Art Journal 07.25.14

Art Journal 07.24.14

Art Journal 07.23.14

Art Journal 07.22.14

Art Journal 07.21.14

Today I sketched and journaled about our doggies' mischief in getting into the garden.

Art Journal

This is my new passion. Going to try to keep my art journal posted and up to date here.

Lifelong Learning

Mr. Hove' was the eighth grade teacher at our mission school and also the choir director. I remember his graduation speech one year, admonishing the students to continue to pursue lifelong learning even though they were graduating from their formal education. Mr. Hove' had a booming voice and a larger than life presence. He kept emphasizing in his heavy African brogue, "Learning ends in the grrrrave!" (Emphasis on rolling the r, :)

So, I was thinking of Mr. Hove' recently when I took up water color painting and sketching. I probably will never be that good, taking up a new skill in my fifties, but it's fun! So much fun! I'm almost obsessed with it sometimes, staying up late to get a sketch just right. Then a childlike joy sweeps over me when I start adding the water color. I can be transported for hours, focused on a landscape, not thinking of much of anything else. It's wonderful! And I'm kind of proud of myself for learning something new.

Mr. Hove' and his sweet wife were later poisoned during the revolutionary war in that beautiful African country. But your influence did not end in the grave Mr. Hove'!

"Learning ends in the grrrrave!"

Here's to lifelong learning!

Agendas

Quote from Oswald Chambers: "Jesus did not say to make converts to your way of thinking, but He said to look after His sheep, to see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Him. We consider what we do in the way of Christian work as service, yet Jesus Christ calls service to be what we are to Him, not what we do for Him. Discipleship is based solely on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on following after a particular belief or doctrine."

 I think we are often guilty of substituting causes and doctrine, even political agendas for the real thing, pointing people to the love relationship they can have with Jesus which will transcend and transform anything and everything else in this temporary life on earth.

 Come to think of it, the only agenda the Apostle Paul had was as he stated so clearly in the book of Philippians, "For me to live is Christ!"

States I've Visited

visited 22 states (44%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or Triposo world travel guide for Android

Friendship

I have been blessed in this life with a very dear and treasured friendship. We have walked with each other through the valley of the shadow, holding hands with Jesus. It was with great joy for how the Lord turned ashes into beauty in her life, but also with a personal ache, that I said goodbye to my dear friend this morning as she and her husband headed out on their great adventure, taking their time moving across the country. Can't wait to hear how God uses you on this journey, my friend, because I know of your deep faith and your longing to please Him in everything you do. Someday there will be no more sorrow or pain, tears or goodbyes! Till then I hold you close in my prayers.