Perfect Order, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Pace

Perfect Order?

Not sure it exists in my world, but it is suppose to be there. God promises His perfect order.

As the days and weeks unfold things never go the way we think they should go. We all struggle with God's way as it happens, trying desperately to make it 'right' the way we think it should be.

One of my favorite chores is folding wash. I have so much control. I am very particular about things being folded in the proper manner to fit in the drawer neatly.  God has His particular way too and we fight Him all the time.  He is unfolding in our lives the path He has chosen for us. It is never neatly packaged because we are human and always tinkering with our own lives and those in our family.

If we would stop and look around in the world, we would remember that His plan is perfect. Examples are the way it all works from caterpillars to butterflies and more. He has a process for everything including us.

Patience is the prayer for the day, that we can be patient with this day, this week, this time in our lives to allow Him the time to work.

Words of my Heart,
Laurie

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming." 1 Peter 1:13 NIV

Deep Do-Do, Words of my Heart, by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Deep Do-Do

I KNOW you all have heard that phrase before.  We get there in life all the time.  Either we produce the mess we are knee deep in, or we wade in often not realizing it.

Well, I laughed until I cried yesterday when Stacey sent this image of Lady L. If you recall they have two new puppies they rescued that are about 4 months old. They are little miniature Schnauzers, but I really believe one is really part black lab.  So the dogs love playing in the back yard.  This is Lady L's personal territory with her new "Park".

She walked in the house late yesterday with dog poop all over her shoes, socks and lower legs.  Her mom could not even imagine HOW she got into this much puppy poop. The backyard is sniped every afternoon and these are only two little dogs... how did she manage to get covered in so much dog poop?

So this morning after the big clean up yesterday... Lauren solved the issue herself by putting on her bright new pink rain boots.  She was determined not to have poopy shoes this morning when she went out to play.

So my friends, remember to pull on those rain boots when you are knee deep in problems.  God has the perfect pair ready for you... in your favorite color.  Like reading in the bible about arming yourself... see below.

Words of the heart,
Laurie

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:14-16

Our Highest Good, Our Inheritance, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace

Our Highest Good... Our Inheritance

When we are born we have already begun 'inheriting' things...such as our DNA from our parents.  Red hair, green eyes, long legs and spunky attitudes. By age two we continue to inherit things, like mannerisms and toys handed down from older siblings. Things continue to pile up as we inherit more through the years. These things are not for our highest good.

As hard as we look ... we never truly see everything we 'inherit' or recognize if it is truly 'good' for us. 

As a child of God I never doubt His kingdom is my inheritance. It is who I am. It is who I became as my parents set the example in our lives. At times I am definitely not worthy of this great gift. I fail and sin by thought, word and deed.   It is only through God's grace that I find my way back to this truth.  Home is not just where I lived and grew here on earth, home is where He is and where I am bound. His love keeps me safe and leads me there.

In this New Year I challenge you to stay on the path to His higher good.  Allow His love to shine in your life, your words and your actions. He will show you the way if you are waiting and watching and listening. When you falter, He will be there for you guiding you with the light. 

Words of my Heart,

Laurie 

"I commend you to God and to the message of his grace." Acts 20:32

Healing Thoughts for the Year, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Healing Thoughts for the Year

The well being of our bodies can be changed at any given moment in our lives. We are often challenged by disease that appears unexpectedly.  Our bodies have a marvelous ability to rebound back and fight off and restore itself against most attacks.  Everything in us is alive and good health is a state we all seek.

It is at times that 'bad health' creeps in that we must keep our thoughts on life and healing and affirming His hand in our lives.

If you know someone that is suffering right now from a disease they cannot fight and 'win' on this side of life, time to prayer for healing to rise up and heal them with the life ever after.   Pray for each other. Times are hard and often people do not share where they are in life.  Affirm with God all things are possible in His time and His way.

Words of my heart,
Laurie




“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” Titus 2:11-12 NIV

Oh What a Day to Whiz in the Park, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

 Oh What  A Day

I truly debated on my feelings last night. I was in my studio cleaning up and a group of children and some parents arrived at the pond behind our house. Part of the pond is our property, part is with the lot across the pond, which belongs to our Home Owners Association.

This is a gorgeous neighborhood of high end homes in the millions on this lake.  Ours is quite a bit simpler as we are next to the lake but not on it.  It is also a gated community. I love watching children fishing in the pond with parents as it warms my heart to see time spent with young ones...but late yesterday caught me totally by surprise as one of the men in the group basically unzipped and whizzed away right in public. A long whiz.

You seen pictures of where we live.. it is beautiful and very natural... but that was beyond my thoughts.

I decided next time I will shoot pictures and share them with the Home Owners Association. Perhaps they want a port-a potty in our neighborhood area. (I know not.)


I know growing up my parents demanded manners from us. There are certain rules accepted in our lifestyle that to me are pretty basic. This violated everything I have been taught. My anger grew and I walked away... bringing Paddy inside and settling back to work on my computer. I knew I had to recenter and not think about it.  Terry suggested having homemade cookies ready to share with them and try to approach it from a different angle.  Tomorrow we will walk around and clean up all the trash they left behind.

Think about others when you do things today. Your actions speak loudly.

Hummm...maybe a sign...No whizzing on this property? I can only imagine how God feels about many of the things we do that totally bring His jaw dropping.

Words of my heart,
Laurie

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NIV

Words of Hope, Happy New Year from Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Words of Hope

Well I certainly did not spend my day improving anything yesterday... or even with my darling husband. It was another day with CFAI.co.

Today I am going to pace myself to only 6 working hours as yesterday was 13 hours working on the site.  Those are my words of hope at least!

Praying you had a safe New Years and look forward to 2012.

We didn't dance or party like we use to... but we enjoyed the change in the year and feel like most people do that it a new start for many things in our lives.

Choose for it to be a closer time with the Father.

I am heading that way to my bible right now and will start my day in Psalms.

Words of my heart,
Laurie

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

The Joy of New, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The Joy of New...

 A new year. A first for me in years that I do not have that huge list of things to do and change. A first year that weight loss was not primary on the top of the list.  A first year that I did not write out a long list of things to add or change in my life.

WHY?
Because this past year I have gained some insight in dropping much of the worry. I have kept 16 pounds off for full year and I am ready to drop five more. I am getting better at it. I still fail. :^(   But I get back on my knees and realign myself with God.  My prayer for you my friends is to find peace and happiness in this moment.  God's plan is in place.

I had a huge joy at the end of the year last night. We arrived home around nine from eating out with Paul and Victoria for an early night out. The mail box at the street was stuffed with  a box I could not extract. Terry had to get out of the car and manhandle the mail box to release it's contents. We backed up the drive into the garage and whisk everything into the house. As I opened the package my breath drew out and the tears began to fall.

I am not a huge collector of things any more but one of my dearest collections was started by a good friend, sister of my heart, four years ago when she started sending me older Hummel pieces. I have ALWAYS loved them but never indulged in them. (My ancestors are from Germany. My grandmother was the last to come over and my mom was the first generation born here in the states. I am second generation.)  These beautiful pieces have been joyful sightings through out my life, so when my friend started my collection I was in love.  Tonight in my mailbox was a box containing the one almost in the center of the picture...slightly to the right. I cried for ten minutes totally amazed by how this new little piece caught my heart a glow.  These are in a glass case in the den where I see them all the time. I am reminded of her not just with these little ones, but with so much in our home.  Oh yes, this is all 'stuff' but we have parred down in our life to those things that are nearest and dearest to us in making our life simpler.   I posted once earlier in my blogs of my 'sisters' that sits by my kitchen window from another dear friend... and two paintings by another dear art friend (Linda McCoy) that are on the wall in my breakfast room... along with pieces from Diane Whitehead, Toni Grote and a few others.   God's blessings in love surround me not just in nature outside my window but in some tokens and treasures shared by my earthly friends.

Happy New Year.  May you find your treasures in this moment right where you are.
Laurie

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV