Letting Go

In this post I combine two quotes and a piece of photo art to preach a simple sermon to myself. It's what's happening anyways so I figure it can only help to solidify the message.  It might just encourage you too.

      "I realize there's something incredibly honest about trees in winter; how they're experts in letting things go." ~ Jeffrey McDaniel 

"Trust God.  

He simply wants to take you from good to better

 and from better to best.

Every. Single. Time."

~Stacey L. Sanchez

Linking with Cherie at the Froelich Diaries for Photo Art Thursday

Prisoners of Hope

Well after a long season of silence on this site, I have something to say . . .

I was so sad when Bonnie shut down the Photo Art Friday gallery over at Pixel Dust Photo Art and have hardly posted anything in the last many months.  One of the many artists who regularly shared their photo art at Bonnie's was a lovely lady name Cherie Froelich and this week I got an email inviting me to join her as she picks up the torch and hosts her own Photo Art Thursday link-up.

It was kind of short notice but I had just been working on a piece inspired by Pastor Sam's sermon this past Sunday and am delighted to share it with you all.

It has been quite some time that I have struggled with various issues one after the other, that always felt like I had to let go of one more thing that was now too difficult to do. The challenge to repeatedly adjust to new circumstances and yet remain hopeful was ever before me. Gradually things have shifted . . . mobility increasing, doors opening, confidence growing, creative juices flowing again.

I am so grateful for all that is being restored to me.

"Shout and cheer, Daughter Zion! Raise the roof, Daughter Jerusalem!

Your king is coming! A good king who makes all things right, a humble king . . .

And you, because of My blood covenant with you, I'll release your prisoners from their hopeless cells.

 Come home, hope-filled prisoners! 

This very day I'm declaring a double bonus, everything you lost returned twice-over."

Zechariah 9:9,12 (The Message Bible)

WP - Hope for a Tree

"For there is hope for a tree . . . 

. . . if it is cut down,  

. . . that it will sprout again and that its tender shoots will not cease.

Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground . . .

. . . yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant."  Job 14:7-9

Where then is my hope? Job 17:15

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy. Psalm 33:18

O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy,
 and with Him is abundant redemption.  Psalm 130:7

For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O LORD my God.  Psalm 38:15

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.  Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not, they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him!"  The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.  It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:21-26

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13


Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope . . . 1 Peter 1:3

.... rest your hope fully on the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 
1 Peter 1:13

And you would be secure, because there is hope . . . Job 11:18a

WP - They Sing

"He sends the springs into the valleys . . .

. . . which flow among the hills.

By them the birds of the heavens . . .

. . . have their habitation, 

. . .  they sing among the branches.  Psalm 104:10, 12

. . . the time of the singing of birds has come.  Song of Solomon 2:12 

Sing out the honour of His name; make His praise glorious. Psalm 66:2

Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him, talk of all His wondrous works.  Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those rejoice who seek the LORD.  1 Chronicles 16:9,10

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me - a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst", says the LORD.  Zechariah 2:10

Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the LORD . . . and they shall sorrow no more at all.  Jeremiah 31:12

I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praises to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2

I will sing to the LORD because He has dealt bountifully with me.  Psalm 13:6

But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, the God of my mercy.  Psalm 59:16,17

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; 
with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.  Psalm 89:1

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  Psalm 104:33

The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love, 
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

A Life-long Calling

Short and sweet . . . my life has gotten rather hectic lately, so have not been around these parts very much lately.  Trusting things will settle down soon and I can post more often.  

Happy Mother's Day to you wonderful women who spend your lives pouring into your families.

You are a doing a great job!

P.S. Miss you, Mama . . . see you later.

WP - Foolishness of the Cross

And being found in appearance as a man . . .

. . . He humbled Himself . . .

 . . . and became obedient . . .

. . . to the point of death . . .

 . . . even the death . . .

 . . . of the cross.  Phillipians 2:8

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him . . . now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross.  And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.  John 19:17-19

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him, to reconcile all things

 to Himself by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the 

blood of His cross.  Colossians, 1:19,20

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  Ephesians 2:14-16

And you being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And  He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.  Colossians 2:13-15

But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our LORD Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  Galatians 6:14

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  1 Corinthians 1:17,18

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1,2

 . . . He said, "It is finished!" John 19:30

WP - Watering the Earth

Today I am beginning a project that will take some time but will make me very happy.  I have another blog, WORD Pictures, which has been sadly neglected for many long months (okay, it's over a year).  The format of WORD Pictures is a pairing of photographs and scripture verses on a single theme that serves as a peaceful spot to just be still for while and soak in the wonder of God's love letter to us. My plan is to integrate those posts into the Art of Life.

The WORD Pictures reposts and future originals will begin with the letters WP and will consist of just photos and pure scripture, no personal opinions or reflections.  I trust you will be refreshed and inspired as the Ancient Words speak to your heart.

"He shall come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth."
(Hosea 6:3)

"He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth."  (Psalm 72:6)

" . . . but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, 
which drinks water from the rain of heaven."  (Deuteronomy 11:11)

"He gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields."  Job 5:10

" . . .  earth-refreshing rain showers . . ."  (Psalm 72:6  The Message Bible)

"Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?"
(Job 38:28)

"Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving, sing praises on the harp to our God, who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth . . ."  Psalm 147:7,8

" . . .He'll take charge of sending the rain at the right time . . . "  
(Deuteronomy 11:13  the Message Bible)

"You visit the earth and water it,

You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water,

You provide their grain for so You have prepared it. 

You water its ridges abundantly,

You settle its furrows;

You make it soft with showers,

You bless its growth.

                     

You crown the year with Your goodness,

 and Your paths drip with abundance.

They drop on the pastures of the wilderness,

and the little hills rejoice on every side.

(Psalm 65:9-12)

For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven,

and do not return there,

but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." 

(Isaiah 55:10,11)