{DIY} Canvas Wall Art

*this idea is not my own...I am guilty of seeing this sort of craft on Pinterest. Pretty much daily.*

I decided to recreate or mimic the idea for my own home. I shared this post on my personal blog and thought it would be fun to share with you. Mothers Day is coming up and this would be a fun gift for Mom. Or perhaps Teacher Appreciation...which is in May.

Here's how I completed this incredibly time consuming craft project.  

Supplies Needed:

Canvas

Ruler

Painters Tape

Scissors

Monogram

Acrylic Paint

Sponge brush

Hotglue or any adhesive of your choice (not pictured)

Patience....

measured out my 12x12 canvas into 2x2 squares

placed my painters tape in a V shape at the point of each square to create the chevron pattern I was looking to achieve

It did get a little harder as I went along. But I still measured out each area and kept the same amount of spacing in between each arch

 I mixed two colors to achieve the desired color.

Painted the canvas using a sponge brush. Painters table bubbled a little bit so I had to go back with a steady hand and repaint clean lines. *whomp*

Allow paint to dry a couple hours.

Attach your Monogram with adhesive of your choice. I used Hot glue because I am impatient.

I am currently working on a whole wall where this art piece is displayed. I can not wait to share with you the finished project. For now, you get just this project. *wink* what a tease right?

Why I Go To Church

For some reason this topic has been on my mind lately.  Actually, I think I wrote most of this blogpost in my head while sitting in church last weekend!

I was born and raised in the church.  I went to the same church for about 18 years.  After I graduated from high school I met the man that would eventually become my husband and we began searching for a church that had a young adult group that we liked.  We bounced around for a few years, went sporadically for a while and then settled in our current church that we have been a part of for about 7 years.

Why did I want to talk about this with you?  I think because for a lot of people "church" is actually kind of a dirty word.  I recently read an article that gave some super high statistic about how many young people who grow up in church leave the church once they graduate high school.  I've heard many of the reasons myself.  In fact, I've gone through periods in my life where I've walked away from church.  I never stopped believing, I just stopped going!  And do you know what?  It was never about anyone else.  It wasn't the church's fault.  It wasn't the people that went to church.  It was just about me.  There were times in my life that I wasn't really walking with the Lord and I didn't feel as close to Him as a result.  In the long run though there was always something pulling me back. ( I say "something" but I know Who that was!)  The longer I was away from church, the emptier I felt and the harder it was for me to feel connected with the Lord.

What do I get out of church?  First of all it is an opportunity to be surrounded by people who share similar beliefs and interests to me.  My husband and I love Fresno State football.  We buy season tickets every year (a financial splurge for sure) because it's a chance to spend time together doing something we love.  We've had the same seats for years and we love the people we sit with... they're our football family!  I have friends that are music lovers and live for going to concerts.  They are surrounded by people who love the same music - maybe even more than they do!  They are energized by the songs and the emotions the music evokes in them.  In college I was a Social Work major and I was so happy once I began my major courses. I was finally surrounded by students who had the desire to learn about the same things and teachers who had a wealth of knowledge to give me.  Do you guys get where I'm going with this?  These are the same reasons I go to church. 

I am by no means a Bible scholar.  The more I learn, the more interested I am in knowing more.  My pastor, like my college professors with their field of study, has studied the Word.  He has spent years of his life dedicated to understanding God's Word.  He has sat with mentors for countless hours asking questions and growing his faith.  Will I always agree with 100% of what he says?  Probably not.  I think an important part of faith is continuously asking questions and seeking answers and forming our own personal relationship with God.  Did I always agree with my professors in college?  Heck no!  Did I stop going to school because I didn't particularly like some of my teachers?  Of course not.  I have been to churches where I just could not warm up to the pastor.  At one church the pastor talked so fast I couldn't follow him from one thought to the next.  So I tried another church!  At one church (being honest here) I found the pastor really boring to listen to.  The church that I attend currently has a head pastor and three associate pastors and I love listening to each and every one of them, it just took time to find the right fit.  I find inspiration in the messages on Sunday, even when I have heard the stories before, it is amazing how an old message will find new meaning for me in my life.

Another reason that I enjoy going to church is for the worship.  The Bible says that we were created to worship the Lord!  I am one of those weirdos that can't be still when I hear music.  I love to dance and have spent my fair share of Saturday nights in the club shakin' my tail feather.  Yep, I just said that!  I don't dance like that in church people, don't worry!  But I do love to worship the Lord.  I feel music deep down inside and I feel my heart being drawn closer to the Lord as I sing His praises.  I notice that the more worship music I listen to throughout the week as well, the better my mood and attitude are.  It makes a difference!  By the way, there are many ways to use our gifts to worship the Lord.  I love that my church provides a wealth of service opportunities in our community that give me the chance to love on others. 

I also want to address something that I hear a lot.  One of the most popular reasons I hear for not going to church is that the people in church are hypocrites.  These Christians don't practice what they preach.  They sit in church in Sunday morning but have barely sobered up from Saturday night (that may have been me a time or two back in the day).  They smile and shake hands with the people sitting around them but gossip about those same people as soon as they walk out the doors.  They sing the worship songs but curse like sailors every other day of the week.  I get that that is a hard pill to swallow but let me ask you a question... should you give up pursuing your relationship with God because of choices that others make?  I guarantee that you will not find a church full of perfect patrons and that, my friends, is a GOOD thing!  Christ spent much of his free time with these very people.  He came to seek and to save the lost, not the already perfect.  The people that are in church but are struggling to love others the way they should or are not living a life consistent with what they say they believe are just as much in need of a savior as anyone else.  I beg you, please don't let the behaviors of others rob you of your opportunity to grow in the Lord.  Are there churches out there that have gotten off track and are unhealthy places to be? Absolutely.  Are they all that way?  Absolutely not!  I encourage you to find a place that you fit and make a habit out of attending regularly.  

Can you have a relationship with God and never attend church?  Sure. The Bible doesn't say in John 3:16 that whosever believes in Him and goes to church, shall have everlasting life.  It doesn't say in John 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me and the church! It is not one of the Ten Commandments that you go to church every week.  It does say that we are to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind.  Speaking for myself I think it would be truly hard to accomplish this on my own without ever being a part of a body of other believers.  The Bible says that we as believers are a community.  We are created for relationships and fellowship with the body of Christ is vital for our well being and growth.  It is important to be connected.  Our faith is personal but it's not meant to be private.  Like I talked about above, we surround ourselves in every other aspect of life with people who have similar interests, values and passions, why wouldn't we do that for our faith life?

I leave you with this verse that I really like and I think is appropriate: 
Ephesians 2:19 Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God's very own family, citizens of God's country and you belong in God's household with every other Christian!

Have a great weekend!

Fruits of the Spirit {Series} Self-Control

 Whelp, we are at that mid week mark. At this point this week has either been really great...or we are counting down the days until the weekend is here. In my past I could not wait to hit the Wednesday mark in my week. That meant...Friday night was only two days away. I could go out and get lost in the high of loud music, empty bottles and behave in a way I would be embarrassed if my Daddy saw. I would lose all self-control and act a fool.

We have been talking about The Fruits of the Spirit over the last few weeks. We have touched on Goodness, Faithfulness, Kindness and today I want to talk about self control.

 

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.

Self-Control: is the ability to control one's emotions, behavior, and desires in order to obtain some reward, or avoid some punishment.

Self-Control in the biblical sense would be to completely surrender to God. Before, when we are in the world, we may behave in was such as lying, cheating, adultery, jealousy, envious, drunkenness, judgemental...all of these are signs of being out of control. In some way or form just one of these characteristics could throw us in a downward spiral. Then that one day on Calvary, Christ was there to shed his blood with the cruxifiction. His selfless act...for our selfish flesh.

I believe we have all struggled with some sort of self control. As I shared going out would be a part in my life where I lost control. Perhaps you have no self-control when it comes to your finances? Or eating out of anger or depression? Gossip and judging other...at this point this has become a way of life. How is our lack of control servicing others? Is God able to use me if I can not even control my own behavior or desire?
 

Ephesians 5:21 New International Version (NIV)

²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

We are instructed to live in self-control. If the parents are out of control...the likeliness of the children behaving are slim to none. We are to lead a life that is productive and influential to others around us.

 

James 3:9-12 New International Version (NIV)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
 

In James he tells us that the same mouth we praise God should not be for shaming and cursing our fellow brothers and sisters. This branch bears no fruit...lack of self-control over your tongue is no service to God.

Romans 8:9 New International Version (NIV)

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

The Spirit of Christ works in our hearts helping us lead a controlled life as well as enables the fruit of self-control to grow to glorify God.

God wants to reward his faithful servants. I challenge you to make a list of areas in your life where you lack self control. Pray and ask God to help you in theses areas. You are not alone, I have my list too.

Judging Others

We weren't created to judge  others. 

 

That has been weighing heavy on my heart.

 

In my prayer time a few days ago God revealed to me a little revelation about judging others.

 

It is so important to grasp why we were created in the first place.

 

Our sole purpose of being here is for His kingdom and a relationship with Him.

 

God is the ONLY one who should be judging.

 

As women, it is so easy to judge the second we see how someone is dressed or see how someone looks.

 

The way we look on the outside does NOT show the condition of our hearts.

 

Just because someone doesn't look "right" doesn't give us the right to not talk to them or be ashamed to be seen with them.

 

Who made up the standards for looking "right" anyways? Only man did and NOT God.

 

God created us each as individuals with different likes and desires.

 

We start judging when our likes are different or someone lifestyle is different.

 

Even when we don't agree on lifestyles we aren't supposed to judge, we are supposed to LOVE.

 

God created us to love Him and love others.

 

Everyone of us should strive to see other people just like God sees us.

 

Be quick to forgive and not quick to judge.

 

Show His love towards the ones you judge.

 

 

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:7

 

What if those men judging Mary Magdalene showed her love instead of condemning her?

 

When we judge we aren't showing Christ's love.

 

Everyone sins differently but in the eyes of God, sin is sin no matter what we do.

 

This life is for so much more than worrying about what other people are doing.

 

Instead of judging how about we help them find the love of God!

 

We can boldly reach out.

 

You never know when the Holy Spirit will use you to help change someones life.

 

Use the moment to share God's love instead of being quick to judge, walking away from them.

 

John 7:24 ESV
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

 

Matthew 7:1-5 ESV
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Luke 6:37 ESV
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

 

Ephesians 4:29 ESV
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marriage: Power of Prayer

Prayer. One of the most powerful resources God gives us.

As I conclude my marriage series, our pastor concluded our ceremony with a challenge to our friends & families as witnesses.

We have a responsibility to pray for Chris and Tiffany! To encourage them in the hard times, and to rejoice with them in the happy moments. As we celebrate today, let us continue to remember them as we leave this beautiful ceremony. 

We are responsible to pray for other people & what makes my heart flutter is other people are responsible to pray for me & my relationship with my husband!

How simply amazing is that? What's even more amazing is God's promise in His faithful Word.

Matthew 18:19 -- Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

Two people! That's all it takes! To agree upon something & to be prayerful about the desires in your life.

So as our pastor ended our ceremony & placed the power of prayer upon our guests to pray for our marriage & support us... Nothing can break that power.

 Mark 11:24 -- Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, & it will be yours.

1 John 3:22 -- And receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands & do what pleases Him.

John 15:7 -- If you remain in Me & My Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, & it will be done for you.

{part one: Respect // part two: Forgive // part three: Leader // part four: Love}  

Resurrection Rolls

HAPPY EASTER!! I am SO entirely thrilled to give you to my sister for the day. She is a young woman, a whole whopping 18 years old that has the biggest heart for Christ. She has been SUCH an inspiration to me throughout my walk with Christ. 

 

I will hand it over to her now :)  

 

My name is Taylar (I am the one on the left)! I am Tiffany's (bride) little sister! I really wanted to share this idea on the blog that I found on Pinterest... so here it goes and I hope you enjoy!!! :]

 

 

With it being Easter, this is an opportunity for you and your family to start a new tradition! These are called Resurrection Rolls!! Each ingredient represents something used to prepare Christs body for burial!

Resurrection Rolls

-Large Marshmallows

-Melted Butter (less than 1/2 a stick)

-A Mixture of Cinnamon and Sugar

-A Can of refrigerated Crescent Rolls

1. First open the can of crescent rolls and separate them into triangles. (This represents the linen for covering the dead)
2. Dip and roll one marshmallow representing Christ's body) into the melted butter(The butter represents the oil used for anointing the dead body)
3. Then roll the marshmallow into the cinnamon and sugar mixture (The mixture represents the spices used in preparing the body for burial)
4. Place the marshmallow in the center of one triangle. Fold the crescent around the marshmallow and tightly pinch the edges together leaving no openings. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
5. place the tray in the oven (which represents the tomb)  and bake according to the package directions. Close the "tomb" and wait...

... when it is time to open the "tomb" the marshmallow has disappeared!! When cooking the marshmallow melts away and all remaining is the puffed crescent roll, just like Christ rose from the dead, all that remained was the linen burial wrappings.

I have had these a couple times and they are both tasty and teach about Christ rising again!!! :] Have a wonderful Easter celebrating how our savior died just for us and rose again! Our wonderful King died for us... what a huge blessing to know that we are saved from sin and are forgiven time and time again!! :]

~Taylar

Heart Shaped Buttermilk Biscuits

 

 

If you were a part of my husband's family you would know that his grandma makes the best biscuits around town so his family thinks. Let me just tell you that nothing compares to grandma's cooking in their opinion.

 

I have been married to my hubby for 7 years now and for 7 years I have been trying to come close to her biscuits & gravy. Not only is her biscuits & gravy "the best" but so is her yams & sugar cookies at Christmas. My hubby has let me know that I just about got the yams right and now....the biscuits and gravy thanks to this recipe!

 

whew, thought I'd never even come close. Everytime I'd make biscuits and gravy my husband would remind me that "ya, they are ok but nothing like Grandma Veda's."

 

Here is the recipe! Delicious, flakey and SUPER easy. No yeast and no waiting time for them to rise. Just make & bake!

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups  all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoon  salt
• 6 tablespoons butter, cold, and cut into little cubes
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• A little bit of extra flour when you flatten your dough out

 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450° F
2. In a medium bowl and using a wooden or big plastic  spoon, combine all dry ingredients.
3. Using fork, add butter cubes into the dry ingredients. Blend, without over blending, butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles course meal.
4. Add the buttermilk slowly, and stir until the mixture is just combined. It will still be someone dry, but should hold together when pressed.
5. Dump dough mixture out onto a slightly floured board.
6. Using your hands, gently pat the dough out until it is approximately 1/2 inch thick. Do not over handle the dough and do not use a rolling pin... simply flatten the disc out with your hands.
7. Starting at the very edge, use a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut the biscuits. (You should get 10 biscuits from this recipe).
8. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, with sides of each biscuit touching another.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly brown on the top.
10. Remove from the oven and brush with the 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
11. Serve warm with a butter and honey or gravy.

 

Recipe adapted and changed from DineandDish.net