a new thing

One of my friend’s favorite sayings is,
“God is doing a new thing!” 

After hearing this many times and knowing it was part of a verse, I looked it up and committed more if it to my memory bank.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

And then you start to notice same and very similar words are used in many more places. God has always been making something out of nothing, bringing life where there was death and flowing water even from rocks. Nothing is too hard for Him. He loves the impossible, the improbable and taking the foolish things to confound the wise. And many days – I’m confounded in ways that bring me even more AWE and WONDER at His great creativity!!

The Message version is fabulous here – verses 16-21
This is what God says,
    the God who builds a road right through the ocean,
    who carves a path through pounding waves,
The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—
    they lie down and then can’t get up;
    they’re snuffed out like so many candles:
“Forget about what’s happened;
    don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
    It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
    rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’
    —the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert,
    rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose,
    the people I made especially for myself,
    a people custom-made to praise me.

I pray even this week, you will see God making a way where there seems no way and will recognize His hand at work in your life and relationships. He is so very generous and loves to give good gifts to His children! 

 

 

describe your river

Sunrise Paddle

What is in our daily water?

Deep thoughts and rich conversation are happening as I facilitate a class on Evangelism and Spiritual Warfare. Definitely has me more aware of what I’m storing in my river and what I’m using for my personal flotation device.

Jesus came to set us FREE – why are we not living from HIS freedom?
Are we letting HIM renew our minds, our actions AND our words?
Do doubts, lies and curses come out of our mouths?

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Flu is going around…I’m next.
Well last year…it will probably happen again.
Even saying, “I’m worried” or  “I’ll never be…” or …”______”

Fill in your own…or maybe a better plan is DON’T! 
What are your thoughts and conversations usually focusing on?

Most news and updates with friends or family are what negative has been happening. We often need to know those things BUT He tells us not to be anxious and all things are possible. We need to recognize what is in our river and then it’s our choice if we focus on what Jesus really did to bring us LIFE or stay gazing on the one who seeks to muddy our waters.

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

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

We don’t need to settle for only a season of thankfulness when He came to give us a life of abundance. Everyday should be a focus on the blessings God has so generously given. Let us look different than the world and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2)

thanks in all things

 

1 Thessalonians 1 – ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Seems like a mighty tall order and I ponder and ask,
“Am I doing this?”
“What does this mean to my life?”

What does it really look like to –
REJOICE ALWAYS?
PRAY CONTINUALLY?
GIVE THANKS IN ALL?

Then to read further that it’s God’s will…which says to me it’s not just a suggestion.

I think of John 10:10 – the bad of the thief or the abundance of God – where will we focus?Some may feel we need to rejoice, pray and thank for the bad in our lives. Which it does bring character, strength and more. But I feel Paul is saying for us to remember always God’s promises, His words of encouragement and Christ’s victory at the cross.

I think this verse brings some great leftovers to continue this Thanksgiving week.
May your days be filled with His goodness and grace! God’s blessings to you and yours.

tune ups

Spirit Dance

Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Praise like prayer is not a one way street. It’s one of the most amazing parts of any relationship and especially with Father, Son and Spirit.

Even a simple hymn should not just be about hitting the right notes, but hitting the genuine heart strings.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12

That is something to praises about!!
Let our praises each day bring a deeper tuning of our hearts to Yours Lord…

 

embracing unknowns

Untitled

This painting still brings me more questions than answers. I started it while in our worship service and then continued as normal while at home. It did not go in the direction I had planned.

It began with the dark underlay and I was layering lots of paint with the palette knife for texture and assuming the majority of the finished piece would actually be white tones with depths of red. At home as I continued the piece and the worship – I felt led to remove more and more paint. I was also taking many pictures along the way. It would have been good to write as I was experiencing this, but words were not there.

It was a very spiritual process as if it were a war in the heavenlies. This may seem like a dark painting in some ways but I was sensing the victory side for certain. My feelings were not ones of defeat, fear or worry but of conquering, overcoming and daring to engage.

Giving this a title is another question altogether!

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:1-5, 37-39

 

finding delight

Sometimes the most beautiful moments are found in the mess of unfinished things. 

Smelling fresh cut wood under the saw.
Sampling cookie dough.
Lathering shaving cream.
Seeing a sun burst through the clouds.
(Even in a construction zone!)

Everything and everyone is in process. 

We often hold off our enjoyment of life until something is completed, corrected or accomplished.

God brings so much goodness around us begging for our attention and praise…

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

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Psalm 111:2

I pray your senses will be further awakened to find new joy and delight in each day!

its a process

triptych in process (3 squares)

Good paintings and not so good ones take time. We regularly seek immediacy. Drive-thru’s are not just for burgers anymore.

We recently exhibited at Great Legs Winery where they shared the process of their wine – it’s been aging five years in anticipation for their business.

How long have you been bottled and waiting?

Do you think our Creator, knows the best time for release?

A regular question we ask God is, “Why?”
I’ve found much better results in asking, “What am I to learn through this?”
Yet Jesus’ first miracle made the BEST wine in a very short time.

Our preparation time, used wisely, sets us up for the right release.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52

If Jesus, David, Joseph, Abraham and Sarah had to wait a bit, why do we think everything should be immediate? Do we learn listening, patience, peace, and self-control when we rush, whine and demand? 

I am definitely a believer in the power of prayer and God acting immediately but impatience often holds us from the wisdom we need more than our answer.

I pray we will be expectant for His answers and patient in the process as He continues to create the masterpiece of our lives!

making moments

The Light Shines

It’s definitely been another adventurous year!
I hope you found many moments to cherish in your Christmas and all of these days of 2015. Usually my last week of the year is set on reviewing journals and messages from God. This year I kept reviewing as I went. It has felt like a steamship that was in port has been let out to the sea…and my current work is being a deck hand so concentrating on what my daily tasks are and letting God steer.

Our Zeeland Artists gallery has been well received in it’s little downtown shop. I had fun creating some whimsical art pieces for family gifts this Christmas and also for our sermon series on The Light.

We all have areas that darkness tries to overwhelm but Jesus reminds us in John 16:33 to take heart, because HE HAS overcome the world!

I pray your coming year brings even more of the dreams God has for your life into being. We are never too old, too young, too weak, too…anything. Because it really is not about us – His Word is truth and with Christ ALL things are possible!

Think with possibility and be a blessing everywhere you go!

its coming

More is always coming!

A unique season here as I seem to be re-entering the “outside” art world. A month long exhibit for our art group is happening in a nearby city. A local business person has let us do quick weekend displays in his store. Since his space is not being fully utilized we asked about displaying art regularly. After some discussions, he has very graciously agreed. We are amazed at how its coming together!!

He is let us have the downtown front windows and has moved his hardware further back. Their framing area will remain in the space and we believe we will be a good compliment to each other and to the community.

I think we agreed on our window signage last night…

Hardware – Framing – Art
…the working studio of Zeeland Artists Collective

Set up is Dec 1 with a community event Dec 9-12.
That is a change that will keep you a bit busier!

back when I can…

cloudy to clear

cloudy to clear

Sunshine brings extra beauty to what some would call ordinary. A amazing day again for capturing images of the changing leaves. One of the things I paint in my head as I view them…

I experience a period of frightening clarity in those moments when nature is so beautiful. I am no longer sure of myself, and the paintings appear as in a dream. Vincent Van Gogh

Oh, brethren, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to you. C.H. Spurgeon

Thank you Lord for the slice of heaven You bring to us each day. Help us to see the moments with new clarity and not let them slip away…