Iron Sharpens Iron

Proverbs 27:17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

This verse has been in the forefront of my mind lately.  

I've got an amazing team of people at Ear in the Envelope Inc.  My passion for my studio team is that at some point "if and when" each person leaves the team that they will leave as a person who has been changed for the better by their experience of working together.

Life and people are messy.  We continually bump into one another, hurt one another, annoy...... disappoint.........

I can live in a cave and not worry about any of these messy relational issues.  But the bumping creates an environment where I can grow or fail miserably.

Each bump is a test.  How will I handle myself.  Will I bristle, will I hide, will I scream, will I wear the face of disappointment or frustration?  Or will I face the test as an anticipated exam that I've spent years studying to pass?  Will I jump into the FIRE of relationship, dealing head on with uncomfortable issues?  I know that dealing with issues now, will save many pains in the future.

When I was a much younger person, confrontation was enormously daunting and uncomfortable.  Little did I realize the strength of Iron Sharpening Iron.  Boldly and honestly living in openness with others ...carves me into the person God knows I need to be.

     

         Joy can be found in

Sharing my failures 

                          

          Asking others to speak truth into my life

                                        

                   Accepting that truth and acting on it..... 

***The key is not feeling personally attacked....... stay open to being sharpened by others.

And then as God leads in boldness and love sharpen others!!!!

                         It's time to write this on metal and wear it........

Iron Sharpen Irons

Do You Have an Unwritten Code?

Have you ever considered why you do the things you do?

I've discovered that I have an unwritten code that effects almost every action in my life.

I'm a Defender of Children.

I cannot tolerate anyone who
abuses, hurts, mistreats, misjudges, disrespects, manipulates,
lies to or devalues children.

Sometimes I feel like a Pied Piper of kids. They seem to enjoy being around me. Maybe they know that I truly want what's best for them and appreciate them.

I Do Not Play Games.... Emotional, Social, Financial.......

My yes is yes and my no is no.
I cannot force myself to live up to expectations
I do not believe.

My neighbor used to worry that people would take advantage of me, especially in business because I was too nice or too honest. It's a risk I'm wiling to take. It's the only way I know how to live.

I Cannot Tolerate Anyone Who Disrespects Another Person..

especially publicly.

I truly believe that if I tolerate disrespectful behavior, especially in public
that I am actually condoning the behavior.

This has gotten me into trouble a few times. There was the time at the ballet when I told a guy he needed to show a little respect after he yelled profanities at the women who was speaking. Or when I told another guy he needed to show a little respect when he was yelling annoying comments at a political candidate during a neighborhood meeting.

I Do Everything I Can to Follow Through on Commitments....

unless it violates my code

My Faith in Jesus Christ is All Consuming.

I see God's hand throughout each day.
I pray about the small things and the BIG things.

On St. Patrick's Day I parked in a parking deck and didn't have any cash. I prayed that God would help me find enough money before it was time to pay. God answered. A lady asked about my sunglasses, I had an extra pair, and she bought them from me for $2.00. With the change in the car I had enough to pay the fee.

I would consider my faith to be more childlike than theological.

Key words to describe my relationship with Christ are

LOVE, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, PATIENCE and FORGIVENESS.

I Am Not Afraid to Confront Anyone Who Defies My Code.

I actually become physically sick to my stomach if I don't act.

I Love People.

******

Living out my unwritten code in no way makes me a perfect person.

Just ask my kids and husband.

I know there are many times when I drive them crazy.
But... I'm predictable and transparent.
I Love God and I Love People.

What's your unwritten code?

Take the time to write it down.

You might be surprised to find out what motivates your actions.

Liz :-)

What is My Place Lord?

For me the new year breeds ideas and questions.......

1. Am I doing the right thing?

2. Should I GET more education?

3. Do I need to DO something thing that has more significance?

4. Should I find a way to MAKE more money?

The yearly review of my life can bring a mountain of questioning and dissatisfaction.


...After hours of researching college programs and job possibilities I start to come to my senses.

What does God want me to to be doing right now?

What matters to Him?

So many of the things that I think will bring significance are the VERY things that will pull me away from a deep and meaning relationship with the FATHER.

By filling every minute of my life with supposed significant activity, I slowly close the door for Him to speak into my life.

By filling every minute of my life with supposed significance I close the door to meaningful time with my husband and kids.

It becomes like VAN GOGH's flurry of art activity!!!!! He became significant in the art world, but..... his life on earth was shattered and confused.

Lord open my heart to finding my significance in YOU. Help me to be the WHOLE person you want me to be.

Protect me from running after empty busyness.

Help me to seek YOU first!!!!!

THE BARNES YEAR IN REVEW 2009

January - I spent the month recovering from my first hip replacement.
Tim jumped in and took over the cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc....

February - My joints began to swell. After quite a bit of testing the doctors were still confused.
We all went to see Tim Hawkins, a very funny Christian comedian in Galesburg. Even Tim cracked a smile!

March - Tim was still doing lots of cooking, cleaning, and shopping! I was still recovering and homeschooling Heather and Zach.
I began teaching classes at the Art Guild again.

April - I had my second hip replacement surgery. During this time I also had my first blood transfusion because of an extremely low blood count.

May - I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Later my doctor said that he was amazed that I was able to walk through the office door ... that people with labs like mine would usually be lying in a hospital bed. He also said, "You must be a pretty tough lady!" My doctor put me on meds THAT DAY. Within an hour I was starting to feel better!!!!

June - Heather and Zach went to Six Flags for the first time with the Richwoods Christian Church junior high youth group.
Zach had his 12th Birthday.

July - Tim went to Brazil for a missions trip and floated down the Amazon River. Oh, and his iPhone took a little swim too, but recovered.

August - The family spent a relaxing and fun week in Jackson, Wyoming visiting cousins, hanging out in coffee shops, and playing MOUNTAIN GOLF.
Tim celebrated 50.

September - Zach and Heather began school again at Aletheia and Liz and Tim began teaching classes there.
Heather and Zach took golf lessons.
My parents spent 6 weeks cleaning organizing, switching, and renovating our upstairs. We all got newly decorated bedrooms and we all moved to different rooms. Heather took over the attic, which now looks like a very cool condo loft. Zach got a very organized boy hang-out, complete with a lego building countertop and storage cabinets. Tim and I finally got the master bedroom in an amazing colonial blue with white trim and wonderful closet organizing systems. And.... we finally have a guest room. So we finally have a place for guests to stay.

October - I turned 45. How did that happen.
I began a small group through our church with some great gals - Katie and Emily!

November - Zach and Heather began doing part of their schooling online with K-12.
I had an art show at CI Creative in Grand Prairie.
We all had a great time at the Cirque Dreams Illumination (like the Cirque de Sole).

December - A fun but CRAZY month includes:
- a Christmas Party and Glass Fusing project with my 3rd/4th grade literature class
- Heather's 15th Birthday Slumber Party
- hosting a wedding shower for Tim's nephew John and his fiancee Talea
- my brother Scott and his wife Holly, and Jessica and Heidi spend a little over a week in Peoria. FUN TIMES!
- the Barnes Family Christmas at our place.

Through the challenges and joys of 2009,
God has been so good!

I pray that in 2010...

we will see God in new and amazing ways

we will love as He wants us to love

we will forgive as He wants us to forgive

we will become who He want us to be.

Liz

COLLABORATION BREEDS - CREATIVITY

I was e-mailing a fellow artist today. We were discussing the importance of taking an Art Class versus a 'ONE-ON-ONE' experience. So much learning that takes place when people begin to work in collaboration with others. Students teach students. The instructor teaches the students. The students teach the instructor. We learn from other's accomplishments and disasters.   These observed experiences can reduce our" learning or creating" CURVE.

COLLABORATION BREEDS - CREATIVITY

The beauty of COLLABORATION carries into many other areas of our lives: education, medicine, business.   As a person of FAITH in Jesus Christ, I'm reminded how Christ chose to live life in COLLABORATION with others.  He was not a "Lone Ranger."  He was deeply committed to a group of men who lived their lives in COLLABORATION.

I wonder.......... how much I live in COLLABORATION with others?  Do I have a group of people who drive me to become more than I am on my own?  Is my heart open to collaborate with others?

A few years ago I taught ART at a small Christian grade school, Highland Christian Academy.  I had an idea for the 4th grade class to write and then illustrate their own original stories.  These would be done in groups of 4 students each.  The plan was so beautifully orchestrated in my mind, well behaved students, creating literary masterpieces with illustrations far beyond their perceived capabilities.  If you've taught..... you know that I was living in a DREAM WORLD.

I presented the idea to the students.  They looked at me with glazed eyes, you know, the "I have know idea what your talking about look."  The first two classes were disastrous.  I was breaking up arguments in each group.  The students couldn't make any decision without arguing.  I was getting worried that this was going to be the BOMB of all BOMBS (I'm past 35 years old, so BOMB means something BAD.).

But by the 3rd class I started to see some progress.  They were delegating people into positions.  Their stories were beginning to take shape.  Photos of CLAYMATION scenes were beginning to look like something recognizable.  The stories weren't what I had imagined, but...... COLLABORATION was beginning to take place.

Finally after weeks of work, the students were ready to present their books.  We invited parents and friends.  The tables were decorated and yummy treats were waiting.  A rocking chair was placed at the front of the room for the designated readers. 

The crowd was loud.  The reading was awful.  But..... there was a sense of accomplishment on the faces of each student.  They knew how much work that had gone into to their original books.

COLLABORATION....... not always easy, but always worth the effort!!!!

Liz

Still Thinking......

The family went to see the comedian Tim Hawkins tonight in Galesburg!!!!  Tim wasn't too excited about going.  But we drug him along anyway.  I did notice quite a few smiles in his direction.  

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Liz

Just Thinking.......