I MAKE PRETTY THINGS...

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

"You were made by God's masterful hands - wisely designed, uniquely formed, caringly crafted.

You were made for God's glorious purpose - to know His love, to be His own, to express His heart."

~Roy Lessin~

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

My heart swells with joy every time I read this quote to think that I was blessed with one pinch of an attribute of the Creator, to work with my hands designing, crafting, and forming things that are my heart expressions of appreciation and love for Him.

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

Having the gift of creativity is sometimes a struggle for me.  While I try to use this gift to best of my often limited ability, its hard not to fall into the comparison game.  I have a friend who is gifted with teaching and a passion for bringing God's Word to life through story telling in her children's ministry.  She travels on missions sharing her heart and it is making such a difference in the world of faith.....and I make pretty things.

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

I know people who have started food banks to feed the homeless, those who work with college students training for missions, those write books and speak sharing hope and faith, those who have youth ministries, those who serve in homeless shelters, those who hold clothing drives, food drives, and are Christmas Angels, and the list could go on and on.....and I make pretty things.

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

These are all big responsible works that seem so much greater and make so much more impact and reach so many more people than making pretty things.  It is so easy to fall into the great than/less than trap and compare what you do to what someone else does.  I often have to remind myself of Exodus 31:1-5 where creativity is indeed a valid gift, "...given in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, in all manner of workmanship to design artistic works..."

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

This was really brought home to me this week when I received an email from someone who had purchased a piece of my jewelry.  She expressed such exuberant joy over having something one of kind that was unique to her with its hidden meaningful message in the text on the piece, known only between she and I.  She said this was a hopeful piece to her that she could wear and be reminded of God's love.  

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

I had no idea when I was designing, forming, and crafting this simple piece of jewelry that it could be used for His glorious purpose, a reminder to the wearer of His love for her and a blessing of the gift of delight and joy.   Wow!...and I make pretty things...lucky me!

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

The next time you are tempted to fall into the greater than/less than comparison trap just remember, YOU ARE one of the prettiest things ever made, wisely designed, uniquely formed, caringly crafted, by His masterful hands.  YOU ARE valuable and what you do matters whether it is big or small, loud or quiet, you are a most precious pretty person.....lucky you!

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

Blessings,

Sandy

I MAKE PRETTY THINGS...

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

"You were made by God's masterful hands - wisely designed, uniquely formed, caringly crafted.

You were made for God's glorious purpose - to know His love, to be His own, to express His heart."

~Roy Lessin~

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

My heart swells with joy every time I read this quote to think that I was blessed with one pinch of an attribute of the Creator, to work with my hands designing, crafting, and forming things that are my heart expressions of appreciation and love for Him.

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

Having the gift of creativity is sometimes a struggle for me.  While I try to use this gift to best of my often limited ability, its hard not to fall into the comparison game.  I have a friend who is gifted with teaching and a passion for bringing God's Word to life through story telling in her children's ministry.  She travels on missions sharing her heart and it is making such a difference in the world faith.....and I make pretty things.

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

I know people who have started food banks to feed the homeless, those who work with college students training for missions, those write books and speak sharing hope and faith, those who have youth ministries, those who serve in homeless shelters, those who hold clothing drives, food drives, and are Christmas Angels, and the list could go on and on.....and I make pretty things.

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

These are all big responsible works that seem so much greater and make so much more impact and reach so many more people than making pretty things.  It is so easy to fall into the great than/less than trap and compare what you do to what someone else does.  I often have to remind myself of Exodus 31:1-5 where creativity is indeed a valid gift, "...given in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, in all manner of workmanship to design artistic works..."

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

This was really brought home to me this week when I received an email from someone who had purchased a piece of my jewelry.  She expressed such exuberant joy over having something one of kind that was unique to her with its hidden meaningful message in the text on the piece, known only between she and I.  She said this was a hopeful piece to her that she could wear and be reminded of God's love.  

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

I had no idea when I was designing, forming, and crafting this simple piece of jewelry that it could be used for His glorious purpose, a reminder to the wearer of His love for her and a blessing of the gift of delight and joy.   Wow!...and I make pretty things...lucky me!

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

The next time you are tempted to fall into the greater than/less than comparison trap just remember, YOU ARE one of the prettiest things ever made, wisely designed, uniquely formed, caringly crafted, by His masterful hands.  YOU ARE valuable and what you do matters whether it is big or small, loud or quiet, you are a most precious pretty person.....lucky you!

(Photography by Tracy Hoggard)

Blessings,

Sandy

The Father's View.....

Today I wanted to share a personal journal entry with you. The entry is accompanied by a poem that I wrote to sort out how I was feeling at the moment. I often feel like such a struggler and straggler in my walk of faith. On this day, I realized that I often see myself in a negative light and it made me wonder what the Father's view of me was. The first seven answers to the question posed in the poem portion of the entry are what I think He sees and the last answer is what I hope He sees. My prayer is that a fellow struggler will be encouraged by this offering.

JOURNAL ENTRY

October 10, 2005

Have you ever wondered what the Father sees when He looks down upon His children? I pondered this question the other morning as I read Psalm 53:2. Scripture says that God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any to understand and any that were seeking God. In Psalm 102:19 it says he looked down from the height of His sanctuary and beheld the earth. And in 1 Samuel 16:7 it says that God looks not upon the outward appearance, but upon the heart. These verses made we wonder what God saw when He looked at me.

In His mercy and grace He sees me not only truly as I am but with all the potential of what I can be. He looks at me through eyes of grace. His view of me is much kinder than I often have of myself. His focus is more clear and not on outward appearance. His view is not biased or based on society’s standards. It is not about fad, fashion, or frame size. His view is never hinged on the opinion of others and it never swings or changes. It is not based on our attitude or actions for we could never be or do enough good to merit His loving look. His view of me never dims, darkens, or fades for He knows me the best and loves me the most. He even tells me in His Word that I am the apple of His eye.

God’s eyes view us with great attention, observation, estimations, and judgment. He observes us with great care and is extremely attentive to us. We attract his attention and He looks upon us with either disappointment or pleasure. He is interested in us and wants our attention in return. His eyes are watchful over us. His penetrating stare can often grab our attention and make us aware of our shortcomings. From His view, God, pays close attention to His children.

His looks are long and loving. They are kind and gracious. They are generous. They are often searching and sincere. His gaze offers compassion, protection, and direction. His mere glimpse can shed light. His wink can encourage. In a blink of an eye He can return.

And so I wondered,” God, what do You see when You look at me?”

THE FATHER'S VIEW

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

Your daughter wounded and starving

Not knowing what she is doing

Void of hope with no peace, dying in despair

All because she ceased to lift heart and eyes in prayer

Forgetting to look unto whence her help comes

Sitting and complaining with loud groans

Forgetting that her heart is Your home

Father, what do you see when you look at me?

Crying for help with a desperate plea

Earnest in prayer, lifting every care

Wholly and souly dependent upon Thee

Bowed and bent, service spent showing others to Thee

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

Full of joy, laughter bubbling

No soul travail or troubling

Fully trusting in Thee

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

A soul that’s dirty, a heart that’s hurting

Needing cleansing to be free

Wash me, will me, Lord please fill me

With more and more of Thee

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

Bowed and humbled having stumbled

Broken unto Thee

Worn and weary very clearly

Needing restoration and salvation from the sin

That so easily besets me

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

Tears I’m sowing, sorrow owing

To trial and troubling worldly care

Heart despairing, not well fairing

In holding the hope promised by Thee

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

Celebration, jubilation, pouring out of praise

To my Savior whose divine favor set me free

Power overflowing, blood atoning grace enjoyed by me

Spirit guiding, behind You hiding

In comfort and in safety

A heart that’s racing, a joy beat pacing, with every pulse

O Sovereign Savior, such sweet savor ,Thou art to me

Never ceasing, but increasing

Love and grace and peace

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

A child that is forgiven

Who has a home in heaven

A daughter all glorious within

A saint from sinner, allowed to enter

Fellowship with Him

Not forsaken or forgotten

With high price thou were boughten

Precious treasure, no depth can measure

My love for thee

Sweet daughter, I, Your Father, can only see

Plans that prosper and that foster

All my hopes and dreams for Thee.

I hear your prayers and all your cares

You can always depend upon me

I know your faith

When it is tested and when it is rested, in me

I see you heart and its intentions

And your past sins I never mention

I see your desire and I inspire

The best that lives within

I see your struggles and I double

My Spirits strength within

I see your tears, I know your fears

And calm them with my peace

I know your battles and from fighting them, I will never cease

My might will only increase

I hear you laughter and your praise

They bring joy to my heart and a smile to my face

I know you moods and your motives

Nothing is hidden from me

I love you dearly and sincerely

For all time and eternity.

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

The Pressure Cooker Process...

(photo source)

Personification of Fall

Currier & Ives Lithograph, 1871

Today is the first official day of Autumn! This is a transitional season that moves us from warm to cold weather, it is a primary season of harvest. In Western cultures, personifications of Autumn are usually pretty, well-fed females adorned with fruits, vegetables, grains, and wheat that ripen at this time. In most ancient cultures autumnal celebrations of harvest events were important events on the calendar. These events centered around the harvest of autumnally ripe foods that were harvested and stored for winter use. The predominant moods of these autumnal celebrations was a gladness for the fruits of the earth.

Having come from a family of farmers I am well familiar with the gathering and storing up of fruits, grains, and vegetables for use in the long winter months. In my family, this is the final push in canning and preserving. My maternal grandmother always planted a very large garden. Every summer brought bumper crops of all kinds of vegetables and fruits. My mother and aunts would gather in my grandmothers kitchen to can the bounty of the summer harvest.

My fondest memories of this season were when my grandmother still lived at the old home place in a three room house. The old wood burning kitchen stove would be stuffed with wood and the water reservoir filled. Big white porcelain pots with red rims came out of the cupboards and sat atop the stove at the ready to sterilize mason jars. Row upon row of hot jars would stand at the ready waiting to be filled with fresh hulled peas, ripe red tomatoes, cucumbers which turned into crunchy pickles, beets and beans, jams and jellies, and all manner of good foods.(photo source)

When all the foods and jars were prepared and ready for the canning process, my grandmother would bring out the pressure cooker. It was a big shiny silver pot with its little silver dancing top. As the contents of the pot boiled, the little top spun and hissed in wobbly circles. My cousins and I were totally fascinated by it. The cousins and I were not allowed in the kitchen during the pressure cooking process. The explanation given was that the pressure cooker might explode.

The mere fact of a possible explosion held an even greater fascination for us so we would try to sneak peeks into the kitchen only to be shooed away. What seemed like excitement to us was in reality possible danger. We did not realize that under the wobbly hissing top sat glass jars in boiling hot water filled with equally hot produce. If it were to explode, there would have been boiling water and produce accompanied by glass shrapnel flying all over the place which more than likely would have resulted in serious injury. Being children, we were focused on the excitement of the actual explosion not on the outcome of the fall out.

As an adult, I can relate to the pressure cooker process in a whole new way. At times, I can feel my contents, my thoughts and emotions, begin to bubble, simmer, and boil as heated external pressures mount. I feel that little top beginning to hiss and wobble accompanied by steam and the need for release. In the heat of the moment, it is all about the explosion, the release of internal pressure, the escape of pent up contents. No forethought is given to the fallout, who might be injured after our contents have spewed.

My grandmother once told me of a time when she was a young girl helping her mother to can when the pressure cooker did indeed explode. Luckily, no one was injured by the glass shards but there were a few minor burns from the hot contents coming into contact with tender human flesh. Unfortunately, I must confess that I have had more than my fair share of such explosions. The hissing top on a pressure cooker is to let out the steam so that pressure won't build up to the explosion point. It is a safety gauge that gives warning that the contents are under pressure. As believers, we too have a built in safety gauge that warns us when we are under too much pressure, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit prompts us through our thoughts and emotions. When our thoughts run awry, we need to take them into captivity (2 Corinthians 10:5). When our emotions are raw it is a signal that we need to be still in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 46:10). If we ignore these warnings as the pressure mounts, we will explode.(photo source)

I can think if no greater injury or damage that comes as a result of such an explosion as that which we do to the tender feelings and heart of another human. More often than not, they are innocent victims of the fallout. We may be feeling pressed in on all sides (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) and the first innocent bystander that crosses our path is bombed by a tirade of our emotions and words. We may try to soothe them with an apology or by trying to explain away the pain by putting the blame on the situation or someone else. These offerings are but a band aid that cover up the wound but do not ease the pain.

The truth is that we own our emotions and out thoughts, they come from within ~ not from without. Yes, external pressures are real, they do exist, and they are often used by our Heavenly Father to test, teach, or refine us (Psalm 66:10; Isaiah 48:10; Proverbs 17:3) . That is the purpose of the flame and external heat. The refining process requires great heat. Often, we have no control over the length of time or the temperature it takes for this process to occur. What we do have control over is the internal contents and our response to outside pressure. Scripture tells us that what comes from within comes from the heart (Matthew 15:18; Matthew 12:34, Ephesians 4:29).

Perhaps we have some boiling bitterness, some simmering sin, some bubbling resentment, some hissing hidden emotions, or perhaps it is burning thoughts or scalding words that are ready to spew. All of these are matters of the heart. No one else has the power to make us feel, think, or speak. If we become angry at another, that emotion comes from within. There may have been outward circumstances that prompted the emotion which is not sinful in itself, rather it is our outward response to the emotion that can lead to sin. These little pressure cooking exercises are sent to us by the Father so we can correctly learn how to handle contents that are under pressure.

In all the years that I remember my grandmothers pressure cooker never exploded. When the contents were finished cooking and the sealing of the jars was complete, there always stood a bountiful harvest that fed and nourished one farm family with enough to share with friends and neighbors. When the sealed jars were opened, there was always a delightful pop and a tiny hiss, a sigh really. What has been preserved inside was always good, nourishing, filling, and tasteful. It was never rancid, foul, or rotten.Much like these jars, we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) . When we allow the Spirit to control our internal contents what has been preserved will be good. It will nourish others. It will cause us to react in a tasteful manner. We can sigh with contentment at the Spirits infilling rather than spew forth that which is rancid, rotten, or foul. Under the Spirit's control we too can reap a bountiful harvest of peace while under pressure. This will lead to a celebration of gladness for the bountiful fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9) which enable us to have self-control, to treat others with dignity and respect, with the added bonus of being pleasing in the sight of our Heavenly Father.

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

The Daffodil Principle.....

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
Colossians 3:17 (NKJV)
(photo source by Rodney Steele)

I recently came across this beautiful piece of writing and was very moved by its wisdom and I wanted to share it with you. I have seen such a place covered in these golden flowers. We have a mountain in our state that is as exactly as she describes. Wye Mountain is seven acres of blazing yellow daffodils when in bloom. Every spring there is a festival that is sponsored by an area church. It is a tiny stone church that sits on a hill and has a fifty member congregation. The proceeds raised from this event help to pay the minister's salary.

The planting of these beautiful blooms is an act of loving kindness, sown one bulb at a time. The result is a landscape of breath taking beauty. What will you plant today to make the landscape of our world a better place, a word of encouragement, a small act of kindness, a simple smile, a helping hand? It only takes one small deed each day to move towards the worthy goal of spreading the golden glow of Christ which makes the landscape of our world beautiful indeed!

(photo source)

The Daffodil Principle

by Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards

...We turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, "Daffodil Garden ." We got out of the car, my daughter and I each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.

It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn.

"Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one.... "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Begun in 1958."

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world ...

"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.

She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"

Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting....

Blessings,

Miss Sandy

Surviving Life's Storms.....

AFTER THE STORM
(photo source)

The edges of the hurricane have moved inland and we are getting a remnant of the wind and rain here today. The tops of the trees are swirling in wild circles as if doing some ancient forest dance. Raindrops patter and splatter on the roof, a drum beat that matches the rhythmic swaying of the trees. Loose leaves are raining down like confetti at a ticker tape parade. Rivulets of rain trace their way down my window panes. Puddles and runoffs form, the water is churning and mixing with the earth, flowing down the hillside looking much like the famed mighty Mississippi that Mark Twain wrote of. The sky seems to be weeping, lamenting.As I survey the scene, safely sheltered from the storm, a cozy tucked in feeling washes over me. Behind me is the soft buttery glow of lamp light filtering through a linen shade, beaconing me to sit in its warm glow. I sit curled in the corner of the sofa and survey my quite kingdom. There is something comforting about this dim day and drumming rain. It is a day that allows slowness to seep into my system. I bask in nothingness as my eyes roam the room, settling on the face of a hand carved angel. The lamplight brings forth her chiseled features. I retrieve my camera, sit, and look at her through its lens. From the flow of her gown I have always thought her to be kneeling. Her face is tilted heavenward, hands clasp in prayer like form over her trumpet, eyes gazing upward as if in deep communion with the Father. She exudes peace.
This inside scene is very different than the one outside. One is quiet and peaceful, the other is troubled and turbulent. I am brought to a keen awareness that this is a perfect example of the legacy of peace that is a gift from Christ. John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."The storm raging outside my window is a representation of life in this world. It can often be filled with what feels like a downpour of trials, trouble, and tribulation threatening to drown us. It can be dark and sometimes even depressing. Circumstances beyond our control often make us fearful. Life storms often hit us without warning and with such gale force that it threatens to topple us and we begin to feel a bit battered. My angel looks a bit battered, her wing is quite tattered. She has little stress cracks in her wood. Her edges are a weathered and a bit worn away. Life has not always treated her so kindly.The serene scene inside my home is a representation of the heart that has accepted the gift of peace and can rest in the assurance of a brighter day beyond the current storm. It is a heart that can see beyond the circumstances of the moment and can bask in the warm glow of the gift of peace. The storm is raging all around, yet inside it is calm and peace filled, safe, secure, and sheltered. It is a heart that has taken up the position of prayer, just like my angel, kneeling, gazing upward in faith, in deep communion with the Father. While her outward appearance may reflect some bits of stress, areas of brokenness, scars of age, and be a bit worn down by life's treatment of her, notice it is her position that is so peaceful.I encourage you today to choose your position well and do not lose heart no matter what life hands you. Outwardly we may feel as if we are being swept away on storms tide ~ discouraged, depressed, or challenged by the suffering of this world. Inwardly, trust in Christ renews peace and strength day by day in the heart in spite of and in some ways because of outward suffering.The storm outside has settled to a gentle mist but the sky still threatens of more to come and I am reminded that our life storms here are light and momentary and even though I cannot always see it, they do achieve a purpose. Like my angel, I must choose the position of prayer, fixing my eyes upward, focusing not on what is seen, but what is unseen. "For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) Today, I encourage you to "turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."





May grace and peace be with you,
Miss Sandy