Probably most of us have thought of starting some type of home renovation at one time or another. Have you seen HGTV lately? There's a whole cable channel (old-school television viewer) dedicated to fixing up homes. And if it seems too much trouble to fix it up, you can just list it and find a better home.
My husband and I watch little television throughout the day, however after dinner (ok, usually during dinner) we typically view one of our favorite shows in an effort to wind down for the night. If we're not watching Shark Tank, we're usually watching HGTV. A few of my favorites are Love It or List It, Property Brothers and of course, Fixer Upper. For us, these shows are mostly entertainment and provide a bit of competition for my man and myself. One of us picks Like It and the other picks List It, and then watch to find out who wins!
Sometimes we need to fix things up. For instance, this summer I made a decision to renovate a few pieces of furniture rather than toss them out. We've owned the furniture for more than 15 years so they've been loved on quite well. The fabric was faded, torn in some places, and stained in others. However, the furniture is high quality - good bones, as furniture people say. It's expensive to have furniture reupholstered, but it's more expensive to buy new high-quality furniture.
What's a girl to do? Well, I inquired of the Lord. He reminded me of a friend who had taken up upholstery over the last several years. I contacted her and made an inquiry as to her availability for taking on my projects. I was delighted to find out she was interested and available. Better yet, I knew her and I could trust she would lead me in the right way. She directed me simply, "Just go buy your fabric, and bring it to me with your furniture." I was embarrassed, but somehow it was easier to confess to her that I didn't know where to go to buy fabric or anything else regarding fabric.
I was looking for someone to hold my hand and teach me what I didn't know. Somehow I often feel as a woman I should know how to do these things. And truly, if I had been willing, my mom would have taught me about fabric, how to cut patterns, and sew. I wasn't willing then, but I am now. As I've gotten older and received more healing from perfectionism and fear of failure, I actually enjoy the learning process. And so, I was intrigued. Again, I inquired of the Lord, and felt He was saying, "Yes, ask her to teach you."
I did. With trembling fingers, I wrote an email asking if my friend might take me on as an apprentice in her upholstery shop for the summer. I could help to pay her for my renovations with my own sweat equity. Feeling silly, but in a moment of boldness I hit the send button, and my request zipped through the internet. Almost immediately she replied with a "Yes!"
Thus, we have spent quite a number of days together on a furniture renovation project, which has actually produced much more of a renovation of my thinking. I love my friend, and so I'm grateful she's been willing to gift me with so much of her time. Beyond just the feel-good girl times of making memories, I'm grateful for her perspective, insight, and questions. As a good teacher does, my friend asks good questions. Better yet, as a good teacher, she corrects mistakes in process and wrong thinking.
There were times, at first, she stopped me right as I was doing the wrong thing because she knew I didn't know what I was doing. She showed me what I was doing wrong and how to do it correctly. I was learning technique and efficiency.
Later as we went along, my teacher friend allowed me to incorrectly get to the end of a process, sewing piping to a section of a cushion or stapling the dust covering to the bottom of the chair so that I could visualize the results of doing it wrong. Sometimes I had to rip out whole seams or unstaple whole sections or live with the mistakes (my choice). However, by trial and error, I learned much about the upholstery process.
By way of renovating furniture this summer, I've also gleaned much about my personal need to have my mind transformed and my thinking renovated. I've recognized some significant places of stinkin' thinkin'. Gratefully, my mind has "good bones". I'm amazed at the way God creates our brains with such amazing power for processing memories, emotions and storing facts for useful reference at a later date.
Yet, I am more aware than ever, the patterns of my thought processes in some aspects of my life experience have become worn, ripped in some places and stained in others. So, I am in need of a renovation in my thinking. As the old ways of thinking are more obvious to me now, I'm inquiring of the Lord. "Lord, what of the old would you have me remove? And with what would you want to replace these old thought processes?" I'm listening.
I hope you will join me on Thursday, 8/2, for part 2 of I'm thinking about a renovation.
I'm fascinated with the inner working of our amazing God created brain from both a scientific and a spiritual aspect. If you're like me, curious, you might enjoy this video by Dr. Caroline Leaf.
~ Meet Lisa Brittain ~
Hi. I'm so glad you stopped by. My name is Lisa and I am the founder of this website. My ministry is called Eyes on Jesus and Shine which comes from Psalm 34:5
My desire is to help others run toward Jesus and not away. I want to walk with you and introduce you to Him. I'll leave you two alone so you can find out for yourself; Who He is and who you are as you become adopted into God's family.
I love to walk through life with friends who help me keep my eyes on Jesus, and then I get to help them too when they forget. My hope is to live the overflow of my walk with Jesus so that His love shines bright through me and becomes a contagious joy for everyone I meet for the rest of my days on earth.