What comes in Between? Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.  Daniel 2:21

When I took this shot of the end of the pond it was pretty intriguing as it pulled the contrast of fall and winter in one picture...slowly blending the two beautiful seasons together.  Even the chairs on the dock are covered in snow...but the land next to the deck is filled with brown and gold leaves and no snow. 

Fall or Winter.  What comes in between? Right and wrong... what comes in between? Sin or no sin...does anything come in between?   Humans, myself included, are very talented in rationalizing everything making that grey area always seem possible.  Is it possible?  You have to take a stance in life and it is not possible to walk on both sides.  Where with your wisdom are you standing? 

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

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.

God is my Passion and my Constant, Words of my heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom— there I will give you my love.  Song of Solomon 7:12

I always thought my roses and my zinnias were my staple each year with my Texas Lantana...but after having this passion vine planted this summer in honor of my FIL Ben Pace, I love having this blooming all summer and now fall. The caterpillars were suppose to come munch it all away and they neglected to show up... my good as the blooms continue even through through the cold.

Reminds me that I think I know what is my 'staple' each day and I really do not if I am not thinking it is GOD.  God is the only constant... the only staple. Everything else changes minute by minute.  

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Daily Walks with Him, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

““Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”  Isaiah 1:18

Our daily walks are stretching to be two miles each day. The weather is about as perfect as one could order up with the nights in the high forties or low fifties and the days pushing slightly close to 70.  It eases the memory of the hot summers with temperatures pushing over 110 degrees. Just about gone are the mosquitoes and the threat of West Nile Virus. With every step my mind clears of stress and chaos as I connect closer to Him. 

With every season change comes new challenges and new joys. May you find your days filled with God's light allowing Him to lead, guide, guard and direct your ways. 

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace

Empty Pots, Words of my Heart, giving and receiving by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

Matthew 12:36

I found this empty pot sitting on the deck caught between shadows and light. It reminds me of how we are living right now... we are all between shadows and light often pulled one way or the other by persuasion from others, or our own ego stepping out to control us.  

Empty thoughts, empty words, empty promises; we all have experienced both the giving and receiving of these. So when I saw the pot sitting there empty it was clear to me it would be another way to clear my mind of the many 'empty' needed thoughts that cloud it up each day.  I need to envision dropping them into this empty pot outside on the deck. Why keep those things laying around complicating  your life?

Throw it to the empty pot and walk away from it.

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

A little bit of soft serve please? Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”   1 Peter 5:8-9

It has become a tough journey in our home as we begin month four of plant based diet. Occasional chicken and tuna hits our life once  a week, but the rest of the time we are plant based and no dairy.  It has so many pros about it. Losing weight, lower cholesterol, feeling better, no bloating, no TUMS needed, more energy, wearing your 'smaller' clothes etc   The cons are missing Blue Bell ice cream or Braum's soft serve yogurt  or Terry would add a pulled pork barbecue sandwich.  

Yesterday we must have been stressed. We went to grab lunch at 4:30 at Pete's in Mt Pleasant.  I ordered my normal salad and a chicken on rye sandwich with BBQ sauce on the side. I only eat half the sandwich.  I could see the look in Terry's eyes go wild searching the menu.  This has been much harder on him than me.   He settled on something surprising... one slice of Supreme pizza and a Squealer Sandwich.  They call it squealer because it is pork. He picked it up and attacked it. I reminded him twice to slow down and enjoy it. If he was going to jump off the wagon he needed to do it without breaking his legs.  

He was doing well until about ten last night... and then again at two early this morning... he groaned at me around seven and said, "NEVER AGAIN" ... 

Yep... the devil prowls around roaring through our lives constantly tempting us.  This applies to food when you are doing a life style change. How do you walk away from 60 years of eating beef, pork, cheese, eggs and milk? Terry has gone from a 38 waist in his jeans back to a 34.  He has lost 20 pounds. He feels really really good, but his mind remembers the taste and feel of those fatty foods...but after he indulges the guilt is huge and the payback not pleasant.

Same for life my friends. With the freedom God gave man comes responsibility and wise choices.  

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Living by Faith, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Living by faith is sometimes the only way to make it through the next hour.

 Living intellectually can often be detrimental when we over think everything. 

Living intuitively leads to spontaneity and often a path away from the logical mind, but is it spiritually inspired by God?

 When a seed is planted in the ground we have faith it will sprout and grow.  

When we are confused in life about decisions or direction, we must have faith that God will provide the needed wisdom to guide us to a path of higher good. 

Choose to live your life by Faith.

Words of my Heart, Laurie 

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

"For truly I tell you if you have faith the size of a mustard see, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, " and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

Letters from Home Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Letters from Home


Received a letter from home yesterday... no not a postcard from Him, but one of those big white and green envelopes from my Mother. 

Inside was a note from her and some copies of things she discovered that my Dad had saved over his lifetime. Writings and articles that truly meant enough for him to cut out and save in a folder. 






There were not many, but what was in there was powerful.


"Imitate your way to success, researcher says"....  written by Maury M Breecher.
I had to google the name to see who it was. The article was from 27 years ago. I did find a website for him and for the author of the book he was reviewing. 

"Winners are made, not born and you can learn to be one."  Breecher was reviewing the author Dr Chalres Garfield  and his work, Peak Performance, published in 1985.  Quoting Garfield, "You can put more success in your life and learn to be a winner by adopting characteristics of success exhibited by top performers. These characteristics aren't innate. They weren't born with them. Top performers had to learn about and develop these traits. You can too.''


I distinctly remember conversations from the past with my Dad.  Habits do not start over night. You have to make yourself do something over and over before it becomes instilled as a habit. 

Same is true with everything in life. The hard things you fear, the bad habits you want to break, the diet and lifestyle change you crave, learning to play an instrument, exercising, the relationship you need to build with someone special, even your relationship with God. 


Dad always said you had to start somewhere. It would not feel like it was part of you until you did it over and over again... until it became part of you. 




Set those goals ahead for the things you need to concentrate on. You will find yourself dragging your feet, but you must see it through.. and change will come. There was an old slogan called "Fake it till you make it." It is along the same thought.   I will enjoy reading the things Mom shared with us...they are from the heart.


Words of my heart, Laurie


"If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:9-10

Where were you when I needed you? Images from my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Where were you when I needed you?

Where were you when He was looking for you?

Where were you on September 11, 2001?

Where were you just before they crucified my Lord?

Where are you today?

Images from my heart, Laurie


Job 28:1-4 "Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans  with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.""

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

Surrender

sur·ren·der  (s-rndr)

v. sur·ren·dered, sur·ren·der·ing, sur·ren·ders

v.tr.

1. To relinquish possession or control of to another because of demand or compulsion.

2. To give up in favor of another.

3. To give up or give back (something that has been granted): surrender a contractual right.

4. To give up or abandon: surrender all hope.

5. To give over or resign (oneself) to something, as to an emotion: surrendered himself to grief.

6. Law To restore (an estate, for example), especially to give up (a lease) before expiration of the term.

When you say the word it sounds almost romantic or it sounds like wartime. Quite a contrast in thought. How can giving up be a positive thing? How can abandoning something be a good thing? How can relinquishing control make things work?

How do you surrender to God? Can you give up your heart with out your body and soul? Yielding one with out the others is impossible. We cannot separate ourselves.  To relinquish power to Him has to be totally all of you all of the time. Not part of your some of the time. 


When I was reading and studying on this I read the story of a man and a woman getting married and the man saying, "Sweetheart, I want to marry you, but I can only give you half of my heart."  She looks at him and asks, "Why only half?"  He replies," The other half is for my old girlfriends, whom I still visit through out the week."  What woman in her right mind would marry him?  

God does not fail you or ever stop loving you and He certainly loves you with all of His heart, grace, love and joy.  Yet most people who claim to love Him have other loves in their life. Could be a job, a hobby, could be anything that draws you away from spending time with Him and surrendering your all to Him. What are you holding back?


In this season of Lent it is time to reflect the word surrender and instead of giving up things for Lent, give yourself up to God.  You are not 'whole' until you do. You are living half-heartedly.


Words of my heart, Laurie

Job 11: 13-19 


"Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins--even those you do in secret.  Then you won't be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry. You will sleep without fear and be greatly respected."

Everything You Took From Me, Words of my heart, by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Everything You Took From Me

I was reading the newest issue of AARP (they start sending it to you when you turn fifty) and was deep into the article on Sharon Stone.

I shoved the magazine in front of Terry and he said,
"Wow she looks better today than back then."

"everything you took from me..."

How did she get there?

"everything you took from me..."

It is an incredible article that covers a journey in her personal life.  A prayer shared with her by a close friend kept her sane and kept her focused on Him.

"Thank you, God, for everything you gave me, and thank you more for everything you took." 

It was just yesterday afternoon I was on the phone with a fellow artist facing many worldly changes in her life. Her foundation is with Him, but she was questioning why change was so abrupt and so far reaching at times that it reduces everything in your world.   "Thank you more for everything you took."

In church yesterday, Jack chose for the offertory, Luke 6:38:"Give away your life; you;ll find life given back but not merely given back, given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting is the way. Generosity begets generosity."


It's that baseball bat theory... if you are not listening and focused, sometimes that baseball bat thumbs you hard across the head and sets you spinning. Spinning back to Him.  Can you give away your life? Can you give away how you live your life? Can you trust Him enough to step out of your comfort zone and give it all up and start again?  "Thank you more for everything you took."

Can you forgive things that have set your life on a course filled with doubt and anger? Can you give away that life? Can you accept what you deem as failure as a learning tool and fall to your knees and ask Him to pick you back up?  Your bonus will be joy. Your blessings will be your gifts, and those you must be ready to share with those that have a need you can fill. "Thank you more for everything you took."

My recent vision has been more like a lump of wet clay.  When you feel 'deformed' and unable to find your way or your identity or when things are just not working right, you have to give up where you are right now. God will work with you. The clay is wet down and reworked and reformed into something different; something useful; something that has the ability to serve and give to others. Giving not getting. Generosity begets generosity. God will do the same with you.

"Thank you God, for everything you gave me, and thank you more for everything you took."  When I lost those things that I thought meant so much to me, I felt lost and desolate with their absence.

You begin to give back and fill me with new things, new gifts and new opportunities.  I would have never let go of those things, but you knew... you knew I could not move forward with all of it around me, pulling me down.  Those things were holding me back.   I am made new only in You.

Words of my heart,
Laurie

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9NIV

Heart to Heart, My Valentine Rose Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Heart to Heart

There is no place beyond God's love.  It is so easy to ignore or forget the fact that His grace is bestowed on to all of us unconditionally without any request on our part.  Unlike the need we have to please others to be included in their 'grace' or circle....God does not require that of us.  We do not have to do anything to be worthy of His grace, we must only open our heart to Him to feel it.  God is always eager for us to come to Him.

Earthly relationships seem to be filled with the need to please or seek the acceptance of others. God keeps it all free... heart to heart. There are no agendas required, no obstacle course to run, nothing to prove or do to win His acceptance.  He loves you heart to heart just as you are.

Terry made my Valentines Day pretty special yesterday.  It was a long stress filled weekend in Dallas with family; dinner out with friends last night soothed away the worries. Gathered at our Valentine's table were Sheriff Paul and Vicki (our high school friends), the Mayor and his lovely wife, and our "western dance instructor" the lake Sheriff JR and his wife Kelly.  It was laughter, stories, wine, love and friendship along with a spectacular dinner.  I had chicken but everyone else had prime rib cooked various degrees. Chocolate covered strawberries finished it all off.

Each woman at the table was given a beautiful single red rose.  Heart to Heart.

When others try to steal your joy, keep your eyes focused on His love... He is with you Heart to Heart.
Thank you God, for your gift of grace and your unending love.  I remain in your loving care.

Words of my heart, Laurie

"Grace be with all of you." Hebrews 13:25





 

Thoughts from the Road Trip on Sunday by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Thoughts from the Road

We made a short/long trip to see the kids yesterday...there and back. Five hours total driving time.  One of those love hate things of being on the road, but knowing it is rare for the family to gather in one place.

It helped that our son-on-law Larry was whipping up some healthy chicken chili. It was the thought that kept us coming... that and playing with Lady L.

As we left Mount Vernon, Terry had on a variety of political talk shows.  That alone is a retreat into prayers or other thoughts for me. Everything gets hashed and bashed on the TV and I truly did not want to hear it for two and 1/2 hours in the car yesterday morning. But I did.

The saving part was as we hit the edge of Dallas crossing Lake Ray Hubbard the George Bush Turnpike was open.  Taking that cuts off about 30 minutes in driving time. THAT was a nice surprise.

We enjoyed our visit, good food, good conversation, many hugs, and not near enough time as we headed home by four...but with this return trip we had the Giants/Packer Game. It lasted the entire trip home. Those Giants really cleaned up.

How do men do this? Trying to follow that auction type gibberish almost drove me crazy. AND he could drive at the same time and change stations on his steering wheel.  Truly men must learn these things from an early age. There is not a radio or tv that they cannot figure out and work without a look or a blink.

God is truly good and patient.  He must feel very much the same way about us and our constant gibberish every day. We stay motivating in the direction we are heading. The few times we turn our attention to Him... we still have not slowed down to breath and prepare for conversation.  I think we have too many computers, too much TV and too much noise in our lives. We have TOO TOO much. We can control and conquer all the electronics but we cannot let go and live our lives with joy.  Maybe it is time for a challenge of less when it comes to electronics...of all sorts. Time to be set free.

Words of my heart, Laurie

" To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."" John 8:31-32

Words of Hope, Happy New Year from Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Words of Hope

Well I certainly did not spend my day improving anything yesterday... or even with my darling husband. It was another day with CFAI.co.

Today I am going to pace myself to only 6 working hours as yesterday was 13 hours working on the site.  Those are my words of hope at least!

Praying you had a safe New Years and look forward to 2012.

We didn't dance or party like we use to... but we enjoyed the change in the year and feel like most people do that it a new start for many things in our lives.

Choose for it to be a closer time with the Father.

I am heading that way to my bible right now and will start my day in Psalms.

Words of my heart,
Laurie

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

The Joy of New, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The Joy of New...

 A new year. A first for me in years that I do not have that huge list of things to do and change. A first year that weight loss was not primary on the top of the list.  A first year that I did not write out a long list of things to add or change in my life.

WHY?
Because this past year I have gained some insight in dropping much of the worry. I have kept 16 pounds off for full year and I am ready to drop five more. I am getting better at it. I still fail. :^(   But I get back on my knees and realign myself with God.  My prayer for you my friends is to find peace and happiness in this moment.  God's plan is in place.

I had a huge joy at the end of the year last night. We arrived home around nine from eating out with Paul and Victoria for an early night out. The mail box at the street was stuffed with  a box I could not extract. Terry had to get out of the car and manhandle the mail box to release it's contents. We backed up the drive into the garage and whisk everything into the house. As I opened the package my breath drew out and the tears began to fall.

I am not a huge collector of things any more but one of my dearest collections was started by a good friend, sister of my heart, four years ago when she started sending me older Hummel pieces. I have ALWAYS loved them but never indulged in them. (My ancestors are from Germany. My grandmother was the last to come over and my mom was the first generation born here in the states. I am second generation.)  These beautiful pieces have been joyful sightings through out my life, so when my friend started my collection I was in love.  Tonight in my mailbox was a box containing the one almost in the center of the picture...slightly to the right. I cried for ten minutes totally amazed by how this new little piece caught my heart a glow.  These are in a glass case in the den where I see them all the time. I am reminded of her not just with these little ones, but with so much in our home.  Oh yes, this is all 'stuff' but we have parred down in our life to those things that are nearest and dearest to us in making our life simpler.   I posted once earlier in my blogs of my 'sisters' that sits by my kitchen window from another dear friend... and two paintings by another dear art friend (Linda McCoy) that are on the wall in my breakfast room... along with pieces from Diane Whitehead, Toni Grote and a few others.   God's blessings in love surround me not just in nature outside my window but in some tokens and treasures shared by my earthly friends.

Happy New Year.  May you find your treasures in this moment right where you are.
Laurie

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

The Hoover's Hills, a Flash Back in Time, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Hoover's Hills

Terry and I were watching the morning news with all the latest coverage of the Wall Street protestors and he said it reminded him of Hoover's Hills.

Okay, so I didn't know who or what Hoover's Hills were.

Back in 1932 as the great Depression pressed the American people, the veterans that had served in the war had been promised extra pay but the contract was for bonus money in 1945.  Here were these veterans starving and unemployed, basically destitute.

These men were promised $1.25 for each day  they served over seas and $1 a day for each day they served here in the states.   They were dubbed the BONUS ARMY as they set up camp across the river from the Capital at Anacostia Flats. They built their shelters out of whatever they had or could find.  Discipline in the camp was good but residents feared the growing numbers.  They only wanted their due pay to feed their families and to make it through the depression.  Read more here.  Their encampment was referred to as Hoover's Hills.

The Congress took up the bill to pay the veterans immediately and the house passed it easily. BUT then came the Senate. They defeated the bill by a vote of 62 to 8. The Bonus Army was stunned. The people of the United States were stunned.  Hoover did not want violence, but the order went out to evacuate the veterans.  Chief of staff General Douglas MacArthur dispatched six tanks and calvary troops led by Major George Patton. The cavalry arrived and the surprised veterans thought this was something being done in their honor.  They were not prepared for bayonets, tear gas and direct attacks by the cavalry. The 10,000 vets were removed forcibly from their 'hills'.

There were countless injuries, deaths that included children and infants and Hoover was mortified that MacArthur had carried this through so violently.  The residents were angered crying out in shame against the sudden attack.

Gene Policinski wrote a great blog article comparing this to the "Occupy Wall Street" movement.  Click here to read his October 17th post.

I am a non violent person so I have issues with so much that happens in the world around us. Civilizations seem to rise and fall. It is part of the history we read in the Bible and the history we know from the world in recent centuries.  I know not what His plan is for us here in America but I am truly tired of our current Congress and disappointed in the lack of true concern for the American people. 

Words of my heart,
Laurie

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."
(Psalm 4:8)

Letter of Recommendation, Words of my heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Letter of Recommendation


When you are on a job search or applying to college, everyone asks for a letter of recommendation from friends and employers or previous professors.

They are trying to establish a pattern in your character that would make you stand out as a candidate for the job or admission to college.

What would be on your letter of recommendation to the Father?  In the Bible it is clear good deeds are not the way into His heart.

All men are full of sin. Easy example is one of my own sins that I commit daily. Worry.  Another might be judging things too quickly; things, people or situations. My list is one I confess daily trying hard every morning to be aware and to give those things up to Him.

Instead of writing a letter of your glowing deeds and recommendations, how about a list of things you confess to yourself and to Him?

Words of the heart,
Laurie

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)