I believe that there is always 'light' in any given situation if we really look for it. Sometimes it's taken time for me to find that ray of sunshine (or flicker) but when I have, it's been so healing.
I believe God is the light and His light will never extinguish - you just have to open your heart a little and then He will come flooding in and light up your life.
Jesus once again addressed them:
I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.
John 8:12 MSG
Don't stay in the dark when you can be in the light...
How about the times when life gets you down and you feel weary?
When situations are hard and intensely challenging?
When you're not sure how things are going to go - how a particular family situation will resolve itself, or a disagreement with your spouse, difficulties with a child, or how you are going to put food on the table to feed your family this week?
What then?...
for the answer look within... (Print)
We all know that if you have experienced enough of life, you will encounter difficulties. Some will be taxing but just about tolerable and then there's the other end of the spectrum that just feels unbearable.
I was reflecting on this and thinking about my life and the struggles that bombard me, when my sons arrived home with their grandparents. Once they had settled somewhat, my youngest son went off to his bedroom and came back with a sheet of paper that he had drawn on. He announced that I was to go on a treasure hunt and to meet him outside in a moment or two.
Truth be known, I wasn't really in the mood but his adorable smiling face and enthusiasm melted my heart and sure enough, I joined him outside. I had to 'follow' his map and after a bit of navigating, we came across the treasure!
I opened the little box only to find the bible verse shown below and was blown away by the message. Then if that wasn't enough, I came across Benji's cute little love note to me - I Love You!
It's in our nature to want to keep the status quo. To keep things manageable and comfortable. We don't like angst, we prefer cruising along and just hoping that nothing too challenging comes our way.
Here's the thing though. We can't be of service to anyone else if we haven't experienced heartache and trials. God can't work on us if everything is always going along swimmingly. We are here to be of service to each other and somewhere in amongst all the grime is your treasure to share with others no matter what. It might take some digging but it will be there, promise.
So, what 'treasure' do you hold over and above your life situation? Good health, loving relationships, a welcoming home? And what 'treasures' can you share with someone else? Like being a good listener, helping someone in a practical way, praying with them.
Give thanks for the treasure that you have been blessed with and go share the love {treasure} that is situated in your heart with the world...
As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand
the work of God, the Maker of all things.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLV
I'm walking our dog Mia after dropping the boys off at school. It's my time for reflection, gratitude and wonder.
I see a public footpath sign and it makes me think about my life and the various foothpaths or routes that I've taken and continue to follow now. Some paths are comfortable, predictable, easy and others are the opposite.
We don't know where we are going - we might like to think we do but we don't really. We are not in control - we'd like to be but that's not reality. That's where my faith comes in.
There are paths I've travelled that have been unpleasant, distressing, scary and devastatingly life-changing.
Other paths have produced blessings but only after the fact and in some cases many years later.
Continuing further, I become aware of dandelion seed heads all around me and even though I've seen them a myriad times in the past, I stoop down and snap a photo of one and am instantly reminded of its exquisite beauty. Yes, it's a weed but nevertheless its simplicity and at the same time complexity deeply move me. I think it can be that way in life sometimes. We don't always see or accept the path we are taking for its true value.
When we have God at the centre of our lives it makes the navigation of life and the paths we take less bumpy. Inevitably, there will be heartbreak, illness, disasters etc - we live in a fallen world. However, we know that through difficult terrain - life's troubles, that we are not alone. But a life without God produces hopelessness and anxiety - I know, I've experienced it...
So, what path are you taking at the moment? Are you trudging up hill, into the wind and waiting for the meadow to appear? Have faith Dearest...
Painting/Art is one of the ways I express my appreciation and gratitude for the beauty I see around me. The words added to the paintings are whispers from the heart - reminders and encouragement for what I need to hear and maybe you too...
This painting speaks of the choices we all make when we are in any given situation. I find myself often getting caught up in the moment and forgetting that I can choose how I want to respond. After all, my responses are goverened in large by my experiences and therefore are just my reality, not anyone else's.
Choosing to experience joy, love, peace or calm is not easy in this broken world. It's often so tempting to just grab hold of anger, resentment, or fear. I think it's our automatic response. I do know that when I remember that I can choose, my situation is transformed. What a gift we all possess...
Do you not know that you are God's temple, and that God's Spirit dwells in you? God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 3:16, 17
It's been a busy week and quite stressful. I'm feeling quite tired and drained. This morning I took the photo above, out in our garden using the timer function on my camera. I wouldn't have thought of doing this if it hadn't been for Liz Lamoreux and her ecourse Being Seen.
I'm learning to really 'see' myself but not in a vain, self-centered way, rather in a loving, accepting, 'real' way. I'm trying to see beyond the signs of ageing, double chins, the 'having to wear glasses all the time because contact lenses irritate my eyes too much' etc.
I know that I am more than my outward appearance and how society interprets that. No, I am a part of God and God is a part of me as the quote above reminds us. Are we not told to love our neighbours as ourselves? Yet, for so many of us, we take care of everyone else instead - it's what we are taught to do from a young age.
Finally, by failing to see our own innate beauty we are shunning God's love for us...
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For those of you who want to know a little more about me, listen to this brief introduction:
'Snapped' these beauties this morning whilst on my walk with Mia - thought I'd share them with you!
Tulips are found in North Africa, Europe and China. They are part of the Lily family and were first brought to Europe by the Turkish in the 1500's. Their name means 'turban shaped' reminding us of their origins.
I would love to visit the Netherlands and see fields of tulips - what a beautiful sight it must be! Today,
the flower is still celebrated in tulip festivals, especially in the
Netherlands [source: The Romantic Language of Flowers].
Lastly, a beautiful impressionistic painting by Monet below. It must have been breathtaking with the dutch windmill and the vibrant colours all around...
It's been a long, long winter in the UK... It seems to have been that way for many people it seems. I think I've been so desperate for Spring to arrive that now the crocuses, daffodils and buds are starting to form, I have Spring Fever - basically, I. am. loving. it!
This morning I saw five adorable fluffy ducklings with their mother... Lambs were frolicking (love that word...), buds are well, budding!
Above is a painting I started today in a loose, happy, and expressive style. I love to paint this way...
Here are some photos of daffodils that I picked from the garden to enjoy INSIDE! You'll probably notice where the inspiration came for the jug in my painting from this photo below?
What's inspiring you this Spring (or Autumn, depending where you live in the world)? Why don't you bring a bit of that 'sunshine' indoors and either pick some daffodils from your garden, buy a bunch or have a go at painting or snapping some photos?
At last it feels like Spring is here! To celebrate we spent plenty of time outdoors this weekend - it felt soooooo good! The boys went back to school today after the Easter hols, so hubby and I took a walk together this morning with Mia.
Above is Gouthwaite Dam and Reservoir, together with a nature reserve (out of picture, to the right). Such a beautiful spot!
I also painted this colourful watercolour sketch in my journal over the weekend - the colours make me happy!
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Other News:
I've also decided to offer Sponsorship Ad's on my blog for very reasonable prices - take a look! I'm looking for products or services with a creative or homespun feel to them...(per my approval).
If you are interested in this, please email me: jane_hinchliffe@btinternet.com
