I am a Master Designer

If you remember, a little over two months ago, I had what I call a blogging identity crisis.  To summarize my inner struggle: I felt like my faith and my passions {decor, organizing, fashion, etc} were in constant competition with each other.  But, I've learned several important lessons over the past several weeks: {1} God made me and place those passions inside of me.  The hobbies I have and the things that I enjoy are not, in and of themselves, inherently bad; rather, they are amoral {neither good or bad}.  It is the way in which I use them that determine their morality.  {2} My faith in and relationship with the Lord should naturally permeate every area of my life, if in fact I am living it for His glory.  I should struggle with how many times I type words like "God" or "faith" into blog posts.  Instead, I should just talk about Him as much as I would in a normal conversation with any friend of mine.

Having said that, as many of you know, one of my biggest interests is decorating.  So, I was excited when I came across the blog Fieldstone Hill, written by Darlene Weir.  Why?  Because, weaved into blog posts about paint colors and space planning, her faith shines!  She doesn't hide it, nor does she smack you over the head with it {which I understand can be very frustrating when you don't share someone's faith}.  It just naturally oozes out.  And that, my friends, is what I'm after: a faith that is always present, but never pretentious.

After looking around her blog a little, I came across a section of her blog called "Master Designer".  And, because she explains it better than I ever could, I'd like to share with you what she says about being a Master Designer:

“I AM A MASTER DESIGNER.
I LOVE BEAUTY;
I SEE POTENTIAL AND I WANT TO FILL IT WITH BEAUTY.
I AIM TO CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT IS WORTHY OF JOY.
DESIGN IS A HIGH CALLING, ONE THAT CAN IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS, BE A MEANS TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS, AND ADD MUCH JOY TO MY FAMILY.
I APPRECIATE FINE AND LOVELY THINGS, BUT THEY ARE NOT MY TREASURES.
I KNOW WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT, AND
I DO NOT AIM TO “STORE UP MY TREASURES HERE ON EARTH.”*
I LIVE TO BRING GLORY TO GOD, THE ULTIMATE MASTER DESIGNER.
HE CREATED BEAUTY.
HE CREATED ALL BEAUTIFUL THINGS.
AND, HE CREATED MY PASSION FOR DESIGN, AND SET THAT JOY IN MY HEART.
EVERYTHING THAT I CREATE,
AND HAVE CREATED,
IS BECAUSE I MYSELF WAS CREATED BY A MASTER.
I AM A MASTER DESIGNER.”
*{VERSE REFERENCE, MATTHEW 6:19}

Here's what I take from this statement:

• God created us with a desire to create beauty
• A talent for decorating {or organizing... or anything else} is meant to be used to improve the lives of those around us
• An appreciation for "things" isn't bad when coupled with the realization that they are temporary and unworthy of our ultimate affection
• Everything I do {yes, even decorate} is to be done for the Glory of the One who made me.  

If believing all of that makes me a "Master Designer", then that is what I am.  So, you'll be seeing a "Master Designer" button on my sidebar and in the near future, I hope to have a page dedicated to this perspective on decorating because I think it is desperately needed {for me and for the decorating blog community at large}.

If you are someone who could wholeheartedly agree with the above statement {the one in pink}, then click on over to Darlene's blog for more information about the Master Designers and email Darlene to join in!  Your name will go on a list with fellow Master Designers, who are working together to share their God-given talent in a way that honors Him.

I cannot end this post without saying a huge THANK YOU to Darlene for creating this group for women like me who desire to share our faith through our creative interests and talents.

*HUGS*

Linked To:
Titus 2 Tuesdays at Cornerstone Confessions
Simply Sensational Tuesdays at Organizing HomeLife