Opposites don't attract...

Fear puts life on lock down.

Hope opens all locks.

Worry keeps life stagnant.

Joy freshens the spirit.

Anxiety slows progress.

Peace allows growth.

Negativity closes the soul.

Positivity opens the heart.

Allow good to rule.

Permit happiness to exist.

Find respite and balance

through prayer and solitude.

Image is latest in Woman A to Z. You may wonder why I get so stuck on ideas. I always exhaust it until I can think no more things to do with. There are always images and symbols and themes I constantly return to. Some ideas are never finished. Like yesterday in my kids class, doing HANDy art; working with them opens up new possibilities so be looking for some hand images to reoccur soon.

Reflections: Care of the Soul

Reflections while reading CARE OF THE SOUL by Thomas Moore:

Day and Night
Good and Evil
Angels and Demons
Sky and Earth
A little of each
exists within each the soul.
So to preserve one is to accept the other.
A kind of balance.

Observe the sacred.
Allow it to meld with your soul.
Seek it with your whole heart.

Reality is formed in our soul.
Illusion in our mind.
Balance in our spirit.

Open to the journey
I follow an unplanned path
To finding wholeness and
Balance.

Abandon self.
Find soul.
Know place.
Retreat.

Embrace experience.
Sustain energy.
Explore depths.
Venture into the unknown.

You must know the pain to feel the healing.

Image is digital play ( a way I care for the soul - imagination and creativity cares for my soul.)

New Chance

The day awakens.

Prayers are lifted.

Scripture teaches.

Hope abounds.

Noon arrives.

Prayers are remembered.

Scripture is considered.

Hope grows.

Night falls.

Prayers are repeated.

Scripture calms.

Hope survived.

Picture from marina at New Bern, NC

A Great Time for FAMILY

Lots of memories made visiting son in New Bern NC. Here we are at Tryon Palace.

New Bern Retreat

the sound of gulls

the feel of the air

the love of a family

time in New Bern, NC

the laugh of a father

the stories of a journalist

the love of a mother

time in New Bern, NC

the time sharing a meal

the special smiles for photos

the love of gathering memories

time in New Bern, NC

(written while visiting my son; photo taken with imac photo booth)

Alone with God

Walk alone but

trust God.

Stand alone but

lean on God.

Sit alone but

pray to God.

Sing alone but

listen to God.

If you are satisfied alone with God,

you are achieving balance.

More "woman a to z"

Soul Journal Map

As usual when I start an art prompt I tend to take off in my own direction....I am a homebody...what more can I say? I LOVE CALLING NC HOME!

Image is paint, marker, ink, folded paper and prismacolor.

the destination

A walk in silent desperation
Seeking a loftier destination
Rapidly increasing the gait
Hoping for the Savior, await
Worry and pain release
Reward with joy and peace
Letting go of trouble and fear
Replacing with God so near

woman a to z digital collage

Listen

Evolving Art

Art evolves. You start with an idea, like I did in my art journal of woman shapes and letters from an old stencil from when I use to do church posters and signs when I was in high school. You do a picture and keep pushing it to the limit. Throw on some paint. Use a stencil. Experiment. Don't be afraid of messing up. You can cover up anything with more paint, gesso or collage elements. Have fun. Discover the joys of creation. Just imagine how much fun God when he was creating the world. Of course, he got it right the first time. We messed it up with our own alterations but that's what we creatives do......well, stick to the canvas or paper and just go for it!

Peace like a river

When peace like a river

gathers round you every day,

You'll find a joy for living

like none anywhere else.

God is your protector and

will never leave your side.

His grace is freely given and

in Him you shall abide.

When peace like a river flows

through your daily world,

you'll find a bit of heaven

in today's hectic life.

You'll know love and comfort;

you'll know which way to travel

and God will be with you now

and eternal.

Woman

Emotionally spent.
Physically wounded.
Spiritually lost.
Mentally exhausted.
Socially withdrawn.
Woman.

Emotionally giving.
Physically ever-present.
Spiritually driven.
Mentally hopeful.
Sociallyalert.
Woman.

*****************************
Some days the will to keep on keeping on
is not there,
but God is.
Some days the faith
Isn't strong enough,
but God is.
Some days the prayers
are wordless.
but God isn't.
Some days the joy and hope
is absent,
but God isn't.
Some days life
is impossible,
but God isn't
Some days
peace
is illusive,
but God isn't.
Some days the spirit
is weak,
but God isn't.
Some days should just be ignored,
but never ignore God.

Thank God! He can be all and do all.

Wordless prayers

are heard by God.

Dry tears

are wiped away by God.

Voiceless songs

touch God's heart.

Thankless hearts

are blessed by God.

Lost souls

are found by God.

Dark days

are brightened by God.

Broken spirits

are healed by God.

Hopeless lives

are restored to God.

Digital "Woman A to Z" digital image of hand cut alphabet from an alphabet stencil colored and re colored and layered. Overlay ed on a pic of me. (Some of you may wonder why I use my own image in so much of my art. It's easier to get permission and avoid upsetting someone if they don't life your protrayal of them.)

Woman is A to Z

Woman is everything. In everything. Everything is born of woman. I am working on an alphabetical listing of what describes woman, personifies who she is and what she does. If you'd like to submit your list, do so and I will add it to this blog. I won't share my list just yet so as to not influence.

Thank a woman today for what she means to you and your life.

Image is from my art journal with some play on female image with a handcut stencil of a woman, alphabet stencil, acrylics and prismacolors.

You can decide

Write your own story.

Turn the page.

Be the main character.

Decide which direction to take.

Know the possibilities of living a

full, happy, and good life.

Image is another in the series "Woman Ato Z"
Mixed media on canvas, tape, gesso, acrylic and prismacolor.

balance found

emotional baggage deleted

dreams and wishes realized

balance on even keep

life simple

time for all creative endeavors

family and friends must understanding

of this need I have

and the time it requires

it's like the need for

food

oxygen

sleep

without it I'm a total wreck

it is my saving grace from God

my diversion to worldly issues

part of my salvation

God gets it

He gave it to me

only another truly creative gets it

so here I am

stuck

struggling alone to reach

my place of Nirvana

paint flowing

lines running

colors blending

images meshing

layer upon layer

I find peace slowly

I find a moment of perfect balance

hunger is satisfied

prayers are amended

dreams are fulfilled

I am wholly complete

but exhausted

is this what life means

exhausted but satisfied

I think yes

this may not be literary or even poetic nor profound

but it comes from my soul

it fully signifies my current status

perfectly

a step closer to real true

balance

image is another version of WOMAN-A to Z

Qustions answered

DOUBT?
PRAY HARDER!
FEAR?
CLING TO GOD!
WORRY?
TRUST THE CREATOR!
LOST?
SEEK FAITH!
HURT?
KNOW THE HEALER!
DESPONDENT?
MEDITATE!
CONFUSED?
STUDY GOD'S WORD!
WEARY?
REST IN THE SPIRIT!
GUILT?
TURN TO THE SAVIOR!

Image is watercolor with salt texture and stenciled alphabet.

Easter Reflections continued

Lord's Supper
Serve another
Selfless Love
God personified

Good Friday
Christ's sacrifice
Joyful pain
Weep not.
Easter comes.


Easter Day
Awesome miracle
Truth revealed
Rejoice!
Hallelujah!

how to

a heart and soul

repaired

a body and spirit

strengthened

a life and mind

enriched

creativity aids this

a heart and soul

calmed

a body and spirit

healed

a life and mind

restored

prayer accomplishes this

Finding B A L A N C E through prayer

Lord,
Breathe into my lungs
Your strength and holiness.
Speak into my heart
Your love and peace.
Look into my soul
With your perfect sight
And send the healing I need.
Listen to my cries and
Soothe them with your embrace.
Place your calming thoughts
Into my mind and give me
The balance and serenity
I seek.

Amen

Image is paper doll fun with scraps.

Thrive and Flourish

Never has a message been stronger
than when I saw the broken
and crooked dogwood tree.
Despite its unearthed roots
and wounded branches,
it bloomed and thrived.
With the same life giving Creator,
I too can flourish,
even when times of trial come.

Happy Easter!

Hallelujah! He is risen!

Jesus and the Children

Here's another picture from
Living Lord's Supper.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Good Friday Thoughts

Restless and sleepless night yielded these words:

Life is a journey
with no need for destination.
We are where we are at any given moment and
we make the best of it.

Life is a trial
with no need for sentence.
We deal with it one day at a time
taking it as it comes, good and bad.

Life is a test
with no need for pass or fail.
We work hard and do our best
and find satisfaction in completion.

Life is a process
with no need for a set pattern or plan except
we are born and we die.
Between, we find
good memories made,
hopeful challenges,
and peaceful conclusions.


Image is from my church's Living Lord's Supper on Maundy Thursday.

broken but able

Heal my broken wings

for one more flight.

Save my sin ridden body

through your almighty love.

Bless me with your presence

and your pre-dawn moonlight.

First Light Thoughts

achy....tried.....must rise

to do list

prayers and devotions first

answer email

find inspiration

get going

know that things perk up and

life will go on

grab the toast

head for the door

walk

find peace and balance

(this is typical of my morning -thought it may make sense to another)

after the walk

a chilly start but

God's bright light

through the grey and lavender clouds

warmed my soul

a painful start

but God's warmth

began to course through my veins and

life was about healing

a quiet start

with coffee and journal and

balance will be found

energy restored

and a willing spirit

for another 24

Image is a little watercolor yoga gal and her thoughts

More journal art

Here is another example of using your art already made, scanned and working with further. No risk of ruining original. Great way to stretch an idea. Exhaust it until you are finished with it.

Seasonal Lessons

To believe in spring
is a promise of hope.
To find its truth
is a message from creation.

To know summer
is to understand comfort.
To feel its warmth
is a gift from creation.

To experience autumn
is to trust endings.
To surrender to its reasoning
is a bequest from creation.

To appreciate winter
is to recognize contentment.
To discover its beauty
is a legacy of creation.

Image is of Star of Bethlehem blooming in my back yard.

Questions for Holy Week

• Have I denied the seriousness of my sin?
• Do I try to make myself invisible only to be seen by God?
• Do I forget the importance of observing Lent?
• Do I forget that peace in chaos is God's specialty?
• Have I betrayed Jesus for less than 30 pieces of silver?
• Have I missed the beautiful images of communion and their meaning for me?
• Have I too often allowed the world to rob me of God given confidence?
• Do I ignore my purpose for life given by God?
• When I pray "thy will be done"--do I really mean it?
• Do I keep my promises?
• Have I forgotten my strength comes from the Lord?
• Am I really who I am in private or public or both?
• Who am I really?
• Do I allow God's sufficiency to be my everything?
• Am I too proud to bear the cross?
• Is my faith true?
• Jesus is always Jesus? Am I always true to that?

If these questions were a test, I would surely fail, but because of God's remarkable Son, I not only pass the test but win ever lasting life!

Maybe you'd like to share your thoughts on these tough questions or even tell me why they are not so tough? I'd love to hear from you!

Seeking balance

I seek a land called balance.

I understand the journey is long

but not far.

I see its bright clear light.

I hear its soft sigh.

I smell its sweet scent.

I feel its warm breath.

I taste its savory flavor.

I think the land of balance is near.

Image is dream spread from Soul Journal.

Preserve the soul.

Protect the spirit.

Follow the heart.

This is a start.

Honor mercy and grace.

Respect peace.

Life is on lease.

This is a choice.

Listen to your breathing.

Understand its seething.

Await its steadiness.

This is balance.

Image is a collage of leftover scraps from other projects in my art journal.

Words say: The answers were all around her.

It's so hard for me throw away paper items. I see them all as potential art projects but I have to start getting rid of lots before the pack for the move gets seriously started. If you are an artist with a deficit I would love to share my stash. Post a comment with you email and I'll contact you for the address and send you a nice stuffed envelope of paper ephemera.

Trust the journey is enough,

no matter the destination.

One step at a time.

Mile by mile.

Experience the unexpected stops and

cherish the unplanned side trips.

This journey is life.

Image is from Soul Journal page.

Tapes of all kind, gesso, paint, sanding and a neat quote

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear my prayer.

Grant peace and joy

in living each day fully.

Allow me to be present

in each precious moment.

Show me the purpose

for my life and

how to fulfill it.

Help me to understand

spiritual truths written for me

and all believers.

Guide me along the path

that leads to your doorstep.

In Christ's precious name,

Amen.

Image is a combination of a cross I made along with a floral picture I took, digitally combined. Enjoy and feel free to share.

Dream

Reinvent your dreams.

Express your soul.

Show your creative spirit.

Travel a crooked path.

Voyage into the deep end of life.

Birth your dream.

A fun art activity I learned recently. Do one work of art. Photocopy or scan and print multiples. Then work on variations on each. It saves the original and gives you freedom to experiment and room for error.