At the beginning of October I decided I wanted to make a journal for the month of November. The purpose of this special journal would be a daily record of gratitude. So in keeping to my true "Colette" self I had to make it a themed journal. Not just a travelers journal, or a random notebook but something creative. While sitting at my desk and entertaining this creative thoughts I noticed the journal I made last year. It is a large pumpkin and the front is covered in white paper that has large gold circles.
So that sent my mind into create mode! After much thought, way to much thought, I decided to make my journal into the shape of an acorn. So began my "process". First is sketching out my pattern on graph paper so I can decide dimensions, scale and size for best use of my paper that is going to fill it. The next step is cutting out the front and back cover from chipboard. Following this step I have to make a decision on whether I will paint the cover or cover it with scrapbook paper. Well, I decided on scrapbook paper and that is where this blog is headed.
First, hang in there with me! I can already see that this is getting a little long but try to go the distance with me! LOL! Over the last two weeks I have looked through my stash of paper, I have looked online at paper, when I was grocery shopping at Wal-Mart I looked in the craft section for paper. I have this picture in my mind of the colors I want my acorn to be... my acorn gratitude journal, my acorn thank you book to God! But I just haven't been able to find what I am seeing in my head. Let me make a longer story shorter. I went to a craft store yesterday, picked out a bunch of papers I loved, spent more time doing this than I had anticipated only to get to the checkout to be disappointed. I had bought from this group of clearance papers recently and they were priced an over $5.00 a sheet. In taking them previously to the checkout the price was changed to a real clearance price...nine cents a sheet. This time, and it was the same lady behind the register, said that the $5.00 was the clearance price. We had a discussion and long story short I left the store leaving behind my 25 sheets of paper and pretty unhappy with the entire thing!I spent the rest of the day stewing. I mentioned the paper issue multiple times to anyone that was willing to listen. I was upset, frustrated, and bordering on angry.
What started out as a project to honor God, enable me to focus on his goodness, and to enhance my time with Him spiraled south real quick! How often does that happen when our intent is all for good but we lose sight of that somewhere down the line?! A few examples come to mind...offer to serve but then decide to only serve doing what you want to do instead of what needs to be done. Or offering to volunteer your time but instead decide things need to be done differently and you know the right way.What about sharing your thoughts with someone to offer help and support but when the discussion ends you realize you have been judgmental, unrighteous, and downright rude. I am sure that once you think about it more examples will come to mind...either from seeing it happen or from it happening to you. RUT-ROW!
My first side step was on this project I forgot to pray! "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful init with thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2. And I am learning more, and more, and more than in whatever I do, small or large prayer needs to be the first, second, and third step. My creativity belongs to God! He put that love and excitement in me. And for His glory! And that is true in every part of our lives. Our vocations, our service, our lives and all that we do is a gift from him and for him. When I begin getting frustrated in my projects I need to pray and ask God for direction before it goes south. "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12. In the same way I need to always be praying in my relationship with my husband, dealing with my children or grands, serving my neighbors, volunteering my time, sharing with my friends. Does it sound a little silly that I should pray for 2 sheets of paper to cover an acorn cover?!" Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:5-7 Yet, if God has numbered my days He also has numbered the minutes and seconds. I want those minutes and seconds to be joyful, to show gratitude for those numbered day and to give thanks for the passion he has given me. I truly want God to know that i recognize that ALL of me comes from him and that I grateful to Him for who he made me!
Onto my acorn journal...say a prayer with me!
"Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over ALL, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone." 1 Chronicles 29:12
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