Robin Redbreast

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Have you ever wondered why the Robin Red Breast is orange instead of red? It seems the English language had no word for the color orange when they named the bird. It was only when oranges were imported that the color took the name of the best example of the color, the orange fruit. (Just a little history lesson for fun.)

This is the American Robin. It is usually the first bird we spot in northern USA as winter is ending. Once you spot a robin, there will be many more soon and Spring is recognized to have started.

Europe has a different Robin Red Breast and Malaysia has a black and white Magpie Robin. All of them have a cheerful song. Robins tend to like to be around people and nest in gardens more than in forests.

My prayer for you today is that you will stop to listen to the bird songs and see the beauty and joy all around you. If you feel lonely, take a walk. If you stop on your walk and listen to a bird call or study a flower or tree, some friendly person will pause to see why you stopped. Take the opportunity to share some beauty and a few cheerful words.

Red Tulip

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My husband bought me a few new tubes of watercolor. I was itching to try them. I skipped the next Spring flower, the Daffodil, to paint a red flower. This beautiful Tulip was another tutorial by Anna Mason.

As I began painting this Tulip, I had trouble with what is called, “blooming.” This is when the paint spreads from the center of where the brush touches the paper and pools in outlines. I was frustrated with it. After a good night’s sleep, a delicious breakfast, and a walk; I came back to my painting.

I remembered that the reason for blooming is too much water. Ugh! That was it! When I took care to get just the needed amount of water and paint on my brush, blooming stopped. Now I could put a tiny touch of color in a corner or make a distinct line.

Our natural life is like water. Our spiritual life is like watercolor pigments. Our natural life includes everything we do, every word we speak, every thought and emotion. Our spiritual life colors those actions, words, thoughts and emotions. Our natural life can water down the effect of our spiritual life. Then, like a watercolor bloom, the effects of our spiritual life gets pushed out to the edges. We need a good mix of water and color to produce the kind of result God wants from our talents, experience, messages – our lives.

Be blessed and be a blessing. Keep the right mix in your life.

The Valley

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Recently I walked through the shadowed valley with my dear sister. We knew what the valley was, but we weren’t sure what obstacles would be in the way. But God’s promise to hold our hand and guide us through were our shield against uncertainty and fear. She was sure of her love for God and His love for her. She was trusting Him to guide her step by step in that valley. He promised to receive her into glory. That was her assurance and peace.

Valley

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  Isaiah 41:10, 13

Now, none of us want to think about death. Most of us who believe in Jesus are not afraid to die- we’re afraid of how it will happen. My sister’s strong faith and her history of seeing God provide and help her in the ordinary daily struggles had prepared her to trust Him in those last days.

“…I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:23-26

These verses from Psalm 73 describe well, my sister’s faith and experience. Her life here has ended, but death was just the entry into glory for her. God doesn’t let us know any details about that future, just that there is a sure and real future that will extend into eternity.

When I read more of Psalm 73, I was challenged by verse 28.

“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”  Psalms 73:28

I could tell you all the specific ways God helped my sister, her husband, and family. I could tell you how He turned what seemed like a terrible occurrence into a mercy that has helped us all to deal with our grief. The list of people, ways God blessed and eased her, and helped all her family is long.

What I am compelled to share with you is this. What you do now will greatly affect how you face that final valley. Your relationship with God now, and your obedience to follow what He tells you to do now, is preparation for your life to come.

Don’t ever let your faith falter when the trials come. We will all face troubles. This is training. No training is fun at the time. It is hard and we may want to slack off or give up. But if we keep our eyes on Jesus, if we let His Word fill our minds, and listen to the encouragement that the Holy Spirit gives us, we will complete our course well. Wherever we fail, we cry out to God to forgive and help us and He does. He will hold our right hand and guide us, sustain us, and carry us when need be.

May we be able to say, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psa.73:26

God held my sister’s hand through her suffering. I can trust Him to hold my hand as He has done in the past. He will continue. He is my Sovereign Lord and refuge.

Bell Grove Plantation- Graphite

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I was challenged to do something other than botanicals. I love Bell Grove Plantation outside Strasburg, VA. The reference photo for this sketch was taken in the Spring when this giant Sycamore tree was just beginning to leaf and the grass was beautiful shades of green. The house in the background is the Caretaker’s Cottage.

Bell Grove is such a peaceful place to go around sun down. There’s usually a cool breeze and the air is clean and fresh. The sun set is spectacular from the parking area near the Caretaker’s Cottage. We have not been able to visit this lovely location in about a year and a half. We don’t know how long it will be before we can return. But even if we never do get to be there again, we have such lovely memories of the quiet and peace we felt there.

Do you have memories of places where you felt particularly close to nature and the Creator? Are these memories you pull up from time to time and allow to bring a smile to your face and a lift to your heart? Take a few minutes and leaf through your memory album and linger a while on at least one of the places where you felt the most free and peaceful.

When you comment, please include the name of one of your special places.

Bunga Raya- Graphite

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This graphite sketch is of a beautiful red Bunga Raya or Hibiscus. It deserves its place as the national flower of Malaysia! They grows so well here in such a great variety of colors and sizes.

The first time I drew one of these flowers, I was rather proud of my picture, even though I was just learning to do shading. I rather timidly showed it to several friends. Everyone’s reaction was the same, “I drew one of those!” I thought they were saying, “Big deal. I can do that.” It was a big deal for me! I never could do that before! I was beginning to get frustrated. Then I found out, every Malaysian school child has to learn to draw a Bunga Raya. It was then I realized I wasn’t hearing them right.

Do you ever have trouble hearing what people say to you? Oh, you hear their words clearly enough. You know what the words mean, but you misunderstand what their intent. You may not even know you did not understand. They might not know how you have taken what they said. Yet there’s a niggling doubt or hurt or anger that lingers after the conversation.

If I had asked a question of my good friends who said they drew bunga raya, I would have seen they never meant that as a put down. If I had asked, “What did yours look like?” or “When did you do that?” or “What have you drawn lately?” You can imagine the answers to those questions and my understanding of their comment on my drawing.

If we don’t know how to ask a follow up question, there is the more direct route. We can always ask, “I’m not sure I understood what you said. Did you mean to say, __?” This opens the conversation to learning more about each other and better understanding.

Let’s work toward better understanding! It is work sometimes, but the payoff is great!