Today I took the time to re-read my original blog “Upstairs and Down”, written in 2019, which at this point is six years ago. In it, I described how the Lord heard my cry for affirmation in the ministry of Crafters for Christ by my receiving the offer of a free stair lift for my basement steps which would make it possible for my dear friend and co-founder Mary to keep on attending our meetings. Just the offer of it revived her spirits at the time, and was a deep blessing to me.
As it turned out, the stair lift ended up not being a fit for our basement steps. At that point we decided we would move our meetings upstairs around my dining room table, and Mary resumed attending. We had many happy times of fellowship around the table with its view of my garden and the bird feeder in the window. One Friday morning we enjoyed our time together around the picnic table on our back deck. What a precious time we had! It wasn’t God’s plan for Mary’s time in Crafters for Christ to end at that time. However, in August of 2022, the Lord called Mary “upstairs” to be with Him in heaven. How we miss her!
After Mary graduated “upstairs”, we moved our meetings back downstairs. The ministry of Crafters for Christ continued to grow and expand. We welcomed new members, many of whom worked from home and donated items without attending meetings. The roster of faithful “downstairs people” who have attended over the years has changed, but the fellowship has always been strong and sweet. We have kept the mission of our group alive: to worship the Lord with the work of our hands. The volume of our giving continued to grow, and my Art by Rhea business also continued to thrive. We have survived a basement remodel and the construction of an entry ramp to the door from our garage for the convenience of our older members and customers.
This winter (2025), I found myself at that same point of needing the Lord’s affirmation as to the direction of my business and ministry. I knew for certain that Crafters for Christ was to continue. But after two years of a record breaking volume of orders in Art by Rhea, I found myself in late winter with nothing on my work table or schedule, and I was waiting to see what might be coming. Ironically, in March, I got an order for a memory bear which turned out to be a scam! (I have a cute bear named “Scamper” to remind me of that experience.) That was discouraging, as also was the experience of being stolen from by two previous customers who had never paid me for my work. (Two more bears named “Wane” and “Vanish” sit on the back of my couch to remind me of the customer who disappeared), and one who was sent home pre-payment out of compassion (her name is “Snatch”).
But I am learning to continually place Art by Rhea in the hands of my Lord, Who has never failed to be a perfect manager.
In October and November of 2024, I became quite ill with a virus, and I was grateful that I didn’t have orders to fill, even though Christmas season has always been busy. I had to struggle to fill the few orders I did have. In the new year of 2025, I had just a few new projects to work on, but not my usual volume. I was able to take it slowly and get myself back into the swing of things. I took time to work on the computer and redesign some of my pieces, such as the invoice and a couple of informational flyers. I updated some record keeping duties and did some general reorganization of my business and ministry, cleaned the sewing room, and kept on giving it all to the Lord. For the most part I have had peace, knowing that the Lord is in charge, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Meanwhile, while I wait for direction, I have the privilege and opportunity to sew items for the ministry of Crafters for Christ, which is a luxury I do not have when Art by Rhea is busy. I am enjoying creating whatever appeals to me from the stash of beautiful donated fabric and yarn on hand without having to hurry or meet a demand.
I love living my daily life intentionally seeking the presence and will of my Heavenly Father. There are times when my seeking brings me to an immediate answer, but more often it involves a period of testing and waiting which brings me to a deeper seeking and a more intense longing for His presence.
I am back to the question I had when I wrote part one of “Upstairs and Down”: “Does God see what I am doing, does He care, and how will I know that for certain?” Only, this time, I know the answer. “Yes”, “Yes”, and “I have had the experience of knowing His leading and seeing Him at work!”
The future of Art by Rhea is totally in God’s hands, and the ball is in His court. Even if I never receive another order or sew a memory keepsake again, I will be content. It is, and has been, a remarkable time in my life, and I am blessed by the number of people who have received ministry and healing prayer. I have received a few orders to work on and have enjoyed them very much. I have had time to put a lot of creativity into them.
Crafters for Christ will continue as long as the door remains open to give and to minister. I will keep on administrating our giving and keeping our records until the Lord tells me to stop–either “upstairs” or “downstairs”.
And I am here to take Art by Rhea orders as they come to me.
Art by Rhea 