Be Still - Worship Wednesday #1

Welcome to the beginning of Worship Wednesdays here on my blog! I recently visited Joyce's blog and was so inspired by her post that I asked her permission to copy her idea for Worship Wednesdays. I am so very thankful that she agreed! I have had a desire to create more projects that reflect my heart and faith, and I thought that if I would simply schedule a day to do so each week, I would likely more likely to create projects that are meaningful to me on a regular basis. So...here we are with my first Worship Wednesday project!

This is inspired by the Moxie Fab World Plum Crazy challenge and The Gypsy Spot Wanderings challenge.

 

 

Be Still Wallhanging

Cardstock: Bazzill, The Paper Company
Glittered paper: Marcella by K
Patterned paper: K & Company
Ink pad: Colorbox
Corrugated paper: Ellison
Flowers, bling, die cut felt border: Prima
Die cut butterfly and title: Provo Craft Cricut (Gypsy Font, Gypsy Wanderings)
Other: trim, ribbon, craft wire

Let me share a little bit of my creative process as I went about putting together this project...The deep purple color reminds me of royalty and the King and Lord of my heart. The torn, corrugated paper symbolizes the challenges that I've been facing lately, as well as the events of life which are the hills and valleys that often add "texture" to my life. The little pink butterfly is me...often fluttering around in the wind attempting to find food and nourishment. Finally, the jewels remind me of the grace that He bestows upon me so lavishly, and the opalescent tone of the glimmer mist on the title echoes the beauty of His command to simply "be still". I need to be that butterfly resting upon the beauty of God's creation...being still enough to consider and enjoy all that He has provided for me so that I may praise Him for His abundant grace and provision.

As you may have guessed, the following verse has been on my mind lately:

       Be still, and know that I am God;
       I will be exalted among the nations,
       I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10

With all that I've been experiencing, this verse has had me considering whether I really stop and still my mind and actions long enough to truly know my God. Am I still long enough to be able to hear the tuggings at my heart that remind me to focus on my relationship with Him? Have I taken the time to hear Him, exalt Him, and sing praises to Him? It saddens me to confess that I would have to answer "no" to both questions. My heart has not been wholeheartedly His lately, and I know that it has been due to the distractions of life.

The many urgent, non-important things that come up often take precedence when I'm faced with them. Unfortunately, the important, meaningful moments feel as if they slip away all to quickly unless I make a conscious effort to engage my mind and heart in them before they pass. Often I think that the physical pain I'm experiencing is something that causes me to slow down from the frenetic pace that would characterize my days if it wasn't hindered by this condition with which I'm currently dealing. I know in my heart that I simply need to slow this pace and enjoy some much-needed time with the Lover of my soul.  A lovely reader and sister-in-Christ reminded me of this a couple of weeks ago, and I realize now what she meant in her message to me. I am so thankful for her sweet reminder, and for the gracious One who sent her my way!

So...are you like me? Do you feel as if your days have been running together in a jumbled mess? Remember that there is One who desires to have your heart...One who knows your struggles and the challenges that you face every moment of every day. Simply slow down and meet with Him...allow yourself time to hear Him and know Him for His precious Word says:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Matthew 11:28-30 (Amplified Bible)

Will you join me in being still and knowing Him today? Let's come together and be with Him to find peace and refreshment for our souls, shall we?! :)

Please feel free to share with me what inspires you to worship God today. I would love to know! If you create a faith-based project, I would love to see it as well...please leave a comment with a link to it! I will feature a sneak peek of the projects that are shared in the comments of this post next week, and I will be giving away a surprise RAK to a randomly chosen participant from among those who join me for my Worship Wednesday. The deadline for posting a link to your faith-based project is next Tuesday, November 10, 2009, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.  Thank you in advance for joining me!  :)

So many of you inspire me with your sweet words of encouragement, and I thank you for taking the time to do so! May the rest of your week...

 

P.S.

Don't forget to visit again this Friday! It's the first Friday of the month and time for another Freebie Friday RAK!  ;-D

Comments

[Monica Robinson]

Your project is amazing! I think its awesome you are going to be doing this. We should scrapbook our faith more often. Thanks for your inspiration as always! You are such a great lady - inside and out!!! May God continue to heal you!

[Yolanda B.]

Oh thank you for sharing this is so beautiful!!

[Cheryl McKinney]

May you truly feel and know the peace that can only come from our Lord, Christine . . . these words from your heart inspired me today as I begin a new day of two jobs and an absessed tooth . . . but SO many blessings to focus on . . . yes, we each need to "be still" and know that HE is in charge of our lives and that HE cares deeply for everything that is, or is not, happening in our lives . . . bless your day!

[regina]

i love love love love your work.....and what a great way to honor our Lord and Savior....have a blessed day...hugs

[Cheryl N]

ohhh so beautiful!! love the sentiment!

[Cris]

I'm in tears. This is so beautiful Christine! So glad you are joining Joyce on this wonderful Wednesday journey. I thinkI'm going to join in too! xoxo

[Julie O.]

What an amazingly beautiful post. You are such an inspiration. Your projects are always so elegant and stunning but your words are even more fantastic.

Thank you so much for sharing from your heart. I too, have wanted to incorporate more of my faith into my projects. I love how you've chosen to be deliberate about it. I look forward to your 'Worship Wednesdays!'

[Winter]

WOW! I was just about to go to bed, and I thought, I'm going to look at one more entry in the Plum Crazy Challenge! I have looked at all of the entries up until my name "Winter Sims", so I clicked on yours, because it was right under mine! And to my surprise, I needed to hear your post! I so often get lost in everyday life, that I forget about the One that's important! My husband is a pastor and we have been pretty discouraged about church and the attendance lately! We know that God is in control, but it is still hard sometimes! He preached in Matthew 11:28-30 yesterday! What a conformation! :) Thank You & God Bless! :)

[Cath]

Hey Christine! Thanks for entering the Plum Crazy! challenge in the Moxie Fab World! :)