Sing your song

Isaiah 44:8

Do not tremble,

do not be afraid.

Have I not proclaimed from ages past what my purposes are for you?

You are my witnesses -

is there any other God? No!

There is no other Rock - not one!

It seems that the same message keeps coming up wherever I go. We are His witnesses and He has a purpose for each one of us. Even if we don't feel adequate to fulfill those duties, that's OK, He will give us all we need to be used in a way that brings Him glory.

I can just hear the voices starting up in my head with, "what where you thinking anyway, you can't sing very well, you can't paint very well, you can't do anything very well. There are lots of other people who can do it better than you. If you say you are an artist or a singer or a writer then someday, someone will find out that really you are just a big fake." Have you ever had thoughts like that run through your brain? I fight them all the time but what seems to drown them out is the one voice that is quiet and gentle and loving that says, "It doesn't matter what other people say or how inadequate you feel, you are the person I have chosen to use right here, right now. All I need you to do is let go and let me do what I know can be done and leave the results up to me. You are my hands and feet and I am the Creator"

We are his witnesses, so if you sing then sing, and if you paint then paint and if you write or bake or ______ then do that. Don't worry about how good you are at it. God will use our offerings in powerful ways that we may not even know or imagine. But whatever happens give Him the glory and praise, it really is not about us in the first place.

Be Brave

I spent a little time in my art studio today playing around in my journal.

I was sent a link to the Brave Girls club site, by a friend. I really love to see what they are doing over there. We all need encouragement to be brave because life is hard. I grew up thinking that if you made good choices that life would be pretty good; then I grew up and found out that life isn't about having all your ducks in row but doing the best you can with what is given to you. I have had quite a few curve balls sent my way that I didn't expect and I have been rocked to my core at times but through it all I have had my Saviors hand to hold onto. You truly appreciate peace and strength and joy when they come as a special gift. I am in a time of peace and quiet right now after a few years of heart wrenching struggle and pain. I know there will be another mountain to climb at some point but for now I am enjoying what I have been given. If any of you are in a place of pain, reach out to the Lord and take His hand and be brave dear one. It won't last forever and you will make it through. Keep praising the Lord, He will bring you through whatever your struggle is.

Sleepless nights

Still not much creativity going on over here. My poor September journal is practically empty and it makes me a little grumpy to say that. I am in a much better place when I am creating but sometimes it just isn't possible. This week has been about helping out the people that I love and that is a good thing too. I did take some time to create this one page this week and so it is my one offering to the creative world, such as it is. I am hoping to get back in my studio tomorrow so maybe I will have something to share by Monday. Hope you all have a great weekend

What a week

There hasn't been much creating in the past week. My niece is moving to the East coast and I have been helping her fit her belongings into three tiny pods. We were both in shock when we saw the pods delivered because they were so small. We stood there thinking, how in the world were we going to fit a four story house into those, well basically, closets? I can say, without any embarrassment, that we are geniuses. We stepped up our organization skills to fit every box and piece of furniture into those pods. It was like putting together a puzzle. I don't think one inch was not successfully used. It was hard work but we did it!!!!

I told my niece that if this was an episode of Survivor we would have won it. Totally amazing. I only hope that we can say that when all her stuff makes it to the East coast and is in one piece.

After days (seems like months) of packing and loading and rearranging and exhaustion, she is leaving with her husband and dog. It still seems kinda unreal. Tomorrow, we will take them to the airport and they will be gone, miles and miles away. I only am glad for Skype, Facebook and my husband who is sending me out there in December. The upcoming trip helps to soften the blow.

A new ending

My cousin sent this to me today and it touched me deeply. I almost never read forwards that are sent to me but I did this time. Enjoy!

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."


A man was sleeping in his cabin one night when suddenly his room was filled with light, and God appeared. the Lord told the man that he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might!

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind.

You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn't moved." Thus he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."

That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in Your Service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked, Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it.

Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed.

But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are now strong and muscled, your back shiny and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard.

Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.

By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains!

author - unknown

Weekend at the beach

Last Thursday I met with my art group and then headed to the beach to stay with a friend who had rented a place for the week. I have been friends with her for years and even done ministry together but we don't get to spend much time together any more. I was a very relaxing time. At one point she played her guitar and sang as I painted. I think she's even going to start art journaling. The weather was beautiful in the mornings and stormy at night. That combination works really well for me. Finally after not sleeping well for the past week I was able to get two good nights sleep in a row. I feel so blessed to have had time away with a very special lady.

My Amazing Cat

Caught my cat in the act of peeing in the toilet. I don't know if I should be amazed that she taught herself this unusual trick or be alarmed.