Be Calm, Words of my Heart, another Joy from Psalms, by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

"Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart..." from Isaiah 7:4


If you read around the verse, you find this is God instructing Isaiah to tell Ahaz just these words. Notice it is first, be careful.  Not be strong, be brave or be resilient, but to be careful.  Take care to be calm and not be afraid. Being careful takes a self check of mindfully doing this... taking careful steps.

Isaiah 7:9 finishes it up with "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."  That took my breath away. Deeply touching me, these words strengthened me to know to live I must have a strong relationship with God. Anything can happen around me, and if I am one with Him, I will stand strong in my faith to endure and walk through what I must in this lifetime. 


I love it when Lady L is in the room and voices around her begin to change in pitch and she immediately is coming to you saying, "Be Calm".  Our of the mouth of the child comes the word of the Lord... Be calm in Him.


Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?  Psalm 56:4

Seventh Day of Psalms, Secure in Him, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

When you ride in the car, the seat belt is a safety tool that brings a certain amount of security to you in being safe in the car when you are traveling.   On our riding lawnmower there is a safety feature of the engine cutting off if there is no weight on the seat.  So if you were to run yourself into a tree branch hanging down, or just fall off from turning to sharply, the riding mower will stop immediately. You can be secure knowing you won't be run over by your own lawnmower.    



What do we have in life that bring us security? Seat belts and trick lawnmowers, or even guns and force fields cannot bring you true security.  God is our only true security against all attacks or failures.  We are constantly threatened by job loss, personal conflicts, physical and sexual abuse, etc.   If our security is based on our circumstances,  people in our lives, our accumulated 'toys', or other earthly things, we are not very secure. 


Our only security is in God and God alone.


Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace


Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; 
    you make my lot secure.
⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance. 
⁷ I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; 
    even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Psalm 16:5-8

Unfailing Love Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Whether in times of abundance or need, His love is unfailing.

Yet there are times we struggle to feel His blessings.

You may be sick, worried, out of work, or struggling with the death of a loved one. Giving thanks in all situations is challenging for all of us, but even more so if we feel short of His love.

That is the time to be thankful for His faithfulness. Allow His quiet love to wrap around you during times of pain.

Listen for His voice amid the words of others trying to direct your life. Know He is in control and you are safe. He is your refuge and His love is unfailing.


Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace


But I trust in your unfailing love; 
    my heart rejoices in your salvation. 
⁶ I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.  Psalm 13:5-6

Fifth Day of 100 Days of Joys and Psalms, Trust in His unfailing Love, Words of my Heart, A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

He has been good to you and to me. It just seems like we pay more attention to the negative and the neediness than we do to the joy and what we have been given. 

Our son Morgan is an artist as well.

So much has been provided and yet I wonder if the time was taken to give thanks for what we have.  How can we ask for more when we have not accounted for what is in our hands right now?


Can you trust in Him unfailingly to provide what you need this day?  Praise Him. Give thanks for this day. Trust Him for the rest.


Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace


"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me."  Psalm 13:5-6

Fourth Day of Joy, Kiss the Clouds of Heaven, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Open your eyes in any direction where we live and you are constantly reminded of God's glory here in the deep east Texas forests.   Several years ago we were in Wyoming for a gallery opening for my art and we stopped heading south through Colorado in Breckenridge.  

Breckenridge Colorado

This tops the beauty of east Texas as it literally takes your breath away. The sheer majesty of the beauty of the Rockies from every angle is awesome. From the break of early dawn until the setting of the sun in the west, here you are so close to heaven you can feel the kiss of God's clouds.  


The higher you drive toward Eisenhower Pass the closer you seem to heaven.  


Wherever you are today, raise your eyes to Him and open your arms to receive the great joys He has for you. They surround you...if you can't see them you are looking too hard in the wrong places. Look up.


Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace


"Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory  in the heavens." Psalm 8:1

Day 3 of 100 Days of Joy, Baby Giggles, Words of my Heart by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Joy is in my heart on day three of 100 days of Joy and Psalms.  Looking back through old photos for 'joy' moments through out the years, this was one of my favorites. Baby Giggles.  It is my mom with my oldest son, their first grandchild, Justin.  Justin will be 37 this year, so this was about 36 years ago. 

He was a delight for all of us being the first born grandchild.  Whenever we would visit my mom and dad, his baby giggles would fill the house. His joy was contagious and we would all smile watching this sweet baby take delight in such a simple creature as a bird. 


Those tiny moments in life make a memory forever etched inside of us. A grandmother's smile of encouragement and a grandchild's trust and love with a new life experience still bringing joy to my heart this day.


Pure Joy.  


Words of my heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist, Laurie Pace



"My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.  God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day.  If he does not relent,  he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.


Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.


I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;  I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High."  Psalm 7:10-17

Second Day of Joy, 100 Days of Joys and Psalms, Words of my heart by a Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Last night was a struggle after Terry turned out the light. It was eleven and we were both pretty tired from our day. Suddenly the squirrels broke loose in my head and sleep evaded me.  It was not just one squirrel and one scenario, there were at least 7 or 8 squirrels are vying for my attention. It was like a roller coaster ride and I was trying to hang on.


After talking to myself about 'getting it together' and 'putting these things away'... I was still laying there picking up the left over trash from the squirrels. No mind over matter was working, so I rolled over and quietly picked up my prayer beads next to the bed. 



I am not Catholic, so these are Anglican Prayer beads that I use in my own way.  Usually praying my way around the 33 beads and the cross, I fall asleep before the end, but last night I went around one full time doing my prayers and began the prayerful second trip praying for each person on my prayer list. As I was coming to the end of my supplications the peace that filled me was amazing.  I slid the beads under my pillow and fell into a restful sleep. 
It was Aunt Jo Pace Holley that shared with Terry and I, when we married years ago, on sleepless nights to pray for others. When you are concentrating on others, your "neediness" fades away.


He is the Provider, the Comforter, the Healer.  He is whatever we each need at any moment in the day. He is my Joy.


Thank you Aunt Jo.  Your Joy continues in our lives. *


"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. " Psalm 5:3

Words of my Heart, Laurie
A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

*  Jo Holley died many years ago.  She was a believer that touched and changed many lives in her close to 88 years on this earth.  She only lied one time that we know of and that was when she got her 'hairdresser license' at age 15. She was suppose to be 16.  She was featured many times in her last years because she was still doing hair for her clients. She would drive to their house and pick them up and bring them back to her salon on Grand Ave in Dallas. She would minister to them in so many ways before returning them to home.  She was the oldest practicing hairdresser with the most years in service of anyone known in the USA. David Letterman tried to convince her to do his show and she refused on moral issues.  She did her trade for 75 years serving and giving of herself daily.  She kept a log prayer book next to her bed where she would put a date, a name, a prayer request and every day twice a day she went through her list praying for others. When a prayer was answered, she dated it answered.  It was amazing to see God's trail of love and perfect joys as all prayers were answered in His time