Daily Prayer: Surrender, Trust, and Choose

There are many well-known Scripture passages that refer to God watching over the birds. I think of those verses quite often when I see birds or paint them.

"Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26)

Today I am sharing a couple of watercolor hummingbirds. They were very easy to paint, each only requiring a few minutes, and their colors are so bright that one might even think there is not a real bird that looks like that.

So, I’ll include the “reference photo” for each of these two birds.

I will conclude with a “daily prayer” that I have had in my notebook for years. It is copied, but I have no idea the original source.

Daily Prayer

I SURRENDER any illusion of control I have about today.

I TRUST you, Lord, with my children. They are yours.

I TRUST you, Lord, with my life and my future.

I CHOOSE this day, and every day, to choose faith over fear.

I CHOOSE to believe your promises are true.

I CHOOSE to be comforted by your presence.

I can’t control the future, but I can CHOOSE to TRUST you.

Yes and Amen.

#watercolor #watercolorhummingbirds #hummingbirds #faithoverfear #surrender #trust 

Flora and Feathers

Most of the time my watercolor subjects are animals, mostly birds. I love birds. But along with my birds this week, I also painted a little rosebud. This is very uncharacteristic of me, but I did enjoy it. I may do more. 

Apparently I have been in a “Permanent Rose” (by Winsor and Newton) mood here lately!

After finishing the rose, I had fun painting a bird that we would never see in the US. He is so pretty!

Little Rosebud

Australian Rose Robin

For inspiration, here is a verse that I pray most mornings:

🌅“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8

#AustralianRedRobin #WatercolorRosebud #Ps1438 #watercolor #watercolour #LouiseDeMasi

Watercolor Style (Mixing it Up)

While my life is not totally controlled by the climate/weather, I do find that it plays a significant role in my mood/attitude, which in turn does at least AFFECT, if not control, my life.

Here in the PNW, spring is certainly not bursting forth with all things fresh and new, like I’m wishing would happen. Instead, she is dragging her feet, reluctant to leave the cold and dreary winter climate behind.

While I’m waiting, my paintings are a bit “unsettled” (in terms of inability to focus in on one style), which is somewhat a reflection of my mood (the blame for which I place on… you guessed it, the weather).

Here are some recent works.

I followed a tutorial by Maria Raczynska for this window. I almost didn’t attempt it, mainly because it is not my usual style/subject matter. But I decided maybe that was a good reason TO try it. I enjoyed it and may do more of that type in the future (I do prefer wet on dry, which was used here, but I usually paint birds and animals).

This little duckling was part of a trial to see if I might like the style and method of Emily Olson. I decided against it, but I did start this little duckling with her instruction. I didn’t like hers, midstream, and so I ended up just doing my own thing and not following her instruction to finish it. I do like it (was fun to have it out for Easter).

Another Easter theme, I loosely followed a tutorial by Louise De Masi. 

This little hummingbird may be my favorite among these four. One of my favorite instructors, Maria Raczynska, has a new series on painting birds, with somewhat of a loose style and yet not just throwing paint on wet paper (as many wet on wet artists do). This one took less than an hour and was very enjoyable. For one thing, I love the colors (mostly a combination of Veridian Hue, Cobalt Blue, and Indigo).

While I wait rather impatiently for spring, my next painting will be an attempt at a rose bud. Along with landscapes and seascapes, botanicals are rarely my thing, but I’m in the mood for some bright color in a flower. So, bring on the Permanent Rose and the French Ultramarine. 

#watercolor #watercolorpractice #hummingbird #bunny #watercolorwindow

Consider the Birds: A Simple Observation

As I was watching the birds (pine siskin at the moment), I was thinking how nice it is that hubby (the birds call him “that man”) just refilled the feeder with sunflower chips. Seeing the feeder all full makes me feel like the birds are well-provided for.

But then I thought about the birds’ perspective. They have no idea (nor concern) about whether the feeder is full or not. They don’t need to know that it is full. They are only interested in the fact that there is always food in the tray that surrounds the feeder, where they perch. 

While one might call this “living in the moment,” this scene this morning made me think about us and our Heavenly Father (THE Man). Sometimes we think we need to see the feeder all full, so that we can feel confident that our needs will be met in the future. But, God is our Provider, and He makes sure we have what we need, when we need it. Seeing the future (the filled feeder) should not be necessary for us.

I need to learn to rest in the assurance that God will make sure the tray is sufficiently filled to meet my needs.

Matthew 6 (NIV):

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not much more valuable than they?27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life.”

#JehovahJireh #birdsdonotworry #GodsProvision #pinesiskin #backyardbirds #birdfeeding #pleasetellthatmanthatheneedstorefillthefeeder #PNW #Matthew6

Spring is Coming (Right? Soon? Glimpses…)

The calendar doesn’t lie. So I know Spring is officially here. And yet, it is still pretty cool (some days, cold) and often does not feel very much like I EXPECT spring to feel. 

I’m ready. Spring always lifts my spirits. I need that. I’m feeling rather down, and since I know better than to “opine” or “pontificate” when I am feeling like this, I’ll just post a few of my recent watercolor art pieces, and at least will feel like I’m a bit caught up with blog postings.

This Goose was fun and easy.

The Eastern Bluebird is the state bird of Missouri (I miss our Missouri woods).

The last two posted here are inspired by a book by Matthew Palmer,  Ready to Paint in 30 Minutes: Animals in Watercolour. They were fun, quick and easy (admittedly, they look like they were quick and easy, but that’s okay sometimes). I chose these animals because they remind me of Spring and of Easter.

Little Lamb

Little Bunny

Lastly, I’ll just mention a new daily devotional that I am enjoying. I actually used this one some time back but am trying it again. It’s called “First 15” and is available in an app and/or by daily emails. 

It is particularly inspiring to me right now because I am listening to it (an option) with air pods each morning, while I am holding a hot pack on my eyes (treatment for an eyelid condition that prompted a doctor visit that resulted in an easy treatment plan). So, the quiet and darkness while the hot pack is on my eyes is actually enjoyable for me as I relax and listen to the podcast.

#watercolor #watercolour #matthewpalmer #MissouriStateBird #First15 #watercolorgoose #watercolorbluebird #watercolorbunny #watercolorlamb #spring #Easter #whiner

Watercolor Creatures

Red-eyed tree frogs inhabit areas near rivers and ponds in rainforests and humid lowlands on the Atlantic slopes from southern Veracruz and northern Oaxaca in Mexico, to central Panama and northern Colombia. They also live on the Pacific slope in southwestern Nicaragua and southwestern Costa Rica to eastern Panama.

Kookaburras are terrestrial tree kingfishers native to Australia and New Guinea. The name is onomatopoeic of its call. The loud, distinctive call of the laughing kookaburra is widely used as a stock sound effect in situations that involve an Australian bush setting or tropical jungle, especially in older movies.

Eurasian blue tits, usually resident and non-migratory birds, are widespread and a common resident breeder throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and the western Palearctic in deciduous or mixed woodlands with a high proportion of oak. They usually nest in tree holes, although they easily adapt to nest boxes where necessary. 

A wallaby is a small or middle-sized macropod native to Australia and New Guinea, with introduced populations in New Zealand, Hawaii, the United Kingdom and other countries. They belong to the same taxonomic family as kangaroos and sometimes the same genus, but kangaroos are specifically categorised into the four largest species of the family. The term "wallaby" is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or a wallaroo that has not been designated otherwise.

*Information from Wikipedia

#watercolor #watercolour #wallaby #bluetit #redeyedtreefrog #kookaburra

Keeping Busy with Watercolor Birds

These are crazy days. The pandemic still rages, although I do believe (not an original thought with me) the widespread, contagious nature of the Omicron variant will likely spell the end of the pandemic—everyone will pretty much have already gotten it. 

It is the most highly contagious disease I have never witnessed. And though the symptoms seem much milder than with the original Covid and the Delta variant, there are some who have gotten very sick with it. And it doesn’t seem to matter the vaccination (and/or boosted) status.

All that to say, for me, I have been staying in a lot lately. Not because someone mandated it. Because it makes common sense to me. People are contagious without knowing it. I don’t want to get it, nor do I want to be the cause of someone else getting it. My own common sense, when it comes to my personal health care management, has served me well for MANY years. Right now it is telling me to avoid unnecessary contact. 

So, I don’t mind so much staying in a lot, since (1) it’s MY decision and not a mandate; (2) it’s raining every day here in Washington anyway!

I’m enjoying doing some more watercolor practice, and for some reason, I am “drawn” to painting birds. I’m especially fond of birds that are found in Missouri. We had a lot of cardinals on our five acres there (before we sold out and relocated full-time to Washington state). I always loved watching them. I have painted several, and for this one (as well as the bird below it), I “loosely” followed a tutorial by my art teacher from Australia, Louise De Masi (who has been extremely ill with Covid, complicated by her asthma). Interesting that she painted these two birds that are “Missouri birds” to me.

Cardinal (not found in Washington but MANY of them visited our woods in Missouri)

Barn Owl

This is a Barn Owl. I didn’t see one of these in Missouri, as they are of course nocturnal. I researched it some and learned that there are seven owls in Missouri:  

Barn Owl

Screech Owl

Long-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Great Horned Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Barred Owl

This was the reference photo that Louise used:

I also found this information about Barn Owls (from animalhype.com):

With their heart-shaped face, Barn Owls are one of the most adorable owl species in North America. These birds do not belong to the true owl family and are the lone species of their genus.

These birds have irregularly placed ears, with the left one slightly above and the right one slightly below the eyes. Because of their irregular ears, they have the strongest hearing capabilities among all owl species and can pinpoint the exact location of their prey.

Louise De Masi sometimes paints in a fairly realistic style (the cardinal might be an example of that), and at other times, in a fairly loose style (as is the case with this barn owl). So, if a professional artist can switch around with painting styles, I suppose it’s okay for me to do that, as well.

On my art table for soon: more birds!

#watercolorpractice #watercolor #watercolorbarnowl #watercolorcardinal #LouiseDeMasi #BirdsofMissouri

The Sparrow and Me

This is a sparrow. My art teacher from Australia, whose tutorial I followed to paint him, said “It’s a sparrow.” I researched, and apparently, looking at the “cheek patch” as an identifying characteristic, it is a Eurasian Sparrow, to be precise.

I like the reference(s) to the sparrow in the Bible, and I also like the OLD song about how God watches over the sparrow, so how much more does he watch over his child (ME)!

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29–31).

His Eye is on the Sparrow (Lyrics by Civilla D. Martin)

1. Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
   Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
   When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
   • Refrain:
     I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
     For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
2. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
   And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
   Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
3. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
   When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
   I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
   His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

#watercolorsparrow #HisEyeisontheSparrow #EurasianSparrow #watercolorpractice #LouiseDeMasi

Trees and Fruit and Generations

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the passing of time, and what that means. I’ve always had an extraordinary sense of “eras” and “seasons;” intentional remembering has always been important to me.

Probably because we now live full-time in the same town as our son/wife and grandson/wife/their babies, I am acutely aware of “the generations.” (There are four now.)

My husband and myself with our son and daughter-in-law (far left) and our grandson and his wife and their son and daughter.

My husband with our daughter (2 days out from hip replacement!) and her husband and son.

(Not able to celebrate in-person Christmas with us this year, our granddaughter who is a missionary in Mexico and another granddaughter and her husband.)

Yes, we are so multi-generational now. How did this happen so quickly? See what I mean about the passing of time? Even for someone who is constantly aware of it, it’s still shocking how fast we got here!!

As a Christ-follower, I think about what these things mean for me— phrases come to mind, like…

Aging gracefully

Finishing well

Successful aging

Bearing fruit

Teaching the next generation

My Legacy

In today’s Bible study, I was looking at some relevant verses.

From Psalm 92:12-15:

12 The righteous thrive like a palm tree

and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon.

13 Planted in the house of the Lord,

they thrive in the courts of our God.

14 They will still bear fruit in old age,

healthy and green,

15 to declare, “The Lord is just;

he is my rock,

and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

Then when I queried for the passage about “generations,” this came up in my search. After the passage is an article about that passage.

Psalm 78:1-8
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 
I will open my mouth in a parable;
    I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 
things that we have heard and known,
    that our fathers have told us.
4 
We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
    and the wonders that he has done.
5 
He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
    to teach to their children,
6 
that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 
    so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
    but keep his commandments;
8

 and that they should not be like their fathers,
    a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast

 whose spirit was not faithful to God.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION

June 5, 2017 by Mike Livingstone (Lifeway editor)

In Psalm 78 Asaph addresses the importance of the home and the vital role of parents and grandparents in leading the next generation to know, love and serve God.  The psalm answers four critical questions regarding our responsibility to future generations: who, what, why, and how?

WHO?

Who’s responsible for teaching the next generation? Take a look at verses 5-6: “He [God] commanded our fathers to teach … their children so that a future generation—children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children.” Notice at least three, possibly four generations are mentioned in these verses—fathers, their children, the children yet to be born, their children.

From the time God established His covenant with Israel, He commanded parents (dads are to take the lead) to teach their children, who in turn would teach their children, who then would teach their children. The “command” to which the psalmist was referring in verse 5 is likely Deuteronomy 6:6-7. The same command is found in the New Testament, “bring [your children] up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). The responsibility to disciple children falls squarely on the shoulders of parents, and this requires a strong intentionality on our part.

WHAT?

What must we teach the next generation? Again, the answer is in verse 5: “He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children.” The first two lines of verse 5 are parallel, meaning “testimony” (or “statutes,” “decrees”) is synonymous with “the law.” The word testimony is sometimes used in the Old Testament to refer to the tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were written (Ex. 25:16). This word relates to what God has required of His people. The word for law here is torah and means “instruction. In this context, it refers to the commandments in the Mosaic law. The emphasis in verse 5 is clear: it is God’s inspired and authoritative Word we must teach to our children.

WHY?

Psalm 78 also answers the “why” question. “So that” in verses 6-7 means “to the end that” and points to the desired outcome of an action.

• So that they “might know” God through His Word (v. 6)
• So that they might trust Him (“put their confidence in God,” v. 7)
• So that they would obey Him (“keep his commands,” v. 7).

We teach so that the next generation will know, trust, and obey God. This desired outcome goes beyond just hoping our kids will stay out of trouble. For us, it means we seek to raise up faithful and passionate followers of Jesus Christ.

 

HOW?

 How are we to teach the next generation? Again, Psalm 78 provides answers.

• Tell the stories of things God has done (“the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed,” v. 4).
• Teach what God requires of us (v. 5, “a testimony … a law”).
• Warn against sinfulness (v. 8)

All of the above requires that we be intentional about our responsibility to make disciples of the next generation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Volumes could be/have been written on this topic. These are just my thoughts today.

#generations #aginggracefully #successfulaging #finishingwell #bearingfruit #legacy

Catching My Breath

Since my last post, we have done the Washington to Missouri and back to Washington car trip (12 days, 11 nights). We visited family in Missouri, celebrating Christmas with siblings and daughter and family. But mainly spent time in the car and hotels. Very tired I am.

Now we’re doing final preparations for our Christmas back here in Washington.

Here are three more art pieces I finished before just now putting away the art supplies until after Christmas.

This little baby seal was painted following a tutorial by Louise De Masi, where she used her own photograph as a reference. I think he’s cute!

I also painted a pinecone and pine tree branches following guidance from Maria Raczynska. I was frustrated with this one, but I’ve decided to keep and post all my work, because when I look back, it can be encouraging if I see improvement.

This last quick little piece I did in a couple of hours last night. I cut it down to 4x6 (others are 5x7) and will use it to enhance a scrapbook page for December.

I’m experiencing some nostalgia and even some sadness at the moment. I know myself, and I understand the feelings. I may write about it when I’m rested. But then again, when I’m rested, I may not feel the sadness!!

Oh, but wait. Our great grandson is coming over soon to be introduced to Grandad’s Polar Express electric train that is now under our Christmas tree, and to play with us for awhile. His baby sister will be showing us her new trick of clapping. I think the sadness may be on the way out anyway!

#watercolorpinecones #watercolorbabyseal #watercolorholly #needtorest #greatgrandchildrenbringjoy #polarexpresselectrictrain #watercolor

Watercolor: Cardinal in the Snow and Christmas Ball

Here are my last two watercolor pieces done as part of Maria Raczynska’s 12 Days of Christmas.

We recently relocated from Missouri to Washington State. We had so many cardinals in our woods/yard in Missouri, but we do not have cardinals in Washington. I miss them, and I am “drawn” to painting them more than ever now that I don’t see them.

This one was really fun to paint, and I experimented here with the trend of using the bokeh technique. 

#Christmasthemewatercolor #maria12daysofChristmas #cardinal #watercolorcardinal #bokeh

More Watercolor Christmas

Above are pieces #5 and 6 from the “12 Days of Christmas” watercolor project I enjoyed painting a few weeks ago. I only did 8 of the 12, so only 2 more to share after these two.

Along with the Advent study I am doing, I am also enjoying reading devotional thoughts from this pretty little book. Each devotional thought is followed by a few Scripture passages, and I love that. Also, the pictures in this book are just beautiful.

I read this today: “Learn to look steadily at Me in all your moments and all your circumstances. Though the world is unstable and in flux, you can experience continuity through your uninterrupted awareness of My Presence. Fix your gaze on what is unseen, even as the visible world parades before your eyes.”

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

1 Corinthians 4:18

#JesusCallingbySarahYoung #Maria12DaysofChristmas #FixYourEyesOnJesus #watercolor #watercolorChristmastheme

Ready for Christmas!

Having our Thanksgiving a day early allowed us to get a head start on decorating for Christmas. That’s good, because we like to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere in our house as long as possible!

And here are the next two paintings in my series of eight from Maria Raczynska’s 12 Days of Christmas (the first two appeared in yesterday’s blog post; I didn’t complete all 12).

#Christmaswatercolor #watercolornutcracker #decoratingforChristmas #Christmastree

“Thankful For” Time

One of our family traditions (not unlike many families, I’m sure) is our time around the Thanksgiving Dinner table when we share what we are especially thankful for this year.

We usually have this special time somewhere between the meal and the pie (Autumn Gold Pumpkin and/or Pecan), over coffee, of course.

This year’s Thanksgiving was celebrated in our Washington home, which is now our only home, and that was one of my “thankful-fors,” that we were able to sell the big house/property in Missouri and move “all the way” out here to Washington state, where we have 6 of our immediate family (7 when Tory is Stateside, usually in Mexico). 

We really miss our family that is not out here (daughter and her family and our siblings/spouses). But we are thankful to be “unburdened” with the whole two-home thing (which we did for seven years) and to be able to spend a lot of quality time with our son and wife (Mark and Kristy) and our grandson and wife (Conner and Caroline) and their two little ones, Leeland (3 1/2), and Lily (8 months). It is an extra blessing to be able to be in the church that Mark planted here in our town three years ago, where Conner is the Worship Pastor, and Kristy and Caroline are also involved in ministry leadership. Huge thankful-for right there!

Also making my shared list this year is “my family,” and that is more than just “I’m thankful for my family.” For me, I am so thankful for the blessing of family members following God and raising their families to follow Him. Such a rarity these days, it seems to me, and I do not want to take that blessing for granted. God is so good to my family.

I’m just going to say this: My children and their children and their children (whether in Washington or Missouri) are just beautiful people, in every way. I know they’re mine, but they just are, and I recognize this as just one of the ways God has chosen to bless me, the Mom and Mamo to 12 (so far)! Thank you, Lord.

I also shared this year about how thankful I am for my husband—always, of course, for the way he loves me, takes care of me (spoils me), provides for me, and on and on. But this year I’m especially thankful that, as the mirror is less and less kind to me, his rose-colored glasses just get “rosier,” and he just tells me how beautiful I am all the time. I’ve always loved that he does that, but it seems like especially recently, I’ve NEEDED for him to do that (how does he know?)!! So I’m thankful for him and his rose-colored glasses (may he never lose them!).

Not mentioned in our family sharing time, I am also thankful for my art hobby. It truly is a personal blessing that I have found and am developing a hobby that is challenging but also enjoyable and relaxing. I created a few Christmas-themed pieces around mid-November (mainly while my three guys were hunting). Now that Thanksgiving is over, I will share a few of them here, a couple of them at a time.

To all my readers, thank you for following me, and to those who send me notes or leave comments, thank you for your encouragement. I’m thankful for all of you, too!

#thankfulfortime #Thanksgiving #Christmaswatercolor #ThanksgivingDinner #ThanksgivingTurkey #Family #watercolor

Always Busy (and some Watercolor)

There is an old saying, “Well, that says a lot about you.” That’s rather nebulous, and I wonder if using that “inclusive statement” might sometimes be jumping to conclusions, and maybe while a statement might say “SOMETHING about you,” it may not necessarily say A LOT about you? Just rambling here, no answer.

But an example of the above would be this: I am always busy. Does that say a lot about me? If it does, I hope it’s good, because it’s true.

Sometimes my “busy” is more a worthwhile use of my time than at other times. 

Sometimes my “busy” is doing fun things, sometimes it is doing serious things.

Sometimes it is doing helpful things, sometimes it is doing self-centered things.

Sometimes it is serving others, sometimes it is not. 

And so on.

But I am always busy.

At this point, I have several projects in progress. Well, I should say, I ALWAYS have several projects in progress. I’m always busy.

But right now, I am

-preparing for Thanksgiving at my house (menu plans, grocery lists, timetable for preparations, etc.).

-preparing for Christmas (shopping, wrapping, addressing cards, formulating Christmas letter, doing Christmas watercolor art, planning menus, working on lists for when to do what (decorating, etc.).

-planning trip to Missouri to see daughter and family and siblings during the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

-planning/preparing Sunday dinners for my family at my house.

-keeping up with church activities.

-keeping up with Bible study/devotionals (about to start an Advent study).

-keeping up with some watercolor art (some seasonal, some not).

-keeping up with my fitness/health goals.

I will soon be posting some Christmas watercolor art pieces I completed a couple of weeks ago.

This week, I painted a couple of watercolor birds, following a teacher I enjoy, Louise De Masi (from Australia). 

Kingfisher

Fairy Wren (Australia)

My Bible passage for today:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

Matthew 6:25-26

#birdsdonotworry #Idonotneedtoworry #projects #alwaysbusy #thatsaysalotaboutme #hopeitisgood #planning #watercolor #kingfisher #fairywren #Australia #LouiseDeMasi #busylife

Caught Up, Catching Up, and Up Next {Bible Study and other Projects}

There are many things I enjoy about being “retired,” which has described my status for many years, actually. My last year of teaching was 1998-99. One of the things that brings me such contentment and joy is that I am free to do my Bible studies, reading and devotionals on my own schedule and in my own time. 

Since it is up to me, apparently it is my choice is to have several things going at once. I may have two Bible studies, plus a year-long Bible reading challenge, plus a Christian book, plus more than one devotional going on at the same time. That has been the case lately. While I was at times a bit overwhelmed with “today’s do list” in my notebook, I will say that finishing several projects virtually simultaneously is quite a feeling of accomplishment!!

So, since I’m usually not really sure if anyone is actually reading my blog (though I’m always amazed at the number of page “visits”), I will recount these things mainly for my own accountability.

Caught Up

(1) Probably the biggest sense of relief for me is that I finished every single day of The One Year Chronological Bible. I actually did it in about 10 1/2 months. I started it December 24, 2020, and finished it last night. It was very challenging, and the next time I do a read-the-Bible-through plan, I will not do chronological (didn’t really like that order). But I am glad I was able to keep my commitment, through a very stressful and strenuous year (including selling our place and making a cross-country move).

(2) Last June I started reading Woven by Angie Smith. This book has my highest recommendation. 

Having done Angie’s Bible Study, Seamless, I already knew I loved her style and her grasp of the Bible as a seamless story. That’s what Woven is all about. As it says on the back, “In her unique and remarkably readable way, Angie Smith helps you tie together all the loose, disconnected threads, weaving them into a beautifully crafted story line…from separate stories to the One they are all about. Because once you see the big picture, you’ll see it on every page.”

Even though I was concurrently reading the Bible through in a year, this book kept me engaged and not wanting to put it down. It actually helped me see the bigger picture in the daily reading I was doing.

(3) Bible Study (with workbook), “Joy is a Person,” by Robin Meadows. This was an in-depth study of Philippians. I chose to do this one because I sometimes get bogged down with stress and worry (another topic!) and forget to remember the JOY. I just finished this one two days ago.

 

Catching Up (in Progress)

(1) I am enjoying the book As Long as I Have Breath: Serving God with Purpose in the Later Years.

This little book, written by Bruce Gordon and published by Focus on the Family, is actually 52 devotionals, one for each week of the year. I started it at the end of September, reading one devotional each Monday (for a year). From the back, “In this 52-week devotional, Bruce Gordon challenges the idea that youth is the best part of life. He asserts that we make too little of our opportunities in later life… These practical devotionals, steeped in Scripture will help you transition to a time of life that can be rich with purpose, significance, and hope as you serve God…Discover for yourself that the best years, the most impactful years of your life are still to come.” 

Gordon provides reminders for me that I need to hear, about the need to find a place of service, regardless of age/season of life.

(2) I love the writings of Suzie Eller, and I am refreshed and renewed by the reading of her book (free on Kindle), The Spirit-Led Heart: Living a Life of Love and Faith Without Borders. 

I’m almost finished with this one, and interestingly, looking back at all the readings/studies I have been doing lately, it’s like everything came together recently into one huge emphasis on the New Testament. I kept thinking, “Didn’t I just read this?” Yes, I did. It may have been in the chronological reading where I was in the NT, or in the Philippians study, or Angie’s book, or this book by Suzie. Interesting coincidence.

(3) Always in progress is my artwork. I came to a stopping place with my usual subjects (like fruit, animals, birds, etc.). Most recent of those:

But I have also completed 9 of 12 Days of Christmas watercolor art projects, which I will begin to share after Thanksgiving.

(4) I always have the current year Scrapbook in progress. I am currently caught up through October.

Up Next

(1) As soon as I finish Suzie Eller’s book, I am looking forward to reading Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity, by Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD.

I actually already did a sneak peek of the first few pages and am even more excited about reading it. I have written many times about how much I love the word and the meaning of REST. 

Dr Dalton-Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, and a Christian speaker (Focus on the Family, etc.). From the back, “In this book you’ll discover a time-tested secret to living your best life. Discover the seven types of rest—physical, mental, emotional, social, sensory, creative, spiritual—needed for you to thrive in your relationships, career, and personal goals. Her insightful and practical approach to correcting your work-rest imbalance will help you experience deeper and fuller levels of satisfaction in your life.”

I have a feeling I am going to be putting my phone down a little more often after reading this book.

(2) I love Thanksgiving, and I love Christmas, and I love the time between those two celebrations. So I sometimes (not always) plan to do an Advent study of some sort. This year, I will be doing Prepare Him Room by Susie Larson. It is a Daily Advent Devotional.

This book “invites you to give God sacred space in your holiday season as you ponder the miracle of Christ and respond to His work in your life. As you begin your Christmas preparations this year, journey through Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and ultimate resurrection. God invites you to be still and let Jesus radically transform you this holy season. Let earth receive her King!”

So, yes, it does feel good to be caught up, and yet still have some things in-progress, and also to have some things ready to do.

I guess that’s kind of me, it’s how I roll: feeling good about finished projects, never without something going on, and already looking forward to what is “up next.”

#BibleReading #BibleStudy #Woven #SpiritLedHeart #AsLongAsIHaveBreath #AngieSmith #SuzanneEller #Rest #watercolor #watercolorplum #Advent #PrepareHimRoom #SusieLarson #JoyisaPerson