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Sunday, January 25, 2009

God Makes Himself Known...





Our world of today is a very dark place. So much wickedness runs rampant that it can be hard to see God through all the darkness, sadness and despair. So easily we are led into depression and loss, into pain, heartache and loneliness. However, I was reminded as I was on the airplane flying home from my Grandmother's funeral that God is here, He is very real and He makes Himself known to us even during the darkest of times.
Looking out over top of the Rocky Mountains I couldn't help but be in awe of His creation. I wondered if man had conquered every mountain peak made by God and I knew that he had not. It would be impossible to step upon absolutely every grain of sand made by the Lord... to name every star in the Universe... to discover every beautiful and unique creation ever created by God. I pictured a mountain climbing party making their way up the steep peaks of the mountains I was viewing from a 'mechanical bird's-eye view" and I wondered why... why would they feel the need to reach the top of every mountain? What were they searching for that could not be found in their everyday lives? I knew that it must be that they were searching for heaven, but what was their view of heaven on earth? Was it God that so naturally makes Himself known to us?... or was it a sense of their own view of a god that existed somehow within themselves. Was it the ultimate adrenaline rush to reach the top of the world??? It reminded me of the story in the Bible of "The Tower of Babel" and how man wanted to build a tower that reached to the heavens... they wanted to prove that they were just as great as God. God nipped that one in the butt right away!!! What does He think of our world now with so many holding on to their own personal god's within themselves... thinking they themselves are god's upon this earth. There is only ONE GOD and that is the "GREAT I AM". The One Who Was, and Who Is, and Who Is To Come. If they can only open their eyes they would realize that God is right here, all around us... waiting for us to open our hearts to Him.
Hugs
Kelly

Saturday, January 24, 2009

My First Trip To Value Village





I had no idea what I would find when my sister's, mom, and aunt wanted to go to Value Village while we were in Kelowna for Grandma's funeral. I had never been before and I didn't quite know what to think about buying used clothing. As I was walking through the shoes aisle with my Mom I spotted two pairs of shoes that really stood out at me; one was a pair of dancing shoes (at least that's what they looked like to me). They were black in 1950's style with a beaded flower on the toes. I pictured a 1950's woman, elegantly dressed in a black dress (I found a picture of a dress that went through my mind and posted it above). As my Mom talked about all the different shoes and boots that were offerred I guess I began to daydream about the woman who used to wear these shoes. I could see her dancing around the dance floor dressed all elegant and dancing like they danced in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" (Remember the dance on top of and then eventually IN the swimming pool?) I pondered the shapes her feet made as she performed each dance maneuver in her elegant shoes. When she was out was she escaping the day-to-day routines of her everyday life? Did she need that escape or was she simply out to enjoy an evening with her current bo? What music was playing as she danced?... I could have written her entire life as I was patiently waiting in Value village as my Mom picked out her complete attire for the funeral from shoes to earrings.
The second pair of shoes intrigued me as well. I don't think I had ever seen a pair of shoes quite like this pair. The shape and design was so unique to me. Because I had never seen anything like them it was difficult for me to picture the woman who possibly wore them before they happened to be at Value Village. I took a picture regardless in hopes that something might come to me.
Enjoy.
Hugs
Kelly

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Art Journal Time: God's Eternal Love



I wasn't going to do it! I kept telling myself this page would be different ~ it was not going to have a tree on it! LOL I can't help it! I love tree's. They are a constant reminder to me of how God's love is eternal, How He takes care of His creation's and protects them, nourishes them and if you allow Him, becomes apart of our very being filling us with His eternal love. I love the verses that describe God and Jesus as being the "Vinedresser" and "True Vine" and we are the branches. He wants His branches to be full of life, joy, peace, love, prosperity, abundance though we have to allow Him to work in us to achieve these things.
As I journal on verses from the Word I meditate upon them and draw images that come to my head through them. How could I help but to draw a tree as the verses described "Vinedresser" "True Vine" and "Branches"? That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Hope you enjoy it.
Hugs to everyone.
God bless
Kelly

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Word For the Year of 2009 'PEACE'




It's that time of the year again... time for my 'Word for the Year'. Last year's word was "Content" and I worked all year at being just that. God took care of all of our needs and many of our wants and I tried to be content with everything. God is a great God.
This year my 'Word for the Year' is 'PEACE'. After struggling with learning and adapting to having a full-fleged teenager now I know how important peace is in our lives, at home and everywhere we are. I pray that the Lord will restore His perfect peace to our home, to our family and help us as we guide our son's through their teenage years. Peace was the first word that came to mind this year as it is greatly needed, not only in our home but throughout the world. I started this drawing on New Years Eve as we brought in the New Year with our family and friends at the Church.
God bless you all and have a great 2009.
Love and hugs
Kelly

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Being Thankful For 2008


It all started on New Years Eve... we went to our Church at 7:00pm and for the first hour just us and our good friends were there. We thought oh well it is going to be a nice quiet New Years Eve. After 8:00 people started arriving and by 10:00pm the downstairs was full of people. I was so happy that Randy and I had decided to open the Church for anyone who wanted to fellowship and play games on New Years Eve. At 11:00 all who wanted to gathered into a smaller room (it was full) and we began saying things that we were thankful for, things that God had done for us this past year. I was so proud as my eleven year old son spoke up right away and said that he was thankful that God helped him to do well at school... then he said he was thankful that he discovered Genesis and Exodus and was reading through them. Then there were some members from Africa that began and their words played out like miraculous stories of thanksgiving, inspiring us all to be thankful in ways we never thought about. We prayed in the New Year and it was such a wonderful blessing, I can't wait to do it next year.
On New Years Day I sat down with pen in hand and began to write out my blessings for the year. I could have written for a long time as God is truly a great and wonderful God and blesses me in many ways. Instead I decided to journal my thankgsiving into a journal page that expressed my many blessings.
Well, goodbye 2008 and hello to our brand new year 2009.
Happy 2009 everyone. I pray that your year is overflowing with blessings of peace, joy, goodness, kindness, grace, hope and love.
Kelly