Winter Scene

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I usually hesitate to go out in the snow. “It will be cold”, I think. But after painting this scene, I’m eager to put on my coat, hat, and boots and find a beautiful scene in my neighborhood!

This winter scene was from a tutorial by Julia Lis. It is using a loose watercolor style. I’ve always been afraid to try this style. I’ve always been more comfortable with the tight, controlled strokes in detailed watercolor painting. But I really had fun with this picture.

Trying new things is always scary. I tend to find a way of doing thing I like and continue doing it that way. It seems like this is a season for me to try new things or at least doing things in a new way. It is a bit scary, but I like the results of this first attempt at this kind of painting. Let’s see what the new year brings. Are you ready?

A Christmas Wreath

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This Christmas Wreath was from a tutorial by Lou Davis. She taught the necessary strokes and showed why she arranged the pieces the way she did and there was no reference to follow. Yikes! that was way out of my comfort zone! But just working along with Lou and building this up little by little, I was amazed at the painting when I got done.

This is a lot like life. We learn the necessary skills early in life. At least we are supposed to have learned them by adulthood. But later as new believers in Jesus, we have to learn new skills and habits again. God gives us the rough outline of where we will be going. Occasionally, we get a glimpse of where we will be going and what we will be doing. But usually, we just walk day at a time, step at a time.

As we look back, we can see the design. We see how that dark time made the bright spots even brighter. We see how the day in and day out sameness created a durable background for the amazing encounters along the way. We must not get discouraged, but be energized to keep watching, keep learning, keep going! There will be a beautiful picture as a result.

Fall Hickory Stem

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I look for beauty among fallen leaves. It has gotten to be a habit since I started drawing in 2018. It was sketches of Fall leaves that l led to my first art lessons. Sketching them in graphite was among those early lessons. Progressing to colored pencils, then to watercolor pencils and finally to painting them in watercolor!

Fallen leaves have always been something I really enjoy. My Dad made huge piles of fallen leaves for us to jump into. The smell and crunch bring back such happy memories. But beautiful fallen leaves in clusters like this one inspire me!

These leaves have served their purpose all these long Spring and Summer months. They have fueled the growth of the tree as well as providing hiding for nesting birds. Their beauty waving in the breeze and covering the landscape in green has been done. Now they change color and make the Fall the most beautiful season of all. When they let go, they give room for next year’s growth.

I want to live my life to the full. I want to help to feed others so they can grow strong, be a safe cover for those who are hurting or afraid, spread the joy of life, change as I need to in this Fall season, and let go when it is time for other’s to take my place.

Where are you in this process?

Who Has Your Back?

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On Sunday the preacher’s sermon title was, Who has Your Back? He was talking about when Elisha would hear from God where the enemy’s army would attack, and he told the king of Israel over and over. The king of Aram was furious thinking that one of his trusted advisors was sending word to the king of Israel. One of his men said it was the prophet Elisha of Israel that was telling the king of Israel.

So, the preacher asked, “Who has your back?” Who can you rely on no matter what? Of course, I answered in my heart, “God, my Lord, has my back.” But as the message continued, my mind kept going back to the news I had gotten on Friday that we must go back to Malaysia in order to end the MM2H visa and get our FD money out. Every time that thought rose to the surface, I felt a wave of emotion. Was it fear? Was it dread? I’d counter it with, I’m not afraid of being in Malaysia. Finally, I realized, the fear was not of being in Malaysia but it was of getting into the pit of depression, fear, isolation, etc. I had been in before we left Malaysia.

When they sang the Chris Tomlin song,” Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies),” tears began to flow. I cried out to God, “If You, God of the Angel Armies, are sending me back to Malaysia, I know you will not let me fall into that pit again. You have my back!”

Lyrics:

You hear me when I call
You are my morning song
Though darkness fills the night
It cannot hide the light

Whom shall I fear

You crush the enemy
Underneath my feet
You are my sword and shield
Though troubles linger still

Whom shall I fear

I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

My strength is in Your name
For You alone can save
You will deliver me
Yours is the victory

Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear

And nothing formed against me shall stand
You hold the whole world in Your hands
I’m holding on to Your promises

You are faithful
You are faithful

The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

Portrait of a Stranger

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This gentleman visited our local McDonalds one morning. I found his face interesting and decided to do this graphite portrait.

Meeting and talking to new people is not one of the things I’m comfortable with. But being in a place where I feel at home and greeting visitors is getting easier for me. It’s easier to talk about subjects that I know well. So why is it so difficult to start conversations about the One I know the best?

Perhaps you’ll join me it asking for more opportunities and the boldness I need to talk about Jesus. I have so many good stories to tell from my past of ways Jesus has been real to me. I want to be ready to share and be bold to open that topic for discussion.