Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts

Sunday 5 January 2014

Learning - Creating in Faith


Your life is your message to the world.  Make it inspiring...Lorin L Lee

Learning

Learning comes in many shapes and forms in a formal setting or non formal and every day we are learning new things about ourselves as we reflect on our lives and experiences.  How have you done so far with all the things you said you were going to do at the beginning of the year?  Granted it is only the first week, but you need to hit the floor running, or perhaps you already have and all we can do is look at your dust as you whizz into the distance...

‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future – Jeremiah 29:11

Organisation

I am currently surrounded by lists and schedules as I slightly run after myself in doing the things I want to do.   I had a great flurry of action towards the end of last year and now in the New Year schedules are still to be finalised, courses have started and I am wondering where the week has gone so far.  I am mindful though about keeping up with all the things that I have committed myself to do and in the midst of it still enjoy the process.

God had planned something better for us so only together with us would they be made perfect... Hebrews 11:40

Having made the decision to cut back on my posting for Tutorial Tuesdays, Material Mondays and Recycled Projects, I will be sharing what I have done in the classes and what it may have brought up creatively for me.  I am also looking forward to the growth and the insight which should come with learning new information.  I already know that I resonate towards more structured way of working.  I like knowing what is planned for the next week and what I am working towards.  It stops the wandering from one thing to the next as you get more and more distracted.  I learnt that I need to just go with wanting structure among the spontaneity of the creative practice.

Creative Sundays

Next week Sundays will see the beginning of my Creative Sunday’s posts – Expressing your creativity in a spiritual environment.  I look forward to sharing each week and producing a video of the process – as part of getting myself out of my comfort zone and moving forward.  My word which I shared for the year is ‘Attention to Detail’ which for me will require me to be more focused and disciplined as I am asking a lot of myself this year.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed..Proverbs 16:3

Attachments

I am also learning about my attachments and my ‘you never know when you can use it’ mindset, we are spending time over the next few months to declutter the house.  My husband is more ruthless and when we talked about it last year I was all fired up caused it seems so far away.  This weekend he went and got the boxes and made a start and I have found myself justifying why it is alright for him to get rid of his things but some things (all of my things) need to stay.  I am realising the more I have been thinking about it that there are some strong emotional ties that I will need to deal with alongside the excuses that are already preparing themselves at the back of my mind. 

Last year I did a 30 day de-cluttering challenge and so I know that I can do it I guess admitting how I feel is the first step to moving on,  and there is a limit to how many books you can hold onto and read, or how many clothes you can keep, although since starting creating recycled projects I find a use for quite a lot of things, mainly boxes, packaging which I will have to limit or make sure that what I make goes to a good home (am I justifying again??).  

Making the way...

At the end of the day I know that I have done it in other areas and I will have to just work through it.  I know that God has much more for me this year - there are new adventures to experience, new environments to be in and new things to learn and sometimes you have to let go of things.  You can’t take these things with you, you have to make the most of them while you are living and share what you have with those who are in a less fortunate position.  

Let us step into 2014 knowing that we did all the things that we needed to do, we stretched ourselves, we were more than we were last year and we made a difference in the life of at least
one person.  

What are your plans for 2014, where are the changes going to be made in order for you to move forward?


Psalm 121 1-4– I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep

Friday 1 November 2013

Gratitudes and Celebration Journal - Week 17 - Hope


Gratitude's and Celebration - Hope
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen..Hebrews 11:1  This page serves as a reminder for me and comes at a time where I have not been feeling physically on point and that also can effect how you see things.

It has been another one of those tough weeks and my thoughts are on my brother Robert.  I was sharing in my memories from home post and the image of me in my room is the room that we shared when we were little until my sister moved out to go to university, and then we both had our own room.

I thought about the things he hoped for and hadn't got to realise, seeing his children grow up and have children of their own.  I thought of my own pursuits and those things I hoped for say 10 years ago, and whether they had been achieved, changed or left by the wayside.  When you take a look back in your own memories can you see the achievements that you have made?

I am grateful today that I still have hope, in all that we have, all that we are, and in the very midst of it.  I can celebrate today, this very hour, the minute that has passed and I can see more than I could yesterday.

As this week draws to a close can you think of what you have hoped for. Do leave a comment and have a blessed weekend!

If you want to see how I made the journal (click here)

Sunday 26 May 2013

Abilities - Creating in Faith


Some of us, from a young age are told the abilities that we have and these are celebrated.  I am not talking about talent to do a particular thing but the positive emotional impact that our actions can generate.  How many of you can remember having to perform for relatives - whether a dance routine, piano piece or a song?  Our parents looked on us with pride and happiness perhaps seeing an unfulfilled dream that they want you to explore.  Some of us have desires to make an impact on our surroundings, to do things differently and if given the right exposure and nurtured uncover many abilities that can blossom.  We can also think about those never got any encouragement or support who through their hardship only find out about about a particular ability until very much later on in life discovering that they have the desire to write, paint, or fulfil a passion that they had once thought buried, and these activities impacts on the emotional lives of others.

We all have the ability to impact positively on others and in the fast paced lives we lead we often miss opportunity because we haven't given ourselves the time to really explore, and get to know ourselves and what makes us tick.  It can sometimes be easier to see the abilities that another has and feel frustrated that they are not utilising what they have or not getting the most that could be gained out of life.

I don't think that the abilities that we have are meant for ourselves either.  If you have an ability to be able to encourage others, why wouldn't you, or to teach - find different ways to do it if you are not comfortable in the class room - think video, podcasts.  You might have the ability to keep calm and in stressful situations or bring about peace.  You might be able to inspire and encourage others enabling them to see the treasures and the light in their lives, or through your humour ease tension. 

Think out of the box when you think about your abilities, the don't have to manifest in the traditional ways, we don't have to use them as they've always been used, or are expected to be used.  God gives us talents, gifts and abilities which are to be used for the benefit of all who live in the world today and who are yet to come, not to be afraid of, shamed or hidden, but to be used, shared and celebrated each and every day.  How can you take one step today to recognise an ability that you have, or have not used for a long time and shine a spot light on it?

I am coming soon. ..Revelation 3:11

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 2 Corinthians 1:8

Tuesday 9 April 2013

H is for Hope

...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint Isaiah 40:31


This is one of my favourite scriptures that lifts me up regardless of what is going on around me.  If you do not have hope what reason would you have for getting out of bed, there wouldn't be any point to your existence.  

I feel that the contributions that you can make to life, environment and the world are important and the positive influence you could have on the lives of those around you mean something, you are here for a reason and a purpose   Do you hope that you will wake up the next day or take it for granted?  There are some around the world that hope for food to feed their families, and many in war torn areas hope for peace, for an end to whatever situation they are facing. 

Once you have hope a way can be made, be it in the hands of others to be convinced to take action or motivating people around the world and getting together to effect change.  This hope is what we spring board from and take the actions to be a blessing to others.

I celebrate my life today knowing that I have hope for many things in my life, that I will see a positive change in the world as more people gather together to take action for a better world for the generations to come.  What are you hoping for?


Painting for the day
Each day I will show a completed piece of art or journal page hope you enjoy today's..
 
  Mixed Media - Journal Page
 
 Blog Love
I am sharing some love with a random selection of those who are also taking part in the 2013 A-Z Challenge,it's not everyone whose blog starts with the letter H, but a few of them for you to start with....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...