Sometimes life takes us places we never dreamed we would go and sometimes those places are hard! I have friends who have suffered significant losses and injury in the last year. It has been a learning curve for all of us as we’ve seen the tides go out and watched waves crash over our castles of sand. But when we build on The Rock, regardless what storms brew around us, we are safe in the arms of our Savior. I pray you would trust Him: believe His Words are Truth for our lives. If we reach out to Jesus in faith, He will restore, redeem and renew that which was broken. And along with restoring, redeeming and renewing, will come REJOICING. “Rejoice and be glad, for our Lord has done marvelous things.” Joel 2:21
Promises from the Word of God on renewal.
OCEAN BREEZES COLLECTION
The prayer below was written by Christian author and blogger, Jack Watts. Did you know him? He is the creative writer of a Blog called, Pushing Jesus. I’d like to share some powerful words he penned and I trust his message will speak to your heart wherever you find yourself today. This prayer speaks to me as I “give of my talents, my time, and energy” seeking to bless rather than be another clanging cymbal.
Father, Allow me to serve others with a joyful heart; never keeping score; always giving; never expecting to receive.
Allow me to give of myself, to give of my talents and of my goods, to give of my time and of my energy, to give of my heart and of my soul.
Help me understand the needs of others, never criticizing, demeaning, scolding, or condemning.
You have been so gracious to me, always Loving, always forgiving, always restoring; never gloating over my defeats, even when I have been so wrong.
Father, keep a condemning spirit Far from my heart and further from my lips. Allow me to serve others as You serve, with gentleness, compassion, and tenderness,
Never diminishing the worth of another, choosing to extend mercy to the brokenhearted, Like You have repeatedly shown it to me, Amen. — Jack Watts
I have been painting watercolors for six years now. I have been writing a blog sharing my thoughts here on WordPress for one year now. Neither of these activities even crossed my mind prior to 2015. I am doing things I never imagined I would do, let alone writing words I’d share with the world. But evidently, God had a plan for me and I am praying my way through to be faithful to His leading.
The paintings above are just a few from my Ocean Breezes Collection mostly painted from photos taken in Kauai and Maui. The above tree, ”Off the Road to Hana” is a tree that we saw standing alone over a cliff that looks down upon the crashing waves below. It just struck me. I love this watercolor memory of a solitary sentinel standing firm amid the ocean breezes.
All my paintings are accessed through prayersandpaintbrushes.com which connects with the very creative website, Fine Art America. FAA makes my nearly 300 paintings available as framed prints (or canvas, paper, metal, wood), but also as throw pillows, hand towels, round towels, yoga mats, shower curtains, coffee mugs, spiral notebooks, stickers, T-shirts, note cards, tote bags and masks. Masks! Who would ever have imagined that one just a couple of years ago~
I am grateful for the encouragement I receive from my up close and personal as well as online friends. It is your feedback and kind words which keep me pulling out my paintbrushes.
Praying over you in whatever storm you may find yourself. May you find a sweet moment to bless you today.
Prayers and Paintbrushes 