pumpkin carving - painting party

painting

carving

eating chocolate

swinging

eating chocolate

fun

Happy Halloween

We missed you Meggie!!!!

seasons of change

This time of year just seems to replenish my soul.  

I get a renewed awareness of God, the Master Artist's work.

The colors, the smells, and the cool breezes awaken something deep within me.

Next we head into a time of thanksgiving and then the season of celebrating the birth of our King. 

Each year I try to not overload my schedule. I try to leave empty spaces to be still and be.

To be with the lover of my soul.  

Last weekend gave me a renewed passion to really slow down, take the time to read, meditate, 

immerse myself in God and His Word. 

And

To learn to listen.

One of His words to me during the weekend was:

Immerse

Immerse yourself in me.

And this from His word:

"As you learn more and more how I work you will learn how to do your work. Strength - you will 

have strength, not grim strength of gritting your teeth but glory strength." (from Col. 1:9-12 msg)

I learned something else this past weekend. Just as I have had in the past, a hard time accepting God's unconditional love for me, I have had a hard time believing God speaks directly to me. I have had the

mind set at times of, who am I that God would speak to me? 

I am his child, and His word says he will speak to and guide me.  

My belief, my faith is growing.

So as part of my learning to be still and listen better I pulled out a book I had previously read. "Listening Prayer, learning to hear God's voice and keep a prayer journal by Leanne Payne." 

Sometimes it takes me several readings before it gets into my thick skull. I think sometimes I'll read  

something and it is not God's timing for it. Then at a later time I'll read it a second or even third time and           

the light shines.  

God's light shines - because I am ready to change.

Be still and know that God is God

Be still and know that God

Be still and know

Be still

Be

Grace and Peace  

amazing weekend

our beloved Nancy

Nancy and Pat

sweet ladies

 beautiful hearts 

beautiful colors

 beautiful weather 

God was present

 hearts were forever changed 

If you ever need a weekend away to be quiet, reflect, learn how to listen and hear better, spend time with the Father and meet some amazing women The Potter's Retreat is for you.  

Please take a minute and check out Nancy's blog to learn more.

Click here The Potter's House Retreat Blog.

Playing

I have not picked up a paintbrush in weeks!!  

I have noticed when I am not painting much, my creativity comes out in other areas.

Like re-arranging furniture and the things that live in them. My husband said something to me that made me laugh because he really "saw" something. We were walking through the center room and ( it's really a large hallway that run through the bottom floor of our old house) I moved an object from one tabletop to another and he said, "Our home is one big canvas isn't it?"  He's right!!  Long before I began painting on canvas I

was "painting" in our home.  

I have started to go back to old photos and alter their color. I am liking this so much I think I will keep it up.  These photos are altered in the simple program on my computer.  Just mixing up the contrast and color does a lot. For those of you who journal don't forget to use your own photos in them. 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.  The temperatures have dropped and the weather is gorgeous here. My daughter is home for fall break, and my sweet sister Bevie is arriving tomorrow.

Blessings!  

nesting

getting ready for cooler days and evenings

pulling the furniture closer together

gathering favorite books for reading by the fireplace

getting out warm comfy throws and pillows  

i love this time of year

Be Still

"TAKE TIME TO BE STILL in My Presence.  The

more hassled you feel, the more you need this sacred space 

of communion with Me. Breath slowly and deeply.  Relax in

My holy Presence while My Face shines upon you.  This is

how you receive My Peace, which I always proffer to you.

Imagine the pain I feel when My children tie themselves up in

anxious knots, ignoring My gift of Peace.  I died a criminal's

death to secure this blessing for you.  Receive it gratefully; hide

it in your heart.  My Peace is an inner treasure, growing within

you as you trust in Me. Therefore, circumstances cannot touch

it. Be still, enjoying Peace in My Presence."

Psalm 46:10; Numbers 6:25-26

From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Can you believe October is almost half over?  I know for me I am entering a busy season, and if I am not intentional I will not take the time to be still.  So before I am deep into the busyness this time of year can bring I want to remind myself and my sweet friends to take time and be still.  

And for some reason I am having a hard time doing this...which tells me I really need it.  

Abiding Monday

I want to thank all of you for your well wishes and prayers.  I am finally feeling more like myself.

I don't like what I see in me when I am sick. Really I just want to go to bed and sleep till I am over it or watch TV to pass the time. I don't like not feeling good. I have lived with my fair share of pain in the form of migraines, and body aches, but I realize I am a "baby" when it comes to being sick.  I see I put life on hold till I am better. I realize I am not good at sucking it up and getting on with life. Now, I'm not being hard on myself, just seeing it for what it is.

But the thing that I hate the most is that I can put my relationship with God on hold till I feel better. I understand that reading while the room is spinning is really not possible, but my relationship is more than just reading his word or books about him. I don't ignore those around me when I am sick, (well not totally) and he is certainly as real and present as those around me if not more so.  I can still speak to him and actively rest in him. Now I did say a few "prayers", Lord make this go away....but really, I could have done much better. I realize I wasted a lot of precious time kind of feeling sorry for myself.

Mary, how about praying for the rest of the people you know that are dealing with much more pain here. Well, actually no I can't thank you very much I am too busy feeling sorry for myself.  Sometimes when things don't work out the way we plan our hearts show up and hit us smack in the face. And really it's not a bad thing to be shown where there is work to be done. Change to be made. Growth to take place.

So, I am not beating myself up here, really I am not.  I know I am accepted and loved, but I also know I want a heart that is not so self-focused.  I don't want to put my life on hold when I don't feel well.  I want to use even that time well. I want to be God aware and God focused so much more than I am.

floating in a black hole

Hi blogger friends.  What  a week I have had.   Last weekend began with a lovely time with my share group and a trip to the lake.  What a wonderful time of refreshment and sharing of lives and hearts. We had incredible evening rides on the lake with beautiful clear skies.  While watching the sun set the stars began emerging and oh what a specular site that was.

"I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,

your handmade sky jewelry,

Moon and stars mounted in their settings.

Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,

Why do you bother with us?

Why take a second look our way?"

(Ps 8 3-4)

I came home Sunday full of energy to begin my week and get ready for the next visual journaling workshop at church. Then on Wednesday morning life knocked my for a loop. I stood up and the world around me began to spin.  My world was spinning out of control. I could hardly get to the bathroom fast enough to.......no need to explain that!!!!!!  I have had vertigo before but not like this. I ended up in the emergency room Wednesday evening getting medication, blood drawn, fluids, and a cat scan.Tests came back clear and set me home with medications that have helped, the rooms are no longer spinning, but I am still a bit dizzy. I know that is some of the side effects of the medications, which I find kind of crazy since my problem is dizziness......go figure.    

I am to follow-up with an ENT  and a Neurologist. I think I read migraines can cause vertigo and I have them quite often. 

Saturday's workshop was cancelled. This make me so very sad, but could not be helped.That too is in God's control so I an not going to fret about it to much. I am heading into a very busy time, so please keep me in your prayers.That this episode will pass quickly and that it was a one time event, and I will be back visiting with all my blogging buddies. 

Blessings and hugs!

Oh, why does God take a second look our way?? Because he gave his all for us. His love for us is greater than any other of his creations!  

Abiding Monday

I have been hearing messages, sermons and I have been reading on solitude and silence.  Both fit so well with my word for the year "abide".   As I am looking back I realize I have made progress, but still I am very far from doing it well.  I wanted to share with you a prayer that spoke to my heart last week.

YET THE MIND WANDERS……

Why, O Lord is it so hard for me to keep my heart directed toward you?  Why do the many little things I want to do, and the many people I know, keep crowding into my mind, even during the hours I am totally free to be with you and you alone?  Why does my mind wander off in so many directions, and why does my heart desire the things that lead me astray?  Are you not enough for me?  Do I keep doubting your love and care, your mercy and grace? Do I keep wondering, in the center of my being, whether you will give me all I need if I just keep my eyes on you?

Please accept my distractions, my fatigue, my irritations, and my faithless wanderings.  You know me more deeply and fully than I know myself.  You love me with a greater love than I can love myself.  You even offer me more than I can desire.  Look at me, see me in all my misery and inner confusion, and let me sense your presence in the midst of my turmoil.  All I can do is show myself to you.  Yet, I am afraid to do so.  I am afraid that you will reject me.  But I know – with the knowledge of faith – you desire to give me your love.  The only thing you ask of me is not to hide from you, not to run away in despair; not to act as if you were a relentless despot. 

Take my tired body, my confused mind, and my restless soul into your arms and give me rest, simple quiet rest.  Do I ask too much too soon?  I should not worry about that.  You will let me know.  Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

Eerdman’s Book of Famous Prayers, ed. Veronica Zundel (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983), p.106.

Also, in reading a study on Solitude and Silence the author suggests starting a file folder for a personal retreat day.  Place a blank sheet of paper in it.  As you move through your days, write on that sheet any passage of Scripture that begs to be pondered.  Toss in the folder any magazine articles that you would like to ponder.  Next to the folder, set books through which God has spoken to you in the past.  

I would also suggest that if you keep a visual journal that you begin to collect images that speak to you.  You never know when an image or passage might suggest a journal page. 

Blessings!