Wednesday, April 27, 2016

WOYWW: Apart from Me!


 Last week I was sick, and although I took a picture of my bed
as my desk, I did not get a chance to post it.
I was too sleepy and lazy.


 This week, this is what's on my desk.
As always, I trace a picture on to my Bible
and paint it.


Here is a picture of Jesus holding a branch of a grape vine.



"...apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

When someone is about to die, and he knows it, 
whatever he says then, must be important. 
Jesus said a whole lot to His disciples before 
they went to the garden where he was betrayed by Judas. 
He talked about giving them the Holy Spirit so they would not be alone, 
about keeping His commandments, about great love, 
and He prayed to His Father that they may all be one, 
"that they also may be in Us."



He talked about being the true vine, and that the disciples 
should stay connected to Him, to abide in Him, so that they bear fruit. 
Sometimes I like listening on Youtube to great preachers, 
and I enjoy reading sermons and commentaries, 
and I oohh and ahhh at the wonderful insights I find. 
BUT nothing beats listening to Jesus. 
We can spend our whole life reading His Word, 
and it will be a well that never runs dry. 
And after reading, we can sit and be quiet and listen, and He will speak. 
Or we can put ourself in the story, be one of the characters in the Bible, 
and God will teach us through that character. 
I can be Mary listening at Jesus feet. 
I can be the blind man who received the gift of sight. 
I can be the woman who was about to be stoned.  
I can be Thomas who refused to believe.  
Yes, Jesus will meet me however I want to meet Him. 
The important thing is we meet with Him, connect with Him, talk to him. 
For apart from Him, we can not bear fruit. 
We can do nothing. 
All our labor will be in vain. 

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

WOYWW: Let it Be Done!

 Last week I joined an art fair, Art in the Park,
and I started painting at the fair.
So that was my work desk for the day!
My friend Kora took this picture of me.
Lots of people asked me what medium I used
and watched as I painted my flowers.
It was a great experience talking to 
many who were interested in my art.
I sold a lot of paintings and art prints! Yey!

The morning after the art fair, my family and I flew to Puerto Princesa.
Such a beautiful place in the Philippines.

We took a boat and toured around the little islands of limestone rock.
It was fascinating to see the corals and fish in the sea.
I even caught a glimpse of a stone fish!!

We went kayaking in a small and big lagoon.
We even explored a cave!

We glimpsed an Imperial Pigeon, 
lots of interestingly colored jelly fishes,
and schools of fishes.

And look at the feast prepared for us by the boat's crew!!!

Yup! This is how we felt every day!!!
(Thank you Elyse for this picture!)

This is what I was painting in the airport the morning we left.

 "I am the maidservant of the Lord." Luke 1:38
Maidservant. Handmaid. How many of us think of ourselves as servants of God? Most of us invariably act as if God is our servant. We always ask Him to do this and that for us, whether it be small things like finding a lost possession, stopping the rain so we can proceed with our holiday, or bigger requests like finding a good job.
My whole family, including my 90 year old dad, are on our way to Puerto Princesa this morning. When we travel, my intercessory list is long. I don't think God minds that at all. But wouldn't it be better, much better, if we said like Mary, "Let it be done to me just as You say!" That even before we travel, even before we accept a job offer, even before we choose to embark on a project, we take some time to ask God if this is His plan too!



Joining the lovely Julia Dunnit for a 
peek at desks and projects!

I find a lot of inspiration
visiting my friends here:

Blessings!
Patsy