remain

Things of life don’t always remain the same. Change is guaranteed and all of our planning can be diverted quickly, often making life seem out of control. BUT…there is always a BUT to consider… even when we feel its out of control, God is still constant. We do have something we can count on never changing.

I was thinking of John 15 – verse 4 Message says, “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.”

How often do we feel that God is far from us?
Has He forgotten us, did we blow it, or is He too busy in some other country?

At His Feet

God can forget our sins, but He never forgets His children. Even those who stray far from Him. The story of the prodigal comes to mind and even parents that have been separated from their children for a time – they don’t forget.

So if you are feeling left out, alone – know that GOD IS CONSTANT, He never leaves, never forsakes and always loves. It is His nature – and thankfully – He never changes!!! Trust Him.

Blessings to your week. May you feel His presence encouraging you each moment and KNOW that as a lover of Jesus – Christ is IN you – never distant!!! 

under the surface

Let’s restart simple and fresh – more on what God’s been doing will come but here is a painting that I started during a healing service and felt many words from God as I worked on it at home. Let me know your thoughts….

Under the Surface – oil on canvas

It is actually hard to paint so many words and for people to read them but it felt right. For easier reading – here they are…

Long before the brush touches the canvas, the ideas and images are forming. Bringing them to life is not just a matter of skill but a matter of the heart and the soul. A journey into the unknown. A courageous step of faith to bring life to an empty canvas. Sharing an intimate look that leaves one vulnerable and exposed.  It must be done. The painting will come to life with one message but so many more are “under the surface” waiting to be discovered. We all have a story that needs to be shared with someone, somewhere. Now is the time to push aside the perceived limitations and rediscover the message you have not yet shared. You have all you need and what you have is what someone else is waiting for. Be brave. The canvas can’t be completed without you.

 

fullness in Christ

Swims – mixed media

What does it mean to have Christ dwell in us?
How does it change us?
Have we really received His fullness?

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. Colossians 2:9

Fullness has been strong in my mind as I read and pray so I have stayed in Colossians asking – What are You trying to show me Lord?

Some sense a lack of God’s fullness and attention, maybe feeling unworthiness or it has to be earned. And I examine myself and see I too can see life from that perspective and it’s not what His word says or His message of grace…

How GREAT is our Fathers love!

Now you know why I don’t post all of my journals here :0)

the story continues

Dreaming Fields

A church is talking about how art “adds to the beauty”, as my friend put it, and asked if I could share something to display. “Dreaming Fields” is one that they used. She asked me to share some of it’s story.

For it’s first exhibition I used the words “This piece will show the beauty that surrounds us all but the intensity that comes when we find our passion and focus on it.”

It’s story, like yours and mine, continues to unfold.

A family friend saw a photo of this and said she wanted to buy it. It reminded her of her days on the farm. The freedom of the fields and the joy of nature. When dementia required her to move with family and live in CA, they allowed me to reclaim the painting. Mom and I went to CA to celebrate her 80th birthday in January of 2015. She knew people well but didn’t remember much more. In March, she passed in her sleep.

beauty surrounds us

While this was displayed with its SOLD sign, someone saw it online and gave me a call. They were making a movie and the lead actress was portraying an artist. They wanted to buy this painting for the movie. I explained it was already sold. They came to my home that Sunday, saw my other work and I agreed to paint a smaller one making the girl blond. Somewhere in the movie are also the words, “Beauty Surrounds Us.” A copy was made to travel to Africa where they filmed scenes about bringing clean water to those in need. I was even an extra in art festival scenes filmed in my city. That scene was cut and later redone in LA area near where Ann moved to.

Last week I received a facebook invite to like the movie “Chasing the Rain” from the director. A time for the story’s next steps… and ours too!

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecc 3:11

full hearts

New Discovery

What are you pondering in your heart?

Luke has several areas on the heart that are catching my attention.

Mary – treasuring and pondering the words spoken about her son Jesus. Luke 2
Jesus – knows the thoughts, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Luke 5

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45

The parable of seed and soil is about the heart. Luke 8

Love the Lord your God with all your heart… Luke 10:25

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12

It’s not about what you know, where you go, how others see you, what you own, where you live, how much you can memorize – it’s about your heart…

He loves you BEYOND measure!
Will you love Him back the same way?

simplicity

Matter of the Heart

Did God win your heart by telling you how horrible you are?

Usually we are won over by love and caring – not condemnation.

We can’t clean ourselves up enough but He knows how to do that well. We don’t make ourselves righteous – and especially not through comparison – it’s Christ who brings us to right standing. It’s not another’s opinion that matters most – it is HIS!

Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness.
Ephesians 5:26-27 MSG

May you know in your heart AND your mind today – God chose you. He loves you beyond measure. He wants to bring out the best in you AND wants you to bring out the best in others!

guilt

closed hand

For years Jesus Calling was my devotional and recently I picked it up again. Some things are good to hang on to!

From September 23 –

“If you carry a burden of guilt on your back, you are more likely to stumble and fall. At your request, I will remove the heavy load from you and bury it at the foot of the cross.” Sarah Young

How many days are we digging up something that was already removed and trying to carry it again?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Are you ready to release things too?

God’s shown me several non-beneficial things I’ve dug up and tried to carry again – thankfully He also helps me to recognize and release, so I can receive the fullness He desires to give.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. Psalm 107:2 KJV

note – love self

Do you find it hard to love “some” others?

His message hasn’t changed and one of our hardest battles is in truly loving as Jesus did. Maybe we don’t know how to love ourselves as we should…

holy and blameless

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
James 2:8

Help us Lord to see ourselves as You see us, dearly loved, Your delight, made new, forgiven, whole, more than conquerors…
Help us to not compare and reject ourselves or others but to see as You see.

Give us Your eyes Lord.

Ask the Lord for new light as you read His Word…let it touch your heart not just your head, that His Spirit would speak to our spirit.

beloved

Several weeks ago I had the word beloved keep playing in my mind and saying it needed to be painted.

How do you paint BELOVED?

With the blank canvas in front of me and not knowing what was to come, I painted the phrase “He calls you beloved.” Now how do you get the rest of the paint on the canvas? You paint over it and do it again.

I think we often forget that WE ARE HIS BELOVED. It may be inside but we don’t see it enough so we need to put it on the outside too.

Maybe it’s time for a beloved sticker on your mirror, your war room wall (good movie!), or on your computer. Could be why a young woman has it tattooed on her forearm.

The world will never give us the best picture of ourselves. It seeks to point out flaws and sell cover-ups.

Listen to what He says about you – that is the real truth!

God designed you so beautifully and HE calls you BELOVED!!

knocking

narrow door

Sometimes the words need a picture and other days the picture brings His Words…

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 3:20-22 NKJV

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have so much they want to give to us and so much that we don’t need, that they want to take from us.

I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for – will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
John 10:9-10

Someone’s knockin’ at the door.
Somebody’s ringin’ the bell.
Someone’s knockin’ at the door.
Somebody’s ringin’ the bell.
Do me a favor,
Open the door and let ’em in….
Paul McCartney & Wings – 1976

Will you let ‘Em in?