Sing!

This was an early morning piece.  The house was quiet except for the birds chirping outside. "Sing" came to mind after I finished painting.  Guess I was more conscious of the birds than I realized.  Funny, people think of singing only when you're happy.  It's the times I need Jesus most that I sing.  It's like thanksgiving - a willful act, a choice to praise when things aren't going the way you've planned.  I think THAT is what singing is for - to lift us up and out of the "right now" of life, to make us stand firm, to remember in Whom our feet are firmly planted.  "The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." Psalm 37:23

We sing when our "plan" isn't lining up with God's - when His way seems a hard way...but we're choosing trust, choosing faith, choosing to persevere and hold onto Him until the end, until He sees us through.  Then our songs become those of joy because we held on.  We trusted.  Today I'm thinking of my sister whose husband is serving overseas.  I've seen her stand firm in her faith and watched as the two of them maneuvered through the difficulties of military life with humor, determination, and a deep dedication to one another.  Today we sing as a nation - a song of remembrance and of thanks for the freedom to say what we feel, to live as we believe,  to serve God and live our lives enjoying our freedoms.  For those who have served, those overseas now, and those who died serving... thank you, and may God richly bless you and your families.  Happy Memorial Day.

Reaching

12 x 12

acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

This one is in honor of my nephew, Tyler and his Confirmation today. What an awesome and Holy moment - a young man confessing his faith in his Savior, professing his beliefs, and making a choice to follow Christ on what is definitely NOT an easy path, but so worth it. I am so proud of him. Witnessing that moment brought back so many memories - huge failures and the harsh consequences from choices made out of desperation instead of strength, times of forgiveness, tears, and heartache...and much healing.  And grace.  God's incredible grace.  As I sat in the church service this morning I wanted so badly to tell those boys all the lessons I'd learned, the hard lessons I could've avoided if only I'd listened, believed, asked, waited, hoped, held on, and loved myself more.  I thought of all the hard choices they have ahead, the mistakes, the fears...life. Then there was that phrase, "With the help of God."  What more could we ask for?  Those boys stood and promised to follow Him....with the help of God. And I felt peace realizing yet again that He knew us in advance, before our birth, before our first breath.  That's the point.  He went to the cross knowing us, knowing what our choices would mean for Him.  Yet He went.  And He comes.  He comes to each of us.  Quietly, gently, beautifully.  Are you reaching for something more?  Be assured that He is reaching for you.  Ask Him to make Himself known to you. Invite Him in and watch Him do something amazing in you.  God's blessings.

Collage

8 x 8

 acrylic on canvas board

Contentment.  That was my pastor's sermon today.  He spoke about contentment and learning to be happy with "enough."  That really spoke to me today.  I'm so full of striving.  I strive to be so much better at just about everything I do.  While it's so good to continue working toward a goal and learning, is it possible to continue learning without striving?  I've always heard that to strive to do more and be more is a good thing.  I'm not so sure sometimes.  I get so busy pushing myself harder and harder that I forget to stop and be in the moment I've been given.  I hold myself up to some standard that is only reflective of my own expectations ( many of which cannot be met ).

This painting is titled "Collage."  It is an assemblage of previous paint palettes,  a great shade of green and some cool acrylic medium.  It has great symbolism for me today.  It reminds me that God can take the bits of my life, good and bad, and work them into His perfect plan.  He can use it all and make it into something good.  Where I fall short, when I really mess up, and when I'm completely at my best - He takes all of that and is able to turn it into something worthwhile somehow.  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28 What an amazing God.  How cool is that? Just goes to show...He truly IS "enough."
God's blessings!