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Be Strong and Courageous



copyright Wild Horse Laurie Pace ©2010
©Laurie Pace       Graphics One Design 2024
Wild Stallion
 by Laurie Pace  


Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them:  for Jehovah thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deut 31:6

This Stallion was painted back in 2010.  I am guessing it is oil by the visible layering strokes of my palette knife. The contrasts are precise and clear. The white cuts through the dark reds. The reds concentrate the motion and the shapes and everything moves counterclockwise. Temptation is calling me to paint. 

Are there times recently you have needed strength and courage and felt defeated by other things before even facing the situation? Do you feel like you are going counter clockwise? Seems like life right now for many of us. If you can face what is before you knowing the Lord God has everything under control, you are then beginning to gather wisdom.  God is often stopped by our working when we get in the way of what is meant to happen.  I am not sure how you decide what to do and what not to do. WAIT and ABIDE my friends. That is wisdom. 

No matter what your age, do you feel constraints around you today? At church today we were studying Paul and  how he rejoiced in suffering for Christ.  Does anyone really want to suffer? Does any one want to rejoice in suffering? We are already suffering in many ways.  In our fallen world suffering is unavoidable.  It is not always physical pain, but mental anguish, another part of our human condition. Not sure about you, but I cause a lot of my own mental anguish over things I have no control over. 

Today Americans live self centered lives. Jesus has asked us to give up or to deny 'ourselves', meaning those self-centered lives. We need to concentrate our lives on Him. Will we suffer because of our faith in Jesus? Here in the U.S. we are in the minority, along with things like good manors and kindness to others.  Will our faithfulness of Christ come into play?

"Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.  'If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you." John 15:20 because we are followers. 

It is easy to harbor resentment when someone has attacked us or caused us pain. Do you hold grudges?  What we must learn is to forgive those that persecute or bring harm to us.  

Paul is clear in Romans 12:14 "Bless those who persecute you' bless and do not curse them." 
Do not lose faith when you face the fires of prosecution.  Many Christians suffer greatly. Paul encourages us, "This is another crucial lesson, for there is a point at which bare commitment will fail and only love for Christ can sustain us." Gal 2:20

Always chose the path of forgiveness and mercy. God offers it to us 24-7. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

"Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." James 3:13

Follow the Spirit of the Paint... with Laurie Pace



Laurie Pace - A Texas Artist 





             


INSTAGRAM : @LauriePaceBlog   Facebook

Laurie is an international artist, her paintings are collected in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, DuBai, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, St Thomas, Romania, Greece, Croatia, and Ecuador.  



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© Graphics One Design 2023

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