Always wanted to do this...

Candles... love'um. The smell. The little flickery light.

For years I've been saying that I'd like to take the wax

that's left over in a candle, melt it down & make a new

candle out of it.

Last week I did just that!  

(Can you see me smiling with satisfaction?  hee hee)

It's sorta.. in a strange kinda way... like JESUS!

He's takes our burnt out, used up efforts.
He melts us down (humility hurts).
Then He reshapes us.
Adds color & new life.
Pours in His beautiful fragrance and gives us
the ability to be pleasing to God!

And... although the outer "container" remains
pretty much the same, the inner change makes
the outside glow with His beautiful light!

(Just like this little snowman candle that Courtney
made in Kindergarten... it has new life...)

The Old & New Hutch, Wordless Wednesday, 2

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Startin' from Scratch

The kids ministry at Real Church Detroit

spans from birth through 5th grade...

all in one SMALL, but sunny room!

It only goes for 30 -45 minutes because

the kids worship with their parents and

then go into the other room during

the sermon.

Our first week went smoothly...

Praise God! But it's a funny, interesting challenge.

Right now, since our location is only temporary,

we're not really naming it, not really giving it

a theme and not purchasing a ton of stuff for it...

in due time. But rest assured, kids are hearing

about JESUS!

But, I'm kinda starting from scratch.

Using stuff we already have at the other Real Church

campus, using stuff I have at home and things that

I can make/create. Trying to be frugal & creative

without looking totally ghetto or completely cheap! :)

So, my crafting supplies,

sewing supplies,

homeschooling supplies,

home office supplies,

and even kitchen stapes & utensils

have all become ministry tools.

But wait...

isn't that how life should be anyway?

EVERYTHING we own,

everything we do,

everything we're obligated to do,

everything we're talented enough to do,

is ALL created to minister to others.

WE are CREATED by the CREATOR.

We're intended to reflect HIM is ALL we do!

How are you using the daily parts of your life

to reflect Him & minister to others?

If you're not thinking this way... start now.

(EXTRA NOTE:

Living like this gives all the bits & pieces

of your life deeper meaning.)

Finally! (sheesh)

Finally!

Months & months ago... dare I admit it was
probably over a year ago that I started cutting
old pairs of jeans into squares.

First, large squares.
Then I sewed them into rows & attached
the rows into a quilt front.

Then proceeded to line it and put a soft
flannel backing on it with an opening
at the bottom... and.. all
those squares became a Duvet cover!


















I proudly stuffed in a used comforter that once
belonged to my daughters and presented it my
oldest son. He was thrilled.










I quickly promised my younger son the same
warm, lovingly crafted "quilt" before the
winter time came.

opps... it came & went! (I'm not complaining!)

BUT... today!
TODAY is FINALLY happened.

All those smaller squares I'd cut out of old jeans
from Chilly, our girls and even a few friends
(thanks, Zach & Adam)
have FINALLY become a duvet cover for our
littlest little man!











Things that last are worth sticking with.
(yes, I ended that sentence with a preposition)

Things that really mean something to us
are worth continuing!

You may need some inspiration to finish a
meaningful but undone project...
be inspired!

We all need to be reminded that we run a race
that has eternal worth & lasting value...
so be encouraged!

Someday we will Finish!
Finally!

Heb. 12:1 "Do you see what this means -
all these pioneers who blazed the way,
all these veterans cheering us on?
It means we'd better get on with it.
Strip down, start running - and never quit!
No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins."

(The Message)

Frame It

This season we're trying to make more gifts and
be more creative and personal. It's fun... and to be
honest it can be a little stressful. But it's still better
than the stress of over-spending & angry malls.

Although I can't show you all that we've made,
(the recipients don't have them yet..shhhh)
I will show you the picture frame we made as a B-day
gift for Max's friend, Amir. Max helped with the cutting
and gluing.

We used cardboard from a box, an old pair of jeans and
school glue. The result? A picture frame that holds a happy
memory of two good buddies!












Also, I'm still giving away this Book:

If you're interested, please tell me how you're expressing
love for your family/friends this season. I'll give it away
on Thursday, Dec. 18th.

Happy, creative Christmas!

Currently Spiritual Mothering: The Titus 2 Model for Women Mentoring Women By Susan Hunt