This is me excited to have a fun job!

In a nutshell I was in need and God provided. Whoop!

I have recently moved back to the Conroe area in preparation for beginning school in August down in Houston. I've been looking for a job so I can save up for school. After a month of looking, I have been offered a marketing position for the Chik-fil-a in Tomball. I'm excited and you can be too.

Enjoy today. Try jumping. It is fun.

Labels: Chick-fil-A

I had a lovely weekend visiting with my dear friends in San Marcos. On Saturday we went to Austin in search of some fun letters. We were inspired by Ali Edwards weekend creativity blog post. I think it is really vital to those of us with creative hearts to seek out those opportunities to create beauty. Just imagine all the fun memories you can make with even a brief weekend! So we headed to Austin in search of the letters A, R, and T. But we did not want just any old letters. We were hunting for eclectic, special letters. My friend Linsey knew just the place to look.
This store was full of old trinkets and whimsical items. I don't know that I'd ever seen so many bits of things in one place. We have not yet found the perfect letters, but we did find many other things. Take a look.



Kelsey hopped across the street to this oh so unique cupcake stand on wheels. Who knows what you'll find on Congress street.
The last shopping stop was a knitting store that I had heard about. I spotted it...we crossed 3 lanes of traffic and found a parking spot. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through their yarns. I wanted to add to my stash, but I've got enough yarn to keep me busy for a while. I found myself quite inspired by just standing around other knitters.How do you make weekend memories? Please share.

Labels: Austin, everyday art

Yesterday, I mentioned that I've been inspired to express what God is showing me through a scrapbook form of art. Today I will share my first attempt.
I've been looking over the International Justice Mission website lately. Just looking around and finding out what they do. I found a story of Manna, a girl who was deceived into becoming a prostitute in South Asia. To read a brief version of her story, click here. It is beautiful.

I am beginning to understand that Christ came to set the captives free. Honestly, we have probably all faced captivity. Most of us are actually in captivity to someone or something if we are honest with ourselves. Anytime you are hindered from experiencing the benefits of God's covenant relationship, you are in captivity. Here are some of the benefits God has offered us in Isaiah,

Benefit 1: To know God and believe Him
Benefit 2: To glorify God
Benefit 3: To find satisfaction in God
Benefit 4: To experience God's peace (Like a river, not a pond!)
Benefit 5: To enjoy God's presence

So the Enemy has come up with all manner and sorts of lies to hold us in captivity rendering us powerless to know the wonders of our God. I think my heart was pricked by this story of Manna I found on the website because she has been set free from a physical captivity. Many of the words used to describe her release from captivity are the same that Isaiah used to describe what Christ was and is coming to accomplish.

This is a photo of a South Asian street in the red-light district. People are going about their afternoon business. The sad reality is that young victims of sex-trafficing are kept out of site for fear that they will run away or attract police attention.

Here is a photo below of my new art (Click to enlarge). The scripture came alive to me as I begin to see it applied to a very real situation. Yes, the verses apply to my life, but a clarity came when I could see that my God loves to set the modern day slaves free and He is doing it! What is impossible for man truly is possible with God!

Pray today for Manna and girls like her who need to experience freedom from the abuse and oppression they have dealt with.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God... Isaiah 61.1-2

Labels: Justice, Scrapbooking

Art. Art teaches. I was walking around my home this afternoon taking little snapshots of the good things in my life. Taking pictures helps me be aware of life. It helps me reflect on things. It helps me realize. Enjoy my pictures.

I created this cross about 4 years ago. I found all the materials around my house and went to work. But today, my piece of art found a new meaning in my heart. Last night, at bible study, I received a fresh word from God. I found truth for lies I had been believing. I learned a very clear lesson. Here is a simple visual explanation. If your hungry for more, send me an e-mail or a comment and I'll share the whole lesson with you!

My 'truth' + 0 = INCOMPLETE
My 'truth' + Satan's lies = CAPTIVITY

God's Truth > my 'truth'

My 'truth' + God's Truth = FREEDOM!!!

This simple cross is made with broken chains. I've been a child of God for 16 years, but friends, He is choosing now to break some chains away from my life. Hallelujah! That's about all I can say.

This is a picture of my first day of food journaling from a happy heart! Having struggled with food-related strongholds for quite sometime, this is a beautiful picture to me. Isaiah 44 says,

He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
"Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"
Remember theses things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel.
I have made you, you are my servant;
O Israel, I will not forget you.
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

So much of finding true freedom is not only receiving truth from God, but telling the truth to myself. Self-delusion is a very real way to stay captive to whatever struggle you may face. In Isaiah 45, God says...

I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.

Isn't it beautiful that He will never lead us astray. God doesn't have a heart to selfishly make us do it His way. No, out of the depths of His love, He calls us to His heart as deep calls to deep.

So this little journal is a visual reminder that my heart is changing.

I've been thinking about using my love for scrapbooking to express a bit of what God is doing in my life. You are seeing the baby-beginnings of some new art.

Over the years, I keep returning to this copy of la Biblia. I think my heart has just found a home in its pages over and over. This little snapshot shows a little of the loving on the page. I love that at the bottom, Jesus says, 'I tell you the truth.' My Savior tells me the truth. Amen!

Labels: everyday art, Scrapbooking, truth

I just finished reading Steinbeck's East of Eden. I must say that it is quite an extraordinary novel with a lot of profound insight on the trappings and freedoms of humanity.
The novel was woven together with a common thread of generational sin. Steinbecks work not only relays the story of Cain and Abel, but he puts flesh and feeling to a story discussed for over a thousand years. I would like to share an enlightening excerpt and if you would like to see more context, you can read a few pages worth at http://www.timshel.org/timshel.php

Lee’s hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. He drank his down in one gulp. “Don’t you see?” he cried. “The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’— that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Don’t you see?”

“Yes, I see. I do see. But you do not believe this is divine law. Why do you feel its importance?”

“Ah!” said Lee. “I’ve wanted to tell you this for a long time. I even anticipated your questions and I am well prepared. Any writing which has influenced the thinking and the lives of innumerable people is important. Now, there are many millions in their sects and churches who feel the order, ‘Do thou,’ and throw their weight into obedience. And there are millions more who feel predestination in ‘Thou shalt.’ Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. But ‘Thou mayest’! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.” Lee’s voice was a chant of triumph.

There is such beauty in this truth. Honestly, I could go on for hours about this one single concept in the novel. However, I found a wonderful article that very articulately explains Steinbeck's reference to this Hebrew word and the greater context of this idea.

http://www.timshellfarm.com/Timshel_Thou_Mayest.html

In light of Steinbeck's explanation, keep in mind that in the Jewish form of teaching, they do not look for iron-clad rulings on the true meaning of a text as we do in western thinking. This definition of Timsh'l is accepted by some, but others may have an equally logical application of this same chapter of the Bible. This does not make the text fallible, but rather, displays that it is alive.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

Despite all of what could hold us down to sin and despair in life, there is this life giving truth to remember...'Thou mayest!'...'Timshel!' God has made a beautiful way for his children. Icons of freedom surround us in this country and we can let them remind us that we may indeed rule over sin if we choose to do so.

Labels: Reading, truth

There's something about the new year that makes us think about change. What will my journey look like this year? Will I read more classical literature, declutter my home or lose a few pounds? Maybe I will embark on a life-changing adventure that leaves me so invigorated I will never again have to bother with the minute details in life like laundry or bills.
Something I have come to realize is that life is a lot like knitting. You have to go out and explore enough to be inspired. Once you are inspired to make something, you have to get everything you need together in one spot. Find the right size needles, the perfect pattern, some yarn you find incredibly beautiful. Now I suppose you could knit something and leave the art out of it. Knitting can be strictly utilitarian or I can choose to use my talents to create perfectly wonderful art.
From my knitting I've learned a little bit about moving forward in 2008. This year I plan to balance the social and solitary sides of life. It is my time with friends and new faces that inspires me to keep dreaming. On the other hand, it is often my solitary time that allows me to work out the logistics of those dreams.
Making these fingerless, Texas winter gloves has brought some warmth to my hands and a little clarity to the future.

2008...It's gonna be GREAT!

Labels: everyday art, Knitting