Waiting In The Wings

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I'm at a lost for words today.  So many things are going on, yet I'm not compelled to write about them, therefore, I'm just going to write some of the lyrics to the song that has been stuck in my head for 2 days.  It's called " Your Love Never Fails"  It kind of sums up my mood.

"Nothing can separate.  Even if I run away.  Your love never fails.  I know I still make mistakes.  You have new mercy for me everyday.  Cause your love never fails.

You stay the same through the ages.  Your love never changes.  There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning.  And when the oceans rage, I don't have to be afraid.  Because I know that You love me.  Your love never fails.

The wind is strong and the water's deep, but I'm not alone here in these open seas.  Cause your love never fails.  The chasm is far too wide.  I thought I'd never reach the other side, but Your love never fails.

You make all things work together for my good."

Show Your Scars

                                                                "Desert Highway"
                                                                      36 x 48

Last Sunday at church, we were challenged to roll up our sleeves and show our scars.  What exactly does that mean?  Well, to me it means to be willing to tell others your story, and share with them your past, your guilt, your pain, and the healing you have found through the grace of our Savior.

If you are like me, you feel so ashamed of your sins, and feel unworthy of such love.  Sunday, I was reminded that because of His death, we are worthy of the grace offered to us.  He makes us worthy.  "Our badness can never outweigh His goodness."

Jesus had scars on his hands and feet from the cross.  They were the evidence of His love for us.   Think about it.  Scars show us the healing of the wound.  We shouldn't hide ours, but tell others how Christ healed us and set us free from the shame.  We were shown forgiveness and grace, and because of that we shouldn't be ashamed.

So, let's not hide our scars, but tell others, so they too can be healed through the shed blood of our Savior.

Random Things

This is the newest member of our family, Sir Lancelot the Ball Python.  Gwynn some how talked her dad into agreeing to let her buy a baby python.  She said it has been a life long dream.  Yuck!

Grace put a streak of red in her hair using Kool aid.

Gwynn and her best friend Emily have started their own blog.  http://secretsandshakespeare.tumblr.com/

This is one of my favorite things.  I play it whenever I need a boost.  Grace woke up with a swollen eye and was unable to visit Camp friends in Birmingham.  (She ended up going for one night after her eye cleared up after a couple of days.)

Play The Movie

                                                               "Maybe Someday"
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Lately, I've been thinking about the consequences of our choices, and how they not only affect us, but others too.  I spent some time over Christmas break discussing this with my son.  Then this week, I started reading a book by Dr. Henry Cloud, that spelled it out so clearly.  In this book, there is a chapter on the fact that we truly reap what we sow.  He says that sowing and reaping is about what you will ultimately end up with (live with, be stuck with, etc.) if you sow a particular behavior, choice or attitude.  It is what will happen in the end, and a wise person will answer this question before they act.  The author calls it playing the movie.  "Any one thing you do is only a scene in a larger movie.  To understand that action, you have to play it out all the way to the end of the movie."

How many times have we made sin choices that have reaped consequences, not only hurting ourselves, but those we love.  If we had chosen to not say something or do a certain behavior and just took a moment and played out the movie, thinking of how it would probably end, then we could have saved ourselves and others many heartaches.

For myself, I know I need to plot the movie, evaluate each scene, and ask myself "and then what" and see where it will end up.  This can be a positive thing as well, helping us to achieve certain goals.  Then ultimately, if we take this path, the greatest thing we can achieve will be to hear these words spoken to us by our Father.  "Well done, good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21)

"9 Things You Simply Must Do" by Dr. Henry Cloud

Margot

                                                                          "Margot"
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Please forgive me for being so neglectful on posting on my blog.  I tell myself everyday, I need to write something, yet, I'm at a lost for something to write about.  I haven't been painting that much, being so preoccupied with renovating our house, but I miss it so much.  For the past five years, painting has been my outlet and the way I express so many things I am feeling.  I'm going to make an effort to commit myself to take time out of my busy schedule and paint.  So, by doing that, I will be more diligent in blogging.

On a different note, after three and a half years of visiting different churches, we have finally found one that everyone loves.  My main requirement was for the church to be Bible based and that they believe the scripture is the infallible Word of God.  I also wanted expository teaching, where they teach through God's Word, verse by verse.  I didn't want "catchy" sermons, but someone to teach me the truth from the Bible.  I need that and my family needs that too.  Well, we have found that at Fondren Church.  Robert Green is so knowledgeable of the scripture as well as the Greek and the Hebrew interpretations of them.  If you haven't figured it out yet, I am so excited about my new church.  If you know me, you know how important it is for me to find one that teaches the truth.  I just wanted to share this with those who know my story.

This painting is another one from my Dancer series.  For someone that doesn't have a graceful bone in their body, I love painting ballerinas.  I've sold everyone I've painted, so I am thankful for those that enjoy them as much as I do painting them.

Lavender Fields

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This is one of my "white" pieces that I did a while back.  I really love the touch of lavender in it.  It isn't a color I use much, but I like how this one turned out.  The photos I take of my white paintings never do the work justice.  I try so hard to build layers in my paintings and somehow photographs never seem to capture it.

The family had "Clean Up Thursday" yesterday.  Everyone was required to go through their room and get rid of clothes they don't wear, and knick-knacks they don't want.  I alone had 3 large black garbage bags of clothes that I gave away to Goodwill.  This is just round one of weeding out "stuff" before we move in 3 months.  My art studio will be my biggest challenge.  I'll be moving into a much smaller space, but the trade off for natural light and a wonderful view of the lake will be worth it.

I've loved having all my children home.  We had a wonderful Christmas together.  Probably the best one in a while.  The five of us picked names before Dixon left for Charleston, and we were all required to make the person a gift.  I had Grace and made her a lamp for her new room.  Dixon had me and he made me this out of driftwood he found on the beach.  I love it.

What If?

                                                                         "Mariana"
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Have you ever thought what if Christ had not come?  There would be no Christmas, no trees decorated,  no stockings hung on the chimney, no gifts exchanged on December 25th, no "O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant...."   Even worse, the Bible would stop at Malachi.  There would be no gospel, no promise of salvation or eternal life with Him in heaven.  No hope.

Let's remember this during this season.  He was the greatest gift.  The reason behind Christmas.  Let us be glad and rejoice, because "He has come".  Let us remember the announcement of the angel, "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord".  Luke 2:10-11