Trust in Him

I recently attended a session on Painting Words of Life". The scripture we were given was:

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

I selected colours I like, which are blues and purples and pinks.

As I started painting a thin layer for the background. I could see the texture of my canvas board because I had watered down my paint. I remembered, in the past, being told that good paintings don't have the canvas showing through.

In my mind I questioned, "Should I change it?"

The answer I got was, "No, just leave it. It's ok if your background and where you came from shows through. It greatly affects you, and shapes your life and who you become."

Next I started to draw a line with a magenta colour which became the trunk of a tree and a root. Next I started to paint purple leaves on the branches.

Now, remember, my colours were all blues and purples and pinks, so this was not looking like your normal tree. As I thought about this, I thought about how we don't have to be what everyone expects us to be. My tree doesn't have to be painted how people think is the "right" way. We are all unique. Who is to say that deep inside you aren't a purple tree with blue leaves?

As I painted flowers on the branches, each branch had different flowers. This is how we all are, diverse. I also added a small bush that looked very unique, with blue leaves.

My water jar was becoming this really pretty, light purple colour, so I mixed that colour and I painted a straight beam stretching from sky to ground and to sea, to the depths of the earth. This represents Jesus as purple signifies royalty and He is steadfast and sure, strong and unwavering. We can always trust He will be there for us to lean on, no matter where.

Then I added some new plants that are just starting to grow and are reaching toward Jesus as they grow. 

We are to trust in Him. Jesus is always there for us, no matter where we are. He is always strong for us to lean on.

A Little Reminder...

I am a Jewelry artist and I have been making and selling my jewelry for five years This past summer I organized a big celebration with lots of family and friends attending. 

Someone at the party made the comment, "I bet you see a lot of your jewelry here."

I took a look around the room and started recognizing my jewelry pieces on a lot of my guests.  I had forgotten a lot of those pieces and forgotten just how much jewelry I had already made.

Now thinking back and remembering this, warms my heart It pleases me to think that I was able to do something that brought happiness to that many people

Sometimes we all need just a little reminder of the pleasure we brought to someone else's  life.

Cilantro!!

For me, cilantro is a victory! I know it sounds weird. Let me explain.

Have you ever had a word that you really struggled with? Well, I have. "Cilantro."

For well over ten years Every time I would try to recall that word, it just would not come to me. I would struggle and struggle and struggle to say it, but it just would not come to my mind. 

Recently I've seen signs of improvement in my ability to remember things. The other day when I was thinking about it, the word "cilantro" came to my mind in only about three seconds! Since then, I have had no hesitation anytimeI try to recall the word "cilantro". It may not sound like much, but to me this is HUGE!

That's why "cilantro" is a victory. Cilantro, cilantro, cilantro!! Yay!

What's Good About Bad?

One of the exercises I was given to strategize for the new year, was to go over things that happened last year, both good and bad, and think about what was good in all of them. It's easy to pick out the good In the good things that happened but what about the bad things that happened? What's good about bad?

Well, when bad things happen I always learn something from the experience. When bad things are happening I always pray (to God, not the universe) and ask, "What am I supposed to be learning from this?"

I was at a tradeshow last year where I hardly sold anything. The show was three days long, so my days where very slow. Instead of being depressed and discouraged, I looked around and really studied other people's booths to see what was working for them. I spent the three hour drive home thinking about new ideas for my own booth. Even though the show was not profitable in the monetary sense, I considered it very beneficial. I found good in the bad.

One Scripture that has been very meaningful in my life is Romans 8:28: 

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

This has reassured me many times when things aren't working out as I hoped. I know that nothing that happens is in vain. There is a purpose and that purpose will be for my good in the long run. This helps me to see the positive in things or the possibility of the positive in things.

Don't focus on the negative. Look for good things in the bad.

Winning That "Discussion"

Do you know someone who always has to win an argument (err...discussion)? Are you that person, that always has to be right? 

Take a look at the motive here. Is the argument (or discussion) taking place because of concern for the other person or is it just two people each insisting that he or she is right? If it is the latter, this is pride and pride does not make you right.

Is proving you are right more important that preserving a relationship or showing compassion to someone who may be hurting? Is it more important to defend yourself than to look at the big picture, listen to someone or try to understand where their actions are coming from?

Instead of insisting that you are right, try not saying anything at all. Arguing or proving you are right isn't doing you or the other person any good. Stop sacrificing a relationship for the sake of your pride. Stop focusing on yourself and try to get insight as to what the other person is experiencing or going through. Show compassion for the other person.

I believe there are no coincidences and I don't believe that the reason for a "discussion" is for me to cut someone else down. I believe it is an opportunity to help someone or build them up. I just hope I am able to pay attention and stop focusing on me.

Choosing Not to Accept An Offense

One thing I've learned recently is that I have a choice of whether or not I get offended by someone's actions. I can actually choose to accept something as an offense or not. When I choose to be offended I am actually letting bitterness creep in and take root.

Accepting something as an offense is actually weakening myself. I'm allowing myself to feel attacked. 

It is up to me to recognize this, when it is happening and consciously stop myself from accepting someone's actions as an offense. In other words, choose not to be offended, forgive them and don't let bitterness start to take root, because bitterness is like a poison in your life.

Last Call, Intermission's Over, Got Your Attention?

The other day when I was in the shower the light in the bathroom flickered off and then back on again, as if someone had reached inside the door and turned the light switch off and then on again. I was certain I had locked the door so I quickly peeked out of the shower to be certain the door was closed and it was . 

About a minute later the light flickered off and then back on again. Again I peeked out of the shower to make sure the door it was still shut and it was. I realized it must have been the power and I chuckled at my thinking someone had been playing a trick on me.

I thought about how the flickering light was similar to the warning you get at a show with an intermission, to let you know the intermission is over and the show is about to begin again. The lights are briefly dimmed to get your attention.

That got me thinking about things that happen in our lives to get our attention. Often these things are unpleasant, such as a loss or a near miss, or witnessing someone else experience these.

I've experienced a few of these "Got Your Attention?" wake-up calls. The important thing is to recognize them and figure out what you changes you need to make in your life. Then make those changes!