I must admit I'm having a "Scrap Block" right now. I want to do so many new things, try new techniques and yet I feel absolutely like a slug!!! I don't know where to start so I do nothing. Arrrggg...I so dislike these days. I just am not happy with my layouts lately Guess I'll go read a few of my newest scrap mags and get some much needed inspiration!

One place I get lots of inspiration for living is the Bible. I never have to worry about being a slug when reading God's Word!! Today's devotion centered on experiencing loss and what to do in the midst of it. Again the story involved Saul and David, but today's was on mourning the loss of Saul and his son Jonathan. King David is in mourning as is the whole nation of Israel and he gives a directive to teach the young men to be archers. The reason for this is two fold-One, the Philistines had taken away the Israelites ability to make iron weapons so they were forced to resort to older styles of weaponry. They learned to make arrows with stone heads. No need for metal since the stone arrows were just as effective. Two, David knew the nation of Israel needed something to do so they would not sink into depression and despondency. Truly the Lord knows our hearts and our tendencies towards depression. Loss is so hard and many of us today are experiencing loss-of jobs, houses, health, people we love. Our hearts are hurting and we wonder what we are going to do. I know how it feels-in the early 80's we lost our home to forclosure in a mortgage deal like what so many are facing today. It was one of the hardest things I'd ever faced. Not just losing our home, but the shame I felt. The failure I felt like. And then to have to live in something so far less than what our home was. I didn't think I would ever overcome it. At first I didn't want to do anything, see anyone. I was angry too-"why did you let this happen, Lord?" God is faithful and He will use any situation to mature us. He will not step in and stop every situation we encounter, but will strengthen us by it. Finally, I realized that sitting around doing nothing was not helping, it was causing me to feel worse. So I got involved in Ladies Day at church, volunteered to teach Vacation Bible school during the summer and made friends in my new neighborhood. God is so good! He took us through that trial and many more that followed and continues to be right by my side today.

Have a scrappy day!