he called me out...

Recently in my life, there has been a recurring theme. It seems like I keep hearing the same message again and again and again. It's not very complicated, but yet, I struggle to follow through with the call of it. Let me back up. I'll fill you in a little bit better...

This Sunday morning, Gary Bradley, our preacher, spoke about opening our eyes to the fields. In John 4:23-38, we get a glimpse into an interesting conversation that Jesus had with his disciples. Verse 35 says, "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." 

Jesus' words are just as relevant to us today as they were then to the disciples. We have a mission to carry out in the world around us. We are here for something far greater than ourselves. When we take the focus off of ourselves and look through our spiritual eyes, we will see that God is at work around us, drawing people to Him, and He needs us to be His workers. He needs us to be in the fields, ready to receive these people and guide them into relationship with Him. 

Last night, my senior high girls and I were discussing the mission that Paul was on for God. We were looking in the 3rd chapter of Ephesians, and we were talking about the urgency of Paul's message. We talked about how the Gentiles needed him to give them this message of hope and salvation... how there are people in our lives that desperately need to hear that same message of hope and grace and love. The fields are white for harvest. There is work to do. We just have to get up and do it.

And that is the message I have been hearing over and over again.

Get up. Do the work.

We make so many excuses. I'm not good enough. I don't know enough. I've got plenty of time. It's never the right time. I'm too busy... These excuses, over time, make us indifferent to the call. We have to overcome this indifference. I have to overcome this.

During Gary's lesson, I had a little conversation with God in the midst of my notes. I started praying something that I pray very often. But this time, I heard God's answer. And it was very convicting. Here's the brief conversation:

(me) - Lord, give me YOUR eyes. Give me your heart. Give me your words. Your passion. Fill me with your Spirit...

(God interrupts) -  I have.

(me) - Then show me what to do.

(God) - I have.

At that point, I didn't know what to say. I knew it was true. He has already filled me with His Spirit. He has already empowered and equipped me to do His work. And recently He has been showing me specific things to do. Have I done them? No. Why? Because I'm too busy? Yes.... but no. Honestly, it is because I have become too lazy. 

I am too concerned with getting time to myself... Time that I waste on television shows on DVD... Time that I waste on my couch... Time that I could be out in this city, making myself accessible to people that God is ready to speak to through me. God brought me here to work with teenagers, but I don't think that is the only reason. He has grown other passions within me. He has reached other people groups through me and my friends in the past. What makes me think He is finished working like that? He isn't. It just requires me to get out of these comfortable places that I have found. It requires me to get out of my office, off my couch, and into the coffee shops and under the bridges. It requires me to open my eyes, and not just hear His call, but get up off my butt and do something about it!

So this is the message I am hearing:

Stop being lazy.

Get up.

I have work for you to do.

The harvest is ready.

I have equipped you.

I have empowered you.

I am with you.

Now go.

adventures with chalkboard paint: aka, my first big do-it-yourself project

It all started it a can of chalkboard paint from WalMart. 

Just $8.97. Not bad.

Then I taped off the section of wall that I wanted to make into a chalkboard. I used a level to ensure straight lines, and several layers of painter's tape to keep the paint where I wanted it.

Then came the painting process.

I used a 3 inch brush. A smooth chalkboard surface requires a little bit of sandpaper and a lot of patience. For the 1st coat, I used long, horizontal strokes. I waited about 18 hours between my 1st & 2nd coats of paint. Before applying the 2nd coat, I used the sandpaper to lightly smooth the surface of the painted area, and then proceeded to apply the paint with vertical strokes of the brush. I didn't wait as long between the 2nd & 3rd coats - just 8 hours. Using the sandpaper to smooth the surface one last time, I then applying the 3rd coat and went back to horizontal strokes.

I was very pleased with the paint job, but I wasn't finished yet. Before writing on the chalkboard, one must prepare the surface. You need to cover the area with chalk by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk across the surface. Once you do that and then erase the chalk, the board is ready to be used.

Ta da!

And that is how I made my unique corner chalkboard.

before & after...

Ladies & gentlemen...

This is officially the moment that many (or at least a few) of you have been anticipating for months. My office makeover is complete for now, and I couldn't be more excited about coming into this room to do the job that I love!

Here is a view of what my office looked like before...

and after several months, here is the what it looks like now.

It looked like this picture below for a really long time. 

Things in boxes and piles.

It was horrible.

But now each item has it's place, and the front corner is much more pleasant.

And yes, that is chalkboard paint on the wall! 

Check back soon for some pictures of that process!

soon and very soon...

..you will see pictures of my redecorated office. 

I know, I know. I've been saying this forever now, but this time I mean it! I just have to hang up a couple more things and I will be ready to post about it. (I am still waiting on one small detail, but I think I will just have to post about it later when it happens.) So early next week, be looking for pictures of the incredibly long process of my office makeover! You probably don't believe me, so I guess I will just have to prove it. haha

Tonight I am heading to Birmingham for the Ingrid Michaelson concert, so my weekend is starting a bit early! 

I hope you are each having a simply delightful Thursday!

just one of those days...

This didn't actually happen today. This picture is from about a month ago. It, too, had been one of those days. Everything was going wrong. I felt spiritually under attack. And then I left a devo, slipped in the mud, and.. well.. you can see what happened. That particular day, I physically felt like I had been beat up by the end of the day. My hip even hurt from the fall.

Today honestly hasn't been that bad. But it has been a little frustrating. And because I wanted to post something (but my office isn't finished yet so I can't write about it yet), and because today has been a wee bit stressful, I remembered this lovely picture and thought I'd share it will you all. haha!

Some days are so bad in such truly insignificant ways that it really is laughable. That is how today is for me. So join me in laughing as you try to imagine just what I must have looked like on that fateful night when an undetected layer of mud unsuspectedly sent me (and my phone, Bible, & keys) flying through the air. The saddest part was, no one was even outside to get the pleasure of actually watching it happen. 

I hope you each have a lovely day.

hint....

Today I have been doing something.

Maybe in a few days I will tell you about it.

Aren't you excited?

(I am.)

:)

i have never wanted a clock this bad...

(featured at this lovely etsy shop)

Just look at it.

Isn't it a beauty?

Can't you picture it in my office... 

vaguely telling me the time.

(ha)

So modern.

So simple.

Such a lovely shade of yellow.

And $32.

I want this bad.

But I just don't know if I can bring myself to it..

It's 8 1/2" x 8 1/2".

Is it worth it?

(By the way, I am nearing the end of my office makeover! Be excited! Maybe you guys will get to see it soon!)

on this first day of september...

i am dreaming of blue skies & bright leaves

of crisp air & a cool breeze

sweatshirts & jeans

Autumn, I am eagerly awaiting your arrival.