New Blog Schedule!

Happy Monday beauties! I have a confession, ya'll. The busier I get, the more I neglect this place. Sad but true. And I really do love blogging so the question I had to ask myself is "do I love it enough to make a schedule?" Honestly, I tried in the past and then stopped because it felt too creatively stifling. If that makes sense.

But lately I'm noticing a pattern with my posts and I want to combine that with my current passions. Just like anything else, blogs evolve as our life evolves. Though there are still parts of me that haven't changed, I feel this space needs to be more streamlined. I want to welcome all you new followers and hope this new blog schedule will bring inspiring content and help you connect with my heart more.

MAKE IT MONDAYS:

Whether you want to "make it" in business or blogging or DIY projects/recipes, Mondays will be reserved for anything geared to help you be creative. Blogging tips, small handmade business advice, step-by-step tutorials...it's Make It Monday yo.

STUDIO WEDNESDAYS:

This is where I'll update you on the new goodies available weekly in the Hello Awesome Shop. I'll also be sharing behind-the-scene photos for projects I'm working on and sneak peeks of future awesomeness. Any shop deals or current coupon codes going on will also be shared this day.

FABRIC FUN FRIDAYS:

It's backkkk!! As an artist and designer, most of my inspiration comes from beautiful fabrics and things made from fabric. I always dream some day I'll be an incredible sewer but alas that is not the case. I kinda failed that class in fashion school. Fridays I'll showcase my love for all things fabric-related. Amazing handmade items, home decor ideas and swatches all with links so you can get the resource and your heart can swoon too. These were always my most popular posts a few years back. Here's an example of a FFF.

About once a month I will do a Dear David... post because of course being a mama is part of who I am. Along with this series and any other things I want to share, those will be on either a Tues or Thur.

For the most part, expect 3 posts a week. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to blog every day. I might tweak this schedule but for now I'm excited for what's to come! I hope this will help you understand what Hello Awesome is about and now you'll get an idea of what to expect on which days.

I want to share inspiration in hopes it fuels your creativity and uplifts your day a little bit. Be sure to follow my very fun and active Instagram where I post far more "raw" artist-at-work glimpses and life moments.

Does your blog have a schedule? Have you thought of doing one? What do you think of them? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments! xoxo

Day 10: Rebuilding {31 Devotions in 31 Days}

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Ephesians 2:19-22

After we have repented of our unhealthy emotions and work towards turning away from them completely, we will find ourselves a little empty. The emotions we were once comfortable with do not fit into our refreshed minds. As our hearts become cleaner, our motives change. Therefore, we must rebuild what our bondage has damaged. 

Let's think about a home. If the foundation of that home was not built upon the right ground, when the earth shifted or the house settles, it would change how straight the supportive beams would be. If one of those beams ever snapped, a complete remodel of the home would be in order. It could prove dangerous to try and continue life with a broken, supportive beam.

Sometimes those supportive beams within us are those same unhealthy emotions, such as depression, anxiety and loneliness. We find comfort in them and rest on them. They have become part of our support system. Throughout the repentance process, God eliminates any man-made support system. Why? That was never in His plan for us! The Master Builder has all the tools, all the knowledge and all the right plans to create the perfect support system for our hearts. Once a man-made support beam is broken, we must approach Him so that He can properly rebuild it.

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." Ezekiel 36:26-27

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

The rebuilding process is one that can last a lifetime. Rebuilding means renewing and restructuring. Have you ever started a project at home that should be easy but once you started there were other things that needed attention too? God may start rebuilding one supportive beam but find another beam is about to break. He will alert you and try to get your attention on taking care of that issue as well. We must trust that whatever the Lord shows us that needs to be rebuilt, He is not showing us to do it ourselves but to surrender and obey His commands. This is the only way for an impure heart to be completely changed. 

Reflection:

Now is not the time to hide when something has been revealed. God wants us all to be honest and truthful about the state of our emotions. Have you truly repented of your unhealthy emotions? God cannot rebuild what is not broken. It is time for us to hand over our hearts, completely surrendered to His will.

Action:

Ask the Lord to show you the scriptures needed to start rebuilding your support system. We cannot build without the Word. Pray and fast for wisdom and guidance. Take time with the people you love and bring happiness and joy into your life. Try to limit time with negative influences. The rebuilding process is a vulnerable time and we must be discerning who we spend that time with.

Prayer:

Lord, You are awesome! I'm in awe of who You are and what You've done. I'm so thankful I can approach You and You will embrace me. Thank You for Your mercy and love. Show me my weak support beams and break them so that I may be rebuilt in You. Lord Jesus, guide my thoughts and emotions during this time, that I may only think and do good things that are pleasing to You. Help me move past the brokenness and closer to the completed masterpiece! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Think about the emotions that are not pleasing to God.

Are you ready for them to be broken and made new?

Change is Awesome.

Whoa. Two posts in one day. That's a change!

I know I've strung you loyal readers along on a string of changes these last couple of years. Heck, just the past six months! Looking back, I was confused. I didn't fit into a certain "niche." It's true. I was torn between being a Christian and being a business owner. In between being a writer and being an artist.

God has been really showing me lately that I shouldn't lean on my own understanding. I know we memorize and say that scripture but it became real. Every decision made should bring Him glory and I should be thankful. Assumptions causes foolish leaps. Zeal makes you do crazy things. Often to act irrational and without planning. I admit, I don't plan as well as I should. I get excited about an idea and boom! There I go doing it.

I finally found my niche and it was inside of me this entire time. My niche is to inspire! Through everything I do, these talents I've been blessed with, this little blog space...whether it's with a recipe, devotion, home project...it's all meant to inspire you. To spark positivity within you. And show how awesome He is.

So, my friends, this blog is no longer "Art By Jacy". It has officially been changed to "Jacy Lee Pulford". Not super fancy but I want this space to encompass all of my passions. The old blog url (www.artbyjacy.com) is no more. The new one is http://www.jacyleepulford.com! Not just art. Not just writing. But ALL of it! I'm not going to put limits on myself, assuming that's what God's wants. I know now, that is not true.

He is limitless. I hope you can forgive me for the yoyo effect over the last year or so. I also hope that you will join me in this new adventure. I'll be adding fashion illustrations back into my shop and will be working on some freebie graphics for you to download to spruce up your blog. No more holding back. No more hiding my talents. No more hiding a light under a bushel. I'm ready to set the world on fire (figuratively speaking.) 

Are you ready for this change?

I want some honest feedback!

What is the least favorite thing about this blog?

What is your absolute favorite thing about this blog?

2013: It's Time to Revive

re·vive  (r-vv)

v. re·vived, re·viv·ing, re·vives

v.tr.

1. To bring back to life or consciousness; resuscitate.

2. To impart new health, vigor, or spirit to.

3. To restore to use, currency, activity, or notice.

4. To restore the validity or effectiveness of.

5. To renew in the mind; recall.

 {source}

Looking around my cluttered condo I call a home, it's kinda sad that no matter what I get rid of, stuff keeps finding it's way back into this place. Clothes, books, shoes, clothes, papers, baby stuff, clothes, furniture, art supplies, clothes...did I mention clothes already? 

As the bins pile up and the tabletops disappear, my soul can't help but feel overwhelmed by it all. I mean really, how much can three people {one being a very small baby boy} have? Answer: too much! The sad thing is, I've been keeping up with it, giving things away and throwing things out.

As typical hu-mericans {human Americans, just made that up now}, we accumulate more than we need. And I don't know about you, but I am tired of it! I need space. I need my house back. I need to feel revived. And not just in my personal life...I need to revive this blog.

The last couple of years I've gotten my feet wet learning the blogging/social media world. It was nice finding and exploring things but I am ready to just jump in! It is time for a renewal, a restoration. To breathe some life into these dingy virtual pages and grab at the hearts attached to these computer {or cellphone} monitors. I need this little blog space to have meaning, to be effective, full of inspiration with a pulse. There is no better time than right now, this year. I don't know what it is, but I've been telling my husband 2013 is going to be an amazing year for us. And I'm not just saying that...I am believing that!

So, join me, if you'd be so kind. Join me in the Art By Jacy {ABJ} revival and hopefully revive yourself in the process. I'm not doing this to be noticed or to be the cool kid on the blog block {I already am that, thank you.} This is destiny. This is fate. This is the reason behind all other reasons. Everything I've been through is meant to help someone...in this crazy, fun, artsy, heartfelt corner of the blogosphere. I've always known my calling, I just limited how God was going to use it and tried to tell Him how it should be used. But that's not how it works, and yes, I believe God does use social media for His glory. It's not social media that is the problem, it is the people using it. You can either use it for evil or good...I am choosing the latter.

How can you be a part of the revival?

Follow my blog, share my posts, email me suggestions or better yet, drop a comment or two!  I am back and I don't think I am going anywhere this time. If I am, it's only to the top.

What about you? Where do you need revival?

Comment below, I'd love to know & pray for you!

Sunday Devotion: Spring Forth into the New!

Photography in this post is copyrighted by myself

Wow, I don't know about you, but 2011 was a doozy! I had some very great moments but I also had great reflections. One thing for me, 2011 was very much about looking at myself ONLY in how I am as a Christian.

It's so easy to look at others, but God really worked on me (and is continually working on me) to perfect myself ONLY...because really, we can't change others, ONLY HE can!

I love these verses in Isaiah 43:18-19. It helps me remember that the past is old, and God doesn't want us to dwell on the old junk because He has brand new things coming our way!

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

How amazing is that! The Lord says "Don't remember the old things because I'm doing a new thing!"

So today, forgive yourself for the things that happened this past year. Approach God with an open and repentant heart, and ask Him to forgive you as well. Don't let your walk be hindered by the mistakes of the past...we are not perfect but the Lord Jesus is perfecting us! Tell yourself that "2012 is a new year and God has new things for me!!"