Skip to main content

Magnolias in Bloom


©Laurie Pace       Graphics One Design 2023
Mother's Summer Magnolias
  Oils on Canvas by Laurie Pace  

My mom's house had a huge magnolia tree in the front yard. The arborist said it was one of the oldest he had seen in Dallas. I must have taken hundreds of photos back in time when she was alive and living there. Forty years with that beautiful tree... of course it was already way older than that when they moved in. One of my dearest friends from Lake Highlands ... turned out my parents bought their home back in 1972. Her Dad was a a builder.  Hence my love of magnolia flowers!  Enjoy this beautiful painting inspired by blooms from years ago. 

"This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."   Isaiah 30:15 

In Quietness and Trust

There are those moments in life that we have felt defeated, or let down leading us to disappointment, frustration or even anger. The pain can over take us. All of us living on this earth, want to have some type of value to someone, and perhaps we want to be loved, accepted and comforted. 

I was reading an small article on that this morning and recognized the symptoms I am guilty of.  Finding distraction to stay busy so my thoughts are not overtaking me into a depressed or worried state.  Turning your attention to others thing may help you 'feel' better for a while, but in the long run, it is temporary until we confront the truth.  All strife in our lives is trigger by actions and thoughts, and most of it we allow to seed and grow in our thoughts. 

2 Thessalonians 1:15-17  "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word or by letter. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word."

This message came at a time of strife in the church as they began putting it together and gathering and standing fast in their faith. How do you teach someone to let God comfort their hearts and take over their life when times are strained and dangerous? 

Personally, I look back to the top verse I shared this morning... "In quietness and trust is your strength"  but normally... "You will have none of it."  Is our trust that weak? The closer we draw to the Lord, the easier it gets. 

In Streams of the Desert this morning, the reading was from Ezek 1:25 "And there was a firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings."

Hmmmm... letting down their wings? Made me think of the humming birds whose wings flutter at high capacity... and the Robins and Blue Jays that fly across our back yard.  Those wings ... are they still when they are flying at any point? When you pray do you still your spirit as you come before the Lord in prayer?  Do you have a true stillness in His presence?  Did you end in expectation of an answer to your prayer?  Or did you end your prayer and allow your thoughts to flow and float across your brain again? We are definitely buzzing around in our worlds way too much. Our peace does not have to be only with prayer.  Meditation and breathing in His Spirit and holding it tightly and releasing it.  Stop all your thoughts or find a mantra.  Keep it simple.   
  • Blessed is the name of the Lord.
  • In quietness and trust is my strength
  • Holy Holy Holy Lord God almighty
  • The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Find a short phrase that speaks to your heart and allows you inner spirit to rest and release everything to our Father. Be the willing waiting spirit for the Lord to answer your needs.  Be Still. Don't let the world overcome you.


In Quietness and Trust is your Strength.  


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

 “So may all your enemies perish, LORD! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years." Judges 5:31


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.  



GALLERY LINKS

© Graphics One Design 2023
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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 and Shelia at the Southlake Lowe's in Appliances
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 law of sin at work within me” I can only speak for mys
Post a Comment
Read more

Piano Girls

© Laurie Pace        Graphics One Design 2024 Girl on Piano Oil on Canvas  SOLD   by Laurie Pace   Our prayers are with the southeastern Gulf coast as a hurricane approaches. We have family and friends in this area. This painting was a more impressionistic piece than the Girl on Piano pieces from 2008-2010.  It is the tilt of the head and the precious lift of the hand with the outer small finger delicately angled. Not quite old enough to be using pedals, her feet are crossed below the bench. Back in the day of my lessons and playing in the late fifties and early sixties, young girls wore dresses. I miss those days. I still prefer dresses over pants today... even my studio jeans.  One of my modern girl on Piano pieces.... "Playing for Papa" These make incredible gifts for the holidays using music that is important to you or to the person receiving the gift. In the midst of commissions right now.  I loved playing for my grandmother and my Dad.  Shop other Av
Post a Comment
Read more