Hold my Hand, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

When we are feeling insecure we reach out for someone's hand in comfort. All of us are needy in life and we seek something to bring us comfort.  Often we seek the wrong things in life.  It is only the Father that can refresh us and restore our balance in life. 

In advent we realize this promise comes through the birth of Jesus who gives His life for us, for our sin and our salvation.  God promises to strengthen us and help us... He will uphold us in his hand.

Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

How do we turn so corrupt? Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?

Jeremiah 2:21

Life tends to weather us all as we journey through making each day. Some 'weathering' is self inflicted and others are the result of those around us we allow in our lives.  The beat down we often experience is not part of God's plan for us, but it seems to be where we force ourselves to be.

He wants each of us to be sound and safe and connected to Him, to ourselves and to our family and friends.  How did we ever get to be so badly beaten and abused in our lifetime where we turn from Him in shame, and continue our self destructing ways?

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace

Hay Baling, Words of my Heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

    Photo from FreeFoto.com  Hay Bales by Ian Britton

When the hay is removed and new growth appears

    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

the lambs will provide you with clothing,

    and the goats with the price of a field.

Proverbs 27:25-26

New growth... even possible in the fall and the winter. Fall Gardens, fall winter rye grass.  Growth continues every single second with every breath of God. Are you open and ready to grow this fall?  Prepare your heart by removing the old and allowing the new to appear and strengthen. Find the gifts He has provided. Get rid of the things that hold you back and bog you down. Those are not just earthly things but emotional things as well.

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

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