a different perspective… then & now

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Wow, I was perusing my post drafts… thoughts on which I never hit the “publish” button… and found this gem. Maybe someday I’ll go into why it wasn’t published 6 years ago when I originally typed it… but as I was reading through it, I found some serious truths that I know I needed to revisit. Maybe they’ll help you, too? (This is in no way belittling the sacredness of a pastor’s position…being sacred is not the same as important.)

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in 2012 I typed….

a different perspective: then & now

{I must preface this with saying: My Momma prayed from the time I was a small girl that I would marry a preacher and we would serve the Lord with our lives. I am so grateful for that! She came from a broken background and saw that as being the best for me… and it’s what the Lord allowed to happen! And I love this life the Lord set me in! This post was born from a discontentment at the constant use of the term: “full-time-Christian-service” and a mindset I have discovered (among some) that conveys being employed by a church as somehow superior to other occupations. It isn’t.}

Even when I was a teen, the push often was: you should want to be in “full-time-Christian-service” when you grow up. That meant that, as a girl, I should desire to be a preacher’s wife [pastor of a church or associate or youth pastor], a foreign missionary, or forever teach little children in a Christian school. Those are pretty much the only options.

I had envisioned myself as a foreign missionary when I was all-grown-up. I surrendered to it as a young child. When my husband and I married, we had the plans of serving state-side for a few years and then beginning deputation.

What we did not plan on was God closing the door of foreign work.

We did not plan on that at all. But that’s another story!

But, still, I am considered a “full-time-Christian-service” wife –meaning my husband is employed in a church… and I am his wife.

But really, that is not so high a calling as some people try to imply. It isn’t who I am.

I have a higher calling…. and so do you.

And I would still have this higher calling even if my husband left his job and began working pizza delivery again. I would even have this calling if I were never married.

Because this highest calling of all can -and MUST- be fulfilled by ALL who are saved.

This highest calling involves people becoming doctors and trash collectors.

It involves people becoming delivery truck drivers and law enforcement officials.

It involves some women staying home with their children while their husbands do those things.

It involves people joining the military and crossing our world several times over to protect their country and the liberties we enjoy.

Sometimes, real full-time-Christian-service involves someone becoming the secretary for a law office or taking temporary positions regularly through a temp-agency.

Because REAL full-time-Christian-service is just what it’s name implies.

It is a Christian….. serving the Lord….. full-time.

that means with their LIFE… not their OCCUPATION.

 

With that being said: are you LIVING in “full-time-Christian-service”?

Am I?

{I must preface this with saying: My Momma prayed from the time I was a small girl that I would marry a preacher and we would serve the Lord with our lives. I am so grateful for that! She came from a broken background and saw that as being the best for me… and it’s what the Lord allowed to happen! And I love this life the Lord set me in! This post was born from a discontentment at the constant use of the term: “full-time-Christian-service” and a mindset I have discovered (among some) that conveys being employed by a church as somehow superior to other occupations. It isn’t.}

Even when I was a teen, the push often was: you should want to be in “full-time-Christian-service” when you grow up. That meant that, as a girl, I should desire to be a preacher’s wife [pastor of a church or associate or youth pastor], a foreign missionary, or forever teach little children in a Christian school. Those are pretty much the only options.

I had envisioned myself as a foreign missionary when I was all-grown-up. I surrendered to it as a young child. When my husband and I married, we had the plans of serving state-side for a few years and then beginning deputation.

What we did not plan on was God closing the door of foreign work.

We did not plan on that at all. But that’s another story!

But, still, I am considered a “full-time-Christian-service” wife –meaning my husband is employed in a church… and I am his wife.

 

But really, that is not so high a calling as some people try to imply. It isn’t who I am.

I have a higher calling…. and so do you.

And I would still have this higher calling even if my husband left his job and began working pizza delivery again. I would even have this calling if I were never married.

Because this highest calling of all can -and MUST- be fulfilled by ALL who are saved.

This highest calling involves people becoming doctors and trash collectors.

It involves people becoming delivery truck drivers and law enforcement officials.

It involves some women staying home with their children while their husbands do those things.

It involves people joining the military and crossing our world several times over to protect their country and the liberties we enjoy.

Sometimes, real full-time-Christian-service involves someone becoming the secretary for a law office or taking temporary positions regularly through a temp-agency.

Because REAL full-time-Christian-service is just what it’s name implies.

It is a Christian….. serving the Lord….. full-time.

that means with their LIFE… not their OCCUPATION.

 

With that being said: are you LIVING in “full-time-Christian-service”?

Am I?

After I finished reading this… ironically knowing that 2 years later we would no longer be employed by a church, I realized even more the truth God was teaching me then. We, as a family, are still serving God with our lives, no matter that my husband’s paycheck comes from a different source-physically.

All paychecks are a blessing and gift from God, no matter whose signature is on the paper.

And all Christians should be serving God with their lives, no matter their vocation.

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seam rippers hurt…

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seam rippers hurt… my soul

I curse the need for this little tool because it shows me, once again, my flaws as a seamstress… and yet, I rejoice that this tool exists that I may more easily undo a mistake to salvage a project.

Sometimes God lets a little seam ripping to go on in our lives when we realize a mistake and come to Him for help, desiring the correction only He can give…

It’s not pleasant and adds time to the endeavor; but in the end a worthwhile creation is finished!

taken from my IG

I curse the need for this little tool because it shows me, once again, my flaws as a seamstress… and yet, I rejoice that this tool exists that I may more easily undo a mistake to salvage a project.

Sometimes God lets a little seam ripping to go on in our lives when we realize a mistake and come to Him for help, desiring the correction only He can give…

It’s not pleasant and adds time to the endeavor; but in the end a worthwhile creation is finished!

taken from my IG

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lesson from an upholstery needle

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lesson from an upholstery needle

This is taken from my instagram… posted last summer. I found it again when browsing my old pictures, and I know not everyone who reads my blog is on IG.

Sometimes sewing tools offer some pretty interesting insights for me. What I learned this day from a rather large upholstery needle, that looked as though it could withstand any amount of tugging and pulling, especially through a small mending project on my couch, was that appearances are often deceiving.

[this shows it next to a normal sized sewing needle]

Looking at this needle before I began my project, I would not have guessed the stress of previous mending projects had caused it to become so fragile. And yet, it was. I pulled, hoping to break the thread because I was too lazy to reach for the scissors; and the needle broke instead.

When we, in our often self-centered lives (remember, I’m talking about myself), neglect to notice the stresses we cause on others- through: being habitually late, unprepared, unlovingly critical… then there’s the spiritual stress of not praying for friends, forgetting to check on those we know are hurting, and many other situations that are unseen, but definitely felt- we then fail to realize that the reason someone becomes broken is often not because they were weak, but because we were too lazy to get the scissors and cut the string. We just pulled… along with everyone else in their life, and they paid the price.

Do you have a friend that is just always there? Always in his/her place at work, at church, in your school activities…? Thank them. Hug them. Send them a card. And also, don’t be late when you’re going to help… be prepared, and don’t offer criticism without a loving word or gesture. And then: pray for them; text and tell them so! You may need to pull on them, but try not to be the reason they feel broken one day.

#sewingtools #randomthoughts #designing31

 

This is taken from my instagram… posted last summer. I found it again when browsing my old pictures, and I know not everyone who reads my blog is on IG.
Sometimes sewing tools offer some pretty interesting insights for me. What I learned this day from a rather large upholstery needle, that looked as though it could withstand any amount of tugging and pulling, especially through a small mending project on my couch, was that appearances are often deceiving.
[this shows it next to a normal sized sewing needle]
Looking at this needle before I began my project, I would not have guessed the stress of previous mending projects had caused it to become so fragile. And yet, it was. I pulled, hoping to break the thread because I was too lazy to reach for the scissors; and the needle broke instead. 
When we, in our often self-centered lives (remember, I’m talking about myself), neglect to notice the stresses we cause on others- through: being habitually late, unprepared, unlovingly critical… then there’s the spiritual stress of not praying for friends, forgetting to check on those we know are hurting, and many other situations that are unseen, but definitely felt- we then fail to realize that the reason someone becomes broken is often not because they were weak, but because we were too lazy to get the scissors and cut the string. We just pulled… along with everyone else in their life, and they paid the price.
Do you have a friend that is just always there? Always in his/her place at work, at church, in your school activities…? Thank them. Hug them. Send them a card. And also, don’t be late when you’re going to help… be prepared, and don’t offer criticism without a loving word or gesture. And then: pray for them; text and tell them so! You may need to pull on them, but try not to be the reason they feel broken one day. #sewingtools #randomthoughts #designing31

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d31fb     d31insta      d31twi

-ANYONE CAN DO IT-inspiration for Bible [art] Journaling

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A reoccurring sentiment that I am finding among some of my friends when they ask me about my Bible Journaling is “I’m not artistic–I could never do that.”

Well, I am going to tell you

–ANYONE CAN DO THIS!

anyone

please read on!

Last Thursday I ran across this lady’s Bible Art Journaling Challenge through her tutorials on YouTube.

I have been so blessed watching them —for 2 days! hehe

Her name is Rebekah R. Jones, and she began a weekly challenge in January–so there’s quite a bit to soak in. 

Each week she delves into different art mediums and techniques, from very detailed drawing and watercolors to paint “splashes” with stencils and stickers–there REALLY is a technique out there for everyone 🙂

If you feel you are completely non-artistic, as several of my friends are claiming when they talk to me about my journaling, here are a few of her tutorials that just a few $ of supplies will get you going:

{please don’t skip my NOTE at the bottom} 

BAJC-blog-header

click photo to go to her page of archived Bible Art Journaling Challenges

Joshua 1:9 – Be BRAVE |uses die-cut letters and distress ink |on her blog

Psalm 98:4-6 – Shout Joyfully | music: uses stamps and stencils and watercolors |on her blog

Luke 24:49 – His Promise Remains | uses washi tape and alphabet stamps |on her blog

I have also enjoyed hearing/reading how the passages from each of her challenges speaks to her–because THAT IS WHAT this is ALL ABOUT!

{***NOTE: cutting your own letters or buying already die-cut letters, either can work!… and whatever selection of colors you can afford–OR just using a stencil and tracing the letters in pencil and coloring around them in a random pattern with colored pencils…

***I’m not trying to tell you to do exactly what she does… just that some of these techniques require no ‘artistic skill’ at all… And if you watch through her videos, you will find the reoccurring theme that since we are created in the image of a creative God, we ALL HAVE creativity… ALL of us 🙂

***Search Amazon for stencils and stamps–music is a reoccurring theme in Scripture, you’ll likely use them more than once. And an alphabet is definitely multi-use! AND, who doesn’t love washi tape? Probably only people who’ve never heard of it 🙂 ***}

Once you’r over on her blog or YouTube channel, visit around,
see even more techniques,
be blessed  and leave her comments!
I know she’d love it. 

yellow daisy2

I am going to try to jump in with her next challenge [she shares them on Tuesdays] and share what I create the following week….

I would LOVE to have you join in too--using your own preference of tools and just on plain sketch paper if that’s what works for you 🙂 It’s what I’ve been using!

JUMP IN and SHARE with me on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM!

…and I will still continue with my James Study, but will be slowing to only 1 post per week {though my actual study will be a little swifter, I cannot post as quickly as I study}.

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How’s your {spiritual} gut health?

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[Did you know that many of our physical illnesses and even some diseases have been linked to gut health—literally the good and bad bacteria that line our digestive tract and help us extract nutrients from our food? Often, symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, joint aches, etc can be reversed through eliminating something from or adding something to your diet. Many people deal with food allergies manifested in the form of achy joints or skin issues instead of nausea or respiratory problems.]

Last week, a friend on facebook was asking a group of ladies about some health issues her child seemed to have and if any of us had dealt with similar issues and how we handled it. While there were a myriad of answers and all was civil, something struck me when I gave my answer, in part it was this:

I am finding almost every physical “problem” I have comes back to what I eat. It’s really annoying. Lol.

potluck

And right as I typed that… before I even finished posting the comment, I felt a tug from the Spirit of God in me saying, Yes, this is true in your Spiritual health also.

It was really like a sucker-punch to the gut- my spiritual gut. lol.

And a few verses came to my mind:

John 4: 13 -Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14- But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 48-I am that bread of life.

1 Peter 2:1-Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2- As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 –If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1 Corinthians 3:1 – And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2- I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

Jesus is bread-not just bread, but the bread of LIFE. He is water for thirsty souls–not just water, but water that becomes a wellspring of everlasting life: LIVING WATER.

Find_a_Spring

Bible study of doctrines and life principles are milk and then meat for a Christian-the FOOD of our Christian life.

When I consume excess sugar (or other foods to which I may be allergic, we are all unique) or processed foods that hold little nutritional value, my body gets tired, sluggish; and I do not feel well. My gut, where digestion takes place, becomes off-balance; and sometimes I get a headache. Other times my actual gut hurts or my joints get achy or I may have an unexplained patch of dry, itchy skin.

But when I consume life giving foods such as fruits and vegetables, good meats and healthy fats, other plants such as beans, grains and nuts, my gut is happy and my body feels nourished and energized to do the work of the day…..

So it is spiritually.

Bible

When I am not consuming personal Bible study but rather maybe just reading self-help items or relying on previous study, when Sunday comes around and the preacher only spouts “feel-goodisms” (even using Scripture, but there is no challenge to repent and GROW) without confronting sin and challenging me towards growth and a Christ-like life, my spiritual life gets tired. I become bored and sluggish in my attempt to live the Christian life… my spiritual gut becomes unbalanced. My spirit is not properly digesting Scripture for all its nutrients to cause me to grow in Christ.

But when I daily receive something from His Word, when the preacher expounds Scripture with challenges for me to repent of sin and grow and become more Christlike, I tend to feel energized and nourished to the point of growth and spiritual work.

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And there are season of my life in which I look back and realize there was such a sluggishness to my walk with the Lord, and other times I look back and rejoice at realizing I grew through a period and am not the same person I was!

These are just a few applications of which the Lord convicted me… there are others, for another time. 🙂

Have you ever thought about spiritual digestion like that before?
I’d love to hear how the Lord taught you! Leave a comment 🙂

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