Friday, February 27, 2015

The Old Rugged Cross


The radical group of the Islamic faith called Christians "the people of the cross" in their shocking video last week.
They also call them Nazarenes. 
I'm sure they think that this is a slur of some type.
I don't think they realize the power of that cross or 
maybe they do which is why it is such a threat to them.
 The Bible states that Christians will be persecuted for their faith. 
They will and have been since the time of Jesus.


It may seem odd to people why people of faith display the cross. 
Would we display an electric chair if that was the method of punishment at the time?

The cross symbolizes power.


The power of life over death.
The power of forgiveness of sin.
The power of joy over hopelessness.
The power of hope in the midst of despair.
At least that what it is for me.


There has always been the persecuted church. 
Video taping the execution of it takes things to a new level of brutality. 


Instead of making me cower in fear of this new Islamic state, it makes me want to display my cross, wear my cross and speak about the cross. 
It has pushed me into the Bible. 
It has catapulted me into prayer for those that know the Nazarene and for those that don't.
It has made me appreciate the liberties and freedoms we have as Christians in this country. 
I couldn't wait to get to church on Sunday.


I sprinkled a few crosses about the other day. 




"In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."  Heb. 9:22





"This is the one who came by water an blood--Jesus Christ. he did not come by water only, but by water and blood."
1 John 5:6





"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross." Phil 2:8




So rather than cower in fear as I'm sure was their intent, I say "bring it". 
The bravery of the Christians in the Middle East has been inspiring. 
I pray it will cause revival in our world.
200 more Christians have been kidnapped by this group, many have been taken from their homes and live as exiles. Young girls have been sold as slaves and kindergarten age boys have begun an education of hate. 
Other extreme groups are killing people of other faiths. 
Let us not be silent. 
We don't want to be a world that sits back and watches this from afar.
That is what happened with the Holocaust.
Be in prayer my friends. 
People of faith are a target. 
Katie 















Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Shabby Chic Spring Coverlet

We had some spring weather a few weeks ago so I began thinking about my spring bedding. 
Shabby Chic images on Pinterest inspired me to look for some muted shabby roses to add to our all white bedding.
I wanted pillow cases and a coverlet.  
Walmart or Target didn't really have what I was looking for. 
Rachel Ashwell's line from Target looked a little too juvenile. 


I'm excited that we have a Tuesday Morning right down the street from work. 
They had several sheet sets that would work. 
I chose one in a pale green with pale pink flowers.



The pillow cases have been on for a few weeks. 
The quilt was on hold while I fought off a sinus infection and then a stomach bug. 
A quick trip to Walmart yielded the rest of the supplies.


To make a quilt you will need:
two flat sheets in which ever size you wish
loft batting
thread 
sewing machine
scissors 



With right sides together, sew the sheets around three of the four sides. That means the printed side of the fabric is toward the finished side of your other sheet. 


Lay the batting on top of your two layers of fabric. 
Smooth out your layers and trim any excess.



Turn the fabric layers inside out so that the batting is sandwiched between the top layer and bottom layer of fabric. 



Straighten and reposition your batting if need be.
Sometimes it gets a little crooked and out of position during the flip.
 Once you have done this, it's time to finish your quilt.
Be prepared. 
The cat will fight you on this. 



You could hand stitch, machine stitch or hand tie your new coverlet. 
I will close up the last side after it has been quilted.
That way I can reposition batting if needed during the quilting.
Look for the reveal soon. 


This has been fun and I think it will add just the right pop of spring color to the end of our bed. 
I haven't done any other new blog projects since I was sick for so much of February. 
Contrary to some of the comments on my last post I wasn't painting during my stomach bug or during my sinus infection. 
:)
Those projects were done in January.
I just finished up taking pictures, editing them and writing the post. 
I didn't want my boss to think I was staying home from work and painting. 
Haha.
We do have some stuff in the works for you. 
We are looking into countertops.
The mancave needs popcorn removal and a coat of paint on the ceiling and walls.
The laundry room needs painting.
 I'm thinking about repainting the dining room in a lighter gray. 
We are looking at two new rugs for the entry way. 
8 years of dogs sleeping on our old ones is long enough, I think. 



Spring Break is coming up in a little over a week.
I'm mulling over which projects to get done. 









Saturday, February 21, 2015

Painting Doors And Trim


We did a good job protecting our doors over the years.
I wouldn't let the kids put stickers or posters on them. 
Walls fine - doors no. 

I noticed that our taupe doors didn't go with our whiter walls. That was a factor not considered as I started slathering everything in white paint. They used to look white but I think they have yellowed over the years.

Read about our wooden bathroom counter - here

It was a problem that eventually needed to be addressed. 


This is the same door. Different setting on the camera but you get the idea.


It was supposed to be on my agenda last summer. 
Instead the popcorn ceilings cried out to me.  
I have the color picked out. 
I have some of the paint. 
Not all of it but enough to get started. 
I just couldn't do it. 
A  week or so before Christmas the urge to paint the garden room became overwhelming.


Rather than have another room on the list for trim paint, I decided to go ahead and get this one done at the same time. There isn't a lot of trim in this room.


There was a new can of white Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Satin Enamel in the garage. 
It dried so quickly. Much faster than the regular oil based paint that we had been using. 
One of the headaches of painting doors is the slow drying time.
The paint can still be tacky days later. 
This paint has an odor but it doesn't linger as long as other oil based paints.
I don't know how this will hold up long term but I decided to try it on the remaining doors upstairs. 
All nine of them!



They look so fresh and pretty. 





This took several evenings after school. 
Gloves and disposable brushes keep the mess at bay. 


Each door took two coats. 




I have a second coat to put on two doors and then the upstairs will be finished.
Which could happen if I would just stay well. 
I've been sick three out of the last four weekends.
This time I'm down with a stomach bug.



I hope you are all well and warm. 
Katie

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Twenty One

I held back and didn't say too much on social media. 
I waited for some pastors to speak out and then I could share what they were saying on my wall.
But there was nothing.


Silence.

Can you hear it?


Are we in shock?


Are we afraid?



Finally, Dr. Reverad Graham. 
Ann Voskamp.
Where is everybody else?

"But about that day or hour


no one knows,


not even the angels in heaven,


nor the Son,



but only the Father.
Mark13:32


Are we in shock?


Shock because maybe the truth is too undeniable.
Shock because this is just too horrific. 
Who posts a video of a brutal beheading of anybody?


 I couldn't sleep.
I just prayed.
Are we here?
Are we near the end?


I don't want to be.
I'm going to be honest. 
I've been silent at times because of tolerance and political correctness.



 Not this time.
"Take heed, keep on the alert; because we don't know when the appointed time will come..." Mark 13:33
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you, I do not give to you as the world gives. 
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27
Hear the cries of your people, Lord!

Katie

P.S. Groups of churches did rise up and join together for a moment of silence on Sunday.