The Rosette

 Life journey's.  We're all on one.  Each of our journey's consist of seasons.  Seasons that make us who we are.  We all need to experience each season in our life to experience growth. In order for us to truly experience joy despite our life circumstances we must be made whole in Christ...COMPLETE.  Flaws and all, NOT perfect!  God says the we may have LIFE and have it FULL, ABUNDANTLY!  John 10:10 says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  It's our flaws and our imperfections that Christ perfects within us to that we may be made holy.  Another word for holy is RESTORED.

I love that! Christ restores!  He doesn't discard me or pack me up donating me to the local thrift store like so many of us do with our wanted or disfunctioning items.  Christ doesn't do that with us, thank goodness!  These Rosettes are a testimony of just that.  Many years ago Christ had plans for me in which I wasn't quite aware of at that time due to MY own agenda.  About three years ago late in the night of making these lovely adornments, God made His sweet presence very abundantly clear to me.  It was a newness I hadn't felt in a really long time.  He refreshed me and renewed me.  He revealed to me a beautiful story in which I'm about to share.

  
The material that is used for each Rosette is from thrift stores or yard sales.  Clothing items that have been tossed aside and no longer wanted or needed.  That's how we feel at times, but Christ will scoop us up and heal the brokenhearted, He will be the Father to the fatherless and He will make beautiful what was intended for harm.  My prayer is that this will bless and encourage you.

Each petal represents a season in our life. It is always held by our Creator God.  As we go through life's journey we are being shaped and formed by Him.  Containing the fray's that we are without Him.  Sometimes we may go through hard times and have to walk through fire but we will not be consumed.  We have the promise of Isaiah 43:2 which says, "...when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

That season will come to an end as we grow and mature in Him.  A new season begins...'a new petal held in His Hands.'  Same process because God doesn't change, but for us different experiences, different shaping, different growing to be made.  We're imperfect in the Perfector's Hands.  For His Hands make and fashion us according to Psalm 119:73.

 
 God continues this process with each of our 'petal' seasons.  He is the one who changes times and seasons in ours lives (Daniel 2:21.)  All the while He's layering each season one atop of the other.  Each getting smaller as we are continuing our walk with Him trusting and believing in the work He is doing in us.

As time goes on and we're seeking God and He's giving us the full life, He's revealing to us the magnificent masterpiece that He always knows that we are.  You are His beautiful rose that He treasures and adores.  Deuteronomy 7:6 tells us, "...The LORD your God had chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession..."  God treasures you!  You are His delight!  God loves you just as you are, not as you THINK you should be.

Sometimes it's hard to remember that we are His beautiful treasure.  That He delights in us as we are going through challenging, tough times.  When we're being shaped and don't like the aches of growing pains or just maybe we're having to walk pretty close if not through that fire.  It is easy to forget that we are treasure.  But treasure must be refined through fire.  There may be bonds that have us so bound that it is necessary for us to be in that firery trial in order to allow those bonds to be burned off and for us to be released from it.  Those bonds will fall right off as Christ brings you out through the other side victoriously!  One translation of 1Peter 1:7 says, "The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is.  Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God."

These tests strengthens our faith.  Serving Christ isn't always about being protected from difficulty.  We are ALWAYS in His hands through those difficulties.  He doesn't let go of you.  He's got you!  Sometimes He may be guiding while others He is carrying you through.  Jesus Christ is the Author and Perfector of our faith.  He is making us complete.

Everyday, we are faced with challenges.  It is in every day that we are renewed.  Don't let yesterday's failures and disappointments weigh you down today.  Worrying over mistakes is a waste of our time and energy that leads us to frustration.  Release all your mistakes to Christ.  Look to Him in trust - anticipating, expecting and having a mind-set that God is in control. Our failures are highlights of our dependence on Christ.  He is the One and Only who can bring absolute beauty out of the overwhelming mass of our mistakes.  Begin anew this day...focusing only on today - seeking to please God and to walk in His ways. Joy and Peace because God is with you each step of the way.  "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.' Michah 7:7

Those seasons WILL pass.  They don't last forever.  Don't let what you are going through define you.  God gives us the strength, the ability and the privilege of seeing each season through.  Isaiah 43:10 gives us a sweet promise, "Fear not, for I am your God; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

So be encouraged when going through trials.  In the book of James, we're told to consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  Reflect back to how the Rosette was created.  Each petal season was brought to the flame to be shaped.  Some areas on the petal have singes, flaws, areas that we may want to hide, and reminders of trials it endured.  But as each petal was placed one atop of the other getting smaller as it went, the beauty was beginning to be revealed.  It was those flaws and the things that at the time of the season that appeared to be ugly and so bad to the point that it looked almost hideous yet it is those qualities that brings forth the uniqueness and absolute beauty to the Rosette.  God being the center of it creating this absolute amazing one-of-a-kind Masterpiece.  No two are alike.  Let this be a reminder of how God is always at work in us and what beautiful treasures we are to Him.

We all need seasons to grow.  We can't stay on one side of the sun and expect to be complete.  We can't have a full, abundant life without transformation, shaping, refining.  Just think how beautiful of a garden He's creating in you...

 

 Take care & be blessed,

Christy Krezman
Rosette Ministry

Bold for Christ

This is me.  This is me being bold for Christ.  This is me being bold for Christ and knowing that it was absolutely, completely and totally Him who gave me the strength that I was able to stand before a group of beautiful women and share a story that Christ placed upon my heart.

Let me tell you, I am not comfortable speaking in crowds...just a year ago I couldn't even share this same story in front of a group of 12 ladies I knew without shaking, voice trembling, and stumbling on my words!  God is so good!  I love that He continued to impress upon my heart the urgency to be bold for Him.  I've ignored it for far too long.  I've chosen not to disregard it any longer and my goodness, it is such an amazing journey that I've been exposed to I could have never dreamed it up in a million years!

I've worried for quite a number of years of what others thought of me...including complete strangers.  My outward appearance. All my effort went into making the outer part of my life appear to look fantastic.  I also placed all of my likes, identities and talents into separate boxes (bedazzled, of course!) I kept them all separate. When the time called for a particular item, then I'd retrieve the correct box  but then quickly slammed the box lid shut.  Never allowing God or others to get close enough inside to truly see in or to even fill me up.  I lived this accelerated, unremarkable life for many years.  Always feeling a lacking in my heart.  I thought I was doing things right, I mean I was volunteering excessively at my children's school, did my daily devotions, volunteered at church, kept up with the household stuff yet I still felt things in my heart was just not right.

When you get broken you become desperate for God.  I was becoming very broken in my heart. Very low in fuel...I was finding only remnants in the boxes of what used to be abundantly overflowing at one point in time.  Christ revealed to me that I was not allowing myself to be vulnerable and transparent. WHAT?!  Oh my goodness!  What would others think?  If I let people get to know the "real" me, then they may not like what they see?  Would they still like me? What if they found out about "this or that?" They may not understand what I had to go through!

Let me tell you something, the most beautiful woman is a woman who is comfortable in her own skin. 1 Corinthians 3:16 says, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?"  Wow!  That's pretty awesome! Change needs to happen in order for you to allow growth.  Growing is not comfortable, in fact it requires you to endure pain.  Growing stretches you and takes you to a new level that you have not been before and it is gloriously beautiful once you arrive. Christ never wastes pain that we experience.  We need to just remember to keep a mind-set that God is in control.  He has you.  He will never leave you and He has prepared a place for you in eternity. We are not of this world.  Things of this place are temporary. 

I thought about how loyal Christ is to me.  Have I predetermined my loyalty to Him in all that I go through?  What exactly is loyalty?  Loyalty is...to be firm, be established, be steadfast, be faithful, be sure, be reliable, be fixed, be certain; to be ready, be prepared; to be determined...After reading this I prayed for Christ to make me more loyal to Him.  To remove "Christy." Removing selfishness, pride and worries  making me an empty vessel to be filled with His Holy Spirit that I may be used according to His plan and purpose.  Goodness me, God hears prayers people!  He did just that for me!  It wasn't an easy road, but it was a road I wouldn't have redirected or repaved at all.  I love where He has brought me in being able to be bold for Him. He has proved Himself throughout my years to be my firm foundation, established in my life, unwavering, unshakable, unfaltering, unbendable, faithful to His Promise's.  He's authenic, trustworthy and dependable. He's equipped, ready and willing to give all that He is to me even when I don't even realize it. 

Not much has changed in my outward appearance in the past year, but much sure has in my heart!   I am quick to speak to people and greet them with a smile and say hello looking them in the eye.  I am patient and slow to anger in difficult situations.  I forgive when I am hurt or wronged. I've become transparent & vulnerable to those I trust around me.  I surrender things to Christ that I am not meant to carry.   I trust in Him to see me through each and every day, as well as each and every situation and circumstance.  I have faith that I will see Him one amazing day!

Let me leave you with this thought...We all have one giant sized breath of God.  Are you going to breathe it out everyday sharing it with the world around you? Or, are you going to hold it in puffing out your cheeks so big making your face turn red til you pass out keeping it all to yourself?  I've chose to take my index fingers and poke my rosed colored cheeks and exhale Jesus out to this world while I can. I can't control what other people think, so why should it bother me what they think of me especially if I am in Christ.  Psalm 139:14 says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

God's fingerprint's are all over me and you.  He has created some pretty amazing things, including you and me, so I am going to be bold for Him, loving Him, serving Him, seeking Him, being prepared, and waiting with anticipation to see what is in store for me next.

Take care and be blessed.

Christy K.

May Day

Happy May!

A new month.  New beginnings - beautiful things that await us.  There's always something refreshing for me as the calendar gets turned to start a new month.  So many possibilities and opportunities.  It reminds me of how Christ does this with us every single day.  The previous is marked and scribbled upon taking away from the beauty of the picture above it.  Sometimes it gets so heavy with marks with all of our stuff that it is almost unrecognizable and doesn't resemble what it once was.  Toward the end it is barely hanging on just about to be torn from the last bit of what was holding it together.

Here's the beautiful part...that marked up stuff, the tattering...it doesn't last forever! The page gets turned - the old forgotten.  We get new mercies every morning...a clean slate.  And the best part is, we don't have to be the one holding on...it's Christ who has clasped Himself onto us anchoring us firm and secure in Him.  How awesome is that?  We can let Him write His Words of truth upon our days filling each one with exactly what we need according to His will.  Allowing His beauty to be written so perfectly on our imperfect lives.  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13.  He's our anchor.  He's our hope.  He's our support.  He's our merciful father who forgives and graciously allows us to have do-overs time and time again! 

This is a great day, a great month, a great year to live for the greatness of God...for this is truly living a great life!!

Take care and be blessed,

Christy Krezman
 

Intensely Hard yet Incredibly Beautiful

This image is a result of obedience and trust in Christ.  It was extremely challenging yet very

rewarding.  It was very painful yet very life changing.  It serves as a reminder and a promise all in one.

Growing IS hard.  Trusting IS hard.  Obedience IS hard... but when we are allowing our growth to be made by The One who knew us before we even were and when we are placing our trust in Him - Maker of Heaven & of Earth - then incredible beauty emerges out from our times of hardships.

In everything there's a beginning...the seed.  Christ may require you to stretch beyond your level of comfort and step outside your realm of  feeling safe and comfortable.  This looks different for everybody.  But He does call us to go, to love, to be His hands and feet...all in His Name.  For me, He called me to a missions trip this past July to Fiji.  What an experience that was.  Two weeks away from my family, traveling with people I didn't know on a medical missions sharing the love of Jesus.  My thought was, 'How bad can it be? It's in Fiji!' Let me tell you, there is a side of Fiji that is not on Google.  I know because I Googled Fiji and the Fiji I experienced was not what was shown to me!  Clinics were held in several village's and I began doubting myself on what I was really doing there.  How am I doing what Christ asked of me?  This is so hard.  Seeing such economically poor people living in what we would consider trashy lean-to's.  Yet they were filled with such genuine JOY! Story after story that was shared in broken English broke my heart yet at the same time warmed it seeing their joyfulness and glee for life, always praising God giving Him glory and thanksgiving despite their circumstance. I could do nothing to help their circumstances but pray for them.   That's when it was spoken to me how life is intensely hard yet God turns it incredibly beautiful.  That stuck with me. It's so true.  Life is.  We get to choose how we respond.  God wastes nothing and uses it for His good.  After that spoken phrase, that's where this image came into play.  It really was a gift given by God.  An illustration He displayed for tired, simple minded Christy to be able to completely understand at the time. 

The seed gets planted in hearts through obedience when you respond...you go...you do what's been asked of you by Christ.  That seed will be watered as you continue to be obedient in serving and answering Christ's calling.  The seed will soon begin to sprout and grow.  This is not always an easy or comfortable process, but it is very necessary for continued growth.  Ephesians 4:15-16 says, " We are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

As you persevere through enduring the spurts of growth tredging on through life, Christ has been doing beautiful things, never ceasing.  The sprout is maturing and becoming tall, extending its branches out wide and upward, roots digging deeper grasping hold of the richly saturated soil, leaves beginning to appear in rich bold color that captivate & radiate all that the sun (SON) has filled them with in that day.  Fruit appears so plump and lush that it is shared nourishing others that are in the presence of that tree. John 15:16 says, "...you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go bear fruit and that your fruit should abide."  John 15:4, "Abide in Me, and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."  Christ is enabling you to bless others as He blesses you.  Give God all the honor, all the praise and all the glory! 

This tree represents you and I.   As believers it is necessary for us to always be growing in Christ.  "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity."  2 Peter 3:18.  Growing is never easy and sometimes not pleasant, but we never have to go it alone.  Christ is with us at all times.  Even when times get extremely tough and we loose some leaves or even some branches.  Job14:7-9 ESV encourages us, "For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that  it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.  Though its roots grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant."  Christ gives us hope.  Christ is our hope.  We serve a gracious and loving God who is always with us giving us just what we need just when we need it.

Life is Intensely Hard yet Incredibly Beautiful when you surrender - give it up or agree to forego to the power or possession of another - to God!

This illustration was so imprinted on my heart that I had it tattooed on my foot.  One, as a reminder to me so when I find myself pouting as any pouting child does looking down, I will see it and be reminded of the work Christ is doing in me as well as through me.  Quickly removing myself out of the pout if I would just be trusting of His Will for my life.  Two, it's been an absolute wonderful way to share the love of Jesus with random people and complete strangers!  It's a great conversation starter, for sure. 

The Lord has blessed me with a ministry that has been growing as well.  I chose this to be it's logo and had t-shirt's made! 

God is good...All the time!

Take care and be blessed.

Christy Krezman

May1, 2013

How Strong Are You?

Scrolling through Pinterest this morning after my devotions I came upon this image.  I was captivated by it.  For one, I love anything to do with trees.  For another, this image has such a powerful message.  Of course I saved it to my camera roll and gazed upon it throughout the day and it was in a conversation I had with my mother when things began to reveal themselves.

On the surface is seen a wilted, tired tree. One that has quite possibly endured a hardship that stripped everything comfortable and pleasing to it.  It is bent by the weight of what the world has dumped upon it and deserted it in complete isolation.  It isn't much different than you or I when we are in our own trials.  Things of this world are just too heavy and hard for us to handle and strip us from what we feel make us beautiful and comfortable in our own skins.  We all experience these circumstances in life, none of us are exempt.  I do have exciting news to share...we don't have to go through these trials alone!  Jesus Christ is our Savior and He will either deliver us from the trials or through the trials, but one thing is for sure...He WILL deliver us.

Below the surface is unseen.  It's the most beautiful part of the faith-filled believer!  As you seek God, trusting Him with every aspect of your life roots begin to take and grow.  The more you trust and pursue, those roots dig down deeper and weave into the soil taking anchor.  As you become more obedient to His calling upon your life even when it is absolutely difficult and challenging, those roots push their way through the hard-pan soil expanding and growing becoming a most beautiful site.  Our circumstance on the surface may not have changed in the slightest, but those roots continue to grow anchoring us to keep us planted so that we won't waver when storms blow our way.  We become solid and whole in Him.  He gives us a promise in Jeremiah 17:7-8, "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream."

When the storms of life do come and toss us to and fro then we have the confidence in knowing that we are anchored in Christ with our deep grounded roots that have been planted in Him through our Faith and His Promises and His great love for us.  Hebrews 6:19 reminds us, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."  That's Jesus for you.  Always keeping us tucked in His loving arms protecting us and strengthening us in times of hardship.  Psalm 91:4 tells us, " He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."  *Side note - I needed to look up rampart just because it's not in my everyday language and it's pretty cool!  Rampart:  a protective barrier. Jesus is our Shield and our Protective Barrier!!

I'll take this stuff any day.  On the surface is for just a season. Season's change.  They come and go.  Some longer than others.  The tree will eventually begin to grow leaves becoming lush and green.  Bearing ripe gorgeous fruit for others to feast upon.  The same is true of us.  We begin to grow and prospering in our lives and bearing fruit that Christ has for us to share.  Others benefit as well and are blessed by it.  Are you strong enough to endure the first slight winds that hit you before you go running?  Are you willing to pursue Christ, allowing Him to grow roots in you that are quite uncomfortable and painful at times?  Are you willing to be obedient to Christ despite your surface circumstance to be anchored in Him?  

Now, take a look at this tree.  This tree is how the world lives.  Such emphasis put on the surface.  There's got to be beauty abounding for all to see.  I've got to be a certain size because all my friends are that size or smaller.  I need that house because it's in the best neighborhood.  That car is the BOMB!  I would look so cool in it, wouldn't I?! I gotta HAVE, I NEED, I WANT.

Well, I have to say, it sure does look pretty.  It is nice and not bad to look at.  But what happens when a life storm comes?  What is anchoring all the stuff on the surface?  Is it the new job or the ski boat?  The beach house or the vacation trips?  This new gal/guy instead of my ex-spouse?  Unfortunately, this world doesn't make room or time for Christ.  When that happens the roots are shallow and in soft ground.  Turmoil easily disrupts any part of this tree at any moment.  It quickly crumbles at the slightest hardship. The first sign of a storm the tree is uprooted and gone.  It's top heavy with nothing to anchor it and supporting it, securing it to it's foundation.  Families destroyed. Lives hurt.  Proverbs 1:27 says, "...when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you." It goes on to say in verse 29 finishing in verse 31, "Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices." What is left to give to others if you're searching for the next best thing yourself?   God ends with a promise to believers in verse 33, "...but whoever listens to Me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."

Hmmm,  I don't know about you but after reading that section of Scripture I know that I most definitely want to pursue planting roots below the surface big time! Anchoring myself to the One Most High who gives me Promise after Promise and follows through on them every time!   God appointed each of us to this world with a purpose.  The enemy also appointed the world to us but with a much different agenda.  Which influence will win out?  Will you influence the world being rooted in Christ?  Or will the world influence you?

Think about it.  Pray about it.  Do something.  Be great in Him!

Take care and Be Blessed,

Christy Krezman
4/24/2013

There's always, always, always something to be thankful for!

I've always known to take captive my thoughts and focus on the positive side of things despite my circumstance.  Knowing and actually doing is the key to having hope through tough times.  It's also one of the hardest things to do.  This past week has proved itself to be full of different circumstances for myself as well as for close friends and family members.  I found myself repurposing words over and over and over again.  Then one evening I got alone with my Lord and called out to Him, asking the 'Why?' questions that so many of us do in times that are hard for us to understand.  Of course, He proved Himself gentle and true with His answers that evening and for the rest of the week.

We live in a world that focuses on satisfying ME.  It's all about ME.  Whatever makes ME happy.  This is the wrong way of the ME mentality.  It's the selfish ME.  So, it's easy to look at others and magnify flaws in them to edify ourselves, taking the focus off of ourselves..."If only he'd do this, then I'd be happier."  "If only my friends treated me like I treat them!"  "If only I had support from others I'd be able to exercise more and be in better shape." "He/She doesn't listen to me at home but this gal/guy does so I'm gonna hang out with her/him."  This is passing the buck.  Looking at the downside of things. Making excuses. Not looking where we need to be looking. We can not change anyone except ourselves. If we don't start the change, who will?

We also have a tendency to feel sorry for ourselves for what we have to go through.  The 'Why me?' scenario. We think that nobody else has problems.  Life is all good for everybody else.  We tend to compare our worst to every one elses best and wonder why we fall short.  We are defeated in our minds. We quit before we even get started. God has such faith in you that you are capable of enduring this circumstance in which you are placed that He is growing you to get you to where you need to be. There is success in trials.  It trains you. Equips you and makes you wise.  So the question needs to be, "Why not me?"

Let me tell you, there is Hope!  His name is Jesus Christ!  What is mentioned above is not how He desires for you to live.  John 10:10 says, "I came so that you may have life and live it more abundantly." You are not living an abundant life if you are living with wavering, doubtful thoughts, even for just a season.  Christ desires for you to live abundantly and He equips you with all that you need at every given moment that you need it.  All you need to do is Trust and Obey.  Step out in Faith knowing that what He is leading you to and through for a greater Plan and Purpose in your life.

People of faith are called to go on journey's that are very treacherous at times.  These journey's consists of hikes through dense jungles, mountainous climbs and dry desert flatland's.  Every step that we take on these journey's we take in faith because we know not of how each of our steps will land.  Will it land on solid ground or will it be mushy muck where you sink for a bit to your ankles, knees or even your neck?  When you're trekking along and branches and twigs are swiping you, pesky insects nipping at you and little pebbles stub your toes, be thankful because you don't see how Christ is holding back the ginormous Redwoods, the enormous boulders, and the wildlife that is on the hunt for you.  He is paving the way for us and we don't see it because far too often we are too busy griping about being injured by the "branch" that hit us across the face or the small stone that stubbed our toe!  When we come to ragging waters, let me tell you friend, Christ carries you. He scoops you up like a mother does a newborn babe.  Isaiah 41:10 gives us a promise, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  He's doing all of that for us, we have just got to recognize that, trust Him for that and thank Him for that.

It is so easy to be happy-go-lucky when things in life seem to be going alright.  Life is great, so-to-speak.  Nothing awful is in my life.  But are you thankful?  Thankful everyday?  There is at least one thing to be thankful for everyday.  Are your thanking your Creator God for that?  Thanking God for things in your life despite what is happening in your life will lead to Joy.  Who doesn't want to have Joy?  Happiness and Joy are very different.   Sorrow and Joy can coexist. .  God is Sovereign.  He doesn't change.  He is the author of Joy.  He is the Creator of today.  "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

So, back to taking my thoughts captive. It really does start in your mind. What you give thought to, you react to.  Where you invest, you will find growth - whether negative or positive, bad or good.  Years ago, an exercise that I did to help me take my negative thoughts captive was to jot down the negative thought in a notebook.  After I did that I wrote five positives that countered that negative.  So for every negative I had five positives.  For example, I found myself complaining about the valley heat. I jotted down "I'm so stinkin hot I think I'm going to melt. I wish we had a built in pool!"  Five positives, 1. I have a lovely home with shaded trees and lush landscaping. 2. My home is equipped with a working air-conditioner.
3. I have a sunk-in tub that I can fill with cool water and relax in to cool off.  4. I have multiple friends that have a built in pool that have extended invitations over for swimming. 5. I'm alive to be able to feel the heat.
It kinda puts things into perspective.  This example was on a lighter note.  I have done this in my relationships as well as with keeping myself in check.  It works!!

Another way to train your heart to be thankful is to keep a thankful journal.  Simple.  Every evening simply jot down at least one thing you were thankful for that day.  "Lord, I am thankful for..."  The first few days may barely be words like, 'being alive, breathing, the sun, etc.' by a couple of weeks of routinely doing this, you may have one page per night of thankfulness!  Praise God!!

I want to encourage you to look up into your Heavenly Father's face and let Him be all that you need for that moment.  Thank Him for His love and mercy.   Let me leave you with a wonderful work of art that He displayed yesterday that I was absolutely thankful for having the opportunity to witness.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12 ESV

Take care and be blessed,

Christy Krezman

FRAMED for His Glory

Last night I went to bed thinking for some reason of all the photographs that we take and how we store them on our smart phones and rarely do we ever get them printed to have put into a frame as we did many years ago.  I believe that is why I am finding a treasure of frames at the thrift stores sitting there so sad and without purpose upon the shelves.  But not to worry.  No longer is the frame needed for use for just the typical use of framing a portrait of some kind.  It is now it's own piece of art...it's own masterpiece.  No longer a slave  in bondage in being held bound for only one purpose,  it has been set free!

Hmm, sounds kind of a familiar story.  Am I comparing myself to a frame?  Perhaps.  But it is what Christ has done for us.  He has set us free from bondage. We are no longer slaves.  When He gave Himself for us on the Cross He did it for each and everyone of us, freely.  When we accept Him, we are our own work of art, His masterpiece...fearfully and wonderfully made.  WOW!  Oh, how He loves us!  He wants to frame all His goodness, all His righteousness, all His joy and all His love in you to be displayed in and through you.  Allow Him to remove whatever is being held in place of all of that.  Allow Him to dismantle the structure of what bounds the frame until it is exposed and transparent so that He can begin to reveal His Masterpiece...YOU!

It's really cool to think that Christ upcycles, recycles and repurposes us! I'm so thankful for that! Nothing is wasted  when we are walking close to Him, including our mistakes, mishaps, hurts and struggles.  He upcycles, recycles, and repurposes those for good by His transforming grace.  Let me tell you, I am so glad that He doesn't donate to the thrift store or toss out to the garbage!  He is the Ultimate Designer!  He can do an amazing work in you. Praise God!

Now, I have some ideas for you for those frames that you may have stored away in the closet or perhaps boxed up and ready to donate to your local thrift store.  HOLD IT!  Before you do anything else, rethink things through and perhaps restore life to those frames...just sayin.  If they are mix-matched, brass, oak, black with gold, floral, green, whatever, no worries.

 That is what the miracle in a can is all about.  Spray paint can do a world of wonders.  By simply disassembling the frames taking the backs off and removing mats and glass you'll be left with a simple frame, no matter the size.  I purchase my spray paint from Lowe's - Valspar brand, but you can purchase at Wal-Mart or Home Depot your preference.  Lightly spray paint them a color of choice.

Once you've done all the labor, you'll be ready to display all the glory!  The possibilities are endless.  What I am about to display here are things I have around my home.  Things I have put to use here and there over time.  Believe me when I say, they will change periodically, because I like to keep things moving.  It may be the same item, just a fresh coat of paint and a different way of displaying it or moving it to another part of the house.  Items in my home don't get to comfortable where they live.  They make friends with everything in every room! And they are not shy of changes!

My all time favorite!  It can't be done all year, but when you can display God's beautiful blossoms then do it!  So easy, just hang an empty frame or frames in the tree on sturdy branches and admire the art of God's glory.

This is my guest bathroom.  Top picture is a oak frame painted black placed on the center of the infamous large bathroom mirror.  I used 8 - 3M double sided wall poster hanger sticky tabs to hang it. Bottom picture is two frames one wood, one metal. Sprayed unified colored and hung together.

These two pieces are recent crafts that I've made.  Top picture shows a large frame that I decoupaged with scrapbook paper, placed a vinyl tree atop and sealed with clear coat spray paint. Glued with my E6000 a yellow frame and I attached a paper "JOY" banner that is removable and can be replaced with other items such as pictures or whatever.

Bottom picture is of lovebirds.  I bought notecards and these lovely creatures were among them.  Same process as above.  Dark frame was an old Tuscan picture that I decoupaged with scrapbook paper.  Found a lovely spot for the Lovebirds and framed them.  An old dresser drawer handle and frame was adhered with E6000.

In my kitchen, I've stacked some open frames.  Layering  is good.  Just to let you know, these candle sticks are on their 4th color now :) Another little tid-bit, entire arrangement is from thrift store buys including the stand it is sitting on! Floral arrangement made with paper flowers (I'll show you another time) Paint does wonders!!

Frame with twine strung across and stapled to make a Rosette hair clip holder.  Hung in my daughter's room.

Frame another piece of art. This is a carved piece of whitewashed wood that looks lost on the wall by itself, but looks wonderful framed.

In my bedroom entryway, unified stacked frames of various sizes and shapes.  I have ones that I've painted yellow up on the seatee and the ones on the floor are actually the wooden cloth mats that came with larger frames that I found at thrift stores.

There you have it. Frames. Didn't think there was much use for them anymore until I realized we're not much different from things that are always being thrown out and discarded, no longer wanted. There's a story to be told and I'm believe God has placed it upon my heart to share with whomever is willing to listen.  It is my duty to be obedient and tell of His Great Love for us through this blessed gift He has given me.  Thank you for reading, thank you for hearing.

Take care and be blessed,

Christy Krezman