only one good fear

Firmly Planted – oil and cold wax

⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
⁹ Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.
¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
¹¹ Come, my children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Psalm 34: 8-11 NIV

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. You will find this used in both Old Testament and New to talk of those who are in rightly aligned with God. Fearing the world is not where God wants us to be.

We have gotten so used to fear being a word for terror, anxiety or hopelessness but fear of the Lord is not about a God who judges and condemns but a call for us to honor Him. We should be in awe, respect and submission to His word and His ways.

If you were to do a search of verses on this phrase you would find more and more and more encouragement that the fear of the Lord brings hope, sureness, security and understanding.

God, help us know even further the goodness you have for us. Let us understand how great Your love is for Your children and for Your creation. Let us surrender our fears of this world for our fear and awe of You so we will lack no good thing!

no shame

Breaking Through – final – oil and cold wax

⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.
⁶ This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers them.
Psalm 34:4-7 NIV

These are not just sweet words for us to read and pass over. They are promises for us! God does answer and He does deliver on His word.

We might seem to have the weight of the world on our shoulders, but He’s the one in charge of the cosmos. Let Him carry the burden. Rest in His words of truth.

Gracious God, let us trust in Your word in ways we have never trusted before. Help us to set aside the worries and fears that are trying to keep us from Your promises of goodness so we can run this race with endurance!

celebrate each day

Breaking Through in process stage

¹ I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.
² I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
³ Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:1-3 NIV

If you are one of those who dislikes Mondays – today is a good day to celebrate! God is worth the celebration in all circumstances. Many have labeled their days with words of cursing. After learning more on the power of our words over our days, ourselves, our families and friends, I no longer want to label anything or anyone in a bad way.

Everyday is a new beginning! We have the ability to enjoy each one if we chose. Glorifying God in all our moments. Yes, some moments are tough. Situations and hardships come. But praise for life and fullness – even if its not yet fully revealed helps to bring it more quickly.

Lord, help us to rejoice always and celebrate and praise You for the life that we have. Let us continue to dream of bigger and better but not become bitter in any of our days. Guide us in Your ways today and everyday. Help us live in joy and lift up Your name in blessing each day!

proving ourselves

Goodness – how many times a day do we judge ourselves. We are concerned we are not measuring up to someone else’s life or ideals. Are their ways even realistic for our God designed lives? Is the communication open or were assumptions made?

Subtleties – oil and cold wax

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. ² Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. ³ I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. ⁵ Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
1 Corinthians 1:1-5

Lord help us each day to use the heavenly mirror and see ourselves as you see us. To know that Your love and sacrifice has cleansed us and continues to do so. Help us not to judge ourselves but make adjustments as Holy Spirit brings the conviction. Guide us in understanding the motives of our hearts so no matter what, we are following in your ways! Thank you Jesus for Your gift of redemption!

mysteries

Splendor – oil and cold wax

“Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
Their measure is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.”
Job 11:7-9

Our world is filled with mysteries. From the galaxies above to the center of our earth. Even our bodies and minds that are so intimate with us carry mysteries we don’t understand.

When I was a control freak, I did not like any part of mystery unless it was in a good movie.

I have learned to embrace that I do not need to know all. Instead, I want to know the ONE who does. The Creator of all.

Lord we ask for Your heavenly wisdom, understanding and knowledge of Your ways and thoughts that are higher and purer than our own. We ask for our minds and hearts to be renewed in this coming year and thank you for the many ways you tell us to ask for these things and it will be given to us. Help us to receive Your bountiful gifts Lord!

purge and prune

One of the toughest and most rewarding things from 2020 was what I call a major purge. Since all commitments were on hold, it was the perfect time to do more interior projects. Painting walls, replace light fixtures, wallpaper and repair of little things that have bugged me for years. While many were running around for toilet paper, I was going back to the paint counter.

Tempest – oil 8×10

When your house is small and filled, its hard to get to the walls. I knew it would require saying goodbye to “things” no longer needed. The 13-20 years of paper in file drawers seemed to take longer than painting the walls. The paper gator got most and the shredder chewed valiantly through what was needed.

Humor or not – this was when recycling and donations centers were all closed so a pile stared at me for weeks begging to be brought back inside!

It felt as if I deleted a lot of what I felt were some of my best years. God kept reassuring me through it all, that the best is yet to come! Talk about major pruning… I did have some tough days of tears – both of sorrow and of joyful anticipation.

Some great memories and some hard ones but it is freeing to purge, donate and refresh! God’s timing is right once again as I continue to work from home and have peaceful and more spacious rooms to do it from.

I pray that in the changes God brings for you, you can process the emotions as you need. That you will continue in hope as God brings even better as you make room for what He has in store!

“Behold, the former things have come to pass,
And new things I declare;
Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
Isaiah 42:9 NKJV

vision

Where’s Your Focus?

Where there is no vision, the people perish:
but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18 AKJV

If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
Proverbs 29:18 MSG

2020 was very much a year of seeing new things for all of us. Things we never expected in our lives or our world. For many, the focus was on all that was going wrong. Others were looking to see what God had in mind.

I found it the year that much went right!

I started the year with what I called a “prayer list” instead of normal TO DO or PROJECT list. I had many categories and many listings. The house project list was very full and even in December I marked off things I would have never expected as I had to replace 2 appliances. Never have I had so much of a list accomplished!

It started with prayer! Lord help me….

Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 NKJV

I pray that you will dare to ask God to help you create a list. Keep it in front of you. Pray over it and ask Him what to focus on first. That for all your needs, wants, shoulds and musts, you will bring to Him so He can help you accomplish them!

here’s to NEW

Surprising what one week off from writing can help me accomplish!!

I had one goal before ending the year, creating a NEW art website and it needed a bit more attention than I thought to learn the new platform. Still a work in progress but definitely has most areas set up. My goal was 12/31 and I hit publish on Jan 1! I also found a great way to display paintings in a room view. This is “When Embers Become Flames” 24×36 that I don’t have on the website yet so you get a preview!!!

A day late? A year late? God’s timing is good for me.

If you are curious – www.judikruis.com will bring you to a selection of my newer oil and coldwax paintings.

I was thinking earlier about what the Lord told Habakkuk.
“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:2-3

I pray that you join with me on setting some measurable goals with dates in this coming year and will see that God brings them to life! Not just a resolution but a commitment to work WITH God to see it accomplished!

the light of the world

Merry Christmas to all!

I ponder a lot deeper toward the end of the year. Reviewing my journey and journals and then praying for clear direction, next steps and asking God – What do you want to show me? This year has had a lot more of that along the way but I still intend for some extra time as the year winds down.

After I painted the small pieces for the advent writings, I started on a larger piece in oil/coldwax. Seemed those wise men were sticking around to share more with me. As I did some of the scribbling, I brought some shapes to the area that looked like a stable. In reality – I wish that was the scene across the whole panel!

It still spoke so many messages. I think of how far away those wisemen were but they were watching, listening, expectant. They knew history and prophecy but not when that might really come to be. So it is with us.

Be expectant. Be listening. Be watching.
Expect to see His Light, His Love, His Hope.
The King is there to be found!

• 

• 

• 

May you see the LIGHT that shines in the darkness, guiding you to the ONE who was and is and always will be! Thank you Jesus for the gifts You have given to the world. Let us embrace all that You have to offer and know how deep the Father’s love is through Your precious Son!

See you in the New Year!!! Blessings to your holidays!!!

REJOICE – WORSHIP – GLADNESS

Advent Week 5

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4 NIV

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4 NIV

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise” is repeated throughout the Bible. God has given such an amazing gift through His Son – Immanuel – God with us. He is with us still, no matter where we are, who we are or what is happening in our lives. Jesus was born as the Savior to the whole world. For those who were, those who are and for those who are yet to come.

So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures. James 1:17 MSG

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV

Let this season be one of declaring His goodness and receiving the fullness of joy as you take to heart all that has been done on your behalf. Daily remembering that Father, Son and Spirit are not some far away thing we need to reach for or to earn favor with. They are here – now – within those who believe!