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October 22, 2015

Fall is Life

Fall.
Scarves, sweaters, beanies.
Pumpkin spice everything.
Light rains and picnics for lunch.

There are so many reasons why I absolutely love fall. I’m a person who loves action and getting things done. Fall, for some reason, feels like that for me. A time of winding down the year and really accomplishing all those long to do lists that were left behind for beach trips and summer fun. It doesn’t hurt that fall also brings my birthday.

Apart from all the amazing things that fall brings, God tends to use this time of year as a refocusing for me. He beckons me back to a routine with Him that was crushed by my summer calendar. This year has been no different for me. God is bringing me back to Him, and back to one of my favorite Bible stories: Mary and Martha.

Luke paints the story perfectly in Chapter 10 of his Gospel. Jesus entered into yet another village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home along with her sister, Mary. While Mary sat and listened to Jesus telling stories to the other guests, Martha was distracted by all the serving that needed to be done. Not only was there a lot that needed to be done, but Mary was not helping her at all.

I always put myself in Martha’s shoes at this point in the story. The SON OF GOD came to her village, where she grew up, and wanted to come into her house. No matter how clean her house probably was before Jesus got there, I imagine her thinking that it definitely was not clean enough for the Messiah and all these guests. Oh, all the guests! Better start cooking a four course meal for them and make sure they have something to drink. Like right now! Where is Mary? She said she would help, and now she’s just hanging out? Not. Fair.

Mary goes a little further than I would, and she calls out her sister -in front of everyone.

“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” (Luke 10:40, ESV)

And Jesus is so kind to Martha, telling her that she is anxious about so many things, but has forgotten the most important thing: spending time with Him.

What? Not doing things was better? That doesn’t compute with my checklist loving, to the minute planning brain. But it’s what Jesus wants. Time with me.

So, every fall I have to refocus, and I have this feeling I’m not alone. This time around, Jesus is reminding me to be more of a Mary, less of a Martha. With my long list of to-dos, I still need time to rest in Him. I need to be intentional, but it will so be worth it.

What has God been teaching you this fall? Anything exciting? Share with us!

October 20, 2015

Stop. Singing. Oceans.

No, don’t stop singing Oceans. But before you do, read this.

We’ve all heard the song “Oceans” by Hillsong. If you haven’t: WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING? It is one of those go-to worship songs in churches. You know, the kind that gets really loud because everyone actually knows the words. The kind where you can actually keep your eyes closed the whole song without having to look at the projected lyrics. Where hands suddenly fill the air in praise. It’s easily a church favorite. Don’t get me wrong, it is a beautiful song with a beautiful message, but about a year ago I stopped singing the chorus.

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

You are probably thinking – “Haley! You are crazy! There is absolutely nothing wrong with that chorus.” You would be right. There isn’t. So why did I stop singing something that so many people find solace in?

I was scared.

Terrified really.

Scared of the lyrics to a song.

The lyrics are not just words but prayers and words of worship to my Creator – to my King. The words that we sing have meaning. They matter. Since the words hold meaning, we should understand what we are singing.

Beginning chorus:

1. “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.”

Summed up, you are asking to be led by the Spirit wherever the Spirit wants you to go. This has become a common prayer in church. “Lead me, Lord.” We pray to be led by the Spirit in different areas like talking to someone about our faith or to even having the Spirit lead us when we are making a big decision, such as choosing a college or career path. Don’t get me wrong, that is great! We need to be led by the Spirit.

To go where your trust is without borders means you have to be taken somewhere or put in a situation where you are not comfortable.

“Yeah Haley, I could do that. I could get uncomfortable for the Kingdom.”

You say that now, but can you say that when you are on your hands and knees crying because your best friend was just killed? Yet through it someone came to Christ because they saw your persistence of faith. Imagine your heart broken after a man has left you – a moment we as women never want to experience. Yet, through that we are able to run to Jesus and dive deeper in our relationship with Him. The song does not always equate to an uncomfortable experience such as being in a room of people you don’t know. It could look like depression, the loss of a loved one, losing your job and having to give up your lifestyle, being broken up with by the love of your life. The list goes on and on. Essentially this is what you are singing: to be taken to a place that will force your trust to grow. Trust grows when you go through hard things. Just like any other relationship this happens with God too.

2 & 3. “Let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me.”

We all know that walking on water is not humanly possible. Matthew 14:25-31 talks about the act of trust.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”he said, “why did you doubt?”

To “walk on water” means being able to trust in Jesus in a impossible situation. When Jesus says “come”, you can go to Him and that He will pull you up if you start to sink.

4. “Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander.”

Going with the whole literal oceans theme here, imagine you are walking in the shallow part of the ocean. You can see the little fish swimming around your feet yet you’re comfortable. As you start walking farther out you can’t see as much and are starting to go under the waves. Now imagine that you go even farther, farther than you would normally go. Far enough out to not be able to see any land. Are you scared yet?

Sometimes God takes us farther out than we ever intended to go. Why the heck would you pray to go deeper and farther out when you could just stay where it is safe and comfortable?

I thought that I would never sing Oceans again until I zeroed in on the last two lines of the chorus:

5 & 6 “And my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior.”

If we put our total trust in Jesus, our faith will be made stronger. By going through these inevitable life situations, you will find that God is the only hope you have. You will see that there is beauty in hitting the bottom and reaching out for Jesus to save you. That is where trust will grow. Without getting uncomfortable, it’s difficult to achieve. These last two lines are a reminder that when those situations happen you know that your faith is being made stronger and that you are in the presence of God.

So where does that leave us? Well for me, after feeling dragged through lines 1 through 4 in my own life, I was tired, hurt and lines 5 & 6 just didn’t feel like the end result had been worth it all. After time had passed, I have seen over and over again the beauty of what God did when I was living lines 1 through 4. I have seen how others have come to Christ through my pain. I have seen my faith grow tenfold because of it.

So, should you stop singing Oceans? Absolutely not. Whether you sing this song or not, those trials will come. Bad situations in life are inevitable. Do you hear me? Inevitable. The difference is, when you are going through 1-4 will you remember there is a 5 & 6 in that chorus? And that 5 & 6 is everything.

October 15, 2015

Ladies to Know on Etsy – Art/Home Decor Edition

Hannah Pickering of Hannah Pickering Art
https://www.etsy.com/shop/hannahpickeringart

Facebook: Hannah Pickering Art
Instagram: @hannahpickering
Twitter: @hannahloveswes
Pinterest: @hannahloveswes

Name, age, location: My name is Hannah Pickering. I’m 25. I live in Nashville, TN.
How long have you been on Etsy?: I have been an Etsy seller since May, 2013.
What is your speciality?: Painting with acrylics. I make customizable abstract designs, paint photo-realistic flowers and leaves, and do hand-lettering.
How did you know that your speciality was a gift from God?: I’ve always loved making things. As a little kid, anything artsy was a favorite activity. Yet as I got older, art was something that became less and less important until I didn’t draw or paint at all for several years. Then, right after graduating from college, I found myself desperately needing a creative outlet and God renewed my love for painting. In 2013, newly married and newly relocated to Nashville, I wanted unique wall art to decorate my house with and couldn’t find what I was looking for – so I made it! I thought other people might be looking for my style of art, too, so I opened my Etsy shop. Knowing that my art is a gift from God is a relatively new realization for me. Arts and crafts had always been something that I’d enjoyed but never thought of as particularly important and definitely not something that was my exclusive calling. After running my Etsy shop for two years, it started feeling like it was eclipsing my real calling – music and ministry – and I seriously considered closing my shop and giving up on painting altogether this summer. However, God used many people (both close friends and complete strangers) over the past few months to speak into my life and creativity to refine and refocus the purpose of my art.Now, rather than just making art that I think is interesting and hoping it sells, I focus on making art that has a positive message and points people to God. This shift in purpose has shown me that God has plans for my art – and that my specialty is a gift from Him.
What were you doing before Etsy?: My Etsy shop has always been part-time; my “real job” is traveling the world and leading worship with my husband. Before Etsy, I guess you could say I was a student. I started my Etsy shop right after college (I have a bachelors degree in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute). Although my degree has nothing to do with art, it has everything to do with the mission behind my little art business.
How do you get inspired?: I find inspiration everywhere! Reading Scripture, being surrounded by nature, browsing the latest trends at my favorite shops, spending way too much time on Pinterest.
Tell us about your workspace: My art studio is a small sunroom on the back of my 1950’s cottage style house. It used to be a porch but was converted unto a laundry room long before my husband and I bought the house. Before we moved in, we moved the laundry hookups into a utility room and now I have my desk right where the washer and drier used to be (you can see the original cabinets right above my desk). It’s so personal and cozy – I love it!
Favorite verse?: John 13:34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Kelsey of ProjectWildflower
https://www.etsy.com/shop/projectwildflower

Instagram: @project.wildflower

Name, age, location: Kelsey, 22, California (Central Valley)
How long have you been on Etsy?: I opened my Etsy shop in late February of this year. I haven’t quite pursued making it as successful as I would like for it to be, but I plan to focus even more time and attention on it in the coming months ahead.
What is your speciality?: You know, to be honest, I don’t know that I have one. When you look at my Etsy shop, you don’t see one thing in specific, and you most likely never will. I chose to name my shop ProjectWildflower because I am so infatuated by the way that wildflowers grow so freely and with a sort of reckless abandon. They are not confined and are unencumbered by any restrictions as to how and where they grow in the wild. It has become sort of a project in my life and for myself to be intentional as to grow and develop in the same way that wildflowers do; with a free spirit, a sense of bravery, and an unwillingness to conform or to settle. Along with that comes my hunger to try new things and to push myself to create anything that I’d like to. You will see though, a variety of woven wall hangings available in the ProjectWildflower Etsy shop. I taught myself to weave in early February and have fallen in love with it, so I plan to always have a few weavings to choose from in my shop. Painted wood slices also seem to sell really well for me. I have just pretty recently listed them in the shop, but at craft events and fairs in which I have had booths, they have definitely been the biggest seller. So though I don’t have a specific specialty, weavings and wood slices are most likely going to stick around for a long while!
How did you know that your speciality was a gift from God?: Crafts, and just sort of creating, has always come very naturally to me. I’ve never forced it and I have never lost even an ounce of passion that I have towards crafting. I think that when someone is so passionate about something that it becomes sort of their safe haven and what they look to when they want nothing to do with anything else… that is when you know that the Lord created them with the intention to live out said passion. I know I’m supposed to create. Just as Christ creates the most extraordinary things out of dust, out of nothing, I want to create beautiful things.
What were you doing before Etsy?: Before Etsy, I was still creating. I have always loved to make things, and decorated my apartment with a good amount of items I made myself. I ran out of places to put things, but still wanted to create, so I started to giveaway my creations as gifts. I just graduated college in May, so school was my main focus. Papers and exams sort of took over my life for those four years, as well as managing my local ice cream shop, which was really fun.
How do you get inspired?: I always think this is kind of a tough question, because I really don’t know! However, I do know that color pallets inspire me. I was once in a Target parking lot, and had parked my Jeep next to a flowerbed. There were really light colored flowers filling the soil, blue, yellow and purple, next to the black asphalt parking space. Thus, the Greater is He wood slice was born. A black background with white lettering, just as the parking lot was black asphalt with white painted parking space lines. The words are trimmed in pale blue, yellow, and purple flowers, just as the flowerbed trimmed the parking spot. Interesting, right? Point being, there is inspiration everywhere. It comes in all forms, and I am open to being inspired by the most random situations everyday.
Tell us about your workspace: Oh boy. My workspace is all over the place. Currently I don’t have a designated area that I work in, however, I plan to in the very near future. I’ve been working on how to turn one area of my bedroom into kind of a mini studio type space for all of my ProjectWildflower doings. I weave on my bed and I sketch on the couch and I paint at the kitchen table and I staple in the back yard and I glue things in the entry room and I sand in the driveway. Like what? I’m really a hot mess 24/7.
Favorite verse?: This is always hard for me. The Bible is composed of so many powerful and promising verses that fill me with a sense of calmness and make it so hard to choose. But Hebrews 10:23 never fails to leave me with a feeling of such comfort satisfaction, and hopefulness. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith, for He who promised is faithful.” Our God is a faithful God. He always has been and He always will be.

Kristin Hornstein of WinsomeEasel
https://www.etsy.com/shop/WinsomeEasel

Instagram: @winsomeeasel

Name, age, location: Kristin Hornstein, 28, Nashville, Tennessee.
How long have you been on Etsy?: I opened my Etsy shop in June of 2014, so just a little over a year.
What is your speciality?: Hand-lettering and illustration.
How did you know that your speciality was a gift from God?: I’ve loved words for as long as I can remember. From the time I was 12 or 13 I’ve kept a small journal of quotes and phrases I found truth in, and I’ve always believed in the ability of words to transform the world. Think about it: words have the power rally or ruin a cause, to build up or tear down a whole nation, and to heal or break a heart. Hand lettering just made sense for me because it married my love of words and my desire to create. I don’t know that there was a specific moment when began to think about creating as a gifting, it felt more like a waste or act of neglect to NOT be making things. At some point I just I started playing around with different mediums until I found a style that seemed to work for me, taught myself (through many frustrated tears) how to use photoshop and illustrator, and set up an etsy shop. There have been countless missteps and moments of “well, that didn’t work” since then, but I’m slowly learning to refine my voice and create work I love. And even on the hardest days, there nothing I’d rather be doing!
What were you doing before Etsy?: Surprisingly enough, I was working as an office manager for a financial firm. It was about as far as possible from full-time creative work, but through working there I learned incredibly valuable lessons about running my own business, managing my finances, taxes, etc. As my Winsome Easel workload grew, it was very harder and harder to balance my day job with owning my own business, but doing both let me build up savings to give me some cushion as I transitioned to a full-time maker.
How do you get inspired?: I look for inspiration anywhere there is truth and beauty. I work outdoors as much as possible, and almost always take a walk before beginning a long creative session. I also listen to music nearly constantly, and have a rotation of artists who’s songs just say it, you know what I mean? And yes, Instagram feeds and Pinterest can be a great source of beauty as well, but I think the number one place I find inspiration is from relationships. Almost every piece in my shop has come from a moment in time with a good friend. A couple I love was battling infertility, so in faith I made the print I would want to give them for their nursery. (They’ve since has a beautiful, healthy baby boy!) Another friend shared a lyric with me from a song that she was clinging to in the middle of battling cancer, and that turned into a print. Another friend, a soon-to-be groom, was relaying to me a story about his finance’s favorite literary quote, and it struck a chord in me. I created a piece for them using the quote, which turned not only in to their wedding gift, but also a piece for my permanent collection. Every piece I make has a person behind it, and those people and their stories are my ultimate inspiration.
Tell us about your workspace: Though I have grand aspirations of working out of a studio space with plenty of storage and abundant organization, that dream is still a ways off! Thankfully, I’m blessed to have gracious roommates who let me use a bonus space in our house as a workshop!! It’s simple but functional, and has amazing natural light. My two cats are my constant shop companions, which of course, is plus as well.
Favorite verse: Psalm 73:23-26 is my life passage: “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

October 13, 2015

Spirit of Worry

We are excited to share our first guest blogger on the site – Krystle Barrington. We want our site to be a platform for writers to use their gift. If you are a writer and would like to develop your gift, please click here for more information.

We all have things we struggle with, and for me, worrying is at the top of the list. I’m not sure exactly when I developed this habit but adulthood has been overwhelmed by anxiety, insomnia, and worry. Countless nights of tossing and turning have been an ongoing struggle for years. I’ve seen doctors and have taken medication, but the process of learning to give all my cares and worries to God, has been the hardest yet most effective cure for my problem.

I’m definitely not a doctor, but merely a woman who is learning to surrender all things to God, and in that I’ve found extreme peace. I’m still going through the process but with each day it becomes a little easier. The more time I spend with God, the more I understand that it isn’t my job to worry about the outcome of anything taking place in my life. I am learning to embrace that all things work together for God’s glory (Romans 8:28).

My God is an awesome God and the word reassures me that through Christ, there is always victory on the other side of uncertainty.

This idea that we should cast our problems on God is no easy task for the average Christian. For someone who naturally worries about things, it becomes an even bigger challenge. If you’ve struggled with anxiety, then you understand the heightened difficulty in putting complete trust in God. It is a learned practice that requires faith, discipline, and prayer.

One of the many lessons I’ve learned while trying to tackle the spirit of worry is that the more you pray, the less you worry, because worrying and praying cannot coexist. And once we are done praying, it doesn’t make sense to have prayed about something only to then worry some more. Rather, praying and exercising our faith is a means to trusting that no matter what we are facing, we are not alone.

So what does this mean for those who struggle with worrying? It means that we can surely replace worry with peace and hope. It means that we can overcome those stressors that cause us to be anxious. It means that things can and will get better.

I think there is a natural tendency to only pray for those major things happening in our lives, but we indeed can pray about anything, no matter how small or big. We have to get to a point where we don’t make a fuss about trivial things. Even when we don’t understand where our lives are going, God does, and that should be enough. We have to get to a point where we learn to depend on the Holy Spirit, especially in those moments when our palms get sweaty, our hearts begin to race, and we feel the most defeated.

God is so much bigger than any problem we will ever face. He is our strength and refuge, always an ever-present help (Psalm 46:1). No matter what you are facing, give it to God. Start believing today that whatever you are facing has an intended purpose. Don’t allow life’s struggles to keep you from being present in this beautiful thing called life. When you begin to feel anxious, I encourage you to pray for peace at that very moment.

Worry and fear steals our joy. It literally can keep us from being present wherever we are in life because we are so focused on the worst-case scenario. Worrying will make us complicate a situation that is far less complicated. We were not created to live walking on eggshells. You were created to live a joyful life, one where we give our problems to Jesus. We can find peace in knowing that God is always with us, and just a prayer away.

Remember, He said that He would never leave us nor forsake us. I am learning daily that things out of my control are really in God’s hands. I am learning that day-to-day frustrations are not merely tests but an opportunity for God to reveal himself in new ways. God is with you and He will never leave you. Know that there is hope and peace when we seek Him in all things.

October 8, 2015

Ladies to Know on Etsy – Jewelry Edition

Lindsey Warren of StampedAndFinch
https://www.etsy.com/shop/StampedAndFinch
Instagram: @stampedandfinch

Name, age, location: Lindsey, 24, Atlanta, Georgia.
How long have you been on Etsy?: Since May.
What is your specialty?: Hand-stamped, personalized accessories. My favorite accessory to make are bracelets.
How did you know your specialty was a gift from God?: When I first started making the bracelets I gave them to a few to friends as a gift of encouragement. I prayed over each of them and asked for the Lord to speak something through me into their life. I stamped a specific word or phrase for each of them and they were so touched. I knew from there that I could create something that would impact other people’s lives in a personal way as well.
What were you doing before Etsy?: I was and still am a teacher at a Neurodevelopmental school and therapy center for kids with special needs.
How do you get inspired?: I am a firm believer that the beliefs we have and the words we speak over ourselves have a direct impact on our lives. I love to listen to what truth the Lord is speaking into my life and when I make bracelets for friends or family, I really pray about what the Lord is saying over their life.
Tell us about your workspace: My workspace is a little corner by the window in our guest bedroom right now. It’s messy, small, unorganized, and perfect all at the same time. The natural sunlight from the window changes everything.
Favorite verse?: One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 31:12 “They shall be RADIANT over the goodness of the Lord”. Our beauty and light comes from deep within knowing that He is a GOOD, GOOD FATHER all the time, every moment, every season.

Faith Schlauder of Kristina&Co. Jewelry
https://www.etsy.com/shop/KristinaCo
Facebook: Kristina&Co. Jewelry
Instagram: @kristinaco.jewelry

Name, age, location: Faith, 20, Orange Beach, AL.
How long have you been on Etsy?: Almost 5 years.
What is your speciality?: I specialize in handmade jewelry. My specialty started out as wire wrapped rings (which I still do) but I have also branched out into earrings, necklaces, & bracelets.
How did you know your specialty was a gift from God?: I knew that my ability to create and my jewelry shop was a gift from God from the very beginning. At the very start I knew that if I was going to make this happen, I wanted to make sure I was giving back every time. I knew that without God I wouldn’t have the abilities I have. I know with everything I am, He gives each and every one of us a gift for a reason that will benefit His kingdom and the future of the world. It is something to be shared as well as touch others’ hearts. I wanted to serve him with the gifts He blessed me with. When I first started my shop I was giving 10-20% of each sale I made to Love146.com monthly. Over the past year, I felt a pull towards my own town. God showed me that there were needs here on the Gulf Coast that needed to be met. My passion is in ending local hunger right now, but I am keeping my heart open to whatever causes arise and come my way. At the end of each month I have 10% of every sale I made ready to go to wherever or whoever needs it most.
What were you doing before Etsy?: Before Etsy, I was a student in high school and was working at an awesome local boutique called High Cotton Bath Company. I still work there occasionally.
How do you get inspired?: My inspiration comes from so many different things. I have amazing friends and family who support me so much, are always encouraging and inspire me to grow in my business. When it comes to the design of my pieces, I am inspired by the beauty in nature. I love working with natural stones, soft earthy colors, and lots of pearls. My best friend Kaylyn is also an Etsy shop owner. Her shop name is RosetteBelles. Every time we are together we are bouncing ideas off of each other and encouraging each other to take new steps with our shops. It’s so awesome to have someone that shares the same passion that I do!
Tell us about your workspace: As of right now, my workspace consists of two desks side by side, one for storing and one for working. I like to keep my workspace light and creative. I am looking forward to having my own studio once I am married.
Favorite verse?: My favorite right now would be 1 Corinthians 4:7 – “For who do you know that really knows you, knows your heart? And even if they did, is there anything they would discover that you could take credit for? Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing.”