I spend a lot of time in my home office, this 12′ x 10′ space with gray walls, a single west-facing window, and a huge tree decal left from when it was my daughter’s bedroom. Like most things in our marriage, this room has been transformed, rearranged, repurposed, and rediscovered. In the first months of owning this home, this room was an office – if you could call it that – with a desk leftover from college, an old desktop computer and not much else.
When our daughter was born, the walls were painted, decals added, new furniture purchased. For over two years this room served it’s purpose as a nursery, and the office was moved first to my bedroom closet, then the kitchen. When God brought us into another new season, this room said good-bye to all of its nursery furniture and was once again transformed into an office as we moved our toddler to her new room.
The second time around? We had a vision. We had a purpose. God had brought us through the former season to prepare us for the current one and we knew what we were doing. And though the waiting was hard, it’s a time in our lives I never want to forget – so I decorate with intentional reminders of God’s grace, His love, and how brightly His light was shining in our home in some of our darkest days.
Encouraging words from friends fill my walls while beautiful candlesticks stand proudly over a table runner and hold flickering lights that add joy and a reminder of God’s gift to all of us – He is our everlasting light. In all the dark seasons, the waiting, the change, the repurposing and transforming, God is our everlasting, faithful, light. With every video chat, every email, every blog post written in this room, I’m reminded to shine that same light in everything I do and say. Decor and work with purpose. Let’s shine today.
[linebreak]
We’re excited to offer an “Everlasting Light” link-up today, to share encouragement with you from some amazing women who have partnered with (in)courage to share their stories – and the new Everlasting Light Collection – with their communities. And if you’ve purchased {or have your eye on a favorite} Everlasting Light item and have written about it, we’d love for you to join us today, too!
As a super fun bonus, we’ll be choosing one random winner from those who join the link-up to win a $200 gift card to DaySpring.com!
To link up, simply follow the instructions in the link-up widget below (email subscribers will need to click through to access the link-up tool) and then come back and visit a few fellow light-shining sisters and read their stories. The link-up will stay open until next Tuesday (11/18) and we’ll contact the winner via email.
The Lord your God is an everlasting light – let’s share that good news today!
[inlinkz_linkup id=466242 mode=1]
Leave a Comment
Crystal @ Serving Joyfully says
I love reading all these different posts and seeing how the idea speaks so differently to the different writers! And, it is a beautiful collection! I had a hard time choosing 🙂
Crystal Stine says
So did I! I have a growing wishlist of items I’d love to have – I think maybe the pillow covers are calling my name the loudest though 😉
Crystal Stine says
So did I! I have a growing wishlist of items I’d love to have – I think maybe the pillow covers are calling my name the loudest though 😉
Tammy says
I love reading your posts. They are a great encouragement to me. Love the collection and would love to be blessed by a gift card right before my birthday and Christmas. I can not get the link to work for me to enter though.
Crystal Stine says
Thank you so much Tammy! I’m so sorry the link up tool isn’t working for you – if you want to email me (crystal dot stine at dayspring dot com) with the link to your post, I can add it for you 🙂
Crystal Stine says
Thank you so much Tammy! I’m so sorry the link up tool isn’t working for you – if you want to email me (crystal dot stine at dayspring dot com) with the link to your post, I can add it for you 🙂
heather m. says
Thanks for the reminder to shine today Crystal! And I know all about the 9 lives of some rooms! I’m more convinced than ever in recent years that the things I want around me and decorating my space should be meaningful and purposeful. This new collection is beautiful and so inspiring! ♥
Beth Williams says
Crystal,
I love the print: The Lord Will Be Your Everlasting Light. Just looking at the picture brings serenity to my life. I love watching sunrises over the mountains.
Also like the print He Counts the Stars. I like the dark with a smidge of light shining through. Love to take showers with nothing but a flickering candle. I use it as my quiet time to pray and sense God!
Blessings 🙂
Beth Williams says
Crystal,
I love the print: The Lord Will Be Your Everlasting Light. Just looking at the picture brings serenity to my life. I love watching sunrises over the mountains.
Also like the print He Counts the Stars. I like the dark with a smidge of light shining through. Love to take showers with nothing but a flickering candle. I use it as my quiet time to pray and sense God!
Blessings 🙂
Mary Hill says
I missed the link up. I just had writer’s block and let my nerves get the better of me. I wanted to do such a good job. I was struck this weekend with a memory, however, and the post finally came together.
I wanted it to be perfect and really “shine.” I hope some of you are still reading this site. Here it is:
http://www.maryanderingcreatively.com/two-shoes-tuesday/a-sacred-everlasting-light/
My first post for DaySpring and inCourage. Thanks.
Mary Hill
Mary Hill says
I missed the link up. I just had writer’s block and let my nerves get the better of me. I wanted to do such a good job. I was struck this weekend with a memory, however, and the post finally came together.
I wanted it to be perfect and really “shine.” I hope some of you are still reading this site. Here it is:
http://www.maryanderingcreatively.com/two-shoes-tuesday/a-sacred-everlasting-light/
My first post for DaySpring and inCourage. Thanks.
Mary Hill