Let's stir things up!

Artwork used by permission from Karla Dornacher

What are you good at?

Singing or playing a musical instrument.
Art - drawing, painting, sculpting
Crafting - turning trash into treasure, repurposing, upcycling
Writing

Maybe you're a good listener, an encourager.  Maybe you have a beaming smile and the knack for making people feel welcomed, loved, encouraged.

Are you a good teacher?  Organizer? Cook?

God has built into you, skills, talents, knacks because he knows what's needed by the people around you and he placed you right where you are so that you are able to use those things that you are good at to help others.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10

If you've let your talent go dormant, if you think what you do well is not really important, please think again. God can use you to accomplish His work in the lives of people those He has placed in your path, so stir up that gift. Get going and be a blessing to someone today!

Trusting God in the Midst of the Pain

Artwork used by permission from Karla Dornacher

"She blossomed, not despite her pain, but because she chose to trust God in the midst of it." So often all we want is for God to deliver us out of our struggle and make the pain go away but, more often than not, God wants us to trust Him enough to let Him raise us up and cause us to grow... and even blossom... in the midst of our most painful circumstances.

by Karla Dornacher

You can visit Karla on her website or connect with her on her blog.

*Note from Jan - I love Karla's work. It's bright and beautiful and glorifies the Lord. I saw this piece and knew I wanted to feature it on my blog. Karla has given me permission to do so. I usually write a devotional based on the artwork I feature, but what Karla wrote about this piece was so perfect, I just had to use it instead.

Unleash Your Joy

Artwork used by permission
from Karla Dornacher

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music…
Psalm 98:4
 

Did you ever have one of those days when you wondered where your joy went? It usually happens when you’re tired, overloaded and stressed. All it takes is for one more appliance to break down, one more child to wake up with a fever, one more overdrawn check or one more report of a friend who just got a bad report from the doctor.

Joy seeps out a little at a time, while we’re busy looking at the circumstances around us instead of keeping our eyes focused on the One who holds us in the palm of His hand.

The good news is that if you’re a Child of God, joy is never really gone, it’s just being suppressed. What we need to do is stir it up! How? Put on some music. Lively music. Start singing. Start dancing. Start shouting the praises of our God.

Yes, people will think you’re strange, so you might want to do this at home. Your family still might think you’ve lost your mind, but that’s okay. They might just join you in that dance and you can stir up JOY for your whole family.

So, Unleash Your Joy

Break forth in joyous song

and have fun!