{DIY} Decorative Topiary

Supplies

Styrofoam Ball (size up to you)

Styrofoam Cube

Spanish Moss

Glue Gun/Sticks

Newspaper for easy clean up

Stand for Topiary (mine is from Ross)

Rope or jute

Round Dowels

Green thread (optional)

Place the Styrofoam cube inside of your container. my cube was slightly larger then the container and I just shoved in inside. Nice firm fit.

Insert dowel inside sphere and cube (centered) Use hot glue to secured hold.

The rope I had on hand was larger then I needed. I unraveled the strands to form smaller stripes.

Jute would also be a good item to use here.

I wrapped the rope strand around the dowel for a "wood" effect. Gluing as I wrapped.

This is a must...you must watch Duck Dynasty while you craft. Otherwise, your whole project will be incomplete. (*wink) Add hot glue to any area on your sphere and attach moss. I started with the top of the sphere on my first topiary, but I would recommend the bottom by the dowel as the area to start with. I did this for my second topiary and it was much easier.

This project WILL be messy! To secure all the loose pieces I used green thread, wrapped it all over my topiary. You can only see the thread if you look really close.

Consider it a "hair net" for your topiary.

 

 

Billboard Outreach...{Funnies}

Do you ever read billboards when you are driving?

I do. My favorite ones are the huge black billboards that say..."I saw that...God"

I was on Pinterest tonight and I found these really good Church Greeting signs.

I love that...if people are like me...and read them, that sign may change their life.

A catchy quote on a sign gets stuck in your head and then you can't forget it.

Kind of like the McDonalds..."Fishy Fishy". If that just got stuck in your head...I'm sorry.

 

So here are some pretty neat/funny Church billboard signs I found.

What a way to step out of the box on outreach.

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Forming Healthy Habits: Spiritual Life

The next few weeks I will be doing a series on forming healthy habits. Why you might ask? Because it's something I've been working on myself and this is one way to help me stay accountable. I'm a bit of a lazy person.. okay maybe not lazy, but yeah a little lazy. I try things like diets, exercise, bible studies with all the intention and motivation to complete them until the end. But let's be honest... that rarely happens! So far I've done 3 important things every day for the last week. I've been in the Word, I've run/walked/or hiked, and I have eaten healthy. So that's what I'm going to challenge you with too. Forming healthy spiritual, physical, and emotional/mental habits.

First and most important - is our spiritual habits. Our daily walk with God, our prayer time, and how we live and love others.

Daily time in the Word:
     This has always been one of the hardest things for me to do everyday. Whether I have time for it or not, I struggle with doing this daily. I don't know why... sometimes I don't have bible studies to do and don't know what to read. Sometimes I get busy or tired and forget. But here's some pointers that I have found helpful:
     1. Pick the same time everyday to be in the Word. Whether it's morning, lunch hour, or right before bedtime, choose the same time each day and work it into your daily routine. Make it a priority. Turn off the TV, get off the computer, stay off your phone and social media. Make your Bible, your priority.
     2. Get a book/bible study that applies to something you want to learn. I used to just pick a spot in my Bible and start reading. Yes, God can use anything in His Word to speak to you. But you are more likely to continue reading daily if you have a little bit of a guide. I am currently doing The Power of a Praying Woman (book and study guide) by Stormie Omartian and want to continue with Power of a Praying Wife and Praying Parent. It has challenged not only the way I pray but the way I think.
     3. Find someone to keep you accountable. I'm working on this. I need good friends to keep me spiritually accountable. I've been in different relationships where I'm the mentor and or I'm the mentee. I don't know where God wants me in this moment of my life, but I know that good friends who can keep you spiritually accountable in your actions, behaviors, and thoughts are a blessing.

Prayer
     1. Prayer Journal A prayer journal as been a staple in my life. I can write out my prayers to God, keep track of the people and purposes I'm praying for. I can look back and see how God has answered prayers, write down verses that God puts on my heart, etc.
     2. Pray for Confession, Forgiveness, and Growth Another important component of prayer is confession and forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 Not only should we confess and ask forgiveness but
     3. Pray for others  We all know family or friends that do not know Christ and one of the biggest reasons to pray for others, is to pray for their salvation. But praying for health, healing, guidance, relationships for others is important as well.

The Greatest Commandments
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-38

     1. Serve Others Christ calls us to serve others and a great example of this is washing of his own disciples feet, the dirtiest part of their body in their time. So humble yourself and serve someone. Be willing to help others in way that they need it without expecting anything in return. Do something because you know your spouse loves it, even if you don't. Help your church in their service day. Give of your time because it's for the glory of God. Just make sure your heart is in the right place.
     2. Love Others Christ's second commandment is to love one another just as you love yourself. This is simple. Love people where they are at. Don't judge them, don't gossip about them. You don't always know their story and it's wrong to assume things about their lives. Just be there for your family and friends... love them, respect them, and pray for them.

Follow along with me the next few Thursdays as we develop more healthy habits.

Fruits of the Spirit {Series} Peace

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Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

Loves! We are almost done with the Fruits of the Spirit series. We only have a few more traits to cover. I shared with you Self-Control, Faithfulness, Goodness, and Kindness. Today we will cover PEACE.

When I think of Peace...Can hear the Gaithers singing Peace like the River. "I got peace like a river, Flowin' deep in my life, I got peace like a river And you know it feels so right". When I think of Peace...I think of the Prince of Peace. Which is what we call our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When I think of Peace...I think of my soul and heart at rest.

Learning to practice the Fruit of Peace...I feel is, having peace with yourself, your brother and sisters and peace with God.

Peace within one self: Brother or Sister, you have taken the step to accept Christ as your Savior. All you have done. and will do..is forgiven. Be at peace with yourself. YOUR GOD IS GREATER THEN ANY SIN YOU HAVE COMMITTED.
John 14:27 (NIV) ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Peace with our fellow Brothers and Sisters: Living life not holding a grudge. Walking in harmony with those we encounter. This is a biggie. I struggle with this myself. A crazy driver cuts me off on the road...immediately I am not a very nice person. A definite struggle with a peaceful attitude.
James 3:18 (NIV)¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Peace within God: TRUST HIM!
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Living without peace will only lead us to down fall. Why would we do that when we know all that God has promised us. I do not want the Lord to be disappointed in me when he returns. What say you? Can we STRIVE to live in Peace?
I leave you with this scripture.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 New International Version (NIV)

²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Standing Still

Do you ever have those days where you feel insignificant? Like what you are doing with your life isn't enough? It can be overwhelming. I know my main priority in this world right now is my children, but when they are all grown will I look back and have regrets for not doing enough? Am I really doing what I'm called to do? How to we even know what our calling is?

I feel like something is missing. There are no big goals being accomplished. Motherhood is putting all those things on the back burner. I feel like I'm at a stand still. God are you there? I need you right now. I need direction.

John Bevere said it best. When you think God isn't speaking, HE is. He's telling us to stay where we are and keep doing what we're doing.

Sometimes when God is quiet, He's speaking the loudest. We don't always have to be changing and rearranging. It's ok to stay where we're at for a while. There is purpose in the stand still. It can be a time that we're going neither forward nor backwards. In these stand still times, God can change our hearts and mature us for what is to come.

In these periods of time, we can simply just focus on God's love and find peace in it. Seek His face and know He is still there in the midst of the silence.

Sometimes in the silence is where you find direction.

Just stay where you are. It's ok. Just stay and seek His face.

It's like I'm standing in the middle of a tornado. My balance is solid. The world is slowly flying by me as I stare at objects whirling across my face. I don't move. I trust that in the midst of the rushing wind, He will protect me. Stay still He says. I have plans for you but don't take a step yet. It's not the right time and you will get hurt. There is beauty where you are. You just have to see it like I see it.


Instead of worrying what your next move in life will be, just sit back and watch God move.

God will tell you to when to move, so as for me. I'm trusting Him in the stand still and I'm ok with it.

How can I move on my from my past?

We've all made mistakes, we've all sinned. Not one single person has walked a sinless life except Jesus. He walked a sinless life for our sinful lives.

We all have a past. Yesterday is our past, 4 hours ago is our past, 2 minutes ago is our past.

How do you move on from your past? What do you do? Who do you turn to?

My mom told me a few weeks ago - Changed by Rascal Flatts was made for you. I listened to it & cried my little eyes out. I thought, it was made for me.

But it was made for every sinner.

I became a believer in 2005. I've been a sinner since 1985. And I am still a sinner in 2013. In 2008 I made some pretty radical decisions in my life & became in my eyes one of the worlds biggest sinners.

I thought, who was I? How could I do that? Do I have any feelings?

I was emotionless. I don't even know who I was. I still have no clue. But the devil got a hold of me & I back slid. Back slid so far I never thought I'd be able to get up again.

But I did.

So how do you move on from your past? - Forgive. Forgive yourself. Forgive others that hurt you. Forgive each other, just as Christ forgave you. -- Ephesians 4:32b

What do you do? - Bury your heart in the Word. I have hidden Your Word in my heart. -- Psalm 119:11a

Who do you turn to? - God. Repent, then, & turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. -- Acts 3:19

So easily it's hard to run, run away when you sin. I mean I know I did. Now when I sin, I immediately take it to the throne. God's love for us is so unconditional, He will love us no matter what we do. He already knows what sin we will commit tomorrow & the next day. But if you do not seek Him out & repent of your sins you are going to live a life in bondage & in your past. 

Hebrews 10:17-18 -- Their sins & lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Isaiah 43:18-19a -- Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!

Isaiah 43:25 -- I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, & remembers your sins no more.

Isaiah 65:16b -- For the past troubles will be forgotten & hidden from my eyes.

Philippians 3:13b -- Forgetting what is behind & straining toward what is ahead.

The Greatest Counselor

A little over a week ago we celebrated Good Friday... the moment in history when Jesus Christ gave the entire world hope for eternity with Him by giving up His life and dying a horrific death on a cross. He did this to pay the penalty for the sin this world commits and show His amazing love for us. And we know Jesus Christ conquered the grave, came back to life, and ascended into Heaven 3 days later. Praise the Lord!

Jesus had about 12 very close friends and followers, disciples, who heard His most important teachings during the last 3 years of Jesus's life and were given the mission on carrying on the Gospel. During the last night of life on Earth, Jesus sat down for a significant dinner with the disciples to pass on the last moments of teaching. During this supper, Jesus told the disciples that when He left the Earth, they would still have another Counselor with them to guide them. 

John 14:15-17 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

John 14:21-22 "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will beloved by my Father and I too will love him and how myself to Him."

John 14:23-26 "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teachings. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me, will not obey my teachings. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. All this I have spoken while still you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

Love = faith = obedience. Love, like faith, cannot be separated from obedience. If you claim to love Christ, then He commands you to obey Him as well. You cannot just claim love without obedience and faith in that. And because God has sent His Holy Spirit to be a part of us, He speaks truth in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor and guides us to make decisions and choices that will follow glorify Christ. When we are one with God and in tune with Him, we are more able to hear and feel His Holy Spirit. 

Have you ever noticed that? When you haven't been in the Word, haven't been in prayer, and have strayed away from God... you don't feel His presence as much? But when you dig in to the Word, you're following God's commandments and teachings, you're praying and have a real relationship with God... you feel His presence, His Holy Spirit, deep in your soul. You are lead to make decisions that you feel peace about because they come from the Holy Spirit. You feel conviction from the Holy Spirit when you know there is a part of your life that is not falling in line with Christ's plan for you. 

Don't ignore the greatest Counselor of all... The Holy Spirit.