Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Cracker Barrel Chairs and the Norm

I have been working for the past few days on my Cracker Barrel rockers that a friend gave us. The rockers, being wood, needed a good solid stain on them since they are on the outside deck and subject to the elements. Besides that, they blended into the brick on the house and the stain on the deck. You just didn't notice them. They were too much like their surroundings.

Did you notice that the only thing that stands out is the red cushions? Just a little speck of life.

I fear that all too often I blend into my surroundings. I don't want to blend into my surroundings! Sure, it may be more comfortable, but how will anyone know that I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ if I just fade into conformity? No, I must, as the designers say, "POP!" There must be something about the way I carry myself that is different. And it needs to be more than "just a little speck of life."

Before the chairs were transformed by a good paint job, they seemed to love their little world which sucked the life (metaphorically speaking) out of them. Now they make a statement on the back deck

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1 John 2:15-16 says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. For all that is in the world, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life are not of the Father but are of the world."

As I cling to the things of the world, my testimony will be obscured and ineffective. None will even notice me as being different. I want to be like my bright orange chairs and stand out, making a difference in this world!


Are you a bright spot in the lives of those around you?

I'm linking today to:

The Shabby Chic Cottage
Transformation Thursday
http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/

Fireflies and Jellybeans
Show off your stuff party
http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/

My Romantic Home
Show and Tell Friday
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2010/06/show-and-tell-friday_17.html

Never Growing Old
Follow Friday 40 and over
http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/search/label/Follow%20Friday

Handmade by Annabelle
http://handmadebyannabelle.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-post.html

19 comments:

Elyse

how awesome is paint? so awesome! beautiful job and fun color.

xo
elyse

Inspired2cook

Good job on your newly painted chairs!
I pray frequently about being a light in this world. In fact, I wrote a song about it titled Be God's Light. It's a rockin' tune! ;)
Have a great weekend! http://www.inspired2cook.com/

Sarah @ Hennessey House

oh so cute!! love the pink :)

Betsy Brock

Well, I certainly hope I am a bright spot to those around me....what a great goal to have!

The rockers look great...you did a nice job!

Saving Grace

I love the pink!! I'm not sure I would have even thought of painting them pink even though it is one of my favorite colors!! Great job!!

Cranberry Morning

Wow! Didn't that paint really cheer things up! I love the way the chairs look. Pretty color. :-)

Yeah, it's easy to want to avoid confrontation that a real stand for the Lord will certainly provoke.

Nice object lesson!

The Autocrat: Haley

Ooo! Love it! Looks so fresh!! Nice job!

Coffee Slut

Beautiful job on the rockers!
Happy Follow Friday from your newest follower!
Have a fantastic weekend!

Traci66

Thank you for joining Follow Me 40 and over. I am now following you. I hope you will come see me at http://traci66.blogspot.com

None

Found you via Follow me 40. What a pleasant surpise it is. You did a nice creative job on the chairs. Love them. Now you can relax and enjoy them. I'd love you to come visit my blog and see if you would like to follow. www.Katiejeansjewelry.blogspot.com

Unknown

I always thought that as I got older that I would stand out more...but I've been blending more and more into the background lately...I really liked this post, and those chairs are fabulous!

Found you from the 40's follow and now following you...have a great weekend!
dee@ barefootbathandbody.blogspot.com

Susan

Good choice on the paint color!! I may just have to come steal them from you!! LOL..Remember I live in SC so I would have to come a long way...LOL

Susan

I just notice you live in Arkansas not really that far away!! If they really go missing I really really didn't do it!! LOL

Ms. Bake-it

I love the transformation of your Cracker Barrel rockers! Love the orange, they really stand out now and look quite inviting. Like you, I want to stand out and make a difference in this world. I try to be a bright spot in the lives of those around me. Although, I know sometimes I fade or blend into the background. Great post. Made me think about where I am - in the light or in the shadow.

~ Tracy

Annabelle

WOW. I love those chairs. And there really is something homey about the porch at Cracker Barrel and those great chairs.

I stopped over from, well, hum ... I'm not sure. I clicked a link, and probably clicked another link, and poof, here I am.

I'd love it if you would stop by my BLOG LINK PARTY and post this great article. Good job.

Carrie Cooper

Carrie @ comfortedbyGod.blogspot.com

Hi! I found your blog by accident. Love your precious analogy about being the bright spot and not blending in to our surroundings. Ive worked hard to faithfully serve the Lord as a bright light...all through His Holy Spirit. Thanks for a great post!

Vintagesouthernlife

How cute! I love the pink

Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥

What a wonderful job you did on your rockers! I {{heart}} Cracker Barrel AND their rockers, but they can be really expensive. What a blessing to have someone give them to you! I truly loved the analogy you used with the rockers to remind us that we need to STAND OUT in the world, instead of blend in to the background, so that we will be a bright light (or POP!) for Jesus! :0) I can tell already that I'm REALLY going to enjoy your blog!!

Hi, I'm stopping by from Java's Follow Friday 40 & Over. I wanted to say hello and share some comment lo♥e.

I just became your newest Follower and I would be really honored if you would take a few minutes to check out my blog and follow me, too, if you like what you see.

In the meantime, I hope you have a really wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

Teresa <><

♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥

~Robin~

Very nice! Orange is my favorite color :-) and I happen to be working on a pair of CB rockers as well. I picked them up at a yard sale for $70. They are a hideous shade of raspberry (so says the previous owner...she painted them to match her front door). They'll be a nice kind of federal red when i'm done with them. Much better...

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