Blessed are those that Wait upon the Lord, Words of my Heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’  Therefore you will flee!

You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses." Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left  like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.” Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who

wait for him! Isaiah 30:16-18

We fly both our Texas Flag as well as our American Flag.  Our home is marked by the patriotic colors and display. Inside our home you are greeted at the door with crosses, stained glass paintings, watercolors representing the Holy Spirit and bible verses hanging on the walls. Yet, I would love to find a metal sculpture for the front yard of a cross with vines on it... I may have to take up another area in art and create it myself, or have Terry get busy with his welding equipment. The cross would be a simple reminder to all who pass our home that His presence is part of our lives and that He too is a part of their life. He is our protector.

Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

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

Lapis Blue Skies the doorway to heaven, Words of my Heart, 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

The best part of fall and winter is the intense blue of the sky after a cold front moves through. This is the sky this morning... and the few leaves left on my maple after the storms last weekend.  When I gaze up to the 'lapis' blue sky I feel I am at God's door and nothing stands between us... 

The intensity of color and clarity make it totally clear to this artists that this is the door to heaven. No color in any tube can match this beauty.

Words of my heart, Laurie 

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

If it dies, it produces many seeds...Words of my heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  John 12:24

The zinnias are winding down outside... and I captured this shot of one that has turned to seed.  If you grow them, you can take the head of the zinnia and save the petal like seeds to plant more next year.  

If it dies..it produces many seeds.... Christ died for us and look where His word and light have spread.  Are you doing your part in planting the seed?

Zinnias are my favorite flower from my grandmother's garden in St Louis on her farm. There was a bed of flowers in the center of the driveway. When I wandered through them as a child they seem to tower over me... I love them still today and she planted this love in my life and heart.

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

The Salt and Pepper of Life, Words of my heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

Fall is creeping in and the leaves are turning... the golds and reds are salting and peppering across the piney greens.  It is a glorious time to walk and enjoy God's beauty surrounding us.  We have much to celebrate and give thanks for.

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

Reflections of His Love, Words of my Heart, A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God.   Psalm 84:3

So beautiful on the pond.  Every morning and evening we sit outside or walk our two acres over to Lake Cypress Springs and watch the ducks on the big lake... on one side or the dam and our pond and house on the other side.  

Reflections of Him. 

Reflections of His glory. 

Reflections of His creation and reflections of His love.

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

BE MINE, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Be my Rock. 

Be my shelter. 

Be my guide. 

Be my provider. 

Be my protector. 

The list goes on but the answer remains the same... He is waiting to hear from you to be His first.

Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go;  Psalm 71:3

Words of my Heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Daily Bread, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

He provides exactly what we need each day. He provides our daily bread.  We struggle with nutrition and weight, and we keep missing the picture. Do you eat to live or live to eat?

The emptiness inside of you cannot be filled with ice cream and cookies, OR with margaritas or a cold beer.

The stress inside of you cannot be quieted with candy bars or wine coolers.

Get more basic.  Return to Him to fill the emptiness and allow Him to handle the stress. 

Live to serve. 

Live to praise. 

Live to share His glory. 

Why not start today?

Words of my heart, Laurie

A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

"Give us each day our daily bread." Luke 11:3

STOP BY and check out the new blog, "His Morning Glories" inspired by God's creation and moved to share with you.  Sign up to receive it by email.  Beautiful glories from God.

Focus on Him, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Focus


Okay, so things are going wrong. Everything is crashing around you.  What is one of the first things you do?  You pray.  If you have not prayed in a while... you begin to ask God to listen this once and your make promises to do better or be better.  You try and make a deal with Him.  

Focus my friend focus.  


Every day you are focused on everything but God.  


Every day you are busy doing everything but without God.  


So instead of focusing on the problem at hand, focus on God. 


Focus on the cross. 


Focus on God's promises.  


It is through God's word that the world was created. It is through God's words that He sustains the world.  His word and promises are to sustain our spiritual lives so that our physical lives can blossom.  He provides the promise to you when you follow Him your nature begins to change from the inside out. With the change will come growth bearing "fruit".  "Fruit" you can share with others in your life.


Negative forces try to lure you from His promises. Seeds of evil are easily planted in all of our lives each day to turn our focus away from God.  We all face challenges, temptations and illnesses in life.  God promises to be there through all of it. Again, there is no magic wand, there is only the focus on Him and His promises.   King David said, 'I cling to your testimonies; O Lord do not put me to shame!" Psalm 119:31. 


Focus on His Promises not on your problems.




Words of my heart, 
Laurie


"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."  2 Corinthians 1:20


"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, an sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

What to Build this Day? Words of the Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

What to Build this Day?

We are each blessed with gifts for our journey. Sometimes these gifts change and we may not be prepared to accept new ones or say goodbye to old ones.

You are the artisan of your life. As Moses built the tabernacle, he was assured by God that the workers helping him were gifted with their abilities to know what to do. Moses was not a savvy contractor, but God was.  Each person working was filled with the Spirit of God. Upon completion the Tabernacle was filled with the Spirit of God.

Planting a Tree for my Dad

God has given you this day the tools you need to create and accomplish whatever you set your mind to, or if you are listening to Him, where ever He guides you.  If you are not happy at this point in your life, what changes are open to you to consider? Have you prayed about it?

Always honor what has been provided in creating you for who you are. You cannot be something you were not created to be. You have indwelling divine energy that will lead you to fulfillment of dreams, maybe even the accomplishment of something you never dreamed about doing.

Pray with me this day ...Good Morning God, This is your day, I am your child, please show me the way.

Words of my heart, Laurie

"I have put wisdom in the hearts of all who are gifted artisans." Exodus 31:6

Praying for Others, Words of my Heart, Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Praying for others.

Circumstances in life happen. They happen to all of us. Sharing a prayerful life that includes the needs of others.  We have to look beyond the temporary that surrounds us and focus on God's perfection... God's perfection for each of us.

The power is among us and as we gather together that power is multiplied. This is the presence of Christ.  Honoring His presence in others and lifting them up.

No matter where you are today or what you are doing... stand in line and pray for others. At the next red light, pray for others. Every moment offers the opportunity to bless others and pray for them.

You are enfolded in love...

Words of my Heart, Laurie

"I pray that... Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love." Ephesians 3:16, 17

Through Eyes of Grace Possessed, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

I wrote a short verse of the stone earlier this week. Pastor Jack wanted more...and this is what come from his gently prodding.  God seems to prod us in the same manner.... Thank you Jack for believing.

Grace Possessed

Weeping tears wash dust from rock but not from hearts of gray

Silent thoughts scream with echoes of memories past, blocking light of day

As mounting high out of reach piling beyond the limits of my mind.

Can I climb the pile to the highest point to see what I might find?

Only through the giving of His grace can I clean my heart of hurt.

Only then will I see through grace the cleansing of the dirt.

A single stone to remind me of the light that falls across my face

A single stone to hold that promise of His grace.

No matter what the past has brought to life before this coming day

Releasing pain that builds inside my soul will be the only way

To withstand the elements of life and the storms of times to be

I lift my hands with open heart for His grace to come to me.

Oh rock of grace, beneath me stand to open heart and reaching hands.

To grasp the truth beyond the turn and see a soul begin to learn

The magnitudes of grace both far and near avoid the pain that comes from fear.

The pain of trust misplaced, or things un-seemed, to find through Him all things redeemed.

Redeemed through blood… His light I face… compassion now I must embrace

Sealed through Spirit and fully blessed, now I live through eyes of grace possessed.

L Pace 

March 5th 2012  In Memory of Benjamin Franklin Pace on the anniversary of his birthday  1926-2010

Words of my heart, Laurie

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

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

The Rock

Jack phoned yesterday when Terry and I were out walking. He had seen the blog and called to catch up.  I asked him where exactly he was going with the rock as he had ended up his sermon yesterday and Terry and I both somehow missed his last tie in.

He said it was referring to Jesus knowing Peter would be the "Rock" the church was built upon.      

Jesus knew that, as well as he knew Peter would betray him. That "look" was a look of love THROUGH the eyes of grace,  when he caught Peter's eye after the betrayal.

Jack wanted us to be reminded of the 'rock' that Peter was. Highly respected among the disciples, no one believed  he believed he would ever betray Jesus.


Jesus knew it would happen.

For me it completes a circle. Reading in Matthew at the end of this post,  when Peter was told by Jesus that he was the rock and foundation of the church, it continues through the last supper and through the painful betrayal and on through the beginnings of the church.  

Most likely Peter was in pain torn as to what to do in the situation and somehow decided it was better to not be identified as a disciple.  He simply continued to deny a relationship with Jesus. Then the cock crowed and Peter looked up in surprise to see Jesus' eyes on him.   They were not eyes of anger but as Jack put it, they were "the eyes of grace, forgiving Peter as it happened, knowing it was part of God's plan for him to betray Jesus.

Jesus' words to Simon Peter, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."  Luke 22:31-32


My rock is still my 'rock of grace' and translating it back  it is "Peter of Grace"

There is a wonderful article on Wikipedia... please read it.


Words of my heart, Laurie

Matthew 16:13-20   "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah."