Skies of Lapis Blue, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. 

Exodus 24:9-11

What you have in Texas after the cold fronts blow through are skies of blue that are often more brilliant than what lies below them. 

In our lives we live through waves of 'fronts' that blow through our lives. Some leave destruction in their path and others blow through to bring a balance to the environment around us, washing away things we do not need. We cannot fight what comes our way; we can simply hold to our God and know He stands with us. Once we are through the worst of the storm, the light of heaven will come with His peace and blue skies will be above us. 

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

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

Enlightening Pinecones, Thoughts from my heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be single, your whole body shall be full of light.   --Matthew 6:22

"Throughout the span of recorded human history, Pinecones have served as a symbolic representation of Human Enlightenment, the Third Eye and the Pineal Gland.  Our “Pine”al Gland, shaped like (and named after) the Pinecone, is at the geometric center of our brain and is intimately linked to our body's perception of light. The Pineal modulates our wake-sleep patterns and circadian rhythms, remains uniquely isolated from the blood-brain barrier system, and receives a higher percentage of blood flow than any other area of the body save the kidneys.

It is considered by many to be our biological Third Eye, the "Seat of the Soul," the “Epicenter of Enlightenment” -- and its sacred symbol throughout history, in cultures around the world, has been the Pinecone." From Cones and Stones

I was reading about Pinecones before I started this blog and there are several biblical references to the Pinecone through the green pine tree in the bible.  This particular site also mentioned the placement of the Pinecone in Egyptian history as well as with the  Masonic Lodges and the Masons.

The site is worth visiting just for the information and as an artist I absolutely was drawn to a better understanding of the history of the pinecone in art.


This final verse from Hosea, seems to more directly address the connection between spirituality and the Pinecone/Pine Tree:

O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? 

I will answer him and care for him.

I am like a green pine tree; 

your fruitfulness comes from me. 

--Hosea 14:8

Thoughts shared from my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace