The Noticer

I recently picked up the book, The Noticer by Andy Andrews because I read about it at the Bible Cafe for Women. I decided that I would join their book club since the description of the book intrigued me.  I started reading it this week and have gleaned so much out of it!  The book centers on a character named Jones who is the "Noticer".  He notices things, events and people more than others do. To Jones, it is all about perspective...how we look at life.  Here are a few of the concepts that have really hit me so far (I am about halfway through the book)....

*Whatever you focus on, increases!  Wow, what a concept!  So if I focus on my problems they will get bigger. Now this may seem like common sense, and it is, but it was an eye opener for me and a gentle reminder to stay focused on Christ.

*Those of us that struggle with anxiety tend to be smart!  Ok, then I must be really intelligent!  LOL! Anxiety and fear are my biggest challenges in life.  Anxiety comes because our minds overwork themselves.  We spend too much "creative time" on coming up with the "what ifs" of life.

*We can make a tremendous difference in this world.  Andy Andrews (the author) has a great story in chapter six about how far-reaching our influence can be in the world.

I haven't quite finished the book, but am loving it so far. You might want to check it out!

A Lesson in Failure...

Encouragement if you are feeling like you failed...

Jury Duty

I have jury duty this week. So I may not be posting much if I get picked to serve on this jury. But I should know today if I have to be at court for the rest of the week! I will get back to posting as soon as I can!

New "Gardening" Concept

This post was posted on another website several months ago that I was asked to write for...I thought this would be an appropriate time to share it here.

I must admit that I can’t take credit for the following idea. A dear friend and fellow homeschool mom taught me this lesson several months ago. I am grateful to her for her wise words in this facet of “gardening”.
We are all imperfect parents…hence our need for a Perfect Heavenly Father. We make mistakes with our children day in and day out. And though we may strive to become better parents, we won’t totally perfect our skills this side of heaven. Therefore, we need to pray for crop failure! Pray for those seeds of bitterness, fear, anger, jealousy, dysfunction, etc. that we may plant in our children’s lives to fail miserably in their growth. Pray that all our mistakes that we make, all the weaknesses we display will not take root. Pray that our children may look to the true Vine so that they “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 3:18) This is my daily prayer….that all my shortcomings will produce only crop failures in my kids.

Who Is The Real Architect and Artist??

It occurred to me that my blog name could really have two meanings. The architect and the artist originally referred to my two sons. One loves to build, has an analytical mind and can create interesting gadgets out of about anything you give him. The other loves to draw, color, and create but in a more artistic fashion.
Yesterday I realized that there is another Architect and Artist in my life, but in the form of one Person, my God and Savior. God describes Himself as the Architect through His Word. Here are a few examples:

"For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." Hebrews 11:10

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." Psalms 127:1

We, like God, need to be architects in our own lives and the lives of others...

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." I Thessalonians 5:11

God is also an artist, greatly concerned with the beauty of things and people. Although His concept of beauty may be different from ours. Christ Himself was not beautiful physically yet His life created a beauty beyond belief.

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." Isaiah 53:2b and yet He was and is beautiful....

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord." Psalms 27:4

He thinks that we are beautiful regardless of what we think of ourselves...

"The king is enthralled by your beauty." Psalms 45:11

And whatever is dished out to us, whatever is thrown our way, He will make into something beautiful.

"to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:3

What an amazing Architect and Artist we have!