Natalia Elam Designs

Natalia Elam Designs Christian, wife, mother, sister, friend, artist, designer, knitter, crocheter, crafter, teacher

The State Fair of Texas Creative Arts Contest results are in and I'm thankful to God for two ribbons: Red (2nd place) fo...
08/25/2026

The State Fair of Texas Creative Arts Contest results are in and I'm thankful to God for two ribbons: Red (2nd place) for my Tunisian crochet shawl (pattern by i bought in 2020 called Venus) and White (3rd place) for my Lace coat (a pattern by Alexandra Davidoff Studio called Carmine Lace Coat i bought last year). The shawl, i literally stayed up until 2 am the morning of the submissions to finish crocheting, because of my surgery a month earlier, I was behind in finishing. By God's grace and with His help giving me strenth, I was able to finish crocheting it (after having to undo/redo a row and a half of the fans when I realized I made a mistake when I was crocheting it after my surgery with the 3+ hours of anesthesia still coursing through my veins - reminder to not do that again 🤣). And, I had just enough time to block it and drop it off just in time with my husband's help driving me (I wove in the ends during the drive over, too! 🤦‍♀️) All of this is for God’s glory, because without Him, and my hubby's support (my hubby is a gift from God), I wouldn't have been able to get it done in time. State Fair of Texas

Highlights from our Yarns of Hope meeting Tuesday morning, 08/25/26. We meet every Tuesday morning at my church, , and h...
08/25/2026

Highlights from our Yarns of Hope meeting Tuesday morning, 08/25/26.
We meet every Tuesday morning at my church, , and handmake (knit/crochet) things to bless others and things to bless our friends and families. If you are a yarn crafter in the McKinney area (or would like to learn), join us from 10am-12pm any Tuesday. Send me a message with any questions.

Creating a Heart of GratitudeOne of the most powerful emotions is gratitude. If we can find ways to be thankful and grat...
08/25/2026

Creating a Heart of Gratitude

One of the most powerful emotions is gratitude. If we can find ways to be thankful and grateful throughout our life, we will find the power and emotional strength to walk through some of life’s hardest seasons.

It's not always easy to find ways to be thankful and grateful. But, one of the things Scripture teaches us throughout the Psalms is that there is always something to be grateful for.

The Psalms teach us various songs and poems for every season of our life. But more than that, they also teach us how to cultivate a heart of gratitude and worship towards God.

We belong to a God who loves us and cares deeply for us. God’s love and goodness will never end. Psalm 100:5 praises God for these things:

"For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Through Psalms like this, we can begin to build a habit of gratitude towards God and all that He has done. We can thank God for what He has done in our lives, what He is currently doing, and what He will do in the future as we follow after Him.

Because God is always good, loving, and faithful, there is always something we can be grateful for—even in the midst of difficult seasons of life.

Take a few moments today to strengthen the habit of gratitude in your life.

- First, begin by thanking God for who He is: that He is good, faithful, and loving towards you.
- Next, thank God for all that He has done. Thank Him for the good things in your life, and that He has walked with you through the hard times.
- Lastly, thank God for all He will continue to do in the days and years to come. He is trustworthy!

Devotional from YouVersion:

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.Psalms 100:5 NKJV
08/25/2026

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalms 100:5 NKJV

Because I Love YouSometimes you do what you want. Other times you do what you’re told. Why? Because the boss says so—tha...
08/25/2026

Because I Love You

Sometimes you do what you want. Other times you do what you’re told. Why? Because the boss says so—that’s why.

Strict rules govern our days: speed limits, tax laws, dress codes, policy manuals. Voices from every side threaten, “Obey, or else!” So when we hear God’s voice issuing commands through Scripture, it’s easy to assume that he operates the same way.

But God’s commands aren’t about subjugation. In today’s reading, Psalm 1 describes people who follow God’s instructions as trees “planted by streams of water” that thrive and prosper (Ps. 1:3 NRSV). This beautiful imagery shows that these instructions are actually invitations into freedom and a flourishing life.

In fact, God’s first command in the Bible isn’t a rule—it’s actually a blessing. The first page of the Bible says, “God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply’” (Gen. 1:28). Read the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20, and you get the same blessing vibe.

God starts these important commands by reminding Israel that his intent has always been to bless and set people free, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exod. 20:2). Before giving any of the commands, God first says: Remember who I am. I’m the one who rescued you.

Interestingly, as today’s video mentions, this is the first command of what the Hebrew Bible describes as the 10 “words [devarim]” of God (Exod. 20:1, 34:28; Deut. 4:13, 10:4). That means these words always bring life, and the first command reminds everyone that God is a liberator who loves people and leads them to freedom, not a tyrant forcing people to submit.

In the days ahead, we’ll slow down and sit with each word from God. Together, they reveal his character and sketch a vision of the abundant life he’s always wanted for people in every generation.

Reflection Question:

What do you usually feel when you consider the 10 Commandments? What difference does it make when you see the commands as God’s words of invitation rather than laws?

Devotional from YouVersion:

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NIV ...
08/25/2026

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14 NIV

The Most Important ThingWhen Jesus was asked by the religious leaders about the most important commandment, He quoted De...
08/24/2026

The Most Important Thing

When Jesus was asked by the religious leaders about the most important commandment, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:5. This verse contains one of the key commands in all of Scripture...

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV

We were created to know and to worship God, as well as to make Him known.

Life is full and schedules are busy, but the most important thing is that we love God with everything we've got. If we're successful but don't love God, we’ve missed the most important thing. If we're healthy but don't look to Him, we've still missed it.

God instructed the Israelites in Deuteronomy to constantly keep this command in their hearts and minds. They made physical reminders to help them remember to love God in everything they did. They taught this command to their children as the foundation of all other commands in Scripture.

Take some time to consider your life as well. Is loving God your primary motivation? Spend some time thinking about how good and merciful God has been in your life. Maybe create a physical reminder that you'll see every day—to help focus your thoughts and heart on loving God.

Remember that God loves you more than you could ever imagine. The best motivation to love God is to constantly remember how much He loved us first.

Devotional from YouVersion:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJ...
08/24/2026

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV

Grace and Truth in JesusFor many centuries, the nation of Israel awaited the coming Messiah who would bring the Kingdom ...
08/22/2026

Grace and Truth in Jesus

For many centuries, the nation of Israel awaited the coming Messiah who would bring the Kingdom of God and make things right in the world. Despite pain, persecution, and setbacks, they persevered because their hope was grounded in the promises of God.

Israel’s wait was finally over when the Messiah, Jesus, arrived. However, Jesus did not come in a grand procession, or with a large army behind Him. He arrived quietly in the stillness of the night, as a baby, in a little town called Bethlehem.

But in a surprise twist: this newborn was not only the Messiah who would free God’s people from their sins—but God Himself. John tells us that “the Word was God” (John 1:1). The Word exists eternally, but for a time took on human form and lived among people.

Jesus began His earthly ministry in the most humble way—by coming as a baby. But, it’s through the person of Jesus that we see the glory of God. Paul says in Colossians, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9).

The miracle of Jesus being born is that He was fully God and fully human. Jesus came from the Father’s glory, but took on human form so that He could live His life on our behalf.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 1:14

Jesus’ ministry on earth can be categorized by these two words: grace and truth. Jesus gave grace to people through the forgiveness of sins. But He also brought truth through His teachings and announcements.

All of us who believe in Christ have received both grace and truth from Him. We have been given a second chance at life because of the forgiveness of our sins, and we are saved from eternal separation from God because of the truths we believe.

Thank God for sending His Son to earth as a baby. Spend some time in prayer thanking Him for the grace and truth that you have received.

Devotional from YouVersion:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ...
08/22/2026

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 NKJV

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Lewisville, TX
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