L'il Ol' Sheep

 

5 x 7

Acrylic on canvas

 

 

This little guy is more a representation of me than anything else.  Sheep are not the brightest creatures on earth.  Sometimes it seems it takes quite awhile for God's truth to sink its way from my head into my heart and out into my life lived out.  I seem to have to relearn God's truths over and over.  Can anyone relate?  Sheep must rely on their shepherd for everything.  They are not meant to be self-sufficient.  Still, I often try.  I'm always thinking I have to be the one to plan, to see ahead, to think through and be prepared for things - what a joke.  Only God has access to the future, has an awesome plan, and the power to carry it out.  The question is, will I go my own way trying to see ahead to things I cannot see or relax and let the Shepherd take over?  Will you? 

 

"To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling...be glory and majesty."  Jude 24-25

Lucky Red



acrylic

4 x 4 gallery wrapped canvas

Happy New Year!  I pray you all had a Merry Christmas!   

 

This is a painting of the Lone Cypress Tree of Carmel that I finally painted for my dad.  He and my mom visited that spot on a trip to see my younger sister.  I confess I have feared that photo for four years or so now.  It was never that I didn't want to paint it, rather, the photograph was so breathtaking and I had absolutely no idea how to capture it.  I felt completely inept every time I looked at the picture.  You feel a metaphor coming on, don't you?  I absolutely love how God uses events in our lives, the simplest of things, to remind us of His truths.  I was focussing on the wrong thing. 

How many times in life have you looked at something and felt completely inept?  Completely NOT up to the task at hand, and you wondered how in the world you were going to manage it?  I had a wonderful conversation recently with a dear sweet lady about letting go of control.  How do we function as children of God and completely trust?  How do we tell the difference between our striving and taking things OUT of God's hands (and trying to manage it on our own) and just taking care of the responsibilities God gives each one of us?  I believe it is a moment by moment thing.  Just as you do not eat the food you'll need for the whole day in one meal, God does not give us all the strength, direction, guidance, peace, hope, etc. that we'll need all at once for the whole day.  It is a relationship where we continue to seek Him and He gives.  He continues to show me that my place is at His side; trusting, reaffirming His promises to me, looking for Him in the day's events, and in the faces of the people I meet.  He demands silence from me - not as a cruel taskmaster, but as a loving Father who asks me to turn away from the noise of the world and cover myself in silence so that He may be found by me.  That is our special place.   I look at this tree surrounded by water, high up on a hill and it reminds me to wait.  To wait in silence for my God, my Savior, my Lord who promises to never leave me or forsake me.   He promises that He will be found by those who seek Him.  Seek Him today.  Not just once, not twice, but all day, and watch Him change your life.  "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek me with your whole heart." 

 Jer. 29:13 NIV



White Wagtail

This little guy is a White Wagtail.  I love the name of this bird.  It sounds like a spunky little thing.  Also, being a fan of Chickadees, I love the black markings on its neck and head. It has been awhile since I painted a bird.  I forgot how much I enjoy it.  These days I am a fan of just about anything peaceful.  My husband and I sat out on our little deck the other night and looked up at the clouds as they rolled past, listened to the wind in the trees and pretended for a little while that we were somewhere far away from the suburbs.  It was quiet.  It was peaceful.  It was bliss.  School is winding down and I find my students are in just as much need of quiet and opportunities for creative expression as I am. 

All of this got me thinking about the quietness of spirit that Christ can bring to an unsettled soul. Through my own choices in life, I have created in the past some difficult situations for myself, very unsettling situations.  I've read about the "peace that surpasses all human understanding" and listened to the pastor bless the congregation.  I've felt His love settle my heart and my spirit time and time again when it made no sense for me to be calm, and I've observed Him doing this in others as well.  I told my students recently, "Jesus will give you as much of Himself as you ask for."  What amazing love is that.  Never intrusive, never forcing Himself on us, just waiting....waiting to offer His peace and rest to weary hearts longing for a safe place.  But more than that is joy, unspeakable joy.  It's the joy of knowing that  there is One who knows every thing we've ever done, heard every word we've ever said, every thought we've ever entertained and STILL chose to die to take our punishment upon Himself so that we can live in peace with our heavenly Father.  And He longs to go deeper with us.  He offers truth in His sweet intimacy.  His love is not dependent upon our right actions.  He loves because we belong to Him.  There is no love like that.  Don't know Him?  All it takes is an invitation.  Invite Christ into your heart, sincerely, honestly.  He knows you through and through anyway...even if you've refused to see Him again and again.  He is waiting.  He is willing.       "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."  John 14:18

Patience

This is my current project - an afghan for my son's room.  I made it way too long...so now it will take extra time to finish it.  I like quick projects.  Ha!  What was I thinking?  I've come to understand the value of crochet.  Not just for its usefulness, which is something I appreciate, but because of what it creates in the one doing the crochet.  I'm learning patience.  They say it is a virtue.  It is also a fruit of the Spirit.  I'm expected to exhibit it, learn it, show it, use it.  Yikes.  Thankfully, God is more patient than I, and He is happy to help us in our weakness.  Crochet is helping, I think.  There are no shortcuts unless you want things to fall apart or look terrible.  Kind of a metaphor don't ya think?  We rush things in life we make mistakes, we screw up, things can fall apart or go off in the wrong direction.  My devotions have been talking a lot lately about how God is in control of our lives and is quite capable of planning and taking care of things - but only one person can drive a car.  If I grab the wheel, well...you know.

My family and I just returned from a quick trip to Chattanooga.  Thanks for a great time, Chattanooga!  I drove.  Ever driven for a long time and then had the luxury of someone else taking over the wheel?  Feels good, huh?  I started thinking about the times I grab the wheel away from God.  "Lord, umm...I know You are my Creator and you promise "all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose"  and I gave you my life, but, umm...it doesn't look like you're doing it my way?  I would do it much different.  Couldn't we go a little faster?  What if there isn't a rest stop up ahead?  I'm going to be exhausted.  Watch out for that!  Oh, I thought we would take an exit here.  What if there aren't any opportunities up ahead to eat?  Have you been on this road before?"  UGH!  So.  Here I sit with my crochet by my side just home from a road trip.  On the horizon I see three separate things about which I could very easily scream, "Watch out, God!  Are you looking?  What if....."  But, I will say a prayer instead, thank Him that He is the driver, ask Him to help me enjoy being a passenger, put my trust in His promises to get me there (wherever the THERE is that He's taking me next), and crochet, breathe, crochet, breathe, crochet.  Here's to getting out of the driver's seat and enjoying the ride.

For Addison

It's been far too long since I've posted.  I've kept my hands busy and let my mind rest lately by making my first baby afghan.  It was a different kind of bliss than paint and canvas.  I wonder at our God-given senses sometimes.  Soft skin of newborns, scrunchy soft fur on my sweet friend's puppy, the feel of sand in your toes, gravel's sound on the tires as you drive to a loved ones home, the feel of your child or spouse's hand in yours.  Our senses are amazing.  Why did God bother?  Why did He bother to let us feel the difference between a cat whisker and a fly or a piece of wool yarn?  Why not just see or hear or taste?  Why all five senses and in such depth?  Any dog lover can tell you there is another sense.  Spend time with a well adjusted pooch and feel your stress drain away and a calm, a peace fill you.  How?

  And another thing.  Why did God bother to make Jesus come as a baby?  Couldn't he just zap Him to earth to let Him fulfill His purpose?  He had to feel what we feel - a mother's love, a father's tutelage, the sting of betrayal, cool water on a hot day, the need to have a need met, suffering, betrayal, being let down, judgement, hunger, thirst, the death of a friend, the joy of a hug, the feel of  a sting.  All this.  This is my comfort.  He knows.  He knows me.  He knows me personally.  He was there.  He spoke and I became.  He planned it.  He planned me - quirks and all, all uniquely mine.  Why bother?  It pleased Him to do so.  Think about that.  It pleased Him to create us knowing full well all that it would cost Him.  He still did it.  Still bothered.  Still suffered.  Still died.  Ever held a baby?  Ever looked into that sweet face and lost yourself in the tiny exquisite design?  Imagine Christ's face on that baby.  For you.  Now imagine your face - Christ enamored with you.  That's why He came.  Not to the perfect...to the needy. It pleased Him to do so.  We needed Him and He came.  He knew we couldn't manage it without grace.  He knew we couldn't figure it out on our own or ever be "good enough."  He paid the price for us.  I don't know about you, but I sure need Him.  Happy soon to be birthday little one!  Here's to discovering New Life with Christ.  He says YOU are worth it.

An Old Friend

It's been months since I've touched a brush to canvas.  It felt good tonight to paint again.  I've been working all summer on moving my classroom from one location in the building to another and planning for the year ahead.  It's funny, I always forget how long things take to do in the beginning, always underestimate the time involved in learning procedures, getting through lessons initially, and beginning to feel that rhythm that comes after getting to know each other for a few weeks. Once that is established the real fun can begin.

I've been thinking about my "Old Friend" today - about how incredibly well He knows me and how thankful I am that He has good plans for me.  I love that He knows what tomorrow holds and promises to walk right through every moment of  it with me.  I love that He sings over me.  He sings!  The Bible says so!  And I love that no matter what He never stops loving me.  He can't.  It's physically impossible because He IS love.  Crazy wonderful isn't it? Sometimes I don't notice Him, forget to talk with Him, forget that He already knows the stuff I'm worried about and has a solution and a plan.  I'm glad He forgives that too.
God's blessings everyone.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12