Foolish or Wise?

And the foolish said to the prudent, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” 

Matthew 25:8

Jesus makes it clear in this parable of the wise and foolish virgins that there is a very real danger that some of us will get ourselves locked out of heaven. The question then is who is Jesus and do we really believe what He is saying?

People believe what they like, and sometimes do not even care to find out the truth for themselves. I believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, because of all the prophecies about His coming that were fulfilled. Mathematically speaking, the chance of one person fulfilling only 8 of those many prophecies, is 1 with 17 zeros! There are a lot of other rational reasons why I believe Jesus was sent by the Governor of all the earth, and sea and skies, to teach us how to get into His Kingdom. 

If life was an adventure movie like Indiana Jones and there was a map to this awesome treasure that was more valuable than any unicorn, everyone would be searching for that map, wouldn’t they? But here and now, in our real life, the map is everywhere! In all the bookstores, sitting on our shelves even! All we need to do is sit down, open it up, and ask God to help us find our treasure and He’ll guide us through step by step! 

In the parable Jesus told about the 5 foolish virgins and the 5 wise ones, all 10 were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive. All of them were eager, expectant, vigilant. But alas! 5 of them did not have enough oil for their lamps and their flames were sputtering! They had to leave their waiting post and buy some more oil, and while they were gone, the Bridegroom arrived and they were left outside. 

The lamps represent our spiritual life, and the oil everything that keeps our faith burning brightly. We cannot borrow prayer or studying the Bible from others. We cannot receive it from our parents or borrow from our brothers and sisters in our church or community. We have to have our own oil so we don’t run out. 

Father, thank You for the treasure You have reserved for each one of us. Thank You Jesus for pointing the way and leaving us the map. Thank You Holy Spirit for never leaving us alone as long as we take the time to listen and read Your Word. 

Every Gift We Need

“...you are not lacking in any spiritual gift...” 1 Corinthians 1:7

If we could only believe the words in the Bible, we would live very powerful, successful, effective lives. Saint Paul writing to the people of Corinth stressed that Christ’s power in us will always make it possible to live as God wants us to live. Like any good parent, God has fed us His Word, He has bathed us in His Spirit, and He has provided us with every good gift we need. With my son, Josh, my husband and I always encourage him that he can do what he sets out to do, he is capable and well able. God does the same with us if we go to His Word and listen to Him in prayer every day. 

I am going to give a workshop this afternoon. Every time I have a paint party, I try to emphasize that God gifted all of us with creativity. No one should say that they are not artists, that they do not have the gift. God gave this to each and everyone of us. We only need to practice it. It is like a muscle. The more we use it, the more it will bloom, grow and blossom. The same is true with God’s other magnificent gifts. If the Bible says it, we should believe it and claim it. “Now you have every spiritual gift you need...” 

EVERY. Does that mean I have the gift of healing? Yes, so I should practice it and not be afraid to lay my hands on someone who is sick. Does that mean I have the gift of serving, leading, teaching? Yes, I just have to go out and do it. So too with other gifts, even miracles. Miracles come when we practice expectant faith, when we don’t give in to hopelessness and discouragement. Beware of our ancient enemy the devil who always prowls around like a hungry lion, waiting to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). He does not want us to know that we have many amazing seeds inside our spirits. If we nurture these seeds with faith and practice, they will grow into mighty trees that “the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches,” meaning that others in need may find shelter and help. (Matthew 13:31-32)

Thank You, Father, that I am not lacking in any spiritual gift, any good that I need. May I believe this and claim this promise for myself, that I might serve You and give glory to Your name. 

WOYWW: Heroes for Today

On my desk today: I drew on my Bible, and 

then I experimented with the Pixma app.

I made lots of versions, but this is my favorite.

“What shall I ask for?” Mark 6:24

Today is the Feast Day of the Passion of John the Baptist, a fitting day to ask God to raise up heroes in our country. Let us pray that He would embolden and enlighten ordinary men and women like us who would be unafraid to speak His truth and bring His light into the world. Here is the first reading for today, Jeremiah 1:17-19: "For it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land:...They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." 

The Gospel in Mark is about John the Baptist and how he was unafraid to speak the truth even when Herod was a powerful man and a despot who liked to get his own way. Herod was brash and liked to show off, promising the young daughter of his mistress Herodias that she could ask anything from him after a dance that pleased him. After a consult with her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist. John was beheaded. 

Did that silence John the Baptist? Many would say yes. But I believe he lived on in the consciences of many, including Herod himself, who I am sure, was haunted by the voice and the words of the man. In Mark 6:16, Herod thought John had come back from the dead in the person of Jesus Christ! And he was not the only one. Many said of Jesus: "This must be John the Baptist come back to life again!"

The truth will prevail and the truth will not die. Let us pray for heroes. Each one of us must be a hero. We have a calling to be prophets for our time. In Esther 4:14, the Queen Esther was called to task by her uncle Mordecai. "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

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:

Mondays @ Soul Survival, A Round Tuit
One More Time, Dream Together
Small Wonders, Testimony Tuesday,  Titus 2 Tuesdays, 
Count Your Blessings, Word Art Wednesday, 

 Unite,  Rubie Tuesday Link Up, Be Inspired

 A Little R and R,  No Rules Weekend Blog Party
Cheerleaders of our Faith, Reflect
Wow Us Wednesdays, Sitting Among Friends

The Weekly Creative, Three Word Wednesday
Word Filled Wednesdays
Great Blog Train Bloghop, Cheerleaders of Faith
Women with Intention Wednesdays
Christian Blogger Link Up, Word Filled Wednesdays

Thoughtful Thursday,  Hearts4Home Thursdays, Thought Provoking Thursday
Tune In Thursday Homemaking Party, Purposeful Faith

Thriving Thursdays with Serving Joyfully

Thursday Favorites, Desire to Inspire Legacy Leaver Thursday
Beloved Brews Thursdays, Sincerely, Paula

Creative Things, Bloom! Soul Survival, Inspiration Gallery
Hearts for Home Thursday

Dance with Jesus Friday, Lyli Dunbar, Fresh Market Link up
Grace & Truth Link Up, Dance with Jesus
Glimpses of His Beauty

Blessings!

Patsy  

God is Truth

“Let no one deceive you in any way.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3

There is so much news about fake news these days. I often wonder why people take so much time, effort and even money, to deceive others. Some do it out of plain mischievousness, some do it for money, and some are just stupid, I guess. It is just too easy to spread distorted stories because of social media and because we are too lazy to verify what we are sharing. But we should be wary and careful for we should not want to be fooled. 

Today is the Feast Day of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo and one of the four great doctors of the Latin Church. He was so dismayed that he was fooled by the Manichaeans for 9 years, that he spent his life writing and speaking against it, and other false teachings of his time. His writings and sermons are the foundation of much of our Catholic teaching and theology, and are still very much relevant today. 

During his time, Augustine fought against the false doctrines of Manicheanism, Arianism, Pelagianism and Donatism. Today we cannot count how many isms there are but perhaps the most prevalent is the new atheism, whose proponents are very active in advancing the belief that religion is mere superstition. 

Then there are the two heresies from early Christian times continuing to deceive us today. The new Gnosticism is intellectualism which exalts knowledge, claiming that the sciences and the human mind can answer every question. The new Pelagianist trusts in his own power and effort even if he professes to believe in God. 

If we do not want to be deceived by anyone, we have to go to the source of truth like Saint Augustine. “Behold and see, if thou canst, O soul pressed down by the corruptible body, and weighed down by earthly thoughts, many and various; behold and see, if thou canst, that God is truth.”

A New Song!

“Sing to the Lord a new song!” Psalm 96:1

God’s mercies are new every single morning! One of my favorite verses is from one of my least favorite books, Lamentations. I do not particularly like this book because it is a funeral song written by the prophet Jeremiah who was an eyewitness of the horrific devastation of the once glorious Jerusalem. In Lamentations 3:22-23, he writes, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” 

Every day if we but open our eyes to God’s work in our lives and in the world, there is much to marvel at. Just this morning I was listening to Rosalind Moss, a Jew and an evangelical minister who converted to Catholicism after reading the writings of the early Church fathers.

“I remember the night I received the Eucharist. I don’t know how my body contained me because as the Eucharist went on my tongue I thought the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose name I couldn’t write or pronounce as a child, before whom no one could stand and live, (as God said to Moses), THAT God had entered history. The God who created time became man for our salvation, the unapproachable God of Mt. Sinai did that. And that God who entered history is now on my tongue!” 

How many of us miss the wonders of God because we are not present to the many graces of the Church and His Word? The marvels of the human body? The awesomeness of creation here on earth and out in the vast universe? Indeed our hearts will be filled with song and our souls will rise up in adoration at His love and faithfulness. 

All Times

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be ever in my mouth.” Psalm 34:2

ALL times? Lord, even when our father is sick and we feel anxiety rising from the pit of our stomach? Especially then. I woke up at 3 am and couldn’t fall asleep again. It is at times like these we need God’s Word. 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

About ANYTHING? Yes, worry about nothing. As St. Teresa of Avila wrote, “Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you,

All things are passing. God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing. God is enough.”

And my all-time favorite: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

ALL things? All, even those things that make you anxious, make you feel like crying, make you angry, and make you sad. ALL things at ALL times. God is enough. 

As For Me and My House

“As for me and my household we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

We have made many inspirational and biblical plaques to sell in our stores. One of them is this verse from the book of Joshua. After the death of Moses, the great leader who brought the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt to the edge of Canaan, it was Joshua’s turn to be commander when Israel took over Palestine. 

The Lord charged Joshua to lead His people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. “Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7-9) 

It is good to read and study God’s words to Joshua at the start of the work God gave him. It is good to read and study God’s words at the start of our day, the start of a journey, a campaign, a new job, a new family, whatever we embark on. God’s promises stand forever. If we meditate on it and obey, we will be successful. There is nothing to fear because God promises to be with us. 

After Joshua experienced the truth of God’s word and promises, after the fall of Jericho, the victories against kings north, south, west and east of them, when the Lord had given the people rest from all their enemies, Joshua who was very old by then, called all the leaders and elders. He reminded them to obey all of God’s laws. “Be very careful to love the Lord your God. Honor Him and serve Him wholeheartedly. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!” (Joshua 23-24)

At the end of our lives, we too should be able to proclaim, “As for me and my household, we have served the Lord.” 

Greater Things

“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” 

John 1:46

Today is the Feast of Saint Bartholomew. Very little is known about Saint Bartholomew, also known as the Nathanael in the 1st chapter of the Gospel of John. He became one of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus after Philip called him. “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth,” Philip revealed with some excitement. 

Nathanael sort of scoffed, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Philip persisted, “Just come and see for yourself!” Imagine if Philip gave up after Nathanael’s initial reaction? Sometimes we give up too easily on people. We get a scoff, or “I’m busy”, or even a taunt, and we stop inviting them to a prayer meeting, bible study or church service. 

Nathanael may have been hesitant at first, but we know from verse 48, that he was praying and reading scripture. Jesus revealed, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” Jesus knew and had a connection with Philip, just as we have a connection with Jesus when we pray and read the Bible. And just as Jesus promised Nathanael, we too “will see greater things!” How exciting is that?

A Clean Heart

“A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.” Psalm 51:12

If anyone can create a clean heart for us, only the Lord can. We see all around us signs of a fallen world. God has given us so much. He surrounded us with beauty. But what did we do? Our oceans are filled with plastics and debris. It is heartbreaking to see penguins on top of a mountain of trash and turtles deformed from being caught in a plastic 6-pack ring. Instead of rejoicing in human life, people make laws to allow murdering almost fully formed babies in the womb. More than 300 priests are caught abusing more than 1000 children. How ugly can the world get?

It is useless pointing a finger at the priests or those who legislate for abortion or those who throw garbage on the streets and rivers. There are always three fingers pointing back at us. There, but for the grace of God, go I. God never gives up on us, and neither should we give up on ourselves or our fellowmen. We need only repent, and ask for the grace to do better. 

When Boyan Slat was 16 years old, he was diving in Greece and he saw more plastic floating in the water than fish. Since then, this aerospace engineering graduate has devoted most of his time to thinking up a way to clean up the ocean. This year, he and his organisation is set to launch his clean-up contraption in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the largest offshore accumulation of plastic. It is larger than TWICE the size of France. They hope to clean up half of the 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in 5 years. Isn’t it so admirable that he didn’t just shrug his shoulders and leave the problem for others to think about? 

Boyan said, “The plastic pollution problem has always been portrayed as something insolvable. The story has always been ‘OK, we can’t clean it up - the best we can do is not make it worse’. To me that’s a very uninspiring message. What I really hope is that the ocean clean-up in this century can be a symbol for us using technology to make things better.”

All of us have a part to play to clean up our corner of the world. Let’s ask God to create in us a clean heart, and join with others willing to make a difference. 

Soul on Fire

“Even though I walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil; for You are at my side.” Psalm 23:4

I was amused when Father Mitch Pacwa in one of his talks about Scripture, revealed that Saint Jerome would study Hebrew furiously to get rid of the dancing girls in his head. Saint Jerome had lived a dissolute life when he was young, and when he decided to live for God, the passions followed him. 

I am sorry I was amused, for when I decided to read further, it was obvious Saint Jerome was in such pain and turmoil. “In the remotest part of a wild and stony desert," he wrote years afterwards to his friend Eustochium, "burnt up with the heat of the sun, so scorching that it frightens even the monks who live there, I seemed to myself to be in the midst of the delights and crowds of Rome.... In this exile and prison to which through fear of Hell I had voluntarily condemned myself, with no other company but scorpions and wild beasts, I many times imagined myself watching the dancing of Roman maidens as if I had been in the midst of them. My face was pallid with fasting, yet my will felt the assaults of desire. In my cold body and my parched flesh, which seemed dead before its death, passion was still able to live. Alone with the enemy, I threw myself in spirit at the feet of Jesus, watering them with my tears, and tamed my flesh by fasting whole weeks.”

"When my soul was on fire with wicked thoughts," Jerome wrote in 411, "as a last resort, I became a pupil to a monk who had been a Jew, in order to learn the Hebrew alphabet...I turned to this language of hissing and broken-winded words. What labor it cost me, what difficulties I went through, how often I despaired and abandoned it and began again to learn...I thank our Lord that I now gather such sweet fruit from the bitter sowing of those studies." 

His sweet fruit from the bitter soil of his trials include his translation of most of the Bible into Latin (what we now know as the Vulgate), his commentaries on the Gospels and much much more. He became the greatest Hebrew scholar of the first 1500 years of the Church! Yes, Saint Jerome walked through the dark valley victoriously because God was at his side. 

We too can say, like the saints, that the Lord is our shepherd. He will lead us and refresh our soul. He will lead us through dark valleys if we call on Him. 

What Do I Still Lack?

“What do I still lack?” Matthew 19:20

After watching the trailer of Crazy Rich Asians and the Harper Bazaar YouTube video of the real crazy rich Asian women, I’m tempted to answer, “A couture dress because it is like buying art, the highest level of craftsmanship.” If we look at the ads on TV, magazines, and social media, there are many many things, too many things we lack.

When the rich young man asks Jesus, “What good must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Keep the commandments.” The young man claimed that he observed all of these, “What do I still lack?” Jesus’ answer was: “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The young man went away sad for he had many possessions. 

We too put a high premium on financial stability. We should try to examine ourselves if a look at our bank account and check book will prove we are following Jesus. Do we tithe? Do we give to the poor, to those who are imprisoned, to the sick, to the victims of calamity? Just recently, I was reminded that generosity starts AFTER tithing, our offering back to God what is really His to begin with. Are we generous with the people God wants us to be generous to? Or do we hold tight to our money and resources?

In Africa, they catch monkeys by hollowing out a coconut, putting fruit and nut inside, and staking it to the ground. The monkey comes, puts his fist inside and grabs as much of the fruit and nut he can. Unfortunately because his fist is balled up, he cannot get it out, and even if he hears the natives coming to get him, he doesn’t let go. He gets caught. We should be wiser than monkeys. We should let go of that which is worthless and go for the riches of eternal life. 

True Food

“For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” John 6:56

Like the Jews listening to Jesus in what is known as the “Eucharistic Discourse”, we may question what He is saying. “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” Many left Him because this was difficult to “swallow”. But many of the first century Christians who stayed, believed so quickly and universally in the real presence of Christ. Why?

They saw the Eucharist as the new Passover, the new manna from heaven and the new Bread of the Presence. God prepared the Jews for this new super reality. Every Passover, during Seder, a little child asks, “Why is this night different than any other night?” And the father answers him, “Because of what the Lord did for ME when I came out of Egypt.” Through the Passover ritual, the Jews believed they were somehow spiritually brought back to the first Exodus. Their sacrifice of the Passover lamb was part of the one sacrifice on the night of the Exodus, and for every generation afterwards, they considered themselves as part of the people who came out of slavery in Egypt. 

It is the same with the Eucharist. We take part in the one sacrifice during the last supper before Jesus’ crucifixion. And it is this bread we pray for when we say the Lord’s prayer. The translation in Greek says, “Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.” Jesus says that anyone who “feeds on Him” will have life, will live forever. 

Jesus, You are the Living Bread from heaven. Thank You for giving us Your flesh and blood to eat and drink. Help us to understand and appreciate this more. 

Clean Heart

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.” Psalm 51:12

King David wrote this Psalm after realizing his sin against God. He lusted after Bathsheba, had her husband killed, then married her. In Psalm 51, David recognises his sin and his guilt before God. He asks forgiveness and asks to be cleansed. Then he promised to teach sinners the ways of God. 

There are many ways people realize their sin against God. One of the Youth for a Mission workers in the Middle East met an Isis fighter who converted to Christianity. This man had enjoyed violently killing many Christians already. Before murdering one man, the man said, “I know you will kill me, but I give you my Bible.” He started reading the Bible and one night, he had a dream about a man dressed in white. “You are killing my people.” After that, his hard heart softened, and he began to feel guilty and sick to his stomach about the atrocities he committed. Jesus continued to appear to him. In one dream, Jesus invited him, “Follow me and be my disciple.” 

According to YWAM missionaries, many in the Arab world are quietly following Jesus. They watch services on TV and serve communion to each other. It can cost them their lives if they openly proclaim their allegiance to Christ! 

Jesus calls each of us to follow Him and be His disciple. It will not cost us our physical lives if we say yes to Jesus, but it will definitely change the very essence and meaning of our lives. 

Heartbroken

“You were exceedingly beautiful, with the dignity of a queen.” Ezekiel 16:13

How heartbroken must a man feel after this scenario: he rescues an unwanted baby wallowing in its own blood, left to die in a field. Then after taking care of the baby and providing lavishly for all her needs, when she is a beautiful young lady in fine clothes and jewels, she abandons him and becomes a prostitute! That is the lament of God in Ezekiel 16 about how unfaithful Jerusalem was. After He took care of His people, they sacrificed to other gods. “You used my oil and incense to worship alien gods, and the lovely things I gave you, the jewelled ornaments and embroidered cloths, to make their shrines!” 

I believe many of us make God sad when we give more importance to things and people He has gifted us with, rather than the Giver Himself. Yes, it can be idolatry if we lavish most of our time on working, vacations, hobbies, our families, taking care of our beauty, friends, etc. What do we spend most of our time on? Do we give time for God, for praying, reading scripture, serving His people, learning what He values? 

The way we use our time reflects what we value. How much time do we devote to prayer and reading the Bible? Are there more hours devoted to watching TV, surfing the web, concentrating on our iPhone than getting to know what God says? 

“Where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) What we spend our money on also indicates what we value in life. It is good to see our life through God’s eyes. Is He happy with where we put our time and money? Or are we like a prostitute, taking His generosity for granted, and using His gifts to worship at altars of alien gods? 

Eyes that Do Not See

“You live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear  but do not hear...” Ezekiel 12:2

If the prophet Ezekiel was alive today, perhaps he would be given the same message to declare to us. God was very displeased with the Jews. “You have murdered endlessly, and filled your streets with the dead.” (Eze. 11:6) “The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are very great. The entire land is full of murder; the city is filled with injustice.” (Eze. 9:9) 

God’s holiness never changes. If He was angry with what was happening during Ezekiel’s time, He is angry with the injustice, corruption and rebellion He sees today. God’s laws do not change. Even if Congress enacts a law against gravity, gravity will still rule. So with God’s laws. There are consequences when we go against it. Even if Congress enacts a law changing the definition of marriage, they will go against God’s idea of marriage. There will be far reaching consequences. Broken lives. There are terrible consequences when our leaders do not obey God’s laws. 

We do not want to be part of a people who have eyes but cannot see, and ears that cannot hear. Even in Ezekiel’s time, there was a remnant who listened to God and obeyed. “Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all those who weep and sigh because of the sins they see around them,” the Lord said. (Ezekiel 9:4) God saved them and He will save us if we listen to Him and pray. “Even if Noah, Daniel and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves,” declares the Sovereign Lord in Eze. 14:14. But today we have the new covenant with Him, and we can be robed in Jesus’ righteousness. 

Lord, we hold on to Your promises and ask for new hearts for our people. We pray that a Spirit of repentance and conversion sweep over our land. Restore us O Lord, restore our broken spirits. Let wickedness be banished from our land. Forgive us O Lord of our many sins against You and bring us back into Your favor. 

WOYWW: Believe!

On my desk. Starting a new painting. 

“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Like 1:45

Elizabeth, Mary’s older cousin, affirms Mary when the younger woman visits her in Ein Karem. “You are so blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said,” she exclaimed. We too, like Mary, can be so blessed if we believe that the Lord will do as He promised! 

We should “mine” the Bible for what God has said. First we should see the Bible as a treasure that we should dig for like miners dig for gold. Then when we find a promise, we should claim it and say, “This is mine by inheritance as an adopted daughter (or son) of God!” 

That’s how I got my healing for my Deep Vein Thrombosis. I confessed Proverbs 4:20-22, that God’s Word is healing, medicine, to my body. Whatever we need, whatever we are praying for, we can find God’s promise in the Bible for it, and claim it. If we are desperate, we can put the words of God on our mirror, our walls, beside us at work, in the car, as it says in Proverbs 4:21, “Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart..” 

In Deuteronomy 6, God teaches us if we want to be blessed, we should put His Words, His commands in our heart, but not only that. We should teach it to our children, and put it on our door posts and even tie it on our wrists. His promise if we do this is “All will go well with you.” Yes, we must all find a way for God’s promises to be embedded in our hearts and minds! 

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:

Mondays @ Soul Survival, A Round Tuit
One More Time, Dream Together
Small Wonders, Testimony Tuesday,  Titus 2 Tuesdays, 
Count Your Blessings, Word Art Wednesday, 

 Unite,  Rubie Tuesday Link Up, Be Inspired

 A Little R and R,  No Rules Weekend Blog Party
Cheerleaders of our Faith, Reflect
Wow Us Wednesdays, Sitting Among Friends

The Weekly Creative, Three Word Wednesday
Word Filled Wednesdays
Great Blog Train Bloghop, Cheerleaders of Faith
Women with Intention Wednesdays
Christian Blogger Link Up, Word Filled Wednesdays

Thoughtful Thursday,  Hearts4Home Thursdays, Thought Provoking Thursday
Tune In Thursday Homemaking Party, Purposeful Faith

Thriving Thursdays with Serving Joyfully

Thursday Favorites, Desire to Inspire Legacy Leaver Thursday
Beloved Brews Thursdays, Sincerely, Paula

Creative Things, Bloom! Soul Survival, Inspiration Gallery
Hearts for Home Thursday

Dance with Jesus Friday, Lyli Dunbar, Fresh Market Link up
Grace & Truth Link Up, Dance with Jesus
Glimpses of His Beauty

Blessings!

Patsy