Laying in His Peace, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

  

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Jeremiah 29:11

We are turning the point of a year since my dad continued on to be with the Father.  So many things taught by my parents were joint, but the list making and the process of making decisions and weighing all aspects was definitely my Dad's strongest asset. 

We have all the pieces to put together our lives as God has in His plans for us, no different than this puzzle in progress.  Our lives are in progress.  Sometimes you pick up a piece and try it in place and it does not fit.  You release it and try another until you find the piece that fits right there. In doing puzzles it is common to sort out the like pieces in different places so if you are working on the sky, you go to the sky pieces, or working on a pink building, go to the pink building pieces. You don't waste time trying out sky on the pink building.

In life we know the difference between our choices as well and can sort them out. Our hearts are often leading us in places our brain would never go. That is when it is time to pray and open your heart to Him to light the way so your heart and head have to get out of the way.  It is very hard to let go because it is a common trait for all of us to want to control our lives.  

The Father knows what piece is ready for your life. Time to get out of the way and let Him lay in His piece... or is it His Peace.

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Making that list and checking it twice... Words of my heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ Acts 3:25

I cannot believe it is 2013... and once again I have to train my hand to write it without my brain interfering. It will be a year this month since my Dad continued on to be with the Lord.  My parents were both big into making that list and checking it twice for new year resolutions.  As I age and think about a new year my priorities are changing. It truly is more about serving and helping others in this life journey.  My Dad did that in his life, his family and his work.

From he and my Mom came three pretty level headed children...now adults with their own children and some grandchildren sprinkled here and there. 

I have so much to be thankful for in this new year and over the next week I will begin putting the finishing touches on that list.

Give in abundance. Live in abundance. Pray in abundance. God provides all you and I need.

Words of my heart, Laurie 

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Tell your own story...Words of my heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:5-7

Some days you think you should not have even gotten out of bed. Things do not go the way you thought they should. Violence interrupts life when you are least prepared for it. Somehow life consists of pain and sorrow along with the joys and love.  Innocent people suffer and die. Today's violence and injustices seem immeasurable worse than in past generations.

What can you do to make changes in your story as your story will affect the story and lives of others.  It has to start in our hearts and our homes. Surrounding ourselves with others that care and believe and want to make a difference just enforces the good that can grow and flourish in one community, than one county, than one state and one nation.... One Nation Under God.

When I am teaching art to my students, I encourage them to tell their story in their own way through their artwork. No one produces the same story as we are all unique.  Where we are bound together is by our priorities, our compassion and our beliefs. 

Do you know what yours are?

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Speechless... Words of my heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!  

Psalm 71:8

Sometimes while reading the advent story and lighting our candles things stick in my mind a bit longer as I reflect on them from a different perspective. We just read about Zachariah being confronted in the temple that Elisabeth would have a child and in disbelief he asked the Angel to have God give him a sign so he could be assured of the truth of this prophecy.   I could hear my father-in-law Ben laughing at me saying, "Be careful what you ask for."

God sent a sign... he struck Zachariah speechless until after the birth of his son, John the Baptist. 

Is this true for us today?  We seem to often doubt God's words of promise to us and in the true sense are we not "unable to speak" because we do not trust? Are you giving your life and service to Him, surrendering all to put yourself in His hands and be apart of His plan?  In the smallest ways sometimes we make the biggest contributions.

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The Narrow Road, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  

Matthew 7:13-14

It is evident there is a message coming loudly this week. I pray before each blog that I do for guidance on the verse and the subject and my response and words.

Staying with the 'toos' in life and the busy bees...this certainly brings it back as a subject again this morning.  If you are on the broad road in life you are living broadly... participating in life broadly, eating broadly, involving yourself broadly in multiple areas of work, enjoyment and pleasure. You find it easy to explain things and rationalize things so you can continue in your lifestyle.

To be on the narrow road, is to keep your eyes on HIM.  There is only one way to God. It is not a broad path or wide road getting there... it is a narrow one that keeps you and I on the straight and narrow. The narrow road calls for self denial, strict obedience and watchfulness of the spirit. That broad road allows you to lumber along with all your baggage, and the narrow road wants you to leave it all behind.  

Keep your eyes on the Father.  

Navigation is necessary on this narrow road to avoid the twists and turns and dips. If you chose to be on the broad road it is easy going and there would be much company for you traveling on the same road.  The narrow road is less traveled but it is chosen because of the destination at the end of the road.  Where does the broad road lead to?

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace.

Promises Spoken, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.  Galatians 3:16

As fall has arrived and our nights are cooling off to the mid forties and low fifties, much of our plant life and trees are beginning their journey to dropping leaves and seeds.  This is a branch off my crepe myrtle tree against the gorgeous blue sky. 

The sky is a promise of His greatness and His love behind the dried blooms of the crepe myrtle.  Even so next spring this tree will blossom full of bright green leaves and boughs of intense pink flowers.  All life and death are part of the cycle as we return home to our Lord. The sky above us as we walk this earth and the heavens surround us as we continue on our spiritual journey with Christ.

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace

Journey, New Growth, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear

Genesis 28:20

When I chose this image I was thinking of spent blooms dying off and new blooms popping out. Some are just tiny and others beginning to open.

Lord, I am ready to bloom again, to use the gifts you have blessed me with to give to others along the journey. You provide for me all I need and even some of what I want.  It is mine now to give back to those the 

same grace you give to me.

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace