© Laurie Justus Pace Graphics One Design 2009"If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving, large or small, it will be used to measure what is given back to you." Luke 6:38
The Painting: I continue to experiment this summer using my acrylics more. With this high humidity it is almost impossible to get oils to dry. I have never 'loved' acrylics, but with the situation as it is, I am learning more about them and their flexibility compared to oils. I have about decided they are as different as night and day. This painting began with pinks, oranges and reds washed thickly over the background. From there the layering of acrylics creates a wash and drip effect and thickening of layers provides contrast in both color and texture.
The Thought: Love isn't easy. Love isn't easy between spouses that have made a life long commitment under God to each other. Love isn't easy between parent and child. Love isn't easy with close family. Love isn't easy with your enemies either.
Right now I could say love is easy with our 5 month old granddaughter. She can't "hurt" us in any way that requires plotting and planning or even doing something stupid and not thought out. Seems like under a certain age, you are lovable unless you are not sleeping at night or you spend your day and night hours crying from colic. So, remind me again about Love? Love isn't easy.
Where would we be if God didn't continue to love us when we forgot about Him or when we continued in our negative ways? What if God coped that attitude, "She's too busy to give me anytime, so why should I hang around helping her out?" I would be in deep trouble.
We are living in times of growing distrust as families struggle to make ends meet. When we are under stress we quarrel more among ourselves. Tension thickens and feelings are hurt. Our nation seems to stay at war and yet we all long for peace, rest and quiet. Within us is the power of love, yet we rarely use it. In most of us, distrust and hate seem to surface the quickest when it is easy to lay blame for things on others; to point the finger away from ourselves. This is part of our sinful mind. We are always right. We are unwilling to give up our 'rights' and feel the need to repay those that do us wrong. Isn't that what was said in the old testament? An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?
God shows us every day that He loves each of us despite what we do. We definitely don't deserve the love of God, or the grace of God, yet He is gracious with His mercy even when we are lost in our worldly ways. He is asking us to return to others what He gives to us... to love our enemies. To love those who hurt us, steal from us and persecute us. We are challenged to reflect the pureness of God's love to our world. Kindness is simply based on the love we have for others, not for the love we feel they deserve.
Give Love today....even when you have "judged" them unworthy of your love. Follow in His footsteps and extend an open heart with unconditional love.
Laurie
"Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them. And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." Luke 6:32-36
Website, Laurie Justus Pace
Website, The Painted Pony
Blog, A Texas Contemporary Artist Where I post a thought for the day with my painting.
Blog, Wonders of the Heart
Galleries:
Jackson, Wyoming – The Rare Gallery
Penn Yan, New York—Earthworks Art Gallery
The Village of Granville, Ohio—The Gillian Jones Gallery
Marble Falls, Texas – Patina of Marble Falls
Dallas, Texas—The Dutch Art Gallery
Atascadero, California – The Red Tree Gallery
El Dorado Hills, California—Our House Gallery
Hong Kong – SR Gallery
Erie, Colorado – The Daily Painters
Dallas,Texas – The Daily Painters of Texas
Centennial, Colorado—The Daily Painters Abstract
Dallas, Texas - Artists of Texas
Organizations:
WAOW, Associate Member Women Artist Out West
OPA, Associate Member Oil Painters of America
AWS, American Watercolor Society
The Five Graces, 5Graces
Ask Art, Blue Book of Artists
The Thought: Love isn't easy. Love isn't easy between spouses that have made a life long commitment under God to each other. Love isn't easy between parent and child. Love isn't easy with close family. Love isn't easy with your enemies either.
Right now I could say love is easy with our 5 month old granddaughter. She can't "hurt" us in any way that requires plotting and planning or even doing something stupid and not thought out. Seems like under a certain age, you are lovable unless you are not sleeping at night or you spend your day and night hours crying from colic. So, remind me again about Love? Love isn't easy.
Where would we be if God didn't continue to love us when we forgot about Him or when we continued in our negative ways? What if God coped that attitude, "She's too busy to give me anytime, so why should I hang around helping her out?" I would be in deep trouble.
We are living in times of growing distrust as families struggle to make ends meet. When we are under stress we quarrel more among ourselves. Tension thickens and feelings are hurt. Our nation seems to stay at war and yet we all long for peace, rest and quiet. Within us is the power of love, yet we rarely use it. In most of us, distrust and hate seem to surface the quickest when it is easy to lay blame for things on others; to point the finger away from ourselves. This is part of our sinful mind. We are always right. We are unwilling to give up our 'rights' and feel the need to repay those that do us wrong. Isn't that what was said in the old testament? An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?
God shows us every day that He loves each of us despite what we do. We definitely don't deserve the love of God, or the grace of God, yet He is gracious with His mercy even when we are lost in our worldly ways. He is asking us to return to others what He gives to us... to love our enemies. To love those who hurt us, steal from us and persecute us. We are challenged to reflect the pureness of God's love to our world. Kindness is simply based on the love we have for others, not for the love we feel they deserve.
Give Love today....even when you have "judged" them unworthy of your love. Follow in His footsteps and extend an open heart with unconditional love.
Laurie
"Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them. And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." Luke 6:32-36
Website, Laurie Justus Pace
Website, The Painted Pony
Blog, A Texas Contemporary Artist Where I post a thought for the day with my painting.
Blog, Wonders of the Heart
Galleries:
Jackson, Wyoming – The Rare Gallery
Penn Yan, New York—Earthworks Art Gallery
The Village of Granville, Ohio—The Gillian Jones Gallery
Marble Falls, Texas – Patina of Marble Falls
Dallas, Texas—The Dutch Art Gallery
Atascadero, California – The Red Tree Gallery
El Dorado Hills, California—Our House Gallery
Hong Kong – SR Gallery
Erie, Colorado – The Daily Painters
Dallas,Texas – The Daily Painters of Texas
Centennial, Colorado—The Daily Painters Abstract
Dallas, Texas - Artists of Texas
Organizations:
WAOW, Associate Member Women Artist Out West
OPA, Associate Member Oil Painters of America
AWS, American Watercolor Society
The Five Graces, 5Graces
Ask Art, Blue Book of Artists
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