Consider the Color of Your Life and Influence

Decorating your home is one of the ways to create a space that speaks and is all about YOU - your likes, your tastes, your style. The styles we use decorate are probably varied but they each suit our individual tastes, style and atmosphere that makes our homes unique. 

Although I don't have a creative eye or decor inspiration, there is an atmosphere of comfort, cozy and home that I enjoy attempting to create through home decor. In the past, there has never been a theme to follow, but a pattern of simply finding things that I liked and filling my home with them. All colors, all styles that were put together with items were usually found at discount stores. Then as the years went by, I found Hobby Lobby and Kirkands, stores that take home decor up a notch. 

A new home brought my interest in decorating beyond what looked good in the store to create a color pattern and eventually a theme that I loved - rustic, farmhouse, turquoise and brown colors. Now I had some creativity and inspiration to work with. 

With a husband and only sons in the home, I am the only one who considers the decor, The men take care of the outside chores, the inside in my area of responsibility. Thankfully, I have a sister in law who is knowledgeable, skilled and passionate about creating beautiful spaces in the home. When I get stumped trying to achieve a certain look, she will come to the rescue and walk me through the best choices to help achieve the look I"m striving for. 

Recently during one of those 'help' visits, we hung a few new pieces, filled dark corners with mirrors to reflect light, updated pictures, sconces, candles and brought some nice transformation. Then she offered some suggestions....

Have you ever heard of 'the color wheel'? I had not, this was brand new to me!  She quickly enlightened me.

A color wheel is "A color wheel or colour circle is an abstract illustrative organization of color hues around a circle, which shows the relationships between primary colors, secondary colors, tertiary colors etc". In simple language, it assists in allowing your colors to flow instead of competing with each other. Although I had a dominant color theme, the small various accents hindered and competed with the main color and didn't produce a natural color flow.  By following a few of her expert suggestions, my living room now has a beautiful natural flow of beauty. 

It always amazes me how a spiritual parallel can be drawn from everyday life situations. In a book I am reading "Yes, No and Maybe - Living with the God of Immeasurably More." the current chapter was focused on the thought to 'Consider Before Committing'.

Most women have full plates and embrace a variety of roles. There is always something to be done, somewhere to go, a need to meet, a chore to do, someone to see. Life can find us flitting around like a hummingbird, but achieving very little. We can be busy doing, but not being effective.

What is something you desire to 'color your life' with?  We all have something we are passionate about, something that drives us to grow, learn and share. What if we were to say that is your 'main color'. Once we determine and set the main color in decorating, the color wheel shows what colors are complimentary and what colors clash. Once we determine our main 'color in life', we can deliberately choose complimentary things that enhance our passion instead of things that hinder or confuse what we are seeking to become. 

For the Christian woman, the love of God should be our main color, sharing and spreading that love flows from God's heart. If activities pop up that distract us, there is that battle for the flow. What we seek is a more relaxed life. Not lazy, but relaxed in a confident way that God will direct us to the right ministry assignments and guard us from the wrong ones. "Consideration is the bridge between frenzy and freedom."

Prayer is the first step in considering. Ask we bring the need, opportunity or responsibility before God, He will help us determine our role. Prayer is how we ask, listening to God is how we know. It's in the pause of praying and listening to His Word that we can discern His direction.  

May we seek to be prayerful, confident, relaxed women who seek God as the main color of our life and pursue His direction and color our worlds beautifully.