The Visitation

Today I read about Mary's visit
to Elizabeth in Ain Karim
(or in Hebrew, Ein Kerem).

You can read all about it in Luke 1:39-56.
But it is best to read from the beginning
of the first chapter of Luke.

The interesting parts for me are
that John the Baptist was filled with
the Holy Spirit even before he was born (v. 15).
When his mother, Elizabeth,
heard Mary's greeting,
even if he was still in the womb,
he leaped in her womb!
Both Elizabeth and John the baby Baptist
were filled with the Spirit!
He recognized Jesus!

The Visitation by Brigid Marlin

How wonderful that Mary
was such a kindred spirit to Elizabeth
that she hastened to tell her the amazing news!
"While this meeting between Mary and Elizabeth
is unique, there is something here
that we can all experience.
As baptized believers, each of us is capable
of bearing Christ to others.
If our eyes were opened to this truth,
we too would rejoice and be humbled
in the presence of so holy a vessel
as a sister or brother in Christ.

"Even nonbelievers would move us to
great reverence because they too are created
in God's image and have just as much potential
of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
If God has so honored human beings this way,
how could we fail to show them equal honor?"
Word Among Us
May our eyes be open,
may our spirit be sensitive
to all who bring Christ's love
and words and teachings to us.
May we not fall into the trap of thinking
that it has to be a godly person,
or someone we look up to and respect.
It may be a child, a beggar,
a prisoner, a telemarketer,
or even a beauty queen!
Patricia DiBella collage

May we recognize Jesus
when He passes by us,
when He lingers beside us,
or gives us a phone call!

Linking to Spiritual Sunday ,
and Graceful for Hear it on Sunday,
Use it on Monday, and
Soli Deo Gloria.

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

Here's my desk for your perusing.
It's very crowded as I have a small desk.
One canvas is on top of another.
This is the canvas on top.
It's still a long way from done.
This is the canvas at the bottom.
Did some experimenting with
undertones for the skin
and I'm afraid I just made her look
like she had a rash or something.
I need a LOT of practice!
This is the 3rd canvas,
also a work in progress.
It didn't fit on top of the table and
is lying on top of a magazine,
on top of a box of crochet thread,
which is balancing on top of goodness knows what!

Because there was no space on my desk,
I had to do my journal on my lap.
I was reading about St. Paul,
and how the Jews in Antioch
were so enraged at his preaching,
that they stoned him and
dragged him out of the city
thinking he was dead.
The very next day, he was out
preaching again!!
Now, how does a man do that,
where does he get his fire,
his passion, his conviction?

In Corinthians, St. Paul claims,
"I am what I am what I am
by the grace of God."

And we are what we are
by the grace of God too!

Visit the amiable Julia of Stamping Ground
for more desks and ongoing projects.

Sing!

Sing a new song to the Lord!
Psalm 98:1

Why sing?
Why not just talk to God?

When we are happy, isn't there a
tendency to sing and even dance?
When we are sad, do we not want to lament?
When there is feeling, passion, life,
there is a song that comes out of our heart,
our spirit.

"My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour."
When we lift our voices to God in joy,
we are drawn closer to Him.


Sing when there is reason to sing.
Sing when there is none,
but I find there always is!
How many times have I felt
miserable, hopeless or dejected,
only to sing, hesitantly and rebelliously at first,
and then genuine joy and gratefulness
take over.
"Why should we sing?
Because singing engages our hearts
and emotions as well as our minds,
and God cares about the whole person,
emotions included.
He wants to breathe life into our spirits
and minds and bodies.
Singing offers him entry into
our whole being in a way
that ordinary speech doesn't.
and if we have difficulty opening
our hearts,
singing can open the pathway
for His Spirit to move in us."
(Word Among Us)

Linking to Spiritual Sunday ,
and Graceful for Hear it on Sunday,
Use it on Monday, and
Soli Deo Gloria.

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

After a wonderful experience
at the art fair during the weekend,
(see my previous post if you're interested)
I started on 4 canvases.

This one is a small simple collage of flowers.
This is going to be,
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
And this is an experiment.
In the new issue of Cloth, Paper and Scissors,
there's a tutorial on how to make faces with a lot of
shading and undertones.

The fourth one is on an easel and
I forgot to take a picture of it.
Anyway it's just a background as of now.
And this is a postcard I finished for a friend.
She requested postcards for her birthday.

Visit the amiable Julia of Stamping Ground for more
desks and ongoing projects.
I hope Blogger will be more cooperative this week.
I was not able to comment on many
blogs last week!

Arts and Crafts Fair

I joined my first ever arts and crafts fair
this weekend
and am ecstatic that I sold 3 paintings
on Saturday morning.

The first one that got sold was "Prayers".

When I was making this I thought
the woman was Mother Mary.
She wasn't. As I was finishing her dress,
the first piece of paper I picked up
was a reading about the
woman who was sick and
touched the hem of Jesus' garment.
This is what I used for her dress.
So I knew who the lady was,
and that the flowers were her prayers
reaching up to heaven.

When I told this story to Cathy,
this tall and thin lady selling
interesting jewelry at the fair,
she said she wanted to buy it
because that story in the Bible
meant something to her.
I was so pleased.
Even if I was sleepy and tired,
I knew I just had to finish it Friday night...
and now I know why.
It was for Cathy!

And here is the husband of the lady
who bought "Bloom".
This is the first time I saw someone
fall in love with my painting
the minute she saw it.
She just kept coming back to it,
till finally she asked how much it was,
and then said she wanted to buy it.

I told her that it was all about pruning,
and how we bloom with God's pruning.

How wonderful to create something
that gives others pleasure!
It made me so happy,
and I knew God was telling me
to use my gift.

Sharing this on Paint Party Friday and
Creative Friday.

What's on my Workdesk Wednesday

This is what's on my desk this morning.
A mixed media piece
on a wall puttied canvas.
The flowers are of paper and fabric.
There is some sewing on it and on the stems.
Have not decided what to do with the veil.

I have been working overtime
as my brother and his friends
organized an Arts and Crafts Fair
and my sister and I are going to rent a table.

I finished my other canvas
and will be selling it at the Fair.
I'm rather conflicted about selling this
and have no idea how to price it!
See more desks and projects at
What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday,
hosted by the very amiable Julia.

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

Here is my desk early this morning.
I am doing my prayer journal.

Here is a close up of the page I did.
"I will bless the Lord at all times!
His praise will always be on my lips!"
from Psalm 34.

I always try to live with a
grateful and thankful heart.
Sometimes it is not so easy,
but with practice,
with visual reminders,
I am sure it will become a habit.

See more desks and projects at
What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday,
hosted by the very amiable Julia.

Blessed are they who Believe

"Blessed are they who have not seen
and have believed." John 20:29

Jesus is talking about us here!
We have not seen Him
walking, and preaching, and eating
like the disciples did.
We have not seen Him doing miracles
and healing the sick.
We did not put our finger to His side
and His hands.
And yet, we believe.

Today is the beatification of
Pope John Paul II.
In his first homily as Pope,
he said:
"Do not be afraid to welcome Christ
and accept His power...
Open wide the doors for Christ...
Christ knows what is in man.
He alone knows it.
So often today man does not know
what is within him,
in the depths of his mind and heart.
So often he is uncertain
about the meaning of his life on earth.
He is assailed by doubt,
a doubt which turns to despair.
We ask you therefore,
we beg you with humility and trust,
let Christ speak to man.
He alone has words of life,
yes, eternal life."

We have not seen Jesus,
but we have witnessed the power
of His Spirit and His Word.
We are indeed blessed.

The last blogpost David Wilkerson
wrote before he died
was about this same verse.

He wrote, "Blessed are those who believe
when there is no evidence
of an answer to prayer—
who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.
Beloved, God has never failed to act
but in goodness and love.
When all means fail—his love prevails.
Hold fast to your faith.
Stand fast in his Word.
There is no other hope in this world."

David Wilkerson was a Christian evangelist
best known for his amazing book,
The Cross and the Switchblade.

Linking to Spiritual Sunday ,
and Graceful for Hear it on Sunday,
Use it on Monday.