A Psalm of Cinquains - d

"D"

Divine
power, beauty,
and wisdom and honor - 
layed aside humbly to become...
human

I recently got inspired by David's work in writing Psalm 119...and at the same time had come across this instruction (from an old homeschool English book) for writing cinquains...I am sure it wasn't just a serendipitous coincidence!  So here I am, taking the 26 letters of the English alphabet and creating my own Psalm of Cinquain for my Lord...(one a week for imperfect prose!)

Joining with Emily and other imperfects at imperfect prose...

Here is the pattern for writing a cinquain:
Line 1 - states the title.........................2 syllables
Line 2 - describes the title....................4 syllables
Line 3 - expresses an action ................6 syllables
Line 4 - expresses a feeling..................8 syllables
Line 5 - another word for the title.........2 syllables

Would you like to join me in writing your own?

A Psalm of Cinquains - c

"C"

A cross
stands distantly
calling to a people
lost...One turns; drawing close, he kneels...
Cleansing!


I recently got inspired by David's work in writing Psalm 119...and at the same time had come across this instruction (from an old homeschool English book) for writing cinquains...I am sure it wasn't just a serendipitous coincidence!  So here I am, taking the 26 letters of the English alphabet and creating my own Psalm of Cinquain for my Lord...(one a week for imperfect prose!)

and linking this week with Jennifer and other creatives at Studio JRU



Joining with Emily and other imperfects at imperfect prose...

Here is the pattern for writing a cinquain:
Line 1 - states the title.........................2 syllables
Line 2 - describes the title....................4 syllables
Line 3 - expresses an action ................6 syllables
Line 4 - expresses a feeling..................8 syllables
Line 5 - another word for the title.........2 syllables

Would you like to join me in writing your own?

1000 gifts and then some...

Photo from this source - 80 top photos of rain - go check it out, the artistry will be a treat

Continuing the count - at least the written count (#215- #223)

and remembering gifts given throughout time:

2 1/2 inches of rain, 
about 12 days ago - so refreshing!

the return of night insects singing their symphonies
even they quit singing by the end of July!

frogs croaking their songs
as they were enticed from their early muddy hibernation -
and once again silent as the heat wave continues... 

school starting 

getting back to a schedule

tweener starting her tweener youth group

her desire to help and serve now that she has "graduated" 
from being Kidzoned!

still getting in a little afternoon siesta time!

the heat -
I am sure there is something positive about the heat?-
even weeds are dying
the undergrowth of our across the street neighbors forest has died down enough
that we can actually see them! (The neighbors that is!)
 
Linking up with Ann and others lifting up the song of thanksgiving....

A Psalm of Cinquains - b

"B"

Bridegroom
Majesty donned
In passioned quest His bride,
Watching o'er her preparation
with joy..


I recently got inspired by David's work in writing Psalm 119...and at the same time had come across this instruction (from an old homeschool English book) for writing cinquains...I am sure it wasn't just a serendipitous coincidence!  So here I am, taking the 26 letters of the English alphabet and creating my own Psalm of Cinquain for my Lord...(one a week for imperfect prose!)

Joining with Emily and other imperfects at imperfect prose...

Here is the pattern for writing a cinquain:
Line 1 - states the title.........................2 syllables
Line 2 - describes the title....................4 syllables
Line 3 - expresses an action ................6 syllables
Line 4 - expresses a feeling..................8 syllables
Line 5 - another word for the title.........2 syllables

Would you like to join me in writing your own?

Sneak Peak Friday...mid August musings

I am all over the place these days...husband has had a couple of business trips, which puts my late night painting on the back burner...the Lord has brought more counseling opportunities, which is wonderful as far as walking in my gifting and seeing Him bring change in folks...

and it is August and my goals lately have been to simply stay cool - which means staying indoors as much as possible, which does give the opportunity to muse as I tackle little projects...dabbing paint and then on to something else that the tweener can participate in more...like cleaning closets and figuring out why my head is so distractable (done while she is engrossed in audio books)...

it is time to plan the coming school year!  Yikes, we were going to start on the 15th!  Yes, we can, tho' I will still be writing lesson plans!   Pinterest has been invaluable as a virtual bulletin board!

See other wants/ideas here

before he left, dear husband put new lights in the office - no more yellow tints on white (I hope)...

Worked on face shading - do I want to tackle ears?  And the white looks true!


I want to declutter - my mind and the house...
and I know that is a sign of transitioning, a metaphor for something the Lord is working in my spirit

I find new purpose for fabric scraps that I have held onto for years...I cut strips and tie them on to ribbon and make something beautiful for spring - the colors say "New Life" to me...glittery purple with green streaks, and purple sheers and green sheers to compliment...

I am contemplating sewing through my (extensive) fabric stash...to declutter, repurpose, and I am looking forward to that sense of satisfaction of having not wasted a thing...I open the first box and find fabric scraps from the Christmas dress tweener wore when she was 3...

Fabric scraps large enough to make eight mugrugs - machine embroidery added this week while husband was out of town...thinking Anita might have liked the scraps for her quilting now

and perhaps that is why I feel in transition, because she (the tweener) is this girl/woman now - in transition herself.  I have boxed up the "dress-up" clothes from the under-the-stairwell closet...leaving out just a few of adult sized clothes that she and her friends can still fit when the mood strikes (I was surprised when she and a friend enjoyed an afternoon of make-believe and dress-up this summer..)

playing with fabric is a way I connect to my own mother - she sewed, and I learned to sew from her...and I learned not to waste A THING from her as well...

And I hear messages in my spirit...

I don't waste a thing - pain, triumph, past, present - 

all are recycled for your future of Purpose and Hope

I can do a new thing with the old that has been packed away...

You are finding light

You are revealing beauty pulled from darkness

You can teach the tweener all these things too... 

Joining with Jennifer and other creatives at Studio JRU

A Psalm of Cinquains - a

"A"
Abba
You are awesome
in this place, Holy God.
You receive me in Your Grace, my
Father.

I recently got inspired by David's work in writing Psalm 119...and at the same time had come across this instruction (from an old homeschool English book) for writing cinquains...I am sure it wasn't just a serendipitous coincidence!  So here I am, taking the 26 letters of the English alphabet and creating my own Psalm of Cinquain for my Lord...(one a week for imperfect prose!)

Joining with Emily and other imperfects at imperfect prose...

Here is the pattern for writing a cinquain:
Line 1 - states the title.........................2 syllables
Line 2 - describes the title....................4 syllables
Line 3 - expresses an action ................6 syllables
Line 4 - expresses a feeling..................8 syllables
Line 5 - another word for the title.........2 syllables

Would you like to join me in writing your own?

1000 gifts and then some...

Continuing the count - at least the written count (#194- #214)

and remembering gifts given throughout time:

A scorching summer - reminiscent of 1980...
no lawn mowing (there is no more lawn left)
the delight of a frozen popsicle - made especially delightful by the 100+ heat
Swim team championship finals
a green fifth place ribbon
a girl loving to swim...
always having a spot in the shade for swim team practice...
Him always giving me a shady place to park the car as well.
time...
summer rhythms
free movies at the City Lights theater in Hudson Oaks
more understanding of the learning disability
she loving knowing that others' brains get tired when trying to read
a fuzzy black caterpillar
puppies keeping cool by "swimming" in water bowls

horses
ears
noses
eyes 
looking towards the future
colored contacts?
painted toe nails...

Linking up with Ann and others lifting up the song of thanksgiving....

Trauma Prayers + Kisses from the Savior

by rhymz4jesus at photobucket

  Her face carried the wear of the previous four days; her lips speaking the fullness of her heart overflowing at having been on the receiving end of miracles this week.  The couple did what any shell-shocked family would do...they kept the rhythm of the life before, walking the pattern in an attempt to return the family to "normal", they joined with the body of believers on the first day of the week, as was their custom.   She said that his words were, "We have to; how can we not?" She consented, emotionally stunned and astounded and worn all at once, thankful for his determined leading.  She held in her arms the gift they had been given again...following the rhythm, the pattern...following the familiar path to the church nursery.  They clung to each other - her arms encircling comfort and protection which she had provided for close to two years; her gift sunk deep into her chest, as if the wee one would have crawled through her heart and down into the safety of the womb once again if it were only possible. 

The little gift smiled at the nursery workers who had prayed for her and with her during the first hours after breath had been forced out of lungs so severely that Careflight was called...her mother sharing that they had returned from the journey of facing off with death just Saturday evening - and now it was Sunday morning and the numb of being in the center of death and the blessing of being in the center of the miracle was all mixed together as she shared the story.  And there in the fellowship of women, she shared concern still deep, that the horse stepping on the gift wasn't the only trauma...needles and procedures and the strangeness of the hospital was now lodged in a toddler's heart and mind and the little one was clinging tight to maternal stability...

And I was the one standing closest, petting a tender little head to communicate comfort and understanding - the Spirit strong in saying we don't need to wait for altar call to pray - so warrior mother and one who has been given the privilege of praying over trauma many times in the past laid our hands on the small bruised body, wounded heart, sensitive spirit and went to the throne on the gift's behalf, and as we prayed, that head lifted up, fear being replaced with confidence; trauma memory uprooted by the joy and peace from the Holy Spirit filling up the being and we watched the truth of beauty being given in the place of ashes become real for a toddler as that little gift opened up to life abundant again, climbing from the lap of safety and engaging in what had been her normal Sunday morning activity for almost two years, as if nothing unusual had happened over the past week and it all happened in the fellowship of women at the gathering of believers on the first day of the week...

And we all felt the kisses of the Lord as our hearts and hands praised His lovingkindness...

Joining with Emily and other imperfects at Imperfect Prose

Pray for Rain

I have gotten this several times today, 

and thought it would be good to share in a larger venue... 

by cloudyraine123 at photobucket

                          Father, You said whatsoever any 

two or more 
come together 

and agree and ask in 
Your Son's name, 
it shall be given. 

We come to you, humbly, 

and ask that you bring down the rain to our parched lands. Our farmers and ranchers 

 need it desperately, 

as well as our firefighters. 

We ask this all in Jesus' name. Amen.

Sneak Peak Friday...a new Eternal Word painting, and more...

 Bird trio - found on clearance at Hobby Lobby and painted white over the multi-colored images...

the images are still visible...beautiful texture

but the tweener preferred the color!

 New eternal word painting complete and shown with its complements...

 Guardian 1 is moving along...I am loving that paint under the wings, and what has stopped me is seeking God on how/if to let that beautiful color stay...

the hair is blocked in, only to show me where it fits...

3rd in the "Eternal Words" series...it is complete!

And finally, check out this link at my website, for the rest of what I have been up to this week...
If you have ever had an intense emotion that was difficult to work through, or know of a friend who did, this information is for you...Creative Pathways - Recognize + Reflect + Release intense emotion through journaling...

Joining with Studio JRU being hosted at Jodene Shaw's place Opened Door

What I've been doing while tweener is at camp...

One of the works in progress that have been sitting on the work table...

the background is one of the canvases I use to swipe my leftover paint over,

 

no thought, no color matching...

not sure they will be there at the end, but I do like them!

She is going to be an angel,

the title of the piece is Guardian I...

You'll have to see the rest of what I've been painting on Friday when we do Studio JRU's Sneek Peak!

Blessings!!

Sneak Peak Friday - My DIY vintage style blocks

I have been having a little more time to make art this week...here are my version of the Dayspring blocks...I decided I really liked doing it myself because I was able to personalize them!  I found at the end, that I didn't have enough blocks for all the letters I needed, so I raided the wooden blocks we still had around from preschool days, and painted the letters over in the same colors I had painted the art blocks...and in honor of Studio JRU who hosts us every Friday...here is the first picture (by my free print by Jennifer as well!)

Another option:

 And working on the next eternal word art: HOPE.  Here is a part of the background, I am ready to add the word and scripture...

 The white is being yellowed out by the lighting in the studio again...one of these days I will get the lightbulbs changed to the flourescent "daylight" bulbs...

Looking forward to linking up with Jennifer and other creatives at 

Studio JRU Sneak Peek Fridays being hosted at "Life with Kaishon" this week...

Crossed Ways

Glory moments come knocking in disguises...

I can miss this friend dressed as stranger, my eyes blind to God's ways in the ordinary...

I must lift them up to the One who helps correct the vision, the perception - lenses adjusted to see into the spirit realm, to see the multitudes at the ready to come to my aid...

Photo Source

My sweet tweener and I had gotten cross-ways with each other…as I finished combing the snags out of her beautiful curls, the gentle whispers of the Holy Spirit started filling in “the rest of the story”…then, as we shared some art time shortly after, our conversation naturally turned towards the issue that had been at the root of our little conflict – and we had such a rich, full, insightful, deep into each other’s hearts sharing time! And  I was able to speak into her what God had been telling me about her purpose and calling at the same time!

Crossed ways redeemed by Cross Ways!

Joining with Emily and other imperfects at:

Sneak Peak Friday - Creating Memories

This summer has been about creating - creating memories!

Yes, there are projects in various stages on the work table, 

but memories of these things are what we are busy making most days:

Swim team and swim meets

Skateboarding down the big hill

 Friends singing at a slumber party breakfast

Cupcakes for breakfast are more nutritious than sugar sweetened cereal!

Telling stories, late, late, late, at night (or was it early morning?)

 Volunteering at the therapeutic riding center - this is Angel's favorite horse.

Jr. Volunteers washing the horses after classes are over.

Keeping up with equipment and grooming items.

 Fourth of July water balloon fight (because there was a statewide ban on ANY fireworks!)

 

Dressed up as a mutant cow (notice the udder?) and getting free food from Chick-fil-a

Ahhhh, summer!

Linking up with the Studio JRU creatives being hosted at Anita's Blog

 The Other Side of Me

The Beauty of Holiness....part 10...final thoughts

 Yes, I believe this series is at its close...but I am sure insights will continue as the Lord teasingly brings His ideas of holiness and beauty across my mind (said with smiles).  But I love where He has brought these final thoughts...1 Thessalonians 5:23:

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete...

Image source

And what does this verse say about the beauty of holiness, the holiness that is full of the beauty of His love and His nature (through the fruit of the Spirit)?  First it is a promise that He will work it in us - by sanctifying us entirely.  You see, to be sanctified is to be made holy...the word in Greek is a form of hagios, meaning to be rendered holy, to be set apart and consecrated to God, and to be purified - both externally and internally be the renewing of the soul!  I love this, just reading the definition transforms me(!) as I - in my past broken thinking - used to think it meant I must be perfect which I knew all too well was an impossibility! 

Secondly, there was a word play going on in my mind (thanks to the playing of the Holy Spirit, I am sure) - of how holy and wholly sound alike...and of how wholeness is the opposite of brokenness...and how that seems to be the message of  "The Beauty of Holiness".  In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, it seems that holiness and wholeness are intrinsically linked.  We will be made whole as we are made holy!  And this action is initiated, powered, and completed by Him and NOT me...my cooperation is a must, but my effort will undoubtedly lead back to brokenness!  And I believe worship is the vehicle of my cooperation; worship is the one activity that keeps my flesh crucified while the work of the Lord in my heart is accomplished.

And since I like word studies, the truth of point 2 is seen in the original language - where the Holy Spirit's word-play is even more clearly seen!

The word translated "entirely" is  holotelḗs (an adjective, derived from hólos, "whole" and télos, "end-purpose") – properly, wholly (holistically), "fully-layered" (all levels present) – describing someone reaching the end-goal of "entire sanctification." 

The word translated "complete" in the next line is  holóklēros (from hólos, "whole" and klḗros, "a lot, cast to better discern God's preferred-will") – properly, "all that is included (apportioned) through divine lot."

Now, plugging those definitions in the appropriate places, the verse says:

"...may the God of peace Himself sanctify you - all the layers that comprise you and bring you totally to your end-purpose, leaving nothing undone or unfinished (holotelḗs); and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved completely - through all that is included or apportioned to you by His divine will (holóklēros), without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ"

Worship...

Where holes in the soul are transformed into wholeness.
Where my twisted effort is replaced by His provision.
Where my failures are brought to the success of His final end-purpose.
Where brokenness is transformed into beauty.  

Where I find my true self.

Worship. Holiness. Wholeness. Beauty.

I know now, the meaning of "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness...Psalm 29:2"

linking up with emily and other imperfects at Imperfect Prose

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6 
Part 7 
Part 8 
Part 9 

101 Bits of Summer Fun

Click here to download this great summer fun printable by Laura Winslow Photography!  Isn't it great?!?

A Poem/Prayer to the God of Creativity

Angel of Creation

Creator

You spoke the world into existence

Your Word goes forth, 

and does not return empty,

but performs what you have sent it to do.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue;

therefore let your speech be seasoned with salt.

Think about what is right, true, just, pure, 

any good thing,

anything worthy of praise.

Out of the fullness of the heart,

the mouth speaks...

Speak Life!

So, the Creator is alive in my heart,

His creative Spirit is a fire within

flowing through me - extending 

towards those around me...

Speaking words of life..

that which is true, right, just, pure, good,

and praiseworthy...towards me

and those in around me!

Calling me -

Wonderful,

Beautiful, 

Cherished,

Daughter,

Beloved,

                                                                         Child of My Right Hand...

                                                         Creating

                                                           streams of hope,

                                                             sparks of love, 

                                                            pools of peace,

                                                              rivers of passion...

                                                           in me,

                                                             so I can touch those

                                                          around me

                                                           with Him.

Joining with Jennifer and other creatives at Studio JRU

The Beauty of Holiness....part 9...+ a little warfare...

Photo source

Today we will look a little further into the results of the "beautification" process...and to refresh our minds concerning the passage in Esther 2, I have it copied below:

12)...twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women...
15)...And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her...
17)The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him...

As I was studying these verses, the Holy Spirit put His spotlight on the numbers of verse 12.  In Biblical signs and types, even the numbers have significant meaning.  Now, I don't go into the numerology direction, trying to predict the future; understanding the symbolism of signs and types simply deepens our understanding of what God is already saying.

With this in mind, the number 12 carries the idea of divine government and apostolic fullness (there were 12 disciples/apostles, 12 stones in the breastplate of the High Priest, 12 loaves of showbread, etc.).  The number 6 has several associations, but for my purpose here, I believe the focus is on 6 as being the number of man; 6 is 1 less than 7, and 7 is the number of God, of perfection, completeness.  I am reminded as I write this of the verse that declares "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23).  There were two blocks of time, 6 months each...I believe each 6 month period correlates to one of the 3 forces a believer must overcome in their lives...

the first six month period - representing our carnal nature, the flesh, and dying to the flesh;
the second six month period - representing the world culture, and dying to its influence as the character and nature of Jesus is being fashioned and expressed within;

and the third force is Satan.  Esther does symbolically face and resist Satan later - Haman is a type of Satan.  Haman's name comes from a Persian word that means "magnificent"!  It is easy to see the comparison, and if you know the story, Haman has the same type of pride which brought Satan to his down fall!

In verse 15 we read that Esther found favor - or other ways this word chen חֵןhas been translated, she found grace, graciousness, preciousness, and pleasantness - in the eyes of all who saw her.  She allowed the "beautification" process to have its intended purpose, she submitted humbly to the rigors of the rubbing and scraping (the things God puts in our path to challenge and refine us), and soaked in the perfumes and oils (the nature and presence of Jesus) till what was expressed through her was what we would call....holiness.

The type of holiness that is gentle and reverent with all, even one's own self; a holiness that is not self-abasing or legalistic, but a holiness that is rich in love.  A holiness that is patient, kind, not boastful or proud or arrogant, not jealous; a holiness that is upright, respectful, acting in ways that invite people towards it, that puts others before one's own desires, that doesn't get offended, that seeks out and delights in the truth and rejects unrighteousness even in the guise of religion; a holiness that is full of hope, steadfastness in God's ways, embracing all that God allows to come into their lives; a holiness that dwells on that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, or worthy of praise...

And such holiness caused her king to find favor with her as well...the kind of favor that caused him to feel faithfulness and zeal towards her!

This is the kind of holiness I want to express...I want my King to be zealous towards me!  (See Zephaniah 3:17 for this zeal!) I want my nature to melt with the nature of Jesus, to the point that we are truly one.  And when this occurs, isn't that the point when I am most able to resist the devil?  And isn't this the point of the most serious warfare - when the enemy would seek to draw me away - when I am pressing closer to Him, living my life in worship to Him...worshiping Him in the beauty of holiness? And the weapon of my warfare?  More worship in the beauty of holiness!

Yes, Lord, let this be so of me!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6 
Part 7 
Part 8

Linking with Emily and other imperfects at

An Old Prayer - Just Words to Inspire...

I have been painting a little...but busy tweener life has overcome all other aspects of existence this week...it is either that or that the heat has totally overwhelmed me...and the fact that twice storms have knocked out our electricity!  AND I totally lost my cell phone - Yikes!  But I was inspired to post anyway by Kay at Heart and Soul who was sharing about one of my favorite missionaries...and this is a quote of hers that I keep close to contemplate often...

SOLDIER'S PRAYER

Give me the love that leads the way,

the faith that nothing can dismay,

the hope no disappointments tire,

the passion that will burn like fire.

Let me not sink to be a clod:

  Make me thy fuel, Flame of God.

                                                        

                                                                                                        Amy Carmichael

I have this in a "spiritual warfare" collage....

May your week be full with faith, hope, passion, and being the fuel for the Flame of God!

Joining with Jennifer and other creatives at Studio JRU

The Beauty of Holiness - Part 8

12Now when the turn of each young lady came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women...

Today we are continuing the study of  Esther 2:12, the last phrase of "six months with spices and the cosmetics of women" (NASB):

 

Cosmetics - the same word translated as "beautification"

Scraping/rubbing                                                                     

Spices   -  from a word meaning "sweet odors" or "spices"  and the King James adds "with other things for the purifying of women"                                                                                 

In essence, spices are perfume.  There is a perfume defined in the Bible - "All thy garments [smell] of myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia" - the fragrance of Jesus as written in Psalm 45:8.
                                                              

Myrrh  -  Last week we learned it is a spice associated with Death (in this case, meaning death of the Old Nature, of the flesh), with anointing, with love, and with purification.  The fragrant oil is released when the spice is crushed; myrrh is a picture of the fragrance of Jesus being released when we are crushed...by life, by our own choices or the choices of another, by walking in a fallen world...

Aloes - these spices were from a tree native to India and which was very aromatic.  Aloes are often
             associated with the Fragrance of nature

Cassia - a cinnamon like powdered bark that is often associated with the Fragrance of Christ

Just as Esther was being prepared to be a possible queen, our days of beautification are intended to prepare us to be transformed into a citizen of heaven, infusing us with the nature, anointing, and fragrance of Christ Himself - and leaving behind conformity to this world's system.  During the beautification process we are setting our affections on our new home, instead of this earth home (Colossians 3:2)…

and this is how holiness is worked in us, a continuous scraping and scrubbing and cleansing from that which is old and dead and worthless, and a soaking in all that is found in newness of life with Jesus, being infused with His nature and fragrance...


and just why am I surprised when the pain of releasing that which is old comes?  Can I learn to quickly see His "beautification" process has come to me in that moment, in that way?


Work Your beauty in me, O God!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6 
Part 7 



Joining Emily at Imperfect Prose and Ann at Walk With Him Wednesdays