Just what the Mama needed to hear.

 

Some the sweetest days of being a Mom is those few years when your babies are giggly and playful, or when they snuggle in deeply onto your lap for a mid-afternoon nap. Or maybe it is that first year when your infant is oh so tiny and new like a helpless bird just out of its egg.
This week I realize one of the best times of being a Mom is when your baby is all grown up and thank you for the things you taught them. Having your child love and appreciate you, as an adult has away of erasing all the hard days and brings all the joyful days to the top. I love being a mom of adult child. There is a true sense of joy to see your child fly on their own, but there is a greater joy in that day when they look back from the clear sky's and thank you for everything with love and affection.
Thank you Becca for truly honoring me in your latest blog post.  Oh What joy you bring me!

http://thenotsosecretlifeofbee.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/honoring-the-mama/

God speaks of honoring your father and your mother a lot in the Bible. It is a commandment. I believe that God's knows by practicing love, obedience, and honor. You will truly understand what it means to love your heavenly Father. This is just another step in growing in our Christian walk. Think of the joy that Jesus has when His child turns to him and thanks Him for all that He has done.
When you feel your self soaring in the clear skies remember to turn back and praise your Father in heaven for all He has done for you!

Exodus 20:12

New International Version (NIV)

¹² “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

 

Matthew 19:19

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ honor your father and mother,’^[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]”

Mark 10:19

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’^[a]”

 

Ephesians 6:2

New International Version (NIV)

² “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³ “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”^[a]

^{What makes you pout?}

<sup>This week I have been struggling. A friend reminded me that struggling might just be  a nice word for saying, I have been sinning. I am not sure I have been sinning in my  struggle or just tempted to sin. What I do know is that God is deepening my understanding of complaining.

It reminds me of a time when my daughter was little. If she did not get her way she would pout. My husband and I would try to distract her from her naughty anger by saying" Be careful or a bird might land on that big lip and poop on your chin!"As she got older she understood pouting would not change our minds. She would joke "but I the Queen!" and I would say No, you are the princess. I the Queen.

As a parent I really did want my kids to have everything that was good , but not everything they wanted was good. I believe it is the same with God. He  loves us and wants what is best for us.

In my complaining there is a part of myself that wants to been in control of my life, but if God wants what is best for me I should  want His will for my life.

And here I am again, Lord. Working on obedience in my walk with you. I know I think I am in control sometimes, but you are the King, you are  in control of my life. I will try not to pout or complain. Help me remember I am the daughter of The King. Help me to be like a Star in your universe. Amen</sup>

I realize In order to do this I must become less and God needs to become more in my life. I like what our pastor said this Sunday in his message...

It is not that we are sinless, we are trying to "sin less".

Philippians 2:14-15

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

Philippians 3:7-11

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁷ But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:12-16

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Philippians 4:6-9

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

"No matter the weather"

"No matter the weather"

                Have you ever experienced being uncomfortably awkward around someone you do not know very well? what should I say?... um the weather been nice don't ya think? or maybe the last sporting event comes up. Even though I get caught in this weird pattern of not knowing what to say. It drives me crazy!

                How do you get quickly get pass this silly game of impersonal talk? In my way of thinking it's just so insensitive. That person that you are having idle chit chat with may really need a ear. What if that person is going through a hard time? Should I be asking myself, do I care? Maybe the reason this drives me so crazy is because I am a Christian. I am convicted to be an example of Christ. If time is precious and we are to be out there loving people and being an example of Christ how do we quickly get passed this silly game of talking about impersonal things?

                I lead a high school aged bible study once a week and on a good morning we have about 30 minutes together. This is why I decided to start asking" How's Your weather?" It's a way for people to share what is going on in their lives, but if they are feeling like it's just to personal to share details they can just answer in expressions like a weather forecast. This way we at least can be sensitive toward people and know better how to pray for them. It's fun too! I've had girls say their weather is "clear skies high of 75 with little chance of rain today! or some have had a rain cloud on the horizon in the shape of a test or paper due. There are times when someone can not quite express their weather condition because it is too difficult, but we all understand and are glad they came.

                "How's your weather" has become a favorite pass time of our group and over the years I have seen the benefits of being real with each other and praying for each other. We also have seen that no matter the weather, God is faithful to comfort you. Weather changes but God remains the same."Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8. So if your weather is fair today be ready for a change and if the weather is horrible get ready for it to change! God is so Gracious to comfort and give peace deep in our heart even during the fiercest of storms. If we ask Him for comfort.

                The umbrella in this painting represents Jesus. He covers and protects us in any kind of weather. Intense heat or cold rain, He remains the same.

Revelation 1:8 (NIV)

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Psalm 102:25-27 (NIV)

²⁵ In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
²⁷ But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.

"Worthy to be Praised"

 This is the start of "worthy to be praised"

 The verse that inspired me:Psalm 145:3
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.

Having full understanding of what Jesus Christ has done for You manifests a heart of authentic praise that supersedes any thing the earth has to offer! ~Dee

Lord Reign In Me (Over All the Earth)
Words and Music by Brenton Brown Performed by:

Song Lyrics

Over all the earth
You reign on high
Every mountain stream every sunset sky
But my one request Lord my only aim
Is that You'd reign in me again

Lord reign in me
Reign in Your power
Over all my dreams
In my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won't You reign in me again

Over every thought
Over every word
May my life reflect the beauty of my Lord
'Cause You mean more to me than any earthly thing
So won't You reign in me again

So if you follow me, you won't be stumbling through darkness,for living light will flood your path.

"Where are my Accusers?" was painted late at night, which is where most of my paintings start. As I was putting the brush to the canvas I stopped. Rememering I like to pray before each painting I asked God to use this piece of art for His Glory and to use it how ever he chooses. But  I remember it was hard for me to pray just then. As I started working I really disliked the painting and just stopped and went to bed. The next day I found I was struggling with some old memories from the past till the point where I was just tired...tired of those old hurts and found that I was just ready to deal with them. I could feel the shame of my past rise like a flood ready to overwhelm me to the point where I almost pulled the plug. Then I prayerfully asked God to deal with me if only to be rid of this shameful feeling. I could feel the old demons scream "No! Too shameful! Keep it hidden! As soon as I felt the stuggle I thought "The Lord knows anyway". "I am ready to bring this into His Light." I could feel the peace almost like light on my back. I tore into God's word and He led me to these words.

Luke 12:3

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

³ What you say in the dark will be told in the light. And what you whisper in a private room will be shouted from the top of the house.”

Oh whoa!... does this mean people will know what I have done. As soon As I felt my heart wanting to cover everything up again Jesus reminded me of the time the adulterous women was brought before Him. Which I looked up in John chapter 8. It was like I read it for the first time with my sin being "the one" being accused.

John 8:7-12

New Living Translation

⁷ They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” ⁸ Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

⁹ When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. ¹⁰ Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

¹¹ “No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

¹² Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

I didn't come back to this painting for three days and when I did finished it I found I still did not really like it. I believe my dis-like comes from the fact that the women is still on her knees in shame. So I painted "Worthy To be Praised" before I ever signed "Where are my Accusers?"

 

Jesus does not want us to live in shame, nor in darkness, He wants us to live and live life in all the fullness He has to offer. I urge you to pull out the things hidden in darkness.

Lord, Thankyou for the warm light surrounding me that exposes the darkness and eliminates it. Thankyou for the forgiveness you offer and what you did on the cross for forgiveness of my sins. Help me to walk in living light. Amen

Repentant Heart




My latest painting was inspired by taking a look at my heart and asking myself some tough questions. Truly where is my heart when I look at having complete sacrifice to the Lord? This took me to Deuteronomy 6. You should Read the whole chapter, but I will highlight parts of two verses; you must love the Lord your God with all of your heart...and you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly.
When I think about my commitment my mind goes immediately to the things I haven't given completely over to God yet. I just don't think it is possible to give my heart wholly by my own power, but I believe that with God all things are possible and so I have to give myself and my sins over to him yet again and ask that He  shows me a way to overcome this struggle. The figure in my painting is showing how vulnerable we are in front of our God. He knows all. He sees all.  The tree represents our life. When my life is over I want it to be a beautiful offering to God.
Maybe your focus has been on the naked figure in my painting and you see it as beautiful, but God sees the heart. And truly that isn't always as beautiful.   
Going back to Deuteronomy 6 gives some good ways to give ourselves wholly, first is "The Lord is our God, the Lord alone". No other god in my life and that includes me. And then there is a whole paragraph on leaving reminders everywhere! Write it on your forehead, teach it to your children, write it on your door posts etc. We need to be reminded over and over again who is the Lord of my life!
God’s word also led me to Psalm 51. This song was written by David after David has committed adultery with Bathsheba. David cries out to God “Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit in me.” The 17^th verse says that God desires a broken spirit and a repentant heart.
My Lord, May my life be a complete sacrifice to you, beautiful and pleasing. Change my heart make it clean and renew a right spirit in me. Amen

More verses on the heart~ Psalm 27:3, Proverbs 4:23, Mathew 5:8, Luke 6:45

Jesus the white elephant

December is full. The calendar is full. Bellies are full. It seems like every year I have at least three Christmas parties where there is a gift exchange. You know the game where you pull a number out of a hat and when it’s your turn you can steal someone’s gift. I think that game is best when you bring a White Elephant gift, you know, the gift that nobody really would want in their home but it’s just so crazy that you love it and it makes you laugh just looking at it. If it’s unusual enough it usually becomes a part of my home and is almost hard to give away at the next White Elephant gift exchange.
Crazy White Elephant gifts, good food, seeing friends and family those are my favorite Christmas memories. But if you know me well you would know that Christmas is not my favorite time of the year. I don’t like all the expectations, and feelings of guilt that come with it.
I get a little sad when I see all the business and hubbub of Christmas while people forget that it is Jesus Birthday celebration. Maybe people just don’t understand how amazing Christmas really is. God came in the person of His Son to live and die and then live again so we could be with Him in heaven forever.
 Maybe Baby Jesus is just a “Big White Elephant in the room” Nobody wants to mention, the real reason for the party was not to bring gifts but to get a White Elephant! Then bring Him into your home and into your heart and fall in love with Him show Him to people when they come over to your house and explain how wonderful He is until they love Him too! Then wrap Him up and take it with you and give it to someone as a gift. You might need to explain it a little at first but I bet they fall in love with Him too.