No. 80 Lightning
Contemporary Art Daily Horse Colorful Oil Painting by Laurie Justus Pace
24 x 36 inches of thick oils!
Contact me if you are interested in this painting: Laurie
Contemporary Art Daily Horse Colorful Oil Painting by Laurie Justus Pace
24 x 36 inches of thick oils!
Contact me if you are interested in this painting: Laurie
SOLD SOLD SOLD. Thank you!
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song." Psalm 28:7
Joy and Abundance,I had another thought already composed when I realized I wanted to go a different direction and totally deleted it all! We are now in Lent. For new believers a quick definition of Lent as a period of fasting and repentance. It is commonly practiced by Catholics and certain Protestant denominations in preparation for Easter. History traces it back to the 4th century when it was given the period of 40 days. I always associated that with Jesus time on the mountain where he wen to prepare, fast and pray for his journey ahead. From my early childhood days I remember Mom always encouraging us to give up something during this time and to add something as well. Like we might give up chocolate for those forty days, but at the same time we might add reading in the bible every night for ten minutes, or add volunteering to help one of our elderly neighbors with her trash.
The bible never mentions or teaches that giving up things during Lent brings extra blessings from our Father. The New Testament describes it as, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:16-18
Fasting can be symbolic of giving up not just food, but something that means much to you for existence. Giving up sinful habits and practices during this period provides a time of forcing you to think as you hold yourself back from breaking your fast. The key would be to focus on growing in faith and repenting from your sins. You cannot increase His love for you, but you will gain a new respect and feeling for yourself that you can consciously achieve a higher spiritual endeavor. This will require "effort" from you to to go this journey with the promise you have made to yourself and to God. Your faith by action reinforces your trust that you have His power behind you to accomplish this.
Allow this 40 day period to be transforming for you in your spiritual, mental and physical health. You will be drawing upon your own inner strength and powers of resistance not to fall to be tempted to give up or give in to what you have settled on for your "fasting" over this period. That is where my smart mother came in with her balance of adding something. Add something to divert you to giving of yourself in other ways.
On a lighter note we went to visit the baby yesterday, but there was a huge crowd. Here is a picture Terry took of me with the Tink. I only had her in arms for about 5 min as there were so many people in the room, Terry and I did not stay long. I believe she looks like Larry, but we will see. God knows as He knitted together every blessed piece of this child.
The bible never mentions or teaches that giving up things during Lent brings extra blessings from our Father. The New Testament describes it as, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:16-18
Fasting can be symbolic of giving up not just food, but something that means much to you for existence. Giving up sinful habits and practices during this period provides a time of forcing you to think as you hold yourself back from breaking your fast. The key would be to focus on growing in faith and repenting from your sins. You cannot increase His love for you, but you will gain a new respect and feeling for yourself that you can consciously achieve a higher spiritual endeavor. This will require "effort" from you to to go this journey with the promise you have made to yourself and to God. Your faith by action reinforces your trust that you have His power behind you to accomplish this.
Allow this 40 day period to be transforming for you in your spiritual, mental and physical health. You will be drawing upon your own inner strength and powers of resistance not to fall to be tempted to give up or give in to what you have settled on for your "fasting" over this period. That is where my smart mother came in with her balance of adding something. Add something to divert you to giving of yourself in other ways.
On a lighter note we went to visit the baby yesterday, but there was a huge crowd. Here is a picture Terry took of me with the Tink. I only had her in arms for about 5 min as there were so many people in the room, Terry and I did not stay long. I believe she looks like Larry, but we will see. God knows as He knitted together every blessed piece of this child.
Laurie
"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Proverbs 12:26
Comments
Such a miracle & a blessing!
I receive your paintings & wonderful words each day & consider myself so lucky to watch a true believer who lives her faith! Thanks for that Laurie!
Cathleen~