Leah Richardson

As the economy continues to recover slowly, I am getting more and more calls for consultation on updating and rearranging “existing” accessories and furnishings rather than starting over and buying new.  With each new client comes a new personal style and new way of looking at things, which I consider a wonderful challenge. Thoughtful and loving consideration to all the details can transform “existing” to beautiful and functional with a brand new look!  It is always my prayer that I bring something of worth to the table, and in the end, my purpose, as a designer, is to help make the home a lovely reflection of my clients’ likes, desires and dreams.

Last week I worked with this precious couple to use the “good stuff” they have acquired over their marriage.  I arranged and rearranged the same items in numerous ways, presenting a different look each time.  It always amazes me how I can take, for example, 5 elements in a room, and depending on how they are

carefully combined

purposefully put together

orchestrated and ordered-

the end result is 5 totally different looks!

As I was busily working away, rearranging, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper into my heart…I love to do this in my friends’ lives too, when they take me out of the box!!   Do you put God in a box and think that there is absolutely no way he can take certain things in your life like a …

broken relationship

troubled child

lost job

major disappointment

untimely death

unwanted news

or

scary medical test

and ARRANGE it for your good and His glory?

FOR WE KNOW, FOR WE KNOW, FOR WE KNOW…

that God

works (arranges) all things together

for our good and His glory

for those who love him.

Romans 8:28

AND

HIS WAYS AND THOUGHTS ARE HIGHER AND BETTER THAN OURS

Those promises in the Bible are mainstays in my life and work.  Both tell me that He is not even close to being finished with me yet; which means there is hope for a better day and a better way.  His supernatural arrangement of our life and times changes everything…changes everything.  When we take Him out of the box and give Him permission to get in our stuff, He will give us a new look, a new pattern of living, a new style.   There is no beauty that compares to a life custom arranged by the Grace of God.  There is no freedom of design that compares to a soul set free by God’s interior design.

However, as it is written:

No eye has seen

No ear has heard

No mind can conceived

what God has prepared (arranged) for those who love Him…

but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

1 Cor 2:9

The Lord God Almighty is ready to reveal to you revelatory knowledge, interior wisdom, on how He desires to arrange your life- IF you will take the lid off of the box.  Go ahead, don’t be afraid.  The Holy Spirit stands ready to help.  Take God out of the box in 2010!  Remembering that he loves you with an everlasting love and His plans are always for your good…for your good.  I sure wish I had some before and after interior shots to share with you today.  But let me share this…

For years I kept God in a box.  My life was full of boxes.  I’m a designer, so my boxes looked good too- all tied up with raffia ribbon and sporting architectural lettering on the cards.  But as the Holy Spirit tugged, the ribbon began to unravel.  And, as the ribbon started unraveling, life started to change.  I knew there was something more and as I took my Savior out of the box and allowed Him to rearrange my life, a deep abiding joy began to seep in.  As I opened up to the Holy Spirit and asked Him to influence my thinking in every room of my home and every area of my life, my beautiful boxes began to crumble…    There is not enough room on this little blog to share my entire testimony of what happened when Jesus rearranged my life and set me free, but you can read more about it if you would like in my book, Interior Wisdom.  I am eternally grateful that what the Son sets free, is free indeed!  Jesus did this for me; Jesus set me free!

So, let me ask you again, How boxed up is your life?  What would happen if you allowed the Holy Spirit to untie the ribbon and manifest His presence in every area of your life and your home?

I encourage you to leave room for the unexpected gifts and ways of God…He is waiting to help you rearrange and give your heart, life and home a new look!

Holy Spirit, arrange my days…..xo        leah