What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

What Do You See?

When you look at these pictures, what do YOU see?

 An old rusty plumbing pipe with even older old faucets?
 Ancient garden spigots?
Well, I can tell you that when I saw this at our local dump/recycling station today...someone had purposely left this pipe with all these fittings sitting on top of the dumpster just in case someone would come along and have a "need" for it...and as we drove away, I told my hubby,
"I sure would love to have those old faucets".
He kept driving.
I said, "I can just envision all kinds of neat stuff I could do with those old spigots and faucets..."
 He kept driving.
 I said, "I sure wish we could go back and get those faucets before they disappear."
He still kept driving.
I said, "You know, I could create birdhouses and other cute things using those...people love that kind of stuff..."
He sort of started to slow down.
I said, "Of course, I would need help building a birdhouse. I don't know how to use the saw. But you could help me."
He pulled over and waited for an oncoming vehicle to get out of the way. Then he did the most amazing thing...he turned the car around and headed back to the dump! I could hardly believe my eyes!

However, when we pulled up to the dumpster, I jumped out of the car and ran to look, and they were gone!!! I looked down inside the dumpster, but there was no sign of them.  I said out loud,
"Well, I guess somebody else saw the potential in those and got them already."
There was a man standing next to his car on the other side of the dumpster, and he saw me looking and heard me muttering.  He asked me, "Did you forget something, or change your mind about something?"
I told him, "There was a plumbing pipe with some faucets here a minute ago, but it is gone now."
He asked, "Oh, did you want those?"
I said, "Well, I had some ideas of things I could do with them."  And then I realized that he must have taken them, so I asked him, "Oh, did you take them?"  And he said, "Yes, but I'll be happy to give them to you if you want them."  I said, "No, that's okay. If you want them, you keep them."  He said, "I really didn't have any plan for them...just thought I might need them someday."
And I said, "Well, you keep them. I was just going to make birdhouses or something like that with them, you know, repurpose them?"
He said, "Then here, you take them! I really don't need them." And he got them out of his truck and handed them to me.
I graciously thanked him and told him how much I appreciated it, especially because I had talked my hubby into turning around and coming back for them!  He laughed and said "Well, then you better go make something with them!"  And I thanked him again and put them in our car and we drove away.

So now!  Now that I've gone to so much trouble and even had to take them from another person...what shall I do with them?  Do you see any new purpose for them?  What do you see when you look at these old spigots?  Could they possibly be repurposed to a new life? Become useful or even interestingly attractive again?  I truly would love to hear your ideas.  I know, I just looked on Pinterest, and I can find hundreds of ideas there...but maybe you have something special in mind too. Please tell me in your comments.  Here are a few of the Pinterest Ideas:
Pinterest Picture of Birdhouse w/ faucet

Photo from Pinterest

Photo from Pinterest

Meanwhile...while we consider this, other thoughts came to mind.  (And you know, a MIND is a terrible thing to waste!  Just like these old faucets! )  But the thought that came to my mind was  how God looks at us and sees our potential.  Others may look at us...or even we ourselves might look at ourselves, and say, "What could God do with this rusty old person?  I'm tired, I'm weary, and I'm quite worn!  There are surely newer and better equipped people out there to take care of the world these days...what possible purpose (or repurpose) could God ever find for me at this stage in my life?

Many of my friends out here in "blogland" are like me...retired, or almost retired, or at least dreaming about retirement sometime soon.  And one thing I've discovered since retiring almost two years ago is that there are times when I feel like I'm not fulfilling my full purpose here on earth anymore. There are many days that we sit here and do practically nothing...and I really don't like that...(well, sometimes I actually do like that, but I don't want to stay that way forever!)  What can I do about it?  We have limited resources, limited energy, and limited mental capacity it seems at times....(more often than I like to admit!) But I figure if I live to be in my late 80's or 90's, I don't want to spend the next twenty years doing nothing of significance!  I'd like to be "repurposed" into doing something useful, pleasant and meaningful for the rest of my years.  How about you?

A scripture verse I found this morning while thinking about this is in Psalm 20...

4.  "May He (God) grant you according to your heart's desire,
and fulfill all your purpose.
5.  We will rejoice in your salvation,
and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions."

I wonder what God sees when He looks at me today.  I wonder if He sees a new purpose for my life...if He sees my "heart's desire" and knows exactly how to "fulfill all my petitions".   What do YOU think?  How about we all pray about this for each of us in our own circumstances...and then we can rejoice together when the Lord rescues us from our rusty old state and gives us a new purpose and plan for our lives....and

"in the name of our God we will set up our banners!"

Now that sounds like a great plan!

So now, I'd better go figure out what to do with those old faucets! 
Have a blessed and glorious day, my friends!!!

22 comments:

  1. Great story! I've seen them used to hang wet towels by a pool.

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  2. Hey! Great idea! Do you want me to send them to you for your pool? Or, maybe I should put them beside MY little pool for the bears to hang their towels on when they come for a swim! LOL!! Thanks for the great idea! I love hearing from you!!

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  3. Pam, What an interesting post. It's really fascinating how old things can be repurposed for other issues. You're spot on, God does have a purpose for each of us for the whole of our lives. Finding that purpose is quite an adventure!

    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Kim. I am so glad you see what the Lord is really saying here. And yes, "finding that purpose is quite an adventure!" May we always look at our lives that way! Each day can be a new adventure if we just follow the Lord and examine all possibilities!!

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  4. What a great post Pamela. I loved seeing the Pinterest photos on how to use the old faucets. My favorite is the bird house and the crystal drop falling into the pail. It's amazing what people think of. Have a blessed evening my friend.

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    1. THank you Toni! I am still searching for just the right ideas, but these are some that are fun and interesting. It's a challenge to my brain to keep thinking and doing! I don't want to waste opportunities in any area of my life.

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  5. I loved the idea of using the old faucets for towel hangers!
    And yes, God can and does re-purpose us in every season of our lives. As His children, our worth and value in His eyes never grows old or useless. May we all remain open to where He is leading us each day!
    Thanks for the inspiration, and lovely photos, Pamela!
    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you Martha. Yes, I agree with your prayer..."may we all remain open to where He is leading us each day!" That is where I am right now...trying to remain open-minded to the possibilities that are out there and what God may be trying to show us. Thank you for stopping by. I love hearing from you.

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  6. Wonderful!
    I love the bucket and crystal drop.
    And I also really like the towel rack. I would like to make one like that.
    We are re-purposed all the time I think. We really never know who we touch/help, etc.

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    1. Thank you Annie. I agree that God is always "repurposing" us for new adventures and realities in life. I think we are at a crossroads of waiting and wondering which way or how He will lead us in the future for our remaining years. I don't want to waste those years doing "nothing".

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  7. Pam, how interesting that you could look at those pipes and faucets and spigots and see them each being used for other things. Honestly what I thought of when I saw them was, "Well, we could turn them in for cash...especially what appears to be copper pipes." So you see that my mind isn't very creative. haha

    I really liked the way that you parallelled them to how God views us. I'm like you...I don't want to spend the next 20 years of my life without a purpose. I'm certain though that He will guide and direct our steps that we might glorify Him through those years.

    Hugs to you, my friend.

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    1. Yes, I know the Lord will guide us as He always has. We are finding ourselves coming to a new horizon, more of an empty nest than before, and so we search for more "significance" in life while we are still able. Just don't want to waste these years of possibility!!

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  8. First of all, I love the analogy of the old faucets being repurposed and our lives. I feel the same way about what is my purpose these days...but then I realize that in this season of my life, it's family...the grand kiddos, our daughter and son-in-love and my Momma. Secondly...I LOVE your ideas. Look at these: https://www.pinterest.com/csunshinehaven/faucets-handles-repurposed/?lp=true HOPE you have a terrific Thursday!

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    1. Thank you Debbie! I checked out that link to pinterest, and it was full of great ideas!! Now my brain is really turning...and wondering how I can find some more of those handles, etc. Yes, I know my purpose in life at this season is my home and family, and yet, some of that responsibility has and is changing as family moves on and hubby and I are becoming more and more empty nesters...so we are praying for what new direction the Lord might have for us in the future...if anything different at all. Just don't want to miss out on His best...but I know He will lead us when the time comes.

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  9. I couldn't help but smile as I read your post...you were describing me!!
    All of it!
    I think you should make the first birdhouse photo for your secret garden. I love it. Whatever you decide on will be perfect I'm sure.

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    1. Oh thank you Sylvia! Ha Ha! I think I was probably describing many of us out here...and one thing I would like to add is that what we do here on our blogs is a wonderful purpose! God uses our writings to share His love and encouragement with others and to bless each other every day...you do that with your blog, and I always appreciate your thoughts and words and pictures. So, that IS meaningful and a wonderful purpose for our retirement years. I have to remind myself that God is in control, and He knows best...and if He says to sit still and just keep doing what I've given you to do...that is enough. I certainly don't want to jump ahead of God...but He knows my (and your) hearts. God bless you my friend!! I still don't know which project I will do with these, but the birdhouse idea was my first thought...but now I'm seeing other ideas on Pinterest, so I'm going to think about it for a while before I mess them up! LOL

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  10. Well, I can't wait to see what you do with them! I always love how you can turn most anything around and make it a great lesson on how great our God is!!

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    1. Thankyou Terri! That is God's doing, not mine. He won't let me get away with just saying nothing about nothing! Ha Ha. I will definitely show you what I do with those old faucets, as soon as I figure it out!! Have a blessed day!

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  11. I see a little bit of Christmas blue paint clinging to some old faucets! They would have caught my eye too.

    "Many of my friends out here in "blogland" are like me...retired, or almost retired, or at least dreaming about retirement sometime soon. And one thing I've discovered since retiring almost two years ago is that there are times when I feel like I'm not fulfilling my full purpose here on earth anymore. There are many days that we sit here and do practically nothing...and I really don't like that.."

    I had to laugh knowingly at this. I am not retired. I am a homeschool Mom of two boys and a stay-at-home Mom. We are taking the summer off, which means a lot of going to the pool and some watching Star Trek and free time. It's wonderful to have free time, but what do I feel? Guilt. Shouldn't I be doing something?? Is it ok to be a SAHM? I do all the things, you know, the things you do as a Mom. I a few weeks I'll be busy again. But...but...shouldn't I be...shouldn't...what do I need to be doing? Ugh. This is tough. Work is easy. Rest is hard!

    :-)

    Thanks for the uplifting posts, today and this one from yesterday.

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    1. A thought:

      Maybe x number of hours of peace and quiet gives you x number of words in your heart for this blog. No hours of peace and quiet= no encouraging blog post for me to read. That would be very sad... just saying! ;-)

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    2. Oh my dear Sandi! I had NO idea that you were a SAHM, homeschooling, no less! YES, you deserve a huge break this summer! When DO you get to rest or do something for yourself that is fun and a little "indulgent"? You have my highest respect and admiration...being a SAHM is one of the HIGHEST callings there is! I was a SAHM for many years, until all boys were in school, and then I only worked jobs that would allow me to come home when they did, i.e., I worked in schools. (not a teacher, but an aide or office staff) I will never ever regret those years that I spent with my boys, and wish I could have spent more time with them. To homeschool is also an amazing gift and calling. I thought about it with our youngest, and often wished we had gone ahead and done it because he had a lot of "issues" in school. But hindsight is 20/20, and I'm not sure homeschooling would have resolved his "issues", but he is a wonderful young man today, albeit, he still has some "issues", but don't we all? I pray that the Lord will bless you and give you rest and restoration this summer, and may He lift you up and continue to give you strength and courage and fun and laughter and time to just live life joyously. Our children grow up way too fast...so treasure and cherish every moment. Someday you will be "retired" too, and an empty-nester...and then you can figure out what to do with old faucets like me! LOL ! (I'm not the old faucet...maybe a fossil, but you know what I mean! Have a blessed day!)

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  12. Pam" I love the towel rack idea. Or how about a coat rack by the back door? Do you have a mud room or a back room that leads out to the outside? A faucet coat rack would be a good conversation piece.

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