I Love You Because...

I have the pleasure of being the Leader for a Mom's Group in my church called "Encouraging Mothers." We've been in the habit of trying to spend our time together doing something fun and productive at our meetings. I love the group of ladies and the children have so much fun playing together each time we meet.

Though this is a bit delayed, around Valentine's Day we did a simple project together. One of the MOST popular Pinterest Pins is the "I love you because" board. Well, that's what we made together. And, from that I've heard beautiful testimonies on how that simple project allowed woman to focus more on encouraging their husbands, which has benefited their marriage.

I made one of course for my Beloved... I personalized the look of it to match our bedroom decor. Here it is:

 I spent NO money on this project that made a beautiful Valentine's Day gift for my Hubby. I had all the supplies sitting around my garage- an old frame, Scrapbook Paper, Printer/Ink and a Paper Flower.

I'd love to see your version of the "I Love You Because" Board! Link below in the comment section.

XO
Jessica

New Business Endeavor

I'm excited to announce that I'm now an Independent Consultant for Blessings Unlimited!

Blessings Unlimited offers a unique blend of ministry and business with exclusive home decor items and gifts created to encourage hearts, build relationships, and bring beauty and Truth into your heart and home.

Blessings Unlimited was founded in 2006 by DaySpring© Inc., the world's leading producer of Christian greeting cards and gifts. DaySpring is a subsidiary of Hallmark® Cards. For 40 years, DaySpring has partnered with Christian stores in local communities to offer meaningful products. Blessings Unlimited continues that tradition and extends the opportunity for your business and personal faith to coincide.

Th name "Blessings Unlimited" is based on this Scripture from John:

"From the fullness of His grace we have received one blessing after another." John 1:16

Please consider booking an in-home show or an online catalog show! Click here out the beautiful Scripture-based home products and gifts Blessings Unlimited has to offer! Hostesses can earn wonderful FREE products and get deep discounts on all merchandise!


Thanks for your support in this endeavor.
XO
Jessica

More Baby Projects with Free Printable

True to Spring is the season of babies!! I have SO many friend expecting babies, and this year seems to be the year of the sweet GIRL. So, I wanted to show you some of my recent crafts for babies!

Baby Nursery Letters

You can buy these Nursery Letters online for $7-15 dollars PER LETTER. Or you can make them yourself for a fraction of the cost!

Individual Letters- $2 each
4 sheets of Scrapbooking Paper- $1.98
Spool of ribbon- 99 cents

Other Materials I had on hands (no cost):
Mod Podge
Craft Paint

Overall I paid approximately $12 for these beautiful nursery letters that will match my friend's baby nursery theme just perfectly.

Personalized Nursery Art

Another affordable craft that's unique and personalized!

8 x 10 Wood Plaque- $2
Paper Flower- $1

Other Materials used that I had on hand:

Paper and Printer (for the graphic Bible Verse I made)
Permanent Marker (for baby's name in calligraphy)

Craft Paint

Pearl Stickers
Mod Podge

Overall, I paid about $3 for this! I paid more on shipping this to my friend than I did on making it!

**FREEBIE: If you like the Bible Verse Graphic Printable, here it is.**

XO
Jessica

Unemployed

I am so, SO tired of searching for employment. My story is like so many others... and I'm not trying to be selfish. I'm just trying to be transparent.

Many of you know that I graduated with my Masters degree in December 2009. I've been looking for a job in my field ever since. I've applied to at least 400 jobs... had about 12 interviews...6 second interviews. And no offers. I have recommendations galore, a shining resume, a stellar transcript. I have "connections" and have been the "shoe-in" several times. It doesn't matter.

I've struggled with feeling "less than," feeling rejection. And yet, in the back of my mind, I know GOD is in control. And I've been nothing short of grateful that throughout this time, I've had my heart's desire- to be a stay-at-home Momma to the BEST little girl in the world. I love it. I wouldn't trade it for a salary and benefits.

Yet, sometimes my mind reels... and I just get *stuck* wondering "What's the deal, God?! Don't you know that we're unemployed and uninsured??" And every time bills are due, there's always plenty to pay them. And every time the pantry is bare, it gets filled right back up again. God is absolutely faithful & true- Jehovah Jireh! Your mind would be blown if I gave you numbers... but to put it simply, we've had more money in our bank account being unemployed and frugal-minded than we ever had ever. Pretty impressive since Arthur left a well-paying career in the Army last Fall. But the point is- God is simply amazing.

But, even with all this truth I'm weak sometimes. I doubt. I get mad. I start feeling "entitled," "better than" that other person who got the job... "more qualified." You get the picture. And every time God teaches me the lesson of humility. Of deep faith. Of complete and total dependence on Him. He sends me encouragements along the way- kind words from friends and family, a verse that ministers to my soul, a worship song that let's me know He is working in my waiting!

And tonight... here's the words I read when I couldn't sleep... 12:20 a.m. and I open my eSword software to be quiet and alone with Him. Here it is:


One Step Closer to a Yes (Rylism)
"Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around." (Proverbs 13:12, The Message)


A friend in the promotion business says, "Every time someone tells me "NO!" I get happier — because I'm one step closer to that person who will say "YES!"


Some people cannot bear to be told "NO" even once; let alone repeatedly. And then there are others who stop just one person too soon. All they needed was to ask one more time. But they didn't. Disappointment can do that to you if you let it. Especially if it seems to be unrelenting — one blow after the next.


Years ago I discovered a splendid little poem that has anchored my life in those times when everything seems to be going wrong — times when your hopes are dashed, your dreams have faded, your deepest desires thwarted, and when so many great expectations become inexplicably disappointed. Maybe you will find it helpful, too.


"Disappointment. HIS appointment. Change one letter, then I see that the thwarting of my purpose is God's better choice for me!"


It is true, as the proverb says, that unrelenting disappointment can leave you heartsick. But the rest of the proverb is also true — "a sudden good break can turn life around." One doesn't come without the other.


Draw yet another breath, my fellow traveler; though you have paused alongside the road — you have not stopped. Your journey is not finished. There's a bend in the road up ahead. And the bend in the road is not the end of the road — unless you fail to make the turn.


Tip your hat respectfully to old man Disappointment, and then be on your way; for God has something better in mind for you. And though you have heard "NO" perhaps a thousand times — you are actually one step closer to a "YES!"


And that single "Yes" can turn your life around!


Thank you, Lord for Your plan for me... I'm waiting for the bend in the road!! My time WILL come in accordance with Your timing. <3

XO
Jessica

Agape

Last Spring I had the pleasure of being a pilgrim on Emmaus. It was such a beautiful experience and I love being part of the Tidewater Emmaus community! This year I have the priviledge to be a Sponsor for my sweet, dear friend Caniah. I've been in the Agape mood, and wanted to share some of my Agape ideas!

Well, you know I get Pinspired (that's Pinterest inspiration for those of you living in the Dark Ages :) ) so I saw someone made bookmarks out of paint chips. I took that one step further for Emmaus:

I punched holes in the Paint Chips, added ribbon and wrote in Calligraphy "De Colores" on each bookmark!

Secondly, I like to use cheap items to get across an encouraging message for Agape. I found a huge stack of "$1 Bills" at the Dollar Tree... I paid $1 for all these!

I stuck the pretty Blue Cross Stickers over Washington's face and wrote on the back of each bill: "You were bought with a PRICE." I Corinthians 7:23

Easy peasy. Hope this gives you some fresh ideas for Agape! DE COLORES!

XO
Jessica

Blessed is the King

"When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!' Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!' 'I tell you,' he replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'” (Luke 19:37-40)


During this Lenten season, many people observe fasts and other various "spiritual disciplines" to get into the spirit of the Easter season. As a nondenominational Christ follower, most of my brothers and sisters in the Lord do not observe Lent. But, since my teen years I have been sensitive to the season. I think it's good and healthy to connect with Jesus over a 40-day period, whether that's through fasting or adding something beneficial to your relationship with Him. (Separately, there's lots of 40-day themes in Scripture... but that's a separate blog entry! :)


This Lenten season leads up to the most significant part of Jesus's life- His death, burial and Resurrection. But I think the bottom line is this: whatever you are giving up or adding to your relationship with him during Lent needs to be done in a worshipful attitude. 


Worship. What a controversial topic. We have hundreds of denominations in Christianity, and most of those congregations have "Traditional" services or "Contemporary" services. More American's "church-hop" to find the worship style that best suits their likes and musical repertoire.


But, that's not the point of worship. Worship is always, always, ALWAYS about pleasing the Lord and declaring Him as KING and LORD of our lives! The true Christ-follower will worship God in spirit (through the Holy Spirit) and in Truth (Jesus Christ and the Scriptures) John 4:24 lays this out: "God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." The authentic Christ-follower MUST worship to any musical styling, genre, hymn, praise or psalm. Why? Well, Jesus commands us to! Obedience is key to a worshipful lifestyle.


The point of worship is to praise, exalt, glorify, honor and please GOD. It's not about what I like. It's not about what you like. It's about what GOD likes.


In Luke 19, we read the account of Palm Sunday. Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem and humanity WORSHIPED Him- they exalted Him, praised Him, glorified Him! They shouted "Hosanna!" (hosanna means "save"). And Jesus responded as Savior to that worship just a few short days later, suffering a criminal's execution and bearing the sins of all humanity upon His perfect shoulders that we might have restored relationship with God. 


Luke's account of Palm Sunday is unique to the other recollections from the Gospels (Matthew 21, Mark 11 or John 12). Luke included the reaction of the religious people of that time... Luke said: "Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!' 'I tell you,' he replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'”


Jesus didn't rebuke his followers as the Pharisees asked. Nope. He rebuked the Pharisees instead. After all, the Pharisees prided themselves on being knowledgeable of the Scripture. Yet, they forgot the very beginning of their Torah... "In the beginning God created the heavens & the earth." Jesus being fully God and fully man had complete dominion over all creation: the earth, the animals and humankind. So, Jesus rebuked them by saying "If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out [instead]!"


God has revealed His glory through Creation. One does not have to go far to see awesome sights of God's handiwork: the ocean, the Grand Canyon, lush vegetation and beautiful creatures. Every part of the continent has God's beautiful signature on the bottom of the "frame."


Here's the funny thing: God doesn't need our worship, but He desires it. He created angels, earth and it's inhabitants before humanity- all capable of worshiping Him. Revelation says the heavenly hosts are constantly singing God's praises. Yet, His masterpieces are us- people. He deeply desires OUR worship... He deeply begs for relationship with us. That's the sole reason the Son of God came into the world and died. But it didn't end there... He gave us NEW life in His resurrection. He gave us the ability to please God with our worship. I want my worship to be louder than that of the stones. He DIED for me... not for the rocks! What about you? Don't you want to cry out, too?


A friend of mine posted this video on Facebook, and I think it's a beautiful demonstration of Nature crying out in worship to our Father... but be patient and wait until 10:32 into the clip. Add humanity and it's a undeniable, powerful demonstration on how ALL of creation will worship. 





Ain't gonna let no rock outpraise me!


XO
Jessica

More Baby Canvases!

My sweet friend Julia and I spent Monday morning together shooting the breeze, relating about "mommyhood," sharing our hearts and crafting! It was so much fun! Julia saw my canvas project from last month that I did with my Mommy-to-Be friend, Jennifer, and wanted to do some of her own for baby shower gifts!

So here's our results! Again, we used 8x10 canvases, paint, scrapbook paper, Mod Podge and Permanent Markers to get the desired outcome.

Get inspired & craft!

XO
Jessica