Archive for September, 2013

Gluttony by Yardsale

Monday, September 30th, 2013

My heart is in a constant state of molding and I'm glad.  Who knew a yardsale could reveal how easily we fall into a state of gluttony?  Not just gluttony for stuff but for a lack of or boasting of our faith.

Perhaps you're walking a little closer to the edge than I am.  I don't know.  I bet that you (if you search your heart) can admit to being a hoarder with your faith just like me.

I take my faith for granted all the time and I'm really good at ignoring God until I really need him.  Just like the boxes of clothes that I unpacked this weekend….I store up "junk" needlessly and waste what He gives me.

I thank God for the pick-me-up through the hard work of a yardsale this weekend.  I learned a great lesson about being a better steward of my heart and my stuff.  Holding onto things needlessly only clutters what should be free.

I don't want to be a faith/trust glutton anymore.  Do you?

Stainless Steel Obsession

Thursday, September 26th, 2013

I'm clearly a person with many obsessions.  I get into things that just consume me: Downton Abbey, Strawberry Limeades, remodeling, clean laundry, my family and stainless steel countertops.

I'm obsessed!

I lay awake at night remodeling a house that I don't even live in yet.  I see visions of what I want in my next house and I can't stop thinking about it.  Look for yourself.  See I'm mad about this look.

must have

If I had to pick a kitchen….this sucker is the one!  I want everything in it.  I'll even keep the green dishes.

my counter

That counter!  That farm sink!  Pure loveliness!  Kiss kiss kiss it.  Hug it too!  I love it!

obsessed

Oh the whole package again.  The floors, the island, the doors/windows.  Magnificent.

It's settled!  Wherever I go.  Wherever I live…I must have a kitchen like one of these.  Can you imagine?

Me and my crazy obsessions!

Yard Sale-ing

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

I've been out of sorts for the last 6 months for many reasons.  One of the biggest has been the stuff accumulating in my garage.

I park there.  Or at least I used to.  I love my garage.  Matter of fact, I never want a house that doesn't have the garage option…ever.  I live in Indiana for goodness sakes!  It gets snowy and icy here.  I have never had to scrape my windows or de-ice my vehicle in order to go someplace.  In my current living condition……I will possibly experience that in the near future.

Late last night one of my neighbors shot me a message to tell me another neighbor was having a YARDSALE this weekend.  Music to my stacked to the ceiling ears!  So, now the wheels of WORK WORK WORK are turning in my head and I have this goal of setting up tables and pushing my junk selling all that clutter!

It's going to be hard work but I'm willing to do it.  I even invited another friend to join me who lives in the country and has trouble getting customers out her way.  Since we both work all week long our participation will have to be on Saturday only.

Here's to cleaning out that garage and making a little money off of the "stuff" no one wants anymore.

10 Tips For a Successful YARDSALE

1 – ADVERTISE  (or join in with your neighbors sale)

2 – BE ORGANIZED & CLEAN (keep like items in groups)

3 – PRICE FAIRLY (people will not pay what your item is worth) be willing to barter.

4 – STAGE ITEMS (setting tables with dishes, or furniture placement attracts shoppers)

5 – GUARD YOUR MONEY (don't leave your money box, ever)

6 – BE FRIENDLY (people are not always friendly back…but be nice anyway)

7 – HANG CLOTHES UP (if you have nicer clothing, display it as a store would)

8 – GIVE UP SENTIMENTALITY (if you are selling stuff you love….decide before you put it out there to LET IT GO!)

9 – HAVE HELP (don't try to manage a busy sale alone…two heads/bodies are better than one)

10 – BE READY EARLY (no matter how many languages you say NO EARLY BIRDS, there will always be those who come before your start time)  Be ready.

Good luck!  It's the perfect season for a successful yardsale, don't ya think?

 

 

One More Time

Tuesday, September 24th, 2013

I've been on a journey. Since 2008, my life as I knew it changed drastically. I'm at a good place now.

I can say…."I'm over it!".

 

forgive them

I ran into a friend who brought up some old hurts.  She didn't mean to nor did she do it to rehash old pain.  It just happened.  I felt my heart squeeze with ache and I realized….forgiveness is an ongoing process.  Always.

forgive

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm knocking on heavens door this morning with an old wound.  It happens.  Thankfully, God isn't surprised.  He is the ultimate healer.  He also understands.

not sorry

Maybe you get what I'm saying.  Maybe you don't.  Is there someone that you need to forgive, again?  Don't stay stuck in the sin of unforgiveness.  Free yourself by freeing them.  Even if you have to do it over and over again.

God can handle it.

Grace is the Word

Thursday, September 19th, 2013

I had no idea what was ahead of me at the beginning of this year….when I claimed MY WORD for 2013. No way could I have imagined all that would take place; the changes, the loss….the new, the sadness and most of all the chronic need for GRACE.

Time after time over the last 9 months circumstances have sent me banging on heaven's doors in search of His grace. Each time, I found it there. His grace is sufficient for me. This morning I opened up Beth Moore's blog to find the most beautiful example of GRACE I've ever read. Words that hold power and warmth….words that fill up and replace empty….words that prove GRACE is real! Real for me and real for you. (Thank you Ms Beth – I love your heart)

I'm sharing her words and linking to her post –> GRACE

 

Grace is an inflated raft that can submerge to the floor of a sea to save you.

Grace is the silver thread that stitches up the shreds of mangled souls.

Grace is the eye that finds us where it refuses, there, to leave us.

Grace calls the waitress to the table and sits her down to wash her feet.

Grace sees underneath the manhole on a street of self-destruction.

Grace is the air to draw a breath in the belly of a whale.

Grace is the courage to stand in the shamed wake of a frightful falling.

Grace is the only fire hot enough to burn down a living hell.

Grace waits with healing in His wings when we’re too mad to pray.

Grace is the gravity that pulls us from depravity.

Grace races us to the Throne when we make haste to repent and always outruns us.

Grace treats us like we already are what we fear we’ll never become.

Grace is the doorpost dripping red when the angel of death grips the knob.

Grace is the stamp that says Ransomed on a life that screams Ruined.

Grace sets a table before me in the presence of my enemy even when my enemy is me.

Grace is the cloak that covers the naked and the palm that drops the rock.

Grace is divine power burgeoning in the absence of all strength.

Grace proves God true and every self-made man a liar for the sake of his own soul.

Grace is the power to do what we cannot do for the Name of Christ to go where it has not been.

Grace is a room of a thousand mirrors, all reflecting the face of Christ.

 

Grace is…

The eye popping

Knee dropping

 

Earth quaking

Pride breaking

 

Dark stabbing

Heart grabbing

 

Friend mending

Mind bending

 

Lame walking

Mute talking

 

Slave freeing

Devil fleeing

 

Death tolling

Stone rolling

 

Veil tearing

Glory flaring

 

Chin lifting

Sin sifting

 

Dirt bleaching

World reaching

 

Past covering

Spirit hovering

 

Child defending

Happy ending

 

Heaven glancing

Feet dancing…

 

Power of the Cross.

 

 

Jesus Christ, Grace Incarnate.

Copyright 2013 Beth Moore

Yes.  It is.  Grace, it's all over me and it's all over you because of Him.  Don't let this world tell you otherwise.  Jesus knows how much to give and He lavishes it on each of us….when we need it most.

Just you wait and see.

found grace

Raise the Bar

Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

Out with the old.  I always hated this bar.  Or is it even a bar, really?

Tearing this out made me so happy!  Goodbye ugly fake bar.

 

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Don't ask why we didn't do this before now. I suppose we figured it wasn't as big of a deal as we do today.

It changes the whole kitchen. I love it!

My hubby is a master. He worked so hard trying to make it just as I envisioned it. The worst thing about the project was the mess and that is long forgotten now that I have this lovely new bar.

I can't stop comparing my house now when I look at real estate in Indy. Nothing is as nice and certainly not affordable. Whatever will I do?

This bar….raises the bar on all my future kitchen choices. Dang it!