Monday, April 14, 2014

Entering the Holy Week

 Spent a fantastic few days in Puerto Princesa, Palawan
with 16 family members.
We saw a lot of twisting, cavorting dolphins.
My first glimpse of so many of them
going ahead of us in our motor boat
made me cry with awe and wonder.

We also went island hopping in Honda Bay.
Our boatman was an aspiring art director
and had a lot of camera tricks up his sleeve!

We also saw the Underground River, 
one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World,
went firefly watching and visited the
Iwahig Penal Colony,
an amazing prison where there are no bars
and prisoners don't escape out
because they live a pleasant life with their families. 

I was not able to post while I was away
so I have several days worth of paintings!

 "The truth will set you free." John 8:32
The truth, God's Word, 
will set you free to become the best you can be,
 the same way that following traffic rules, signs and lights 
will give you the freedom to get 
where you need to go without the chaos 
that comes from the lack of discipline!

"I have grasped you by the hand,
I formed you..." Isaiah 42:6

 "Before Abraham came to be, I AM." 
John 8:58. 
Jesus claimed to be God 
 numerous times in different ways. 
That is why the Pharisees and many in the crowd 
were indignant and wanted to stone Him. 
They didn't think he was merely a crazy person, a fool. 
They believed He was a charlatan, a deceiver, the enemy! 
We too need to make a choice about who or what Jesus is, 
because if He is who He says He is, 
and He came to teach us how to live, 
it is the most important choice we'll ever make!!!

 "The Lord is with me, like a mighty champion." 
Jeremiah 20:11
 One of my favorite verses from the Bible is
 "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and 
you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." 
Exodus 14:13

 "I will...cleanse them so that 
they may be my people and I may be their God." 
Ezekiel 37:23. 
Thank you Lord for desiring
for us to be Your people!
You did not have to do it!
After so many tries
to make us understand,
you could just have given up on us 
and left us to wallow in our own sin 
or you could even
have destroyed us!

But you try again and again,
sending us prophets,
and ultimately Your own Son
that we might be made clean,
made whole, made new!

Sooo sad that this promise
was made to the Jews,
to His chosen,
and they don't even claim it
because they reject the One
who can cleanse them!
What promises of God
do I NOT claim for myself
when it is just there
for the taking?

"Though all may have their faith in you shaken, 
mine will never be," 
Peter said this to Jesus in, 
I imagine, a firm decisive manner (Matthew 26:33). 
But as we all know he betrayed Jesus three times. 
The great difference between Peter and Judas
is that Judas gave up and did not repent. 
He was so filled with guilt and remorse 
and who knows what else! 

 As we enter into Holy Week, 
I look to Peter. 
Like Peter I have betrayed Jesus many times. 
I forgot that last Friday, 
I was supposed to abstain from eating meat.
 I neglected to fast, and give alms, and be kind, 
and who knows what else!
But Jesus knows our weaknesses
 and forgives us, even if we find it hard to forgive ourselves!
We just need to not give up 
and look to Him to be washed clean.

Thank You Lord for never giving up on us, 
for allowing Yourself to be forsaken 
by Your Father so we wouldn't be! 
Thank You for the example of all the
 weak men like Peter and the saints, 
who did not give up, 
but when they turned to you 
for strength and forgiveness, 
were able to go on victoriously!


 
I find a lot of inspiration

visiting here:

So many WONDERFUL blogfriends

to discover!



9 comments:

  1. Your are is actually a daily devotional in pictures with God's Word as back up. The bird clearly demonstrates all our blessings originate in Heaven. I am glad you had some time away enjoying a different pace. Thank you for joining us this week and for posting your awesome art in our Word Art Wednesday challenge. Blessings, Carole

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  2. Dropping by! Thanks for the lovely pictures and God inspired words:)

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  3. A lovely collection of art...especially the big orange star and the painting with the little blue bird. Thank you for sharing on Mandarin Orange Monday:)

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  4. Wow, that sea star is huge! ... sounds like you have had a fabulous time. Your art is looking amazing :)

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  5. Both beautiful paintings & photos!

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  6. How lovely to be together with your family in such a beautiful spot.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  7. I enjoyed both your art and your photos. The photo on the broom made me laugh.

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  8. Anonymous1:10 AM

    OMG! I am so in love with Papemeroti ( & robert..its oursecret dont tell!) and I am glad that I have stumbled upon your blog! Lenten here is so unlike in Manila and I miss the color of our lenten season. I miss pasyon and I miss the prusisyon. Thanks for this artsy entry. #CreativeMondays

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I am so glad you dropped by! You are a blessing!
:^) Patsy