Encourage Ideas!

My girls call me a hoarder (among other things).

And I am proving that fact to myself as I go through old files.

But I’m sorry! Some of the things I have saved through the years are classic.

This was in my ‘Parenting’ file. It was good then, and it’s good now.

This expressed a philosophy I tried to remember as I raised my girls. It speaks against destroying hopes and dreams.

Even at my age, I’m a wee bit sensitive about having my ideas put down. Granted, I have some notions that are out in left field – or so I’m told. My creations may be somewhat imaginative. My tendency to pass around my artwork does make me perhaps as quirky as some say I am. But I can live with that.

But the idea above has strengthened my attitudes toward my own creative efforts. It doesn’t really matter to me if someone thinks angels don’t wear adorable outfits and fascinators instead of plain robes and halos. It doesn’t matter to me if someone doesn’t like the characters in my books. Though I think my blogs are worth reading because most times I share God’s Truth, I’m going to keep writing anyway, no matter what anyone thinks.

As I anticipate the next few months and I prepare to move to north Georgia, I am preparing my mind and heart to give in to the things others suggest. Believe me, it’s not easy! How in the world could anyone in their right mind prefer white walls over my beautiful blue ones, I’ll never figure!!!

Yeah, I have too much of my art work adorning my walls. The taking everything down I can handle until I get another place where believe you me! I’ll have blue walls again with gobs of my dirty pours and my grandkids’ art work strewn on every wall surface! Shoot! I may even reglue my sea shells, and pink flamingo, and real hermit crab on my walls up there!

I had thought about going with a more woodsy theme for my northern decorations, you know, to make it warmer and more homey.

Nah!

Then again, I may go with my dragon themed upholstery fabric chairs and go castle decor. I could be really funky by putting up my backwards printed picture that now faces a huge mirror that reflects that and my fairy godmother and wizard prints. Did you know DaVinci often wrote backward? I was channeling his genius when I wrote, ‘God’s Love is Our Special Magic.’ That vignette now hangs in my back room where few see it. But maybe in the new place, it will be front and center. Hmm.

Lots of ideas to tame. But it’s keeping me from pouting about having white walls until I move.

I’m not sure I have proven my point…thoughts ramble occasionally.

What ideas have you had that you allowed others to dismiss? What goals have you wanted to try that others discouraged? How did you feel?

Please try to encourage the creative efforts of others.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV  ‘Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.’

Hebrews 10:24 TLB  ‘In response to all He has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good.’

Romans 14:19 MSG ‘So let’s agree to us all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault.

ESV says it more succinctly.  ‘So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.’

Philippians 2:1-4 MSG  ‘ If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if His love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to. you, if you have a heart, if you care-then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.’

Proverbs 11:25  ‘The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.’

Blessings

Kara Beth