"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1-2
Sometimes it takes a practical lesson to imprint on my heart the meaning of something. As I am a creature of learning by default, it comes as no surprise that as many times as I have recited this verse, it hit me that this is so often what needs to be done on a more regular basis. The word transformed can also be translated as altered, changed, converted, revolutionized, renovated or made over. We aren't commanded to act like we are a living sacrifice, we are commanded to live it. And that's just a "reasonable" service. Can you imagine what the complicated version would be? A daily transformation by a renewal of the mind as only He can do. And all of this so that I can prove what it, not just the will of God, but the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Sometimes I just need a little housecleaning!
On my journey through the rooms of my home, I am constantly picking up and cleaning up, often seeing things from repetition instead of stopping to take a moment and enjoying them. I will admit that sometimes I give it the ole, "lick and a promise" (a lick for now and a promise to do better later). But after a thorough cleaning, I take a look around and see things from a totally different perspective. A clean one! A transformation of sorts has occurred right before my very eyes. And all with a lot of effort and some Fabuloso! This is also the time that I see the things I've taken for granted and find a refreshing view of the transformation.
My living room, like most folks, is the room that gets the most use. For all practical purposes, this is the most comfortable place to end a long day. Just relaxing and taking a moment to share the day's events. My Larry love to watch a bit of tv. in the evening and it gives me a chance to sit beside him with no worries or stress. since I don't even know which remote turns the thing on, it's also the only time that I watch it. So... we tune in to some of our/his favorites and sit a spell. The living room is the largest portion of the open floor plan that also incorporates the music area, the dining room, the kitchen, and the bistro.
Like the majority of my house, the living room is decorated with soft shades of pink, blue, green and yellow. Well, a few months back, my Larry decided it was time for a new sofa. One that "fit" him. So, I let him choose it - wasn't that nice of me? His choice was a big, black, leather, double recliner sofa. Somehow he hasn't quite caught on to the color palate I'm working with here! No problem, I thought. So I ordered a king size chenille bedspread from the Vermont Country Store and wrapped that big, black, leather sofa up like a pretty present. The result... a sofa that fit him and colors that fit me. The sofa was transformed right before our eyes. All it took was to look at it from a different perspective.
We also have a nice, big fireplace under the tv. It's off centered and that drives me crazy. So... no, I didn't wrap it like a pretty present with a chenille bedspread, but I did take a pair of old lace curtains and gathered them and hung them across the bottom of the fireplace mantel. The best part about that little maneuver was that my Larry didn't even notice for months. This idea wasn't as much a transformation as it was a mask. What's the difference you might ask? Well, you cant still see what's behind the curtains, but you can't tell what's under the bedspread. They both still function with their proposed expectations. We still sit on the sofa and the recliner flip back with ease, and I can even wash the cover. On the other hand, even though the fireplace still performs as it should, the curtains must be pulled back. The mask has to be removed in order to enjoy a fire.
I also have my favorite comfy chair and another roadside find that was transformed to complement the (now covered) big, black, leather sofa. Dozens of roses from my Larry have been dried and put into vases and reflect his love for me throughout the living room. And a great antique piece of furniture that I found in Memphis abides among the other furnishings that make this room an actual "living room".
I love parallels and analogies of real like that remind me of the mercies God so freely reveals to us. Sure, anyone can take a verse out of context, but when you put it into a form of real life, there is such beauty in knowing that just a mere room in the house can remind you of God's grace. take a look around your living room, or any room for that matter. What do you see? Then take a look in the proverbial mirror of your life. What do you see there? Has there been a true change or just a mask that is easily removed when convenient? Are you masked or transformed?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Chandeliers and Comfy Chairs
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the LIGHT OF THE WORLD:he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12.
As I stroll through my home, I am reminded endlessly of two things that I love - chandeliers and comfy chairs. Both of which I make my very own. My Momma calls it "dumpster diving" - I call it "free". Whenever I see an abandoned chair alongside the road, I grab it up (and in some cases, send the kids to grab it for me). If the bones are good, I strip it down and make it new. (Hey that is a great analogy of what Christ does to us!) I personalize the chair any way I wish. You know why? 'Cause it didn't cost a penny and if I mess up, no harm done! I will admit though, I actually paid $20.00 for my favorite swivel rocker that I later realized was an Ethan Allen piece. Talk about good bones! It took me almost as long to take it apart as it did to recover it. (Oh how many times the Lord must say that about me!) I don't profess to professional reupholstering by any means (I leave that for Mamaw!), but I strive for perfection and do the best I can with whatever I may be endeavoring. The real test for me comes when company sits on it!
The same goes for my chandeliers. I either get them free or find them on my infamous treasure hunts. A plain chandelier is like an empty canvas for me. I decide which room I want it to go in and then I get carried away. I'm not there yet, but eventually I will have one in every room in my home. My favorite one hangs in the front door entrance to the house. It's outside but not exposed to the elements. The medallion I painted for this one is gynormous and took hours to complete. But the result - magnifico!
The chandelier in my kitchen reflects my love for teapots and teacups. The one in my bathroom was given to me from my next door neighbor in Memphis. It's an antique and was original to his 1900's built home. The one in my office is simple and pink - just like I like it. I made one for my granddaughter, Sophie, that is pink and black - beautiful (just like her). I even hung a pair of pink, glittery high to tennis shoe ornaments (just a bit of her Grandmommy) on it.
Just the word chandelier is fun to say. It's an elegant, bright, whimsical word. And besides that, it offers a bit of light, whether functional or atmospheric. This is probably the restoring that I love to do most. It's quick and easy and can help define a room of any kind. What's not to love about the picturesque sight of a soft comfy chair glowing with the light from a beautiful chandelier? Just thinking about it makes me want to grab a cup of coffee, a good book, and my fuzzy blanket.
I was filling Momma in on my next blog about comfy chairs and chandeliers at my birthday breakfast last week. I never knew what she was about to tell me and I'm sure she doesn't mind me sharing it with you. If you do Momma, forgiveness rather than permission - again. Anyway... Momma was sharing with me that for years she would rise earlier than necessary to prepare for her day. She would make her coffee, take a shower, get dressed, and save plenty of time to have her devotions before leaving for work. She reminisced with me about the comfy yellow chair in the corner with the hanging lamp right above it. She would ready her outward self and then ready her inward self to begin each day. She said that she relished in the quiet before the day began just sitting there drinking her coffee, reading her Bible, praying and then switching off the light before heading out for the day. Although my mind goes back to her old yellow comfy chair on Ridge Bay Cove and the hanging lamp in the corner above it, the houses and chairs and lights have all changed now. So have we. But you know what remains unchanged? Time spent reflecting the light of the world that was the basis of true comfort - even with the most comfortable of surroundings.
You see, the things that bring a smile to your face and add just a bit of spring in your step don't have to be expensive or extravagant. Just a "dumpster diving" chair and a neglected chandelier still have life left in them. All it takes to make it shine again is a little time and love. That's how I feel at times too. I made a pact with myself this past week to try a little something new. Since I couldn't possibly know what is going on in the lives of those around me, I want to let His light shine through me. No need saying something negative about someone we don't even know - even it they can't hear us. Just be nice! To everyone, all the time, for no apparent reason - other than to be a chandelier of sorts. Just make sure you don't put a lampshade on your head or sit on a strangers lap and claim it as your comfy chair!
As I stroll through my home, I am reminded endlessly of two things that I love - chandeliers and comfy chairs. Both of which I make my very own. My Momma calls it "dumpster diving" - I call it "free". Whenever I see an abandoned chair alongside the road, I grab it up (and in some cases, send the kids to grab it for me). If the bones are good, I strip it down and make it new. (Hey that is a great analogy of what Christ does to us!) I personalize the chair any way I wish. You know why? 'Cause it didn't cost a penny and if I mess up, no harm done! I will admit though, I actually paid $20.00 for my favorite swivel rocker that I later realized was an Ethan Allen piece. Talk about good bones! It took me almost as long to take it apart as it did to recover it. (Oh how many times the Lord must say that about me!) I don't profess to professional reupholstering by any means (I leave that for Mamaw!), but I strive for perfection and do the best I can with whatever I may be endeavoring. The real test for me comes when company sits on it!
The same goes for my chandeliers. I either get them free or find them on my infamous treasure hunts. A plain chandelier is like an empty canvas for me. I decide which room I want it to go in and then I get carried away. I'm not there yet, but eventually I will have one in every room in my home. My favorite one hangs in the front door entrance to the house. It's outside but not exposed to the elements. The medallion I painted for this one is gynormous and took hours to complete. But the result - magnifico!
The chandelier in my kitchen reflects my love for teapots and teacups. The one in my bathroom was given to me from my next door neighbor in Memphis. It's an antique and was original to his 1900's built home. The one in my office is simple and pink - just like I like it. I made one for my granddaughter, Sophie, that is pink and black - beautiful (just like her). I even hung a pair of pink, glittery high to tennis shoe ornaments (just a bit of her Grandmommy) on it.
Just the word chandelier is fun to say. It's an elegant, bright, whimsical word. And besides that, it offers a bit of light, whether functional or atmospheric. This is probably the restoring that I love to do most. It's quick and easy and can help define a room of any kind. What's not to love about the picturesque sight of a soft comfy chair glowing with the light from a beautiful chandelier? Just thinking about it makes me want to grab a cup of coffee, a good book, and my fuzzy blanket.
I was filling Momma in on my next blog about comfy chairs and chandeliers at my birthday breakfast last week. I never knew what she was about to tell me and I'm sure she doesn't mind me sharing it with you. If you do Momma, forgiveness rather than permission - again. Anyway... Momma was sharing with me that for years she would rise earlier than necessary to prepare for her day. She would make her coffee, take a shower, get dressed, and save plenty of time to have her devotions before leaving for work. She reminisced with me about the comfy yellow chair in the corner with the hanging lamp right above it. She would ready her outward self and then ready her inward self to begin each day. She said that she relished in the quiet before the day began just sitting there drinking her coffee, reading her Bible, praying and then switching off the light before heading out for the day. Although my mind goes back to her old yellow comfy chair on Ridge Bay Cove and the hanging lamp in the corner above it, the houses and chairs and lights have all changed now. So have we. But you know what remains unchanged? Time spent reflecting the light of the world that was the basis of true comfort - even with the most comfortable of surroundings.
You see, the things that bring a smile to your face and add just a bit of spring in your step don't have to be expensive or extravagant. Just a "dumpster diving" chair and a neglected chandelier still have life left in them. All it takes to make it shine again is a little time and love. That's how I feel at times too. I made a pact with myself this past week to try a little something new. Since I couldn't possibly know what is going on in the lives of those around me, I want to let His light shine through me. No need saying something negative about someone we don't even know - even it they can't hear us. Just be nice! To everyone, all the time, for no apparent reason - other than to be a chandelier of sorts. Just make sure you don't put a lampshade on your head or sit on a strangers lap and claim it as your comfy chair!
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