Doing What's Good

 

 

"Let Us Not Grow Weary of doing what's GOOD, for in due season we will Reap A Harvest." This verse keeps popping up in front of me this last couple weeks. I think God is trying to tell me something. Too often we "do good" hoping to get praise from humans. Too often nobody notices and we get all bent up. Do you clean house hoping the kids will notice? Have fun with that! Do you work hard at your job hoping your boss with throw you a bone? May never happen. As a teacher, the ki...ds at school that do good just becuase they see me holding stickers behind my back get on my nerves! Am I that kid? Just hoping for a pat on the back?
In reality, we ( or "I" really) should be happy to do good when NOBODY sees us. For it is these "good things" that He sees. These good deeds that do not gain us earthly praise that He holds onto and gives us blessing either here or in eternity. They are the riches. Character is what you are in the dark, right? So, do good always. No matter if you are noticed by anyone. Know that He notices is proud of you, His child. If we hunger fro human appreciation for every good deed we do, we will starve. Look to Him above who sees it all. He loves you.

Illustrated Truths continued...

Psalm 56

Lord, have mercy on me; all day long the enemy troops press in.

So many are proud to fight against me; how they long to conquer me.

^3-4 But when I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you.

Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I am trusting him,

what can mere man do to me? ⁵ They are always twisting what I say.

All their thoughts are how to harm me. 

⁶ They meet together to perfect their plans;

they hide beside the trail, listening for my steps, waiting to kill me.

 ⁷ They expect to get away with it. Don’t let them, Lord. In anger cast them to the ground.

⁸ You have seen me tossing and turning through the night.

You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle!

You have recorded every one in your book.

⁹ The very day I call for help, the tide of battle turns.

My enemies flee! This one thing I know: God is for me! 

 ^10-11 I am trusting God—oh, praise his promises!

I am not afraid of anything mere man can do to me! Yes, praise his promises.

 ¹² I will surely do what I have promised, Lord, and thank you for your help. 

¹³ For you have saved me from death and my feet from slipping,

so that I can walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

 

1 Peter 3:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I love this quote from Kid President.

It is similar to others I have heard.

 

"Nobody cares about how much you know,

until the know how much you care."

 

and

 

"It's nice to be important,

It's more important to be nice."

 

It all reminds me of what The Bible taught us...

 

Philippians 2:3-5

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

 Let each of you look not only to his own interests,

but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves,

which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Moths Destroy

Intricate design woven and weaved by artist hands,

Imported beauties shipped from other lands,

things to treasure and lock away,

and things worth much money we pay.

The world finds comfort in which to things we cling

to some special item or beautiful thing.

 

But there is a higher perspective from a Father so tall,

that the things we see here have no value at all.

For moths come to eat till it all fades to nothing,

we choose to cry in sorrow or in praise we can sing.

Do we love the things or the Creator of all?

Is our perspective big or is it too small?

I pray you see it with an unseen spiritual gaze

instead of continuing in the world's tangible ways.

by Tabitha Morgan

 

 

 

 

Here in South Texas we are under flood advisory. At times like this, it helps me to realize what is most important. It's not things we see, but things we cannot.

Here in preparation for the storm, are we preparing our hearts as well?

Are we not only stocking up on bread to eat, but stocking up on the daily bread of Christ?

Read the WOrd of God today and everyday to know the truth.

 

 Take these words at truth and memorize them to prepare you for the storm.

Deauteronomy 11:18-20

18“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 19“You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. 20“You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,

 Yes, you should prepare for a storm in many ways. But do not conform to the ways of the world in fear. Trust God Daily with your needs.

God Warns against this hoarding of riches in place of daily trusting Him.

Luke 12:13-21

 

Matthew 4

But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

This music video is perfect for this verse...

Shane and Shane, Though You Slay Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUPz6_TciY&list=PL81E68F5A1F0FA410&index=96

 

 

Things in the storm may wash away. This is God's will for us to cling to Him in knowing that He is the only rock to stand on in the storm. He is the firm foundation on which we stand.

If a storm is what I takes to praise Him, then bring the rain!

Listen to this song...

Mercy Me, Bring the Rain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kseRKxkq5iY&list=PL81E68F5A1F0FA410&index=97

 

 

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.…

 

 

I pray that these images I created and words of truth bring you closer to Christ.

 

 

Guide to Finding Love

These images have been dug deep from my heart as a guide to anyone looking for a closer relationship to Love. I spent my life (till the age of 29) knowing God was there, but only feeling Him from a distance. This created a hole in my heart that I was continually trying to fill with things of this world.

 I was left unsatisfied...

I did not know how to find Love.

 But, Now I do.

Once I found Love and it overflowed in my life, I began writing out my testimony.

It is unfinished, as God is not finished with me. 

But I am working on the emotional time of readiness to dive back into completing the book soon.

My Illustrated Testimony shows the importance of finding love in my life.

It was something I never knew how to do until I was taught how, 

It changed my life.

http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2013/03/supertab-autobiographical-comic-of-my.html

HOW THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO....

FIND LOVE. 

BE STILL INSIDE

This is the hardest part! To sit down, be still and listen... near impossible. If it's not the kids, spouse, work, dogs or surroundings that distract us... it's our own minds! Our mind gets filled with thought of the Earth; paying bills, getting taxes filed, getting the dogs their shots, feeding the children... whatever. We can't possibly hear

 His Still Small Voice (1 Kings 19:11-13) if we have a thousand other voices trying to make us anxious. Satan knows this... so... he likes to whisper words of doubt to keep us busy all day long. It's easy to fear things that you cannot control. This even happened to Jesus, yes, really. He had times of anxiety that he had to escape the world in order to hear his Father's voice. But there's somebody that wants to help...

 

My art (above)

God wants to take our burdens, 

calm us down, give us peace and free us from anxiety that binds us.. He says so.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jamie Grace sings about it here...

LOVE THIS SONG!

https://youtu.be/3lBtnreAcAE

Psalm 46:10
He says, "Be still, and know that I am God:"

Here are times when Jesus had to be alone, escape people, be 

still and quiet to hear His Father's voice...

And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there. 

( Mark 1:35)

And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the multitude away. And after bidding them farewell, he departed to the mountain to pray.

 ( Mark 6:45-46)

And they came to a place called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground, and began praying.

 ( Mark 14:32-34)

And when day came, He departed to a lonely place; and the multitudes were searching for Him, and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from going away from them.

 ( Luke 4:42)

But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

 ( Luke 5:16)

And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ( Luke 6:12)

from Super Tab (above) 

My art (above)

LET THE EARTH MELT AWAY

I know when I'm on a mission to hear God's voice, I get distracted by the world around me... things around me that I feel touching my skin, things I see around me that are unsettling, things I hear that try to pull me away or make me loose concentration... pretty much every human sense can cause me to stray away from my mission. The world is physical. God is spiritual. He is inside us... deep and quietly waiting.

John 4:24

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

1 John 2:15

"Do not love the world or anything in the world.

 If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 

Romans 12:2

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to discern what is good, pleasing and perfect will of God."

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, 

but what is unseen is eternal. 

IMAGINE A NEW PLACE

Psalm 23:1-6

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul. 

He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for You are with me:

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil: my cup overflows. 

Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

from SuperTab (above)

SEEK LOVE

1 John 4: 

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

We could try our whole lives to find love from the Earth. Earthly love will fail. It can try to do the job, but will come short every time. People disappoint, let us down, discourage us... I know through God relationships can be healed. I know it. But it is THROUGH GOD, that it can be healed. His love through us, our pride aside with our forgiving hearts humbled. Without God, without LOve, it is impossible. So, before you can try to seek love from things, pets, or people of the earth... 

He is the source of where it all comes from.

Seek Him... He will be there. 

It is His deepest desire.

Jeremiah 29:12-14
"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, declares the Lord"

Matthew 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.

Deuteronomy 4:29
"But from there you will seek the LORD your God,
and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul."

from SuperTab (above)

It was here, for the first time I met with Jesus. 

I asked Him the questions in my heart. 

He filled my emptiness and overflowed my heart holes with abundant spiritual satisfaction. 

These were holes nobody on this earth knew were there, not even me. Only my Creator knew. 

He showed me hurts I had buried deep and hid away until i forgot they were there. He restored my soul, just as His word said. 

His promises are true. 

I pray with all my heart that you will find time to be alone to meet Him in your secret place of Peace. 

It is what Jesus said ever time He met with His disciples, "Peace be with you..".

The Holy Spirit is here for that very reason. I big price was paid so that you could have that Peace with you always and everywhere. Let go of the world and find what really matters.

What will last for an eternity when all the things that we worry about are gone and over... 

He will be there waiting. He is there waiting now.

Never Thirst Again

The Painting

 

The drawing

 

So, how did this painting come about? Hmmmm. Well, first of all I love succulents. Not only are they beautifully unique, they are also easy to take care of.

I have been "thirsty" to draw more succulents in a way of their nature representing faith. Since God gave me the gift of creativity, He often gives me images to draw and draws out of me a reason to connect it to Him. This is my way of personal worship, to Create for my Creator. So, I had the image and idea, but I wondered why He wanted me to create this image... so, I researched.

On Wikipedia I read this...

"The habitats of these water preserving plants are often in areas with high temperatures and low rainfall. Succulents have the ability to thrive on limited water sources, such as mist and dew, which makes them equipped to survive in an ecosystem which contains scarce water sources."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succulent_plant

 

So... I started thinking..... connecting the spiritual and creative dots.

 

Succulents are able to withstand harsh heat and little water each day. They can survive in the desert where they are constantly getting beat down by the sun and then the cold nights. They adapt to where they are.

They take what little water they get in life and hold it inside to get them through dry times. Thirsty people are drawn to them knowing they hold treasure inside.

Faith is like this.

Jesus told the Woman at the well that He had "living water" that He could give her.

She did not understand what he meant because she was thinking in the "physical".

It is a water that our physical bodies do not understand.

It is a spiritual water that keeps our hearts content to hold onto our Faith when there are other things in life tempt us, wear us down or make us doubt... when we are living in a spiritual drought.

 

Years ago I knew about the "living water" growing up in church and with a very Spiritual mother, but my worldly mind couldn't wrap around the spiritual concept.

Not until I came a wife, mother and adult could I really come to a point where I was "thirsty" for that 'Living water" and curious to go to the "well".

My "well" was a spiritual retreat called Kairos in Dallas, Texas.

This is where my real spiritual walk began to go deep.

God spoke to me! I know some may think I am crazy, but it's true.

His words He spoke to me on that spirit filled day I have help in my

skin like a succulent holds water. If that is the ONLY "living Water" I get for the rest of my life here on earth, it is enough for the harshest desert. I knew that day that His love was real.

I fell madly deeply in love with Christ when His love for me was revealed.

My heart was sealed!

Read about my Kairos experience here...

http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2013/03/supertab-autobiographical-comic-of-my.html

 ___________________________________________________________________________

As an artist, I love the beauty of a succulent plant. I really do not have a green thumb, probably because of my ADD and lack of remembering to water plants. I do love green though. I do love plants and feel that without them in a space it is empty. Living without life just doesn't make sense.
I have used succulents in my classroom for the Rodeo Art theme for years because it teaches the kids about contour line and also helps them appreciate the unique visual characteristics of the plant.

My Daughter & student working on her succulent

Daughter and Mother succulents above...

See my students' below here...

1st and 2nd grade cactus
http://tabithaannthelostsock.blogspot.com/2014/09/color-burst-cactus.html

4th and 5th grade cactus
http://tabithaannthelostsock.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/doodle-desert.html

I hope this has inspired you to create for your Creator, draw, paint, read the WOrd, pray or at least think. Please let me know your thoughts. Your words, like His, drive me to create more.

1 Thessalonians 5:11               
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Hebrews 10:23-25               

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Isaiah 66:7-9 spirit illustration

This paper-cut out illustration is a branch-off from my previous post...

http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2014/04/jeremiah-17-7-8-spirit-illustration.html

I am using clippings from obituaries in the newspaper as the blooms from the flowers. To me, this symbolizes pain from loss of a loved one not being in vain. God does not give death the last word. From the pain of loss comes new growth and new hope. Isaiah 66:7-9 says, "Before her pain came, she delivered a son. Who has heard of such a thing? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once?... I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born." Just as the pains of birth come, so follows new life. Nothing good comes easily. Nothing strong is built quickly. Sacrifice births life and peace. Look at the cross. 

Sometimes tragedy happens to us and we are left with nothing but questions and possibly doubt. Personally, Through death my faith grew. Our perspective changed. We live still... But in a new light. I believe more now in what I can't see, trust more in the unknown, and cling to hope for new life and second chances. I will never know why The Lord too my husband from his family at the young age of 35. But I will never selfishly want him to return the this world of death, because I know where he is nothing ever dies. It is hope I hold to and faith in eternity that keeps me moving. I refuse to let death defeat me or my family and the life we are still living here on Earth. God is not done with us... We still have a purpose. God is using us for His kingdom and we are gonna keep making life. 

Faith art from little hands...

 

Baby Baptism 

created by Maisy

5 years old

 

Chuch Bells Ringing

Ok, i drew this base of the church for her and she added the details

(bricks, stained glass, color). 

But I still think it is amazing.

 

Daniel in the Lion's Den

Created by Maisy 

5 years old

 

Nativity Scene

created by Maisy 

5 years old

 

Adam and Eve

Created by Maisy 

5  years old

 

Moses strikes Water

Created by Maisy

5 years old

 

He can Reach You...

Her own words 

Maisy 5 years old

 

 

Jesus Walks on Water

5 years old Maisy

 

Moses in a Basket

6 years old

 

Through the Roof

Maisy 6 years old

These Biblical Illustrations were all created in the last 2 year by my oldest daughter, Maisy. 

I am so impressed not only with her skill, but her ability to take stories and show her view of them with drawings. She is using her talent to help others see Christ more clearly. 

She is walking in her mother's footsteps and there is nothing more rewarding than seeing this in my child. 

I have been telling Maisy stories from her Children's Bible and trying to get her to see the hand of the Creator in all things around her since she was very small. 

I truly began my sincere walk with Christ when she was one years old.

So, that fresh feeling just poured out onto her from my heart. 

All I could do was teach her about His love everyday. 

I am so glad all my talk was actually heard and understood. 

Now I have proof by seeing her work she puts on paper all without any prompting on my part. 

She just opens her Sunday Morning folder in church and starts to draw...

I am always sitting through the service just waiting to see what she will do next.

Thank You God for my Little Artist!

I have been training her to gain skills since she could just print her hand!

Maisy at 3

She started off as an "abstract" painter!

Such "fun" for Mommy...

She has been a spiritual girl for so long...

This is her sleeping with her Bible. 

Artist in Training is right!

 

She just keeps going everyday

amazing me in every way!