Showing posts with label In Harmony. Show all posts
Showing posts with label In Harmony. Show all posts

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Promise of Hope... Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
Luke 12:27

This is a photo from last week and my last roses before all the cooler weather...although it is definitely warm outside today. 

When I have flowers around me I feel God's promise of a day filled with Hope. With hope I seek a peace and with that peace the grace of our Father.  

In anticipation of the birth of Jesus... we have the full promise from God providing us with hope. This is the time to spend our day in preparation and anticipation of what is to come to us spiritually. Are you open and ready? 

Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Monday, December 3, 2012

In the darkest Hour...Words of my Heart, A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”  Colossians 3:16

Last night we were walking across a parking lot from the Verizon store to Staples. It was warm outside still at nightfall but a cool front was due to pass through.  It was still in the low seventies as we went into Staples.
We walked around gathering some things while waiting for my phone to be transfered and ready for me... and as we walked out of Staples an hour later the dark clouds were literally rolling across the sky and the moon would peak out from the thick clouds between the wind gusts.  It was remarkable beauty at night. There was absolutely no way for me to take a photo...no phone no camera...but the image of God's work is engraved in my mind with the brilliant moon edged by slight haze gleaming through the edges of the heavy night clouds. 

Just a reminder to me even in the darkest times His light is there and we only need to turn to find it. We want to begin our advent journey by turning to the Lord with great hope.  In the midst of so many discouraging challenges in our lives  and the violence in the world around us, 
spend this day in anticipation of the graces and gifts our God desires to give us as we begin this first week of advent.

Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace


Friday, November 23, 2012

Loosing control? Words of my heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace


“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”  Psalm 119:18

Nothing better than watching the sun rise or the sun set.  In the mornings you are waking and greeting a new day and in the evenings you are putting that day to rest behind you.

We have no control over the sunrise or sunset.  In life we truly have no control over any situation.   We only have the ability to control our interior being... our thoughts and emotions which affect our actions and reactions.

May this weekend be a blessing to you. Stop and watch that sunset and remember to share time with God.  Thanks Him for your blessings and even thank Him for your challenges and all the situations that seem to weight you down.  Try a new perspective the next day of 'accepting' what is and giving thanks for it.

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

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Speak through your Heart, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns. Isaiah 7:23


Have you ever been so determined to be truthful as you confront or speak to friends that you are brutally honest?  This ties into yesterday when you are looking into things do not always trust what you see, but trust your heart and what you feel.

This is ever so true when you are so brutally honest that you destroy a relationship instead of using your empathy and heart to choose gentle words to get your message across.

With the coming together of families this Thanksgiving, remember to see and speak with your heart.

Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Monday, September 24, 2012

Fall has arrived... Words of my heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace



Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains,
bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.
    Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows,
    peering through the lattice.  My beloved spoke and said to me,
    “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.
 See! The winter is past;  the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”
Songs of Solomon 2:8-13


When I look back on our pictures as teenagers, I grin when I see the same cocky smile and gentle love in his eye that I remembered. Today that love has deepened with our journey over the years. Some past experiences have brought us high with joy and laughter, others plunging us into unknown territories where only our love brought us through with God's light and grace. Transition and change were much easier when we were younger.  I am so thankful to have him at my side.  The fall is here in our life's journey and winter still lies ahead. This season of our life is showering us in the bounty and beauty of fall.  I pray we meet all changes hand in hand where we can abide together in His grace caring for each other and enjoying the treasures of our family.  

God has watched over us with each passing year and we pray he will continue to as the days grow shorter and the beauty of winter surrounds us. 

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Sharing your food...Words of my heart, A Texas Artist Laurie Pace



Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Isaiah 58:7

He wants us to share so much more in our lives. What have you given to those that are hungry, without clothes... or to your extended family that needs things?  

He does not want us to enable people; He does want us to provide for others from our heart giving of what we have and sharing the gifts and the bounty.

Monday, September 10, 2012

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

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Dwelling with my Father - Words of my Heart, A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

No matter where we travel or where we lay our head at night... we dwell in the Father. 





Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Psalm 84:10

Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Friday, July 13, 2012

Joy all around us. Words of my Heart, by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Joy is the calm beauty of the lake where we live... this is off the dam on our property looking up a small channel to the main lake.  His beauty surrounds us.





Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.  Psalm 36:5

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Be Calm, Words of my Heart, another Joy from Psalms, by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

"Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart..." from Isaiah 7:4


If you read around the verse, you find this is God instructing Isaiah to tell Ahaz just these words. Notice it is first, be careful.  Not be strong, be brave or be resilient, but to be careful.  Take care to be calm and not be afraid. Being careful takes a self check of mindfully doing this... taking careful steps.


Isaiah 7:9 finishes it up with "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."  That took my breath away. Deeply touching me, these words strengthened me to know to live I must have a strong relationship with God. Anything can happen around me, and if I am one with Him, I will stand strong in my faith to endure and walk through what I must in this lifetime. 


I love it when Lady L is in the room and voices around her begin to change in pitch and she immediately is coming to you saying, "Be Calm".  Our of the mouth of the child comes the word of the Lord... Be calm in Him.


Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace



In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?  Psalm 56:4

Sunday, May 20, 2012

How do you define success? Words of my heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace


Success can be defined in many ways for different people. It seems important to define ‘success’ for yourself.  Some will define it by income, but what if you make a huge income but you do not enjoy what you do? Is this success?

If you base ‘success’ strictly on money it would be.

What do you need to grow?
For many there is the enjoyment of the monetary, but more importantly, there is the joy of creating something valuable for others.  Napoleon Hill once said, “ ..that it is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” 

I would have to add that this is NOT something intentional you do, it comes natural to look out for others and want them to succeed feeling good personally about what they accomplish.

God does it for us all the time.  God is always wanting the best for us and providing more than we need with His gifts to us.  He is our God, our champion, our creator, our provider, our Father, our constant support and cheering section. If we are made in our Father’s image, it seems right that we should do the same for others. 

When you naturally are giving to help others succeed, you too will succeed because you have given unselfishly of yourself to another human being.

In my Dad’s words, “What goes around, comes back around.”  And in my husband’s words “What you put out into the world always circles back around to you.”   In my words, ‘What you give is what you will receive back.”

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

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
James 3:17-18

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Living behind a Mask, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace


Why must we live behind a mask?  Why is it easy to talk about others or turn a cold shoulder? Why is it impossible to look into a mirror and see ourselves as we really are, as people see us?  

More important, how does God see you?

 Behind our mask we hide the deepest hurts of our souls and earthly lives. Our shame compiled and fertilized over the years till it grows wildly and fills us with fear.  The fear manifests itself in belittling others to make them feel less and trying desperately to make us feel more.

Can we love and believe in others for the good; to accept another human being for exactly who and what they are as God created them; to seek a life of peace and giving or to welcome with open heart and sincere acceptance of another human being? 

What is gained by cheap talk and tearing down others in our lives? What kind of seeds are we sowing around us? Are we really building our lives by destroying others?

God sees all of us; our minds, our thoughts before we know them, our unkind grumbles and judgements of others, our constant negativity, our neediness to aways be right... He sees it all. 

He knows you just as He knows me.  

Can you remove your mask?

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Monday, May 7, 2012

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

Sunday, May 6, 2012

The Temptations and Traps, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Something that seems to be at me daily is trying to stay out of the trap of eating from stress. Having lost close to 20 pounds last year and staying at the lower weight for over a year now, I really am ready to lose the last ten pounds.


I seem to forget again that my body is a gift and it houses my spirit and soul for this earthly journey. My bad habits and temptations from life are always pulling on me. Somehow it bothers me at night when I climb into bed and think about the day and groan... and then in prayer in the morning KNOWING what I need to do. 


Then stress will hit from somewhere during the day and I am searching out the almonds. We do not keep anything bad snack wise here at all, but too many almonds in one day can do some damage. I need to listen to my inner voice to walk away from that stress and not be motivated to seek food as solace. 


This is a retraining again of saying NO to the traps that are there. Finding strength and reminding myself I am not hungry.  This is where the vision of healthy and whole must come to play and a prayer of gratitude to God for helping me reteach my body how to respond to this chaotic life. I am open to receiving grace for this. I am open to healing and wholeness.


Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace


"Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them." Isaiah 57:19

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Monkey See Monkey Do... Words of the Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Monkey See Monkey Do


When Bampa and I are visiting Lady L, the two of them, Bampa and Lady L are like monkeys.  TP loves to take her out on her "Park".  That is what she calls her swing set, the Park. He does stuff and she is right behind him imitating everything.





She and Bampa are two of a kind when it comes to Monkey Business.  They are best friends always and the trust is that based on unconditional love. 



When a child trusts an adult in their life so simply... that is an opposite reminder of how we do not seem to trust God so simply. We still want to control everything.   








Terry will never let Lady L down. 


God will never let you down.


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




 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3: 5-6


Saturday, April 21, 2012

Energy Words of the Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

ENERGY 
Saturday Tumbles


I cannot wait for this morning to arrive. We are going to watch Lady L play soccer. I also will have paints and canvas for her this afternoon and maybe another fabulous painting will emerge.


Remember what it is like to get up in the morning and be excited and full of energy for what is ahead in the day?  The pure joy of anticipation like a small child knowing something special is ahead?


Wrap your head around the idea that you are that child; that child of God. Meet this day with Praise for all that is in your life. Meet this day with open arms and heart to embrace what is ahead. If you are in the midst of illness or tragedy, know He is there with you. He never gives us more than we can bear, and He remains with us through it all. Find that little bit of 'morning glory' no matter how small it is. 


This is the day that the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be Glad in it!


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

"There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you." Deuteronomy 12:7


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Where do you rest? Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Where do you rest?


We were up at three this morning.  Terry's tummy was not smiling.  When I dropped peppermint oil on his tummy and turned on his heating pad, he was swiftly snoring away.


I laid there and rearranged pillows trying to get comfortable after being awakened so abruptly. I kept those squirrels in my head at bay... and my mind begin to lay things at the cross again. Anything that trickled into my head trying to steal my peace was purposely left at the foot of that cross.


Suddenly a mantra popped in my head and I was repeating it to myself to remember to use it in my blog... and I must have fallen asleep to the sound,


"Lay it at the foot of the cross, Giving it up is not a loss.
Jesus will bear the pain; safe in God's arms you will remain." LPace


Each of us has our way of finding rest. At times we struggle.  Until we can release ourselves from the struggle we remain in circular motion unable to find rest.

Rest in Him this day.

Words of my heart, Laurie

"He makes me lie down in green pastures;..he restores my soul." Psalm 23:2, 3

Thursday, April 12, 2012

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

Friday, February 24, 2012

Celebrating Life Words of the Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Celebrating Life

Do you have your list ready???

What is on your list to celebrate life?

Can you make a list of twenty things to do that you actually want to do?

It could be something as simple as sitting outside as the sun rises sipping a warm cup of tea or coffee.

 It might be curling up on the couch by a sunny window and immersing yourself in a good book.

Or it might be spending two hours at your favorite book store, including a cup of coffee or hot tea.



It might be holding a baby and smelling that sweet baby smell.






It could be painting with friends... and getting away from your every day life.


Or spending some time with someone you love paddling around the lake on a beautiful sunny day.



What are twenty things that bring you joy that you can celebrate life?  Make it easy. Keep it simple.  God graces us with so many choices in life, make the best of them and choose wisely.

Words of my Heart,
Laurie


“Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.” Proverbs 14:22 NIV

Saturday, February 11, 2012

One Person at a Time, Perfect Harmony, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

One Person at a Time... perfect Harmony

Must be the week of old camp songs.  Harmony, love and life. How does it all work in the world we live in?  One person at a time.


Remember the old Coca Cola song?



I am NOT promoting soft drinks. We have never kept them in the house except for company, but this commercial awakened the power of the sixties and seventies of make love not war.  My children sang this song. My Mother sang this song. I did not know anyone that did not know the song... 


The true essence is the gathering of people (here for coke) but in harmony...living lives in harmony.  One person passes it on to the next and then there are two. The two each pass it on and then there are four. Exponentially it spreads through a community with joy and and harmony lighting the way.  No one is left in the dark. No one can be disconnected from the power... as it comes from one person to the next. No one will be skipped.  


We are all members of one family...we all live here on earth and we must learn to unite in harmony.


Words of my heart, Laurie


"You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Deuteronomy 10:19

Word of the Heart to share.... by Laurie Pace