journey to contentment

You have seen this journal spread before.  This learning contentment thing is not easy.  In fact it's hard.  And I am trying to figure out the difference with being content with how things are...but still dreaming dreams.  I think they co-exist.  They have to...we must have dreams.

I am reading "The Greener Grass Conspiracy" and the author say this, "Contentment is first and foremost a matter of the heart.  It's possible to deny yourself every worldly pleasure and still be discontent...Self-denial doesn't automatically lead to contentment. In fact, self-denial can cause us to miss opportunities to enjoy wonderful gifts from God. Steak is a gift from God. Coffee is a drink that is 95 percent heavenly. When I eat a medium-rare steak and give thanks to God for the happiness that is occurring in my mouth, I honor God. Self-denial does not equal contentment.  On the flip side, it's possible to have everything this world has to offer and still be furiously discontent.  King Solomon's life was a constant pleasure cruise. He really did have everything this world could offer - money, women, power, luxury, and all the alcohol he could drink. Yet after a life of hedonistic exploits, Solomon made the following observation.

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had 

expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving

after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

(Eccl. 2:11)

Having it all doesn't equal contentment." 

He also says, "Contentment is a disposition of the heart that freely and joyfully submits to God's will, whatever that will may be."

So being content doesn't mean I do not or cannot desire things.  God give us desires.  But I do have to ask myself, do I desire the thing more than I desire God or his will in a certain situation?

You know this Christian life, journey is such an organic thing.  It's not this list of things we can and cannot do. It's an ongoing process...relationship is a better word.

So this is where I have landed for now.  I say for now because God continues to teach me, changing my heart and mind where I sees things incorrectly.

There are a few dreams that seem to keep hanging on...I have asked God to remove them if they are not also his dreams for me.  To keep me on the right path.  But I am learning to be content where he has me right now.  It may be those dreams will come to fruition...but it will be in his timing not mine.  As I keep plugging along my prayer is that he adjusts my thoughts, desires, dreams where they are not in keeping with his for me...but I keep dreaming.

I would love to hear about your journey.

Grace and Peace

Cornhole and life

Did you know there is such a thing as an American Cornhole Association?

And there are ACA official rules of Cornhole and Corn Toss?

For those of you whose excitement is just too much you can check it out here.

All kidding aside, it really is a fun game to play.

A few posts back, (seem ages ago) I mentioned Meg and I were painting cornhole boards. Here are a few photos of the first completed board. These are not great photos, but they will have to do since we will not be posing for this again!!  lol  It was late at night when these were taken and we were tired and goofy. Meg will probably shoot me when she sees I posted this photo of her. 

There were not supposed to be flowers on the boards.  My husband pleaded that we paint no flowers or hearts...we were going to do a sun, but screwed it up so it became a sunflower. So of course the other board has a flower on it too...well we have to be somewhat consistent!!  I am going to paint on the side of the board. 

Girls play Cornhole too

There lots of good things going on here.  I have on my calendar Visual Journaling workshops scheduled through the end of the year at my home church.  And beginning in August I will be teaching at a wonderful place called Out Of The Box Art Studio.  I will be teaching VJ at their Women's Night Out sessions as well as High School students during a few day sessions.  I would have loved to have known about VJ in High School.  I think it can be a great outlet, both creatively and emotionally for them.

We have had a few big storms here...took out our internet for a time.  My son has fixed it temporally, but we need to replace some stuff.  So if I am absent from Blogland for a time or don't seem to be visiting as much that's why.

Grace and Peace  

something trying to break through

I was reminded today why visual journaling is so powerful and surprising. 

After weeks of neglect I picked up my jouranl and began adding color with no outcome in mind.  I added the large heart and then the smaller ones around it.  Really hated the colors I had picked as well as the images (more hearts Mary?) so my intention was to cover it up and begin again.  I took my pallet knife and began making slash marks across the whole thing...and as I was doing it I felt and thought...this is right. 

 I have been feeling crappy lately.  Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  

It happens.

I have my eyes and heart open in expectation.

new life to an old piece

This piece measures 23 x 10.  It was a framed quote that hung above the mantel in the kitchen.  It was a lovely quote, but I wanted more color...  I usually don't leave as much white showing, but I really like it on this piece.

Did you see the movie???  It was so much fun to watch.  They showed more of the living room than I expected, and when they panned in on "Open Wide Your Heart"...well Meg and I screamed!!  lol  Also, when they turned and walked out of the living room you could see the family photos on the piece in the hallway...well, we know who they are...

It's hot here and we need rain!  I am wilting as much as the hydrangeas in our front yard are.

Oh, are you still wondering what Cornhole is???  They are just about finished...i'll post them as soon as they are.

heart revisited and movie

Remember when I posted about the movie that our home was in?  It's almost time...we have seen trailers for it on TV.

 Here's the info.

Field of Vision

NBC 

Saturday 11, 2011

8:00pm

It looks like a good family movie. We are Cory's foster parents home...just a few short scenes, but fun non the less. If you click on the movie title you can read more about it.

another heart

 this little heart is 8x8  

trying to mix things up a bit...i did not splatter paint and

i continued the front paint onto the sides instead of my usual black sides.  

i think the heart needs a little bit of the darker blue added for more contrast, but

overall i am liking this.  

meg and i cleaned the studio yesterday.  makes it so much nicer to work in.

we are painting cornhole boards.  yes, i said cornhole...does anyone play?? i think it's a southern thing...and i think it needs a different name...it brings back memories of beavis and butthead... yes, i know who they are...have boys!!

now these are not your usual painted boards...will post them when we are finished.

oh, went back and splattered dark blue on the heart.  it looks much better.

around the house

i don't know what it is that draws me to these round balls of blue goodness

large or small, dark or light i love them...everywhere

and does anyone remember these vases...1960...when i picked up the large one my husband about gagged. he said you have got to be kidding...then i found the smaller one.  need one more for a collection. lol

I seem to be drawn to orange too

 i wanted to show you where i hung this painting. loving it there. 

twitturgies

Arrest

Arrest me God with

the beauty of your

world.  Open my eyes

to see beyond

myself your glory

And to find within

myself your art

I have a new book by Gerard Kelly, the author of Spoken Worship. Twitturgies are liturgies using the Twitter format: personal prayers in 140 characters or less. They are updated on average twice daily.