WOYWW: We are God's Garden!

 Here is what's on my desk this morning.

I use 3 different flesh colors. 

First a really light one called Dresden Flesh (Delta Acrylic).

 Then I follow it up with Medium Flesh.

Then a darker Territorial Beige.

After painting I use my Prismacolor pencils to add

shading and to outline.

Today I took out my box of paper and cloth flowers

to add a flower because

the verse I am painting today is

"We are God's Garden..." 1 Corinthians 3:9

 

We are God's field, His husbandry, 

where God cultivates His flowers and fruit. 

One of my favorite bible verses! 

I don't know how many times I've painted this 

and I never get tired of it. 

Perhaps because it reminds me of 

my one and only vision which I 

experienced during a 

singles' retreat in our community. 

I was before the Blessed Sacrament, 

and I saw Jesus and I in a beautiful garden. 

Everything was lush and blooming and vibrant. 

Jesus said to me, "I am the gardener here. 

I take care of all these plants. 

I prune them all. 

I will show you one that I do not prune." 

And he brought me to a dead, decaying tree. 

All brown and withered leaves.

Then Jesus continued. 

"I am sure you do not like to be like this tree."  

In a way He was preparing me for pruning. 

You see up to this point, ever since I was young, 

I would pray, "Lord, treat me gently." 

And God answered my prayers. 

I had a very comfortable, enjoyable life. 

No problems. But God was saying 

if He continued to treat me gently 

I would not bloom, I would not bear fruit!!!

In the Song of Solomon, we read, 

"Awake North wind, and come, O South wind! 

Blow upon my garden, let its fragrance flow. 

Let my beloved come to my garden 

and eat its choicest fruit." (SS 4:16)

Why does she want the 

bitter cold North wind to come? 

Trials and challenges, 

this is what God uses to prune us. 

He knows what we need 

to become better people. 

Just like coal needs to be exposed 

to temperatures of more than 2000 degrees 

and pressure 50 times greater than 

what we find on the surface of the earth 

to become a DIAMOND!

 And then after that, 

it needs some sort of volcanic  eruption 

to bring it up to the surface of the earth!

 

Pressure makes us who we are. 

It can build our character. 

I guess we are all coal starting out. 

When the pressure builds, and adversity comes, 

we have to stay in faith, and work with God 

to become a diamond.

 Or we can give up, and crumble to dust! 

So come North wind! Help me to become a diamond!!!

"Now the natural man does not accept 

what pertains to the spirit of God, 

for to Him it is foolishness..." 1 Corinthians 2:14

The crucifixion of Jesus is very hard 

for man to comprehend. 

Why would God have to come down, 

be humiliated, be hung on the cross, to save me? 

He is all powerful! 

Our brains would say it is foolishness, an idiocy! 

Why would any smart, intelligent person believe that?!!!!

Why would St. Paul stop persecuting Christians 

and himself become a Christian? 

Why would St. Francis of Assisi leave his rich lifestyle 

to become a pauper and why would 

so many decide to follow him? 

Why would Corrie Ten Boom and her family 

endanger their lives and hide Jews 

to protect them from the Nazis? 

Why would Jim Elliot preach the 

Good News to uncivilized Auca Indians 

who eventually killed him and his companions with spears? 

Is this comprehensible to the natural man, 

the man whose mind is not enlightened by the spirit?

There are many things a man will 

consider foolishness if his mind is 

"on things below". 

Let us make sure our minds 

are washed by the Spirit of God, 

and go after the wisdom of God, 

the Word of God.

 Another thing on my desk are

about a dozen of these shells.

We went to this great restaurant in Cebu 

and ate delicious baked scallops.

Being a collector of "junk"

I couldn't leave the shells behind

but had them wrapped.

Here is the necklace I came up with.

Click on the picture for some tips

to come up with your own necklace! 

Previous Posts

For my growing collection of prompts, inspirations, creative pursuits,

courageous artists and their art,join me here!

or on Facebook and Instagram

Joining the lovely Julia Dunnit for a 

peek at desks and projects!

 

I find a lot of inspiration

visiting my friends here:

Testimony Tuesday, Count Your Blessings, Word Art Wednesday, 

Whatever You Want Wednesday,Winsome Wednesdays, Share the Joy, 

Wednesday Christian Homemaking Link Party

What's It Wednesdays, Unite, WholeHearted Home,

 Rubie Tuesday Link Up, Be Inspired

 A Little R and R,  No Rules Weekend Blog Party

What We Accomplished, Wow Us Wednesdays
The Weekly Creative

Thoughtful Thursday,  Hearts4Home Thursdays, Thought Provoking Thursday

Thriving Thursdays with Serving Joyfully

Thursday Favorites, Desire to Inspire Legacy Leaver Thursday

Creative Things, Bloom! Soul Survival

 

Blessings!

Patsy