Laurie Pace - Fine Artist

© Laurie Pace        Graphics One Design 2026 Clearing the Noise Photography   by Laurie Pace   Devotional Reflection, Renewing the Mind through Scripture Romans 12:2 — Clearing the Noise, Clearing the Canvas This morning I was listening to Grace Oasis Morning Prayer, centered on Romans 12:2 and other powerful scriptures. I am a bit late blogging this week, mostly because priorities seem to shift daily. My top priorities remain the same: time in the Word, writing, and walking three to four miles before breakfast. Still, life has a way of crowding the margins if we let it. Early Life & Faith Journey There was much to unpack in the prayer—earthly desires versus God’s desires for us. Of course, those desires look different depending on your age and season of life. Looking back, I wish I had developed earlier the passion I now have for God’s Word. I wish I had learned, at a young age, to pause and ask what God would want for me...

© Laurie Pace        Graphics One Design 2026 Celebrating Life Oil on Canvas  SOLD   by Laurie Pace   Restoration & Hope — Why God is the Safest Place Every relationship journey will eventually reach a moment of reckoning.  In today's world, after vulnerability, disappointment, boundaries, and the tension between self-interest and selflessness, the heart longs for something steady—something safe. That place is God. People, even those close to us, cannot carry the full weight of our hopes, healing, and identity. They are imperfect, limited, and shaped by their own struggles. Expecting them to be our source of restoration often leads to deeper disappointment. Seriously, God never intended human relationships to replace Him. My own experience has taught me this. Healing can only Begin with God God is not surprised by our brokenness. He meets us there. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:...

© Laurie Pace        Graphics One Design 2026 Celebrating Life Oil on Canvas  SOLD   by Laurie Pace   Self-Interest vs. Selflessness — A New Year’s Perspective The start of a new year naturally turns our focus inward. Goals are set. Resolutions are made. We ask ourselves what needs to change, what we want to improve, and what we hope to gain in the year ahead. None of that is wrong. Reflection has value. Growth matters. But quietly, almost unnoticed, culture often nudges the question in one consistent direction: What’s in it for me? That question has slowly shaped the way relationships are viewed—evaluated by usefulness, convenience, or personal benefit. When relationships stop meeting expectations, disappointment follows, and detachment feels justified. How Culture Shapes Our Thinking We live in a time that rewards self-focus. Personal fulfillment, personal peace, personal success. Relationships can become transactional r...

© Laurie Pace        Graphics One Design 2025 Rock Hard Oil on Canvas  SOLD   by Laurie Pace   Boundaries — Godly Wisdom vs.  Emotional Impulse Boundaries are often misunderstood. Many see them as walls meant to keep people out, when in truth, godly boundaries are designed to protect what matters most. They are not about control or fear, but about wisdom, timing, and discernment. In relationships, emotional impulse can feel convincing. Feelings urge us to open up quickly, explain ourselves fully, or move ahead before understanding has time to settle. Wisdom, however, invites us to slow down. It asks us to listen, observe, and wait. Scripture reminds us of this careful balance: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”   Proverbs 4:23 When to Open Up Opening up is not wrong. Vulnerability is necessary for meaningful connection. But wisdom teaches us that timing matters. Trust is built gradually...

© Laurie Pace        Graphics One Design 2025 Never Fear Oil on Canvas  SOLD   by Laurie Pace   Why People Disappoint Us — Imperfection, Expectations, and Grace  (But God Never Does) I n general, people disappoint us. That reality touches every kind of relationship—friendships, family, and even marriage. Often, disappointment doesn’t come from cruelty or bad intent, but from something much simpler: human imperfection. Imperfections in relationships often appear as surprises. Habits we didn’t expect. Differences in how things are handled, ordered, or valued. We enter relationships—whether friendship or marriage—with hope and positivity, yet eventually discover that everyone carries flaws, weaknesses, and unresolved issues. That discovery is not failure; it is a part of each of us, living and growing. Some people handle imperfections with grace and resilience. Others fall apart when expectations collide with reality. Wh...

© Laurie Pace        Graphics One Design 2025 Work in Progress Oil on Canvas  Commission   by Laurie Pace   The Heart of the Matter  Life is a work in Progress In every relationship—whether a friendship, family bond, or serious partnership—two people are often drawn together by shared interests, emotions, or experiences. Connection comes naturally. However, discovering a safe place within that connection is not always easy. "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56: 3 Trusting someone with your heart and your most precious inner thoughts requires vulnerability. It takes courage, wisdom, and time. Many people believe trust should come quickly, but in reality, it must be built carefully. Human nature, influenced by emotion, desire, and personal gain, can easily guide us off the right path. We are imperfect beings, and without discernment, we may place our trust where it does not belong. Scripture reminds us th...