Chew on this...

Pray the word “Testimony”. We all have one, but do we use it to Glorify God and bring others to know Christ? 2 Timothy 1:8 “So do not be ashamed to tell people about our Lord Jesus,” We shout for football teams and wear shirts in support of our favorite team. Why don’t we shout for Jesus? He is our all time winner!!! Shout out and share the testimony God has given each one of us; “God is good and He can change your life! He changed mine!” Pray for your changed life to shout out a living testimony to all! ~ Frances

Searching etsy...

While searching Etsy, I found these sweet items!

Fall is in the air!

I am so happy with the way this pumpkin turned out! It started out as a blank wood "canvas" for me.  

I began transforming this with blending acrylic paint to get the perfect orange and the shading I wanted. 

It seemed a little blah so I add a whimsical side to it with the polka dots.  Next I added our family name.  

 

It would cute with a fall saying also like "Happy Fall Y'all" or drop the y'all and just say "Happy Fall," maybe even "Give Thanks" or "Happy Thanksgiving."  Whatever floats your boat!

Lastly added the burlap ribbon for extra texture.  Looks great huh?!

 

I have ours handing inside on the ladder, but it looks good hanging from the front door as well!

I have another one all painted just waiting for a name or saying to be added.  If you are interested, just email me about it for price, coleen@coleenverner.com. 

The Entitled Good Girl

Jealousy has been rearing its ugly head in my life lately. It's crazy how when you let that sit in your heart, it festers and grows so fast. It is like a horrible disease consuming your body from the inside out.

Some days it is only little things, I will dismiss them and "move on" by trying not to think about it or I will keep myself busy and distracted. Other days, it is all consuming in my heart and mind. I repeat and repeat and repeat the verse in Bible about taking my thoughts captive.

2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Jealousy is NOT a way to be obedient to Christ. There are times when it feels too late because I've let it multiply into a beast of a heart problem. This is what I get for not going to God with even what seems to be a small issue in my heart; for taking matters into my own hands, thinking I can handle this issue myself. It's small enough and I'm strong enough on my own. Now it is a full blown disease consuming my insides. The beautiful side to this is that God can still cure me!  This is also why there is a need to lay "it" (whatever "it" is for you) at His feet daily, no matter how big or small. A concept I know in my head, but have trouble walking the walk of my talk or however that saying goes. :)

On this particular morning, my mind was being swallowed up with jealousy, things of this world, feeling like I do everything right, follow all the rules, follow God, etc. I lead a good Christian life. I do all these things, that you ask of me God, but feel like you are blessing others and ignoring me, especially the others who aren't even followers of you or don't even believe in you.

Yes, I know we don't focus on the world and what it has to offer. We keep our eye on the prize of eternal life. We are in a covenant with Jesus that says if we love Jesus we can't love the world. But that darn flesh has super hero power and strength over me at times.

The family and I were watching a show the other night about these extreme pools people were building. Boy were these extreme, from a cost of 1.3 million up to 5 million dollars, these people were spending to transform their backyard into a pool (more like a water park) oasis.  My jaw was dropped almost the whole show. Each pool topped the previous pool. These people had millions of dollars to spend on a pool, a pool to play in part time, not like they are living in this space, like a house or something.  Any who, just blew my mind and definitely stirred up my jealous heart.  I am seeing these stirrings in my heart now as God trying to show me something and I need to heed to that pricking of my heart.

Sunday, the pastor ended his message with the prodigal son story and how the younger son wasted all his inheritance, but no matter what we do we can't get too far away from God that He doesn't open His arms to accept us back.  Throughout the story, my mind would wander back to the older son.  That was who I could relate to the most, because I follow all the rules, mostly anyways :), do what I am suppose to do, but I feel sometimes the party is thrown for the one who does all the wrong and basically has thrown you under the bus God for nothing.  The rule breaker (younger son) comes home and is given a new robe and ring, a massive celebration party in his honor of returning home.  I have been slaving away, working hard, doing what is right and get what seems like nothing.  Nothing for all this good I've been doing.  Of course I'm jealous God! The squeaky wheel gets all the oil, feel there is nothing left for me.  

Just doesn't seem right, I understand the point to Jesus story but what about the older son, few mention him when they preach this message, other then he was wrong and his heart was just as wicked as the younger son, but why?  He is the one I identify with. What am I to do to break this thought process of jealousy?  How do I handle it cause dismissing it doesn't work, I lay it at His feet, but seem to pick it up later.  I'm a very visual learner so I keep thinking what does this actually look like, on a daily basis for me, on a walking the talk process.  I need an example God!

Well hello Coleen... I have the greatest example right within my reach, Jesus Christ!  He came to earth in flesh, in the appearance of a man like us.  He was God, people!!!! In the highest position possible, but put that righteous robe on the hanger then put on my robe of sinful man and allowed me to put on his robe of righteousness.  What a God!!!

Philippians 2:5-8 "5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!"

Verse 6 was my answer to my entitled good girl attitude!  The Holman Christian Standard version says "who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage."  He is God, He is perfect, He does everything right, He is sinless but NEVER used that to His advantage or expected something for how good He is while here on earth.  

Do you see where I'm going with this? No matter how much I follow the rules and do good I can't use that to my advantage or expect a reward for my gain.  Christ didn't and He was God, Lord of ALL heaven and earth.  He had every right to use that privilege but He didn't.  What makes me think I deserve that when my King didn't think that even for himself, who is worthy of it!

My mom said to me that same morning, "Jealousy is my weakness into a bad habit."

Wow again! This bad habit of jealous thinking can be broken, but only with Christ.  I don't have to accept this ugliness about myself as just who I am, because Christ came to earth, humbled himself to the point of dying on a cross for me so that I can be righteous with Him.  I can live in victory with Him.  I can have eternal life in heaven with Him.  This is also for you if you will accept His invitation and allow Him to switch-a-roo robes with you.  He is worthy and He can handle it WAY better then we can.  So humble yourself, put it all aside and put yourself in Christ hands.  

DIY Photo Coaster

Oh Mod Podge how I love you and love how versatile you are. I long to be as versatile as yo some day! Hee Hee!  Another project brought to you by using, what else but, Mod Podge.  I think I need stock in this product. 

These coasters turned out very cute! They would be wonderful Christmas gifts for friends or grandparents.  They are very easy to make, just takes a little bit of patience waiting in between the coats of Mod Podge. 

Gather your supplies:

4x4 white ceramic tile

Photos of your choice cut to size

Mod Podge

Paint brush

Clear Acrylic Sealer

Small Felt Circles used for furniture

1. Start by cleaning and drying tiles.

2. Rough up tiles surface with sandpaper so Mod Podge on back of photo adheres to tile better.

3. Apply thin coat of Mod Podge to back of photo.

4. Center photo on tile and smooth out with credit card.  Let dry.

5. Apply thin even layer of Mod Podge over top of tile and photo.  Let dry. (Try to keep your brush strokes even because they will show up a little when it's dry.)

6. Repeat step 5, two more times.  Let completely dry between coats.

7. Once Mod Podge layers are completely dry, then spray a coat of clear acrylic to make coasters water resistant. (Do this step in a well ventilated area.)

8. Adhere felt pads to bottom of tile to protect table tops from being scratched.

I recommend waiting 72 hrs before using your coasters to make sure all layers have set completely.

Enjoy!

Chew on this...

Sometimes our prayer can be one word and the word this week is "Baptism".  Pray for those who were just baptized this past Sunday. Remember and send up a prayer of thanks for your baptism, the day God declared you as His child. Pray for those who are swaying on the fence to hear the call of obedience to God's call.  Pray for those God is calling you to witness to and bring to His family. Pray for the true meaning of Baptism and worship the Lord! ~ Frances

DIY jewelry holder

I was on a mission this week to organize my girls earrings.  They are everywhere in their rooms, on the tables, dresser, floor, everywhere.  I have seen these $1 frames in Michael's for a long time and finally thought they would be perfect for this mission!  You could make these a little fancier for yourself by the scrapbook paper you use.

These were so easy to create! I will be letting my girls make these for their friends birthday. They would be perfect gifts at a very little price.  You could pair the jewelry holder with a gift card to Claire's!

I got my supplies from Michael's and Home Depot.  You will need:

$1 wood frame

scrapbook paper of your choice

any embellishments you want to add

patterned sheet metal and sheet metal cutters

spray paint

sandpaper

Mod Podge

Gorilla Glue

1. Start by cutting the sheet metal to size.  Use the insert inside of frame as your template.

WARNING!!! Use extreme caution while cutting the sheet metal.  It is VERY sharp.  I recommend to wear some gloves while cutting it.

If sheet metal is not your thing, you could use burlap to size desired and use the holes to hang earrings.

2. Spray paint the sheet metal or you could leave it as is.  Since I am painting accent frames same color as sheet metal, I sprayed them all at same time.

3. Trace outline of frame onto scrapbook paper, then cut out.

4. Apply Mod Podge to back of paper, then apply to frame.  Let that dry.  Once dry, sand as needed to smooth paper edges. Then apply a coat of Mod Podge on top of scrapbook paper and sides of frame to seal it.  That will also give it a more finished look.

5. Glue accent frame to scrapbook paper frames. Let dry. Be careful using Gorilla Glue because it expands quite a bit, so use a thin amount. Add any other embellishments you want!

6. Insert spray painted sheet metal in center of frame, then insert peg to back of frame.

7. Lastly hang your jewelry on it and enjoy!