I'm going to start blogging about things I experiment with at home... there are so many little projects I want to do, and would love some place to keep track of what I've tried and pictures of the processes...
So to kick this off, I'm posting about an actual success in hopes that it will be an indication of successes to come, rather than beginner's luck :)

Torre and I bought a cheap chair from Ikea just before or just after we got married, not sure which. It served us well, and then we got Bella. Bella likes to lay under our porch in the mud to hide from Roxie. She then likes to come inside and lay on our furniture. Needless to say, our slightly off-white Ikea chair quickly became almost redish brown quickly. It has been hiding in our second bedroom under a blanket for about 6 months.

I decided to take this on as my first project. Mostly because in my dreams, I would recover our sofa and loveseat with something easier to keep clean and this would be risk-free practice.

Torre and I picked out fabric at "Fabric and Fringe" in Marietta. I took all of the fabric off and ripped out seams so I could use them as patterns. Cut the fabric, put it back together reverse of how I took it apart and then Torre helped me staple it all down!

The cushion was the part I was most nervous about, I'd never done a zipper. Even though it would probably not withstand a lot of wear and tear, it zips! :)

Here is the process...

The Shack vs Narnia and Lord of the Rings

Okay, let me begin by saying I am nowhere near educated in this area enough to be writing this post, but it is a topic that is really on my mind right now. Maybe someone can help me out...
My mom, knowing how much I've praised "The Shack" sent me Pastor Youssef's (Church of the Apostle) opinion on the book. http://www.leadingtheway.org/site/PageServer?pagename=sto_TheShack_Uncovered
First of all, there is nothing I really disagree with among the points he made. In fact, many of them are things Torre and I discussed as he was reading it after me. However, I would imagine that many of the people who would say "The Shack" was a dangerous heracy and capable of completely leading well-intentioned readers away from God's Truth would be some of the same people who sing the praises of pieces of literature such as "The Chronicles of Narnia" or "Lord of The Rings" among many others. These works are often discussed with regards to their attempt to illustrate characteristics of God in a creative way. Their attempt to draw readers into a piece of literature who may not otherwise read the scriptures. People will often send people they care about to these pieces of literature in the hopes that conversation afterwards can lead to talk of scriptural truths.
My only wish is that leaders in the Christian faith, such as Youssef, would address the parts of the book that are accurate depictions of God's character or our role in relationship with Him as they address the parts that are potentially dangerous for believers who do not have a deep enough understanding of scripture to read discerningly. I never want to blindly follow my emotions, and I certainly know that it is easy to do. However, I also know that there has never been a penned word other than scripture that was inherent truth. No other word do we have certain knowledge of being God-breathed. As a result, any man's attempt to illustrate or explain characteristics of God or Biblical ideas will inevitably be falable. Are we to throw out every writing that is not scripture verbatum, or should we learn to be better readers, more discerning readers, better educated (in the Truth) scriptures...
Please excuse all of the spelling mistakes, I'm posting too quickly to check it over.

The Shack

I had not intended to blog about this, because most people who know me already know how much this book has meant to me. However, in light of much controversy I keep reading I decided to go against my better judgement.

I won't bore you with the details of what it meant for me, because that really isn't what matters. Sufficed to say, in a time when I was struggling to believe God was at all good, let alone altogether good, this book was thrust into my hands and God met me right where I was. Not only did he remind me He was, in fact, altogheter good, but He showed me characteristics and Truths about Himself I had never let penetrate my heart before in my life. It is liberating to know and believe that God is good. It means I can let go of everything! And for this OCD control freak we're talking some major liberation!

Here is the link to 7:22's website. If you click on "all access" you can then see a link to listen to or watch an interview with the author. Whether you have read the book or not I would highly recommend listening to the author.

Liscenced to Live

I always have so much fun reading other people's blogs and I've certainly taken advantage of the sites like Myspace and Facebook to keep in touch with folks. I've never really entertained the idea of having my own blog, however, because I don't really think I've got enough interesting things to say. Fear not, I have plenty to say, just not sure how much of it will be interesting.

However, in recent months I've found that journaling has been a very good thing for me. And while this will not replace my personal journaling meant for special thoughts and times with the Lord and His Word, I did think that perhaps an online journal of sorts could be fun.

As I was thinking about titling my blog I tried to think about what was the thematic bend of my life right now. There is no question that it would be freedom in Christ. I've tip-toed through that freedom in other seasons of my life but could never quite let go of the fear of viewing it as a liscence to sin. Long story short, I've pretty much lived up to this point in my life guilting and shaming myself to the point where I would have longer stretches pushing away from God than drawing near to Him in an effort to avoid the guilt and sadness. All that did was make me feel worse, of course, but most times I was too stubborn to return because I knew I would only let Him down again and I did not want to be a hypocrite.

Turns out, His grace is not a liscence to sin (Romans 6:1-4) which I knew at some level to be true, but rather a a liscence to LIVE and live ABUNDANTLY! Allowing sin and conviction to become shame and condemnation is a tool the enemy has used for far too long in my life. Partner that with pride and fear that come so naturally for me and I've spent way too much time trying to hide from the fact that I am, indeed, a sinner in need of grace. Oh, I would readily admit that I was in need of a Savior. But the expectation that I would at some point get this thing called life together and no longer have to come running to Him for forgiveness 24/7 was always keeping me from accepting that I needed my daily dose of grace (as opposed to just a strong will to live well) in addition to the saving grace I received years ago.

Now, for the first time in my life, I am counting it a joy to come to God after having disobeyed! Don't get me wrong, I certainly want to remain on a road of Sanctification where He is continually changing my heart and my desires! But while I am on that road, I no longer want to detour and waste my time muddling through the muck and mire of the very sin I have been forgiven of! I am not afraid any longer to ask God to reveal my heart and hidden sins to me for fear of having to let go of things I'm too afraid or too selfish to let go of. Bring it on! Only in this position am I able to fellowship with Him, and let me tell you something, if this is even a taste of what fellowship with Him is like, take it all! I don't want any of the things I've held on to for so long.

The funny thing is, the things I've held on to have seldom been what I would consider selfish or scandalous, but I've come to realize that my self-loathing is perhaps the most selfish and self-centered part of me. It is easy to think that it is somehow "humble" to think of ourselves as lowly and unworthy of God's love, because it is true at a base level. But to stay there, and to live there, and to refuse God's forgiveness because I know I will fail and fall again is blasphemous! God has said He is bigger than me and that means my sin, too.

Never again do I want to walk in the bondage of self-loathing. I have been set free from the sins of my past and future and have been called to take up my cross and follow Him. That is what I am choosing to do, now that I've realized I've been liscenced to live!