Providence 365 -Week 28

What’s in your stick bag?

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

Friday and Saturday, I sat in a concert hall and listened to incredible performances, presented by awesome and talented young musicians. Each musician had a part to play, a gift to share. I sat in awe as I watched a talented percussionist play the xylophone & marimba (and other instruments) with such passion and joy.

We each have gifts and are to use those gifts to serve. Notice the “s” on gifts. Yes, we have more than one – and not everyone was blessed with the same set of gifts. Can you imagine if the musicians in the orchestras and ensembles I listened to all played the same instrument and played the exact same score, same notes, same octaves. While I have no doubt the music would have been lovely, it would have quickly become old. The musical value would diminish over time.
The percussionist I mentioned is my daughter. I was literally moved to tears when it hit me how far she has come with her gift. When she opens her stick bag – it is filled with many mallets, sticks and other items that allow her to play a variety of instruments. I look at them and to the untrained eye (mine) they all look the same. Yet she knows that each one has a different and specific purpose and can be used to make beautiful music for others to enjoy.

She has many gifts. In addition to being a talented musician, she has already shown she can be a leader, a teacher, a compassionate caregiver and so much more. What a blessing to watch her grow and mature – to watch her unwrap new gifts ~ adding those to her own personal “stickbag” each day. She is learning when and how to use those gifts and is already starting to use them to serve others.

We each have a part to play in life’s orchestra. Each part is different yet played together, we make beautiful music. What gifts are in your stick bag? Do you know how to use them and what to use them for? What gifts are waiting for you to unwrap? And will you use them to serve others?

Here is my gift for you today - an overlay for your 12x12 layout. Use your “digi” gifts to create a layout showcasing your own gifts – or those of someone you love. (try reducing the opacity or even change the color to make this overlay perfect for your unique layout.)

You may download it here >>>>> here






We started the Providence 365 journey at the start of this calendar year. Each week Barbara (of Precepts and Promises) provide you with a prompt and a “gift” for you to create layouts to help you see and document God’s Providence in your own life. It is never too late to start. Each week thus far can be found in the Providence 365 forum at Faith Sisters >>>>> here.

Wishing you a blessed week.

DECEMBER 1,2,3 Scrap!

by the shore Designs hosts the Designer Challenge at Faith Sisters on the third Thursday of the month. Please join me this month! The challenge follows.

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What a wonderful time of the year! During the season of Advent we prepare for a celebration of the birth of Christ. The hustle and bustle; decking the halls, Christmas parties, shopping and the sharing of family traditions are all part of our daily lives in December. Taking time to reflect on the TRUE meaning of the season is something that we each need to do – as often as possible. God’s gift to us came in the form of a newborn Baby Boy.

This week, an email arrived in my in-box. It is one I have seen for the last few years during the Christmas season – and it still moves me…please let me share this message with you :

The "W" in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a “W." The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"

And He still is! I hope this special message is one that helps you reflect on CHRISTmas and the reason for this celebration!

AND HERE WE GO!!!!

Our December 1,2,3 Scrap! challenge is about Celebration

1. The theme of your layout is Celebration! Perhaps you can share how your family celebrates Jesus’ birthday. Perhaps it is the celebration of a milestone, a family birthday, a promotion. The choice is yours.

2. Use three photos. (Try to make them all close-ups – really zoom that camera – or crop tool – in close)

3. Use only 3 different papers and only 3 different elements (but you can use these as often as you wish on the layout.

For those that participate in our December 1,2,3 Scrap Challenge, my gift to you will be my just released “Bethlehem” quick page.

Simply post your layout in our 1,2,3 Scrap! Gallery and provide a link to the layout in our 1,2,3, Scrap! Forum

Are you ready? 1,2,3 Scrap!