Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Would you keep a friend around who lied to you all the time?

Seriously - what is with the mind and the things we tell ourselves, the things we take seriously and the things we ignore.


I'm not really sure what I'm trying to say here.


Ok, I'll start with me. Everyday I have to tell myself: I'm awesome, I'm funny, I'm good at my job, I'm not a d!ck, I'm loved, I'm valued, I'm kind. Because everyday I forget. Seriously. I'm 32, and the only thing I am certain of is that Jesus Loves Me as I am and He created me for greater. Yet, still, with the everyday reminders. What does it take to get to that space of absolute confidence? To live in that space. I just wanna be there.


I'm sick. I think that's why I am so BLERGH (you have to make that sound aloud to know exactly what I mean by it) 


It's actually pretty straightforward Romans 12:02 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Am I being dumb? Should I paint it on a canvas and hang it next to my mirror so I see it everyday, is that all it's gonna take? Or is it a work I am desperately in need of (the answer is 'yes' isn't it?) Is it a work in progress?


Oh Jesus, I'm glad you have me.

Is it OK to change the name of my blog?

Are there rules?
Is it confusing?

Feel like I'm in a new space?

Is that normal?

Does it happen?

Seriously I need your thoughts on this. (plus - I have not been at this long)

Yes sir!

I am a daughter of The Living God!
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I'm not letting go!
I'm holding on for more!
I'm living what You've got for me!
Pushing through fear
Shaking off all doubt
I'm ready now!
Knowing You're with me to the end

I'm gonna live for You!
I'm gonna live for You!
I'm moving forward!
I'm breaking ground!

Knowing You're with me, Lord
I will run the race of my life
Never losing sight of who I am
In You

I know

I can

Live a life of Overcoming
Live a life of Victory
Live a life of Freedom
Live a life of Joy
Live a life of Peace
Live a life of ... everything You have for me....

I'm gonna live for You!
I'm gonna live for You!
I'm moving forward!
I'm breaking ground!
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Thanks for making me a fighter!
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Sometimes life and everything in it seems so....... AGH!

I remind myself WHO I AM.
Ever thankful that He loves me still.
So pleased that He has not given up, like I often want to.

Thank you Lord.
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"Makes me that much smarter

Makes me work a little bit harder

Makes me that much wiser

Thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster

Made my skin a little bit thicker

Makes me that much harder

Thanks for making me a fighter"

Phew!

So this is the beginning of Creative Me - not the flashest start, but a beginning none the less!


Thus far I have painted two pictures; Prep'ed a third.... 


One hasn't photographed well so no pic 


The second is this...

Psalm 27:13-14 - I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord

It may look... messy to some, maybe pointless... but I stare at it, turn it, look at it upside down, cast my eyes across it from the side... it makes me think. Now I just need to find a home for it! :o) 

I also found these treats that I am hoping to work wonders with! Pictures are taken with flash off because it kept reflecting off the couch

I have no idea what I am going to do with these but they were fifty cents.

Retro napkins, potentially... well ANYTHING - pencil cases, coin purses, baby bibs, softies 

And then there were these gorgeous little Crown Lynn Willow mugs

They're so cute I could kiss them!

I really appreciate the kindness and support of you, my fellow Bloggers.

I have been introduced to a new sphere of people who are ENCOURAGER'S, teachers and learners, unashamed, brave, adventurous and loving. 

You have stimulated a freedom in me that I did not know was capable, by allowing me to share my strange life/thoughts/behaviours/ with you and offering a wisdom I do not possess because you have lived and experienced a life that I have not. "I thank my God every time I remember you!" Phil. 1:3

YOU'RE AWESOME!!!

And finally this: 

Hebrews 12 :2-3 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Oh! One last thing: here LOVE IT!

Creative me

Oh dear - it is Day 6 and I have made NOTHING.

I have a painting on the go but am not happy with it so it won't be gifted to ANYONE in the state it is in :o(

AGH! This Winter Challenge is harder than I thought it would be *help* and I set it myself... what was I thinking! Am I yelling? I'm anxious and nervous - this is not how it was supposed to happen.

Well I will keep you posted my friends.

In the meantime - here is a wee clip/poem that I am loving right now.

How To Be Alone - Tanya Davis

Thinking aloud

Breathless - I love the ease of this song, carefree and sweet. 
Loving the first two lines of the chorus:

"I get so breathless when You call my name

I've often wondered do You fell the same?"

I don't know - are all songs written for me and God? Maybe :o)

A Hawkes Bay sunrise. An Artist at work.


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So I suffer some serious craft envy!
I want to be a photographer, a painter, a knitter, a sewer, a poet, a songwriter...
Agh! The list is endless!
I am enjoying the cruise around Blogland and checking out the recommendations of my fellow BlogBella's. I love seeing what has been cooked or cleaned up, painted, found, MADE with their own hands. The things that have caught their eye as being beautiful, in places I would never have thought to look! Or a song that makes me weep for it's simplicity.

My boys looking for sea glass.

Somehow I've convinced the Gents in my life to look for sea-glass - we don't find much, have managed to find bits of teaspoon and random stones. LOTS of smashed bottles - on their journey to sea smoothed brilliance - poxy stones, pumice, shattered shells. In my head I am creating something incredible from scraps, someone elses rubbish, but in reality my hands cannot translate what my mind dreams up.

Too frustrating, but I just keep dreaming. One day it'll happen!

We are doing a Winter Challenge at Church this month.

(pushing your boundaries a little you are challenged to do something that causes a stretch - it can be anything, spiritual, physical, mental etc) 

I am challenging myself to create. I am hoping to make one thing a week for the month of August but I'll be happy if I make only one thing for the month! I am a pretty harsh critic of myself so my goal is to make something that I am happy to gift. 

(Egad! Causing me to palpitate already!)

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Check out these shoes! They are my favourite colour and look so cute on.

Actually it has a matching pair at my girlfriends house. It is a rule of mine not to own shoes that I know someone else has but I could not resist these.... I have rarely worn them but they are from No1 Shoes, so I don't feel so bad about it :)

Well.... I am going to post this now. Hope/trust you are all well.

Til next time...