When I’m working on a project. It’s usually pretty quiet. 

Time to think

Time to dream

Time to pray

Time to listen to the parrot that lives next door named Synbad. He calls the dog and yells hello frequently 

Time to sing.  Thank you Jason for “turn it up” Sunday. It has been on repeat ever since. 

Sometimes it’s time to reflect on recent coversations. Like one I had this past weekend. It was a difficult conversation. My friend is toubled and I can do absolutely nothing about it but to listen, be a good  friend and pray. 

Today I prayed while working on this beauty. It is my first commissioned piece since we moved to the old house. My previous neighbor contacted me about this unique piece that used to hold hymnals in a church. A church member had built it and it was in great shape but the finish was looking pretty bad and it was in need of a facelift. You know my weakness for a piece with a story and I wanted super bad to paint this beauty but the owner wanted it to remain stained so her wish I granted.

My least favorite thing is to strip off old stain. It’s dirty and slimy. The “new and improved” strippers that say it won’t burn your skin are worthless. If it doesn’t burn, it doesn’t work. So it’s brush it on, spatter it on your skin, complain a little, scrape off the goo. 

Wash – Rinse – Repeat.

As I scrape and guide the goo into a container. An old song pops into my head. It still uses Thee and Thine for goodness sake but look at the words. 

It’s a prayer to my friend 

It’s a prayer for me.

 As I take the old stain off, sometimes it’s stinky and gooey just like something’s in life. But then I am the potter and put things back together just like the Heavenly Father can put us back together. I’ll wait, yielded and still. 

If you don’t know the song, it might not even appeal to your taste in music but when something enters my brain, it’s not a coincidence. It’s for a purpose.

Let it sink in today. 

I’m just going to be sitting in the yard, working in my project  listening to the chickens next door. Yes I live in the city.

Have a blessed day.

Have Thine own way, Lord!          Have Thine own way.                     Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will,                                                    While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord!          Have Thine own way!                             Search me and try me, Master, today!                                               Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,                                                As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord!         Have Thine own way!          Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!                                                    Power, all power, surely is Thine!        Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord!        Have Thine own way!                     Hold o’er my being absolute sway!        Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me.