by Cathy Baker | Home & Family, Ideas |
Big outdoor plans were in the making for our October weekends.
But then the historic SC rain fell the first weekend…and the following Saturday. Call it stir crazy but I had to get out of the house!
Out of this craziness came five ideas for outside fun when the sun returns:
Head to the Farm! Many farms during this season open their doors to visitors for hayrides, the selling of their goods, and instructional opportunities — perfect for kids and adults alike. Just watch where you step. 🙂
Flee to the local Flea Market. You need only ask me once and I’m there. I’m not sure why, as I’m pretty much maxed out on antiques, but I love the idea of finding Mason jars at a bargain or something unusual that prompts a story. One really doesn’t need an excuse to flee, right?
Go to your County Fair. I think I’ve missed this one in our area. Honestly, it’s been years since I’ve gone but nothing said Fall when I was a teenager like a boyfriend wowing the crowd and winning a big stuffed bear! But I digress. County fairs have it all – animals, flowers, rides, cotton candy and funnel cakes (I’ve never had one of these!)
Attend a Football Game. Enough said. 🙂
Enjoy an Outdoor Concert. Wonder what’s going on in your city? Google it! Most city Web sites now have a section just for concerts. Don’t forget to bundle up for Fall’s chilly nights and chairs, if necessary. Or even a better, a mega wool blanket.
Your turn! What have I missed? What’s your favorite Fall outdoor activity? There are so many. Let me hear at least one.
by Cathy Baker | Ideas |
by Cathy Baker
If you’re a perfectionist like me, you’ll especially benefit from this Artist Date with your creative self. There’s no right way to do this so relax and have fun!
You’ll need:
- Poster board (I purchased the 1/4″ thicker type)
- Magazines (my favorite part)
- Scissors
- Two-sided tape or glue stick
And now for the fun part:
“Collage your creative dream. This exercise is a potent form of prayer. Working with a dozen or so magazines, tear out images that speak of your dream. Paste these images on a sheet of poster board. Add a photo of yourself. Place the photo centrally, surrounded by images of your creative dream. This is a visual prayer. It is very powerful, as it bypasses our rational mind and its resistance. Seeing is believing!” -Julia Cameron, The Miracle of the Artist’s Date.
This is a visual reminder of your dreams, goals, and priorities. A few years ago, Carolyn Knefley, of Christian Communicators, taught me how to create my own storyboard:
It’s your story, your dream. Create what you sense God is calling you to do, and perhaps most importantly, who He is calling you to be. In addition to images, I included scripture references as well as biblical reminders. If you look closely, you’ll see the image of a man scattering seeds in the center of my board. This image stands to remind me that my responsibility is to live in response to the Gospel of Christ, allowing it to penetrate everything I do and say, and write.
Where the seeds take root and flourish is of God’s choosing. It’s all Him, not me. It’s, for this reason, it remains center stage.
What do you see taking center stage on your storyboard?
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:6 ESV
Related Link:
A Storyboard for Inspiration (my post on the above board.)
by Cathy Baker | Ideas |
In addition to being part of my local Word Weavers group, I’m extremely blessed to be one of the “4 Corners” in a small writer’s accountability/critique group.
Carolyn, one of the three amazing “corners”, challenged us to create our own storyboards (or purpose boards) as a visible tool for inspiration.
My storyboard actually begins at the bottom, to illustrate foundational truths for my writing. First, an image of the woman at Jesus’ feet, to always remind me where my journey began. It’s also foundational for me to keep my “spiritual tank” full. How can I share it from an empty one?
The picture of the waiting room reminds me that there is a purpose in the waiting. And, I must be patient and willing to wait for God’s timing.
Mid-way up the poster, I have pictures of pure inspiration that include places we’ve visited (Lake Lure, Carl Sandburg’s home, Thomas Wolfe’s home, etc), pictures of flowers from our garden, my grandmother’s house, and a picture of a sower sowing seed smack dab in the center of the poster to remind me that everything is written to be done so with the mindset of sowing God’s seed and bringing Him alone glory.
At the top, you’ll find pictures of what I pray the result of my writing to be, beginning with an act of worship. Also, that my writing will have a divine ripple effect much like a pebble being tossed into the water. One quote completes the board: “Write so that heaven is different.” – Lee Roddy. Thankfully, the results are all in God’s hands and out of mine.
I feel incredibly blessed to share my little corner of the world with such amazing women like Carolyn, Cynthia, and Beth. Thank you, friends!
So, how could you use a storyboard to get those creative juices flowing?
by Cathy Baker | Faith, Ideas |
Last night’s class was simply amazing. Obviously, it had nothing to do with me, but EVERYTHING to do with my faithful, omniscient, loving, merciful and amazing Father!
We studied Paul’s prayer to the Colossae church in 1:9-14 — and the specific way he prayed for a group of people he had never personally met.
The fact that Paul never knew this group he prayed so fervently for fascinated me several weeks back (and still does!) while preparing for this lesson. Knowing that we wanted to implement a “Go & Grow” challenge at the end of each session, I asked the Lord to show me a group of people our Tuesday night group could pray for… “a group of people we would never know.” Well, the Lord didn’t give me an immediate answer… so I went to Starbucks!
Pulling out of the parking lot, I turned on my radio (106.9), and this is what I immediately heard one of the morning pastors (I believe Chip Ingram) say: “Do you know that there is a group of people that you will never know who could be eternally impacted from your prayers for them today? They would be your great, great, great grandchildren and the generations to come.”
The tears began flowing so quickly that I almost had to pull over. Who says God is not in the details?
As I continued to drive home, a song from a few years back by Sara Groves, “Generations” immediately came to mind. There was no doubt whatsoever that our group of women needed to pray for the generations to follow — and to leave something behind for them to know they were covered in prayer long before they came into existence.
I couldn’t help but wonder, as I glanced around the room last night at some of the most faithful women of God I know, if they could be in the faith today because of the prayers from a great, great, great-grandmother or father. Only God knows.
After last night’s Go & Grow challenge I asked the group to write their prayer for the generations to follow, using Colossian 1:9-14 as a partial guideline. Following the challenge, we played Sara Groves’ song, Generations. Due to copyright guidelines, I can’t write out the lyrics but I encourage you to read them here.
Or even better, take a listen.
Everyone then received a packet, which included stationery and a personalized envelope (thanks to my sweet hubster).
Tammy Slice and I were delighted last night when we realized we would be praying for the same great grandchildren! I have no doubt that Megan’s sweet mom, Desi, is already praying for the generations to come on that side as well. The thought of having all our great, great-grandchildren encircled by prayer pretty much leaves me speechless and in complete and total awe of my faithful Pappa God.
“My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone… Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.”
Psalm 71: 15-16, 18
