Treasure Hunting

I {heart} thrift stores! I don't think I had ever been in one until I worked at MS Baptist Youth Weeks at Gulfshore Baptist Assembly when I was in college. I believe the first trip I made to one was to find 80's clothes for a theme night we were having. Interesting. You could just smell the Aquanet.

Anyway...I've loved thrift stores ever since! I recently went exploring to try to find some good ones where I live. I love to find household items (picture frames, knick-knacks, old furniture) to give new life to. (I haven't been too successful with the old furniture yet. I have to build up some confidence before I try my hand at sanding and painting!) I found some "treasures" a couple of weeks ago. I got a wicker-like laundry basket for a couple of bucks. I love to find baskets to store my babies' toys in. They look better than big plastic containers! (Which, by the way, I have those all over the place too.) I also got a couple of empty frames--no backing, no glass. They now are part of a wall display in my living room that I'm very proud of. So cute! I will have to post pictures soon.

I'll give you an example of a furniture project I was not brave enough to try. I found a cool nightstand at Goodwill for 5 bucks. It was pretty big and had two drawers. It was very beat up, but I thought maybe I could sand it and paint it a cool color. I wish you could have heard my husband laugh when I used the words "sand" and "paint". Granted, my track record with crafts and projects like that gives him no reason to put any confidence in me in that area. I chickened out. Maybe next time!

I do want to give you a link to an amazing lady who is awesome in the thrifting and re-purposing arena. Her name is Myra, and she has two blogs called My Blessed Life and The Casabella Project. My Blessed Life is an encouraging read for Christian women striving to be Godly wives and mothers. The Casabella Project will give you amazing ideas about crafting and decorating.

Click here for a virtual thrifting trip with Myra to get some cool ideas for a project you may want to try! Hope you enjoy!

The God Life

The good life. I've heard that expression a million times. I'm sure you have too. It's what everybody wants. Good family. Good house. Good job. Good car. Good finances. But, even when those things seem good, life sometimes isn't. I have so many friends (whether face-to-face friends or online friends) who are experiencing less than what our culture calls "the good life." My friends Brooke and Brad have a 3 month old baby girl named Rylee who was just diagnosed with an incurable genetic disorder. (www.caringbridge.org/visit/ryleemarlar) The Whittakers at www.howcantheyhear.org have a four year old, Susana, who is dying of cancer. The McRaes at www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate just found out their kindergarten daughter Kate's cancer is back.

Life is not good. Even at it's best, life is not good. We live in a fallen world. Romans 8:20-22 says:

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."

Humans are fallen. Nature is fallen. Not one thing on this earth was left untouched by sin. But God, through Christ, will make all things new (2 Cor. 5:17). Life is not good. But, God is. God is good. In Matt. 19:17 Jesus says, "There is only One who is good." The only true good life is the God life. It's the only life that can say, "My baby is sick, but God is good." "My daughter is dying, but God is good." "My family is broken, but God is good." Because, the God life doesn't hinge on people or stuff or circumstances. It is a life that is hung on one statement, "There is only One who is good."

I am beyond thankful today for the goodness of God. My home is peaceful. My marriage is strong. My babies are healthy. My cabinets are full. But, I know there will come a time when life may not seem so "good." I pray that God will give me the faith to know then more deeply than I do now that HE IS GOOD.


*Please be praying for Rylee, Susan, and Kate. Visit their blogs and websites to see the amazing gift of faith God is giving these families.