Planting time in January? Words of my heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:32

The new year brings a time to life of beginning again. Sometimes I felt like the slate was wiped clean and I could take a deep breath in January and make changes...positive changes.

What new things can you plant in your life to grow this year and become a large part of your community?

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Happy New Year. From Texas Artist Laurie Pace

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Happy New Year.... May your new year be filled

with God's grace and love, accompanied by joy and laughter.

Color my World God....Words of my Heart, A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Color my world GOD.

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. Psalm 85:11

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

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

Life Softly Spoken, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Life Softly Spoken


With over 30 years of teaching experience in both public and private schools and my own art studio, I have learned early on that speaking softly and saying less controls children the best. When you set the mood of your classroom, it always works best to keep it simple.  

The KISS method was one my husband told me was used by all the mechanics at American Airlines. They referred to the acronym as Keep It Simple Stupid...but I had to adjust that for the classroom to Keep It Simply Soft. My classrooms were home away from home for these children as they spent more time with me during their waking hours than they did with anyone else.  


I wanted that to be quality time with both respect and gentleness. I found that softly spoken word last night when Terry and I watched a series on Netflix. My heart was moved to the core of my soul in a scene from the upper room. 

It was a series called CLOSE TO JESUS, the stories of those he touched.  It includes Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Nazareth, Judas, and Thomas.  It is directed by Raffaele Mertes who has done quite a few movies including one on the Holy Family, The Apocalypse, and Esther: the Bible.  We watched the first one in the Close to Jesus series on Thomas.  The setting was just after the crucifixion. It started out sort of slow but within about ten minutes I was on the streets with Thomas as he sought to find the body of Jesus. By the end of the movie you realized Thomas ran in search of something that was right there in front of him. He was outspoken and direct and simply would not let go of what he saw or wanted to see. The other disciples and Mary Magdalene each had their own struggles.  The disciple that stood out the strongest was not the casting of Peter as the Rock, but the soft spoken highly convicted disciple John.  In the series his eyes seem to penetrate your soul as he softly repeats the words of the 'Master'. He never seem to have second thoughts or questions... he simply believed. He spoke from his heart in a place of love.


As you bring yourself to prayer with the Father and then to life today... keep at heart the KISS method, keep living from your heart, a place that is filled with pure love.  Keep your faith simple and steady as Jesus shares it. 


Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace


“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:49

Gushing Waters, Words of the heart by a Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Gushing Waters...

Monday I picked up the book Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard from Pastor Jack at the church.  I had mentioned this book in a prior blog that it really looked good and had pretty high reviews.  On the way home in the truck I was already consuming it.

One of the things stuck in my mind from the book and the Bible is Jesus' words, "Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never again be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." John 4:14

Are you like 'gushing water'?  Are you alive with His Spirit and do you share it naturally and easily? He is filling you up...are you sharing the spirit in your life with others?

Words of the Heart,
Laurie


"Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never again be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." John 4:14

The Jo in Joy, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The Jo in Joy

You can feel her joy before Jo even walks into a room.  She brings a loving smile, a full laugh and always a positive outlook on everything in life.  I have been blessed with knowing her only two years and she still takes my breath away with her joyful nature and her enfolding love for God and for everyone she knows.

She and her husband Tony are celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary and this past weekend was filled with the complete joy of family and friends honoring this time in their lives.

Jo lives in my neighborhood here at the lake.  Her home, yard and life embrace their happiness and joy in life. They both celebrate the gifts provided and Jo shares some of that with our church choir.

Like all of us, they have faced many challenges in life with health and family. They stay the course with their faith and their positive attitude, always thinking of others first.

What made me write this to share it with you? I was walking last week on Friday and she and Tony whizzed by me in their van heading for the clubhouse. They were preparing for the party on Saturday.  Jo had the window down and a big smile splashed across her face singing out a joyful good morning to me.  What a blessed way to start my day.

We all need more Jo's in our lives... and I am blessed to have one as my neighbor. God is good and Jo is joyful sharing that in life. Thank you God, and thank you Jo.... Joy... it is all from God.

Words of my heart,
Laurie

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!" Psalm 98:4

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

Live with Joy, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Live with Joy

Sometimes you simply have to write things down to accept them.
Seeing it written on paper makes everything seem more official. I think that is why my Dad always had us making lists.

Write it down...

I LIVE IN JOY.

You have the ability to do this. You do not have to wait for something or someone to change... YOU CHANGE.  You live in joy.  Choose to be joyful right now as you read this.

Now that you have written the words down... read it out loud. Read it again.

I live in Joy.  Are you smiling yet?

Just speaking it out begins to lift your smile and your mood. Give the joy to others today. The more you give out, the more joy you will have inside of you.
Feel the joy of God, share the joy of God.

Choose to live in Joy.

Words of my heart, Laurie

"Be Glad in the Lord and Rejoice." Psalm 32:11