of course, was already at the local Goodwill store waiting on her to find it for me. She brought it to me the next day complete with a note in the back from the previous owner quoting scripture that spoke directly to my heart AND a sweet little pocket card that was inside and looked to be a gift to a wife from a husband with a poem expressing the blessing of others in our lives… How can that not be from God?

The Dream

My friend Lorie, who lost her son Stephen, had a dream. In the dream she knew Stephen had passed away and yet she met him on the road riding bikes with a new friend. She asked him who the new friend was, and as teenagers are known to do, Stephen rolled his eyes and said “Mom, I met him in heaven”… one look said “Mom don’t worry, he must be ok since I met him in heaven”….. She was able to talk with him and give him a hug before she left the dream, and felt a real sense of closure as if she finally knew he was ok and that she had been able to say goodbye. Again, how can this not be from God?

AND God must have a sense of humor. What mom has not seen that look from their teenager that says “oh Mom you are soooo silly.”

Personal Insults, Racial Slurs, Physical Threats.

Does that sound like Christian behavior? That is what is going on right now with the passing of the Health Care Reform Bill.

How can we profess to be Christians and do these kinds of things?

What is the difference between this behavior and what the radical muslims did on 9/11? Actions in the name of religion or beliefs that cause harm to others.

As Christians, no matter what our opinion is on any issue, we must be a shining example to the rest of the world on Christian Behavior. Not only should we not participate in this sad behavior, we should correct and admonish those who do.

This is not a political statement. It is a statement from one Christian to other Christians. Do not tarnish the image of Christianity by your actions.

God can see you and so can the rest of the world.

Most of us Christian’s believe in free will, great idea right, God gives us all the rules, the commands, the philosophies to live by and then leaves it up to us to make the right choices…

Being the imperfect human beings that we are, we don’t always make the right ones, and some of us keep making the wrong ones over and over again.

The funny thing about free will is that God does not protect us from the consequences of our acting on free will.

If we cheat on our income tax, God will let us go to jail.

If we speed, God will let us get a ticket or crash.

If we drink and drive, God will let us hit a tree or worse yet, another car.

The blessing of free will is, that if we choose to do the right thing, it is a free choice and there is so much joy in doing something because you trust in God’s wisdom and because you want to do what is right.

The curse of free will is, that we are free to choose but we are not then rescued from our poor choices. Are we still saved, yes but only from hell, not from the results of what we choose here on this earth.

No it’s not a typo. I mean “Aunt” not Ant….

In looking back on my childhood, I had two aunts that were a little crazy in a good way. By that I mean, they could always make me laugh, still do. They could always surprise me, still do. They could always put me in my place, still do. And most of all they could always make me feel special, still do.

When I look back on the hard times I had growing up. I remember them. I remember summers in their “normal” houses with warm beds and great food and laughter and closeness. They weren’t perfect.. but they were oh so close for a little girl who had so much “no where near perfect” in her life.

They loved me. It was that simple.

I was important to them. It was that easy.

Aunt Dot and Aunt Pat made me feel safe at a time in my life when safety was more than enough. Still to this day, when I am in their presence, there is a warm sense of security that overtakes me that I can’t find with anyone else on earth.

 Don’t underestimate the power of the mighty Aunt.