UncategorizedThe Chair I Prayed For April 4, 2014 Yeah, I know. It’s not good to pray for stuff. I totally agree. But y’all, I was desperate. When I found out I was a contestant on Creating with the Stars, I prayed for the results and my involvement to be exactly what God wanted. I struggled with my ideas this first week. I journaled a prayer and then got my idea not long after. All was right with the creating world. I had my desk. I had my tie-dyed curtains. I had my rug and accessories. I had a project that I was proud of, regardless of the outcome. What I did not have was the perfect chair. I pictured a neon yellow chair. I just knew that it would “pop” against the other neutral and pale hues in the room. I wanted something different, something unexpected. I searched thrift stores for a chair with a shape I loved that would look good with a new, neon coat of paint. But as of Saturday morning, when the post was due only hours away, I still had no chair. I was stressing. I was ready to take anything and was being very dramatic and thinking, “The wrong chair will just ruin this whole room!” And then God quickly reminded me that, as He has proven to me in big things and small, He would provide. Not because I wanted a chair and I think I should always get what I want, but because I believe He’s brought me this contest for a reason and the little missing chair was a part of that. I quit searching and came back to work on the room. Meanwhile, my mom was shopping at my favorite antique store. She sent me a picture and a caption that read, “Vintage Wire Chair. Looks like you.” I wasn’t sold initially, but then she sent another one with the cushions removed. (These photos were later at my house. The original phone photos were very dark.) We figured out that you could remove the armrests and I was more than sold. This chair was better than anything my office-dreaming mind had come up with. I hoped for a chair something like this: cool, vintage, unique shape. But I never dreamed I’d find it and I was ready to take any surface that could be painted and plop it in the room. And then my little dream chair came to live with me. I quickly gave her a coat of primer and then a coat of Rust-oleum’s Fluorescent Yellow. And just as I expected, it completed the room. I love my little neon chair and I love even more the meaning behind it. Each time I see this beautiful chair now, I’m reminded that God has a purpose for my blog and for these creating talents and interests He’s given me. I know it’s just a chair, but God has been teaching me to find Him even in the smallest of things and this chair is such a great reminder of that. As I said on my About page, I used to really struggle with thinking that God cared about anything that wasn’t feeding the homeless and very tangibly changing lives. Certainly he couldn’t care about my love of design or this little blog. But He’s shown me over time that He has a purpose in ALL things, including my talents and work and using that to glorify Him. And His purposes are always bigger than anything I imagined. So, though I feel weird to say it, I prayed for the right chair because I knew it was crucial to my office design for the contest that I really believed He’d brought to me for a very specific reason. Whew, that’s confusing just to type! But He provided. It may be silly to some, but to me, this little prayer chair will always be special.
Trina @ Let's Just Build a House says April 4, 2014 at 3:26 pm awee with a little help from mom too! great post. The chair is just right! Reply
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says April 4, 2014 at 3:53 pm Oh I so believe the Lord is involved in everything we do and we can’t even imagine how much he cares and provides, all the super big and the little tiny things too. I love your “God Chair”. It is perfect. Hugs, marty Reply
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says April 4, 2014 at 4:45 pm Oh my I can’t believe that’s what it looked like before. This is an awesome makeover! Reply
Monica says April 4, 2014 at 7:52 pm Thanks for your awesome blend of design, style, and faith. Love how you weave them together. Thanks for always sharing your heart. 🙂 And the chair is fabulous- duh!! Reply
Lauren @ The Thinking Closet says April 4, 2014 at 10:35 pm A prayer chair: a love it! Not only for how it rolls off the tongue, but for all it represents. Thanks for spilling of your heart with us, Lindsay. So excited to see how God will continue to use you in this competition and this competition in you! 😉 Reply
Summer Hogan says April 5, 2014 at 5:19 am I love that little chair and what a story of God working his plans in it. Like you I rarely pray for “stuff” but I often find myself praying for my blog and the time my passion(s) takes up in my life, that He is leading it and I’m doing what he’s called me to do as simple or silly as it may seem sometimes. Reply
caroline [the diy nurse] says April 5, 2014 at 7:56 am I love this! Isn’t it amazing how things work out? Sometimes its just a matter of truly letting go. Looks great 🙂 Reply
Krystine @www.Krystine.edwards.com says April 5, 2014 at 7:58 am GREAT find and even better transformation! I love the color! Reply
Bethany @ Dwellings by DeVore says April 5, 2014 at 8:18 am Love the meaning behind it! I’ve been in that situation before too. God always provides, even in the little things! Reply
Chelle Chapman says April 5, 2014 at 8:58 am Hello Lovely!! New follower here, found you thru East Coast blog & Crafting w/ the Stars. { you’re the ONLY one I’m following from the competition } I LOVE this chair & thought I loved your blog til reading this post. Now I am SO enamored by you & your devotion to God, your blog & putting him FIRST!! IF there is something better than LOVE, that’s what I feel for your blog Lindsay! NOW I know why I am following you! Not just for your Fabulous style but I have been praying for MY blog & honestly I am feeling God sent me to you! Maybe you could be my mentor?!! AND, that chair, Oh Emmm Gee!!! Beautiful! Reply
Amber says April 5, 2014 at 10:41 am Oh, Lindsay, I love ALL of this! Thank you for being real. I finished Radical recently and I felt so guilty for having any kind of love for redoing furniture but God has taught me so much more than that because of HIS incredible design! You have such a kind heart. Thanks for sharing it here.:) ~Amber Reply
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says April 5, 2014 at 3:49 pm Hooray for Moms! What a sweet reminder that He cares about every little thing that’s important to us! Reply
Denise says April 5, 2014 at 8:21 pm Love the chair and love the reminder that He cares for us. Reply
Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door says April 7, 2014 at 9:48 am Furniture karma. I totally believe in it and you’ve got it sister. Its pays to wait for the right thing! Reply
Gabbi @ Retro Ranch Reno says April 7, 2014 at 11:48 am So so great! I’m glad He provided you with what you needed, when you needed it. 🙂 Reply
Jenn @ HomeStyleReport says April 7, 2014 at 12:16 pm You seriously kill me with inspiration and design in every post (I mean that in a good way!). There have been so many times where I feel foolish for caring about design. There are so many other things in this world that are more important but it’s nice to know I’m not alone in these feelings and that it’s okay! I’m so happy you have your chair and the piece of mind that it brings to you! Reply
Autumn says April 13, 2014 at 5:58 pm I found your blog through Pinterest only to discover that we are both from the upstate. Been rooting for you in CWTS but after reading this precious post I am rooting for you in so many more ways. I hope your blog and passions are all successful and you never forget what your purpose is. To bring Him glory. HE>i Reply
Renee J. says March 14, 2015 at 7:31 pm What a lovely thought. It is so inspiring to hear someone say that God is in the details, those things small and large. He does give you the desires of your heart. This is my first visit to your site but I will definitely be back. Wonderful eye candy and inspiration to boot. Reply
[…] have several great colors of this stuff: yellow, orange, and pink. I used the yellow on my office chair. I am loving that bright pop of […] Reply