Choosing wisely, Words of my heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

Proverbs 21:20

Choose wisely in life.

Sharing my heart...

Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Do you know God's Requirements? Words of my heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD.  Jeremiah 8:7

Do you know the requirements of the Lord?  They are so simple and yet we make it so hard in our lives.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

I am sure we all have our favorites...but the basis remains the same. God is first and all the 'yeah but' or 'don't forget' or 'what about' does not matter. God is first. We tend to complicate our lives way too much. Live your life simply with Him.  Stay focused on Him. Live in Him. Love Him. He will make straight your path in life. He will provide exactly what you need.

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Making Things Grow by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.   1 Corinthians 3:6

Speak with the Father... Believe.

His rain falls to bring life to the barren ground.

His sun shines to bring growth to the seeds.

His warmth will fill the days in the next few months and from it will come the tiny flowers breaking through the snow and the frost. Focus on the Father.

He will bring what you need for you and for what you are nurturing.

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

Easy to say but not easy to do, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, " Colossians 3:23

Sometimes it is so easy to say 'I am a believer'... but how easy is it to actually be one?  It is hard work. It takes sacrifice and giving of yourself to help others. It is not just sitting at home reading the bible...but it is working and striving to be the best you can be in His eyes. Striving to please Him. Time to renovate.


God can transform our  weakness, our sin, all conflict and all division.
From every life-less stump - where any future hope has been cut off
- a shoot of new life can sprout.

Are you hard at work as we begin Advent this year? This is the first week of advent and the perfect time to reflect on your actions this past year and what you can begin again with tomorrow. You do not have to wait for the new year... start fresh right now.


Throughout the day today, you can lighten your spirits and turn to God and pray.   Rejoice at the coming of your Son, for you and me!

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

When the water sweep over you...Words of my heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Isaiah 43:2

We walked down to the big lake to the sound of geese and ducks.  I love seeing them paddle around in the glistening waters... reminds me of God's promise.  He is with me through the waters that seem to overwhelm me as they sweep over me. My trust is in Him to protect us through all times.

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace

Strength in Numbers Praying, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is 

praying in your presence this day.

1 Kings 8:28

Strength and power in numbers... strength in gathering together to pray and the laying on of hands for those in need.  The power of belief and treasure of church family and friends binding the need and bringing it to God for healing and mercy. 

Great Aunt Jo taught us to list our prayer requests and then pray ceaselessly for however long it takes. When a prayer request is answered, we date it next to the request.  God works 24/7 and it shows in our prayer request book.

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace

Fall has arrived... Words of my heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains,

bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.

    Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows,

    peering through the lattice.  My beloved spoke and said to me,

    “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.

 See! The winter is past;  the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

Songs of Solomon 2:8-13

When I look back on our pictures as teenagers, I grin when I see the same cocky smile and gentle love in his eye that I remembered. Today that love has deepened with our journey over the years. Some past experiences have brought us high with joy and laughter, others plunging us into unknown territories where only our love brought us through with God's light and grace. Transition and change were much easier when we were younger.  I am so thankful to have him at my side.  The fall is here in our life's journey and winter still lies ahead. This season of our life is showering us in the bounty and beauty of fall.  I pray we meet all changes hand in hand where we can abide together in His grace caring for each other and enjoying the treasures of our family.  

God has watched over us with each passing year and we pray he will continue to as the days grow shorter and the beauty of winter surrounds us. 

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Perfect and Flawless, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Do  you own a quilt?  This is not even a quilt but it is an apron.  Our lives seem to be 'quilted' together with patches of experiences.  I fell in love with this apron as it had some of my freshest colors and designs and it brought joy to me.  No matter what experiences are patched together to make your life and you into the person you are today... know that God's way is perfect and flawless. You were made by Him.

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace




As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30

Renew Your Spirit, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

What would it take to make you smile today?


What renews you to wake this day and go about your life?


What inspires you and motivates you?  Where do you spend time?  


Where ever that is, the place you spend time, is what creates your frame of mind. If you are not happy or not inspired or not finding a smile on your face when you wake up... you seriously need to make some changes in your life.



We get so focused in life on finishing things (I am one of the worst!) and completing a job or task that we miss out on life.  This is a wake up call to you my friend. The more you do and take on, the less time you are spending in your own spirituality. 


You are what you do. (Video games count.)
You are what you read. 
You are what you watch on TV.  


When is there time spent in the Bible? 
When are you not rushing through life? 
When are you alone with Him? 

Sundays is a good starting place. Plan it for this next week. Observe the Sabbath. Be in the word, attend church and be feed spiritually.  Add reading your bible to your mornings or your evenings.  
As you take each of these steps committing time to your spirit, you will have the renewed feeling of joy spreading through out you and your family.  


Put God first and you will find everything falls into place. Your life will take on new meaning... you will be rested and renewed.


Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace


Plan ahead:


"Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. " Exodus 20:8 

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."

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

Grace of Togetherness, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Grace of Togetherness

With young children they need constant watching. They are vulnerable to so many harmful things around them that having a 'visual' on them is a necessity to ensure their safety.

Many moms with young ones are near crazy by the end of the day trying to keep up with the busyness of their children.

God keeps the same watchful eye through the Spirit placed within us. As adults our lives are busy. Yet no matter what we are never alone. His spirit abides with us at all times, the watchful parent keeping a visual over us.

 
Knowing God is a partner in life with us each day, makes that day livable.  We are often pulled into rifts and problems; dealing with them depends on our trust in Him that we stay current in the moment with our eyes focused only on Him.

Every decision, every choice, every relationship brings a gift or opportunity. With God beside you, you will have a day filled with His strength and light gracing your every step.

Words of my Heart, Laurie

"Grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever." Psalm45:2

Unanswered Prayers, The Elephant in the Room, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Unanswered Prayers, the Elephant in the Room?

It happens all the time. Elephants in the room. We step all around them, worry about them and they do not budge.

Terry's Aunt Jo used to keep a list of all the things she was praying about. She had a spiral notebook she carried around. Neatly she would write out the date of the first day she was praying about something.  If the prayer was answered... on the far right side there was a date of the answered prayer.

This really works in the sense you SEE how many prayers are answered and very few are unanswered prayers.  Everything is in God's time, not ours.

Right now there is something you are fretting over or worried about. Something that might even shake the foundation of your life...or so you are thinking. You begin praying about it. Often it is easy to offer a barter or trade. IF you do this, I will do this.... count on an unanswered prayer my friend as God does not take lightly to bartering.

When you pray you often have a waiting time for things to begin to happen. Rarely is anything overnight. Even if there is not evidence of things happening, God is working on it all.  It is time to go about your day and be strong in your faith and trust God. Affirm your love and faith in Him and stop fretting about the things that seems to be the elephant in the room. In quiet moments the Presence of God is evident and the elephant begins to fade from sight. Your eyes on are Him now, you cannot see that elephant any more. Now you are ready to receive.

Words of my Heart, Laurie

"And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Luke 1:46-47

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

Relationships

Terry is always leery when I turn off his television at night and want to talk. Immediately he feels he has done something wrong.  How did we get here? Does not seem like a healthy reaction, especially when I am not frowning. I have known him for 48 years of my life. I know him pretty well.

How can you improve your current relationship?  I know as we talked last night I literally prayed before responding to some touchy things we were discussing.

 I stayed quiet and sought oneness with the Father before replying. I did not want to speak out of emotions and not from my heart. Our lives have been up side down since he retired in April 2010. We need to get back on the same page and I was ready to talk about it. Praying as we spoke kept me from over reacting to some of his responses.

The impact of this spiritual security brought about a change in him as we talked and I could visible see him sigh and relax. He was still hesitant speaking of painful things but it was something that had to be done.

It is so easy to lose sight of God in our relationship.  Staying aligned with Him helps each of us stay aligned in our relationships with others. Knowing God is with you provides a sense of security and joy. Divine love nurtures all of us. Divine love will bless every relationship in your life.

Words of my heart, Laurie

"I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love." Colossians 2:2