To Do List: 1) Love, 2) Everything else

Hello friends! Before I share a few comments today, I wanted to share this great Daily Prayer for You from Sunday, October 11th... This REALLY resonated with me...

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"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:16-18 NIV

Loving and merciful God, I lift up to you today all who feel overwhelmed, anxious, and afraid of failure. I pray Lord, you would open their eyes and their hearts to reveal to them the priorities of your kingdom. As they see all that is before them to do today, may they hear your words and remember that the greatest assignment they have on earth is not to learn to do tasks well, but to learn to love well.

Thank you Lord that we may have confidence today for our future day of judgment, that you who tests our hearts, (not our job performance) will teach us to live in love. May we work to please you today-surrender our task list and our fears of failure--lay our weakness before you and receive the strength of your love. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones." 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (NIV)

(1 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 John 4:12)

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These Scriptures and this prayer have presented a real attitude-challenge for me since I read them Sunday. I can't say that I have completely surrendered my task list and fears of failure, but I have certainly been soul-searching about my fears, self doubt, and priorities. Being "self-employed" since mid February of this year has presented an awesome opportunity for creative freedom and exploration, but it has also presented an unexpected challenge: fear of failure. My shiny new studio provides a perfect place to create and is brimming with possibiities, I have stacks and stacks of notebooks from years of planning and dreaming as well as piles of magazines that are chock full of would-be wonderful ideas, I have TONS of awesome supplies, and I have the blessed gift of TIME, which I have never had in this much abundance before...so what's the problem?  How come I haven't filled my new space at the shop with lots of awesome hand-crafted goodies? How come I haven't done one tenth of what I had planned to do by this point? What's wrong with me??

I can list reasons, challenges, and circumstances of everyday life that have played a part in the overall lack of productivity of late...all true and valid (continual rainy weather that ruins plans for spray-painting pieces outdoors, health scare involving my husband last week...all is well now, illustration work that needed to be done first), but really, when I am honest with myself, I see that I am actually crippled with doubts about my ability to create anything anyone would be interested in purchasing for their home or as a gift. I'm sure some of you are screaming at the screen saying "get over it...get on with it!!"...well, join the club :o) I feel completely self-indulgent and spoiled when I read these words that I am writing, but this is part of learning to be honest with myself and own up to my feelings. To get through this, I must take these fears and weaknesses to my Lord and lay them at His feet, and allow Him to fill me with His love and remind me of His priorities for me... So, I'm meditating on the Scriptures about love and fear and praying for divine inspiration and direction, and the ability to simply DO what I know He wants me to do...

I found the following entry in a journal that I wrote almost 10 years ago, and it is as true and applicable today as it was back then...

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"But WHAT should I create?  The eternal question....the answer lies not in "what" but in "why". The purpose must precede the product. Attempt to create much as you would with a friend or family member in mind. Strive to meet a need, offer encouragement, or share wisdom. The design and the medium will fall into place when you put purpose first!!"

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So, I am off to the studio with a renewed vision and adjusted priorities. God's heart is always about people and His love for them, and He has lovingly reminded me of that today. So, my efforts will be along the line of "what would I make for Mom that would make her smile", or "how could I encourage my sweet friend today"...and then create accordingly. Forget about what I think will or won't sell...leave that up to the Lord. Get out of my head and lead with the heart and see what happens...

I'll let you know what we come up with...

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Thanks for the freedom to share my heart with you...God is crazy about you and He has put that love for you in my heart too...and I am so very grateful that He has!! I hope you have a wonderfully productive week, with love as the first priority!!

Living Water: Siesta Fiesta Cookbook Update

Hello Friends!

It's been over a year since I participated in the Siesta Fiesta Cookbook Cover Contest, and I thought I would share a little update on what has happened with the cookbook sales since then. What you may not know or recall is that all the proceeds from the sale of the cookbooks (above the printing cost) went to building of water wells through the Water for Life Outreach. I was blessed to meet sweet Holly at Crown Laid Down through the contest - she was the visionary who put the cookbook together...she did an awesome job; it is a beautiful, creative cookbook brimming with 328 pages of awesome recipes from women all over the country. According to Holly's SF Cookbook page, she has sold 650 books so far and sent a total of $2,709.64 to build clean water wells!! Yeah God!!

I wanted you to know that you can still order these cookbooks for just $18 plus shipping - just click here or on the SF Cookbook image on the top of my sidebar for more information. They would make an awesome Christmas gift!! Best of all, you will be supporting the building of clean water wells where they are so desperately needed!!

I got the idea to do this post a couple of weeks ago whe I received the following Daily Prayer for You in my inbox. I trust it will challenge and bless you...

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"If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42 (NIV)

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

Thank you Lord, for everything you have entrusted to our care on this earth. Help us to give generously to those in need, and to be sensitive today to those who need a gesture of love and care. Especially to those who are tired and thirsty and in need of a drink of your living water! May the weary be refreshed and the faint satisfied as we extend our hearts in love to others, giving to those in need as you direct (Jeremiah 31: 25). I pray Lord, you would refresh those who refresh others today. Prosper them God, and meet all their needs according to your glorious riches in Christ Jesus! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Today's Daily Prayer for You

Hello friends,

Just a quick note before we leave town for the lingerie shower. I'll be gone until Sunday. The preparations for the shower have been SO much fun, and a LOT of work. I'll have bunches of photos to share, I promise...because it is gonna be WAY cute!!!!

Meanwhile, I just got my Daily Prayer for You this morning and it was a great encouragement to me today, so I thought I would pass it on to you to bless your heart and brighten your day. If you want to receive these AWESOME prayers daily in your inbox, simply click the link in this paragraph or in my sidebar...it's quick, easy, and of course free...

"Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (AMP)

May you be strengthened, encouraged and built up by hearing the truth of your identity in Christ today:

You are a child of God, created in Christ, chosen and set apart, to be a child of light, a royal priest, the temple of the living God. You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world; you are light in the Lord. You are of Christ, an heir of God and co-heir with Christ of God's glory. You are more than a conqueror. You were created in God's image, redeemed by the blood of Jesus and baptized by the Holy Spirit. You are an ambassador of Christ, spreading the aroma of Christ to those who have been saved and to those who are perishing. You are a sheep of His pasture, holy and dearly loved by your Heavenly Father.

May you receive these truths into your heart today. You are a part of the body of Christ, a part unlike any other, created to do what no other part can do. God has arranged all the parts just as he wants them to be (1 Corinthians 12:18). Thank you for being who you are in Christ, for being part of the body of Christ, for blessing the rest of us in the body with your special gifts. Be encouraged and strengthened today! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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Amen!!!

I look forward to getting caught up with you Sunday - have a blessed weekend!!