But .... Where Will Wisdom Be Found?

As some of you have probably already figured out .... I have this obsessive / compulsive side of me. Especially when it comes to something I enjoy or want to create ..... or buy! Well, when I get something to create in my head and it doesn't leave me alone .... I obsess over it and if it involves money ..... I spend too much money looking at what to buy to use ..... because as I shop I am creating in my mind and thinking of all the possibilities of that little thing or things I need to buy! Then I spend too much, then I can't sleep, laying awake at night thinking how I'm getting all this stuff..... WIRE and "GEMSTONES" that are coming and I will HAVE to create and sell to justify it!!!! I was sick on a Sunday afternoon several weeks ago and a little down...... and I just prayed and ask God to please help me with this obsession I was having over making jewelry, shopping and buying gemstones ......and I just kept saying...."Why ?? Lord....Why jewelry?!?.... It has to have a worthy purpose...... Please help me understand ..... help me to know what to do? ... what is it? .... please. I reached down and grabbed an old Bible that I bought to cut words out of for collage and it flipped open to Matthew 4, specifically "The temptation of Christ", especially verse four....and then the comfort that comes after resisting temptation in verse 11. I was "WOWED' BY WHAT I READ....so I decided to sit up and read more!!! As I adjusted my position the Bible flipped over to JOB 28 .... a book I would NEVER CHOOSE to read ..... but as I read it ..... I wasn't only WOWED..... I was AMAZED ..... I mean REALLY amazed....!!!! TO THIS DAY!!! .....because..... in that chapter it talked about silver, gold, copper, stones, sapphires, flint rock (jasper), gold of Ophir, precious onyx, glass, jewels of fine gold, coral, crystal, pearls, the topaz of Ethiopia .... and then the question in verse 12, ....""But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?" The answer was there .... in 23 ....it says "God understands the way to it, and He knows it's place ...... and none of these things can compare to it......and then finally in verse 28 ....... it has the answer. You don't even have to know the history of JOB .... to get what God is trying to tell us (specifically me) in this chapter 28 in the Book of Job. For me it was ..... don't let your obsession and compulsion take you over .... because it is not true wisdom .....enjoy what "I" (God)have created , use your creativity, but never forget where it comes from ... and that it can never be compared to the real wisdom from and of God. Knowing that God is sovereign and active in our lives and alive and well and with us in everything we consider ..... considering Him ..... who He is .... and why He is .... and accepting and believing it....IS WISE..... that should be the focus in everything I do. I've been debating for the last few weeks whether this is too much to write about ..... but I really must because, it spoke to me so strongly and I hope it has something for you. Through Him only does anything have purpose...... I just couldn't get over that I had asked ..... why .... and I got the answer He sent me!! Even details about the gems of the earth!!! .... where in the whole Bible would you find anything about the gemstones!?? He knew exactly where it was and for me to find it!! An accident?....I don't think so! Be careful what you pray for.....now each piece of jewelry I create will have a completely different feel to it as I create it!! WOO HOO !!!! As some of my friends say! If I was going to give the jewelry line a name it would be ..."JOB 28 JEWELRY "...... So here it is........ This is the first jewelry I have ever created, the wire wrapping and chain and link making and twisting is my favorite part. Now I am waiting for the jewels to come in the mail and a little more studying and practice! ..... I will describe the stones on each (Carnelian, aquamarine, pearls, crystal, glass,mother of pearl, etc..) if you just ask me to.....I love Deryn Mentock's jewelry designing techniques, who has inspired me, and a book or two by some jewelry artists I found on her blog .... where I saw the twisted link design. Deryn has a ton of great information on her blog for books and advice. Check her blog and enjoy her beautiful art! I have been inspired by so many other artists this year to stretch myself and do different kinds of art ......but giving Him the glory! THANKS TO YOU ALL!! YOU TOO GOD! ...... then there is a whole "other" teaching on how the gems have come through fire to become so beautiful.....

EXHAUSTED BUT BATHED IN LOVE...

There is TOO MUCH to share that was wonderful and exhausting during the Antiques Fair! So I am posting the new blooms in my yard......Monday night after all had calmed down with thousands of people, I went to bed but couldn't sleep..... I finally woke up and began to cry...and cry....like a child... whimpering and all.....not because I was sad, but because I was PURELY EXHAUSTED! So Tuesday morning I got my usual cup of coffee, my three dipping hard cookies (I know, bad!!!) and my Bible and sat in my comfy porch rocker and just sat and sipped on my hot coffee. It was one of the most beautiful mornings, crisp, clear blue, blue sky, completely still, birds chirping, flying and landing all around me where the feed was, my flowers all beginning to bloom, the fragrance of my roses near by, and the sun warming everything to encourage it's growth for spring which has arrived. It was incredible beauty and I felt so "bathed" in His love and His Glory! Like He was saying...."It's okay, just rest....see what I have created for you..." I just kept saying to myself...."I LOVE YOUR "WOW" FACTOR....I Love Your "WOW" Factor...." I felt so thankful and grateful in spite of my tiredness! I looked for the word "bathed" in scripture and it took me to John 13:1-18....where Jesus is going to wash the feet of His disciples...... will we let down our hair, suck up our pride, and allow Him to wash our feet, maybe our stinky feet.... ? ....will we let Him "BATHE" us in His Love for us and "BATHE" us in His Glory...? No matter what circumstances we are in or how frustrating life might be ....can we REST in His love and let Him wash our feet? And then can we wash the feet of others...? It is a beautiful example Christ gave us to learn of His Love....Happy Easter....which is Resurrection Day!! Thanks to all of you who participated in our lives these last few weeks and thanks to you who affirmed me by loving my art! I have bare walls.... Blessings to you all.... I made some special new friends too!!

PULLED WEEDS TODAY..

I did paint today...so relaxing and it takes me away from all the other work ....but then I love to walk out and check my two baby chickens and mama's eggs to be sure another snake hasn't come to eat them. Then I have to go see how many flowers I have left in the garden. I'm known for my wild zinnias....I pull all the dry heads of seeds and drop them back in the flower beds.....and every spring I get tons of tall old fashioned zinnias....thus a lot of art with them ! Four years ago I had a zinnia plant that forgot it was supposed to put on petals!! I mean it would make this wonderful big head with little curly hairs....and never any petals....not one flower on that particular plant with petals! It was gone the next year, and did not show up anywhere...... but the last two years I have spotted another such plant in a different place, across the grass in another flower bed. I absolutely love them....NOT perfect at all....I'm into imperfect! And how wonderful that God could use all those IMPERFECT people in the Bible....maybe he's trying to tell us something....I love my bald zinnia.....I look for it every year......I have a photo....somewhere!!