GRACE....in a construction zone?

I have toyed with writing about this subject for a while, mainly because I don’t want to do what I feel I’m being asked to do.

I have many pet peeves. One of those pet peeves is how some folks behave in traffic….particularly the folks who think where they have to go is way more important than where I have to go.

A few days a week on my way to/from one of the places I work, I go through a construction zone. This zone has been in place at least all summer. There are signs up quite a ways before you even get close to the construction zone. This is normally a three-lane expressway that is cut down to one lane. If you have a job that takes you into/out of the city, then you take this road, and you KNOW about this construction zone.

Yet some folks speed past all the rest of us who have dutifully pulled over into the one lane that will remain open, and these folks drive up as close as they can to the actual construction site, and then expect those of us who have been obediently and patiently waiting to let them in.

Huh-uh, bud. NOT. A. CHANCE.

This truly irritates me. Why should I let them in? How is their life so much more important than mine? Where do they have to go that is more important than where I have to go?

They don’t deserve to cut in. They don’t deserve…..GRACE.

God convicted me of this. “Have some grace, Beth. I offer it to you…abundantly.”

Ouch.

What is GRACE? It’s getting something (good) we don’t deserve. And God gives me plenty of that.

So…..I’m not saying that the next time I’m in that long construction zone line waiting my turn and someone starts pulling over into my lane at the last moment trying to get in that I will let them in. I want to try it, though, at least once. Then maybe more.

After all, God never withholds His grace from me….THANK GOD!

“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.”  John 1:16 NIV

Finding My Niche

Finding My Niche

When I first began to seriously pick up my oil paint (and this time a palette knife instead of a brush) I looked for inspiration and discovered an artist whose work I love. I have personally worked with this amazing artist and she started me on a process of learning to trust myself and my creativity. She asked me to initially place colors on a canvas and then determine if those colors could stand alone as an abstract or if I could create something from the colors. This was a new and exciting experience for me!

She is also encouraging me to find my niche. I looked up "niche." There are many definitions for "niche" according to Bing:

suitable place for somebody: a position or activity that particularly suits somebody's talents and personality or that somebody can make his or her own

specialized market: an area of the market specializing in one type of product or service

place in nature: the role of an organism within its natural environment that determines its relations with other organisms and ensures its survival

Although I am looking for my niche in art -- what I'm drawn to, what flows out of me creatively and naturally, what is a reflection of my creativity/myself that I'm going to share with others -- I can't help but think about what is my niche in life.

Have you ever thought about that? About your suitable activity? Something that suits your talents? Your place in nature? If you know it, that's great and I'm a little jealous. If you don't, do you want to find it?

It's a prayer I'm praying every day.

"The Spirit of God......puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less."
 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 (paraphrased) The Message

Beautiful things

The other morning as I began painting, my iPod started playing the song “Beautiful Things” by Gungor. I couldn’t help but smile as I thought about the parody my 18 year old son did for his art class final on youtube. The original song begins with the lyrics “All this pain, I wonder if I’ll ever find my way.” However, for my son’s art final, he began the song, “All this PAINT, I wonder if I’ll ever find my way.” Oh, how I can relate!

I set aside this day as a day to find my way through my art. These days are precious to me because they are so rare. I opened myself up to the Holy Spirit asking Him to guide my hands and my thoughts and create art out of colors, imagination, hand movement, and canvas.

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"For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever."  Psalm 100:5  The Message

As I begin this journey of sharing myself, my art, and my creativity with others, I struggle with the knowledge that I am an introvert at heart and in some ways I feel as though I’m exposing my very soul for all to see and accept...or reject.

 I saw this posted once and I can completely relate.



You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13 New Living Translation

PASSION

What are you passionate about? Do you even know?

And I’m not talking about the type of passion in a romantic relationship or the passion you have for your favorite sports team (GO HOGS!) But what energizes you? In your day-to-day grind, what makes you feel alive?

For so long….as long as I can remember….I have been trying to find mine. I’ve looked in so many places.

Then a friend of mine recommended a book….Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham (an excellent book I HIGHLY recommend).  The book addressed the feelings many women have when trying to figure out what they are supposed to do with their life. (And although this book was written specifically for women, the author has written several others applicable to both genders.) When I picked up the book, I felt I was reading my own story. The book encouraged me to find the things in my life that make me strong and to spend most of my time doing those things. It even included a link to a test for me to find my greatest strength. No surprise. My greatest strength is CREATOR. I’m now embarking on a journey to nurture that strength and try to stay in my strong moments.

So I ask you again….What are you passionate about? Do you even know?

The Journey

One of my favorite writers, Donald Miller, recently wrote, “The only way to make something static is to kill it. If you want to enjoy something, let it live. Give up control.”

Whoa.

So this is a blog I’m starting about a change I’m making in my life. For too long I’ve been static. And I’m tired of not enjoying.

I’ve decided it’s time to live, and I’m about to give up control.

My name is Beth Lenderman and I’m a 44 year old female—wife of 25+ years, mother of a college freshman and high school freshman, finished eleventh grade and then went straight to college, BA in English from the University of Kentucky, Doctor of Physical Therapy from University of Central Arkansas, and a myriad of changed majors in between-- who has been trying to figure out for at least 27 years where it is I’m supposed to be….what it is I’m supposed to do….and what I want to be when I grow up.

I invite you to join me on this journey of self-discovery.  Maybe you will see a little of yourself along the way.

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”  Jeremiah 29:11 The Message