Wildest Dreams, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’ Ezekiel 17:8

Walking through the yard there are bare trees everywhere. Doing art I would prefer bare limbs and branches as I love the linear movement on the surface of my drawing or canvas.

God probably likes the bareness because he knows the blooms and leaves are yet to come.  As winter has brought the end to outward life on the trees and shrubs, spring will bring new life.  

In your life, prepare for the coming of spring and ready your heart and body for the changes of new things budding forth. In your wildest dreams, what would you do if you could begin something new?

Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Lift up your eyes... and see it differently. Words of my heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Lift up your eyes on high and see who created these: He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name. By his great might and the strength of his power not one of them is missing! Isaiah 40:26

Winter is here and the grass has browned, the leaves are falling in a blanket of color and today the cold wind blows from the north... yet the word of God withstands all seasons and things.

Inside each of us, we know what we personally need to be saved from. And only through ourselves can we allow that to happen.  We choose new ways to see things in our lives. We find new answers to challenges that confront us.  Then we begin to see the freedom that comes with our relationship with God.

It is not His will for us to be lost, hurt or confused.

 Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Will you Wither or will you Grow? Words of my Heart, Laurie Pace

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  1 Corinthians 3:7

Brilliant contrast of colors with this deep red and green annual under my crepe myrtle tree. Reminds me of the upcoming holidays and Christmas but this plant only has a few more weeks to bring joy to our vision before it withers from the cold.

That is true about people we know in our lives... We are all planted and watered but without God we cannot grow.  Without God we wither and dry up and become brittle in our heart and soul. 

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace

When People Insult You, Words of my heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

““Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:22-12

My Father always spoke about integrity. 

My Mother always spoke of loving and finding 

good in everyone you meet in life.  

Combining all the many teachings together, I have learned the simplicity of "Sticks and Stones may break my bones but words will never harm me."    

Dad said 'Always take the higher ground' and do not lower yourself to the level of response that is not respectful or in love or part of how God would want you to respond.  Often we are faced with constant digs by friends or family that find fault with everything you do or say.  The fault does not lie in you. Somewhere deep inside of them rages something you cannot see. It pushes them to want to see others hurt like they hurt.  The hard part is letting it go and forgiving. Then placing their hurtful words at the foot of the cross, finding that good you know is inside of them as a child of God, and praying for them in love, blessing them with God's grace that they may find comfort and joy where they are.  

Stand with God and rejoice in His faithfulness for each of us.

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The Lord is Witness to you in all ways, in thought and in deeds, Words of my Heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

"And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.”  l Samuel 20:23

Only the Father is full witness to who you are and what you do. He knows the contents of your heart, the hatred you have to some in your life, the love you have for others. He knows your thoughts before they form in your head. If you lean into Him and devote yourself to the Lord, the weight that drags you down will be lifted.

My mantra this month has been:

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19:4

Whenever I begin to fall into a negative pattern I recite this mantra. I cannot hide from Him in anyway. I want to please Him because it is only through Him I find my peace and rest in His grace.

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Orchid in Bloom, God is at work, Words of my heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

     © G. O. D.  Laurie Justus Pace                                                          Graphics One Design 1998-2012



“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways,” 

declares the Lord. 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways 

and my thoughts than your thoughts. " Isaiah 55:8-9

A second type of flower I grew up around was an orchid.  Admittedly I am not prepared to parent an orchid, but Mom gave me one at Easter and it is still blooming six months later.  My thoughts originally were more like, "I cannot do this, I will kill it!"  but it seems my Mother knew best and had more faith in me than I did. 

I am still confused at what to do with the stalk and will have to read up on things. This little one seems to love the window it lives in. This is the latest bloom. When it arrived there was a cluster of three flowers and they stayed almost three months. As they began to die off, this new bloom was born.  

Mom has provided the orchid in some special type container that basically keeps me from overwatering it I think.  Every morning when I arrive in the kitchen from the night, I take the left over water in my glass and water my orchid and my violets. 

His ways are indeed higher than our ways. His thoughts are far from our thoughts... our thoughts are buried in the life we struggle to live keeping up with extras we bring into our lives. God is never at the front of those thoughts.

I feel blessed to know my Father is on the job... and I remind myself daily of the many blessings and things I have to be thankful for.

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Where can you stick your nose safely? Words of my Heart, A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Our dogs are such loves. This is one of our grand dogs as a puppy. He was totally trusting in anything we offered him.  Terry had a bag of dog treats and his little nose fit right in!  


We fit right into the care and love of the Father... jump in and get acquainted with Him again. He has much ready for you to 'stick your nose into.'

Lord Almighty,  blessed is the one who trusts in you.  Psalm 84:12

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Our neediness every day...Words of my heart by a Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Our neediness seems primary in our lives. Our first waking thought is what we need for the day or things we seek to do that day. 

First waking thought should be on Him, the joy of what He has already provided and given you in this life. 

But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer;  Lord, do not delay. Psalm 70:5

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Joy of Rain, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The joy of rain in the heat of summer. It brings out the best in the world around us... and in each of us.

You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Psalm 68:9

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

100 Days of Joy

Pour out Your Heart, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

When you cannot breathe or find your way... trust God and pour out your heart to Him. This is a constant JOY that you can use 24/7.

Trust in him at all times, you people;  pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

Out of the Mud and Mire, He will set you on solid ground, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Out of the mud and mire... He will set your feet upon solid ground.

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit,  out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock 
and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:1-5


Words of my Heart, 100 Days of Joys and Psalms.
Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Joyful Answer, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Always there are questions racing through your mind about decisions unmade. Where do you go for answers?  The joyful answer is you go to HIM.  Call upon the Lord with you open heart and open mind and listen to what He tells you. You can hear that inner voice speaking and the gentleness of His grace. 

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace





I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;  turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.  Psalm 17:6

Day 3 of 100 Days of Joy, Baby Giggles, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Joy is in my heart on day three of 100 days of Joy and Psalms.  Looking back through old photos for 'joy' moments through out the years, this was one of my favorites. Baby Giggles.  It is my mom with my oldest son, their first grandchild, Justin.  Justin will be 37 this year, so this was about 36 years ago. 

He was a delight for all of us being the first born grandchild.  Whenever we would visit my mom and dad, his baby giggles would fill the house. His joy was contagious and we would all smile watching this sweet baby take delight in such a simple creature as a bird. 


Those tiny moments in life make a memory forever etched inside of us. A grandmother's smile of encouragement and a grandchild's trust and love with a new life experience still bringing joy to my heart this day.


Pure Joy.  


Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace



"My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.  God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day.  If he does not relent,  he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.


Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.


I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;  I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High."  Psalm 7:10-17

Sharing Communion, Words of my Heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Change at church yesterday.  That is the one predictable thing about Pastor Jack, he believes in change; in teaching, learning from others and running toward the things we avoid from fear or regrets. He has that gift of bringing out the best in everyone and making each of us feel connected with the Father.


We had a quiet, meditative, gentle service yesterday with guitar, piano and new music and songs for our old minds to stretch around.  The best part for me was the prayer and as Jack put it, the bookends to our prayers with music.   Hear our Prayer Lord.

Jack ask us to reflect on communion and at what point in our lives had it happened that it struck a chord of being really special. Terry and I were on the same memory.  First United Methodist Church in Justin, Texas, with Pastor Keith Couples.  Wednesday night family dinners at church.  Keith always prepared dinner for the whole church that came. EVERY Wednesday night. He would spend most of Wednesday after morning bible study with prep and cooking for feeding us, the whole congregation, and it always included some scrumptious desserts.

After we ate and the choir broke off for practice and some of the youth volunteered to clean the dishes and kitchen, Keith would pull a freshly baked loaf of bread from the kitchen and some grape juice and head for the sanctuary. A trail of ten of us would file into the church sitting on the front two rows. The intimacy of those small services stays with me to this day. Keith would share a short homily (lesson) and then together we came to the altar 'table' to share communion.  


As Terry and I left church yesterday morning,... the light bulb went off.  Communion is 'sharing'.  Communion as Jack mentioned is not a solitary LONE thing we do.  In Latin,  communion is 'sharing in common' and in Greek it is translated as 'fellowship'.  So the Wednesday night dinners were truly the coming together of families in our town, to be served and feed by our pastor, sharing his gift of cooking for us.  The 'sharing' of bread and wine at the altar brought a small group of us even closer with the intimacy that existed between us and God.


Again, reflecting back to that favorite word of mine: IN TO ME SEE... intimacy.
Isn't that what God gives us the opportunity to be intimate with Him by sharing the communion? He basically says, "In to me see.. "


"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies." John 11:25


Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace

Yesterday, National Day of Prayer 2012, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Yesterday was National Day Of Prayer....I hope if you did not participate this year, you will keep it in your heart and on your calendar for next year.


"The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of 

the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman."


"Our Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible."
National Day of Prayer


Before we moved out to East Texas I can honestly say we never celebrated this day. Removing our lives from the busy city and placing them in the small town brought out the joyful uplifting of our nation and it's people yesterday. We moved here two years ago last month so this is our third time to participate. The power of prayer brings changes to our lives.


Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV

Setting Them Free, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

 

Setting them free... Sunday was the day we traveled into Dallas to join family and friends in the celebration of those we had lost this year as they 'continued on'.

This continuation day is the day they died. Just like the caterpillar slowly transforms into the butterfly... just as we shed our earthly bodies and transform and continue on into the energy of Heaven to be with the Father.

We lost several family members this year. Lady L's grandmother Emily continued on last summer and my Dad left us in January of this year. The Presbyterian Faith Hospice of Dallas has the release of the butterflies every year for those that have transformed from this life. 

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Isaiah 57:2
Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

By His Wounds...Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

"By His wounds you have been healed."


Healing takes place on many levels in life: Physical, spiritual and psychological.


Relationships exist on many levels in life: Physical, spiritual and psychological.

There exists you on the outside. The "you" we all see and think we know. The "you" that you allow us to know.  We only seem to share parts of who we are with others. At levels deeper within ourselves there are things we do not even admit to ourselves, nevertheless share those things with others. We would be vulnerable to hurt on every level.




God knows all these things and He exists for us on all levels. He knows your thoughts before you even are consciously aware of them. He knows when you are afraid but hiding it from others. He knows when you are lying and trying to cover it up. He knows the deepest desires of your heart and He has taken on the pain of your deepest hurts in life. 


Whatever is deep inside of you churning or resurfacing causing pain in your life, it is time to hand it to the Lord.


Words of my heart, Laurie


“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”1 Peter 2:24

Focus on Him, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Focus


Okay, so things are going wrong. Everything is crashing around you.  What is one of the first things you do?  You pray.  If you have not prayed in a while... you begin to ask God to listen this once and your make promises to do better or be better.  You try and make a deal with Him.  

Focus my friend focus.  


Every day you are focused on everything but God.  


Every day you are busy doing everything but without God.  


So instead of focusing on the problem at hand, focus on God. 


Focus on the cross. 


Focus on God's promises.  


It is through God's word that the world was created. It is through God's words that He sustains the world.  His word and promises are to sustain our spiritual lives so that our physical lives can blossom.  He provides the promise to you when you follow Him your nature begins to change from the inside out. With the change will come growth bearing "fruit".  "Fruit" you can share with others in your life.


Negative forces try to lure you from His promises. Seeds of evil are easily planted in all of our lives each day to turn our focus away from God.  We all face challenges, temptations and illnesses in life.  God promises to be there through all of it. Again, there is no magic wand, there is only the focus on Him and His promises.   King David said, 'I cling to your testimonies; O Lord do not put me to shame!" Psalm 119:31. 


Focus on His Promises not on your problems.




Words of my heart, 
Laurie


"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."  2 Corinthians 1:20


"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, an sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

What to Build this Day? Words of the Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

What to Build this Day?

We are each blessed with gifts for our journey. Sometimes these gifts change and we may not be prepared to accept new ones or say goodbye to old ones.

You are the artisan of your life. As Moses built the tabernacle, he was assured by God that the workers helping him were gifted with their abilities to know what to do. Moses was not a savvy contractor, but God was.  Each person working was filled with the Spirit of God. Upon completion the Tabernacle was filled with the Spirit of God.

Planting a Tree for my Dad

God has given you this day the tools you need to create and accomplish whatever you set your mind to, or if you are listening to Him, where ever He guides you.  If you are not happy at this point in your life, what changes are open to you to consider? Have you prayed about it?

Always honor what has been provided in creating you for who you are. You cannot be something you were not created to be. You have indwelling divine energy that will lead you to fulfillment of dreams, maybe even the accomplishment of something you never dreamed about doing.

Pray with me this day ...Good Morning God, This is your day, I am your child, please show me the way.

Words of my heart, Laurie

"I have put wisdom in the hearts of all who are gifted artisans." Exodus 31:6

Renovation, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Renovation

I was browsing through Amazon and came across the title of a book called Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard. The reviews were very strong for the book and there were 65 of them.  Seems like it was written to help you through exactly what it says...renovation of your heart as you find what is truly in line with where you should be with God.

Our home today.

Terry and I have had our fill of renovating houses. We did it for awhile flipping a few houses and making some money ahead, but then we lost on the last one because of the drop in the housing market. It was a pretty hard hit for us.  It came just as we were thinking of retiring but with the plunge in the economy we consulted a higher power, called our CPA and took the loss to try and keep the loss from being even worse.

Definition for renovation:

Web definitions:

the act of improving by renewing and restoring; "they are pursuing a general program of renovation to the entire property";... wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Breakfast Room at our Lake House

Taking that last contemporary home and doing all that work that was a huge journey. It was a home designed and built by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.  We really tried to renew and restore it to what is was in 1959 and put a lot of hard labor and dollars into.   We went two months without gas and had to rewire the entire house.



Thankfully living there was a joy and a time in our lives we will celebrate and remember, but the selling was a total demolition of our retirement plans. Yet, was it part of His Plan?

How often do we have to renovate 'ourselves' to get where we are renewed and restored?  I found this one blog by Rick Warren called  Renovation Begins with Demolition. It is a short but solid read.

During this time of Lent, you may have to go through a type of demolition of who you are and how you think and then slowly begin your renovation with the Carpenter, the Son of God.  He will help you rebuild so you will be renewed and restored.

Words of my heart, Laurie

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12 



Post Note: Our CPA held us to two years and not renovations at our lake house... I have exactly two weeks left to hit that two year mark...but for some reason it is no longer important. When you are at home in yourself, the things around you are not as urgent to change.  Peace in the heart brings a smile. So did golden yellow paint in the kitchen. see picture above.