...

Monday, June 17, 2013

The Butterfly Effect

I loved what I read this morning
from the Word Among Us.
It was about the Butterfly Effect,
a theory initiated by Edward Lorenz in 1972.
"Does the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil
set off a tornado in Texas?"

In Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus teaches us about 
generosity and forgiveness.
He tells us that instead of the Old Testament
"an eye for an eye" mentality,
we should be kind and generous
to those who do mean things to us.
"He knows that one small act of mercy
can have great consequences...
Our negative actions can have unforeseen results."

If I am irritated and show it to my family
in the morning,
my husband and son may be in a bad mood all day!
And who knows where that might lead!

I made this for my friend who lost 2 babies
in miscarriages.
She wanted a copy of a painting on the internet
to hang on her wall.
I hope whoever the artist is,
will forgive me for copying his wonderful work.

One small act of love will send ripples 
and you never know where it may reach.
Our prayers have unforeseen effects.
Even if most of the people I "meet"
on the internet I have never seen,
I like to pray for them.
We are all interconnected.
That is how God made us-
a big family!And He is our Father
who loves us all!


Every week I choose one wonderful visitor
who leaves a comment
to receive an ATC from me.
I know it takes so much time and effort
to leave a comment
and I appreciate it soooo much!

This week,
Random.org chose
#4, Peggy Gato of 
Peggy's Mixed Up Art!
Take a look at her amusing photo collages.

Blessings,
Patsy
Posted by at 12 comments:

Friday, June 14, 2013

Paint Party Friday: Exuberantly Creative!

"We hold this treasure in earthen vessels
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us."
2 Corinthians 4:7

And what is this treasure?
I'm sure about the earthen vessels!
That's me and you!
But what treasure do we hold?
God's Word.
The power, the light, the truth of God's Word!
Perhaps when He breathed the Spirit to give us life,
He also gave us His Word.
After all, His Word is creative.
God, the Creator,
is exuberantly creative!

"All of us gazing with unveiled face
on the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image."
2 Corinthians 3:18

If we focus on Him,
and not on earthly things,
if we partner with Him,
we too can be exuberantly,
enthusiastically creative,
like our Father! 
Isn't that exciting?


Every week I choose one wonderful visitor
who leaves a comment
to receive an ATC from me.
I know it takes so much time and effort
to leave a comment
and I appreciate it soooo much!

This week,
Random.org chose
#37, Bluebeard and Elizabeth of Altered Book Lover.
Elizabeth is soooo generous with her
amazingly detailed tutorials!
I think I shall make her an ATC with a
rocking horse to add to her collection!


Posted by at 28 comments:

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Buried Treasure: Dancing with God as a Partner

"I the Lord your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way
you should GO."
Isaiah 48:17

Our life is like a DANCE with God.
Do we follow where He leads,
or do we want to go our own way?
I think life would be more beautiful
if we followed our partner!!

This is Saint Lucy.
She was martyred for following God!
So many legends have grown about her 
that it is difficult to tell what is true and what isn't!
Her mother wanted her to marry a suitor
but Lucy wanted to remain a virgin for the Lord.

When she gave away her dowry,
the slighted suitor reported her to the authorities.
When they came to get her,
Lucy was sooo heavy, 
they could not bring her anywhere!

The strange part of her story is about her eyes
(which is why she's holding a pair of eyes.)
One story says she gouged them out herself
to give to her suitor so he would 
not think her beautiful anymore.
The other story (equally implausible!) is that
the authorities took them out  with a fork
when they could not move or carry her!

Whatever the truth is,
Saint Lucy danced with the Holy Spirit
and lived in bravery and fortitude
at a time when it was terribly difficult
to be a Christian!

This is a repost from December last year
and is part of Seth Apter's Buried Treasure,
his annual treasure hunt.
Every week I choose one wonderful visitor
who leaves a comment
to receive an ATC from me.
I know it takes so much time and effort
to leave a comment
and I appreciate it soooo much!

This week,
random.org chose #7,
Christine who enjoys sketching
and a good laugh! 


Posted by at 5 comments:

WOYWW: Hidden Work

We are on holiday today.
We are celebrating Philippine Independence Day,
commemorating the Declaration
of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.
To celebrate, I made some healthy snack made of 
bananas, apple sauce, oats, raisins and almond milk.
After I tasted the finished recipe,
I told my husband, it needs icecream! 

From my kitchen table, 
I went to my craft table,
where I have more successes with what I concoct!

Here is a little corner which shows 
it's not only my desk which has tottering things!

Has God called you to some "unnoticed" hidden work?
We are not all going to do some "great" work,
like Mother Teresa, or Martin Luther Ling,
or Saint Francis of Assisi.
But I like to think my little paintings 
"bless" others in some way!

I believe everyone has so many gifts!
And a special purpose too!

"Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."
Mark 12:17
Here Jesus points out that the coin of Caesar
has his face on it.
That's why the people should 
pay their taxes to Caesar.
But WE are made in the image and likeness of God!
So we belong to Him.

We are each one, very important to God.
Like God, we are CREATORS.
Only we have the ability to create
and use our imagination.
None of the animals have this.
Only we have the potential to be TRANSFORMED,
to be RENEWED. 
We have a destiny beyond our wildest dreams!
If only we partner with our Father,
the one who put those dreams in our heart!
And so, that "hidden" work?
Perhaps it's not meant to be hidden!


Every week I choose one wonderful visitor
who leaves a comment
to receive an ATC from me.
I know it takes so much time and effort
to leave a comment
and I appreciate it soooo much!

This week,
random.org chose #7,
Christine who enjoys sketching
and a good laugh! 


Blessings!
Patsy


Posted by at 22 comments:

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

WOYWW: A Nail at a Time


Not a great start to my first WOYWW post 
after our 4th anniversary!
I am "painting" on my bed 
as I am stuck here with a bad cough :^(
I have discovered the use of watercolor pencils 
as I didn't want to make a mess on my bed.
I also used a flesh colored Coptic marker 
which made a lot of dirt on Sarah's face.
That is just right, as Sarah is a miserable girl!

Sarah is the daughter of Raguel 
in the book of Tobit in the bible.
The poor girl, she got married 7 times!
Every time, before the couple
even consummates the marriage, 
a wicked demon kills off her husbands!
Sarah intends to hang herself, 
but thinks how awful that would be
for her father. 
She then spreads her hands, and facing the window,
poured out this prayer:
"Blessed are you, O Lord, merciful God!
Forever blessed and honoured is Your holy name!"
May all your works forever bless you! "


When we have the world against us,
are we going to praise God or curse Him?
I am reading 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp, a lovely lady.
There are a lot of lessons in it about how
thanksgiving precedes miracles and is life changing.

"Life changing gratitude does not fasten to a life
unless nailed through with one very specific
nail at a time."
She starts counting her blessings,
taking pictures of the moon, and soap suds, etc.
Her heart changed and she invites her readers
to change with her.
I downloaded her app and have started
my own 1000 gifts-counting,
even though I already have a countdown in my journal.
She is like a hunter on the hunt for things to
appreciate and be thankful for.
A great idea, I think!
Every week I choose one wonderful visitor
who leaves a comment
to receive an ATC from me.
I know it takes so much time and effort
to leave a comment
and I appreciate it soooo much!

This week,
random.org chose #7,
Christine who enjoys sketching
and a good laugh! 


Joining the lovely Julia Dunnit for a 
peek at desks and projects!
 
I love blog parties!
Won't you join us?
Sometimes I put on my best pajamas 
and party here:
Count Your Blessings

Blessings!
Patsy
Posted by at 24 comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)