My Hometown

This is one watercolor painting that I took pics of during the process. It's called "My Hometown". Here's the idea behind it. When someone knows their hometown they know all the "ins and outs". They can tell visitors where all the special places are the scenic routes. They know the special restaurants that are family owned and where all their friends live. A visitor only knows the main thoroughfares and the obvious places to shop or eat. Not that there is anything wrong with those places. But to someone who lives in that town, they know there is more to see and explore. This is how the Word of God should be... a place we call home, a place we should know all the "ins and outs", a place where we can tell "visitors" about all the hidden, secret and special places that can make their visit more enjoyable and meaningful. So what I did was chose a few of the MANY verses that have guided me throughout my life and laid out streets that were those verses and then placed some buildings around those verses that spoke of what they mean to me. Like Psalm 126. It's all about joy and what great things God has done for us. So placed along that street is the Joy Jump House. Get the idea? Sorry for a few of the pics being incorrectly displayed. They don't show up like that when I view them in a picture viewer. You'll just have to deal! hahaha! Blessings to your day!

Purpose is Purpose

So it dawned on me one day... God created the black cricket and he also created the black stallion. Both are special in HIS eyes and have purpose. But sadly, I think we view one with having a more special or useful purpose. How many think the stallion has more purpose? Of course! It can run fast, it can pull things, carry a rider on it's back... it's just straight up beautiful. So the poor cricket really can't stack up to that since basically it's just frog or bird food. But God created it so there must be something good about the cricket for He called everything "good" that He created. And, I believe, He doesn't value one creation higher than the other (except for man.) So that leads me to think that God values the black cricket just as special as the black stallion although we, as humans, see it differently.

So, a question to you. Do you see yourself as black stallion or black cricket? Do feel like your calling is special and valued in the Body of Christ or do you feel like your gifting is rarely seen and doesn't hold much weight? Well, the reality is that God created both the cricket and the stallion. He created both the person with the very visible and awesome calling and also the person with the crawl-in-the-grass, frog-food calling. BUT each has God's purpose on it. Each can only do what it was made to do. The stallion can't be a cricket and the cricket can't be a stallion. When they are doing what God called them to do they are giving Him glory. Both the cricket and the stallion give God equal glory.

Whether your calling is high and mighty as a stallion or lowly and unseen as the cricket, both callings have God purpose on it. When you fulfill that given purpose you are giving God great glory. It all comes down to He being the potter and we are the clay. Don't be ashamed of having a cricket calling. That's what God made you to do and in doing so you give Him the same honor as the stallion calling gives.

(Sometimes the calling of mother-hood seems like a cricket calling.. but it really is a stallion calling!)

Heaven Is For Real

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Fantastic! I am so excited about my real home!



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What Did He Really Say? (not what you think you heard)

Matthew 7:24-27—”Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the wind blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had it’s foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put then into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash.

According to the NIV Archeological Bible, the sand ringing the Sea of Galilee was rock-hard during the hot summer. But a wise builder would dig down deep, as far as 10 feet below the surface sand to the bedrock, knowing that this was the only way to erect a foundation able to withstand the winter rains, which were notoriously torrential and capable of causing disastrous flooding.
In Matthew, it describes two groups. Both are hearing the Word but only one is actually following it. We all know that saying something is a whole lot easier that doing something. Hearing can work the same way. We think that just by hearing the Word of God that somehow that is sufficient. But Jesus says that that method is not good enough. Just like the rock-hard sand. It seems adequate on the surface but it is soon seen for what it really is when trial comes—washed up sand and a weak foundation that is not good enough to withstand anything.
I’d like to take this scripture further. I believe one can hear the Word and think they are doing it. But that person is really only living out what they heard according to their own strength and through their own misguided thoughts—basically leaning on their own understanding (Prov. 3:5). Many times we twist God’s Words to fit our own ideas. In example: white lies. We’ve all heard that it is a sin to lie. But we twist that truth and only let it apply to big lies while letting small white lies slip. If we choose to live this way then consequently we’re building something but that “something” will eventually require reconstruction.
You’ve got the foundation—you’re hearing, you’re “doing”, you’ve got Jesus but your construction is faulty. You’re not following the Master Builder’s Plan and being led by the Holy Spirit but are following your own ideas or what you think you heard Him say. Which means you are making a bunch of cuts without any measurements! You can cut a board with a rough estimate of how long you think it should be but if it’s off by just the slightest amount it’s wrong! This is a building plan slated for demolition if one continues to follow it. (Proverbs 14:12) So before it gets to that point, let God reconstruct you and then not only hear and do but follow the Holy Spirit. So take a good look at your life, your “house” and see if you can find areas where you’ve been fudging the measurements based on your rough estimates.
Reconstruction isn’t fun and it may take a while but it brings refreshing and renewal and ultimately a structure that can withstand the storms of life. Hallelujah, the foundation—the Rock of Christ Jesus— can never be shaken or wash away (I Cor. 3:11). Build your life on Him by hearing his words, obeying them fully in all areas of your life and letting them transform your thinking so you’re actually doing what He said... and not only what you think He said.

(recent article I wrote for the Power of Faith Newsletter - a ministry of Faith Christian Church & International Outreach Center)

Bedford Square will put you to bed

Bedford Square by Anne Perry

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


First time reading this author and this genre. Genre - thumbs up, Author - thumbs down. Basically dumb. I actually skipped paragraphs because it kept on rambling and having repeat conversations.



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It's been a while since I completed this flyer but I wanted to share anyway... just 'cause it's one of my favorites. Hee-hee! Again, it's for Faith Christian Church and their annual Valentine's Gala hosted by the Partners of Promise Ministry! enjoy!

Display Your Praise Women's Conference flyer

This is a project design that I completed last month for Faith Christian Church annual Women's Conference hosted by Delores Tapscott and the Women for Jesus Ministry. It was a privilege and honor 'display my praise' through my talents. To God be the Glory!

Summertime is sometimes not funtime

I don't know about you but I am having a difficult time this summer with my kids. I don't remember past summers being so difficult to entertain them. They're always bored and always at each others throat and Lord help you if ask them to do anything. We have a punishment to pick up a bucket full of sticks if there is complaining of any sort. Let's just say that my yard has absolutely no sticks or debris!

I am just at a loss this year for some reason. I don't want them in front of the TV but I also don't want to play Candy Land and Uno all day either. A tight budget and high gas prices I think are having an affect. I am trying to consolidate trips. And to be honest I don't like running the roads all of the time. I'm a home body. But home can turn into a prison after a while.

We've done some flower drying, cake baking and a few crafts. We also gone to the river on a hot day, to the park and library. We have a few small gardens going that they are helping with. But you can only do those activities for so long. WHAT IN THE WORLD DO I DO WITH THEM THE REST OF THE DAY!!!?!!?!??!

Teachers don't get paid enough. There's no way in the world I could do that job. To maintain a room full of kids from 8am to 3pm. Whaa???! No way.  :) Thank the Lord for teachers and school staff! God bless them richly, giving them strength abundantly, wisdom and health!

Calling all mothers and teachers: Leave a comment with your best summertime suggestion!