She did what she could...

"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. " - Mark 14:6-8a

I was reading the book Take Flight, a Sisterchicks Devotional... The first sentence Robin says: "Last week was awful! Just awful. I was trying to accomplish three weeks' worth of stuff in three days. Everything I put my hand to turned complicated.... Every unfinished task was linked to something that needed to be taken care of first, so instead of dividing my problems, I multiplied them" oh, if that doesn't explain the day I've had nothing does!! I was at the gym (yep I was at the gym) this morning and reading this while riding the bike... I think I laughed out loud... It was my day in print!!! and I'm not alone... and I can't let the enemy rob me of my joy. Then Cindy says "Has that dark-winged vulture guilt told you lies? Girlfriend it's time to inform that old buzzard, "you're not welcome here!" AMEN!

This whole idea has been a wonderful "light bulb" moment for me... I can only do the best I can do... and it has to be enough... With that attitude the projects have gone well... I finished what I needed to get done in time... how do I know it's enough? God is guiding... all I know is that it needs to be finished by the 7th... and I'm not going to let that piece of knowledge scare the wits out of me!!!

Week 6 -

Project #1 - leaves are now on the tree... the leaves were a stumbling block for me... I didn't have the cutting capabilites for heavier steel and the lighter stuff wasn't welding quite well... so I'm sitting in my driveway - and had a light bulb moment... there by the garage door was the metal scrap from when I have a company cut me a sheet of sunflower petals... oh my word - the "negative" space (the left over scrap) were, with some imagination, the shape of leaves!! oh course they weren't exact, but when was "art" suppose to be exact when creating an abstract piece? I decided to use the leaves sparingly and love the effect!

this image was taken in the worship center - there's a microphone in front of it (don't worry it's not part of the project)

Project #2 - well it's taking shape... my hands hurt quite a bit from the wire and sharp edges of the perferated steel... it was like sewing with wire - even used a large craft needle for some of it... oh, my!!!

anyway... the rough part is over with... and this next week the designing starts...

until then, remember just do the best you can... and chase that dark-winged vulture of guilt out of your life!

Pray Continually

I had no idea how much I was going to learn from this experience... when I accepted the challenge to make two metal art pieces for church, I had made it all about me... and God laughed!

Today, another lesson... pray continually... and have thoughtful, profound people in my life that remind me that God is my joy and how good life is...

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today was another reminder. God has a plan for me, and me running around in a state of panic won't change that... I woke up this morning with a list a mile long of things that needed to be done... and all before 2:30 when I go over to watch Emma Grace. I'm going to be gone all day Saturday and needed to drop off the metal art in the morning - so everything had to be done Friday... the same for the 2nd project - and no time... but on top of that, I also needed to cook and prepare for singles group...

In my state of panic I passed on walking with a friend and going to a Bible study was out of the question because there was no time for a shower... and my dear friend (who I stood up) said: "Take a deep breath, say a prayer for peace (I'll say it for you too!) and remember you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time!!!!! I'm sure your bible study will appreciate you not coming with metal flakes sticking to your sweat.... God is in control of your projects!"

another wow (with a smile). God is in control... here I am, Friday night: the project #1 is complete for this week... and project #2 is almost done... praise God!!!

So here's the update - Week 5

Project #1 - additional branches - looking like a tree? yep, I think so...

Project #2 - and the structure is starting to change... hmmm, what could it be????

He will sit as a refiner...

I’m sure that you all have received the email about the silversmith and the comparison of our relationship with the Lord…

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Malachi 3:3
“in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities-- How do you know when the silver is fully refined? The silversmith said: "That's easy - when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eyes on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. He knows the bitter, weary way. (Revelation chapters 2 & 3)."

A friend had reminded me of this story earlier this week… oh how it really comes to mind today. Over the last few days I have been stressing over the welding projects – what to do next to enhance the project without revealing what it is… then I got an email asking me if I could put “more interest” in it… I have to agree it is somewhat plain – but once I starting putting in detail, it will be obvious what it will be… so I have modified the projects end result… but I do have to share something that a very profound friend said to me in regards to this:

Just think of all the "not interesting enough" people God molded into incredible servants for His work. People who went unnoticed or thought not to be enough by others. Isn't it funny how we make judgments not realizing that God is molding and shaping. I'll be honest, when I looked at the pipe on stage, I was thinking, "HMMM, not much happening yet." I was thinking "Pretty unspectacular." "What, just another little pipe added?" But I realize that my thoughts are just what God wanted me to have. How can I judge when I can not possibly know or see God's
design? God is in control and he must be working because I just learned a whole lot!!

WOW, isn’t that an amazing analogy? I'm so renewed & excited with my project now!

Ok, now to the projects…

Week 4: Project 1... it's starting to transform from a stick...

Project 2: I added finials and vines with leaves. Looks like they're leaning a little... Guess I need to fix that now!

until next week be a blessing to someone - stop & listen... you would be amazed at how it will touch their lives...See you next week... Blessings!

“The Shaping of God’s Servant”

It is a glorious day in the Northwest. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and my garden is dancing! And best of all, God is smiling! Can you tell, I’m really feeling wonderful and positive today…

The beginning… I received an email from church a month ago saying that Matt was going to start a new series: “The Shaping of God’s Servant”. And what they would like to do is show different art projects in their various stages of completion. So each week for the next 8 weeks I will bring my project in – showing the different stages…from scrap to hopefully a work of art! Well you know me, I’m always up for a challenge… but not one challenge, noooooo I had to suggest I do TWO projects!!! At this point I’m ok… but I’ll apologize in advance when weeks 7 and 8 come along… there’s no guarantees that this blog writer will have any semblance to being sane and the words making any sense!!!

I wish I would have thought of blogging from the very start, but it’s week 3 now… so I’ll try to catch you up… one of the projects I’m doing is one I wanted to do for several years, ever since Mary and I went to Alaska… I had all the scrap, just not the inclination to get started… So this challenge was the boost I needed to get back into welding… and since these projects are in the front of the worship center, on stage, I really need to do an exceptional job… At first I made this all about me… fretting, fussing and down right stressing about everything… and of course nothing was working right… then a light bulb moment, this project isn’t about me, it’s about God and how He can create something out of junk (including us!)… 6 years ago I was given this awesome opportunity to learn how to create art out of metal… who knew God was shaping me for this event… so, I am turning it over to God and letting Him guide me though this adventure…

Ok, back to the project…

First week: a pile of scrap metal

Second week: Project 1, I found an umbrella stand a year or more ago in a "free" box of a garage sale... so I cleaned up the stand (ground the tube to silver & painted the base black) and then used the grinder to take the rust off a piece of pipe. (sorry, no picture for this step) Project 2, cut down a piece of electrical conduit… ground on it to shine it up… I had found two old wheels at a garage sale – had no idea at the time why… my problem was attaching the pipe to the wheel… thanks to God and a friend, I found the solution (wasn’t finding it on my own) hears a picture of project 2… I had to put it on a plywood base because the center of the wheel stuck out farther than the wheel part...

Project #2

Third week (this week): Project 1, I added additional height by welding a second length of pipe, ground off the rust, and add texture to the pipes.



Project 2, created a second stand – so now there are two…

So what am I making? You’ll just have to wait and see… Until next time, have a glorious a week… embrace what God’s placed in your path – whether praise worthy or challenged… you have no idea how God will use it down the road!