Conviction/Condemnation, 6x6 canvas, Air Fryer, and Wal Mart

Good morning Y'all, from my neck of the woods!!!!   It's looks like it's gonna be another gray day today.     As much as my mind needs some sunlight, I guess for the next few days, I will stay focused on the SON light!!     I will keep my focus on the ONE who actually created the sun.    Well, I can certainly do that.     Sounds like a good plan to me y'all!    When I focus on the SON, then it really doesn't matter if the sun shines or not, because the SON is always shining.    My spirit is lifted above the gray day already.   Yay!!!!   I hope, if you are the type of person that needs a little bit of actual sun shine in your life, that you will focus on the Creator of the sun , till the sun actually does shine for us again.

Sitting here at 5 a.m., drinking our early morning coffee before my sweet husband heads off to work, we hear other families stirring and leaving out in their vehicles going off to work.   I hear the train rolling thru and blowing its horn ever so often as it rolls on down the track.     I hear the little bird outside in the shrubbery that sounds like he needs his tweeter oiled.   hahahaha    He comes and visits us every morning and we always laugh about his squeaky  tweet.    We recognize him and Squeaky is his name.    But he comes every morning, around 5 and 5:15 a.m. and sings a squeaky song for us and we do love to hear it.   As my husband heads off to work, I'll be standing in the kitchen looking out the window, asking God to cover him with His hedge of protection today.    I always ask God to give him a good day and to give him what ever he needs today to do his job to the best of his ability and pray that my husband will represent Jesus Christ well today in the workplace.   

Who do you need to be praying for today?     Oh my gosh, the list is longer than our arms, of the people that we need to be covering in prayer today.     I challenge each one of us to pray for the people that we know who could benefit from our prayers and then see how it changes their lives.     I promise you, it will change their lives and ours too.     God loves to hear from His kids, especially if we are praying for some of His other kids.   You know, that makes Him one proud Father!!!!

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Conviction vs Condemnation

Both big words, right?   Both with very different definitions, right?    Which one best describes your life right now?     That may be a very hard question for some.     Before you answer that question though, let's get those definitions on the board so we can take a gander at them and decide where we are, and hopefully make plans for change, if change is needed.

Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit where a person is able to see himself as God sees him: guilty, defiled, and totally unable to save himself (John 16:8).  Conviction functions differently for the Christian and non-christian. For the non-christian, conviction reveals sinfulness, guilt and brings fear of God's righteous judgement. Whereas, conviction in the believer brings an awareness of sin and results in repentance, confession and cleansing.

Theologically, conviction is produced by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), the Gospel (Acts 2:37), conscience (Rom. 2:15), and the Law (James 2:9). Conviction of sin brings man to the cross and shows the need for forgiveness.     (This definition came directly from Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry.)

Condemnation is declaring an evildoer to be guilty and can refer to the punishment inflicted on man because of that guilt. Without Jesus mankind stands condemned before God, not only because of the sin of Adam (Rom. 5:16-18) but also because of our own sin (Matt. 12:37). However, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death," (Rom. 8:1-2). Christians have passed out of condemnation because they are forgiven in Christ.   (This definition came directly from Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry.)  

One of my very sweet friends and I was having a conversation, probably 4 or 5 years ago.     She was in a very deep spiritual battle.     We had talked several times and I just couldn't help her in any way.    You know, I thought I was doing the right thing and my heart was certainly in the right place.  I knew what I was telling her was not wrong, they were just not the words that she needed to hear.  God knew what she needed to hear and to that point, I had not necessarily asked Him to help me help her.    I was just trying to do something in my feeble attempt with words and that was NOT working.   In desperation for my friend, I asked God for His wisdom, the next time we spoke about this issue.

A few days had passed and the conversation had not turned to the issue.    One night, pretty late, my cell phone rang and I knew it was her by the special ring tone.     She was weeping loudly and I knew she was in the battle again.  Some of the particular words she was using was not typically words she used when she was talking about the situation.     All of the sudden, I just said "peace, be still".    The same words Jesus used to calm the storm.     She instantly quieted down.     I had already asked God for wisdom in the situation.    When I started speaking to her, it was God's words coming from my mouth and I knew it.

With the wisdom of God, He brought these two words to mind.     When I spoke those words and just my own definition of those words at the time, with God's help, the lightbulb went off for my friend.    Instantly, she recognized she wasn't under conviction, but she was and had been under condemnation.     That condemnation was a false condemnation placed on her by the enemy.    She had already dealt with the conviction of this particular situation a long while back.    The enemy knows our weaknesses and he knew her weakness in this situation and he was using it to keep her in condemnation although God had already wiped the record clean.   The enemy wants us to stand under condemnation, ever after the Holy Spirit has done helped us walk thru conviction to the point of repentance, confession and cleansing.    How many have felt condemnation even after reconciliation?  If we are honest, most of us have.     If that is so, then we must know that condemnation is of the enemy.

So we walked thru this, each one sharing what conviction and condemnation looked like to us.     We came to a pretty sound conclusion that the enemy was keeping her bound in condemnation and then we prayed for God to break the binds that the enemy had over her mind.  God is faithful and true and He keeps His promises.    The next time we seen each other, she was telling me what our conversation had been.   And to be quite honest, I could not even remember what the conversation was about, because it actually wasn't our conversation, but hers and God's conversation.    I just happened to be the vessel He used to accomplish His will for my sweet friend.

There is also a scripture that tells us to be ready in season and out of season.    Basically, that means to be ready at all times to share the hope of Christ that we have within us with those that don't have that hope.  For me, being ready in season and out of season, means continually asking God for His wisdom at all times.   When I seek God continually for His wisdom, He will give me what I need when I need it, in season and out of season.     So, don't hesitate to ask God for wisdom in all things.     Don't hesitate to ask Him to keep you prepared in season and out of season.     That way you will always be ready to help someone that needs help.      I hope and pray that this has been a little study that will help you to help someone else.   

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So, what do y'all think about this, I got back here quick this time with a project to share.    Yay, woop woop, hot diggity dog and so on!!!!    I'm thrilled myself.    I always have a lot of stuff to share, but I just haven't been doing it.   Motivation is my word for the year, but it seems mine has just left!!!    I am just off my game.    I am not motivated to do much of anything here lately.    Having been sick for a long while with all the flu and side effects with that has drained me and I'm still not feeling real good, but there is hope yet.   So I keep on plugging along and doing a project  every once in a while, and that is what this one is that I'm gonna share today. 

Ok, so this is what I call "Peacock in Bloom" napkin art.   I really love how it turned out.    It is from a napkin.   I went to Tuesday Morning here back and I got this pkg of napkins to do this with.   Each napkin has 4 of the same peacock on it, so I have plenty of peacocks!!!!!    hahahaha     I sure wish I would have taken picture of my process, but I didn't think about it till it was all done!!!!   That's what I mean when I say I'm still off my game.   Hopefully in the future I will remember to snap the process.

 The first thing I done was cut 3 pieces of 6x6 chipboard (aka cracker box, hehehe).     I used double sided tape and layered the 3 pieces together, making my 6x6 canvas.    I used some of the double sided tape and adhered the napkin down.    It was 3 ply, so I removed the 2 white plys from the back and was left with the thin colorful part of the napkin and that is what I centered over the canvas and wrapped the edges to the back to cover up the raw sides of the cardboard.    I brushed it with a layer of clear texture paste to seal it and covered all the edges real well. 

When all of that dried, I used a maze stencil with the same clear texture paste.   Once that was dry, I took some glue and spread it around and poured clear glass beads into the glue.    Then I took my Lindsay's Stamp Gang sprays and used the spray part as a dropper and started dropping lots of different colors over the clear beads.    It worked beautifully.     Then I took more glue and spread it out and put gold/bronze mica flakes in it.  I used a lot, because I wanted it to be thick.    When that dried, I spread a little more glue and sprinkled broken glass chip glitter on it, I used a lot of that too.

Once I had all of that taken care of and dried, I dug around in my tiny flowers and found what I wanted to put on my peacock.  I used the darker teal colors and then put some real colorful ones on it so they would be the pop of color.    When they dried, I sprinkled some of the glass glitter chips in the centers of my flowers.   By the way, the smallest of these flowers is about the size of a kitchen match head.    I'm sorry that there is nothing to show the real comparison in size.   A lot of times I will put a common object in the photo to show size, and I forgot to do that this time.    After I was satisfied with my project, I took a bottle of clear nail polish from Dollar Tree and poured it over the whole canvas!!!    I brushed it with one of my art brushes to spread it out and to make sure every square bit of the canvas was covered, glass bead, glitter, mica chips and the flowers!    Everything was covered.  When it all dried, I think it is indeed a delightful "Peacock in Bloom"!     This was such a fun project ya'll!!!    What do you think?     I hope are as pleased with it as I am.

My tip for this blog post is to save your empty food boxes, cracker boxes, cereal boxes, pop corn boxes, cake boxes , if you don't already do it, and you can create any size canvas you want then.   I call it "recycling to the max", because your friends will be amazed at the art you create and it kept  something out of the landfill!!!!   You can put together as many layers as you want, to make it as thick as you want.   The sky's the limit.   On my next canvas, I may try something different.   I know it will work, just from the logic of it.    I will make my canvas as usual, as described earlier in the post.  Then I will cut 3 more layers the same size on the outside measurement, but I will measure a half inch to the inside of those 3 pieces and cut centers out, lay the centers aside, for another 5.5x5.5 canvas and use the outer pieces as a frame to put around my canvas.   And then just start decorating as usual.   If I'm gonna use texture paste, I will use it before I put the frame around the canvas.   I haven't seen it done yet, but you will probably see it before I get around to doing it, and "you're welcome" for the idea.   hahahaha

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Well, I am back with another few pics of the great Air Fryer expedition in my home.   hahahaha    I feel like I am setting out on a adventure everytime I pull it out and use it.    I would suggest that if you have ever had an inkling to try one, just go for it.    I don't know what Wal Mart is doing, I was just looking in my local WM this week, and it is such a mess, it looks like they may be getting rid of them, or just getting ready for inventory, I don't know.    The only reason, and I say the ONLY reason I bought it at WM is because of their 90 day return policy.   That's it.    If you have other stores near you, I would go there first and see what they have.

(Insert commercial break here)   My rant for the day!!!!     I'm gonna rant a little bit about WM and you can decide for yourself.    My husband and I went to WM on Wednesday afternoon, late.   We had an errand or two to run and stopped in before going home.   I had a few items in my cart.    Nothing that I couldn't live without.    I called his cell phone and asked him to meet me up front and he did.    We started looking for a check out.    In the middle of the front, there was 3 lines open, 15 to 20 people in each line!!!!     There was 25 employees standing behind the area we were standing, just doing nothing, as far as my eye could tell.  These were all young people, but they were WM employees.    Talking on their cell phones or huddled in groups or 3 or 4 laughing and not doing a darn thing.   I stood there with my shopping cart in front of me for about 3 minutes, while their laughter was getting louder.   They were not laughing at me, I don't think.   I really don't care.   It just made me mad that you have a bunch of little ungrateful upstarts standing around giggling when they should be WORKING!!!!     Looks like they may be aiming to be "career politicians", and just getting in some training at doing nothing!!!      Like I said earlier , there wasn't anything in my cart that I couldn't live without.   My husband was behind me, so I had ask him to back up so I could get the cart out of my way.    I wheeled it around, and pushed it out of the check out line to right in front of this huddled mass of WM child employees and one of them asked if she could help me.  I asked if she could check me out and she said no, I said then you or someone else can put this stuff back up.   My husband didn't know what I was gonna do.   He was kinda impressed.    I said well, they have surveillance cameras, and if anyone is watching and if anyone cares, I do it at least once a week, if I go to WM.    I do not do it on purpose at all.    But I refuse to stand in line somewhere that 69 cash registers are available and only 3 are open!!!  Now they want you to use self check out too.    I'm like Heather Land, "I ain't doin' in!"    And if you ever notice, when you go in WM, it's always the older people that are working the hardest!!!!   They are working while the upstarts are standing somewhere giggling.   They don't even realize that they should, at least, be trying to look busy!!!!     That's why I do not care in the least to turn the tv on and see a news reporter with a mic stuck in a teenagers face talking to them about the situation of guns in schools.    After all, theirs is the generation that eats "tide pods"!!!!    WHAT!?!?!?   Yup!!!!     Not interested in what you have to say!!!!    If this comes off as angry, well, I am, and more of us should be angry about the spoiled brats that this country is producing by the boat loads!!!!    Wake up America!!!!   Done with my rant.

(Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming)    I was talking about Air Fryers.   They are a blast!!!    I love to experiment with anything and everything.   And I want to share some pics of my experiments.    Hopefully, you will see why you need one too.   hehehe   (Enabler alert)    hahaha

This is my taco salad bowls made in the air fryer.    Just regular tortilla shells, placed down in the bowl tin and air fryed  for about 3-4 minutes on 400*.   When I removed one from the af, I set the other salad bowl maker in top of the one just outta the af, they get a little wonky, so this will make them look perfect.   I do it for both of them.   NO OILY taco salad bowl!!!!   So good!!!!

This is what salads look when I got the fillings in them!    They were delicious!!!    My husband even loves them!!!   That says a lot, because he was kinda hesitant, but I just asked him to try it once and he is hooked!!!

This was a zucchini that I ribbon spiralized.    I sprayed that small cake pan with coconut spray and tossed the zucchini in the coconut spray and then I sprinkled on some parm and some garlic and parsley mix, no sodium.   Popped that in the af for about 10 minutes on 400* degrees and stirred it around once while cooking, and it was DELISH!!!!

If you look real closely, you can see a dark spot or two, well, that was chip crispy, yummy!!!   So, next time I'm gonna make chips outta the zucchini, or at least see if I can the whole batch as crispy as some to the dark places in the pictures.

So, if you are on the fence about about an air fryer, I am bound and determined to get you to jump to the "get it" side!!!   hahaha   I just don't believe anyone would be disappointed with it, especially if you are an adventurous type person.    I just can't wait for my next journey with my air fryer.    Be on the lookout though, because I'm gonna take you along with me and I hope you enjoy the ride!!!!

I have a lot more to share, but I will feed you bites at a time.    hahahaha     Well, I can't really feed you what I'm fixin', but I can invite you to the visual feast from  time to time.    hahaha

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Well, I don't know what your plans are for the day, but I do know that if you keep God at the forefront of your day, it will surely be blessed!!!    I hope it's a great day for y'all.     I hope and pray that I inspired you to create art on your own canvas, made with your own hands.    I hope you was inspired to think about getting an air fryer.   If not, just hold your taters, because I got some tater pictures coming!!!   hahahaha    I hope and pray that you know you are love by our Heavenly Father soooo much!!!!   So much so, that He made a way for you to be in relationship with Him thru the victorious cross of Christ!!!   That's how much He loves you!!!     You, my friend, are the apple of His eye!!!    If God has a refrigerator, your picture is on it!!!!     Tell someone you know about what  you seen  and read here today.    I appreciate your visit and I look forward to you stopping in again.    I'll be here, waiting to visit with you.   Have a blessed rest of the day!!!    God loves y'all, so do I!!!!   hugs and love, patty