Good Living

Reviewing my lecture notes from last week’s bible study. Feeling so grateful that BSF has started up again for the year. (Check out bsfinternational.org if you’re interested in studying Revelation this year). It keeps me in His Word daily so that my truth can get a reality check measured up against God’s truth.  Much needed! Came across this one sentence that captured my attention as I quickly took notes, but it was definitely worth a re-visit: A life apart from all that is good is not good at all. 

So that leads me to my prayer for you today, that God would make you, me, all of us, aware of what is truly good so that we can live lives that are good in the deepest, purest sense, all for His glory. Blessings, my Bloominista sisters! 

 

Save the Date: July 6, 6pm

Announcing Bloom’s next Women’s Inspiration Night, a big W.I.N. on so many levels and one you’ll want to pre-register for to save your spot. We’ll be getting our crafty goodness on at Heavenly Espresso in the North Hills of Pittsburgh on Monday evening, July 6, from 6pm to 730pm. You’ll have a chance to create your very own Inspiration Board (or what we like to call a “blossom-bilities” activity). Come experience an intro to “life coaching” in a small group format as your facilitator, Lori Sammartino, guides you through a possibilities-releasing activity, encouraging you to think outside the box as you become intentional about the things that matter to you – your passions, your desires, your hopes and dreams. Coffee, tea, and light fare will be available for purchase thanks to our hostess and Heavenly Espresso Cafe owner, Brittney Toomey. Coffee, crafting, conversation – the three big C’s, all wrapped up into one fun-filled event for the small donation amount of $10 to help cover the cost of materials and to support the outreach of Bloom’s non-profit arm, the Re-stARTistry project.

You can secure your spot now by registering on line at the following link by July 1: https://www.artful.ly/store/events/6382

I’m looking forward to the new blossom-bilities we’ll uncover together on July 6. See you there!

A Prayer for Blooministas

Good morning, Blooministas. You’re on my heart as the sun comes up today bringing fresh hope with it. I’m reading about parenting and the unique, but sometimes challenging, characteristics of our children that we run up against as we endeavor to raise them well. Although my son is older now and almost ready to leave the proverbial nest, I recall the days of wondering what to do when I came head to head with some of his more dubious traits. And I remember a tip I came across that suggested I write down my child’s attributes, especially the ones that were leaving me feeling frustrated, and then push myself to come up with a positive characteristic that could be developed from it. Let’s say my “little” was being bossy more often than I would have liked. Could I nudge myself to see that bossiness being used by God to grow a future leader? Yes, yes, and yes! For me, that kind of thinking was so freeing and liberating, and that’s exactly what I think God wants to do for you and me as believers. He sent his Son to break the chains of bondage and release the captives. To set us free!

Recognizing the potential hidden in any kind of challenge can be a hopeful encouragement to a frustrated Bloominista, can’t it? My prayer for you today is that you’d grab hold of a refreshed confidence in the creative power of God and ask Him to reveal how your current darkness can be useful in bringing new light to the cause of Christ. May you feel His warmth, Sonlight, and unchanging love for you as you continue to bloom where you are planted.

Girls Ready to Giddy Up? Be Not Afraid!

Take that Step!

Good morning, girlies! I’m back hanging with Moses in Deuteronomy this morning, nearing the end of our BSF study time for the year, and I couldn’t resist sharing with y’all a word of encouragement from God.

He has me thinking about Moses as he approached the end of his life. Surely that came with some trepidation. Then there was Joshua who was being commissioned by God to take over as the new leader of the Israelites. And finally, there were the Israelites themselves who had a few remaining battles to fight before they could enter the Promised Land.

Can you say, “Transition?” And a whole lot of it!

And yet repeatedly, within just a few verses of Deuteronomy 31, God gives the command, “Do not be afraid. Be strong and courageous,” then goes on to add, “Do not be discouraged.” Amazing, isn’t it, that God would be concerned about His people’s state of mind?

But that’s the Truth, gals. God is concerned about your state of mind, and mine too! Hallelujah! God knows we’re afraid when we’re about to step out in faith, and so what does He do? He shows up and he encourages us ~ not because we are strong but because we have faith in Him, because we carry His strong Spirit within us.

I don’t know about you, but I needed to hear that Truth this morning. I could easily let fear stop me dead in my tracks, but thankfully, because God showed up with this little reminder that was huge for me today, I’m encouraged to take that next small step for Him, for His glory, knowing He’ll show up and lead the way. It’s not about me. It’s not about me. It’s not about me. (Maybe if I repeat that enough times it’ll finally start to sink in)?

Well, if you’ll excuse me now, I’m gonna’ go dig out my cowboy boots, recite that mantra of “it’s not about me,” and get to giddying up for God! Maybe I’ll see you out on the trail, blazing the way for His glory? Sure do hope so!

Mentoring…What is On My Heart Today

Hey there, Blooministas. I felt compelled tonight to write about the beauty of “mentoring.” Somehow, the timing of what’s come to pass in my life this week has intersected all around that topic. On Tuesday, I began co-facilitating a new mentoring study group online over at More to Be – a ministry that’s near and dear to my heart, and on that same day, I picked up the phone to call and catch up with my very own mentor, a woman who has walked with me through all kinds of life circumstances for the past 10+ years or so. Unfortunately, that day also turned out to be the day that I heard the news I’d been resisting hearing ~ my mentor’s health had taken a turn for the worse.

Wednesday and Thursday brought with it visits to my ailing mentor’s bedside, all the while I was posting on-line with a newly blossoming group of Mentors-In-Training about the importance of biblical mentoring in our freshly-launched study group.

Seeds Planted-Newly Blossoming Mentors

Somehow, it felt bittersweet – not to mention I’d been reading through the end of Deuteronomy during my quiet time this week and found myself in the middle of Moses’ final sermon to the Israelites where he was proclaiming the blessings of following and God and the curses that would come if they chose to disobey.

Oh, the choices. Blessing or curse? Life or death? The pull of it all.

Tug and Pull

Then this evening, comes the phone call. My mentor has passed on to the next life.

I’m reminded of the seasons written about in Ecclesiastes.”There is a time for everything,

Time to Plant or Uproot?

and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, NIV)

More extremes. More tension. Beginnings and endings.

The Ying and the Yang

Or maybe I should instead say, “Beginnings and new beginnings?”

New Beginnings…

I read some more from our mentor study materials, and I think how blessed I have been to be on the receiving end of such a beautiful experience of mentor to mentoree! My friend and author Elisa Pulliam of More to Be writes, “The fact is that many women lack eyes to see the opportunity to mentor and miss noticing when they have been mentored by others.” Even in the midst of this pull of emotions, I am feeling ever so grateful to have noticed and known that, “Yes, I have been mentored and blessed in such a special way!” There was no great big platform for my sweet mentor to stand up and announce  her influence in my life. What she did was followed Christ distinctly and from that overflow of being filled up by Him, she was able to speak truth, life, and hope into my soul.

Speaking Hope Into My Soul

I finish out the evening with one more post to the new mentors-in-training online, marinating over the words that Elisa writes about mentors: “Women who offer counsel based on the wisdom founded in the Word. Women who provide encouragement through their thoughtful actions and critical times of support. The world might simply call them friends, but I call them my biblical mentors because these relationships span the generations, occur outside of the routines of life seasons, and are rooted in our shared faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.”

Yes, that was my Nancy indeed, and she’d want me to continue her legacy of mentoring, so tonight, that is what I try to do. In some small way. Even if it’s through only a short Facebook post to encourage new mentors-in-training.

Mentoring. It comes full circle for me tonight as I reflect on this circle of what we call life. Dear sweet Nancy, rest in peace. Here’s to newly blossomed beginnings, till we meet again….

Mobile Art Parties in Pittsburgh and Blossomed Book Pages

It’s official! Something new about to bloom in the ‘burgh: mobile art parties. Let us bring the art party to you! We’ll be planning to pop-up at some local festivals and events this summer in the Pittsburgh region, delivering hands-on creativity and art-making in communities near you, and we’re available for hire for private parties too. Let us do all the hard work of set-up, clean up, and managing party activities. Why go out when we can come to you? Beep beep! It’s the Bloom Buggy at your door, rolling out crafty fun for birthdays, girls night outs, showers, and other family fun events. Wanna try your hand at making these beautifully re-stARTed book page blooms? Or maybe a different craft? Choose from a variety of options we’re happy to share with you. We especially love to use found items and natural elements in our maker activities encouraging transformation into beautiful new creations! Give us a ring at 412-491-9886 or email us at lori@bloomintobeing.com so we can stART blooming with you! And check out our website at Bloom Into Being.

The Reluctant Hostess | (in)courage

A must read for Life Hostesses everywhere!

http://www.incourage.me/2015/02/the-reluctant-hostess.html

Walking with Moses through Leviticus: Purity and Holiness

Purity and personal holiness. Yup, that’s what’s on my Re-stARTist’s heart and mind this new year as we begin 2015. Probably because I’ve been hanging out in the book of Leviticus for my daily quiet time, and although I wasn’t running full throttle with excitement toward this book of the Bible (sorry, God), I’m learning to be open and more positive to the lessons that He has for me tucked away inside as it’s chock full of instructions, explanations, and details on how to worship Him. Leviticus teaches us about the purification laws back in the days when the Israelites needed to learn the right way to worship the one true holy God, not the false gods that they’d been witnesses to the idolatry worship of during their 400 years in Egypt. God needed His people to distinguish between what is clean and unclean, just as we today still need to be clear about.

One of the principles our teaching leader put forth in lecture last week was this: “A holy life is characterized by purity, both inward and outward.”

Purity: Inward and Outward

It made me think about my life as a holy offering for God. What am I putting into my physical body? (Yuck, I shudder to think of the garbage I like to eat, the media I let myself take in, etc.), and then conversely, the what that comes outta this old mouth when the tongue is unleashed? Ouch. Oy. Eeeeeks. Zowie. You get the picture I’m sure! I think I’m definitely in need of a fresh start when it comes to personal holiness.

Fifty-six times in the book of Leviticus, the word “holy” is used. That’s a whole lotta repetition, no? God says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” And we wonder if our personal holiness and our daily behavior really matter to Christ? I hadn’t realized this but apparently, holiness is derived from the word “whole.” Makes sense, right? And the person of Jesus Christ represents this wholeness, so as we read the scriptures, it was suggested we try replacing the word “holy” with “whole” to see what kind of difference it makes. Interesting…. I want to be whole, as much as I joke about being complete in my incompleteness, but that’s just a cute cover-up to help me make myself feel better when I know that Christ is offering me more and I’ve instead gone and chosen my own selfish ways.

My friend, Elisa Pulliam, over at More to Be published a great article this week on the topic of purity too. It’s one that really grabbed hold of my attention in regards to how parents can teach our teen children about the life-long pursuit of purity rather than barking out a list of don’t do this’s and don’t do that’s.

Pursuing Life-Long Purity

And it’s amazing how God’s perfect timing orchestrated its arrival in my inbox precisely at the same time I was grappling with this purity/holiness topic on my own! Lovin’ that God again and His oh so perfect timing! Please do yourself and your teen/tween a favor and drop by More to Be to get yourself a copy of this article that will bless you and your family for years to come as you move toward the vision of living a life of holiness for the glory of God. I’d love to hear what you think of it.

But I digress. There’s still so much more that God brought to mind as I studied this week, like in Jeremiah 17:9, the Lord tells us about our deceitful hearts. How careful we must be to keep ours pure with all of the present-day temptations surrounding us. If God has set us apart to be wholly His, are my daily choices pleasing to Him? What am I modeling to my children, my friends, and my community through my actions? Where can I be a better reflection of God to others in my daily life? These are the thoughts that have run through the head of this simple Life Hostess as she’s committed herself to showing up, just as she is, wholly herself, responding to who God sends her and to what God puts in her path, daily, moment by moment.

And I guess those are some of the questions too that I’ll be chewing on while I’m perched in front of my washing machine and dishwasher in the days and months ahead. When asked to think of a way in my daily life that I could remind myself of these truths about God and His desires for us, wouldn’t ya’ know that those appliances were the first things that popped into this quirky lil’ head of mine, so perhaps you’d like to join me in front of your dishwashers and sinks this winter so we can scrub-a-dub-dub our hearts, minds, and souls together in spirit across the miles?

Perched at the Dishwasher: Cleanse Me, Lord!

Come and wash over us, Lord, purify us making our hearts and minds holy and set apart for you, just as the water washes our clothes and makes our dishes squeaky clean.

And gals, from one Life Hostess to another, I’m sending you encouragement through the virtual scrubbing bubbles, till we meet again.

Lessons from Exodus: Serving God with Your Craft

Although BSF study is on hiatus for Christmas break, our assignment still has us reading through Exodus and Leviticus, and I can’t say that I’m uplifted and overjoyed as I make my way through the text. Lots of it focuses on the sacrificing of animals for atonement, the purification laws for Israel, the different types of offerings to be made at the Tabernacle, and the distinction between what is clean and unclean for God’s people. So as I read, I keep asking God, “What is it you’d have me take away from your sacred text during this precious advent season of waiting?” I know He has something for me tucked away in the pages of His holy Word.

And here’s what I came away with today as I reflected, first on the completion of the Tabernacle and how God’s presence led His people for 40 years through the desert in the form of a cloud! That in itself is pretty amazing, no? My revelation is that over and over again throughout Exodus and Leviticus, God repeats: “I am the Lord your God.” There it is in a nutshell. So who am I to question Him? He is my maker and my creator. He has the perfect plan, and my job is to trust and obey Him. The Bible shows repeated instances of blessings that follow obedience, so why do we have such a hard time doing “just as the Lord commanded?” (Exodus 40:16).

If you skim through Exodus 35-40, you’ll no doubt be bowled over like I was with the level of detail that God gave in the building of the Tabernacle and all of its accompaniments. These people, the Israelites, were in the middle of a desert, with no Lowe’s or Home Depot nearby to run out to for a quick purchase of supplies, yet they were still able to build this ornate, hand-crafted sanctuary to serve as a dwelling place for the Lord!

Where’s the nearest building supply store?

“And how is it that they could pull off a feat like this?” you might ask. Yes, I wondered the same thing myself, but anything is possible with the Lord on your side. And still I read further and noticed that in Exodus 35 alone, the phrase “all who were willing” was repeated four times. This phrase referenced how the Israelites were able to gather up the supplies and earmark the workers who would be able to participate in the completion of the Tabernacle.

Hmmm…. A good question to ask ourselves perhaps? Are you willing to come and do the work that the Lord has established for you? His Word tells us in Psalm 90:17 that the Lord establishes the work of our hands. What skills and resources has He given you, and how are you willing to use them for His service in your home, your church, and your community? And when the Lord calls, do you respond by getting up and following Him, just as He expected from the Israelites in the desert? This part really threw me for a loop, because I could just imagine myself as one of them, with all of my movable belongings as a wanderer in the desert. And then, there’s the Lord, in the form of a visible cloud, dwelling at the entrance of the now built Tabernacle. When the cloud settled, the Israelites stayed put, and when the cloud lifted, at the Lord’s command the Israelites would set out. Sometimes the cloud would settle for days, months, and years at a time, and then there’d be other instances where its movement would be more sporadic. Can you imagine the Hebrew town crier calling out, “The cloud is moving!” and everyone would have to pack up their belongings STAT and hurry to follow the cloud indefinitely?  I don’t know about you, but this kind of lifestyle would surely get to me after about a day or two! If you’ve ever lived out of a suitcase in more than one location for an extended time frame, you surely can relate to this kind of experience. Try living it for 40 years in a desert!

When I think my days are tough and unpredictable, when I wonder what the Lord has in store for me and I’m not sure I can handle the unknowns… it’s then that I can remind myself of the wandering Israelites and their really difficult situation of living a life constantly on the move, never knowing what might lie ahead, just having to trust God in every moment for every need. There’s no way I could have survived in a tent in the middle of a desert having to respond to the unknown movements of a cloud! Thanks be to God that He has me where He has me, today, in this moment, for this time and this place!

I personally was encouraged by the names of the two craftsmen in Exodus 31, Bezalel and Oholiab, whose names were recognized by God and preserved for all of history for having served Him with their craft; so much so that I broke out the sewing machine this weekend to re-stART some old pieces of clothing and fabric scraps!

Pjs turned ruffle skirt

I’m hoping that I can spread some Christmas cheer with a few handmade gifts showing up in goody bags over the holidays season, gifts that show others that all things can be made anew because “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2Corinthians 5:17, NIV).

Old t-shirts turned infinity scarf

Jammy sleeves to scarf

T-shirt ruffly scarf

Won’t you consider joining me and serving God with your own craft as the holiday season fast approaches? And if you need help discovering what your craft is, I’d love to help you discern that too. Just message me and we can talk about some personal coaching options to get you well on your way.

Got Your “Whine” On?

My study of Exodus this week lands me in chapters 15 to 18:27 as the Israelites are learning to walk with God. They’ve escaped Egypt through the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, and God has protected them once more by leading them (albeit on a long, indirect route) to a safe spot in the desert, a spot where He knew they’d be able to avoid attack.

Freedom for Israelites

This was especially important since they’d just come out of an arduous, physically exhausting escape situation. And can you guess what the Israelites’ disposition is, just 3 days out of their miraculous rescue? 3 days out from when they were singing songs of praise in worship of their great God? Well, if you’ve read this story before, you know full well that their disposition was one of complaining, whining, grumbling, and complete negativity, brought on by a shortage of water – as if God wouldn’t be able to provide for them once more? Worse yet, their thinking became faulty in the midst of their miserable attitude, as evidenced by their remembering their time spent in cruel slavery in Egypt as one in which they’d “sat around pots of meat and ate all the food they wanted.”

One Big Happy Meat Fest

Really? This is how they characterized their captivity in Egypt – as one big happy meat fest? Oh c’mon now, Israelites! Let’s get real!

Well, before we come down too harshly on our brother and sister Israelites, perhaps we could stop for a minute and ask ourselves, “Does this kind of thinking ever happen to me and to you?” You know, the kind of thinking where perhaps the fear of future unknowns keeps you from moving forward, and worse yet clouds your memory causing you to recall the strongholds of your past as maybe “not so bad after all”? And how often do you and I stop right there with our negative “stinking thinking” rather than compound the situation by taking it one step further, barking out complaints, whining, and grumbling to anyone and everyone we can get to listen?

Complain, Whine, and Grumble

Yes, that’s what our Israelite compadres did when they accused Moses of bringing their entire assembly out into the desert to starve them to death. Sheesh! Can you put yourself in Moses’ sandals for just a quick second?

Get ready for a sandal thwap!

I’d have had to whip those bad boy strappy shoes right off my feet, thwap a few Israelites upside the noggin with ‘em, and go running for holy ground faster than a dog on roller skates!

Running for God!

And checking back into the real story in Exodus, that’s sort of what our buddy Moses chose to do. Well, maybe not the shoe-slapping incident, but definitely the “running to God fast” part. Moses opted for running to God, time and again, as he continued to lead the Israelites on their desert journey. The Bible tells us that, “Moses prayed and the Lord answered.” Is this your typical pattern? i.e. consistently running to the Lord in prayer? Who is grumbling against you right now? Or maybe there’s someone you are grumbling against? What about surprise disappointments? How are you responding to those? Do you find yourself complaining about your circumstances, like the Israelites? The truth of the matter is that God is the God of all circumstances, and when we complain, it shows our lack of trust in Him, just as in the case of the Israelites. Anytime we grumble, it’s against how God has ordered our lives. How foolish we are to think that we have the power on our own! Apart from the Lord, we can do nothing. (John 15:5)

So now that the Thanksgiving holiday is behind us and we look ahead to the joy of Christmas and a new year in 2015, will you join me in focusing on the positives, seeking to find what is good and what is going well this holiday season? Will you commit to cultivating a heart of gratitude knowing the truth that God provides in times of both sweetness and bitterness? He is there-ALWAYS, so for me, it’s going to be an effort toward less grumbling and more trusting. How about you?