Nourish My Soul

Antique sewing table w/granite top & chair for less than $180!

When I was little, one of my favorite new school items was a "Mead: Trapper Keeper." Not only would it have a pretty picture on the front, like a rainbow or kittens, but I could actually stand it up at my school desk and create a sanctuary. 

As I've gotten older I still create special sanctuaries. I know for many women it's important to be surrounded by beauty and inspiration so that we can cast aside the woes of the world and focus on what nourishes our souls.

Where is your sanctuary? Are you like one of my best friends who enjoyed going to a special lake to talk to God and see cranes? Is there a mountain you climb for inspiration? Do you have a garden to wander or a park trail to jog? Or do you, like me, create your own sanctuary in some special corner of your home?

I traded the large folder system popped out on a table for a little art room that is fresh with light and energy. It is the place I paint, exercise, write, relax and feed my soul. One whole wall is full of windows while the opposite walls embrace my creative corner that is full of things to call my focus back to a simpler self. Recently, I created an inspiration area on one wall. By taking a large, empty picture frame, hanging it on the wall, and taping up whatever refocuses me and feeds my soul, I have a creative space that's ever changing and fun.

Sometimes having a special place is the perfect thing to get your mind and heart focused back on the Lord. Hopefully, one day when I'm in heaven I can talk to some of the early disciples and ask them where they sat to write about Jesus or where they went to remember God and be creative. I can't wait! 

If you have a photo of your special place and want to share a sanctuary idea, then email it to aimsbaker@yahoo.com.

Trust & Gratitude: Lessons from a Ragdoll

This is my Ragdoll cat. His name is Manna. He jumped up on the bed the other night and I began thinking how many lessons God has taught me through him. I'd like to share a few.

Trust -
Just like most people, I've learned the common sounds around my house. I know what walls creek and pop. I know all my cats' sounds as they look out the windows and "hunt" birds. I recognize my neighbor's voice as he talks outside on the phone. I am very familiar with hearing the children laugh and be on pretend adventures when outside at the school across the street. So imagine my surprise then I was sitting on the couch, watching a movie, and I heard a "Squeak!" My three cats had been playing together in the front room and I knew that wasn't a normal cat sound. I jumped up and ran in there to find that Manna had gotten himself tangled in the mini-blind cord. It's amazing how quickly thoughts run through your mind. I remember preparing myself for the challenge of getting him loose as I saw him flip around wildly. I got myself ready for the claw and bite marks I'd nurse later yet as I reached in to pick him up something unexpected happened. Manna totally relaxed in my arms. You see, that's why Ragdoll cats have their name. They tend to go limp when picked up, just like a rag doll, and he did just that! It was as if I picked him up and he went into "trust mode" and I was able to gently untie the cord from around his stomach and set him down.

Psalm 33:4 says, "For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does." Later I reflected on how I want to be more like Manna when troubles come my way. I want to let God take care of me, pick me up, simply relax in His might hands and trust in Him.

Gratitude-
Manna is a gentle giant. Although he just turned one year old, he's already 12 lbs. A full grown Ragdoll male can average about 21 lbs. and the biggest Ragdoll ever recorded was 35 lbs! They are just big boned and are the second largest breed of domestic cat. Yet he's not a bully. In fact, by nature he's so uber sweet I just find myself shaking my head in disbelief sometimes. First of all, this cat is a purring machine. The first time I laid eyes on him in the shelter he looked at me through the glass, flopped over on his back, started kneading his paws in the air and purred. Often he'll jump up next to me and just begin purring. I don't even have to give him affection. He's just so happy that he'll sit there and purr continually. Also, when it's time for treats he doesn't normally eat them right away. When I set them down he must rub up against me (purring of course) about three times. After he's done 'thanking' me then he'll go eat his treats.

Colossians 2:6-7 reads, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Overflowing in thankfulness! Each time Manna goes along, just acting like himself, I find myself stopping and being convicted. I want to 'purr' with thankfulness and praise God so much that people turn to Him. I want to be grateful for any blessing before I even take them. And, I want to be grateful just to be in God's favor without him doing anything more for me.

These are just a few lessons I've learned from my little, well big, kitten. The word Manna according to my dictionary means, "something unexpected but welcome" and I find that this cat and the lessons God teaches me through him are just that.

Look for the Doors

Crocheting. This is something creative I like to do in the winter. In a lot of ways it's a lost art and you might be surprised to learn that a grandma is not the one who taught me.

One day I was on a campus watching people in our college ministry play volleyball. As I walked up to a group, I noticed a young lady with a very puzzled look on her face that turned to a bored expression. I introduced myself and joined to listen to the conversation. The women were sharing about their wonderful time at camp and who could blame them?! Unfortunately, they were speaking in a lot of church lingo. Ah, now I understood the young lady's confused, bored look. She had no way to join the conversation.

So I turned to her and asked what she did as a hobby. She shrugged and said, I like to crochet. "Really?!," I said. This young lady was only about 18yrs. old and was very alternative with a punk'ish style so this was not exactly the hobby I expected. I love it when people surprise me! So I began asking her more questions and asked if she'd ever taught anyone. You should have seen her come out of her colorful shell! Right then and there, we set up a time to get together. It was decided. She'd teach me how to crochet a blanket and I'd teach her about God.

We had so much fun together. Although, she decided that she didn't want to follow God at that time, I am hopeful about the seeds God helped me to plant. And I use the lesson she gave to me too! I still make blankets and usually donate them to people that are sick or in hospice. Each time I make a blanket, I remember her and try to pray for her.

This is just one tiny example of how I've seen God open someone up when I look for their passions, or what I like to think of as the doors into their heart. I forget to do this too often, so instead of working to pull people into my world, I'm strive to connect more with them within their passions.

Let's face it, we get talked AT all the time, sometimes we just need people to ask us questions and listen. I've broken down more walls with my ears than with my hands. Here's to making a decision to look for the doors!

Battle Cries & Power Moves

Every hero needs a battle cry. ~ Jaime Ridler

I'm reading a great book by Christine Mason Miller called "Desire to Inspire." In it there are stories by artists about creativity, motivation, and inspiration. Different contributors also provide little exercises to get your creative juices flowing and the other day one caught my eye. As I read it I thought of how much it could encourage someone in their walk with God. The exercise is titled "The Superhero in You."

There are two parts of this exercise I wanted to share because I think they are fun and unique. The first is to choose a battle cry. It could be just a simple word or a simple sentence. Have you ever thought about having one? A battle cry would inspire you to bold action. There is only one word for the moment that wraps up all that is going on in my life whether spiritually, personally, or professionally. My battle cry is, "Adventure!" I asked a few others if they would share their battle cry and some of the responses I received were:

"FREEEEEEEDOM!"

(and yes, I counted how many EE's she used - ha)

"Soar!"
"Not of this world!"

"Boldness!"
"The time has come, let us be brave!"
"Thrive and Flourish!"
"God's got my back!"
"Relentless!"

I've also heard of battle cries of "God is victor!" and "Let's do this!" Some friends needed time to think about it and I hope you will take some time and think of yours too. I imagine that through the years our battle cries will change so no worries...you aren't stuck with just one.

The second is to create your power move. This is such a fun idea that I'm going to quote her directly: "Imagine you have a secret move, one that activates your confidence and invokes your strength. Try a few possibilities. Standing tall?  Hands on hips? Raising your chin? Flicking your hair? Choose what feels powerful and then practice this stance on the subway, at your desk, and at the market. Use this pose whenever you need a little boost of heroic energy."

So what's my power move? Well, it's kind of dance where I rock my shoulders side to side and while snapping my fingers I say, "ooooh, look at me and my bad self." It's a line from the animation movie "The Emperor's New Groove." I don't know why I ever stopped using it because when I did it again my spirits were lifted. SO, what's your power move? Is it one of the examples above? Some other suggestions are to flex your arm muscles at yourself in the mirror (it's okay if it makes you laugh), or maybe it's a combination of saying your battle cry along with one fist pumped in the air? Could it be eyes closed, arms raised, and head back? A fighting stance? Hands in prayer position? The possibilities are endless.

If you have other battle cries or power moves, please share them with us by making a comment. I can't wait to hear from you!

picture from: http://www.evelynkalinosky.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/women-in-black-with-fist-in-air.gif#women%20with%20fist%20in%20the%20air%20

Looking for God

Sometimes the world seems too big and too full of problems. Can you relate? At those moments, I feel the desire to go and look for God. Being creative helps me to shake off the problems of the world for a while and recently my creativity lead me to do something I had not done before. I went and took pictures of whatever I saw that made me appreciate the God we have and His sovereignty. I went looking for Him in the little details by giving myself 30 minutes to take photos.

I felt so refreshed and rejuvenated after my little photo exploration. And I did find God! :) I saw Him all around. If you ever decide to try this simple idea, don't put harsh expecations on yourself or what the photos 'should' look like because in the end the only goal is to take your focus from the world and turn it again to God.  

A Heart to Serve

This title is the name of a popular British comedy I have enjoyed watching. The scene is set in a clothing store of sorts and the main actors are workers there serving the customers. I think this question is one we all like to hear because we honestly like to be taken care of and served. Yet Jesus said,“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

Mark 10:45 is one of my many favorite verses. It's such a simple statement but it keeps my heart in check. It's so important to serve with a right heart or motives and I want to be a woman who goes around asking others, "Are you being served?" :)

Below are some verses for study:

a.        Romans 12:1-13

b.        Ephesians 6:7

c.        Colossians 3:23-25

d.        1 Peter 4:7-11

e.        1 Corinthians 12

Questions I often ask myself:

What gifts do I have from God?

How can I serve in my community or neighborhood?
How can I serve in church?

Are there ways I can serve my Christian brothers & sisters?

What are some ways I can serve my family more?

Can I find ways to serve others at work?

Quotes to inspire

Anne Frank: How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Edmund Burke: Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.

Emily Dickinson: If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.
If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain.

Marian Wright Edelman: We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.

 Martin Luther King, Jr.: Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

Mohandas K. Gandhi: The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

Blessed With Sunshine & Blizzards

This week I've been overwhelmed with blessings and it's only Wednesday! ha. My life is flooded with blessings and I want to share how you can have that too. Don't worry, this is not a story about how to prosper. I'm not about to give you a formula to gain blessings in your life. What I'm about to share is about gratitude because really blessings for you abound but to be overwhelmed by them you've got to take notice and appreciate them.

First, what are blessings? Dictionary.com states the following:
bless·ing

   /ˈblɛsɪŋ/ Show Spelled[bles-ing] noun

1. the act or words of a person who blesses.

2. a special favor, mercy, or benefit.
3. a favor or a gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

4. the invoking of God's favor upon a person.

5. praise; devotion; worship, especially grace said before a meal.

So good things! Uhhh, not always. Sometimes hard things happen, heartache, disappointment and God is using these things to send you off in the direction you need to go. But still it's a blessing because it's a part of his mercy (#2) that benefits you and even can bring you happiness in the end (#3). Just something to think about because in reflection of my own life some heartache, some hard times, some hard situations have turned out to really be a blessing to get me where I am now...even though I didn't see it at the time. I think this is where appreciation and gratitude comes into play because in our limited prospective we often only see and are thankful for blessings we call 'good.'

Now, in light of that...what are some of my blessings lately?

1. I had a project at work, that I was apprehensive about, go really well.

2. Another blogger decided to feature me on her blog and because of that "Silver Trumpets" will get some advertisement - which I'm hoping glorifies God.

3. I received a bonus at work. 

4. I've still been really sick lately; I have been chronically ill for a year or so now.

5. I found out that the whole roof on my house needs to be replaced.

6. I've been neglected by some people in my life recently.

The 'good' things I mentioned are obvious as blessings but the others, well, those are blessings too!

#4 Being sick - This has really caused me to cling to God. I've been learning so much about my character and about how to take care of myself.

#5 Leaky roof - I've learned to how to navigate the ins and outs of my insurance company plus I established a relationship with a great roofing company

#6 Neglected - This has reminded me how blessed I am to have a relationship with God as a shepherd who always looks out for me. Also, bad examples remind me of who I really want to be so I've been striving to be a better friend to others.

There are more examples but you get the point. I'm grateful for all that is happening in my life, good and not so good, because I trust that Jesus has a point, a reason, and desires great things for me so that's why all these things are happening.

If you get a chance today - write down your blessings. You might start with the good and then think about anything stinky that's happening in your life right now. As you pray for perspective, you might start to see all the ways God is using even the bad situations. If you don't see the good in it right away...patiently wait...because I bet you do in time! :) May you be continually reminded that you have a Wonderful Creator who is actively working in your life and be overwhelmed by His blessings.