Wednesday, May 27, 2015

WOYWW 312: Happy Faces!

 I'm cheating, I know! This is not my desk this morning!
I had an art workshop last Saturday for my friends in our community.
We are celebrating our 40th anniversary, and one of the activities is an art exhibit.

 I decided to hold art workshops so that everyone who wanted to, could join.

 I love these happy faces!

 And the best thing? Right after our workshop, they went out and bought more canvases so they could continue painting!!!

In spite of all my good intentions, I was only able to make two ATCs!!!
Hoping to make more, so if you want to trade, leave me a message,
and I'll get back to you by going to your blog when I have an ATC to trade!!!
Thank you Julia and all my friends at
What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday!
this is an awesome group!
Happy Anniversary!

 "Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest." Mark 10:44

James and John, the sons of Zebedee in the 10th chapter of Mark, are just like us.  I find it comforting that after 3 years of going around with Jesus, listening to His teachings, seeing His example of washing their feet, and not resting because He pitied the people following him, that they would ask Jesus, "We want to sit in places of honor next to you!"  Don't we feel entitled a lot of times like these two disciples? I know I do! When I am impatient waiting for my turn at the doctor's office or in the bank, or in the ladies' room. When I get mad at the person taking my call for making me wait, or the security guard for questioning me.  They are only doing their job, but I feel they don't give me enough importance! Dear Jesus, who am I anyway!??

In Philippians 2:7, Saint Paul said that Jesus "emptied Himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings."  God becoming a slave to us all! If we aspire to greatness, we must have servant hearts. I don't aspire to greatness in the sense of being above others, or being exalted. But I do want to live an extraordinary life.  I do believe that God created us to be extraordinary! In Genesis 1:27 of the Message Bible, we read: "God created human beings; He created them godlike, reflecting God's nature." He created me to be godlike, like Him.  We can only be godlike by His grace. I certainly can't be godlike on my own. Everyday, I see the earth I'm made of!!! My weaknesses and my idiosyncracies. We can either be frustrated and feel impotent about that, or we can be like Saint Paul.


 When Saint Paul pleaded with God to take away His "thorn in the flesh", God said to Him three times, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Co. 12:9) Like Saint Paul, we can confess, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me." Having a servant heart and mind requires much from me, but I stand on God's promise that His grace, His empowering presence in my life will give me the ability to go beyond what I am naturally unable to do on my own. 

"Wherefore, receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God." Hebrews 12:28

 "With each contribution show a cheerful countenance..." Sirach 35:9
The book of Sirach is not found in every Bible but is accepted by many christian religions. It is the longest book about wisdom preserved from ages past. In chapter 35, we read: "Keeping the Law is worth many offerings... Returning a kindness is like a grain offering; giving to the poor is like a thanksgiving offering... Praise the Lord by making generous offerings to him; don't be stingy with the first of your crops. Be cheerful with every gift you make, and when you pay your tithes, do it gladly. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, just as generously as you can. The Lord always repays and will do it many times over..."

We should give alms, not only during Lent, but all throughout the year. Alms comes from a word which means mercy, and therefore includes not only giving coins to the poor beggar on the street, but any act of charity. We need to do this because it is part and parcel to the command to love our neighbor. Do we want to lend money to the Lord? It is possible! Proverbs 19:17 says that if we are gracious to a poor man, it is like lending to God, and God will be the one to repay! 


There are many famous philanthropists. One of the differences between philanthropy and alms giving is that in alms giving, we give because of a person, Jesus Christ, who identifies Himself with the poor and needy. He said when we give a party, we should invite those who cannot repay us. (Luke 14:12-14) Have we ever considered that that is the reason why we are invited to His party? We cannot ever repay Him for what He has done for us. 

Sometimes our material possessions blind us to the truth that we are spiritually impoverished. There are many admonitions to tithe and give alms in the Bible, so that we can more focus on God's generosity and mercy to us. The ancient spiritual practice of alms giving and tithing is really for our benefit, and we should learn to do it cheerfully. And I do believe we can only accomplish this by practicing it one step at a time.



Joining the lovely Julia Dunnit for a 
peek at desks and projects!
I find a lot of inspiration
visiting my friends here:

Blessings!
Patsy

25 comments:

  1. Hey Pasty

    What a fun day for you all Happy WOYWW 6 too
    your work is always wonderful would love to trade with you I have some left hugs Nikki (to early)
    send me your snail mail

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    1. Will send you an email when I turn on my computer texting from my phone at the moment

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  2. Looks like you had a wonderful time. Look at all those happy, happy faces. ARt brings us all together.

    Looks like you're my PIF. Now I just have to find your e-mail address so you can send me your snail mail address. Happy, happy 6th WOYWW anniversary.

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  3. NO Patsy, I SEND TO YOU, not the other way around. I just need your e-mail address so I can then write you to get your snail mail address. So, hopefully, either I will see it, even though I swear I've looked up and down your blog, or you will let me know where it is.

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  4. I love the photos from your art group collective, what a great idea - and not cheating at all!! Happy 6th anniversary. Helen, 9

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  5. Happy 6th anniversary... looks like a wonderful art class.
    sandra de

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  6. Loved all the photos and what beautiful children, it would of been a blessing to actually do a workshop like that. Happy 6th Anniversary to you.

    Hugs Eliza & Yoda #23

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  7. Hi Patsy and happy 6th WOYWW. Great workshop photos and some really lovely canvases. Enjoy your week RobynO#18

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  8. Ah Patsy the perfect way to inspire anyone is to let them have a go - what a lovely gathering that must have been. And there really is nothing like watching people's art inhibitions drop away as they see what they've achieved. Fab post!

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  9. Anonymous3:29 PM

    gorgeous - the happy faces and the art! And as I said via email, I think you sent to me the first WOYWW ATC swap I did. How funny...and so lucky for me. That one is one of my favourites.

    Happy 6th-anniversary WOYWW!
    Mary Anne (3, after the duplicates gets removed LOL!)

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  10. How lovely to have a workshop with such happy faces at the end of the day! I love the big table with the bright art on it! Happy woyww and happy 6th anniversary. May we 'meet' many times more. Love from Holland, Marit #43 and #44 (forgot the asterix the first time around, oops...)

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  11. What a blessing to see all those happy faces! And it was lovely to read the rest too. 'May grace is sufficient' Paul was told, and we have to remember that.
    I’m still travelling but managed to have internet today so I’m visiting as many of you as I can. Happy anniversary all! Six years is quite a long time.
    Have a good week and CU Wednesday
    Lisca#45

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  12. I love your pics today...how lovely to plant the seeds of being creative in young people.
    What a wonderful six years it's been. We really are part of such a lovely bunch aren't we?
    Have a great day.
    Hugs,
    Annie x # 36

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  13. How lovely to see the enjoyment of crafting on those faces! And isn't that the best compliment, the fact that they went and bought more canvasses to continue making their art? Mission Accomplished, I'd say, lol!!
    Happy 6th WOYWW!
    LLJ 13 xxxx

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  14. How lovely for the kids to be given the opportunity to learn from you Patsy! Would love to swap an ATC with you, will send you an email with my address. Annette #15

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  15. Hi Patsy, the workshop looks like great fun for you and the children. Happy WOYWW 6. Have a great week. Elizabeth x #54

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  16. Happy 6th Anniversary WOYWW-er!
    heres to many more
    Charlie x #35

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  17. Big and bountiful blessings to you, neighbor! You art is beautiful & uplifting.

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  18. What a lot of happy faces and I love the canvases they've made too! Happy 6th Anniversary :o) Annie C #48

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  19. Fab artwork from your workshop and happy smiley faces. Happy 6th WOYWWaversary! x Jo

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  20. So many anniversarys! The work done in the workshopis awesome, well done. Thank you for the earlier visit - and happy WOYWW of course! Cindy x

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  21. Great work on your pages, and oh what happy faces indeed at your workshop.
    Hugs & THanks for visiting me on our 6th Anniversary - Neet 29 xx

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  22. How wonderful to have inspired all those lovely people to do art! Their canvasses are beautiful. Your ATCs are gorgeous, as is your bible art. Thank you for the inspiration you are to so many, including me. :)
    Hugs,
    Teresa

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  23. Love those happy faces - thanks for sharing at #ThreeWordWednesday.

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  24. Beautiful work! Thanks for sharing at Word Art Wednesday!
    Charity - DT Member - Word Art Wednesday
    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com
    http://collectivecreativity.blogspot.com

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