Our next guest is the talented Staci Smith of Staci Louise Originals and Artisan Accents. I am LOVING this blog series! Each time I read through someone's answers, I am blown away. There are some really cool stories about their jewelry. Now, if I could just figure out how to see all of this fabulous jewelry for myself!! PH: What was your favorite piece of jewelry when you were growing up? Why? SS: This one really had me scratching my head. I don't think I had a favorite. I really thought about this, and I did have quite a bit of jewelry growing up (yeah, I got the bug early). I couldn't however, pick a favorite really. I had a pair of moonstone earrings that were silver, with the moonstone set among vines....I did love those...but I was older then. So I thought way back, and what I found was that I did love to root through my Mommom's jewelry- and she had a lot!!!!! I loved trying on her rings, and looking at all her sparkly pins. I just loved her (she's been gone now 8 years). She always wore jewelry. She was home most days, babysitting us, and she would still always have a beautiful necklace one, maybe a bracelet or a new ring. I never really thought about it before, but I wonder if her love of jewelry, and my love of her, and my love of jewelry, are no so coincidental. PH: What is your favorite piece of jewelry now? Why? SS: That one is really hard. I think every new piece I make is a favorite, for awhile. I guess I'd have to say it my sea glass charm necklace. Its silver, and it goes with everything, so I find myself wearing it often, and through the years, it has not gone out of rotation. Plus, I can wear it at the beach and all- since it's sterling silver and sea glass. It's more of a practical reason then emotional. PH: Who has influenced your jewelry tastes? SS: Well, I love my jewelry wild and wearable. I'd have to say it was Art. All kinds of it! My mom took me to art and craft shows all the time, and from the time I was young, I loved the art and the ARTISAN JEWLERY!!! So I think that influenced me the most, because I was exposed to jewelry that was different, in a setting with other art, and so, it was art to me from early on, and it was ok that it wasn't your typical gemstones set in gold stuff. PH: Do you have a favorite memory involving jewelry? SS: I would have to say again, it was those times when my Mommom would let me route through her jewelry and try things on. I think I loved those times more then she knew. PH: When you choose jewelry, what factors do you consider? (price, fashion, emotional ties, etc?) SS: Composition is important to me. I look for things that are asymmetrical, dramatic, but still have balance. It has to have wow factor and it has to be BIG. It also has to be comfortable, durable and wearable. PH: What jewelry trends do you like? Hate? SS: I think trends have an important place in jewelry, just as they do in fashion. Not sure if there are any I particularly hate, but I do love when I see a trend, and then see artists do it, but with their own interpretation of it. When they take what everyone else is doing, and then do it in a way that no one has seen. I think trends can be great challenges to designers, and really help them to grow in new areas. PH: If you could have any piece of jewelry in the world, what would it be? SS: Oh man, that's a hard one. I'd like to own a Calder......either that, or something with history- something tribal, that was forged by hand, and worn by many, that represents the people who made it and loved it. Thank you Staci for sharing your memories with us. :) If you are interested in sharing your jewelry memories, send me an email at [email protected]. I would love to share your story as well!
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This blog hop, hosted by the always incredible Lori Anderson, is a little different than some of the ones in the past. No trading beads, no using a specific theme. The directions were to use beads we already had in our stash to create a piece of jewelry. This is a challenge I can get behind. If you saw my stash of beads and beading supplies, you would probably get behind it too! I think most beaders buy beads when the inspirations strikes. But then you get them home and the design mojo just isn't right. Sometimes it comes immediately, and sometimes it takes 7 years of looking at the same beads day after day before you know what they are going to be. I tend to go through phases when I create jewelry. I find a style I like and I make lots and lots of things in that style. Then I find another style and move on. In some ways, its a great opportunity to really practice a certain skill, and more often than not, when I move on to a new style, I am building on my previous skills to create something new. I went through a phase a couple of years ago where I was making beaded balls by the truckload. Each ball takes about 1,000-1,500 seed beads. That means you have to buy a couple packages of them to have enough, and then you are left with oodles and gobs of extra seed beads. I have huge boxes of various colored seed beads, but I don't use them very often. My hands don't always work so well with the small size of the beads. Last summer I developed a kind of beaded chain using jump rings and seed beads. I've been wanting to make some more of the chain and I came across a washer flower i'd made a couple weeks ago that would be perfect. I tried several different seed bead combinations before I settled on this green mix that would be perfect. It has some gorgeous deep greens that matched the colors of the washer flower perfectly. The finished product is a necklace i cannot wait to wear. I hope you like it. I hope you will visit the other bloggers in this challenge and see what amazing creations they came up with. 1. Lori Anderson, Pretty Things 2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads 3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs 4. Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes 5. Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs 6. Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs 7. Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends 8. Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board 10. Erin Guest, Renlish 11. Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry 12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey 13. Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation 14. Sue Kennedy, SueBeads 15. Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments 16. Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design 17. Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers 18. Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity 19. Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings 20. Lori Schneider, Bead Addict 21. Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me 22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini 23. Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats 24. Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft 25. Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul 26. Heather Powers, Humblebeads 27. Sarah Goode, Pookledo 28. Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion 29. JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions 30. Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri 31. Robyn, Museiddity 32. Catherine King, Catherine's Musings 33. Jacquie, Bead Gypsy 34. Janet McDonald, Singing Woods 35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations 36. Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti 37. Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley 38. Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle 39. Nelly May, Smelly Nelly 40. Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads 41. Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool 42. Christie Murrow, Charis Designs 43. Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design 44. Valerie Norton, Hot Art 45. Judy Riggs, Rigglettes 46. Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons 47. Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo 48. Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations 49. Nan Smith, Wired Nan 50. Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts 51. Marie Covert, Creating Interest 52. D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita 53. Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs 54. Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design 55. Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design 56. Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs 57. Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs 58. Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things 59. Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That 60. Nat, Grubbi Ceramics 61. Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising 62. Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another 63. Heather Otto, The Crafthopper 64. Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks 65. Tracie Dean, Dean Designs 66. JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin 67. Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes 68. Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design 69. Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog 70. Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes 71. Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit 72. Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini 73. Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle 74. Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry 76. Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 77. Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame 78. Hannah Trost, PZ Designs 79. Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry 80. Miri Agassi, Beadwork 81. Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope 82. Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations 83. Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie 84. Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills 85. Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry 86. Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog 87. Lori Lochner, Bloghner 88. Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog 89. Susan, Mistheword 90. MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8 91. Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky 92. Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog 93. Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman 94. Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor 95. Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous 96. Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads 97. Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse 98. Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs 99. Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations 100. Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives 101. Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs 102. Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant 103. Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea 104. Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter 105. Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures 106. Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios 107. Lennis Carter, windbent 108. Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads 109. Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution 110. Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa 111. Janine Lucas, Travel Stories 112. Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands 113. Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams 114. Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful 115. Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams 116. Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings 117. Kim, Cianci Blue 118. Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry 119. Karen, Spokalulu 120. Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry 121. Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations 122. Karen Martinez, Fairies Market 123. Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD 124. Amy Bright, LABweorc 125. Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti 126. Tammie Everly, TTE Designs 127. Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads 128. Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread 129. Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections 130. Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy 131. LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK 132. Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space 133. Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures 134. Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart 135. Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads 136. Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie 137. Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe 138. Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs 139. Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder 140. Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations 141. B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem 142. Patty Miller, Cabari Beads 143. Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads 144. Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things 145. Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead 146. Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales 147. Patricia, The Color of Dreams 148. Marde Lowe, Fancimar 149. Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations 150. Sarah Small, By Salla 151. Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs 152. Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry 153. Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz 154. Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio 155. Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe 156. Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations 157. Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey 158. Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show 159. Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs 160. Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted 161. Kris Lanae Binsfield, Cherish Designs 162. Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead 163. Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads 164. Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog 165. Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place 166. Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs 167. Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog This week's guest is my friend Robin Butwan. We've known each other since high school and it seems like just yesterday we were going with our friend Jelisa to get her ears pierced. I hope you enjoy reading Robin's answers as much as I did. And I hope she'll let me borrow some of her fabulous jewelry (wink!). PH: What was your favorite piece of jewelry when you were growing up? Why? RB: I don't remember having jewelry growing up. I'm sure I did. But I honestly don't remember. PH: What is your favorite piece of jewelry now? Why? RB: Right now I have three favorite pieces. My absolute favorite, the ring I want to be buried in, is the one my husband designed for me for our ten year anniversary. It has a very thin, delicate band with diamonds all around it and a pink sapphire in the middle. I also love a necklace I bought in Wisconsin from an artist in Mexico. It's a bib necklace that looks like strips of leather were twisted into rose buds and they are stacked on each other, except it's made of orange peel not leather. (I'm pretty sure it's a lot more interesting than I just described it.) I love the fact that it's made of orange peel. When someone compliments me on that and I tell them, they inevitably pull out their glasses to inspect it. More than once I've had to take off the necklace so they can smell it. I also have a necklace that I found when Chris and I were in Oahu. It's on a silver chain and there is a silver ring and a wood ring (both about the size of a silver dollar) and they lay on top of each other. I don't know why, but that necklace really spoke to me. I didn't buy it while we were there, I called the store from home and had them ship it to me. It was very expensive for what it is, but like I said, it spoke to me. PH: Who has influenced your jewelry tastes? RB: I don't know that any particular person influences my jewelry tastes. I am all over the map with what I like. Feminine and delicate, loud and obnoxious, whimsical. I judge more on an individual basis. I love jewelry that is interesting and has a story associated with it. Mall jewelry is fine. But unique pieces created by someone are the things that capture my attention. PH: When you choose jewelry, what factors do you consider? (price, fashion, emotional ties, etc?) RB: When choosing jewelry, I go more on emotional ties and feelings than anything. I want to feel unique and special. PH: What jewelry trends do you like? Hate? RB: I honestly have no idea what jewelry trends there are. I never really even thought about jewelry having trend cycles like fashion does. PH: If you could have any piece of jewelry in the world, what would it be? RB: If I could have any piece of jewelry in the world, I would have Kate Middleton's blue sapphire ring. But, I don't think she'd be willing to part with it. Thanks Robin! I love hearing that your jewelry has emotional ties for you. That's what I hope for when I make jewelry for people. Robin (R) and Jack Sparrow :)
If you are interested in sharing your jewelry memories, send me an email at [email protected]. I would love to share your story as well! One of the cool things about this series is the opportunity to hear from a wide variety of people, including jewelry designers. Today, we are talking with Catherine Shattuck of Victorian Rose Boutique about her jewelry memories. PH: What was your favorite piece of jewelry when you were growing up? Why? CS: When I was a teen, I remember going to a bead store and picking out beads to make some hippie jewelry with. So I strung a couple of necklaces with those first beads. Haha! I would say that's when my interest in beading began even though I didn't bead continuously at the time. PH: What is your favorite piece of jewelry now? Why? CS: My fave piece of jewelry now is my wedding ring set because my husband, the love of my life, gave it to me. PH: Who has influenced your jewelry tastes? CS: Currently my taste in jewelry has gravitated towards Victorian/vintage inspired pieces. I was already leaning in that direction but a friend and jewelry designer, Brenda Sue Lansdowne, who's very knowledgeable about vintage pieces, has given impetus to my choice. Hi Brenda! LOL!! PH: Do you have a favorite memory involving jewelry? CS: One of my favorite memories regarding jewelry was when my best friend and I went to a local jewelry store and I was able to pick out my first gold and sapphire ring. It was a reward to myself for a reason I choose not to disclose. But that was about 25 yrs. ago and I still have that ring and wear it all the time. PH: When you choose jewelry, what factors do you consider? (price, fashion, emotional ties, etc?) CS: I rarely buy jewelry anymore because if I need something, I just make my own. The only recent pieces I picked up was a lovely necklace with a pendant watch on it that a fellow jewelry artist and friend made. And the same with a bracelet I purchased; another artist made that as well. Otherwise, I make my own. PH: What jewelry trends do you like? Hate? CS: I like the Gatsby trend and I dislike the geometric stuff. Sorry to all you geometric fans out there. LOL!! PH: If you could have any piece of jewelry in the world, what would it be? CS: Christy Friesen's polymer clay GORGEOUS Peacock Necklace! Thanks Catherine! I enjoyed hearing what you had to say about your jewelry. :) If you are interested in sharing your jewelry memories, send me an email at [email protected]. I would love to share your story as well!
I have been thinking a lot lately about how personal jewelry is. The best jewelry (in my opinion) is the jewelry that has an emotional connection to it. For me it is the necklace my grandma gave me; the earrings my dad brought back for me from his business trip; the bracelet my mom got me when I graduated from high school; the ring my husband bought me for my birthday because he remembered I liked it. Now I'm curious to find out what other people think about their jewelry. So I decided to ask friends, family and colleagues to share what they feel/remember about their favorite jewelry. If you are interested in sharing your jewelry memories, send me an email at [email protected]. I would love to share your story as well! My first guest is the lovely Joy Mettee. We lived right down the street from each other and spent a lot of time together when we growing up. As cousins, we share a lot of common memories, but I was very curious to find out what she had to say about her jewelry memories. PH: What was your favorite piece of jewelry when you were growing up? Why? JM: I had a Snoopy necklace that was colorful so I wore it with everything. I also had Winnie the Pooh watch I bought with my own money so it was important to me. PH: What is your favorite piece of jewelry now? Why? JM: I have a simple necklace with my initial J on it. I love it because my mom got it for me and my 2 best friends matching ones. PH: Who would you say has influenced your jewelry tastes? JM: Probably mom & grandma because they let me play with their jewelry all the time. PH: Do you have a favorite memory involving jewelry? JM: When we cousins all got our ears pierced together. And a charm grandma kept in the window she said was Uncle Danny (our uncle who passed away) when it made a rainbow on the carpet. PH: When you choose jewelry, what factors do you consider? (price, fashion, emotional ties, etc?) JM: Price and what I'd wear it with, like the specific top or outfit. PH: What jewelry trends do you like? Hate? JM: At first I didn't like the crosses on their side, but now I'm used to it. I've never really like charm bracelets either. I find rings inconvenient for me. I got into owls for a little bit. I really like long necklaces & I'm getting into the chunkier ones. PH: If you could have any piece of jewelry in the world, what would it be? JM: An engagement ring from a single godly man :) Or a tiara from some European Crown Jewels. Thanks Joy! I enjoyed hearing what you had to say about your jewelry. :) If you are interested in sharing your jewelry memories, send me an email at [email protected]. I would love to share your story as well!
One of the bead hops I participated in this summer was the "My Country, Of Thee I Bead!" hop hosted by Nan Smith of Wired Nan. The challenge was to create a piece of jewelry based on the country of our choice. I love all things USA, so I was absolutely tickled silly to participate in this challenge. Maybe it was growing up in the heartland, but I have always been very proud of the American Spirit. One of my very favorite things in the world is when the national anthem is being played before a ballgame. It doesn't matter if there are 20 people or 20,000 people, but when all of them stand together and stand quietly while the anthem is being performed, it gives me goosebumps every time. I have been very into my hardware jewelry lately, so when I saw the red hardware crosses, they seemed perfect for this challenge. I wanted them to be the star of the earrings, so I added one single red, white and blue crystal as a dangling charm. They are surprisingly lightweight and really fun to wear. And I am thrilled with how they turned out. Thank you Nan for hosting a fun challenge--I can't wait to see what everyone else created. You can see what everyone else created by clicking on the links below.
Nan Smith (host): wirednan.blogspot.ca Canada Dini Bruinsma: http://angazabychanges.blogspot.ca The Netherlands Stephanie Weiss : http://uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com USA Ana Cravidao (ACBeads) :http://acbeads.blogspot.com. Portugal Liz E :[email protected]. USA Vera: veradesigns.blogspot.com Germany (USA) Andra : http://bijouxdemonange.blogspot.com Romania Delilah: http://mssdelilah.wordpress.com Romania Jessica Murray: http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com USA Mischelle: http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com Rebecca : http://www.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.ca/ France (USA) LiliKrist: http://pcbylik.blogspot.com Indonesia N Vakentine Studio : www.nvalentine.blogspot.com Canada Karin: maverickbeads.blogspot.ca Calgary, Canada Diah Anggreni : http://pernik-manik.blogspot.com Indonesia Karen : www.overthemoon-design.com Australia Cath Thomas : http://samohtac.blogspot.ca Switzerland Asri Wahyuningsih : http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com USA Crysalis Jewelry Design Denmark ( Canada) Jasvanti Patel: www.jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com USA Lola: http://beadlolabead.blogspot.ca USA Beccy Peterson Sweden (USA) Paula Hisel : www.simplybeadiful.weebly.com USA Inge von Roos: ingetraud.wordpress.com Germany Laurie Vyselaar: Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com. USA Toltec Jewels: http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com USA Anindita Basu: www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com USA When I started working on this challenge, I had in my mind that I was going to do a piece inspired by all of the wonderful trips my family took to the lake when we were growing up. I wanted to spend every minute possible on the water, fishing, boating, camping, spending time laughing and eating with my family--they were magical times in my life. But the more I tried to work on my piece(s), the more I struggled. I couldn't pick just one trip that was special (they were all special) so I kept putting it off, hoping the inspiration would come to me.And then, when I least expected it, I was inspired by a totally different summer trip I took in college. It wasn't a vacation. It was a summer "abroad" as a short-term missionary the summer after I graduated college. I had always wanted to live in Mexico and it took several years to convince my parents that it was safe enough, and that I was ready enough to travel outside the USA by myself. I spent 3 long months in Juarez, Mexico living with a group of college students who loved the Lord and what we were doing just as much as I did. We built houses, ran children's programs, and built relationships with the community. One of my favorite parts of the summer was our community building time. We tried our best to get to know our neighbors, fellow church members, our water suppliers, pastors, the women who made our tortillas, the gentleman who made the best burritos, the guys who ran the hardware store...it was alot of fun. The more we got to know them, the more colorful their personalities became. I was struck by the use of vivid color everywhere I went in Juarez. The houses, the clothes, the market, the flowers (the ones that grew in the 110 degree heat!). Everything was so bright and colorful. As I look back on it now, I realize it was probably to brighten up the dull colors of the desert.
And now a few pictures from my time in Juarez Please make sure that you check out the other participants in our challenge by visiting their blog links:
Karin King: maverickbeads.blogspot.ca Annette Rivers: http://mamaowlsmess.blogspot.com Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi: micheladasmusings.blogspot.com Leanne Loftus: https://www.firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com Dolores Raml: http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/ Christie Murrow: www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com Toltec Jewels: www.jewelschoolfriends.com Susan Nelwon Bowie http://susanbowie.wordpress.com/ Paula Hisel: http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html It came to my attention recently that some of my hardware jewelry has been copied by another designer without my permission. I feel the need to state the following in regards to that and my jewelry designs in general:
"All jewelry designs are my own creations. If and when i use inspiration from an outside source, it will be mentioned. I respect the hard work and talent of fellow designers and refuse to copy another designers work. If you choose to use my work as inspiration for your own work, the same courtesies would be greatly appreciated." I take what I do very seriously and this line more than anything I have ever done is very personal to me. The thought of it being copied by others for personal gain makes me sick to my stomach. Please respect my work, as well as your own. Have you ever noticed when you're reading a magazine they often include a huge list of symptoms with a catchy headline? Its followed by a random disease that maybe 7 people in the entire world have. But the symptoms are so real that by the time you are finished reading it, you are convinced you have whatever disease it is. I do it all the time. In fact, when I was at the doctor's office last month, I was looking at one of those posters with skin rashes on it, and I self-diagnosed myself with about 13 different things (even though I don't have any of them). I felt the same way when I heard this song last night. I kept waiting for MWS (Michael W Smith, amazing Christian musician popular in the 90's) to get to something I wasn't. The list went on and on and on, and I realized I am every single thing he mentioned. Not all at once, but I have been every one of the things listed below. That was a hard thought to swallow. As Christians, we are taught that Jesus forgives us when we ask Him to. But I think sometimes we take that for granted. I know I do. I forget that my walk with Christ is a marathon, not a sprint. And that each and every day, sometimes each and every minute, I have to make a conscious decision to act like Him. Sometimes my actions, attitudes and moods come so naturally that I forget I have a choice to make. I, and I alone, am the only one who can choose how to behave, how to react, how to respond to things. The closer I walk with Christ, the closer my actions and reactions will reflect Him. But of all of the things my sinful nature causes me to be, the one thing I can never be is unloved. And I am so thankful for that. There is nothing that can separate me from the love of Christ. "Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38 "Never Been Unloved by Michael W. Smith
I have been unfaithful I have been unworthy I have been unrighteous And I have been unmerciful I have been unreachable I have been unteachable I have been unwilling And I've been undesirable And sometimes I have been unwise I've been undone by what I'm unsure of But because of you And all that you went through I know that I have never been unloved I have been unbroken I have been unmended I have been uneasy And I've been unapprochable I've been unemotional I've been unexceptional I've been undecided And I have been unqualified Unaware - I have been unfair I've been unfit for blessings from above But even I can see The sacrifice You made for me To show that I have never been unloved Unaware - I have been unfair I've been unfit for blessings from above But even I can see The sacrifice You made for me To show that I have never been unloved It's because of you And all that you went through I know that I have never been unloved Here is the list of participants for the Summer Vacation Blog Hop Challenge!! Karin King: maverickbeads.blogspot.ca
Annette Rivers: http://mamaowlsmess.blogspot.com Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi: micheladasmusings.blogspot.com Leanne Loftus: https://www.firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com Dolores Raml: http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/ Christie Murrow: www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com Paula Hisel: http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html |
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