The Rock and a freebie

Yesterday I attended a women's prayer and bible study group, I have been going to this group for 13 years, the verses we were looking at along with prayer led me in my mind back to the south west where my walk not only started but my  foundation thinking formed.  I did not have a church to help me, I had to rely  on the Word.   I lived in a tough environment and  one thing I learned fast was that I could depend on the Lord to lead me and keep me safe.  He never failed me. He led me as a tender shepherd, brought me peace and comfort. I learned to rely on that  voice.

This verse became a 'way mark' in my life, it was one of the first verses I learned: from Psalm 125:

'They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.'

I kept that verse on my dresser for over 20 years.  When the father of my children left me and I remained single for almost a decade raising my kids, it brought me great comfort to know that   that while man may not be faithful God always is. It reminded me of how temporary the things of this life are and how enduring the Love of God is.  It reminded me that by trusting God I could never be removed from His love and that He would never leave or forsake me, that love was both around and in me.

I think of those verses and I am struck with the agelessness of the Creator, and  the whisper of time my own mortality occupies.  I was not there when those mountains were set round about Jerusalem, and after a few moments when I am gone, they will still be there, holding and protecting future generations.

I invite you to think about this verse in your life.  Are you as Mount Zion, safe in the center of His care, His will?  If you aren't pick up your bible and turn to PS 125 and  ask the Lord to become that real to you and find your self embraced in His love.  His love that is ageless and stronger than mountains.

I made this freebie for you today, to use in your art work or maybe to frame and  put on your dresser.

I pray God Bless you richly meeting your needs above and beyond your hopes!
Thanks for stopping by,
Ginny M

More than conquerors in this life !

I heard some very good news this morning from my friend in South Carolina, no she didn't mention it was 50 there and -10 here.  This  good news sparked something in my thinking and I wanted to share that with you along with the good news and wonderful photography.
The story starts here:
Part one
My friends Jane, Beth and Lori are all globe trotters.  they've gone all over the world.  While we were at dinner they were talking about trips and places and all I could think of was the time I got lost in Tiajauna. While they were talking, I was getting a little mad, mad at myself because a couple hours earlier I was thinking I was doing really good driving ALL THE way to the restaurant. I'm pretty sure that was 15 miles away in the next city.  Somewhere in their travel talk I realized I was shrinking my world, allowing little fears to create big walls.  They didn't notice, when Lori was talking about how bad the traffic is in Moscow and Beth how beautiful the Greece is and Jane how exciting Paris at night was, they didn't notice the little chick in the seat next to them breaking out of her shell!  That night I drove through the downtown and and went the long way Home..  That traveling fear had been creeping up into my life gradually, I've driven all over the country and not been fearful, it SNUCK up on me.  I decided I am not going to limit my world and I am not going to be afraid of the unknown I got into a physical limitation rut,  But I Got out of it!  I felt free and I felt fear less.
Thank you Jane Beth and Lori for inspiring me!

Part two:
I think women can easily fall into a creative rut, our bodies slow down, we gain weight loose mobility and start getting sedentary in out thinking and in our doing.  As A womens' ministry leader I see this all the time, it is like watching  women fall off a three foot cliff into a temperpedic kingsize bed,  they cant get up and then wonder why life is such a snore.
God Gave us talents and gifts, he gave us those to use, when the kids are grown and gone, it is still time to use them, maybe even more so.  If we don't use them we can become very suffocated, we understand that more clearly as depression. Mid life, 40+ I think should be the most creative time of our life and the time to enrich our lives and those around us.  A time to reap a little of what we have sewn in our younger years.  If you have physical limitations, you can still use your gifts, Teach, Reach, Love. those gifts do not need a strong body, just a determined heart.  These gifts in our lives play like a song and the Word says He will give us a song in the night, if you have lost yours, ask Him and he will help you hear it and play it again.  Get out of the creative rut!  Teach, Reach Love and have a great time in the process!  I have another friend Lori, and she has dealt with crippling health issues for the last decade, Her life has touched hundreds of women with courage and fortitude via the means of Cross Stitching.  She has been sending out packets of love and encouragement around the world. No matter what she has never giving up on giving of herself and teaching others.\
Thank you Lori for inspiring me no matter what my physical limitations might be!
Lori's Art:

Part Three:
My friend Pam  in SC was just selected as one of eight SC photographers for the SC State Park Artist in Residency for 2015!! Pams' life took major changes like many of ours have, Finding herself single in mid life, she built a business, raised and married her daughter and pursued her love of photography. All her hard work has paid off, and now she will enjoy a weeks stay at edisto State park, photographing wildlife. Her gifts will bless others yes, but by pursing her love/gift she is creating a very deep level of fulfillment in her life, and this will inturn grow great fruit. I think this is the way things should be. Pursuing our gifts using and exploring. We have been made to be creative beings, whether it is cross stich, photography or cooking or what ever your passion is, that is part of the gift within you!
Pam didn't say I wish I could, She did. She got out of the rut Life might have placed her in and found creative and lifetime freedom.

Thank you Pam for being an inspiration!

Pam has a open FB site here click and enjoy! Some of her lovely photos:

And this I couldn't resist, I saw the half heart and had to complete it

I'd like to encourage you to get out of your rut of 

Physical limitations

Creative Limitations

Life phase Limitations

be free and enjoy the gifts you have been blessed with, they are waiting for you !

Thanks you for stopping by

Ginny M

Taking a big step

Ever have one of those "Visions" where you work and work and work and it doesn't happen , but something says keep working it?  Well that is where I have been with Maxam Made.  I had this model in my head using the Word as an out reach and getting as many people on my "team" as possible and having a ministry happen with those team members and have a lot of fun in the process.  On Saturday I had a huge answer to prayer happen.  I was in a rush to get out the door to my card party, I was finishing my hair and when I put the first hair pin in I said " Lord I need......" I put the second pin in and the phone rang, by the time I put the third pin in my prayer was answered. To spare you all the details, I found a wonderful Company in CA to produce beautiful Red Rubber cling mount stamps for Maxam Made!    I will be able to sell my stamps and stuff in my classes and in my Etsy store and from my blogs!
This is why I have been doing less blogging the last two weeks, I've been working on Maxam Made getting made, oh and shoveling, Lots of snow in western MA!
I have been making cards in between things for swaps and such

Card with clock swap

 St. Patricks Day swap

 Card for baby swap

Oriental Stamp Art challenge

I'm going back to the chopping block (literally) Make card kits!

Thank you for stopping by and I can't wait to show you the new stamps!!

Another Card Party

I did another card party yesterday, and today I will be preparing for another one in between shoveling!!  yep another Nor'easter is due in this afternoon!

These gals are new card makers, we made 5 cards with a wonderful lunch my friend Betty provided of homemade bread and Ravioli soup!   A great way to spend a snowy afternoon!

Good times for a good cause, these cards all have destination  to reach with words of encouragement!

Thanks for stopping by!

Ginny M

white stuff again and freebies!

Well Steve is on base and could get stuck there, so that means I need to bundle up and start shoveling!  So While I am doing that I thought I would leave you a few fun freebies!
Enjoy!

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!!

Ginny M

A very fun day with 4 and 1/2 women

I borrowed the title for today's post, I just couldn't come up with a better on.  

I had a really Awesome day with 3 friends, the 1/2 would be Charlotte.  Charlotte is only 7 and such awesome person  already.  A wonderfully compassionate  and a great stamper - You'll see!

I spent the day in a very cold and windy West Granby with Donna ( our hostess at her lovely home), Crystal,  Laurie and her daughter Charlotte.

 Here we are in Donna's beautiful bright studio:

we made cards, 

Laurie

 Crystal 

Donna

.

Charlotte 

We were Amazed by Charlotte's talent and enthusiasm:

and warmed by her loving heart

We ate:

my fresh hand cut spinach fettuccini

Served with Donna's Braciole al sugo

Lauries' cup cake gypsy delights

next picture should be us trying not to fall asleep in front of the fire after the meal, It was Charlotte's Cal to arms: "Can we PLEASE make cards now" that got us off the sofa and back to the studio.

We have blogs and businesses, Charities, Ministries and a zillion other things on our plates, but for one afternoon

Superstamp Girl, Papyrus Studio,  Maxam Made, Laurie and Charlotte, simply laughed, encouraged and had fun!  I highly recommend finding friends and enjoying life with them!  All of this group came together as friends a few years ago through our love of stamping and reaching out.

The cards I made:

I made 4 of these

This is a very simple card, I think the embossed background really makes it!

I also made 12 valentines that I will show after valentines day!

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you can find friends and take time to come together, it is such a blessing

Ginny M