Every week I keep thinking I just
HAVE TO clean up my desk!!!
The space I have for painting
is getting smaller and smaller!
I'm thinking by WOYWW 312, I shall have nothing on my desk
but ATCs I have made for trading!
Come back to see if I've accomplished my goal ha ha ha!!!
"Abide in Me and I in you." John 15:4
After Jesus washed the disciples' feet, even Judas', he went on to speak to them about Him being the true vine. He said the Father was the gardener, the vine-dresser, who cuts off branches that do not bear fruit. The disciples were the branches. The vine-dresser cut off one of the branches because "anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned." (John 15:6)
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I am sure we do not like to wither and burn like Judas! The only way is to abide in Jesus, to stay joined to Him, to dwell with Him, to remain in Him, to walk with Him. Daily. If we examine ourselves, perhaps we will find what we are connected to. Are we attached to our bank account? Our reputation? Our job? What vine are we joined to? Perhaps we are hanging on to Jesus by a fragile little tendril? Even if that is the case, we can always reconnect with the true vine. I was delighted to learn that almost all grape vines used for wine making is grafted! And so even Judas who was cut off, could have begun anew if only he repented and asked Jesus to forgive him.
Thank you Lord for forgiving us 70 x 70 times, and even more! Help us to abide in You and You in us!
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“Peace is my gift to you.” John 14:27
What is peace? Is it the absence of conflict, of war, of trials? That is the world’s definition perhaps. But Jesus’ gift of peace is not “as the world gives”. I sometimes think that if only I had more faith, if I lived by faith, I would be free of problems, trials and challenges. But of all the people who lived on earth, is it not true that Jesus had the perfect faith? Was He ever free of trials and pain? What He had was peace, and that is what He wants to give us.
In Acts 14, after Paul was stoned by Jews from Antioch and Iconium, Paul and Barnabas encouraged the disciples, saying, “We must undergo many trials if we are to enter into the reign of God.” There is no escape from the stresses and strains of life. It is part of the warp and weft of the tapestry God is weaving. I like to think of God weaving. I can see only the underside, with all its knots, and the mess of thread with discordant colors. But all will be revealed at the end, when we will see how beautiful and intricate our tapestry will be. Much more beautiful than those glorious ones found in the Louvre. And longer than the Apocalypse tapestry which runs 100 meters and depicts scenes from the Book of Revelation!
Today when we think of art, we think of painting and sculpture most of the time. Hardly do we think of tapestries which were the most valued form of art during the medieval ages. But from the time of Adam to the present, God’s masterpieces have always been man and his life. And just as beautiful art needs contrasts of dark and light, our life needs times of sorrow, pain and challenges to bring out the gold threads! God knows this and wants to give us the gift of peace, the samepeace that wrapped around Jesus during His life. So let us not be troubled by our trials. Let us just abide in Him who is our peace, and let Him do His marvelous weaving work in us!
Joining the lovely Julia Dunnit for a
peek at desks and projects!
I find a lot of inspiration
visiting my friends here:
Small Wonders, Testimony Tuesday, Titus 2 Tuesdays,
Count Your Blessings, Word Art Wednesday, Wildly Original
Count Your Blessings, Word Art Wednesday, Wildly Original
Blessings!
Patsy
Super paintings and amazing tapestry - Happy WOYWW - BJ#35
ReplyDeleteBeautiful art work as usual. Your work always has such feeling. Have a great woyww and happy crafting, Angela x 23
ReplyDeleteThese paintings are touching and beautiful; so much emotion in them.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem with a shrinking desk space. :)
Hugs,
Teresa