Wednesday, September 03, 2014

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! 




Blessings!
Patsy



















12 comments:

  1. What can I say? Each week I am so amazed at your drawing skills, probably because I have none and this weeks is just as awesome
    Bridget #1

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  2. Beautiful painting/drawing Patsy! Love the way you made the skin tones look so real!

    Happy WOYWW!
    Amy E. #4
    Scrapthissavethat.com

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  3. Fabulous artwork as always! Sunshine Girl #17

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  4. It's so lovely to come back and see your artwork and read your comments. Thanks for sharing your workspace today. Hazel, WOYWW, #34 x

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  5. Wow. Your art is amazing, and your words are beautiful! The We are God's Garden piece is stunning. Thanks for sharing your many gifts here!

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  6. What a great post - and thanks for the tips on colouring people. Must have a go! Have a lovely week, Chris # 29 xx

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  7. Another lovely piece of art work, thanks for sharing it with us. Happy crafting, Angela x38

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  8. Simply gorgeous. Your gift blesses my heart. Thank you!
    Many Blessings,
    Dawn

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  9. You are constantly surprising me with such beautiful drawing and creative work. You made me giggle when you took home the shells from your meal. Good one.

    Hugs Eliza & Yoda 49
    Happy WOYWW

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  10. Lovely post, Patsy. Your paintings are, as ever, beautiful. Have a good week. Elizabeth x #26

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  11. I'm in love with that necklace! Have a great week. Happy WOYWW! Sandy Leigh #55

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  12. Another beautiful post, Patsy. I loved all that you wrote about how pressure and difficulties are the Lord's way of making us grow. Your art work is always so beautiful, and interprets the words. Your necklace reminds me of a pilgrim badge - the scallop shell worn by pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.

    Happy WOYWW,
    Shoshi #40

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