Are You A Creative Christian?

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

Genesis 1:1-3

Since I was a little girl I was fascinated by the creative world. To be able to make something out of nothing was an amazing thought. Today, I am still in awe at the power behind that concept. 18 years after realizing my true passion for the arts, I have found a closer and in depth walk with God that has allowed me to view things in a much different perspective.

What does it mean to be a Christian artist or crafter? I personally feel that the Lord looks much deeper into the heart of who is creating than what they are creating. Of course, what we make is a reflection of whom we serve. We cannot possibly contradict His Word with our works and still feel confident that we are representing Christ to the fullest. It is this challenge of making sure we always give God glory & praise in all we create that I have created this post.

 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

James 1:17

We don’t need symbolic imagery or religious statements to glorify Him through our arts & crafts. If we allow God to ordain our work and anoint us, it is through our willing hearts to please Him that His name will be glorified in what we do. Much like our everyday Christian lives, we are always careful about where we go and what we say. We must also remember that when we venture into this handmade movement that has taken the world by storm. I personally feel privileged that God, who was a Creator first before He was our Father, would hand down the “family business” to me of creating with my hands. Just as He created the heavens and earth, God also created mankind! I don’t know about you, but that gets me excited! Praise the Lord! To be the salt and light of this handmade movement may seem difficult. But it really isn’t! Our lives are a testimony of God’s goodness and our talents & skills speak about a God who is great.

{The Pulfords, Easter 2013}

Let us come together in Christ and fellowship together in love, whether it be at a craft show or through our blogs. The truth is, it doesn’t really matter where we are, that shouldn’t change who we are and who we serve.

I want to know how you glorify God through your art or craft and how you feel being a “Creative Christian”.

What sort of trials do you face being a Christian in the handmade community today?

What do you feel are the benefits?

Do you ever feel pulled into a direction away from your faith?

Share with me in the comments!

Spring Sponsors, Sales & Sunshine Tales

"Farewell" 8x10 print on sale now, $8

I have a bone to pick with March. It's been great so far, if I think about the blog relaunch and how much this little place has grown this month. But seriously, March, you couldn't have had more sunshine over here for this shivering East Coaster? Especially for my handsome husband's birthday? {shout out to my boo, love ya babe!} March, you are one cold mamajamma. I hope April is better...

Speaking of April, I have some awesome stuff in store for all my ABJ beauties, holllaaaa. There are going to be a number of giveaways {more handmade goodness & a HUGE shop credit towards shoes }, crazy cool craft ideas {stay tuned for my baby sensory diy projects & birthday ideas for David's 1st} and some new faces on my lovely sidebar. Would you like your face to be among them? I'd love to have your face too! {I say that in the least creepiest way possible.}

I'm currently looking for more April sponsors. Pricing is super affordable now, especially if you use coupon code
"SPONSOR10" for 10% off:

Man, I love a good deal, don't you? You do? Super duper because there's another great deal happening over at the official ABJ Shop! I'm talking high quality art prints for cheap. The shop needs a good spring cleaning {just like my house, but that's another story and post all together.} I just am swamped with extra prints, I need them to go.

You can get a print for as low as $4!! I know, it's practically stealing with permission.

Browse the "Destash" section of my shop right here or by clicking on the images above. They are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, graduation gifts etc...just had a customer by a print for her daughter's bedroom {awww}

April, I'm begging you. Hear my heart and feel my pain, I'm craving sunshine! Will you be good to me? I'm hoping you will be. I don't want to talk bad about you to May.

DIY Spring Centerpiece

I have a confession. I can't stand paying full price for anything. Seriously. It never makes sense to me since things can be duplicated or made. Or thrifted. There are quite a bit of home decor items lurking around my home that I just had to have but when it came to decorating for this new season, I just didn't have it in me to spend, well, anything...except a little time.

I've been so excited to show you this project, so let's get to it!

What you will need:
- Empty & clean spaghetti jar {I recommend using Goo Gone to get rid of labels and markings.}
- 10 inch paper doilies
- Pretty stamp & ink
- Fabric triangle
- Scissors
- Garden Twine
- Cardstock
- Safety pin
- Flowers
- Sweet skills

I Had this fabric garland hanging around {no pun intended. it wasn't hanging anywhere.} I love this vintage fabric and couldn't wait to use it! It was already attached by thread to some garden twine but you can always glue yours if you'd like or just tie it right to the jar with the twine exposed.

 

These paper doilies are SO pretty! Take one, fold it in half. Then start at one end and roll it like a tortilla.

Then just stuff that beauty right in the jar and let it uncurl. So cute.

 

Next, cut yourself a piece of cardstock and use your stamp. It can be anything, really, get creative! Use your family's last name, a scripture verse or just one powerful word to describe Easter like I did. Silly rabbits, Easter is for Jesus. Oh I also use one of those cute decorative scissors to trim it down. Then use your safety pin to secure it right to the fabric triangle.

I Can't wait to add REAL flowers to this! Some fresh tulips would be fantastic.

As you can see, I needed some serious help. This is how our table was after Christmas until a few weeks ago. So sad and lame for someone who claims to be creative...

So I took this beautiful light green tablecloth I bought from Walmart and an old pale pink sheer curtain. Yup, one panel. Another thing I love but never used. Until now!

You know you did a good job when even the husband says he likes it, even with all the pretty dainty touches and pastel splashes.

What have you done to decorate for spring lately?

Do you have any posts featuring your DIY spring projects?

Share them with me in the comments, I'd love to see!

Hurry Spring! {Giveaway & Printable}

Seriously, what the junk. Woke up to a cold blanket of nasty white stuff, which made me feel awful. Not like I was going anywhere {SAHM's say what!} but I could have sworn my spring-spidey sense was tingling this week. Guess I was wrong.

What DID make me happy was remembering that I was going to shower you beauties with freebies, woot!! I love giving stuff away, mainly because it feels good. Not just to unload stuff, uh, I mean treasures. I also do love creating fun things, it's just sometimes I have no need for them at home. So maybe you do.

I was thinking how dull my living room has been. I will be sharing photos soon, but hopefully in a "before" setting as I am brainstorming a major revamp. The colors are so dark! Reds, browns, greens...which I love, don't get me wrong. I heart all colors, I ain't prejudice. But I've been dealing with that same color palette for about 6 years, since I was single in my own apartment! Lame, I know.

Enter this bright, fun printable I made:

Man, it just does something happy in my soul :)
I smile every time I look at it! And THAT is what my living room is missing. Colors that make me smile. Of course, I am partial to this scripture. It was one that was shown to me the spring that I was preggo with David. I was going through a lot of emotions, mostly fear. My new book was about to be published and I guess I was super nervous about the entire thing. Excited yet nervous. Oh yeah, and being a new mommy was freaking me out a little. Excited yet freaked.

I was at a conference and this verse was the theme. It couldn't have been more perfect! That year I had two births: one spiritual and one physical. And on the same month, April! Monday I received my first shipment of freshly published books and literally that Friday, David came. It was a great year.

Needless to say, spring is super close to my heart. I'm reminded of all of the joy and the promises God fulfilled in my life.
I hope this printable will bring you some smiles too :)
{The print is 8x10 inches. Right click and save to your computer}

As I'm gearing for this new season, I wanted to be more creative this year. I know, I'm already awesome, but you can't stop there. I want to be totally awesome! {nerd alert}

So I whipped up these little babies for one lucky winner:

I can't take credit for blowing the glass or making the porcelain BUT I did decorate it all pretty like :)
We don't drink alcohol but we do love making smoothies and slushies when the weather gets warm, and using nice glasses with straws. These spring-inspired polka dot glasses would look so cute with something sweet and yummy inside!

Oh and I LOVE green tea. So I just had to add a matching tea spoon rest, which is funny considering it doesn't even really go with the glasses...one is meant for hot and the other cold. However, you can always use the rest for any spoons...like a serving spoon when hosting or salad tongs. Either way, be super careful with washing, no abrasive materials and no dishwashing. Yes, you do have my permission to swoon and have googly eyes. Just take it easy and don't hurt yourself.

The giveaway will run until next Tuesday. It's super easy to enter and there are a few ways you can earn extra entries. Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck, beauties. Hurry spring, we need you nowwwww...!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pinterest Love: Inspired Quotes

Not sure, but I may make this a regular thing because I love Pinterest and find so many cool/inspiring/awesome things on there...

come on, you KNOW you do too!!

So here goes, some inspirational quotes for you today.

Enjoy them, my awesome peeps :)
(do people say "peeps" anymore? eh)

Source: confessionsofalawschooldropout.com via Jacy on Pinterest

Source: brokenmachine.tumblr.com via Jacy on Pinterest

 

Source: forgivenandfreed.tumblr.com via Jacy on Pinterest

Source: imgfave.com via Jacy on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Jacy on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Jacy on Pinterest

Source: notsalmon.com via Jacy on Pinterest

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!!"