Day 182 Life

Life happens

bringing ups and downs,

joys and pains

blessings and trials.

Life is short

so try to focus on the

positives and

not so much on the negative.

Have your pity party and

then move on.

Let the side roads show

you true beauty in life.

Day 181 words

With God

the path always leads to

Joy.

By joy

the journey is always

sacred.

In sacredness

I find life's

purpose.

Through purpose

I know God's

plan.

The plan

of salvation is a way to

holiness.

Pondering the word for 2010

Words considered for 2010 focus:

• clarity
• release
• intent
• purpose

Leaning toward release. I need to learn to release worry, fear, struggle, and lots more negative energy zapping junk. Life is short and it's time to focus more on good, happy, positive energy giving electives. I think I've spent most of my life doing this but for me it's lifelong effort to accomplish completeness of faith, strength and hope.

Day 180 Gratitude and ThanksLIVING

Everyday we should seek reasons to be thankful, express gratitude and say GOD, thank YOU for ALL my BLESSINGS! I am thankful I was with my family for another great Thanksgiving and SO MUCH MORE! HEre we are at Fatz, making it an easy Thanksgiving for a family that was grateful to be together. (I think I have gotten off track with my count -of days since Dad's stroke either here or in my journal. I will check it out and make changes as needed.)

Day 179 Challenge

Today is Thanksgiving and I challenge you

to show gratitude more than greed,

love more than hatred,

peace more than anger,

understanding more than selfishness,

love more than impatience,

and most important of all,

tell God how thankful you are

for all He has blessed you with.

Day 178 Seek and Find

On this pre Thanksgiving day I find so many things to be grateful for, my family, healing, homes, food, clothing, love, joys, abundance of so much that I often feel guilty but instead I will claim gratitude and continue to thank God for all the blessings in my life. He is the great Provider.

I seek comfort

that only God can provide.

I seek peace

that only God can provide.

I seek joy

that only God can provide.

I seek contentment

that only God can provide.

I seek wisdom

that only God can provide.

I seek miracles

that only God can provide.

I seek answers

that only God can provide.

Day 177 AMAZING!

Through God's amazing grace

I am transformed.

Through God's amazing power

I am healed.

Through God's amazing love

I am saved.

Through God's amazing peace

I am whole.

Through God's amazing plan

I am blessed.

Day 176 searching.....

my mind questions life

God sends hope to go forward

my heart cries in pain

God sends angels to comfort me

my head tires to understand

God sends reasoning and wisdom

my spirit groans for mercy

God sends His infinite grace

my body begs for rest

God sends reasoning to slow down

Day 175

Body and soul

live as one.

We often forget

they are one in the same.

It takes keeping both

in harmony

to survive this journey

we call life.

Day 174 alone = struggle /prayer = relief

Solitary travelers

on a soul's journey.

Seeking answers,

Yearning for purpose.

Finding peace

for a moment.

Persistent sojourners

hoping for relief

from the world's woes.

Relief is possible

through prayerful effort

if for only a season.

Day 173 Fifty Four things I've learned (am learning)

1. enjoy every day


2. enjoy every hour


3. enjoy every moment


4. don't wish time away


5. don't dread the future


6. don live in the past


7. have not regrets


8. love with your whole heart


9. forgive all


10. and forget


11. realize your accomplishments


12. appreciate life


13. count your blessings daily


14. choose your words carefully


15. spend time with God daily


16. listen more than you speak


17. read good books


18. share your blessings


19. never get everything you want


20. God knows best


21. persevere in everything


22. dream big


23. never lose hope


24. believe in Christ's love


25. invite Christ into your heart


26. leave the world a better place than when you entered


27. never stop learning


28. take walks in nature


29. sit in nature and listen


30. eat your vegetables


31. find a reason to smile every day


32. read the Bible through


33. know inner peace


34. master a skill


35. give God control


36. learn self discipline


37. share your talents and abilities


38. give more than you take


39. don't be a quitter; see things through


40. live by the Golden Rule


41. live confidently


42. be content


43. do not be complacent


44. discover the joy of simplicity


45. honor the 10 commandments


46. be an encourage


47. don not let fear rule your life


48. respect life


49. choose your battles


50. share your faith


51. when you can't change the situation, change your attitude


52. compliment people


53. send "thank you" notes


54. be gracious

Yes, I had a birthday!

Day 172 Liquid Gold

Day 171 *L*I*G*H*T*

I stand

protected

in the

LIGHT

God

is the

light.

Darkness

cannot

penetrate

true light.

Day 170 Prayer for the Day

Lord,

give me the Holy Spirit's fire to ignite the path.

Send your Son's arms to carry me as in the "Footprints" poem.

Allow your wisdom and compassion to give me direction.

For it is in Chirst's name I pray,

Amen.

Day 169 Instructions for living

Rise and shine.

Give God your best.

Pray and follow.

Give God the rest.



Sing and shout.

Give God your praise.

Share and offer.

Give God all your days.



Know and believe.

Give God you hand.

Trust and follow.

Give God command.

Image is in this year's miniature show.
Mixed media on matboard.

Day 168 A year of Balance

As you may remember, my word for the year was Balance. I've found it! Making it through the past 6 months proves it. Balance is not what I thought it was though. It's not about being complete, even or perfect. It requires allowing the scale to tilt when needed to what needs the most attention at any given time. It's about knowing when to say 'enough". It's also about knowing when to give more attention to one person than another. It's about knowing you, yourself, already get too much attention and it's time to share it. Balance is about understanding when things need to be adjusted for safety, health or peace. Balance was the right word for me this year. I am considering several words and trying to prayerfully choose the right one for next year. I'll share those thoughts in another post at another time. For now I challenge you to look at the balance in your own life. AND maybe consider choosing a word to focus on for 2010 rather than making resolutions that are almost always impossible to keep.

The image is a miniature prismacolor piece from last year's miniature show.

ART BOOK SALE

Day 167 The Leader (for life)

Day 166 Details

Day 165 CHOICES

Standing at the abyss.

Peace on the edge.

Two choices.

I can be captured or choose peace.

I choose peace.

Image is my backyard on a lovely fall day.

Day 163 Human Tendencies

I tried to listen to God first

but my mind failed to do so.

I tried to pray the scripture

but my needs overruled.

I tried to follow God's pattern

but my voice took charge.

I tried to find God's purpose

but my own overshadowed.

I tried and God tried harder.

He heard my pleas.

He listened to my requests

as if for the first time.

He answered my prayers.

He never imposed His purpose

but gently guided my way on His path.

Image from the road to parent's house.

Day 162 Art for Local Christmas Sale

Painted crosses on painted canvas panels. Each one is 5 inches by 7 inches.

Day 161 Hard to believe....and not giving up

It's been so many days I've been tracking my Dad's journey. He has improved much but has so far to go. I often get discouraged but then something timely takes it away and replaces it with hope. That's what life is: a series of hopelessness and hopefulness. We must recognized that to move forward and make strides in overcoming whatever the roadblock is. There are always detours and sometimes they are the more scenic routes. Together we plod ahead and make the most of all we do have. Count our blessings. Find the peace where and when we can. Unload the problems and upload the cheer. We seem to survive and make it through till the next crisis but we must NEVER GIVE UP!!!!

Image is from Fernwood where the path from the creek splits into two choices.

Day 15

i feel the trees'

needs

i hear their

prayers

i see their

joy

i listen to them

whisper,

"see God's

splendor"

Day 159 Obsessions and Attractions

I find as an artist, I become more obsessed with ideas, places, people and things. Any and everything art (books, supplies, making art, viewing art....you get the picture.) I also love words (their power, meanings, mine and others, arranging, finding new ones...) I am absolutely passionate about reading art blogs. It's like walking into other artists' studios, or even better their secret minds.....you see how, where, what, when, who and why into their creative souls.

My latest obsession seems to keep taking me to the Laws of Attraction. I believe there must be some truth there. I have always tried to look at the sunny side of life (though it has been increasingly difficult for the last 6 months.) Finding the good, the possitive always makes me feel better even if only briefly. I firmly believe it is possible to drown out negativity with positivity. Just try it for one whole day. If you aren't convinced then maybe it's all a hoax.

Here are some recent resources I have found to support this idea:

www.christinekane.com

The Secret by Karen Byrne

and still my own belief in "happiness begets happiness."

A quote to ponder:

"Whatever we think about, we bring about" Dr. J Demartini

And don't forget the GOSPEL from the BIBLE:

Ask, Believe and Receive!

Day 158

wake up

thankful

go to bed

thankful

share

thankfully

pray with

gratitude

live with

gratitude

express

gratitude

know your

blessings

count your

blessings

share your

blessings

Day 157 Vessels

Be a vessel

containing all the good you are.

Be a vessel

holding all the happiness you have.

Be a vessel

spilling all the love you know.

Be a vessel

storing all the peace available.

Be a vessel

providing all the strength needed.

Be a vessel

sharing all the blessings you have.

Image is from a series of vessels I did several years ago, called Fruit of the Spirit.

The series is available in one of my zines by the same name. If you'd like one send me your email address so I can get your snail mail address.

Day 156 The Source

Allow the light of the world

to penetrate the darkness.

Invite the Son of God

into each weary task.

Find the Savior's love

in the midst of hatred.

Know the peace of world

as your personal trainer.

Wait on the giver of truth

to embed His will in your life.

Believe the lamb of God

to protect you from slaughter.

Seek the Holy Spirit

to guide you through the

depths of despair.

Take faith from the Creator

to begin a new each moment

that you breathe.

Image is the Broad River near our retirement property

Day 155 Life 101

Life is what it is;

both good and bad.

Life is not fair;

we learn this as children.

Life is what we choose;

we then must live it.

Life is short;

we must make the most of it.

Life is nothing;

without Christ in it.

Life is eternal;

once we live it for Christ.

Day 154 Borrowed Words (God's Week)

I couldn't share anything more thought provoking than this I just received in an email.

Enjoy it! Share it! Ponder it! AND if you know who said it originally.....PLEASE make it known!

Without GOD
Our week would be
Sinday
Mournday
Tearsday
Wasteday
Thirstday
Fightday
Shatterday

Image is the view from our road at Fernwood this morning as we walked.