Skip to main content
The Joy of the Jump
Contemporary Art Daily Painting Child and Horse Painting

20 x 20 inches Oil on Canvas
COMMISSION for CHRISTMAS

SOLD
Contact me to do something for your home! Laurie



Yesterday I spoke to you about what lies ahead. My daughter is in the hospital at 6 1/2 months into her pregnancy receiving steroid injections to help the baby's lungs develop. She has been having premature labor pains in a pretty intense way over an extended period of time. I am heading there shortly and will spend most of the day with her. I have packed her favorite GIRL movies and I am taking the baby quilt along that I have been working on. I will make some headway at least on that. Please keep them close in prayer as the doctors complete their work and as Stacey stays relaxed through the treatments.

We are within the last week of the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Mary was already on that donkey riding toward Bethlehem. Unimproved roads, rocky terrain, switchbacks and no phones to call ahead for reservations. The distance is about 75 miles and the travel would have taken 7-10 days. Can you even imagine riding a donkey for 7 days and being 9 months pregnant? I shudder thinking about having to make potty breaks and get up and down off the donkey. I would have opted to stay home. There were many caves along the way that were homes to bandits and thieves. Mary and Joseph were really vulnerable, but they traveled on NOT KNOWING WHAT LIES AHEAD. **

I cannot imagine what was in Mary's heart with this trip, nor do we have any details of that week before they arrived in Bethlehem. This is that week, the week to anticipate the arrival of the baby. If you have had children, think back to your last week before they were born. Anticipation, fear, joy and tears were all part of it for me. Mary has the added responsibility of knowing she carries the Messiah in her womb and she is very protective of the baby. She is also not married to Joseph yet, but is only pledged to him at the time Jesus arrives. What thoughts would be running through your head if you were Mary?

What lies ahead in this week for you as we continue to prepare our hearts and our families for the celebration of the Christ child?

Joy and Abundance,

Laurie

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. " Luke 2:4-5

**(I will insert here only two gospels mention Jesus' birth in Bethlehem of Judea. Some people think he was possibly born in Bethlehem of Galilee. Others also mention that Matthew and Luke wrote their versions so that the prophecy from the Old Testament would be fulfilled. The Gospel of Mark shies totally away from the birth and takes up at Jesus' baptism. Some reviews say The Gospel of John, when read carefully shows that Jesus was not born in Bethlehem of Judea. They are referring to Chapter 7:41-42. Jesus does not speak up to say he is from Bethlehem and the royal line of David. With my blog I will stay with the account of Matthew and Luke.)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Bit of Wonder Contemporary Horse Oil Daily Painting Art by Laurie Justus Pace 24 x 30 x 2 inches of thick buttery oils! Contact me to purchase: Laurie "This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it". Psalm 118:24 It was a day of celebration yesterday as Lauren Gracen was born. Stacey began her labor around nine in the morning and was ready to push by 12:15, but they held her off while getting things set up. Took four good contractions with multiple pushes and the baby was there! All grandparents accounted for to count the toes and fingers! My admiration is for my daughter and her bravery and calmness despite the tension and newness of what she faced. I was honored to be there as the baby was delivered seeing my granddaughter push out into the light and take her first breathe... and then cry... and that she did. Terry was able to participate and he and Larry helped with pushing and getting Stacey upright for the process and then Terry was hon...
3 comments
Read more

Arrival...Refrigerator?

© Laurie Pace        Graphics One Design 2024 Arrival Oil on Canvas  SOLD   by Laurie Pace   Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whtever you do, and he will establish your plans."   Worrisome times laced with prayers.   The world seems like a scary place lately. Praying for everyone affected by the last two hurricanes.  My adventures today were the result of a dead refrigerator. I have loved my Kitchen Aid refrigerator very much. The first one in the 'French Kitchen' look died at 13 months. Hubby wanted the same refrigerator. Well this one made it four years and a few months. I cannot believe appliances are not made to last longer...but wait, is that because they make more money if we have to replace it in 4-5 years?  You replace your mattress at least every 7 years... and your washer dryer, you might get 7 years out of those... The stoves seem to make it closer to 10 years. We are Lowe's customers, and Robert ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Marsh... of our lives? Walking with God.

© Laurie Pace        Graphics One Design 2024 The Marsh 6 x 12 inches Oil on Canvas  SOLD   by Laurie Pace   I did two of these paintings about three years ago. They both sold immediately to a Florida Collector. Simple and elegant for a horse painting.  Ephesians 5:1-2 "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."  One of the biggest challenges in walking with God is trusting Him and not trying to out think Him or to do everything your way. It never works.  The Apostle Paul wrote of his own struggles in Romans 7 .  Romans 7: 22-23 “ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the ...
Post a Comment
Read more