Homegrown Hospitality

Putting It Out There..

"Just warning you: this might be a long one..but please try to read it all..."

As you have most likely noticed, I am sharing my faith on this blog more and more each day.

I have not always been like this..in fact, I was NEVER like this(I mean on "sharing outloud)...and I will always be the first to tell you that I will NEVER EVER push "religion" on you...ever.

I promise that...mostly because it has nothing to do about "religion."

For me, it is about my RELATIONSHIP with God and it is my personal choice. Again, something that I will never push on you or sway you with. Now...I may "Creatively Influence" you, but that is about it.

 
I share my faith as an example and a reminder to myself...that things, as bad as they get (and they will get really bad) will ALWAYS get better, that it is all part of the "plan."

 GOD promises that...and I am living proof, so that is why I share.

I know that I may lose readers based on the "faith" content, but I also know that I may gain readers based on my sharing.

I started this blog as a place to share my creative life, an now, almost 6 years later, it is so much more than that. It is still based on creativity for sure, and always will be, but because I have grown spiritually, creatively and relationally  and am learning how to combine them, I feel the need to share more..

BUT...(stupid big but) don't misunderstand me...

I am still that "simply complicated", totally dorky, frugalista (that really could use some new clothes but HATE to shop) girl.  The over stimulated creative girl that struggles with keeping up with laundry, organization, staying focused and balancing her weight ALL on a daily basis (and MAN..the weight thing is getting harder in my 40's.)  and I still stumble (more often than I prefer to admit!)...and sometimes, not just stumble...I fall flat on my face (and the older we get, the harder we fall.)

I am human and I live in a wrecked world.

DANG IT!

The GREAT thing is, without hesitation...I get back up. 

I can because of my faith and because I know that deep down, there is some type of lesson in my stumbles (even though I can't understand them) and I keep going...

and guess what??

YOU can do this too because

guess what??

YOU are human...

and well, YOU live in the same wrecked, dented, cracked beautiful, amazing world!

WELCOME!

and guess what??

YOU too, have to get up and keep going!

Okay..whoops..

I am pushing you, but you know exactly what I mean here...

YOU MUST GET UP and KEEP GOING!!!

Yes, I am talking to you...

but you do not have to listen to me...it might be easier to get the message from a fortune cookie:

If you fall down 7 times, get up 8 times.
- Chinese Proverb

Now if I ate Chinese food (even though I don't) I sure would love to get a cute little paper in a cookie that looked like this and say's "ut, um"...the same thing:

 
I will continue to share my faith, probably more and more, because I am walking and creative proof that giving all of your worry and stress to God changes EVERYTHING.

He promises that, I am proof and I hope that I don't lose ya!

Worth Every Penny..

I just signed up..again...for Soul Restoration 2.

It is that good.

It is worth every penny.

Here is a little tiny look at what my journal looks like from last session

 
and I LOVE my book... 
but if you do not want to spend those pennies..you can sign up to give...blood...for free..NEXT WEEKEND we are having at Red Cross Blood Drive for this lovely.

and if you do not want to give blood...please give your time to say a little prayer for this big hearted little girl..she NEEDS them!!

and for the love of Pete...take time to make something today!  I spent a few hours over at Oh, Scrap! yesterday fluffing up the store for their KTLA Live Broadcast on Monday morning and was so happy to just sit and quietly create...and have not made these roses in a very long time...

 
The roses reminded me that I have a Create @ Home Technique Worksheet for $3.00 that you can order, download and, well...create at home. Click here to be taken to the link page!

  
Today...

Make time to take time..to do something...for someone else..and for yourself!

Painting,Praying and Patience

I have been painting and praying, painting on prayers and praying about painting.

 
I was even holding a pumpkin yesterday, looking at the Valentine with wild eyes and said to him " I could paint on this"...he is used to me and my mind.

 
I have been patient while the paint dries, praying that they paint would dry faster and painting other things while being patient for the others to dry.

 
and I will faithfully just keep painting, praying and remaining patient...

Not sure "How to Pray?" or why???  Here you go:

"ALL of our lives are stuffed with challenges and sometimes we get lost along the way.(I raise my hand to this because I get lost along the way..when there are dang forks in the road!!)  Maybe you are unemployed...are at the end of a relationship or like many, at a crossroad. Wherever you are, regardless of your "religious denomination" you can pray for guidance and direction. You don't need to go anywhere specific to pray. The great thing is...prayer is possible anywhere. EVERYWHERE..yeah! (just don't close your eyes and pray while you are driving)

• First...you need to be quiet..."Shhhhhhh!" (this is sometimes the hardest part!) Sit quietly and TRY not to be distracted...For the Love of Pete..if you have to sit in your car...on the driveway, do it!
• Listen to the silence around you as you prepare to pray.
• Simply "Talk" to God...BE yourself.  Personally I talk better to him silently, in the shower, while I am running, when I am walking...waiting in the car for carpool pickup...when I see beautiful clouds, when I am at the beach, etc.
• Tell Him your circumstance.
• Ask for guidance and direction.  
• Thank HIM for everything..good and not so good.  You may not understand your circumastance, but they are there for a reason.

Don't thank me..thank Him.

Pieces of the the Puzzle

We are all very different...yet exactly the same.

We are all at different seasons in our life...yet understand each other completely.

We are at different places in on our spiritual life...but walk together.

We are the SaddlebackWomen's Ministry Community Connection "Influencers."

 
GOD brought all of our individual pieces together to be influenced and lead by one..and together we fit, we work, we pray, we influence and we are going to make a difference in our homes, our lives and our communities. yeah!

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.¹²Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10;12 NIV

So blessed to be a piece of the puzzle!

Here is more information about all of the Women's Ministry groups:

 
 

Winning

Sunday I sat in church and listened, laughed and learned from Dave Ramsey.

WOW.

I walked away thinking, looking and feeling 100% different about business, leadership and faith and I am ready and anxious to do it all different.  I got all of that from just an hour of listening to him. (Julie, if you are reading this, I think GOD heard me talking to you on Friday night)

WOW.

Now I am reading his new book and already highlighting and underlining even though I only made it to page 17..because I fell asleep. (that is what happens when I slow down to a "reading pace"..it had nothing to do with the book!)

Can I suggest that YOU get this book...

 and lookie here..already doodle'd something from page 5:

whew. 

Give It Up

 
I am not saying "Give It Up" in a sarcastic way..like as in "stop trying ya dope..it ain't gonna work"

Duh, I would not say that to you! 

What I am saying is "Give It Up"..as in UP(insert arrow pointing up towards the sky)

Stop trying to arm wrestle with yourself..it doesn't work..

I know this...

I have tried.

Truly, all you have to do is "Give It Up"...it really is that easy and helps you breathe better, sleep longer and smile bigger.

  “Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Phil. 4:6-7

Here is a little project for you today:

Download Faithflashcard1  

follow the directions on the worksheet, and then when you start arguing with yourself about how to figure out something, fix something or try to convince yourself of something that REALLY, you won't be able to..

Pull out your little handy dandy Faith Flash Card, read the verse and remind yourself of how easy it is to just "Give It Up"

 

Don't thank me..thank GOD!

Layers & Patience

Waiting for each layer to dry before you add the next piece is tough...

 
It is the same with life, faith, creativity, relationships, marriage, friendships and everything in-between but if we remain patient, focused, centered and continue to "PUSH" (Pray until Something Happens) it will all work out and be worth the wait. (p.s..maybe not the way we thought it would..but it will work out!)

 
It is a promise...so trust and believe it (you would if it came to you in a fortune cookie!)

"God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks." Lamentations 3:25

Community Influencers

I have been blessed to be part of a team of amazing women at Saddleback Church lead by Debbie Eaton.  Together, we have been working on a new project for months. The original six of us (Ann is missing in the photo) has already grown and I will post a new picture of us soon!!

 
This week kicks off several new types of Women's Small Groups out in our communities...to come out to you...where you are.
It is a big project built out of love for the Lord and for women..something that has been in the works, prayed on and over, developed, changed, re-done, prayed about again, re-worked, fine tuned and prayed on...and now is time to begin.

Tomorrow, Thursday Sept. 22, 2011 kicks off  the "CREATIVITY" group we are calling "Creative Influence" taught by Stephanie Ackerman (that is me, duh!) and Cheryl Waters based on the bible and a book called Windows of the Soul by Ken Gire. (please consider getting the book and following along..it is an amazing book!)

 
For our first group of ladies that will be joining us in-store at Pagesof Tyme Scrapbooking, we cannot wait to meet you...for those who are interested in joining us either online or in our next small group at the beginning of 2012, please join us at our new FB page and invite your friends to join us....there is room online for everyone!

Together we will be reading the book, journaling and creating together! 

 
I hope that you consider following along but if "creativity" is "not your thing" (whatttt???) there are also community groups based on Faith, Friendship, Marriage and Military Families..which means...there is a group for YOU!!!

To find out more about these and all of the other Women's Ministry groups offered by Saddleback, simply click here.

Oh, and one more thing..come out for a few hours tomorrow night for some Girl Time at Saddleback at be refreshed, reminded and inspired...

 

Pass It On

 
A special friend sent me a quote yesterday, which I adhered to a canvas(above) and then sent on to another friend, but as I re-read it, I thought that you should have it to..and that you should pass it on:

"May today there be peace within You. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

The Burlap Ruffles

Remember the ruffles from a week or so ago?

 
Well, all I did was come home from the store, unload the groceries, start the spaghetti sauce and wash a spoon..

well, and look out the window.

I saw the roses heard the roses say "cut me".

So I turned off the water, grabbed the clippers and a mason jar.

Insert screeching breaks sound effects.

The burlap ruffles...around the top of the jar..

duh.

 
Project No. 1 of ___ things to do with burlap.

The table looks good, the roses smell perfect and the sauce is done.