Junquejo

I got a burst of energy this weekend and got back into my jewelry work-box....  here is what came of it  :)  I have them listed in my Etsy store - come check it out!

We all come to periods in our lives when we must make life-defining choices.  It is the whole "fork in the road" syndrome.  Which road we choose determines how our future will play out.  Sometimes these decisons are logical, clear and are made with little or no self-examination.  But, oh..... those other times.  The times when everything seems emotional, murky and filled with booby traps.  We all hope that those moments don't come too often during our lifetimes, but come they must.

What enables us to get through the tough choices that life throws at us -  in one piece?  How do we know that we are going down the right road?  Does life allow u-turns???

Some people will tell you that there are not any answers to these questions.  They say that you only get one chance and that if you screw it up you must live with it.  That there are no absolutes in life, no certainties that you can count on in a difficult situation.

Well, I wholeheartedly disagree with these "so-called experts."

You see, I have faced these life-changing moments in time.  I know that there are answers to our questions.  I know that absolutes that I can count on do exist, and that they never change.  That reassures me..... greatly.

You might be asking yourself, "What in the world is she leading up to?"  My point is very simple.  God is real.  God's Word is absolute.  God will guide you down the right road if only - and this is really, really important - if only you will let Him.

God doesn't force Himself on us, but patiently waits for us to realize that we desperately need Him.  However, our tendancies are to try to find our own way, to try to be the doers of our own destinys.  We stumble around, tripping over our own egos, when all we have to do is reach out and take the hand of our loving Creator.  When we take that step and grab onto God - He will never, never let us go!

When we give over the control to Him, we open ourselves up to receiving the abundance of His love in our lives.  You see, God loves us and only wants good things for us.  Does that mean that if we love and obey God only good things will happen to us?  Of course not.  We live in a fallen, sinful world.  But what that does mean is that God can take what was meant for evil and use it for the good of all those who love Him.  If we are trusting God with our lives and letting Him be the one who leads us, then we can trust that He will always do what is best.  Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees.  God will be working, but we are too busy trying to second guess Him and telling Him what to do, to notice.

Maybe you are reading this and realize that when you came to your "fork in the road," you went out on your own and unfortunately chose the wrong road.  You have been told by the world that you are hopeless.  They have left you to live with your choices and cut themselves out of your life.  You feel that nobody cares for you and that you can never turn your life around.

I am here to tell you this - the world is lying to you!  Maybe you can't turn your life around, but God can.  God loves you and is reaching his hand out to you wherever you may be.  Take His hand and let him make a u-turn in your life.  It is not too late.

Well, It seems like forever since I have sat down to write a blog entry.  I have been so busy.  I have immersed myself in a new artistic outlet.... ATCs & papercrafting.

I have always been a bit obsessive & have thrown myself into obtaining this huge collection of items.  It began with rubberstamping & cardmaking and has progressed to altered art & collage work.  I have the beginnings of a great collection of vintage ephemera and I am just loving the ATC community that I have found.  I have been trading my ATCs with a wonderful group of talented artists and have also participated in a few swaps.

I am still working on my jewelry and I remain loyal to my Etsy friends too!  My new priority is to get some new pieces finished so I can update my Etsy store.

I will try & update my blog more frequently along the way.

You can still find me on Etsy and also at the temporary home on Flickr of the refugees of ATCards.com

http://www.flickr.com/groups/membersofatcards/

Our new permanent home is under construction & will be fabulous!!

http://www.atcsforall.com/

Catch y'all later.....  Jo

What has brought this heavy topic to my mind today.... Star Wars!!!      Last night, hubby & I finally sat down to watch Episode III.  I really wasn't sure that I wanted to see it because I wasn't that impressed with I or II (although I am a huge fan of IV, V and VI).

In fact, it took me quite to get into it at all.  It wasn't until the last third of the movie, when Anakin really began to move to the dark side, that I started paying close attention.  I began to watch the seduction of Anakin and the lies told to him by the Chancellor (Sith Lord).  Wow... you could almost feel the evil drip from the man and yet..... Anakin found something compelling about him.  Anakin wanted so much for things to go his own way that he overlooked all of his training and all of the warnings and only focused on himself and his selfish desires.  And the evil overtook him and he was sucked in and pulled under.... all by his own choosing.

But, that is how evil works.  It is seductive and it tells you whatever you want to hear.  Evil will lie to you, tell you that the only thing that matters is what you want and what you desire.  Evil says take care of yourself.... that you deserve this or that.  If you keep listening and don't run away, before you know it, you have bought into the lies.

Good, on the other hand, is truth.  Good tells you to think of others first.  That even though things may not go the way you wanted or expected them to go, that it is for the best.  Good says that the things worth having in life may not come easy.  Often, choosing good is to deny yourself and your base desires.  Rewards, when they come, may be few.  And sometimes the rewards will not be received until the distant future.

Do we have the kinds of temptations, battles and strife that Anakin faced in Star Wars?  Yes, I believe that we most certainly do!  Evil in our world is in the form of Satan, the great deceiver.  He roams this world like a roaring lion seeking to devour anything or anyone in his path.  He wants nothing more than to destroy you and he will tell you anything you need to hear to achieve his goal.

God, however, is good!  God is Truth!  God loves you and wants only the best for you.  We, as fallen humanity, were born into sin.  Sin is in our nature and separates us from God because God is holy and cannot look upon sin.  The Bible says that the penalty for sin is death.  Because God is holy and just, the penalty for sin must be payed.  In his great love for us God sent his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay our sin debt.  It is a free gift... there is nothing we did to earn or deserve this gift.  All that is required for you to receive the gift of Jesus is to admit that you am a sinner, ask God to forgive you and to believe that Jesus is God's Son and died in your place.  Once you have believed and accepted this, then you need to tell others about the Good News of Jesus.

Satan does not want that to happen.  He will fill your mind with lies about God, about Christians and even about yourself.  He is seductive, sneaky and very good at concealing the truth.  Beware of his tricks and deceipt.  Don't allow yourself to be seduced by the lies of the  "Dark Side" as Anakin Skywalker was in Star Wars.

God has given you the Truth in His Word about Satan and about Himself.  God wants a relationship with you.  He desires to know you and to spend time with you.  Turn to Him before it is too late.     

Today is my late day at work, which means I don't have to be there until 12:30 p.m.  This gave me some time this morning to get out my beads and wire and make something pretty.  And boy, did I have fun.

Things in our house are kinda of a physical mess right now because we are remodeling, so I just gathered up a few items and spread myself out on my bed.  Sometimes when I start working on something, I have a pretty good idea of what I am going to do and what it will turn out like.  But not today!  Today I just started with a variety of items and waited to see what they would become!

I think that is my favorite way to create.  I am not a real go by the book kind of artist.  I was able to just let the thoughts and ideas flow and I think that some really good work came out this mornings session.

I really have no deep meaning to this entry... there is no thought for the day or some lesson to be learned.  What there is my desire to share with you the simple enjoyment that can be found in making something with your own hands and from you own mind.  It just plain feels good!

There is a really popular Christian song by Michael W. Smith called "Friends"  The words to the chourus are as follows:

And friends are friends forever
If the Lords the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
cause the welcome will not end
Though its hard to let you go
In the Fathers hands we know
That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.

I have been reflecting the last few days over my list of friends.  Not just mere acquaintances, but real friends.  I have been blessed over the years to have a lot of friends.... some closer than others.

I have been coming up with a list and I can count 3 best girlfriends on that list.  These are the ones that are there for me no matter what.  They have all been friends of mine for many, many years.  One of them since the 3rd grade.  The road hasn't always been easy... sometimes we have had periods of friendly separation.  But all in all - we are always there when the other is in need.  These are the people I turn to in joy, sadness, pain and celebration.  But, the great thing is.... they are there for just "girl talk"  and fun when I need it.  And I need that ... a lot!

Then there are the friends that are the unexpected bright points in my day or week.  Maybe they are new acquaintances that I just "click" with.  I find that we have so much in common that we just talk and talk and talk.  Maybe, once in a great while, these friends will develop into a "best" friend.  That is a miracle and something that should be cherished and protected.  But, other times, these types of friends just come in and out of my life depending on the circumstances of our lives.  Maybe we met because of school, work,  the activities of church, or our childrens activities.  While we are together, we have a great time & catch up on all the news and "girl talk."   However, when apart, we don't automatically think to call each other when we need something or have something that we need to share.

I have discovered that the second kind of friend is almost as important as the "best" friend.  Do you know why??? Because there are more of them!  They impact my life in many ways throughout my the daily activities.  I have so many of these friends and I am very grateful that they are there.  I believe, in fact, that God has placed many of them in my path when I needed someone - at that particular moment in time.  I will look up and there will be a friendly face.... someone who can cry, pray, celebrate, laugh or whatever the moment calls for... with me!  I have these friends at work, church, in the community and here, on the internet.  They are all special to me and I thank God for them.

God has blessed me with many friendships over the years.  I have outgrown some friendships along the way, but the memory of them is sweet.  I have current friends that I cherish and love to talk to and spend time with.  I look forward to the new friends that God has prepared for me to meet in the future.  Most of all I pray for them... all of them, past, current and future.  I want only the best for them, because I love them.

I really want to finish the project.... What project?  Oh, the one that I started early last week.  I am a member of a really awesome Etsy Street Team - the Bead Hive - and we have fabulous inspiration photos each month that we can then use to create a special bead or piece of jewelry.  I love the current inspiration photo (click on the Bead Hive link on the right to see it) and have a wonderful piece based on it that I started as soon as I saw the photo.... alas, it is still in my tool box.... calling me to finish it.  I also have wonderful ideas for about 5 different new projects that I am just itching to start.  But have I started them?  No.... not yet.

How does this happen to me?  I have such great plans to do something and then I get distracted, or get busy with something else.  Is it just me, or does this happen to everyone?  I know that there are some people out there who are so organized and so great at time management... how do they do it?  My family says I need to learn a new word..... and that is the word no!    

I keep meaning to cut back on some things, but more just keeps creeping up on me.  And I have to be honest.... I am a wonderful procrastinator! 

I do know one thing.... my projects aren't going to get done if I keep whining about them.  So, I am closing this post out and going to go create something spectacular!  What are you going to do with your time?

I have to share what happened yesterday afternoon at my home.  If you read my previous entry, you know that I was having a "Monday" kind of Monday yesterday (if this makes no sense, go back & read the previous blog entry   )

Anyway, by the time I got home after work, I was really tired and fighting a huge headache.  Because I live in a multi-generational household, there is always someone to keep an eye on my son, so I am blessed to be able to lay down for a while if the need arises.... and yesterday afternoon the need had arisen.

So, after letting the family, including my son, know I was home.... I took some pain reliever and went to my bed to take a little well deserved nap.  All was well... I drifted off to sleep easily.... I guess I had been asleep for about 15 minutes or so... and then - BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! - right in my ear!  Up I flew.... out of the bed and across the room!

My wonderful, intelligent, awesome child, whom I love more than anything, had gotten two empty plastic soda bottles out of the trash and decided to scare mom by beating them together in her ear!   Let me tell you my reaction....      NOT pleasant at all!  If you have never been awoken from a peaceful slumber like this - pray that you aren't - ever!

My dear, precious child was now faced with an angry, half-crazed mother!  After much yelling on my part, and a lack of remorse or apology on his part, I told him he had been very mean to me and I proceeded to give him the cold shoulder.  WOW!  He didn't like that one little bit.  In addition, I told him that once he was good and asleep that night, he was going to find out exactly how it felt to be awakened in that manner.  I think he belived me... I got the wide-eyed stare of fright! 

The afternoon progressed and he tried to get my attention to no avail.  Supper time came and he was so distressed he couldn't eat.  Then it happened... my strong-willed, tough little boy broke down... and said it... "I'm sorry".  Believe me, he meant it.

Oh happy day!!     Hugs were given.... apology was accepted and the fear of mom's revenge was gone.  My precious son was able to eat a fine meal and we were once again the happy little family.

What is the point of this little story.....?

Sometimes teaching wisdom to your children can be painful.  Although it really wasn't my intention, I was able to impart the lesson of consequences for actions to my son.  What he thought would be something "funny" turned out to be a lesson in respect for others.

We can all learn from this experience.   When we are mean to others in an attempt to be funny it is no laughing matter.  We should always take into account the feelings of others and take care to treat each other with respect.

In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.   Hebrews 12:4  (Message)

It's Monday.....Normally, I don't have an attitude about Monday's.  Monday is necessary for Friday to come.  You just have to do Monday's.  But, today seems to be a real "Monday" type of Monday

There are several ways to get through a "Monday" type of Monday....

• you can bury your head in the sand and go back to bed   
• you can set you teeth and just grin and bear it
• you can be really nasty to everyone around you so that they will leave you alone
• you can stop complaining...take a look at your life... and be thankful that you have a job

Now, I know that as a Christian I should be doing the last one.... I really should do that.... but somehow this morning I really want to do the first one.  What about you?  How is your Monday going?

So, I went to church last night for Bible study.  I went with the full intent of learning more about God and His purpose for my life.  Well let me tell you - I think I got that and much more.

Our pastor, Bro. Bob, gives us handouts to use as we participate in Bible study.  Last night, he had something at the very end of the study handout that has really impacted me.  I am going to quote from that and then I have some thoughts to tell you.

"The positive message for churches is that we can choose to return to our first love.  He will not reject the love of His people if they choose to shift their hearts back to Him."

Encountering God in Prayer

"Shifting our hearts back...

(1)  Decide now to shift your heart fully to God and to pray for others to do the same.

(2)  Decide now to intentionally obey God.

(3)  Decide now to accept no substitutes for God's presence, purposes, and paths.

(4)  Fall in love with God with the intensity and faithfulness He deserves"

It is this last point that I want to explore in more detail.  I have fallen in love before, in fact I am still very much in love - with my husband of 21 years.  However, I know that this isn't the kind of love that Bro. Bob was talking about.

I know that I love God - very much - and have ever since I can remember.  I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior at the age of seven and I have faithfully served Him over the years.  But suddenly, I am feeling that I have been missing something vitally important.  Because as a child, I just kind of eased into a relationship with Him, I have to ask myself - have I ever fully immersed myself in Him?  Have I fallen head over heels in LOVE with Him?  That is what I want to do!  I want to return to Him with such an intensity that everyone around me will notice and ask me about what has happened to me.

What about you?  What or who are you in love with?  I have been guilty over the years of putting things and others ahead of God in my life.... what about you?  Did you know that anyone or anything that you put ahead of God in your life is an idol?  I have had idols in my life that I have had to remove or put back into their proper place.  I have to admit that it is a constant struggle to put God first.  That is why I want to fall in love with Him with such intensity that everything else just has to fall in behind Him.  I want there to be no substitues for Him in my life!

This blog is a journal of my personal journey of self-discovery.  But maybe you are now asking yourself questions.... about God and your relationship with Him.  If this is the case, I urge you to contact me. I would love to introduce you to a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ!

Have you ever decided that you complain too much?  I have reached that point.  I really listened to myself the last couple of days, especially with regard to my day job, and I sound really disgruntled.

I am not really that unhappy with my job.  I think I have gotten into the habit of complaining and moaning.  If I stop cold turkey, will I miss it?  I don't think I will.  I have to remember that I am a King's kid.... I have such a reason to be joyful!

There are people out there who don't have a job or can't work and I have been blessed with a good job that I like (most of the time).

What about you?  Have you gotten into the habit of moaning and complaining about your life instead of counting your blessings?

Let's try to love life & live joyfully - really try!   I want to leave you with this thought for today from Matthew 5:8

"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world (Message).

Wow, this is so cool.  I actually  have comments! 

I have been asked what I do for work since I mentioned inmates in my previous post.  I am a teacher in a prison.  I am actually the GED tester.  It is a pretty good job and I am thankful to God to have it.  I get stressed out a lot, but so do a lot of other people.

Thanks for your interest & stay tuned... more to come

I wonder why today feels more like Monday than yesterday did?  The day started off with the entire family oversleeping!  It is really my Father-in-law's fault.... he overslept and I usually gauge my time to get up, not by the alarm, but by his movements through the house.  He was the first one to be running late, but the rest of us sure did follow him. 

So, I finally arrived at work (late) and I get bombarded by questions from inmates as soon as I get behind the fifth grill...... they follow me down the corridor.... I mean, come on guys at least let me put my stuff down!  Oh well, such is the job.  Inmates are my work.

I am now sitting in my office with a little peace and quiet for a few minutes.  I have a really busy day today.  I am giving the GED test tomorrow and have get everything ready today along with all of my regular paperwork, etc.

I have been contemplating a lot of deep thoughts this morning.  I was listening to Focus on the Family on the way to work.  The subject was financial health and preparing for retirement.  I really need some help in this area.... I don't have a lot of self control in my spending habits.  I have been doing better in the last year or so, but I have a long way to go before I am in God's will with regard to my finances.  My husband is so awesome in this area.... I need to learn more from him.  I have a lot of praying to do in this area.  Did you know that the Bible teaches you how to be secure financially?  God has a great plan for financial well-being.  I just need to follow it!  

I must finish this and commence my day.  My open office hours begin in 3 minutes.  I will have many inmate questions and issues to deal with for the next hour.  Then there is my supervisor..... but that is a subject for another day. 

I want to leave you with this thought for the day from God's Word:

"Now if you faithfully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commands I am giving you today, the LORD your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth." (Deuteronomy 28:1).