Getting by........

Though my joints ache

and my nerves are on edge,

God is my healing.

Even though my mind swims

and my spirit spins

God is my steadying device.

My heart lurches

and my body screams but

the Lord is my constant source.

My days linger

and my nights drag but

God is my timepiece.

My thoughts loop

and my words fail but

God is always faithful.

Worst of times and Best of times

The worst times bring out the best words.

Troubles strengthen our spirits and faith.

We lean on God more

when we hurt, worry or fear.

To know a hope that grows daily

is to live a life of calming peace.

To walk a path of joy that leads upward

is to understand the way of happiness in life.

To trust a God who forsakes us not

is to have a comfort beyond understanding.

Listening

Rain is falling.                                     

God is calling

Stay close to me.

Birds are singing.

God is ringing

Hear what I say.

Hope is growing.

God's love is flowing

Love me too.

Life is speaking.
Grace is peaking.
Trust me.

Image is magazine collage on watercolor background. Sample for kids class.

Looking back

mourning childhood views

the carefree schedule of no time constraints

the simplicity of activities and responsibilities

the lack of financial burden

the hope of toys and lollipops

the notion that your dad is the strongest man in the world and

your mother can soothe any pain

the ease of life's problems,                                                         

not really problems

at all (deciding to play with dolls or color)

childhood memories sweet and clear

Image is a watercolor for an upcoming mini class.

I call it "Last Winter Moon".

Firday Freebie

Release the negative and

Dream Big.

Allow time to heal.

Trust true love.

Believe in God.

Give and Take.

Obtain less.

Seek peace.

Pray daily.

Live quietly.

Day's End

At days end

take a moment

to bow your head and

say a word of thanks.

Trust the Maker for another day

to magically appear for second chances.

Realize in this moment

your joy, abundance and quiet peace.

Lesson in removing fear

Peace settles fear.

Faith removes fear.

Joy overrides fear.

Love casts out fear.

God removes fear.

Broken Things Can be Repaired

Broken Spirits can heal with God's love.

Broken Souls can repair through God's grace.

Broken Hearts can beat strong with God's quiet strength.

Broken Bodies can strengtehn with God's power.

Allow God to repair your broken parts today.

Filling the Shell

Friday Freebie

God's Way Not Mine!

The mind constantly fills with fears and worries

but God's wisdom creeps in the cracks

with possibilities to overcome.

The heart weeps with sadness and lack

but God's love penetrates the holes

and the feelings melt away.

The spirit misses abundance

but God's smile warms from deep within

and wholeness returns.

The soul fails with doubt and anxiety

but God reinforces hope

and clarity is found.

Depleted bodies rise from the ashes.

Broken spirits find hope each day.

Hurting hearts see love again.

Believing souls know truth reigns.

Only God Can

fill the void in an empty heart.

quench the thirst of a parched soul

satisfy the hunger of a vacant life

answer the difficult questions of a hurting spirit

provide the joy of a depleted body

What can ONLY GOD do for you?

You want it? Claim it!

The laws of attraction, the power of positive thinking, you are what you beleive, the power of prayer....what ever you want to name it, the mind, heart and spirit are truly amazing powers the human vessels have. If we don't try to tap into it, it is a neglected source. Don't just whine and pray and wish for things to happen. Believe they can! Will them to happen! Trust God to answer your prayers with His true good. Accept His answers and move on. Find the biblical promises in the word, written just for you and claim them. Post them on notes to yourself where you are reminded hourly. Hold them close in you heart. Make them a mantra.

Just do it! Believe it! Trust the wonderful design of God's hand.

Do you want joy?

Claim it.

Do  you want healing?

Claim it.

Do you want peace?

Claim it.

Do you want truth?

Claim it.

Do you want strength?

Claim it.

Do you want self control?

Claim it.

Do you want hope?

Claim it.

Do you want more faith?

Claim it.

Anything spiritual you want and need is possible through the power of God. Believe in His Word. Seek it with trust and your whole being. and it is possible!

Uplifting News just when it was needed

I just learned I have secured a spot in A Natural View (local art show sponsored by the Gaston Co. Art Guild and hosted by the Schiele Museum in Gastonia, NC.) The piece is a simple quick sketch of a bird nest in snow, graphite on gesso.

A former minister once had the congregation repeat each Sunday

God is good

All the time.

All the time

God is good.

He is.

Self Sabatage

I am my own worse enemy. I neglect the temple God has placed me within. I forget the peace within my soul which is God. My head, heart and soul are crammed with worldly worries. I choose to replace each with God's love, mercy, forgiveness and peace. I move forward, secure in that hope and belief.

Activity takes over my life and when I do puse it almost hurts. The body has forgotten how to relax, rest, and restore. When I do see work neglected, more tasks to conquer and more needs to be met, I either once again neglect my own needs or withdraw until the strength returns once again..

It's either GO GO GO! or STOP DEAD IN MY TRACKS!

God's plan, adapted from 1 Corinthians 6: Everything is permissable but not beneficial...your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit...feed the stomach not the mind and you weaken actually....feed the soul on God's word...nourish the body, strengthen the soul, live by the spirit.......

Healing occurs breath by breath.

Strength returns move by move.

Faith is restored act by act.

Belief is grown thought by thought.

Love is present day by day.

Persevere. Accept. Trust. Thank the source.

Fatigue and Forgetfulness FRIDAY FREEBIE

Sorry to be late. Posting 2.

Day 273 Seeking a Quiet Place

Hoping to find a quiet place

where peace prevails and

joy is abundant.

Believing such a place exists

I seek it with confidence that

can only work by releasing

the negative and

clinging to the positive.

Day 272 Sleepless in NC

Lack of sleep and exhausted beyond help,

I trudge through the muck and mire.

Dreading both days and nights

my soul cries out for peace.

"Respite, where are you?"

Hopeful & prayerful,

I beg for mercy.

Relentless I read the scriptures.

Where are the answers?

Did I miss a key verse?

GOD! WHERE ARE YOU?

Who abandoned whom?

Sick in body and spirit

I plead for our lives.

SOS

I sink for the "#?" time.

I desperately thrash to remian afloat.

God walks on the water to save me.

Am I worthy?

I fear the worse.

I am only a shell.

How many more nights can I survive?

How many more crises can I endure?

How will I make it through the inevitable?

ONLY WITH GOD.

I cross my fingers, fold my arms,

bow my head and breathe.

My body trembles uncontrollably.

O sleep! Where are you?

Day 271 Creative Release

Day 270 Madness

Day 269 Same ways seldom change.

I write the same words,

repeat the same verses and

relive old ills.

I worry over the same fears,

repeat mistakes, and

relive old problems.

I cry the same tears,

repeat the same prayers and

relive the same life.

History repeats.

We relive.

Life moves on.

To see God in All things

Day 268 Finding peace

Meditate.

Pray.

Seek silent moments.

Trust God.

He is supreme

in finding your peace.

Day 267 Reflect

Reflect on life.

Find contentment.

Count blessings.

Love.

Laugh.

Live.

Day 266 Home and God and Angels

Home is my decompression chamber.

It is a place to release fears and troubles.

It is the place to unleash peace and faith.

Troubles and fears make us stronger.

Faith and peace sustain us.

Next time a challenge comes your way

take the leap of faith,

God's safety net will catch you..

When times are tough,

trust His angels to carry your through.

Image is a digital painting!

Day 264 Friday Freebie Graphite Fun

Enjoy!

Day 263 Through it all

Smile through the tears.

Laugh through the fears.

Stand up to you foes.

Overcome your woes.

In your Lord & Savior trust.

Hope and prayer is a must.

Remember tomorrow is Friday Freebie!

Day 262 Ash Wednesday and Lenten thoughts

What to give up for Lent:
whining "poor me"
worry over what happens next
lack of self discipline
fear of the future
regret over the past

What to take on for Lent:
trust in God
belief in answered prayer
strengthening the body, mind and spirit
living the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control)
living heaven's way on earth

These thoughts are just to get you thinking about your own life, what to improve and what to ignore, what to work on and what to forget, what to believe and what to let go of. Release is a life long process just as I learned with balance last year (focus words). Every day is a chance to learn, grow, and develop our spiritual nature. It is the only part of our life that is truly ours to determine and by doing so we prepare for our eternity with God.

Listen with your heart.

Pray through your spirit.

Praise with your life.

Hope with your soul.
Trust with your mind.

God is with you.

Cling to His promises.

Retreat to His word.

Rest in His arms.

Believe in His grace.

Have faith in His Son.

Know the joy of His Holy Spirit.

God will never forsake you.

Day 261 Simple Solution

Be silent.

Hear God.

Be strong.

Obey God.

Be faithful.

Respect God.

Be joyous!

Love God.

Be patient.

Expect God.

digitally altered from an out of focus picture

Day 259 Snowy path

Day 258 Just words and images.....

my soul thirsts

for God's peace

my heart hungers

for His love

my body trembles

or His strength

my mind yearns

for His wisdom

my spirit groans

for His mercy

my life accepts

His promises

Friday Freebie Day!

Enjoy! Download (right click and save as). Print as is, journal or collage on top of it.  Alter anyway you like digitally or actually cutting and pasting. Post a comment and share a link to your final creation so we can all enjoy and be inspired!

day 256 Descriptions

Fatigue doesn't describe

tired body,

shaky spirit,

jumbled mind.

Fear doesn't describe

the woes of aging parents,

the financial deficits,

the uncertainties of life.

Hope describes

the possibilities in life,

the way to better days,

the belief system you need.

Love describes

the eyes through which God sees us,

the way we should see Him,

the only thing which the world needs.

Day 255 Prayer

Lord,

Lead me on this path called life.

Help me up the hills,

over the mountains,

through the valleys, and

out of the deep rivers.

Light my way

when situations are darkest.

Hold me close,

when fear is present.

Protect me when

the demons attack.

Strengthen my core

when the walls shake around me.

Be my source in every situation.

Forgive me when I fail.

Bless my world

with Your mighty goodness.

Hear my cries.

Increase my laughter.

Turn my fatigue into abundant energy.

Show me your way with every breath.

Thank your for my abundant blessings.

Amen.

Introducing Friday Freebies for Art Journaling and Inspiration

Beginning this Friday 2/12/2010
I will have a free graphic for you to download
and save for your art journaling, collaging, inspiration and fun!
Some will be painted backgrounds as above. There will be some
blank templates and some partially colored templates with maybe even a
word or two to get you thinking. Feel free to edit any way you wish.
Simply right click on the image and choose save as.....
I think you will have fun and feel free to post comments
to your own website and/or blogs that show how you've used them
so we can all be inspired. Just link back to here please.
Since I have a hard time waiting, here is a bonus freebie to get you going!
THANKS and ENJOY!

Day 253 Repeat and Release

Breathe on me breath of God

Fill my mind with your peace.

Breathe on me breath of God

Fill my heart with your love.

Breathe on my breath of God

Fill my soul with your mercy.

Breathe on my breath of God

Fill my ears with your words.

Breathe on me breath of God

Fill my eyes with your beauty.

Breathe on me breath of God

Fill my body with your grace.

Breathe on me breath of God

Fill my hands with your blessings to share.

Day 252 Time waits for no one

I've wasted days

in fear

when I should have had more faith.

I've lost weeks

to worry

when I should have been praying.

I've thrown away months

giving in to bad thought

when I should have grown in Christ.

I've gave up years

to negativity

when I should have been releasing it and

unleashing  positive thinking.

Day 251 Revisited Words

Peace comes from the

Quiet moments we hear

God’s whispers.

We hear him in

A bird’s song,

A creek’s trickle,

The wind’s sonnet.

Faith comes from within

The soul of man

Where God resides.

It grows through

Patience and waiting,

Sighs and mysteries,

A weary heart and soul.

Strength comes in the

Midst of weakness,

Where God is working.

We realize it when

Calm and receptive,

Willing and submissive,

Looking and seeking.

Day 250 Release yourself to the universe and see what happens!

I am working on a new blog to promote art sales.

Check it out at

http://www.christessnearart.blogspot.com/