Creating a home that feels like a heavenly haven is an art, and at Luxury Home Decor, we’re here to guide you through the process. Your living space should be more than just walls and furniture; it should be a sanctuary that reflects your personality, brings comfort, and radiates tranquility. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the elements that contribute to a heavenly haven, offering insights, ideas, and inspiration for you to infuse your space with a touch of serenity.
Setting the Tone with Tranquil Colors
Your journey to a heavenly haven begins with the colors you choose. Soft, muted tones like calming blues, gentle greens, and soothing neutrals can transform your space into a serene retreat. Dive into carefully curated color palette guides for expert tips on selecting hues that evoke tranquility and create a peaceful ambiance in every room.
Cozy Comfort with Textures and Fabrics
What’s a heavenly haven without the touch of comfort? Explore the world of textures and fabrics that invite you to sink into blissful relaxation. From plush throw blankets to velvety cushions, we’ll share ideas on how to layer textures for an inviting and cozy atmosphere. Your haven should not only look heavenly but also feel heavenly.
Natural Elements for a Breath of Freshness
Bringing the outdoors in, is a timeless concept that never fails to add a touch of serenity. Discover the beauty of incorporating natural elements into your decor. From indoor plants that purify the air to sustainable materials that connect you with nature, our guide will help you infuse your haven with the refreshing essence of the great outdoors.
Illuminating Serenity with Thoughtful Lighting
Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood of your space. We’ll explore how to use ambient, task, and accent lighting to create a heavenly haven that adapts to different moments of the day. Discover lighting fixtures that add warmth and charm, making your space not just well-lit but also welcoming.
Transforming Your Space, Transforming Your Life
At Luxury Home Decor, we believe that your home is a canvas, and with a little creativity, you can turn it into a heavenly haven. As you embark on this journey of crafting serenity, remember that each element contributes to the overall atmosphere of your space. Take your time, savor the process, and watch as your home transforms into a sanctuary that rejuvenates your mind, body, and spirit.
Ready to turn your space into a Heavenly Haven? Let’s dive in together!
Here are a few links to amazing ideas for decorating your Heavenly Haven
These three words, I heard ever so clearly 11 plus years ago while babysitting in one of Chicago’s skyscraper residential buildings. The building is actually shaped like a clover and its views of Lake Michigan, Navy Pier and the city’s skyline were both breathtaking and thought-provoking to say the least.
Here is a picture of the actual building. Because the words in the title of this blog are ringing so loud in my ears in this current season I am in, the vividity of the location and time in which these words came to me is just as apparent.
The child I was babysitting must have been asleep at the time, because I was sitting on the couch next to the windows. I am pretty sure I went between reading and gazing out of the windows quite often. Though I am not sure I actually finished it, the book was a good read. But the views were pleasantly distracting.
Another thing I could not remember was what lead to the thought to this thought of “unleash, unlock and unveil”. I only recall reading, then gazing at the views and then this thought of God unleashing, unlocking and unveiling everything within me that was going to allow me to reach my full potential in life. What happened next was vague, but I remember becoming so overwhelmed with the thought. I was excited and overcome with praise because I truly believed God was speaking to me. I stopped reading the book and instead of allowing the Spirit of God to clarify to me what was happening and the meaning behind it all, I called someone I looked to as a spiritual advisor. It was someone I admired and looked to as a voice of wisdom. As I tried to get out what I believe God was saying, I was met with a monotone voice. The voice sounded very unenthused and unexcited. I do not recall the conversation verbatim, but it was not what I hoped for.
The conversation was relatively short. After the phone call I remember praying to the best of my ability that whatever occurred, God would bring it to pass. That he would unlock his potential within me. That he would unleash within me the things that will get me to the place of fulfillment.
It is quite possible that the book I was reading was “You have it in you” by Sheryl Brady. These three words are forever etched in my mind.
I pray that not only for this unleashing, this unlocking and this unveiling to occur in my life- but in the lives of those who find this blog post to be encouraging.
Father, in the name of Jesus…I come to you as a result of an invitation.
You said, “COME unto me all that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew Ch. 11:28). SO here I am.
I come laboured and heavy laden. Burdened with the cares of this life. Trying so hard to work the roles that I am responsible for fulfilling both in and outside of the home. Knowing that I have earthly responsibilities as a wife as a mother, as a employee for a company etc, but my soul longs and desires to do the things of God.
Here I am fighting the urge to give up or give in to the desires and the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
So, I ask for your continual guidance. That you would continue to order my steps. That you would increase my awareness of your presence. That even when I dont see or feel you working, that my soul would know it right well. I reverence you as GOD and GOD alone.
Even know I cant quite feel you or trace your whereabouts, I know that you are with me. I know it not only because your word says so, but because my soul is very aware of just how close you are.
Someone, just this week, said to me that tough times don’t last always, but tough people do. That was amazing. It reminded me that God will not put any more on me than that which I am able to bear. It reminded me to remember that he has kept me for thirty plus years. It reminded me that before I even responded to him tugging at my heart, he was mindful of me. It reminded me that before the foundation of the world, he knew me.
God you truly give me the strength and stamina to keep going. I praise and worship and adore you for your love towards me.
I pray for the individual that may come across this post and read it. That you would meet them at the point of their need. I pray that they receive bible salvation and be baptized in the name of JESUS for the remission of their sins and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:23). I pray that whatever is distracting them from fulfilling their purpose that it would be destroyed.
I pray that if they too are burdened with the cares of this life that you would cause those burdens to lift. You said that your yoke is easy and your burden is light (Matthew Ch. 11:30).
I pray that your will be accomplished in my life and that I begin to live the abundant life that you came to provide in Jesus name. I pray that the reader too will also walk in purpose and begin to live according to yor will.
You are my help and strength and for this I praise you.
Imagine this overwhelming feeling of knowing that there is a higher calling on your life and not quite knowing what that means in detail or what that looks like or even the actions steps to take to get achieve that higher calling.
It is the feeling that I and probably so many others have experienced or are experiencing at this very moment in time. As nerve wracking as it can be, it is also exciting! It is certainly a matter of walking in faith. Blind faith at that! And there are certainly those things in life that impact your faith…life’s experiences that cause you to second guess yourself. Or even traumatic events that may lead one to believe that there is no way that I can be used to do something amazing.
I have decided not to leave my life to chance. I have very intentionally placed my life in the hands of the creator, Jesus Christ. He made all things. And He made me. He formed and fashioned me in my mother’s womb that I might be all that he is calling for and requiring of me. He knew I would be the person I am today. He knew all of the mistakes I would make and still, in his infinite wisdom and foreknowledge, decided that I am going to be the one that is going to carry the mantle of ministry and change the trajectory of every life I encounter. He knows the thoughts that he thinks towards me, thought of peace to give me an expected end.
And guess what?! He knows right where you are as well. He knows the nights you cry yourself to sleep. He knows your angers, anxieties, fears and doubts. He sees the failed relationships, the financial crisis and the loss of employment. And he says I supply every need according to my riches in glory. He is Jehovah Jireh- the God who supplies every single need! Now that is amazing! He says the very thing that seems dead in your life or irrecoverable, he can restore and replenish in abundance! Infact Jesus came that we have life in the abundance!
My eyes are fixed on that expected end! So when doubt creeps in, and when the complexities of my mind begin to sound off- I will remember who I am and whose I am and recall that I have come to the kingdom for such a time as NOW!
So, I’ve jumped! And it is a free fall! I am walking in my calling. I am making a great impact on every life I encounter, and I pray that whoever reads this blog post feels a shift in their entire being and ask God, what did you put me on this earth to do. Don’t be surprised if he answers.
And the only thing to do when he does answers is to Jump! Jump into the life he is calling for. Jump into your destiny! Jump into aligning your will and plans with his and watch purpose be fulfilled.
As opposed to focusing on what may happen if your attempts fail. Start seeing the success of your attempts at that great thing God is calling you to!
Your praise is one powerful weapon. Thanksgiving and adoration unto God, when verbally expressed, have the ability to create significant dynamics in your direct environment. Call me crazy, but I have seen it happen…in church services where people are praising God so much so that it is difficult to stick to the regularly scheduled program. I have even experienced an atmosphere shift in my own home. It has happened when the frustrations of my daily tasks became so burdensome, as they sometimes do, while functioning as a wife, a mother and having a full-time job. Without fail, each time that I decide to shift my focus off of my circumstances to glorify God, the weights lift. Praise and worship music seem to have that same effect.
The enemy of our soul loves to linger in negative head space.
Yes. I said it. All too often, I have been victim of anxiety-fueled, uninvited, intrusive and racing thoughts that surely if anyone knew what I was thinking, , I would be brushed off as mentally unstable. Sometimes it is difficult to even keep up with all that is going on in my mind. It is like me being in a coffee shop. The coffee shop represents my mind. And in this coffee shop, there are little tables with just enough room for two. At each table I am sitting there with whatever represents the various issues that oftentimes plague my mind. Picture me at one table having a discussion with low self-esteem. Then at another table, there I am sitting with the disagreement I had with my husband a week ago. And at another table, myself and the struggling mom who is finding parenting more and more difficult. How about the me that is sitting there with the much younger me who always stood out like a sore thumb but trying so hard to fit in. If we are not careful, the things that play out in our mind become our reality. I am pretty sure I read somewhere that the culmination of one’s life is a result of their own thoughts. More simply put, so as a man thinks in his heart, so is he Proverbs 23:7.
Its like we, in some ways, join forces with the negativity and allow it to replay over and over and over in our minds. Allowing the continuation of negativity to percolate in our minds cripples us from daily functioning and being the best self that we can. And I know of a certainty that that is not what God intends for anyone. He wants us to prosper and be in good health!
So then, there is the issue of mental health of course. And in no way am I trying to downplay that there are chemical imbalances in the brain that may cause more chronic matters that could require the attention of a specialist. I am not necessarily prescribing to anyone to overlook or ignore repeated cycles of misery, gloom or downheartedness. What I am saying is not to neglect the very thing God gave us and that is our voice! Use your voice as a weapon of praise! Speak things that are not, as though they are (Romans 4:17).
You see, God understood the weapon of praise. There is a song that is sung often at my church, “My praise is a weapon”!! It truly is! It has a way of confusing the enemy. It has a way of completely intercepting the constant onslaught of negativity and allowing a clear headedness which make for the bigger picture coming back into clear focus! It reminds those who make it a practice that the weapons are forming but they are not prospering!
Shift the atmosphere with your praise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“God is up to something major”! These are the exact words someone said to me via text after I had communicated to them this strong sense of expectancy that I have been experiencing. She had no idea that those words were the exact sentiments of my feelings and would be the perfect title for this blog post! I have never felt so “on the edge of my seat” so-to-speak. I believe with everything in me that what I, and many other born-again people are sensing is the work of a sovereign God. Jesus is going to perform the miraculous for many people.
When God performs miracles, it is usually not small or unnoticeable. He healed the woman with the issue of blood, who we read about in Luke Chapter 8, in a crowd of thousands possibly tens of thousands of people. He turned water into wine at a wedding of who knows how many attendees. He caused Manna, a delectable cuisine, to fall from heaven. He raised Lazarus from the dead! How major is all of this?! I can hear now people thinking, why would I mention things that happened over 2000 years ago as if that is still occurring. Well, I mention it with full confidence that the same God who performed those miracles, is the same God that I serve and anticipate performing miracles today! He is the same yesterday, today and forever- Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8.
I have been in the church for the last 20 plus years of my life and hearing the phrase “God is up to something” is not unusual. But it is different this time. You see, when I would hear it before now, I would only believe with faith that what that individual was trying to express to me was that they were feeling a move of God in some area of their life. It is one thing to hear someone say this and agree because it is the appropriate thing to do. But it hits a lot different when you sense the move of God for yourself. It hits different when you feel something stirring up within that you know you yourself could not have come up with.
The anticipation of what God is going to do is real! I write this without knowing the details of how God is going to bless me and those around me. However, I believe that without a shadow of doubt, it is going to be great. The greatness of what God is going to do through those who respond to his call is a will be a testament that he truly does work through willing vessels who avail themselves to Him that his good pleasure may be accomplished- Philippians 2:13 KJV. Even as I am preparing this post, I believe that it is the power of the Holy Spirit that is giving me the unction to write what pleases Him.
I can prove that this is not just some haphazard or useless feeling I am having. In fact, people in other places across the world are experiencing it to. For two weeks straight, at Asbury University in Kentucky, people gathered together in prayer and praise in expectation of a move of God. What started off as just a regular prayer meeting at the school’s chapel turned into a 2-week revival! For at least those 2 weeks for sure, God was up to something major. And those students sensed it! The presence of God was so apparent in that place- that worshippers dared to entertain His presence! Their expectation of a move of God superseded the regular scheduled programming. “Asbury is part of the Wesleyan theological tradition, which emphasizes transformational encounters with the Holy Spirit”- Sara Weissman, The Aftershocks of the Asbury Revival, insidehire.com March 2, 2023. Over 50,000 people showed up to experience this visitation of the Spirit of God.
When people take the limits off of God and stop projecting the method by which He is going to move, I believe we will really see the miracles, signs and wonders mentioned in the book of Hebrews Chapter 2. And I am there! I have removed any limitations set up in my mind about how God can move on my behalf and others. The truth of the matter is that God can do anything at any time. He is not limited to our church buildings or services or our futile attempts to try and pinpoint how he moves.
Disasters are happening all over the world. You may ask why I would mention disaster or anything negative while speaking of an anticipated move of God. Well, because even in the face of various disasters such as a global pandemic, deadly earthquakes, mass shootings and an out-of-control drug epidemic, God still reigns supreme. And not all of the evil in the world can thwart or divert the plan of God and the outpouring of his Spirit on all flesh- Acts 2:17. In fact this outpouring is resulting in “sons and daughters prophesying”. Miracles are happening for people at every level.
I love the view from the edge! Never has my outlook been so positive. That is not to say that everything in my life is perfect, or that there are not little wildfires that spread every now and again. But I am of the mindset that “Eyes have not seen, neither have ears heard what God has in store for them that love Him”- 1Corinthians 2:9. I am basking in this season of expectancy. Never has anticipation felt so good. I am relieved to know that my life really is in God’s hands, and he is molding and shaping me to be whatever he chooses. Something major really is about to happen. And until then, I will leave you and I both with this challenge: In what ways can we prepare for a move of God in our lives? Are we flexible enough to avail ourselves totally to the moving of the Spirit of God?
I desire nothing more or less than the divine will of God in my life.
The first mention of prayer in the bible was in the book of Genesis, chapter 18, when Abraham prayed for the city of Sodom. Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom for the rampant sin that was occurring because his nephew Lot was there. Abraham’s interceding on behalf of Sodom moved God to promise not to destroy Sodom should any in that city be found righteous. Prayer continues on throughout the bible to be a mode of communication or a means by which God hears the prayers, praises and worship of mankind.
I believe that prayer is much more powerful than what we understand. Moreso, I believe prayer is more powerful than what we can really fathom or perceive. Let me be clear. God does not change. He is the same yesterday today and forever. But I believe prayer changes things! Prayer changes circumstances. Prayer changes people! Many instances in the bible showcase, the miraculous happenings that occur when someone prays. In 2 Chronicles Ch. 20, we see king Jehoshaphat “set himself” to seek the Lord in prayer because of a battle that was before him that seemed impossible to result in victory. This is where we see the famous scripture quoted so often, “the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s”. Without fighting at all, Jehoshaphat and the children of Israel won the battle with prayer and praise! We also see the demonstrative power of God when the walls of Jericho fell down in Joshua chapter 6. What about in the 10th chapter of that same book when Joshua asked the Lord that the sun would stand still, and it did! Where we, as mere humans, are limited by space and time, there is no limit to what God can do through the vehicle of prayer. I would like to rephrase that. With prayer, the impossible, becomes possible.
We must understand that God chose prayer. As intellectual and as creative as man is, man did not propose prayer. God did. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”- NKJV. The sovereign God of the universe, whose name is Jesus, chose to govern himself and his work in the lives of those who will PRAY! There is nothing mysterious about how God moves on the behalf of others and their circumstances. It is simply by the means of prayer. Jesus himself said, in Matthew Ch. 7:7-8, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened”- NLT. Effective prayer does not force God to do anything, but because God is governed by his word- he moves and acts on the behalf of those who obey his word.
When I was baptized in Jesus’ name at the age of 13- hopefully that keeps my age a secret- I did not see myself as someone who would be so challenged by and yet so intrigued with prayer. Even after receiving the POWERFUL gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the ability, I did not know that over 2 decades later, I would be sitting at my kitchen counter almost unable to contain my excitement about writing a blog on PRAYER! Early on, after receiving salvation I began learning the fundamentals of prayer. I first learned that prayer was simply talking to God. And it is! It is also so much more. And I found that out the more I began to pray. I began to understand that if I was going to reach God and if I was going to have an established line of communication with God- it needed to be by the means of prayer. I learned that the health and vitality of my relationship with God, depended on my prayer life. I also learned that the more ground I cover in prayer and the closer I think I get to God in prayer, the further I am. Prayer has a way of showing you just that…that no matter what the accomplishment is; maybe people think you “know how to get a prayer through” or you say “just the right words” to trigger the right emotion, or you sound “deep” and “intellectual”…it brings you to your knees all the more because you come to the realization that prayer has nothing whatsoever to do with the individual who is praying. But is has everything to do with God and His will being performed in the matter for which the individual is praying.
There is no way around prayer. And it is by no mistake, or no chance of coincidence that I am writing this blog to be reminded of the significance of prayer. It is not something to be done haphazardly or when the feeling is there. It must be done always, and all the time, in all types of ways. May I challenge you, as I am also challenged? What is stopping you from praying the prayers that God responds to and results in his demonstrative power at work in your life and in the lives of those for whom you pray?