Dream a little dream...





Cozy Cottage Creations...                            



Can't you just picture this painted

just like the house w/ pink/green

shutters and pink geraniums in

the flower boxes!





The secret to having vision for your life? To cling to the Father, to know His mind and heart for you. To know who you are in Christ. And to be aware of your surroundings and landscape that you've been planted in.



 

Who am I in Christ?

 Who did He create me to be, and what is my purpose in life for each day that He gives me?

To Love, to Serve, to be Thankful, to be Joyful, to Create...

Yes! He has blessed me with these gifts and He has given me a dream!

A dream of creating gifts and a perhaps a small business ad"venture" to help secure my future,

doing something I love, like my mom does with her "stitchin' business!

A dream I can work toward, that brings me and others joy, and will be something I can do when retirement rolls around...which isn't all that far away if you think about it!



Goats Milk & Lavender soap
(lavender from my garden, no goats yet!)



FREE on the side of the road on my
way home from work last night





Re-purposed sweater mittens



These are just a couple of the ideas I've been working on! My binder of ideas is expanding and the FREE wood is going to be made into vintage signs that are all the rage now!

 I'm kind of getting the hang of sewing, candlemaking, and braided rugs.

And I just finished reupholstering the cushions on the front porch!

It wasn't super complicated, but I like the way it turned out! The fabric is a perfect match for the Cozy Cottage!



So, I've been praying, and dreaming about a little Cozy Cottage Creations vision coming to fruition as His will allows, and in His perfect timing.

A few of you have already been guinea pigs to some of my experiments. I hope you have enjoyed them as much as I have loved making them!

You never know when you'll be called upon to sample what's to come!

I've done some re-decorating since moving in too so I am posting a few pics of updates on a new post! 

everywhereGrace, Laurie     

 









If it's FREE, why won't I take it EVERYTIME?

I love consignment shopping, garage sale-ing, and well, I'm not to proud to admit ~I asked the backdoor neighbor for the sand he was hauling away for my backyard beach! FREE stuff is like blessings from above! God knows my needs, (okay, and wants!) and they just show up! Really?!

No...even the $5 victorian rugs I nabbed at a garage sale last week weren't just "lucky" treasures! They were God gifts! God showing me that He gets how much I love pink and vintage and well, "Happy Friday"! Love, God  ....as if written on a gift card from Him!

So, if it's that easy for me to see Him in these little gifts of the everyday, and recognize that the people He brings into my life are not "coincidences", but a part of my journey, even more precious gifts, and I accept them, anxiously, even joyously...why is so difficult to accept His gift of Grace?

Grace is FREE, just like the stuff, but yet I hesitate, doubt, walk away...like it's not "good enough". But I know, in my heart that it's not the gift, the grace, that's not good enough. It's me, who doesn't feel worthy of receiving His FREE gift. Look at how many times I've failed, disappointed, hurt Him and those I love...how could I possibly accept such a precious gift?

The things, even though I know they're from Him, are just that...things. But grace. Grace cost my Jesus His life. He gave it willingly for me. Took my sin and shame and bore it on the Cross. How can I possibly take this uncomprehensible, indescribable gift that I've done nothing to deserve?

Because He loves me. He died for me so that I would receive it. He doesn't pull back His Hand even when I fail again, disappoint, again, cause hurt, again. He opens wide His Arms, reaches out His Hands and draws me to Himself, holds me, and offers me His FREE gift of Grace, again.

So I am reminded, that to reject grace is to reject God. My precious Savior, Creator, Redeemer and Gift-giver, Who gave His life for me. He only asks that I open my hands and receive His Gift of Grace, because He loves me.

Borrowing...Thank you, Arianne for your post. I hope you don't mind my sharing...

It’s OK to Not Be OK
May 22, 2013 01:20 am | Arianne

Hey friend? Come sit next to me here on my old thrifted couch. I have a warm, soothing cup with your name on it and I want to tell you a few things.
Are you looking at that overflowing to do list and feeling bad about yourself?
Are you thinking of the week ahead and wondering how you will handle all of it?
Are you watching the news with your heart breaking and wondering how to take it all in, when your own daily life is so overwhelming already?
Here’s the thing: It’s ok to not be ok.
Right now?
Where you are at is ok.

It might not feel like it, and it might not look like it to the rest of the world, but I can tell you confidently that you are ok. And not because you have anything pulled together.
Let me tell you why.
Because Jesus says you are worthy.
Even when you don’t accomplish a single thing (yet again) today, you are still worthy. Even when you just survived today. Even when you’ve forgotten how to thrive. You are still worthy.
He is not ashamed to be called your God. He wants your healing and your redemption and for your broken to be whole – and he will take you there. On your own journey. He is so faithful.
You know how I know?
You see, I get you, because you are me sometimes. And I can look back at the darkness behind me and realize it wasn’t as dark as I had once thought. It had bright spots shining in when I wasn’t looking. Maybe when I was looking down instead of up.
And those lights are what drew me to the next step. And the next. And the next. One foot at a time, just doing the next thing.
A month from now, you won’t be where you are today. Because all things are in either growth or decline, for the glory of the Lord, you won’t be where you are right now. Nothing is static. Because you are worthy, and ok, you can choose tomorrow what one thing you will accomplish. Then next week maybe you’ll find two things. Even if those two things are washing a load of laundry and then putting it away.
When the expectations of the world are beating at the door and all you can do is pretend you aren’t home, just know that even if you don’t feel ok, you are ok. And tomorrow you can walk towards that door. And the day after that you can unlock it. And the day after that maybe you’ll open it.
But right now, you don’t have to be productive. You don’t have to be on time. You don’t have to be organized or pulled together or stylish or smart or lovely at all. You can just be you and you can just love Jesus.
That is enough for today.

A Rock and a Hard Place...or Peace?

How many of us could fill a bucket, or a quarry, with stones hurled at us over the years? Stones engraved with words that cut through stone. Words like Doubt. Fear. Trust. Ugly, Not good enough. Unloveable...the stones of shame we hide deep in our souls that no one sees.

We put on our smiles, our most favorite shoes shining with plastic confidence and walk into the world with those stones hanging around our neck like rubies. No one sees.

The walls of stone are built to just the precise height. To protect us. Keep us safe. Stones of lies that keep us captive. Keep us alone.

Stones of the enemy. Meant to keep us isolated, unloved, and unable to love.

If I/we are God's girls, then we need to allow Him to show us the truth about ourselves.

Jesus loves me! Ugly and all! I want to see me how He sees me and who He made me to be. God, give me the strength to throw these stones off my back and from around my neck; the ones that weigh me down and steal my joy.

You created me to trust, to love, to be loved, no matter how many stones(lies) the enemy has thrown at me and I have, up to this point, chosen to believe. The lies that have become my truth.

But the Truth is, I AM YOURS! ALWAYS! Always have been! To this truth I will cling and throw the stones deep into the sea and lay at the foot of the Cross. They're not mine to bear, they never were.

Your desire is for me to glorify You! To Shine. To Laugh. To Love. To care for others. To allow myself to bond and care for my sisters in Christ with loving Grace. The ones you are bringing into my life, inexplicably. Some, whom I've not met yet. But you know each one. And by Your Grace, Sweet Jesus, we will stand together, heart to heart, holding each other up, from our knees and with outstretched arms, just like Yours.

Stitch by Stitch

"Allow Him to gently pull you into this present moment, perhaps to see with new eyes the ways in which He is working, weaving evidence of His Presence into your daily minute, stitch by loving stitch."                                        
~Emily Freeman, Chatting at the Sky

As I was copying today's words of (in)Couragement, above, into my journal, to remind me that God is always at work in my life, the music piece from our wedding, Canon in D, was playing on Pandora radio.Strangely, I felt no sadness or regret as I listened.

 In my mind, I was able to picture myself walking down the aisle toward My Husband (Hosea 2:14-20), Jesus, the One who will and does love me unconditionally , FOREVER.

That night in December 2011, my vows and promises were made to Him, just as they were long ago when I first became a child of God, not just to my earthly husband. My Jesus knows the depth of my love for Him; knows that I would sacrifice pride and another broken marriage to serve Him, if that is what he asks of me. I am His and He is mine. Nothing can separate me from Him and I choose not to allow it. He gave His life for mine, there is no other option for me. I have forgiven, and I am forgiven.

Jesus, I long to become Your beautiful tapestry. Weave me together, stitch by stitch, with the tangled up, messy strings of my life. Only You, Lord, can undo and mend me into a "seamless" Masterpiece. It is for Your glory that I give myself, my life, to You.

 

Trust Me

May 7 - Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

     IF YOU LEARN TO TRUST ME-really trust Me-with your whole being, then nothing can separate you from My Peace. Everything you endure can be put to use by allowing it to train you in trusting Me. This is how you foil the works of evil, growing in grace through the very adversity that was meant to harm you.
     Do not fear what this day, or any day, may bring your way. Concentrate on trusting Me and on doing what needs to be done. Relax in My sovereignty, remembering that I go before you, as well as with you, into each day. Fear no evil, for I can bring good out of every situation you will ever encounter.

Thank You, Jesus, for this Truth, this Promise, that comes from You, because it is so easy to let fear get in the way of Your Promise to me.

When I choose to look away from my circumstances and  my perspective, and look to You, asking You to give me a glimpse of what you see, that's when I see the amazing grace, truth, and work that you are doing in my life, despite my circumstances.

Is it easy? Not even close, it's hard work, God work.

Easy is giving in to this pit in my stomach that doesn't want to go away, and wallow in self-pity, and frustration, and hurt. Easy is wanting to blame instead of praying out of deep compassion that chains would be broken and great healing will come. Please, Lord Jesus, hear my prayer. The enemy wants to destroy, but You, Lord, are bigger and will bring good out of every situation. We only have to ask. Just ask. Easy. Ask and believe. His will be done.








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God Words

(Just so you all know, Satan tried very hard to keep me from posting this. I was almost finished with my post and for some reason everything I had typed just disappeared when I hit the 'enter' key. I will not be deterred! Not kidding, it  has happened twice now. I started at 9:30, it's 10:48. I won't quit!)

Grace. To some, God-words, like grace, when offered to comfort by "churchy people"can sound empty, meaningless, and self-edifying to the receiver.

But to those Believers, sharing in Christ's suffering; whether by illness, tragedy, the loss of a loved one through death, or death of a relationship, GRACE is not just a God-word. It is the Presence of God. It is that knowing that we are not alone even when that is exactly how we feel. Alone.

It is by GRACE we are able to take our next breath and put one foot in front of the other when it would be so much easier to just crawl back under the covers and sleep life away. It is our reason for hope. Hope in the midst of heart-wrenching pain when we don't understand, and no one can tell us what to do, or how we're supposed to get through this?

As the Lenten season was approaching, I asked God, "what is it, spiritually, that I need to work on in my life? Something that would require sacrifice, and bring glory to Jesus." I wanted it to be my "thank-you" gift for the price He paid for me at the Cross, not just a month without chocolate! What is it Lord, that I need to give more of? He told me, GRACE.

He has opened my eyes, given me strength I didn't know I possessed, and GRACE. The gift to show grace to others, even when I've been hurt. Grace to know and understand that "hurt people, hurt people." 

The gift of God's grace is freely given, but not without cost, not without sacrifice. It cost Jesus His life, His life for mine. And He gave it freely because of His love for me, even me, and my messy life full of junk only fit for a landfill. But He loves me anyway, and the healing begins when I hold out my hands and accept His gift and lay down my dreams and plans for His.

GRACE is family and friends who never leave your side, even if you've left theirs for a time. GRACE is an author, named Ann Voskamp, who through her brokeness has found healing in giving thanks for One Thousand Gifts, and has inspired me to do the same. GRACE is about "Sensible Shoes" ,and a Sacred Journey to a new sister in Christ. Her name is Sue. It's about Family Group, my other family, who daily lift Todd and I up in prayer.  GRACE is a couple passing by on the sidewalk, who happen to be a pastor and his wife, who see my tears and lay hands on me to pray for strength and comfort. It is Comfort and Gifty, women I met in Ghana, coming to visit West Michigan for a month, reminding me of the great strength we all have in Christ Jesus, our Lord, and freedom. Freedom to be me, the me God created in Him.

GRACE, I am told, is not the cancellation that came about as my counselor was texting me to inform me she could not see me for another week, but my dear friend Melanie informed me, "that girlfriend is a Divine Appointment."  

everywhereGrace,
Laurie