Living on Purpose

I am working on my first of what is strangely called a “junk journal.” I can’t get over that name, because I’m not into making junk! 

(Neither is the Lord! That in itself is a wonderful rabbit trail we could take…but I won’t.) I wanted to share my journey with you so you can see my progress.

A few weeks ago, I posted a picture of the cover. I took an old black book and gutted it. Then I painted and did some decoupage on the outside and inside cover. The whole decoupage thing reminds me of grade school fun…lots of glue and paper. I guess I’m a tactile person because I really enjoy the feel of the paper and I have a blast laying it all down on the freshly painted, recycled cover.

After tea-staining some copy paper, old sheet music, and other miscellaneous items, I sewed them to a cardboard spine and glued the whole set of pages to the inside cover.

I am having a great time decorating the pages now. Every little pocket becomes a potential hiding place where you can tuck a tag, a note, or a card.  The possibilities are endless. There is a whole cult-like following of folks who have youtube instruction on all the charming ways to embellish pages in these home-made journals. I will leave some links below, in the event that you would like to make your own journal.

As you can see on the cover, I have entitled my masterpiece, Adore. This is inspired by a book I am reading by the same name, by Sara Hagerty. 

I am so inspired by this woman. 

She is a beautiful writer and brilliant wordsmith, but mostly she is transparent and “real.” The premise of the book is that we find God to be most near to us as we take time to read and meditate on His word, beholding Him and allowing Him to love us as we are. But then allow Him to heal and change us. One of the chapters is entitled, “WE ARE WHAT WE ADORE, How We Become What We Behold.” (Hagerty, Sara. Adore. Zondervan.)  That pretty much tells you how amazing and life-changing this book can be. A thought-provoking quote from that chapter says:

“This is the cyclical nature of adoration: from my weak place I reach for His strength, and in the healing I receive from that tender strength, I offer Him the glory that moves His heart. “

This little tidbit really grabbed my heart, causing me to sit up and pay attention:

“…for me to trust, I need to open myself up to see and admit where I don’t trust Him and initiate a conversation with Him right there. The truth is, adoration starts with our lack—not just admitting it but inviting Him into that place. It’s here I find Him gentle, circling around me on my hardest day. His gentleness lifts my eyes up, and I learn the first step of becoming—beholding. Adoration is most powerful when I start where I am.“

Why is journaling an important practice? The following is a quote from an article by a medical doctor, Dr. Mark Rowe, entitled “Why Do So Many Successful People Keep Journals?”.

“You see there is real power in writing things down. Connecting your brain through your hand to your journal by writing things down activates a part of the brain known as the ‘Reticular Activating System’ (RAS) which is extremely effective at filtering information and focusing attention. Bringing a sense of heightened awareness and tremendous clarity to what is written. In essence, what you express in your journal becomes impressed in your heart & in your mind.“

I encourage you to find a place to record your own special moments with the Lord. It doesn’t need to be a handmade project. A spiral-bound notebook from the dollar store works just fine! 

It’s okay whatever form it takes – just make it a habit to let your mediation spill out on the page. It’s great therapy and it becomes a way to keep favorite scriptures and important inspiration right at your fingertips.

Even, f you don’t’ feel the creative urge to start a journal, please do yourself a favor and get the book, Adore, by Sarah Hagerty. You will thank me (and Sarah)!

If you love to journal, leave a comment and let me know all about it! If you have questions about the process of making this journal, you can ask those in the comment section as well.

You are loved. gb

Here is Part 1 of a series of videos on journal making. It will get you started, and if you like the creative process, you could follow along with the rest of the series!

I recently felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to share a scripture with a friend who is going through a tough battle with cancer. As a cancer survivor, I know first-hand how physical challenges can affect our spiritual walk. Just getting up in the morning can take every ounce of mental and physical strength you can muster up. And, that can take a toll on your spiritual stamina as well.

The scripture that came to my mind was powerful and seemed to fit the situation so well. I quickly typed the Bible verse along with a message that, I hoped, would encourage my friend. Yes! Ephesians 3:20-21 was a timely word and surely would bolster her heart with new strength. It seemed especially fitting as expressed in the Passion Translation.

“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!”

I hit the “send” button on my laptop and leaned back in my chair. It was then that I realized I had done something that was all too common for me and I felt the Lord was giving me a little slap on the hand— just to get my attention.

The Lord was reminding me of something that we all do, probably way too often. We look at a powerful scripture, so full of life and promise, and we receive it gladly…but for someone else. That day, as the Lord chastised me, he also nudged my mind back to the times that He had been so faithful to me. He reminded me of the occasions that He had answered MY prayers and given promises to ME. Why would He not do that again?

I knew the Holy Spirit was giving life to THIS word, on THIS day, for ME! If my God would fulfill wild and unbelievable dreams for my dear friend, why wouldn’t He do this for me? Why would He not do this for You, sweet friend? 

Too often we tend to listen to the lies of our enemy who wants to convince us of our unworthiness. He loves to amplify our “smallness” while He tamps down every dream and hope that God has given. And we, unwittingly buy into his evil scheme.

Is it possible that your wild, crazy, unbelievable dreams are actually God-breathed?  

Today, I encourage you to claim His promises for yourself! Say them out loud. Shout them, sing them, proclaim them boldly.

After all, it’s the craziest, most outrageous dreams that God seems to delight in. Just ask Sarah, a barren old lady who birthed a nation from her womb (Genesis 17). Or, how about a shepherd boy named David, who slew a giant and later became a King (1 Samuel 16). Look at an orphan girl, named Esther who became a queen and saved her entire nation from annihilation (Esther 4). How about a young virgin girl, named Mary, who chose to believe and obey the Word of the Lord, and became the mother of our Lord (Luke 1). 

Our God loves to fulfill our wildest hopes and dreams. Let’s make a promise to ourselves that we will believe again! I want to believe that the Lord to do “infinitely more” than my greatest request and my most unbelievable dream. Will you believe with me that He will do this for YOU? Will you also believe with me that my friend, Melody, will be completely healed?

Don’t forget to go to the “Downloads” section of this site and get a free printable copy of the Dreaming Princess I am offering my readers. I also have a few 9 X 9 prints available that are ready for framing. If you want more info about getting one of these, please contact me at mac4gayla@mac.com or leave a message in the comments sections.

I really love hearing from all of you.

You are loved. gb

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 NIV

It seems our world is rife with darkness and tragedy. The news is hard to watch these days. You are probably like me and find that each passing day brings another story that weighs heavy on your heart. In the midst of all of the chaos, my spirit longs for more heavenly things, places where I can find order and beauty. Don’t you think that is what Paul was longing for when he reminded the folks in the Philippian church to let their mind rest on things that are pure and lovely?

These past few weeks I have found joy in little things, really little things, as I have had the opportunity to pick fresh blueberries from our bushes in our back yard. Who knew little purplish-blue orbs could bring such a smile to my face? And nothing makes that smile wider and brighter than baking blueberry scones!!!

They turned out so pretty and, wow! they taste amazing. I looked for a perfect scone recipe for a while with no luck. So, I decided to put together a concoction of my own and I think I finally nailed it!

If you would like to try the recipe, but don’t have fresh-picked berries, don’t worry about it. The freezer section of your local supermarket will most likely have frozen berries that work just fine. (At the bottom of this post you will find a printable recipe that you can download.)

My Blueberry Scones

Ingredients

2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1/2 cup Granulated sugar
2 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 cup. Unsalted Butter (frozen*)
1 Tbsp Lard (optional, but amazing)
1/2 cup Half and Half
1 large Egg
1 1/2 tsp Pure Vanilla (with maybe a few extra splashes)
1 cup Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and put your *butter in the freezer as you prepare your dry ingredients. Cold butter is everything!!

Step 2
Combine dry ingredients by whisking them together. Then use a grater to break up your butter while it is very cold. Cut butter into dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or fork. Or, use your fingers to incorporate butter and lard so that your mixture ends up looking like little balls, about pea-size. Place your bowl in refrigerator so the mixture stays cold as you work on your wet ingredients. (Note: I love to use a little lard in my pastries. It adds flakiness that is so important. And, lard gets a bad rap. It’s actually healthier than vegetable shortening.)

Step 3
Whisk together the half and half, egg and vanilla in a small bowl. Slowly pour into your dry ingredients and mix as you add in your blueberries.

Step 4
Lay out the dough onto a floured surface. Form it into a disk about 8-9 inches in diameter. Cut into 8 wedges. If your dough seems too dry, you can add a little more half and half. Your dough should be sticky.

Step 5
Before baking, brush scones with a little half and half or an egg wash. Then sprinkle with sugar.

Step 6
Place your scones back in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes before you bake them. It is crucial to keep the dough cold so that the butter doesn’t melt before the scones are baked. The cold butter creates the flaky texture you want.

Step 7
Bake at 400 degrees for about 11-12 minutes. You want the scones to be lightly browned but not too brown. You will probably need to adjust cooking time according to your oven.

Step 8
After scones are cooled, you can add a drizzle of confectioners sugar glaze for extra sweetness. Add a little lemon juice to the glaze for extra pizazz!

Step 9
ENJOY!

Leave a comment to let me know if you tried the recipe! I love to hear from you.

You are loved. gb

Click on the link below for a printable version of this recipe.

It should have been a brief encounter when I ran into a friend in a parking lot recently. Instead, I found myself chattering endlessly about nothing and everything at the same time. When we parted, I realized how I had taken so much of her time, so I sent her a text to apologize for my endless rambling. Of course, she was gracious in her reply, but I still felt a little silly about it.

I guess I didn’t realize how isolated I had felt — and how much I needed some girl time with a friend.

Isolation can be nice for a while, giving us time to think and rest, but in time it can be a dangerous thing. The enemy loves to isolate us because it is in those times of isolation that he propagates his sinister ideas in our heads and tactically wraps thoughts around our minds that become strongholds. When we are alone, we don’t have anyone to share our thoughts with or to fight with us to loosen our minds from the bonds that wrap around our hearts. There is no one there to help us healthily interpret our thoughts.

One of the evil strongholds that grow wildly in isolation is fear. That is why I want to stay in verse four of Psalm 23 for one more day.

“I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.” (NLT)

There is one area that we, as women of God, are often susceptible when it comes to fear. We fear that we are not measuring up. We see the touched up, air-brushed lives on social media and wonder why we can’t be “all that.”

We feel the tug of God in our hearts. You know it. It’s that call to use your gifts; to step out and pray that prayer, sing that song, speak that message, hug that one that is in need. It is the “knowing” in your heart that God has called you to be more. But fear says no. Believe me…that voice is loud. And it is especially loud when you are isolated.

I believe that there is a mighty army of women that God wants to use in these last days before His return. The enemy knows it as well. He is intentional in his effort to silence us…to silence YOU. He will use fear to paralyze you and steal your destiny.

So today, I want to encourage you to lift up your head. Believe your God. And know that His calling on your life is sure. He does not make mistakes. You, like Esther, in the Word of God, were created for “such a time as this.”

” And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

Make an effort today to reach out to someone. Make a call, text, or send a card. Sing your song, write your story, paint that canvas, pray boldly, shout out joyfully. Whatever God has called you to do, step out… and do it! Your hands may shake and your voice may quiver. Your legs may feel like jello and your heart may pound like a drum. Just do it!

But, but do not attempt to stand alone. You will need the courage that a sister can offer. And you may be the key to the encouragement and healing of someone else.

My prayer is that you will allow the Lord to turn that burning passion in your heart into a tangible expression of His love and grace.

You are loved. gb

A strong man. A loving man. A Godly man. That’s my dad. Well, at least that is the dad I will always remember. But, as we walk with my father through the black night of dementia I find myself longing every day for the man we used to know.

But our God is ever faithful. That is why I write today about the “dark valley” of Psalm 23:4.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.“

I have a specific lesson for this verse that I prepared months ago, and I will it post later on. But today, my heart feels a little raw and I just want to let my readers know that, although your days look stormy and your heart may ache, you have a great big God who is walking with you.

When I consider the days ahead, with my dad in a memory care facility during the quarantine, fears try to overwhelm me. When I consider the toll this disease will take on his body, I feel hopeless. But, when I consider the faithfulness of my God…there is a great peace that takes over.

I have had weary moments this last week when my prayers seemed lost in the shuffle of the 24 hour care I have been trying to give my dad. But God has given put me to bed with the sounds of songs and Scriptures, prompted by the Holy Spirit, that have effortlessly come to my mind. I have awakened some mornings with a specific thought that brought such peace. As it stayed with me through the day, I would realize that it wasn’t a random thought, but a specific verse from the Word of God that I had forgotten about.

Yes, God is faithful. Even in the valley of the shadow of death. It is only a shadow. Our Shepherd walks with us. I will fear no evil. Rest in this promise today.

You are loved. gb

Psalm 23:3 “…He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name ’s sake”

I actually put on makeup today. I’m talking about the whole face…mascara, lipstick, blush…I did it all. I guess quarantine has made me lazy and I haven’t really had many occasions to use all of my miracle “jams and jellies” on my skin. I fixed my hair as nicely as possible, trying to find the style that best hides my grey roots. (I guess, they are way too long to be called “roots” by now.) I even put on a cute shirt with a colorful floral kimono for extra pizzaz. So what was the special occasion? It was a Zoom meeting with colleagues. Not such an exciting destination, was it? I wasn’t even leaving the house. I guess you could say, I was all dressed up with nowhere to go!

In today’s scripture, David paints a picture of a destination that carries him on paths of righteousness. I love that he doesn’t just use the term ‘send’ me, but tells me that our Shepherd gently leads me and guides me in ways that are proper and right.

The word “righteousness” here has a connotation of blessing associated with it. (Let ’s just stop for a moment and thank Him for the blessing of our salvation!) Righteousness means right standing with God.

Paths of righteousness are paths that are holy and pure before God. But living righteously cannot be done on our own. No, friends. Isaiah says our righteousness is like filth to God. But when we “put on” Christ and all of His nature we become like Him. We don’t “wear” good works. None of our good works can measure up to His requirements for holiness. No, but we do “wear” Christ. We are dressed up in His nature, His goodness, His righteousness.

Look at Ephesians 4:22-24. “.. throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

We take off that old wardrobe of bad habits and sinful desire, and after being renewed in our minds (by the Holy Spirit), we put on a new wardrobe. We put on the new man, fashioned after Christ, created by God in true righteousness and holiness.

Look at the end of verse three.

“..for His name’s sake ”

In other words, we wear His name.

We are tagged! We are HIS daughters and all that we do is for His honor. When we get all dressed up we do have somewhere to go. We have a purpose and a destiny that has been designed just for us. You, sweet ladies, have a personal life-plan with your name (and His name) on it! When we follow the plan, and become all that our Shepherd has designed for us…it gives Him great honor. We love “getting our act together,” but, guess what? He loves it even more and He is so proud. He busts his heavenly buttons every time you succeed by taking steps toward your divine destiny.

I know some ladies choose to keep their own names when they marry, but I was so proud to be my husband’s wife and life-partner, I couldn’t wait to take his name as my own. Your Heavenly Father is so proud of you that He gave you His name.

When you lose focus and your future seems uncertain, hold on to the knowledge that your Shepherd is gently leading you as you become the Christ-like, power-filled, world-changer that the Lord intends for you to be.

Hang on to His promises. Walk righteously before Him. Believe that you are called to a divine purpose.

We DO have somewhere to go!! And when we reach our Destiny, it is for HIS glory, for His name’s sake…not for ours!

You may download a printable copy of this lesson here or find it, along with other lessons, on the Downloads page of this site. And please leave a comment! I love to hear from you.

You are loved. gb

Have you ever restored a piece of furniture? I have, and I can tell you it is a time-consuming labor of love. (I must admit the love began to fade about halfway through the project but returned when I saw the end result!) This occurred years ago who I bought an old bedroom set at a bargain-basement price. I just knew, that in its day, it must have been a handsome mahogany wood set with rich gold and red markings in the grain. I loved the curve of the headboard and the vintage mirror that swiveled on little vertical poles attached to the dressing table. Unfortunately, someone had painted (and repainted) it until it had several coats of strange colors layered on it. They had tried to “fix” the scratches and imperfections that time had added to the pieces. But, what it needed was restoration, not a cover-up. So, with a friend, I began the process of restoration

We had no clue what we were getting ourselves into. It literally took months to complete the process of bringing that bedroom set back to life. We sanded; we rubbed; we oiled. But it was exciting when the old layers of dreadful paint were gone and the beautiful original wood began to peek through. The magical discovery of smooth red wood with golden highlights was awe-inspiring. It caused my imagination to travel to days gone by when a new couple purchased the furniture to furnish their first home. Or, maybe a girl received the pieces as a birthday gift when she turned sixteen. I could almost see an ecstatic little lady twirling in front of the mirror, as her organza dress danced around her. Yes, the restoration process was worth the effort!

Let’s look at the beautiful words of the third verse of Psalm 23.

“He restoreth my soul”

If we ever lived in a time where the soul needs restoration, it’s today.

Let’s remember where we have come to get to this point in our study. We are on a journey to find the rest and satisfaction that comes from an intimate relationship with our Shepherd and the completeness that comes from becoming whole in Him. This portion of verse three tells us that our Shepherd is leading us with great care to a place of restoration. It is here that He takes our broken souls (our inner thoughts and sentiments), our depleted emotional reservoirs, our fractured minds that are whirling with “what if’s,” our hearts that have been ripped into…and He promises to bring us into a place of restoration.

Restoration means to “return to its original use or condition.” It can also mean, “to regenerate; to bring back to a place of new life and energy.” Couldn’t we all use some of that?

I love to watch home remodeling shows. I find it so interesting to see how someone can take a broken-down mess of a house and work magic to remodel that space into an exciting new home that looks completely different than when the process began. I am completely fascinated to watch as walls are torn down, cabinets are rebuilt, and worn-out floors are replaced with fancy new tiles, slick fresh wood or plush carpet. But, what I love even more is when someone takes an old historical home and sees the beauty of its original purpose. It makes my heart glad to watch as original walls are cleaned and painted with colors reminiscent of the period when the house was first built. And when the original wood floors are brought back to life…what a treasure!! It makes me happy to know that the integrity of the original home is valued.

In the same way, when Jesus comes on the scene, he isn’t interested in a remodel. He is determined to perform a complete restoration.

What does it really mean to be restored? It means that we are brought into a place of wholeness in Him. Our Shepherd does more than just “fix us”. He does not paint over our pain. He does not put a piece of duct tape over our wounds. He does not put makeup on our scars.

He heals us. He takes us back to His original design for us when He carefully “knit us together” in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13.) He makes us whole and useful again. In awestruck wonder, we watch as He re-creates us so we can fulfill the divine calling that He has placed on each of our lives. What a makeover!

You may have found yourself in need of restoration because of your own sin. For many, your need for restoration is due to the abuse inflicted by someone you love.
You may be wearing cruel battle scars while feeling empty, alone, and incomplete. It is His joy to make NEW creations. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17)

Maybe you are worn and tired, in need of a fresh perspective on life and a new vision for what God has for you. If you have lost your joy and need a “revival” in your soul, dear friend, our Shepherd is ready to come on the scene. He will bring new joy and new vision. (Psalm 51:12)

Ask Him to be your Restorer! He is anxious to get started.

Thanks for joining the group of beautiful folks who are enjoying this Bible Study of Psalm 23. Please take a moment t leave a comment. If you need prayer, let us know. We will be diligent to pray for you. If you will “follow” this blog, you will be notified each time we post new material.

The quarantine days look different for everyone. You can see it so vividly when you scroll through the posts on social media. Some are busy with their children, doing homeschooling for which they had little preparation. Some are relaxing on their decks while others are busy doing spring plantings. I see pictures of fresh-baked cookies put together by folks who have not baked in years, and folks like me who are finally putting together a quilt that I had intended to complete months ago.

One common thread that seems to appear often is the sense that we should be learning lessons from this imposed “rest” that we are experiencing. I want to be open to all the lessons God wants to teach me.

I thought about our verse for today, “He leads me beside still waters” and I felt a peaceful calm come over me. Just the thought of My Shepherd leading me to a safe, restful place is comforting.

I needed that comfort this morning. It was one of those mornings when some of the worries of life overwhelmed me and I cried out to the Lord, with transparency. Tears flowed as I intentionally “forgot” to do all my praising upfront like we have been taught. I should have interceded for the lost and for those who are in grief because of the deadly tornados that mercilessly hit our state last night. But, I needed the Lord…right then, before I could go any farther.

Of course, He was full of mercy and grace and He met me with the still waters of His peace. At that point, the praises came and my heart was open to the possibility of all that God wanted to do for those around me who needed Him. So, with the sound of those peaceful waters in my spirit, I cried out for others who needed to hear them as well. Sometimes we have to just be “real” with God. Our pretenses don’t get us very far when we are dealing with an omnipotent, omnipresent God who knows all and sees all. Our church talk and lofty cliches mean nothing. He wants an honest heart who longs for Him.

This morning, I also found myself in “school” with the Father as I gazed into the still waters He had just led me to. Still waters become a mirror to our soul as we stop long enough to look. We just have to take the time to actually look. Gazing deep into my heart, the Father began to gently expose places in my soul that didn’t please Him. Quietness can do that, if we will just take the time to look and listen. (Could that be the reason we like to stay so busy? It’s easier than being honest about our neediness.). And needy, we are. I need Him. I really need Him.

The Lord is so sweet to us, though. He doesn’t just expose our lack, or our selfishness, or our jaded hearts. He shows us how to be better. His grace becomes our strength so we can soar, rather than remain in our weakness.

As we shelter in place for these next few days or weeks, could we just take some time to rest by those still waters and allow our good, good Father to shepherd our hearts to a place of communion with Him; a place where we are become like little lambs, in need of someone to carry us and teach us.

This morning the Holy Spirit reminded me of this scripture as I waited along the shores of that peaceful stream of His love.

“He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.” Isaiah 40:11

I pray you will feel Him carrying you very close to His heart today. And, when you see your face looking back to you from the quiet cleansing stream, look closer and you will see the Father standing right beside you. Remember you are loved. – gb

I noticed that some of you are posting pictures of your home office spaces since so many are working from home. Some of you already had offices set up, but many have had to come up with some kind of work space, using quick ingenuity and amazing creativity.

I posted a pic of my work space on Facebook and a few wondered how I made my skirted table. So, I wanted to give you a few tips on making a similar work space for your home office or craft room.

First step was to purchase a folding table from Home Depot. I already had the fabric that I had stashed away in my closet. But, if you want to purchase fabric, you can find something similar at Joanns or Hobby Lobby. Go for the sale racks, because you will need several yards!

Now, measure around your table. You will need to double that width so you can have nice gathers. (I actually made mine about 2 1/2 times as wide.) For example, if your table is 60 inches around, you will need at least 120 inches of fabric. I left a large opening on the sewing table side of the table so I could hide storage bins under the table and they would be easily accessible.

Measure the height of your table to the floor. Add two inches for top hem and about 4-5 inches for the bottom hem. That is your preference as to how wide you like your bottom hem to be.

I used gathering tape that I purchased at Hobby Lobby and that made the gathering process a lot easier. You will thank me for this tip!

After the panels are hemmed and gathered you will need to attach them to the table. The best way to do this is to use velcro. But not just any velcro. You need to find Home Decor Velcro that is for fabric on one side and hard surfaces on the other. It is usually available at Amazon.

Now, to be totally transparent with you, I could not wait for Amazon to ship the product to me so I searched around town to find it. I could not find any!!!! So, what do all good crafters do? Improvise.

I found this product at Home Depot.

This velcro stuck to the table better than gum on the bottom of your shoe. It may be there for life!!! But the fabric? Not so much! After about 15 minutes the fabric side was drooping down off the table. So, once again, my crafting gene kicked in. When all else fails, use your glue gun.

This worked amazingly well. In a few short minutes that fabric was glued to the velcro and the velcro strips locked in to each other so nicely. It was a match made in heaven, for sure.

After the table was finished, I still had yardage left over. I don’t remember when or why I purchased all this fabric, but it must have been on sale. I had a bunch. So, with the left overs I made these cute little curtain panels and the valance. I used some left over trim to add a little detail.

I have enjoyed this space so much. It’s a great place to cut fabric, spread out my books for studying and for blogging!!! It’s also a wonderful place for cutting with my Cricut and for creating my collage art.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tutorial. If you need more detail, leave a comment below.

Recently, a coworker and I were discussing how busy our schedules had become.  I remember telling her that I would love to have a day with nothing on the calendar so I could just stay home in my pajamas all day. It was only a few weeks after that conversation when schools were closed and our Adult Education Classroom would be vacant and we would be “hunkered down” at home.  We had no idea that the day was soon approaching when we would have totally free calendars for weeks on end.  We never would have anticipated a quarantined environment where “pajama days” would be acceptable and seem almost normal. 

While my heart breaks every day for those who are sick and, even dying, I have found a healing rest in my time at home.  I remember writing in my journal at the first of the year, that 2020 would be a year of rest and a time to rekindle the fire toward the things of God.  But rest doesn’t come easy for us, does it.  Often the Lord has to “make” us rest.

That’s where we find David in Psalm 23, verse 2,

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures” (AKJV)

I really like the Amplified Version of this scripture as well.

                                    “He lets me lie down in green pastures” (AMP)

Isn’t it true that, even when we have some free time, we don’t let ourselves relax because we feel this inward “push” to get things done; things that could be done later, or not all.  We feel like we are expected to be superwoman when God just wants us to be HIS woman.

Personally, I love a quiet bed and breakfast with antique beds, lots of pillows, and gauzy curtains tied back with lace and ribbons. Maybe there is an old fireplace tucked under a carved wooden mantle and a little side table with crocheted doilies and a plate of fresh home-baked cookies left by the proprietor.

Now that’s my idea of a restful oasis. My husband is like most men. Give him a four-star hotel with a nice king bed, modern conveniences and a good restaurant nearby – any day of the week! Secretly, I think he likes the Bed and Breakfast thing, too!

For some it’s a beach condo, for others a mountain cabin. Whatever the location, we all have our idea of what makes a restful vacation from the stresses of life. The problem is taking the time to really take a break!

A recent study conducted by Expedica.com found that global vacation deprivation is on the rise, and that workers in the U.S. took the fewest number of vacation days in the world in 2018, alongside Japan and Thailand.

Why do people take their work so seriously? Studies have uncovered several reasons — including guilt about taking time off, needing the extra wages, and fear of being replaced or of not getting promoted. The justification for this is that spending more time at work makes you a better, more productive employee. But research shows a different story.

I recently found this pertinent information from WebMD on vacations and health:

1. “One 2005 study from the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin found that women who don’t take regular vacations were two to three times more likely to be depressed compared to women who take regular vacations.”
2. “Another study followed 12,338 men for nine years — and found that men who didn’t take annual vacations had 32% higher risk of death from heart attack and 21% higher risk of death from all causes.”
3. “One study analyzed surveys completed by women enrolled in the 20-year Framingham Heart Study. Researchers found an eight times higher risk of heart attack and death among women who rarely took vacations (every six years or less) — compared to women who took at least one vacation every two to five years.”

The Lord made us to work and be productive. And, then He made us to rest. 

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures”

We have the picture here of the flocks stretched out and resting. A loving shepherd knows when the sheep have gone far enough. He knows that sometimes they are just too dumb (excuse the word) to know that they are compromising themselves by not resting.

The scripture tells us on several occasions that Jesus got away from the crowd and rested! There is a physical rest, there is a mental rest, and most definitely there is a spiritual rest!

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)

This does not necessarily indicate a cessation of labor, but the original intent of the word “rest” here means “an inner tranquility while performing necessary work.” Sometimes our schedules don’t let us stop, but our spirits can be at rest IN HIM as we allow Him to be the rest for our souls.

I want to be intentional about “resting” my spirit during these next few weeks. I want to use this down time wisely; allowing my body, soul and spirit to heal and be refreshed!

Reflection

*Have there been times when you feel the Lord had to make you rest? How did He do it?

*How can you have inner tranquility even when you are still doing your job?

*When was your last vacation or when did you last take a few hours away from work to do something for yourself? Did you enjoy the time?

*Is it hard for you to “quiet” your mind long enough to rest?  Are you finding it difficult to focus on the Lord while you “shelter in place?”

Could you leave a comment and let us know what you struggle with right now?  Or, maybe, you could encourage us by telling us how you are finding “rest” during this troubling time we are living in.  I would love to hear from you!

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