Life as a LEO Wife

Designing Devotion Edition

Last night I made a spring wreath from a Dollar Tree grapevine wreath form. I have had two of their dark colored grapevine wreaths for about four or five years! It’s crazy that it’s taken me all this time to make something with them. I’m a perfectionist, and their shape and size just threw me. Couldn’t do it.

But- last night I suddenly knew exactly what to do with them. Sometimes it’s like that with my Designing Devotion posts. God lines up everything, then works through me to knock ’em down. Most of the time I don’t even realize it until I’m well into the DIY.

Here we go. This week’s design in a spring grapevine wreath with a nest and colorful speckled eggs. Following the tutorial we will have a devotional on the desire Jesus has to draw us to Him, even while we are trying to run away. If you would like to skip to the devotional, click here.

Supplies needed for the Dollar Tree spring wreath (unless noted you can get all of the supplies from Dollar Tree):

• grapevine wreath
• Spanish moss
• small eggs- Dollar Tree has glittery styrofoam multicolored packs. I used multicolored speckled eggs from Hobby Lobby for $3 on sale.
• hot glue gun and glue or craft glue- You can’t get the glue gun at DT.
• chenille stems
• scissors
• ribbon of your choice- DT has beautiful teal 2.5″ burlap wired ribbon right now. I used 3″ wired ribbon, white with teal and salmon colored feathers.

Create a nest on the Dollar Tree spring wreath.

Begin by creating a nest across the bottom of your Dollar Tree spring wreath. Apply hot glue, or your craft glue, in an up and down pattern where you are ready to place the Spanish moss. When you pull the moss out of the pack, try to keep large clumps together. It stays on the wreath better that way.

Build up the nest, covering all of the bottom, from about the 4 to 8 o’clock position. Add it on the inside portion where you’ll be able to see and the bottom as well as the front. Continue adding moss across the bottom of the form until you are happy with the way your nest looks.

Add the eggs.

Lay your eggs out over the moss to decide where you’d like them. When you are happy with the position, add glue to the back of the eggs and put them on the moss. I liked mine distributed across all of the moss, not having them clumped in one area.

Add a bow.

The final step is to make a bow for the Dollar Tree spring wreath. I used a 3″ wired ribbon that is white with teal, gold, and salmon feathers. I love that ribbon! I have been saving and using it sparingly because I always worry I’ll think of the perfect project to use it on, and I’ll be out of it, lol.

Make a regular bow with it. Fold the tails on top of one another and cut a half V in them. When you unfold them you’ll have beautiful V -shaped finished ends. Use your glue and place the bow in the middle of the top of the wreath.

I love how these grapevine spring wreaths turned out!

I mentioned to you at the beginning of this post that the idea for it unfolded quickly as I was gathering supplies. I love the ribbon, use it sparingly, but I knew this was the project to use it on. As I was looking for ribbon to use, I saw the feathers and immediately knew what the Lord was saying to me, triggered by the feather print on the ribbon. No more saving the ribbon. This is what He wanted me to make and to write.

Devotion

What Jesus had on His heart in that day

In Matthew 23:37 Jesus laments over the loss of Jerusalem, of the Israelites. This is His final week of life; He knows they will soon kill Him, thus rejecting Him forever. The scripture in the ESV translation says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

Jesus knew as He said those words that He wouldn’t be accepted and that Jerusalem was headed for the destruction that took place in 70 AD. If the people of the time had accepted Him as the messiah, He could’ve saved them from all kinds of suffering. It is estimated that around one million people died in that destruction. The Lord knew everything that would happen, and He wanted so desperately to save them. Here Christ longed to take the people unto Him, to protect them and to love them in the way mother hens bring their babies under their wings and draws them near to her.

What Jesus has in His heart for us today

When I saw the feather on the ribbon, the Lord brought this verse to my mind. The world today seems to have gone mad. Every day people are becoming more and more hardened, getting further and further away from God. Most of the world either doesn’t believe there is a God or have a skewed version of Him and “the Universe.” They think of only themselves and what they can get in the here and now. The teachings of Christ are as folly to them, “ridiculous myths.” Then there are those who don’t think about God much, and think if they’re good people they’ll go to heaven when they die.

Recent research has suggested that less than 30% of the population are born again (saved) Christians. That is terrifying. Even 30% seems a little high for me to believe in a world that acts like this. I’m sure during the survey many of those who were asked if they were saved weren’t sure exactly what that meant! Do you realize that even if that number is completely accurate, that means seven out of ten people that die are going to hell?

My heart aches over that number. I can only imagine how the heart of God feels. In 2 Peter we are told that it is not His will that any should perish. He doesn’t want any of the horrors of this day to be happening. Jesus is again calling to the world, begging them to allow Him to bring us under His wing as a mother hen would, protecting and saving her children. Let’s listen to Him, let’s run to Him. Those of us who are saved, let’s run to Him for safety and protection from the rulers and authorities of this world that Paul speaks about in Ephesians 6:12. Let’s run to Him for forgiveness and ask for boldness to witness for Him, to be disciples, and ask Him to fill our hearts with love so the world sees Him through us.

For those who do not know Jesus yet, run to him, let Him draw you under His wing for salvation, protection, and eternal life. If you do not yet know Jesus as your Savior, it is so easy to do. Listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit that is calling you. Follow the Roman Road below to get the free gift of salvation!

Finally,

I thank you dear Wifers for stopping by today. I hope you have enjoyed our tutorial and devotional from today’s Designing Devotion post. If you have I’d love for you to share it with others! Check out our past editions while you’re here.

If you are adding spring and Easter decor to your home you may like this Easter egg garland. This two-tier tray with spring decor is adorable too. A hoop wreath is a great addition to your home decor, and this one can be updated year round.

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