Focused

Lifeless, I struggle out of bed.

Fatigued, I walk the path anyway.

Hurting, I move with caution.

Helpless, I plunder along.

Despondent, I pray to God.

Sheltered, I rest in His word.

Strengthened, I regain direction.

Focused, I continue my day.

Seeking is sometimes the best part of living.

I seek a lone place

to lay my burdens.

I dream of a quiet solitude

without worldly noise.

I hope for a peaceful existence

where interruptions are few.

I believe in a prayer closet

where it's just me and God.

I trust His calming quiet

to feel my heart.

I accept His sweet grace

to encompass my spirit.

I know His precious love

inhabits my soul.

Watercolor of view near our retirement property, Fernwood.

Release

Release self control.

Open your heart.

Let the light of God shine into your spirit

and out of you soul into the world

for those in the dark,

those hurting,

and all those who can't find

His light any other way.

Rock or Root?

In between a rock and a root...

maybe she is a rock because

she is strong and solid.

Maybe she is hard headed and

stiff and stuck in her on mind of mud.

Maybe she is a root

providing strength, support and nutrition or maybe

the tap root, all sappy and useful.

Maybe she is deadweight,

not even worth digging out.

A simple plan for living

God's word gives hope.

His love gives promise.

His spirit guides.

His Son saves.

With all this from God

Life can be lived with ease.

Heart strings remain in tact and

God's patience teaches patience for ourselves.

leap anyway

Look inside yourself

Time is gone quickly

A life time of pain

should be forgotten.

A life of joy

Remembered.

A year of hopelessness
should be let go;

a year of blessings should be

Appreciated.

A month of woes

should be released.

A month of hope

Revered.

A day of sadness

should be swept away.

A day of happiness,

Stored.

An hour of loneliness

should be removed from memory;

an hour of companionship

Cherished.

A minute of fear

should be prayed over;

a minute of freedom;

Praised.

A moment of doubt

should be unrepeated;

a moment of certainty,

Multiplied.

No matter your life,

relish

the good and release the bad.

No matter your life day to day,

focus only on good.

accept only blessings.

multiply only joy.

Be grateful and watch for more.

Release

Needs

Her core needs refueling.

He spirit needs reenergizing.

Her life needs renewing.

Her mind needs repairing.

Her heart needs refining.

Her soul needs restoring.

God can reinstate all her needs

like she never skipped a beat.

Leap of Faith

A sweltering day became

A breezy cool evening.
Strength grows under pleasant skies.
Faith increases when under fire.
Joy is a blessing after the turbulence.
Hope returns slowly to a weary soul and body.


****
A surprising breeze slips through the day of heat.
A kind word penetrates my spirit.
A pleasant thought leaks through my soul.
I survive.
A natural sound of joy is music to my ears.
A calming idea relaxes my body.
A hopeful moment inhabits my mind.
I rebound.            
A loving God eases my pain and fear.
A gentle Christ gives up His own life for me.
A cleansing spirit swells within my being.
I live.

****

Image is "Leap of Faith" mixed media

Faith gets us through

Across her heart

a message is written
with her spirit.
A purpose is found
deep in her soul.
a life is discovered.
She seeks release and
knows her reality
exists despite a loss of courage
and a hope for contentment.
She forges ahead in faith.

So blessed to have my DAD this Father's Day

since last one he was in rehab, uncertain of how much

he would recover!

Simple Prayers

Good morning

Bright light.

I see things clearer.

Welcome to my day

Sweet nature.

I feel safe and secure.

Guide me O Thou

Great Jehovah

So I do not stumble or lose my way.

Spirit to spirit

I believe in God's power;

I am so blessed.

Heart of God

Live in mine so

that I may know your mercy.

Filter my mind;

strengthen my soul;

that I may live in Your grace always.

Amen.

Life's Choices

Life is not a menu.



You get what you are served and


take it, deal with it or do without.


Faith helps us find ways to deal with the less than palatable items.


Hope gives us promise of sweeter fare next time.


Belief gets us through to the next spread.


So learn to enjoy the surprise that the feast of life offers.


Share it with friends and delight in its indulgence.

Seeking God's will

Seeking God's will takes effort.

It happens in stages.

No magic. No poof! There it is!

It tales

Scripture,

Prayer,

Focus,

Attention,

Faith, and

Patience.

So--How?                  When?                         Where?

(see above)             (in God's time)                 (ever He is)

And a "can do" attitude.

Yes, God, life can bring all we expect. There will be problems but the only real problem is the attitude we choose. To be above the situation and not of the situation is the real work in seeking God's will.

Life 101

Observations in Nature

Ants travel in irregular patterns. Forward and back. Around in circles. Doubling back. Does God see us doing much the same? How foolish we are! We need to stay on one track--heavenward. Everything we say, do, believe and expect should be making a path to heaven's gate. It is the ultimate destination.

Frivolous activity lost spirit

Wasted lives unrelenting souls

Worrisome ways hard heads

Doubting hearts disbelieving pilgrims

No way to approach the life we are given.

Prayerful spirits understanding souls

Loving hearts forgiving minds

Purposeful tasks trusting ways

Faithful lives grateful beings

This makes for a great life, lived on the road to the Promised Land.

I don't do it all right. I'm not even sure it's a 50/50 split but I do attempt

re-dos and beg for mercy living to survive this heaven bound thing we call life.

Maybe one day I'll feel a bit of progress and continue on the road, a mile or two closer to that great reward-eternal life.

Remember

John 3:16

BELIEVE

Colossians 3:17

DO

1 Thessalonians 5:17

PRAY

Since writing this a few days ago, I noticed another ant behavior. They don't like the heat. They travel in the shadow and the minute they feel the sun, they change directions back to the shade. We can also learn an important lesson from that. Stay out of the heat of Satan's influence and follow the cool leading of Christ's love.

"Witnesses"

mixed media

Christian Overcoming Superstious Ways

Things are going so well….it scares me. Raised by a superstitious family I often find myself acting and thinking in superstitious ways and I hate it. How does a Christian allow this to happen? Dad's stress test went so well. NO HEART PROBLEMS!



Now if Mom can get a good report tomorrow, I will be super elated!!!! I recently won an honorable mention in the I Am Woman annual art show. I learned today that I received an honorable mention in the AARP Calendar contest. I had no problems at the dentist! What if my good streak of good news ends here? I will be thankful, count my blessings and move forward by faith! (She says as she shrinks behind a tree! AND where does lightening strike? YIKES!)


Lord in your mercy,
I, your humble servant, thank you!

and here is the piece that I submitted to AARP:

"Last Winter Moon"

watercolor

(theme for calendar was gifts of nature)

cross my heart and hope to live

Obsessions

Today holds mysteries

the mind can't fathom.
The spirit, though feels
the wonder and prays for goodness.


Today unfolds in hidden layers;
the physical body is uncertain.
The soul, though, is prepared and
the feeling is one of grace.


Today becomes destiny;
the living breath cannot see.
The heart, though, if in love
With God sees mercy

Retreats can be as close as your own back yard!

morning finds

Though my heart skips a beat

God will keep it pumpin'.

My bones grow weak with years;

God keeps me strong.

My mind gets fuzzy and crowded;

God's message stays clear.

My spirit becomes weary;

God never leaves my side.

My arms flail to stay afloat;

God is my life raft.

My legs try to buckle;

God stand tall for me.

My waist increases with age old symptoms;

God's arms still reach around to embrace me.

My hope attempts retirement;

God still hope for my.

My joy tries to become embittered;

God's smile still brightens my days.

My fears attempt to take over my thoughts'

God is my fearless warrior.

My days speed by and sometimes creep;

God's timing is always perfection.

My doubts hold me back;

God's assurance grows stronger.

My world makes me question my life;

God gives abundant life;

When His Son we believe,

In His love we abide and

Through His spirit we exist.

Importance of Presence

Lord, I am here.

Please linger near.

Send much love

from up above.

Often my faith will sway

but you never go away.

Patiently You wait for me

to once again get down on my knee.

If only I could keep my place

and every moment seek your face,

I'd know perfect peace

and all my cares release.

So today when my spirit starts to fade,

in your love, mercy and grace I will wade.

answers sought in nature

Release to the Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God is not a faraway fairy tale place.



It is where we are with God every waking moment of life.


The kingdom of God exists where love is among worldly hatred.


It is where peace is amidst world war.


It is where life is within the world's dying.


The kingdom of God is where God's people survive despite worldly troubles.

Don't let details make you miss God's presence...

(so many times we miss God's presence in our lives but....)

Even if I don't see God physically on the bench beside me,

I know His is there.

He is in the gentle spring air.

He is in the bounty of blooms.

He is in the blue expanse of sky.

Even if I don't hear His audible voice say "Morning",

I know He is there.

He speaks through the birds calming chorus.

He says my name through the voice of a friend.

He talks to me through scripture.

Even when I don't feel His tender spirit,

I know He is there.

He gives me an embrace through a loved one.

He sends peace through an amazing sunrise.

He assures me I am not alone through a

still quiet moment when my head is bowed.

God is always there, here, and everywhere.

to be continued......

art therapy

Guess you can see one of my latest obsessions is with ZENTANGLE ( I call it extreme doodling!)

Live the life given

and live it with God's guidance always!

Carpe Diem

she reaches for her pen and shuffles through her jumbled thoughts

she takes her Bible and opens up the wisdom of God

she bows her head with thankfulness only to be overcome with joy

she waits patiently and God quiet voice rises in her spirit

she observes all life and understnad her own soul

she listens and her mind becomes one with God

what more can she need

her life is one of contented devotion

vision is more than eyesight

Life is present!

The sky is golden

with a wealth of light.

Clouds float through

a silent mist of gossamer

with a rhythm all their own.

Joy is present.

A moon rises in a jeweled sky.

There's a calm unknown .

Whippoorwills sing their lullabies

as a day retires.

Peace is present.

A sun rises again and yawns into

a new day of to-dos.

Morning breezes silently raise the curtains of dawn

and birds greet life.

Magic is present.

Natural Causes of Life

trust

faith

belief

hope

joy

love

peace

prayer