Hope in Your Heart : Mixed Media

Here we are and it's Monday again.

We have only dipped our toes into the creative spring

of the new year 

and there's already so much inspiration 

to be found.

In our hearts and all around.

What inspires you? 

Some of my most inspired moments come through...

Writings

Music

Movies

Nature

People

Art

I love that moment when I read something or 

hear a song and for whatever reason

it finds it's way to the depths of my heart.

 I am somehow forever changed

and awed by the beauty of the moment.

Does that ever happen to you? 

**************

Today, I'd like to share with you

a mixed media piece that I made. 

It doesn't have a name but

HOPE in your Heart 

is the theme.

This is one of my all-time

favorite words. I think the reason needs 

no clarification.

Sometimes I just like to grab some things from my 

scrap drawer and from leftovers laying

on my desk and try to fit them altogether to 

create something.

C*R*E*A*T*E*

Have you been creating?

I try to work on something every day.

It feeds my soul!

The desire to create is one of

the deepest yearnings of the human soul.

Dieter  F. Uchtdorf
________________

May your basket of HOPE be full

to overflowing..

in spite of your circumstances.

 With God all things are possible..

Matthew 19:26

So, there's always reason to hope.
And I have always thought that hope is what 
sets us to action.
If we don't have the HOPES 
that things could be different or better
somehow, we wouldn't take that next step.

Now, I'm going out to take a walk. 
I promised Miss Liberty and she's waiting!

Thank you for coming by.

Blessings and hugs,

Tamara

Art Inspiration: My Journey-- Trust God's Timing In Our Lives

Hello Beautiful Ones...

Isn't it a glorious day to bring to life that
creative gift that is wanting to
burst forth with
beauty and inspiration?

OR..

Do you think it's too late?

To follow your path, somewhat obscure at times,
to find yourself and lose yourself at the same time.

To find the part of you that is waiting to be unbound by the
misconceptions of life that restrict your
thinking and doing.

And that's the part that we want to lose.

Do you look at your situation in the here and now
as if they are abstract and think that they don't fit
into the plan that you had or the
time frame within which you were hoping for
 things to happen?

Do you ever feel like time is running out?
That these things can't or haven't happened
 fast enough?

Or maybe, you're like me, and you've been busy living life.
Following through with the choices that you've made.
Being a responsible, dependable person.




Like...for the past 25 or 30 years!

And now, in the, past little while, your life has come to a point of drastic
change and you're beginning to realize that there's a you
in there that you didn't even know?


Or maybe they are dreams that were buried deep in the
 mire of yours (or someone else's) practicality.

(Somewhere in your memories of the past, you remember
getting excited about making things.

Drawing, playing music, painting
singing. Or taking sticks, feathers and colored
string..  putting it all together to make something beautiful.)


As I look backward through the windows of my childhood,
there's a little girl who used to make up songs.
Draw birds on pieces of leftover sheet rock.
Make rings out of old, pretty colored wire
that came out a telephone system somewhere.

WOW..
Things that I'd forgotten, even until now!

I really wanted to be an artist.
Of the singing, drawing kind.


So, in the reality of NOW...
you have time.
To reflect.
To feel.
To breathe and just be.

Something
 begins to awaken in your heart and soul.

A hunger begins to stir.

This has happened to me. 

And I have begun to follow the calls of my heart to
follow this path.

To unpack these treasures...these desires
that have been stored away for decades.

my hopes..

And though I feel very blessed to see my opportunities
grow and my heart become more full of ideas
and dreams,
there has been one nagging thought
that I fight often.

It seems very late.
I'm too late.
I've missed it.
I will never have enough time to do all
that I want to do.

*

One night, I was sharing these thoughts with my husband.
I was almost in tears and feeling somewhat bitter about it.
And admittedly, having some selfish regrets about what I had spent the last
30 years of my life doing.
(Even though I loved what I was doing.
Raising our children and teaching them at home.)

I have really have had a difficult time with this.

He assured me that my life was spent doing very worthy things
and it was all a sum of who I am.

I had my priorities right.

I fell asleep feeling more at peace.
Trying to hold on to the truth of what he had said and not be
a doubter or negative about things that I
couldn't change anyway.

The next morning,
I picked up the new magazine that I had just bought.
My favorite publications come from Stampington.

It was the most recent
 Where Women Create Issue.

I turned directly to the Barbara Rainey
article. (I am travelling and don't have that issue with me right now,
or I would share more of her lovely, truth-packed thoughts
about this subject.) 

A beautiful, Christian woman full of Godly wisdom,
wonderful talents and she also has a successful business.

She had written a quote..
Her words resonated in my heart and soul and caused
hope to spring up like a shoot

She had stated..

"Trust the timing of your life.
There is a Master Designer who
makes no mistakes."

This was for me.
 I had no doubt and I felt so
grateful.

It was just what I needed to hear.
A truth that I needed to be reminded of.
I know that God in His abundant love and infinite wisdom
is ordering my steps.
And that includes my time as well.

God is ever-watching..
not in an 
'I'm going to get you for that'

kind of way but in the gentle,
attentive way that a father
watches over his own.


Guiding.
Protecting.
Encouraging.

So..
trust your heart.

Trust God..

and take the advice of
Winston Churchill.

Never
Never,  Never
Give up..

Trust the process.
Keep at it.
Enjoy it.
Don't fret.
  And remember...

That He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
__________________________________________________________________

This is a re-peat photo.
I hope nobody minds.
But it's such a beautiful time of year.
And the flowers are so inspiring.
I hope you're touched by their beauty!

Life is good and through it all,

blessings gather.

Wishes for a wonderful week.

Tamara xxoo



Our Refuge

God usually doesn't allow us to be quickly transported out of

challenging times. He wants first that we should grow and rest in Him

in the midst of them. That our hearts would thirst for Him.

 

Not always out of our troublous times,

    And the struggles fierce and grim,

But IN - deeper IN-  to our one sure rest,

  The place of our peace, in Him~

 

Annie Johnson

 

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

 

Psalm 46:1

 

Peaceful, restful wishes to you on this Sunday.

Tamara XO

 

Encouragement in His Time..Will Come

Have you ever had to just really hang onto that feeling in your gut and trust?
Not allowing yourself to look at the outward circumstances?
But following the voice of your heart and that
of the One who loves and leads you?
Knowing that things will come?

I have and do. And it's an area in which I am thankful for
release and growth. I am still "in progress"
but am no longer
crippled by circumstances that seem to

speak scream failure or insignificant.

There have been so many times that I have asked God about
quitting but He never seems to release me to walk through
that door from "Blogland"
and quietly close it behind me and tiptoe away knowing no one
in the word will notice my absence!
But He will. Because He has not said to do so.


And so I persist and grow and learn to trust ...

Myself and Him.

I dig deep. Very deep. And then deeper still. Trying to understand.

 

I struggle to learn...

 

how to pour out my words...

 

 in colors and pictures and

Moods and feelings.

Sounds and textures.

 

 

 

 

I think it's coming.

Not so much because I see it

(though I have seen some progress)

 

but because..

 

He said He would and He will.

 

He is:

Leading. Guiding. Teaching

.

We can relax.

 confident
restful
assured

 because:

 

He who promised is faithful.

 **************************
 

 God knows just when to withhold from us any visible

sign of encouragement, and when to grant us such a sign.

How good it is that we may trust Him anyway!

 

When all visible evidences that He is remembering us

are withheld, that is best; He wants us to realize that

His Word, His promise of remembrance,

 is more substantial and dependable than any

evidence of our senses.

 

When He sends the visible evidence,

after all, that is well also;

we appreciate it all the more after

we have trusted Him without it!

 

Those who are readiest to trust God

without other evidence than His Word always

receive the greatest number of visible

evidences of His love.~ C.G. Trumbull.

 

 



A Found Treasure.. We Can GiveThanks and Trust ... Always

Thrifting can be a treasure hunt. Old books are treasures in my eyes. I love the look of them. With bindings worn and pages yellowing. Smells that give an indication of having been stored in some dark and damp basement somewhere. I love to open them and find bits and pieces of scrap paper or bookmarks. Inscriptions or notes always make me wonder about the person whose hands held it and turned it's pages.

So, when I pass through the doors of thrift stores, antique shops or stroll around a yard sale, one of the first things I look for are boxes or stacks of books.

Stream in the Desert has been a favorite of mine for some time. With it's refreshing applications of the Word and touching, relevant quotes as well as poetry.  There is devotion for everyday of the year. So, when I found this little, 1950 copy with it's red, and lovely embossed cover, at a little thrift store in Heber, Az., I was so thrilled!

 While reading it one day this week, I was so encouraged by the daily reading. There are so many things in this life that we have no control over. But the truth is that God is overseeing the events of our lives and will see us through each one if we look to Him. This is something that I have known and maybe you have to but isn't is so comforting to have that reminder today? And for tomorrow. It was for me. I'd like to share what it said.

                Giving thanks always for all things unto God~ Ephesians 5:20

 

No matter what the source of evil, if you are in God and surrounded by Him as far as by an

atmosphere, all evil has to pass through Him before it comes to you.

Therefore, you can thank God  for everything that comes. Not for the sin of it,

 but for what God will out of it and through it. May God make our lives thanksgiving

and perpetual praise, then He will  make everything a blessing.

 

We once saw a man draw some black dots.

We looked and could not make anything of them but an irregular

 assemblage of black dots. Then he drew a few lines, put in a few rests,

then a clef at the beginning, and we saw these black dots were musical notes.

On sounding them, we were singing,

 

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise him all creatures here below."

 

There are many black dots and black spots in our lives, and we cannot understand

why they are there or why God permitted them to come. But if let God

come into our lives, and adjust the dots the proper way, and draw

the lines He wants, and separate this from that and put in rests at the proper places;

out of the black dots and spots in our lives

He will make a glorious harmony.

May we not hinder Him in His glorious work. ~ C.H.P.

 

"Would we know that the major chords were sweet,

If there were no minor key?

Would the painter's work be fair for our eyes

Without shade on land or sea?"

 

"Would we know that the meaning of happiness,

Would we feel that the day was bright?

If we'd never known what it was to grieve,

nor gazed on the dark of night?"

 

 

Many men owe the grandeur  of their lives to

their tremendous difficulties. ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

 

When the musician presses the black keys on the great organ,

the music is as sweet as when he touches the white ones, but to get the capacity of the

instrument he must touch them all.

 

No matter what happens,

 

We Can Know Who Holds Tomorrow~

Have a blessed day~

Tamara

 

 

 



God is Our Refuge...That is Sure

A scrap and doodling..... turned into a project....while looking for comfort.

 

Have you ever thought about the content of this scripture deeply?

I don't think I have.  Though, there have been many times that

I have clung to this promise time and again (and

again today)

with no doubt of it's truth.

 

 

 Webster's 1828 definition

 

Refuge:

  That which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity;

a strong hold which protects by its strength,

or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness;

 any place inaccessible to an enemy.

 

This sounds like a safe place.

From the tempests and storms which rise up from

unforgiving circumstances or people.

 

There is a safe place in Him.

No man should put there trust in me. 

That is sure.

Our surety comes only from the One who

formed us and redeemed us.

 

 

His strength goes beyond our own.

Whatever we cannot face or walk through alone

with Him there is assurance of making it through

as His light leads and guides us.

In letting go of oursleves, we find true lasting strength

for each day and circumstance.

 

His presence is without fail.

Not only is He ever-present, He delights

in us and wants good to come to us.

All the days of our lives.

 

Never doubt that you are His Beloved.

 

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

 

 

Blessings to you,

Tamara

Consider the Lilies

 

Each day is marked with abundance.

 

There is no wanting.

We are in His care.

 

Consider the flowers of the field and

How He cares for them there.

 

The birds take their flight

Finding rest in the night.

All without fear.

 

Why should we worry

Knowing His love?

Without err.

 

 

Rest in His blessings that overflow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Moment of Thanksgiving...

What a beautiful time of year it is. Beginning with Thanksgiving. Thinking of all the

blessings  that endow my life, how can I be anything but thankful.

If I allow my focus to stray, I will soon forget the stores of treasures in my life.


My heart pours out thankfulness for His mercies that are renewed every morning and I

am more thankful than I can say for His grace that touches my life and gives me hope.



As I reflect on the measure of  Faith that God has given me and how He has nurtured and

allowed it to grow, blesses me beyond words that I can speak.

I hope that your heart is able to see some of the many blessings in your life and that your
joy increases as you reflect on His love for you.





               

Life is Rich... God is Good

God promises blessings in our lives. I must say that I am a blessed woman. These past two
weeks have been a whirlwind of blessings and challenges. Family... friends..truth revealed..
affirmation..special memories.. And God proving His faithfulness again and again.

I feel so behind on blogging, but I know that God has put this blog in the place where it
belongs as far as priorities and I am grateful that I don't have to fret about
the days when I just cannot get to it. He truly does order our time when we commit it
to Him.

I hope you all have been having as blessed a summer as I have. In the midst of the loss,
God has shown himself to be faithful and loving and ever-near.

One of the greatest blessings that Jeff and I have experienced together this summer,
is the reunion of our adult children. To see them walking in the ways of the Lord and
leading their families in God's truth and love is just so affirming, rewarding and healing.

To worship with them, discuss the bible and to be able to pray with them in unity has
brought a joy to us that cannot be expressed.

We also had a lot of fun singing together and target shooting. When it

wasn't raining, there were folks gathered around the horseshoe pit.

The little ones enjoyed the goats, chickens and watering whatever they

find! So precious.

God is so good to bring forth fruit from the things that we sow

in His name. Sometimes we are unsure of the progress and we toil over

and pine over our mistakes. It is in spite of us that He brings life.

As we walk in obedience to His Word..no perfection.. we can

rest in the fact that He is ever watching over His word to perform it.

Be blessed and encouraged. Walk in joy as He works His will and weaves His plan

and purposes in your life.



The Desires of Her Heart~

Mikailah and Alli

God is faithful....we know. He is a personal God. His care runs deeper than we can begin
to comprehend. He fashioned each one of us to be unique and He understands what gives
each heart a thrill.

When we pray, He listens. He sets His hand to working on our behalf. On our behalf
may mean that we don't see the results that we want; We don't necessarily get our way.
In His infinite wisdom and unfailing love, He determines the most
beneficial path.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Our daughter, Mikailah, has been asking God for a horse for a very long time. She enjoys
everything about them. The riding is fun but she is so content to just brush and walk them.
To her, a horse is a friend.

We have not wanted to commit to having a horse for two reasons.

#1
Having a horse in Arizona is very expensive. In the mountains where we live, the moisture
accumulation is somewhere around 12" per year. The grass is lush and green ( for Az.)  for about
the last 6 weeks of summer. Pasture-fed horses are not an option unless you
have irrigation. We don't.

On the average, hay costs $15/ bale. That adds up very quickly.

#2
Our lifestyle takes us away from home a bit. And as we get more established in our
music ministry and business, we look for this to increase. (We have strong feelings about
asking others to care for our animals when we are away; It can be a burden.)

It just didn't seem right for our family to take on that responsibility.

But Mikailah has been very patient and in the past 6 months, it has come to pass that two
of our (neigh)bors *smile* have horses. A registered Quarter Horse that stands 17 hands tall
and a sweet, little Arabian mare. They have offered to let us ride them whenever
we choose. We feel so blessed to have such gracious friends.

This has made Mikailah very happy, indeed! She doesn't mind that the horses aren't hers.
She is content in this arrangement and thankful for the provision of her two new friends.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Watching our children grow in the Lord and coming to own a faith that is personal
to them is such a joy. Allowing them to experience the faithfulness of God in their
own circumstances is so important.

It is so precious how He takes our tiny seeds of faith and shelters them, nourishes them
and brings them to the full fruit.

I am grateful for an attentive God who sees our hearts.  He never sleeps and
is always mindful of the things that we long for. He knows what is best for us.
He is waiting to bless us in His time and His way.



Listening to God's Heartbeat~

I guess it's time for a little transparency. (Ouch!)

I was reading this article this morning and thinking,"I can relate to this." 

Though the particulars were different, the heart from which my "annoyances" surfaced was very much the same.

Well, how DO you order a household of eleven? (Now, there are five of us.) I can remember thinking at times, "I feel more like a drill sargeant than a mother." There was a SCHEDULE to keep!

1) We started each day with a devotion and prayer.

2) Each child had there schooling to work on.

3) Meals had to be put on the table.

4) Clean clothes had to be put in the drawers and hung in the closets.

5) There were animals to feed.

6) Floors had to be clean.

7) The thirty-five pairs of new socks had to be marked with fabric paint so they could be easily sorted after laundering. (The 6 youngest all had their own color.) 

So on and so on..I am sure as mothers, you could make your own unending list of all that needs to be done in day, week, month...

(And this does not include the interesting little things you deal with like having to change out a toilet because someone stuffed an Oil of Olay lotion bottle in the trap!) Go ahead and laugh! :)

In my heart of hearts, I wanted to be the gentle-toned Mother who always spoke words of encouragement. (Maybe my expectations were a little unrealistic!)

The desire was to inspire  my little ones to follow while I taught them about life in the Lord.  There were times I was successful in this. This desire kept me on my knees and trusting in His grace and faithful-
ness.

Looking back, I can clearly see that my heart motives for some of these things were not pure at all.

{ Doing things right was very important to me; there were times that I was insensitve to the hearts of my children in order to accomplish my tasks.}

I took great pride in having a clean house. Appearances were very important to me.

I still have to be watchful and guard my motives today. I have a tendency to fall into the "fear of man" trap. 

The Bible says, "The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that." Proverb 29:25

 Pleasing people has made me feel secure; nothing can take the place of putting my trust in God.

It doesn't matter what others think of me or my motives. What God thinks of my actions and motives is what I need to seek to know and understand. Do they line up witih His word and His heart?

I am grateful for a loving Father.

 Continuing to learn and grow is a process that will never end.  On this journey, we learn through His  Word and the lives and testimonies of others.

His graciousness towards us and His faithfulness to redeem all things are part of His perfect way.

Romans 8:28 gives us so much hope.  All things work together for good to them that love the Lord and to them that are the called according to His purpose.

So, be encouraged today knowing we can trust in His faithfulness. If there are areas in your life that need His redeeming touch, He is there to teach, to strengthen and encourage you on this road less travelled.



The Beating of Our Hearts

Sometimes, the smallest part of a machine can have the greatest significance. The Lord’s brother James understood this. He tells us in the third chapter of his letter that though large ships are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it too has the greatest influence in our lives-for good or bad.

For years my son Jonathan was parented by my voice. There were chores to do, actions to be corrected, lights to turn off (it bugged me if they left a room and left the lights on!), devotions to listen to and the list is quite endless. Now that I look back, looking through a different set of eyes, it doesn’t sound very fun to be a child. Trying to cultivate a work ethic, with good intentions, I placed responsibility above relationship-which always leads to frustration.

Then one day I came across Isaiah 40:11-”He tends his flock like a shepherd, he gathers the lambs in his arms, he carries them close to his heart, he gently leads those who have young.”

I read it again and again. My eyes were opening for the very first time to the needs of Jonathan’s heart. It was right there in black and white. Allow me to explain by first asking a question. Have you ever seen a picture of a shepherd carrying a lamb? Where does he carry the lamb? Correct-on his shoulders. But no shepherd that knows anything about lambs will ever carry a lamb on his shoulders. They are simply too afraid up there.

Isaiah teaches us that the shepherd carries the lamb in his arms close to his heart. Why? Because there, the lamb can hear the beating of the shepherd’s heart. That is what my son was longing for, but instead he heard the beating of my voice. It’s time, mom and dad, to silence our words and open our hearts as we draw our children close to let them hear the beating of our heart. A caring hug may be a good first step.

Written by: Mark Hamby, founder of Lamplighter Publications

Can Trials Be a Blessing?

A trial that takes your breath away.

 Pain that rips at your heart.

 You feel as if you won't be able to live another day.

 You can't face another sunrise.

 A day full of responsibilty.

Peope asking questions.

Uncertainties that leave you feeling empty and afraid.

I have visited this place many times.  

 If that is your reality today,You can be sure that He will not leave you there. There is hope beyond any situation you may be facing.

Your Heavenly Father is watching this very moment.. His word says  in Psalm 56:8 ,"That He bottles your tears."

Perhaps for a moment, you can consider the height and depth of His love.

Have you ever looked back at a difficult time and been able to see the blessing that was birthed through it? Have you even been able to thank God for it? There was so much growth during that time. Gratitude towards God overflows. It brought you to your knees and closer to Him. He held you up with His righteous right arm. Your love for Him grew deeper than ever before. He had shown His faithfulness.

It is in these times that we truly learn that His grace is sufficient. There is nothing else that sustains or satisfies. Our faith increases. We experience a true ownership of what we believe because we lived it. It is out of love that He doesn't leave us to ourselves.

He sees you. He knows you. He loves you.

 His love exceeds anything you can possibly understand. Knowing this, you realize that you can trust Him with all the broken pieces of your heart. He will handle them with love and compassion. He knows how to mend and restore. He will lead you through the dark places by the light of His truth and love.

Thou, O Lord, canst transform my thorn into a flower.  And I want my thorn transformed into a flower.

 Job got the sunshine after the rain. But was the rain a waste? Job wanted to know, I want to know if the shower had anything to do with the shining.

And Thou canst tell me-- Thy cross can tell me. Thou hast crowned Thy sorrow. Be this my crown, O Lord.

 I only triumph in Thee when I have learned the radiance of the rain.

George Matheson, Streams in the Desert

Lord, in my heart, I plan my course, but You determine my steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Life is not going as I planned. I am so grateful that You are not caught off guard. You knew everything that was going to befall me. Please direct my steps as You determine. I need You, Lord. Carry me whn I cannot walk.

Father, continue to bring me along so that I can also rejoice in my sufferings because I know that suffering produces perseverance.  (Romans 5:3)

Praying God's Word   by Beth Moore

 

                   the beautiful song BLESSINGS by Laura Story~

Know in your heart of hearts that the God of love is loving you. Your pain and trials belong to Him. He feels every ache and sees every teardrop. He delights in bringing healing rain to His suffering children. He is walking with you and watching over you as He awaits to rejoice with you as you arrive on the other side~

Can we get to place where we can always say," Your will, not  mine?" Can we recklessly abandon our places of refuge and trust fully in Him? 

He will  take  all of your circumstances and work them for good. You are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28