Do-it-Yourself/Arts + Crafts

I've always loved Arts + Crafts ever since kindergarten days. Kinda always been my hobby since Science-y and Math-like things were never my forte.

Sometimes I just need some good music, paint, arts and crafty things and I'm occupied for the evening. Super relaxing and if you're as frugal as me, this is an inexpensive hobby. Finding random, old objects and turning them into art is my favourite pass time.

One man's junk is another man's treasure. 

 melody

Phyllo cups + Crab salad

Need an easy appetizer idea for a party? Try making these!  


I really like phyllo dough and I really like crab and I said hey! why not put them together.









First you need a package of Phyllo dough. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight.

Melt butter in a bowl in the microwave. The amount of butter will depend on how many cups you're making. For 24 cups I used 2 and a half tsb of butter.

Cut squares of Phyllo dough and layer 5 pieces on top of each other brushing butter on each sheet.

In a mini muffin pan, push the layered dough in each section to form a cup-like shape and bake for 15 minutes or until edges are brown.

 Crab Salad

You will need: 

Crab (Imitation or real crab)

1/2 an Onion

1 Green Pepper

1 tsp of Olive Oil

2 tsb of olive oil mayonnaise (or regular mayonnaise)

Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Chop the crab into small bits and place in a bowl

2. Finely chop the onion and the pepper and add to the crab

3. Add 1 tsp of Olive oil, 2 tsb of mayo and salt and pepper to taste to the crab and slowly mix together or else the crab will break into super small pieces. 

4. Put in the fridge for at least half an hour and then it's ready to go!

Put a spoon of the crab salad in each Phyllo cup at the time that you serve them. If you put it in beforehand it will make the Phyllo cups soggy.

Serve and enjoy!

melody 

Cover: "Why Don't You Do Right" - Peggy Lee

My friend Patrick asked me to sing on one of his school recording projects. Check out this cover of Why Don't You do Right by Peggy Lee:


Cover: Why Don't You Do Right - Peggy Lee from Melody Francis on Vimeo.

Fear not, silence is okay.

Are you the type of person that gets scared of silence?
Do you find yourself feeling a bit tense when you're in a conversation with someone and neither you or the other person has said something in a few seconds?

I'm like that and I'm pretty sure most of our society is like that. How do I know? Well, just look at all the ways we're being forced into constant entertainment. Constant noise. Constant activity. It's interesting to think that one of our greatest fears is silence.

We've been unfortunately conditioned to think that silence = awkward. That silence = a waste of time. That silence = boring.

Over the past month or so, I've been realizing that this is definitely not the case. In fact, my fear of silence is beginning to be lifted from me.

Here are a few "revelations" I've had:

(a) It's okay to have a pause in a conversation
(b) It's okay to sit in my room for some time in silence and just think
(c) It's okay to step out of the busyness of life and just relax

For the longest time, my idea of productivity was that it involved lots of running around and the ability to check things off of a list. But what I'm now learning is that sometimes productivity is not always tangible. Sure I can write a paper, clean my house, write a song and those things would be considered productive but so can sitting in silence. I used to think sitting in silence meant that I sat in front of the TV for a few hours. Nope. While I may have believed I was truly experiencing silence, my brain was still being entertained and crowded with worldly noise.

I am in NO way promoting laziness. What I am saying is that if God himself shows us the example of taking time to rest, shouldn't we seek to do the same? I used to think God was disappointed in me if I wasn't super busy and constantly occupied but now I see that there is so much fruit that comes out of times of rest and silence, which makes it productive in it's own way.

When you rest, rest. So profound right? But seriously, just rest. Get out of this noisy world and put yourself in silence. It may seem awkward at first but I've realized how amazing this has been for my walk with Christ. Savor the precious moments of silence and you'll see how beneficial it will be to your life.

Fear not, silence is okay.

melody

Did you hear what they said?!

Are you the type of person to provoke people to anger? If someone asked you that question would you deny it in a heart beat because when it's phrased like that - it sounds pretty bad?

The truth is, a lot of us - sometimes without even realizing - are provoking our friends to anger.

"Hey did you hear what they said about you? But don't worry I defended you." My question is, what's the good in that? Sure you may have defended your friend but the statement made against them is still running through their minds, which will automatically trigger feelings of anger and hurt.

What is wrong with us? Why do we do this? Because whether we like it or not we love the drama. Our passions are at war within us (James 4:1). Most of the time people love the drama when they can simply grab a bag of popcorn and watch it from a birds eye view. 

I am preaching to myself. Melody: STOP IT.
Stop provoking others to anger. This is where wisdom comes in. Wisdom can perceive the outcome - foolishness desires instant gratification. {Read Proverbs - it's like a goldmine of wisdom.}

Our tongue is an evil thing. James 3 puts it right. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

Is this you? If you know that something will make someone else angry - or even fired up to continue gossiping and slandering another person - just don't say it. "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another" - Gal 5:26

Seek wisdom. All you have to do is ask (James 1:5).


melody

"Be Like You"

Be Like You - Acoustic from Joshua Seller on Vimeo.

 Hey friends,

Last week Greg and I finished writing a song called "Be Like You" I say finished because this song started as a little diddy I heard in my head one day while singing my heart out in the shower. I have to say it's one of my best song writing locations. Anyway, I recorded a quick voice note on my phone with the melody and words of what are now the verses of the song.

I think the theme of the song was very timely in my own life. I don't know about you, but sometimes I can get to points of my life where I lose sight of Who I desire to imitate and end up being consumed with myself. As a result of this lifestyle, my heart's sensitivity to the Spirit began to diminish and my judgment towards others began to reach new heights. This is where the idea of the bridge comes in....

[Would You make me blind to the speck in their eye, would You make me see the log in mine]

I began to see that I can only be consumed with myself for so long, and because of my finite nature, I can get pretty boring, fast.  I am tired of myself. Sometimes, I just need my stone cold heart to be broken.

Because when I lose sight of Perfection (Jesus) I lose my direction. No one or anything in this world compares to my God.

Jesus, I want to be like You.

Selective Diligence Syndrome.

Do you have Selective Diligence Syndrome? Yeah I made that up but Let's see:

How much effort goes into every task that you do?
What type of attitude do you have while you do any task?
What kind of character are you displaying to those around you in everything that you do?


Why is this important?
Because everything you do in life, ultimately tells the world what or who you worship.
 
Through the years I've been a pretty good student in that I would finish all the assignments in time, I study, I do the research. But most of the time my attitude has been pretty sucky...


"I hate school. I hate this assignment. My teacher is the reason why I'm stressed." 

blah blah blah blah blah. 

  

Through the years I've been a pretty good employee. I show up to work on time, I finish my daily tasks, etc. But most of the time my attitude has been pretty sucky...

"I wish I had tomorrow off. Why is my boss so annoying? I'm tired, I'll just get this done tomorrow."

 

blah blah blah blah blah. 

And then, I go to church with a diligent attitude, ready to serve, and a heart filled with joy. There, I refuse to be lazy or complacent because I serve a God worthy of all of my worship. Hmm....all of my worship. This is something that the Holy Spirit continues to convict me with. I can't be diligent and consistent in simply one area of my life and completely disregard that which doesn't seem as "spiritual" like school work or daily tasks. Our worship to God is not limited within the four walls of a church building. In fact, we are called to live lives of worship unto the Lord. That means...

WORK HARD and press on in everything that you do whether your a student, an employee, a parent, a mentor you name it. 

KNOW YOUR GOD and His character. Love Him. Seek Him. Imitate Him.

RELY ON HIS STRENGTH because you simply can't do it on your own. God desires a broken and contrite heart and ultimately our dependence on Him. 

In everything I do I have to ask myself, "Melody, who do you worship?" 

If my response is going to be Christ, then my actions must match up.

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - {1 Corinthians 10:31}

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - {Colossians 3:17}

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" - {Colossians 3:23}

melody