Full Transcript for MID WEEK MOTIVATION - November 11, 2026 "When Ordinary Decorating Becomes An Act Of Worship" (Katie Downs)

00:03:32.560 It felt like the school systems were big, the school was big. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:38.319 Um, it was a little easier for me to integrate myself into there because I was just I was always the new kid. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:38.639 Right. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:42.319 And so there it's so big that you don't feel like the odd man out. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:48.879 Like we moved to Greenville from Texas, and I felt, I mean, there was like 50 kids in in my graduating class. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:51.120 So like everyone's like, Oh, she's the new girl. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:53.919 Like so I l I did enjoy Texas. 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:54.639 Okay. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:55.840 What is your occupation? 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:57.439 What do you do every day? 00:03:57.840 --> 00:03:59.360 Um I'm a baker. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:02.080 My I graduated with an art education degree. 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:02.319 Okay. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:05.039 So I taught art for years, um, about 10 years. 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:06.159 Did you enjoy that? 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:07.120 I loved it. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:16.720 I initially taught high school, and then when we moved, Michael got his first airline job, we moved to Memphis, and I just couldn't find a good high school job. 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:20.079 I ended up in elementary, which I swore I would never teach elementary. 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:22.160 I've I've told people on them, and I can. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:22.639 I have a big thing. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:23.199 I didn't, yeah. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:24.319 Well I have a lot of people. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:30.399 I wouldn't even do um when I was doing like my observation hours, I was like, I did the bare minimum in elementary because I didn't want anything to do with it. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:31.199 And then I loved it. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:32.800 I taught at that school for like eight years. 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:33.439 Oh wow. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:34.399 Loved it. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:40.560 Um but then COVID, I got pregnant with Scarlet, and so we decided to move back down here. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:46.639 Um Michael's from Olive Branch, and so uh I I needed something. 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:48.399 I can't I can't stay home. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:51.279 And so I started my bakery and I love it. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:52.079 Okay. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:52.800 I love it. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:59.040 Um do you bake out of your home or you have a what what are some of the things you specialize in baked goods? 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:01.199 Well, the decorated cookies are the big thing. 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:01.600 Right. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:03.680 And that's kind of what got my start. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:08.160 Um but what I love to do is just to bake things that taste good. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:13.600 So like for Thanksgiving, I'll always just do basic desserts, the pies, the cobblers, and that's what makes me happy. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:16.079 But the cookies pay the bills, you know what I mean? 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:17.040 Absolutely. 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:20.959 So you leverage social media, is that your main marketing output? 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:22.720 I'm terrible at it, but I do. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:24.959 I am not a technology person at all. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:26.879 Like Michael does all of that. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.879 I mean, he's the one that ke keeps me sane with all of that, but I try to. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:34.639 Um I'm terrible financially with all of that. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.240 He has to sit on top of me because I'm like, I don't know how much do I make? 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:38.720 I don't know. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:40.160 I forget to send invoices. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:41.839 I'm like, it's fine, you can pay me later. 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:42.399 I don't care. 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:42.720 Right. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:43.759 I just love to do it. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:47.199 With a small business, you have to cost everything out and like be really, really protective. 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:48.639 Yes. 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:49.199 Absolutely. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:50.720 Michael has a brain for all that. 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:51.600 Oh, yeah. 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:55.279 He budgets us to the penny, he has it all planned out. 00:05:55.519 --> 00:06:01.040 And so I'm just I just am smiling and living my life and just hoping that my husband has put back. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:03.199 And you took him to Disney. 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:09.040 It's hard to take a budget person to Disney because there is there is no good way to go through Disney on a budget. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.279 You just can't even look at it anymore. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:13.120 It just will make you cry. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:13.839 Okay. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:20.639 So with this art background you have, um, is that what got you into your love for interior design and decorating? 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:21.600 Because you're good at that too. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:22.079 Yes. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:23.439 Well, that was my initial plan. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:25.360 I wanted a degree in interior design. 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:27.040 I wanted to be an architect even. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:30.639 Um, and it just it just wasn't feasible, it just didn't work out. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:32.879 And um, I just love it. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:35.600 We are big into DIY stuff. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:36.319 We always have been. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:44.319 Michael's a builder, he loves to like work with his hands and build stuff, and so um that's always been a big love of ours. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:45.040 Okay. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:50.079 Well, we had you on the podcast mainly because the Christmas season is coming. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:50.879 Oh yeah. 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:54.079 And uh I love the Christmas season for

sure. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:59.680 Before we recorded this podcast, I just got off the roof of my house. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:01.360 I've got my lights on the outside of my house. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:02.160 Look at you go. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:08.000 I may not light them up for another week or so, but they're up because if it snaps cold, I'm gonna be mad that I didn't put them on the house. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:13.199 See, I'm gonna make you talk to Michael because he's the big like, oh, after Thanksgiving, and I'm like, no. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:15.439 I'm just waiting for him to go out of town so I can get the Christmas tree down. 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:15.920 Right. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:16.720 Well, here's the thing. 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:19.120 I told I told Hunter this on the podcast last week. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:25.040 We do a lot of decorating, and I don't like keeping Christmas up after Christmas because it's depressing. 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:25.839 It is. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:27.680 So it's only like three weeks. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:29.279 If you wait till after Thanksgiving, it's three weeks. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:29.920 That's right. 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:32.639 And it's not worth doing all that work for just three weeks. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:33.360 That's right. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:37.680 So yeah, next week it'll all be up and we will and we will have it lit up. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:38.319 Yes. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:40.240 A thousand percent. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:40.800 Yes. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:43.439 What is your plan for the church this year? 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:47.759 Do y'all have some different ideas since we've got some redesigns? 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:49.920 Oh yes, we are changing up a good bit. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:54.480 Um well, we can't put up all the dinky stuff after we've done all of this fancy stuff to our church. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:54.800 Right. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:58.000 The the Grand Hall looks fabulous. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:04.879 Um it's one of those things we didn't realize how dated it really was until after it got changed, and they were like, man. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:07.680 I guess I've been doing this for four years, I think. 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:09.439 Um like in charge of Christmas. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:13.519 And that was one of the first things I I call it that it was like the Texas theme. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:16.480 I was like, we need to de-Texas the situation down here. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:19.439 Um so that's what I kind of forced myself into. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:20.399 I was like, Mr. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:23.519 Grant, I'm I want to be involved in every step of this way. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:26.560 And so um I was just so excited. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:28.000 It look all looks amazing. 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:29.120 They did fabulous. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:31.360 Um So what are some of the ideas for this year? 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.039 Are you uh willing to tell us? 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:34.559 Oh, yes, I am. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:38.480 Um we're uh honestly, it's not nothing huge. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:41.679 Um the Grand Hall tree is gonna be probably the biggest change you notice. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:43.279 We're overhauling that tree. 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:52.000 Um I lovingly referred to that one as the grandma tree because that was just where our sweet little grandma ornaments would end up, um, the granny pearls and all that. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:09:09.200 And so we're kind of overhauling that a little bit, um, changing up the color scheme some, um leaning towards like some like kind of uh burgundies, kind of those kind of colors in that area um to play off the blues in the welcome center. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:13.840 Um and then we're kind of moving some of the big problems. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:18.799 Honestly, it was just the spacing of everything, just because some of the layout has changed. 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:24.080 So um the candy tree, it's kind of heartbreaking, but I think we're we're switching that up. 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:28.720 Um I want to keep with that theme, but I think we're gonna go with like a gingerbread instead of the straight candy. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:30.240 Oh, I love the idea of gingerbread. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:31.200 That's kind of classic. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:31.840 Yeah. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:39.120 Um the colors will go better, but it's still kind of that um kid friendly, you know, like kind of goes with it being next to the nursery. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:43.679 Um but other than that, it's just kind of replacing things. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:48.320 We are getting one new tree to put in the what they call the crossroads area. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:55.279 Um and other than that, I think it's just some new decor, just changing up the colors a little bit. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:57.279 And y'all have done that throughout the years. 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:02.240 I feel like you have silver and gold options and you'll kind of hop back and forth. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:05.600 So um I think that was probably like a big change. 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:16.000 I've um, you know, there's normally like kind of a picture of what the trees have looked like in the past, and it's like we can kind of give the picture to the person that's decorating it, and they can go off of that. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:17.919 And I am not that kind of person. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:20.720 Um I have always been at work with what we have. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:30.399 And um, like we even had your wife, who she I had a whole little Jennifer Lewis uh section of the tree because she painted all these beautiful abstract ornaments. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:34.000 We had a little paint party last year to just use up all these ornaments that we have. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:36.879 Um, but we've kept the MPC. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:42.159 When I

first started, I I overhauled those trees and it's ended up being pretty timeless. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:44.159 So we're we're keeping that stuff the same. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:49.279 Um and I try to just work with what we have for the most part. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:52.000 But when does decorating start? 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:53.759 It says on this calendar, the 16th. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:54.320 Is it gonna start? 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:56.159 Yeah, the trees come down that Monday. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:57.840 About how long will it take us? 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:00.799 Uh a week and a half, probably. 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:05.200 Um we are gonna try to do the big trees first this year. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:11.600 Last year I ended up with COVID during the week, and so I was like trying to decorate while everyone else was out of the church so I wouldn't get anyone else sick. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:19.279 Um so we want to do the MPC first because we end up doing it last previously, and it's like we're so tired. 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:23.440 Um, shout out to Ashley Smith and Beth Thomas because they're my partners in Rom. 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:25.679 And we will just stay up at the church till 2 a.m. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:28.320 I get Michael to come sit up, he's our little security guard at the front. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:29.440 That's funny. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:33.200 Um so I'm like, let's try to get that done first because those are the most important ones. 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:33.679 Right. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:36.240 Um, but yeah, it takes about a week. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:37.200 Okay. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:37.840 All right. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:40.000 What do you do at your house for decorating? 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:45.360 Well, that is the downside of being in charge of the Christmas year. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:50.960 So my goal, that's why I'm like, this weekend, well, Michael just texted me and he picked up a trip for Sunday. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:54.399 And I love my husband dearly, but he is just ball humbug. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.360 He's just a grump. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:58.159 He don't he just doesn't care anything about it. 00:11:58.320 --> 00:11:59.840 He's like, what about Thanksgiving? 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:01.840 And I'm like, Thanksgiving's for food, not for decor. 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:02.240 That's right. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:06.159 Like we can eat the same food at Thanksgiving with a Christmas tree, and I don't understand the problem. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:13.039 So um I would like to get decorated at my house before I start decorating at the church. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:17.360 Because once I start decorating at the church, I don't want to deal with it at my house anymore. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:19.519 So that's the problem that I have. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.279 So that means it's gotta be this week. 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:21.759 I know. 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:24.480 Well, that's always my plan, and then I don't ever actually do it. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:27.919 And so then I end up with just the dinky Christmas tree in the living room. 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:30.480 Well, I think you should go home after we film this right now. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:32.080 You just should just start. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:33.120 I'm just gonna do it. 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:33.759 Absolutely. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:34.960 I don't need permission. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:36.480 Just do what I want to do. 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:37.679 Absolutely. 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:42.240 Well, we appreciate you so much and all that you've done here at the church and all that you continue to do. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:42.879 Thank you. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:48.799 All right, we are now gonna shift to our devotion portion of the podcast that we call the midweek moment. 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:59.120 There's something about decorating for Christmas that I absolutely love. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:01.919 The lights, the trees, the ornaments, the garland. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:07.679 There's just something special about taking in ordinary space and transforming it into something beautiful. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:12.559 And if you're anything like me, sometimes you can get a little carried away with it. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:20.159 But have you ever stopped to think that our desire to create beautiful things might actually reflect something about the God who created us? 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:24.399 In Exodus chapter 35, we meet a man named Bezalel. 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:31.200 Now, Bezalel wasn't a prophet, he wasn't a priest, he wasn't some great military leader, he was a craftsman. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:38.559 And the scripture tells us that God filled him with the Spirit and gave him wisdom, understanding, and the knowledge to create beautiful things. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:47.519 God specifically gifted this man with creativity so that he could help build and decorate the tabernacle, a place where God's people would gather to worship him. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.039 I love that. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:53.840 Because sometimes I think that we limit worship to songs we sing on Sunday mornings. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:56.720 But worship can be so much more than that. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:05.279 It can be found in the things we create, the work of our hands, and the care we put into making something beautiful for the glory of God. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:07.919 And that brings me back to Christmas. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:11.840 When we decorate our homes, hang the lights, and prepare everything for the season. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:15.600 What if we approach those little things differently this year? 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:26.480 What if, instead of seeing Christmas decorating as just another task on our holiday checklist, we saw it as an opportunity to celebrate the creativity of our Creator. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:33.919 After all, Christmas is the celebration of the greatest gift God ever gave us, His Son Jesus Christ. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:39.039 And all those beautiful decorations can become little reminders of that incredible gift. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:42.240 The lights can remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:46.879 The evergreen trees can remind us of the everlasting life we have through Him. 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:51.120 And the beauty of the season can remind us of the beauty of God's love. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:15:00.320 Now there's nothing particularly spiritual about hanging a strand of Christmas lights, and having the prettiest house on the street certainly doesn't make us any closer to God. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:09.360 But the heart behind what we do can turn even ordinary activities into opportunities to honor Him. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:18.559 Colossians 3.17 reminds us that whatever we do in word or deed, we should do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:26.720 So this Christmas, as you pull out those boxes of decorations and untangle those lights, trying to remember which ones worked last year. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:30.879 Remember this you were created in the image of a creative God. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:35.759 And the creativity He's given you is one more opportunity to bring Him glory. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:38.879 This Christmas, don't just decorate for the season. 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:43.039 Let the things you create point people to the Savior. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:50.320 Thanks for listening. 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:53.039 If you don't have a church home, we'd love to see you here on Sunday mornings. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:59.279 You can catch our services online at Desotahills.com, our YouTube channel at DeSota Hills Baptist Church for all of our church family. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:15:59.919 We love you. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.639 We'll see you back here next Wednesday morning, bright and early. 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:03.600 God bless. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:05.840 This has been your midweek motivation. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:09.039 We'd love to have you join us in person on Sunday mornings. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:11.840 Our services are at 9 and 10 30 a.m.