Stained

I have a big project ahead of me. We sold our beautiful glass top dining table because, well, have you ever had a toddler? It's impossible to keep food and fingerprints off of any and everything! I am currently in the process of refinishing a table that I got a steal on. $50 for the table and 6 chairs! My plan is to sand down all 6 chair tops and the table top and give them a fresh stain. Then I will paint the rest of the chairs and table with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

Sanding is my least favorite part of furniture flipping. It's a tedious process but the reward is so sweet when you get down to that bare, natural wood. It's a beautiful sight. It's made new.

As the layers peeled away and the raw wood started to peek through, I found myself thinking of the layers of stain that are removed from my life when I chose to walk with Jesus daily. I thought, "we are all stained with sin." Ecclesiastes 7:20 says that surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. We fall short sometimes. Whether that be running back to an addiction that soothes an anxiety, letting  our tongue lash out at our children or spouse, or over indulging in that meal. Sin comes in all shapes but it doesn't change the fact that it's sin. But our best defense is choosing to walk with Jesus daily.

1) Open your bible
Our instructions come straight from Him. God gave us everything we need and it's found within the pages of His Word. Some days you may not think you have another minute to spare with all of the appointments, laundry, dinner to be made, diaper changes, etc... but it's important to leave enough margin in your life to fill up on God before you fill up on anything else! 

2) Pray

Pray often! Prayer is such a powerful tool. James 5:16 says that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. When I found myself talking to God more often, I found that my relationship with him grew closer. 

3) Community

Pastor Shawn says it all the time, "show me your friends and I will show you your future." The relationships that you allow in your life are going to be the ones that shape your life, your thoughts, and your actions. Our church offers a number of community groups: women's group, men's group, couples group, singles group, single moms group, recovery group... you name it, we have a community for it. There's nothing like being cared for by a group of people that you can share your heart with. (Insert: hashtag love my tribe HERE)

4) Serving

"You my brothers and sisters were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another humbly in love." Galatians 5:13. I get to serve in Freedom Kids each week and it's such an honor to serve God in a way that brings children closer to Him!

5) Love

Love. Love. Love. It seems like every book I am currently reading, every small group, and even the sermon by Pastor Shawn today have all been about love! Love God! Love others! Those are the two greatest commandments that we have been called to follow. 

Matthew 22: 37-40

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and with all of your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Though we may find it monotonous at times, we have to remove the layers of stain in our lives by allowing The Lord to make us  brand new each and every day. Like that old chair, we have to go through the process to get to the sweet reward, which is God's promise that we will be made new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).