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The REdeemed Life

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II Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”

Recently while visiting my son and his wife, along with my daughter, in Lancaster, we enjoyed exploring the unique shops in the downtown area. As we looked through the decorative shops, I noticed that several words beginning with the prefix RE kept appearing to describe the variety of refurbished goods for sale.

For purpose of clarity, I have defined the prefix RE as meaning: again; for a second time; and anew: in a new and different form. Some of the descriptive words, along with their definitions, are as follows:

. REcycle: to cycle again through changes or treatment

. REfresh: to make or become fresh or fresher

. REfurbish: to give new life to old pieces

. REimagine: to form a mental picture of something not present (make new in a different form)

. REmake: to make anew or in a different form

. REnew: to make or become new, fresh, or strong again

. REpurpose: to give a new purpose or use to

. REstore: to put or bring back into a former or original state

. REstyle: to make or style into a prevailing mode

Most of the above-mentioned words were used to describe the REcreation and transformation of various pieces of old, new, or unfinished furniture items. The results were extraordinary. This was of particular interest to me since I had furniture pieces at home that I wanted to change. Even social media sites list a number of businesses using these words to describe their site’s transformation of older, worn-out pieces of furniture, frames, windows, etc.

Today, I received a copy of the October/November issue of the AARP Magazine (yes, I am in that age category), and I began reading an article entitled, “Reimagine Your Life” by Richard J. Leider and Alan M. Webber. Geared to readers in the 50’s+ category, the article explained that they had a ground-breaking new program entitled, “Life Reimagined” and gave readers six guidelines to follow to assist them with answering the question, “what’s next?” and to help navigate them into the next years ahead.

The article intrigued me as it discussed ways to unclutter your life and how to find purpose in the latter years before and/or after retirement. In our society today, most of us live very busy lives and we do not take the time to reflect and explore other possibilities/options that are available to us before or once we reach retirement age. Since I am retired, but with a number of outside interests, I too have asked the age-old questions, “what’s next?”

Although the RE words are geared towards REmaking something out of an old piece, I could not help but REflect upon the profound words in scripture that mention that we are a new creation and REnewal begins within one’s own heart and life. A few of the scriptures are:

. Psalm 51:10 (KJV): “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.”

. Psalm 139:23 (AKJV): “Search me O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts.” (The song, “Change My Heart O God”, written by Eddie Espinosa, was based on his scripture.)

. Romans 12:2 (KJV): And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

. II Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”

Christ paid the ransom and has REdeemed us (to ransom, free, or rescue by paying a price) by his unconditional love and the shedding of His precious blood, and we are now REborn (born again; a new or second birth) into His eternal kingdom forevermore.

Throughout my life, I have always had short or long-term goals–both at home and at work. However, I believe that we should ask for His REdirection, REpurpose, and daily REnewal in our walk with Him, and He will give us the answer to our questions: “What’s next?”, “Where am I going?”, “Where do I begin?”, “How do I get there?”, and “What direction do you want me to take in the next season(s) of my life?” in order to serve Him to the fullest.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Life is full of possibilities, and even in the last season of your life, the best is yet to come when we completely trust in Him.

Blessings on you,
Yvonne

Finished reading: “The Noticer Returns” by Andy Andrews and “Becoming Myself” by Stasi Eldredge

Currently Reading: “A Million Little Ways” by Emily Freeman

Summer Into Fall 2013

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As I looked over my blog posts, I realized that it had been a while since I posted. June arrived and I began traveling throughout the summer and then worked on and completed several projects. Why didn’t I blog? I believe it was because I questioned and asked myself “what did I have to contribute” that would be of importance. I then began to realize that the blog posts are not about who I want to read my stories and about how many followers I have, but they are for the One who created me and who allows me to share His stories through me.

It also occurred to me that I was looking back over why I had not posted rather than what the Lord had allowed me to accomplish throughout the summer into the fall. So I made a list of “Things I Did Do” and I was amazed. I decided to share the following list with you:

. Meditated daily/wrote in journal
. Walked the dog every day, if not raining
. Exercised to a 3-mile DVD at least 4 days a week
. Finished painting three 11×14 canvas paintings and a door sign for a boy’s room
. Painted a name plaque with ostrich characters for a newborn’s room
. Painted a pitcher as a gift and drove it to Lancaster
. Drove to Virginia in June, August, and twice in September to help daughter with home projects
. Attended a Women of Faith Conference with daughter in Washington, D.C. for two days
. Visited relatives back East over the 4th of July weekend and again in September
. Weekly practiced piano and selected songs for the Sunday services
. Attended a neighborhood block party
. Helped oversee the installation of a deck in the back of our house/new patio door in dining room
. Crafted a shadowbox for my daughter’s wedding memorabilia
. Scraped wallpaper off two of the dining room walls to prepare for painting
. Painted primer on the block wall under the deck
. Lunches with a friend periodically throughout the summer
. Performed daily chores such as cleaning, cooking, and washing clothes and grocery shopping
. Encouraged and prayed for church family/FB friends with special prayer requests
. Read at least four books and am still reading “Becoming Myself” by Stasi Eldredge and “The Respect Dare” by
Nina Roesner

As I looked over the above list, I am sure I have probably forgotten to list an item or two. Do I feel like a failure because I did not blog? The answer to this question would be a resounding “no, of course not.” In fact, I feel the opposite. I feel good at what has been accomplished throughout the summer and into the fall in that I am counting my blessings at the lessons I have learned in what the Lord helped me do. Our strength is not in ourselves, but it is in the Lord who gives us all gifts and encourages us to use those gifts for His honor and glory.

With the fall comes Harvest fests, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. As we celebrate this wonderful time of the year and what is ahead, let us look back and see God’s hand, grace, and blessings in everything that He has provided in our lives. We are truly blessed regardless of how much or how little we have. Let us rejoice for this is truly the day that the Lord has made.

Blessings on you,
Yvonne

God Can Do Anything: WOF Conference in Washington, D.C., August 2013

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When 20,000 women get together and worship, it is a beautiul thing!

This past weekend my daughter and I traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the Women of Faith Conference at the Verizon Center for two days. Not only did we enjoy the music, but we listened, learned, and came away with many insights from such speakers as Sheila Walsh, Priscilla Shirer, Liz Higgs, Angie Smith, Judah Smith, and Mark Lowery. Everyone shared valuable lessons and their voices were definitely heard.

Believe God can do anything was this year’s theme, and I truly felt blessed as I talked with numerous women who attended the conference. The highlight and perfect ending to the conference was when I was able to share one of my stories with Liz Higgs. The night before she spoke about Sarah and how the angel had told her she would have a child (at the age of 90). I shared how I struggled with trying to get pregnant and then after 18-1/2 years of married bliss, God blessed us with a daughter. There were so many times that I wanted to give up, but throughout my journey, I believed that God could do anything–but it would be in His timing and not mine. As I continued to share my story and enthusiastically spoke of all the amazing details of how God spoke to my heart that I would get pregnant one year before my daughter was born, and that I wrote down her name and date in my journal, Liz and I rejoiced together. She patiently listened to my voice, and I felt honored that she was willing to listen.

As women of God, He has a plan for all of us and He wants us to use our voices for Him. You don’t have to be an eloquent speaker or an author, He just wants us to share our stories (the good, the bad, and the ugly) and voices with others as He gives us the opportunities. It could simply be a kind word to a stranger, a smile, asking a friend to go to lunch, calling someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, or praying for friends, family, and co-workers. If you hurting from disappointments, remember God can heal the broken-hearted.

I know that my weekend was incredible, and I have been challenged in His word.

If you are struggling in your walk with God and want to learn how to live free from life’s hurts, order a copy of JoAnn Fore’s new book, “When A Woman Finds Her Voice”, available through Amazon.com in October. JoAnn is a life coach who will lead you through biblical truths to find healing in your hurts and then leads you to help others to do the same.

May God richly bless and use you for His glory!

Blessings on you,
Yvonne

Reading for the month of August: “The Crossroads” and “Michael Vey: Rise of the Elgen”

There Is A Time For Everything

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Ecclesiastes 3:1: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”NIV

Time marches on…
Time stands still…
Time after time…
Time heals all…
Time is on your side…
Time is a window of opportunity…
Time is of the essence…
As time goes by…
A time for us…

Three weeks ago as I was preparing to go to Virginia to help my daughter and her husband move into their home, I was very aware of the number of days that I would be gone from my home and what I needed to do before I left. Time, however, got away from me and some of the things that I wanted to get finished were left undone until I returned. Time has a way of doing that. We think that we have more time than we actually do; however, it often comes down to the fact of how we manage our time as to whether or not we get all of those projects finished.

Even the best laid-out plans sometimes need to be changed. For example, while I was there, I painted their bedroom, dining and living room. However, we ran out of paint and I could not finish the hallway or foyer because the paint store did not have the base color we needed. I, therefore, decided to do some other things around their home such a washing their clothes and emptying as many boxes as I could before I left the following morning. I still felt that I accomplished a lot, and they did too.

Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that there is a time for everything, and it further states that there is a time for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Time is a gift from God and how we manage our time is part of God’s plan for us. He expects us not to waste this precious gift. But I, too, have been guilty of wasting time or at least not making the most of this gift. We only have one life so let us rejoice in this gift every day and ask God’s guidance to use it (time) wisely.

Just when I had been thinking about time management, the Lord directed me to a fantastic ebook that I downloaded on my Kindle entitled, “Attack Your Day” by Mark Woods and Trapper Woods. This ebook explains that “every day we are given three incredible gifts: the gift of time, without which activities cannot be executed; the gift of personal energy, essential for doing the activities; and the gift of choice, to determine what activities we will do.”

Let us make the most of these incredible gifts in how we plan our day, the activities that we do, and choosing wisely what we want out of life. There is a time for everything and for every activity under heaven. Let His word be our guide and rely on His guidance in all that we do.

Reading during July: “Attack Your Day” by Mark Woods and Trapper Woods; “Michael Vey: Rise of the Elgen” by Richard Paul Evans; and “Inferno” by Dan Brown.

Blessings on you,
Yvonne

Father’s Day, 2013: The Measure of a Man

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How do you measure a man who…

Today as I was walking my dog, Buddy, I began to think about Father’s Day and of course, began thinking about my husband’s life and then these words, how do you measure a man, began to flood my thoughts. Thinking about the special qualities that a man should possess, my thoughts turned to the following:

A man is measured by:
. His character–consistent, loyal at home and at work
. His attitude–towards life and others in general
. His love for God and his community
. His love for others–lending a helping hand to a friend (i.e. family/friends, spouse’s family, his children, and church family) or to a stranger in need
. His love for his spouse: unconditional love; encourager/supporter

As I listened to God speak to my heart about the above-mentioned traits, I thought of an unfamiliar, god-given saying: “A man is like a ship who, when sailing on rocky waters, learns to remain calm and trust in his God to help him sail through it!” (Yvonneism)

The stories I could share here about the love of my life of almost 45 years, my husband Roger, would undoubtedly fill a book, but it would also tell of a man who is not measured by his wealth or fame but by the grace and spirit of God living in his life on a daily basis.

I’m reminded of another famous quote by a man who stated that, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we celebrate Father’s Day in a couple of weeks, let us remember that the true measure of a man is his love for God and how the light of His love comes shining through in everything that he does.

Blessings on you,
Yvonne

June reading: “Life After Art” by Matt Appling; purposeful creating!