Have All Your Plans Worked Out As Hoped?

It has been over seven months since sharing at this other hat blog.

many good life circumstances have transpired, along with not.  Through it all, all is well.

Question:

Have all of our plans worked out as ‘we’ had hoped?

We each and everyone probably raise up our voice to say ‘NO!’

Today’s quiet time begins with a thankful heart.  With a Thank you for the note from a dear friend… a thank You God for them finding their way through a difficult diagnosis time, blanketed with God’s peace to carry them through.

Boundless- 60x48" Oil on Linen by Karen Ann Hitt for "At That Moment..." Exhibit

As this world says good-bye to Billy Graham – this nations Pastor, the world’s Pastor – Oh how he above any other man today, shared the Savoir Jesus Christ with a loss world.  Father thank You for Your LIVING Word- God breathed breath of life – relevant to EVERY breath we take in our today’s. Thank you for Billy Graham and his life dedicated to sharing it with the world.  He indeed has made an eternal difference for countless lives.

God thank YOU for sharing the evidence of  bringing those that seek You to a greater understandings of Your TRUTH in their life.  Thank YOU for blanketing PEACE my Lord – Your PEACE beyond understanding.

As this 147^th(2) journal began as a sister journal to Beth Moore study ‘Good-bye Insecurity – You Have Not Been a Good Friend’ or something like that…

Father, though insecurity ATTACKS full force still – priority shifting away from the study – for it seemed to lead to dwelling there.  There, is NO PLACE You designed for us.

This month of February marks two significant events: Modern day Isabella gifting me literally a monetary gift, to simply paint, five years ago now.  And it has been three years since the opening of that exhibit culminating from the Gift.  Bringing in even another at just the right time to keep the work moving forward. After“Isabella” taking very very ill during the journey – severing our ability to visit each other. By faith pressing on...

God orchestrated HARMONY and peace to us ALL.  Thank YOU Lord.  Not only a friend for life, a true sister in Christ, our now forever union to this day. 

In all that we do, Peace is in the knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus.

I think of my literal sister Pammy Lord.  Thank YOU Lord for keeping her whole and with You – forever more as we had to say goodbye to her here.  She – who took me to Godspell at Ohio State University where as a teenager I walked forwarded and accepted Jesus Christ into my heart for the first time.  Sister and I debated faith over the years, and by faith, I believe You God remained the Truth in her spirits heart cry – that through Jesus Christ Your Holy Spirit interceded on her behalf – Your Truth forever more.  Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

At That Moment... illustrates Mt.3:16-17

Mathew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.  At that moment heaven was opened , and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. 17 And a voice from heaven said ‘This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I Am well pleased.”

*All three persons of the Trinity are clearly seen here.  The tense of the Greek verb used here is timeless.  God has ALWAYS been and ALWAYS will be pleased with His Son *NIV Notes

<><<><<><

Only God knows our hearts fully and their motives. 

This passage marks the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  It awakened this heart to desiring to illustrate God’s LIVING Word – long before I had a clue as to how ‘that’ would look.

The word pictorial rises up often from the page in certain passages.

Who knew all those sorted paths – ALWAYS in TRUTH lead me straight to Gods all on this heart with His heart.

In a faith walk – it is not by sight – as Scripture teaches us.  Only by getting away to solitude with the Creator of our faith walk – does His Word truly become a LIVING God breathed breath of life to our journey.  A journey – fully and completely in His Omnipotent  hands.

Many are the plans of a man’s heart, BUT it is The Lords purpose that prevails <><<><<><

Joshua 1:7-9 “Be strong and courageous.  Be careful to obey all The Law My servant  Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of The Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.  9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Job 22:21 “Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you..”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you” declares The Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future “<><<><<><

Success Therefore Gods Way <>< Godspeed

The favor we pray for – is simply and fully favor with our Lord and Savior and to walk in His will for our way.  We are all here in it – by grace – not earned.  So back to that question: Has all of our plans worked out as ‘we’ had hoped?

OF COURSE NOT!

Praise be that GOD remains steadfast and In Control.

Good are Gods plans – we need not be afraid.

I always like the line in the Rolling Stones Song ‘You can’t always get what you want… but you find sometimes… you get what you need.”

Hah!  Rolling Stones not your usual devotional quote source!  In this world – we are often told what we want is what we need.  Nothing could be further from the Truth.

Horror also happens in this world, that has us looking up and sincerely through our tears asking ‘why God?’

Scott Krippayne lyrics

Silent Thunder Oil On Linen by Karen Ann Hitt

All who sail the sea of faith

Find out before too long

How quickly blue skies can grow dark

And gentle winds grow strong

Suddenly fear is like white water

Pounding on the soul

Still we sail on knowing

That our Lord is in control

Sometimes He calms the storm

With a whisper peace be still

He can settle any sea

But it doesn’t mean He will

Sometimes He holds us close

And lets the wind and waves go wild

Sometimes He calms the storm

And other times He calms His child.

He has a reason for each trial

That we pass through in this life

And though we’re shaken

We cannot be pulled apart from Christ

No matter how the driving rain beats down

On those who hold to faith

A heart of trust will always

Be a quiet peaceful place.

<><<><<>< 

Sometimes He calms the storm

Other times

He calms His child

<><<><<>< 

Rhapsody Oil on Linen by Karen Ann Hitt

This original inspirational passage Matthew 3:16-17 inspired many years ago to somehow paint it.  An impossible inspiration really the lack of faith thought.  It took a long time to learn to trust. In truth,  No person can ‘paint the Trinity’ as I naively scribbled in my Bibles margins each time reading this verse.  Some 20 years later, after that 1^st scribble – life weaved this inspiration onto a canvas.  It waits for its true hanging spot to this day.  It came to be a painting in reply to confirming one day that the Bridge Church will have it’s own Cornerstone.  Godspeed remains in control of that too.

No coincidence  you see – the passage that immediately follows Matthew 3:16-17 is Matthew 4:1-11.  V.4:1 Then Jesus was led by The Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

This follows

“This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I AM well pleased.”

Jesus took every temptation for us – He – fully God, fully man- knows our hearts and knows our storms and knows our triumphs.

Through it ALL

Jesus remains the greatest lover of our heart and soul.  May He be our strength to press on to take hold of ALL He took hold of us for.

Good are His plans. Perfect is His will and Way

Godspeed

If you find yourself not where you had it all figured out and planned

Simply look up and say;

“Thank You God.  Please Hold my hand” “By grace, where You lead, may I humbly follow”

What you will always find there is

Ephesians 3:20

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than ALL we ask or imagine,

According to His power that

Is

AT WORK

Within us

21(in part) To Him be glory…

In Christ Jesus through out all generations for ever and ever!

Amen

Yes my Lord and praise be my God

For Your LIVING Word

God breathed breath of life- relevant to every breath we take in our today’s Godspeed indeed Godspeed.

That a passion on this heart to illustrate with this life and this life's work.  Only God knows where that will lead.  I no theologian or scholar... simply an art major with a big heart, that seeks to encourage others to live out loud their passions, by faith...

'Master' Inspiration - 'Master' Encouragement

A Art major, which is indeed a NON Theologians sharing here, who doesn't know how to write a proper sentence to save their life... God only knows why this share from Quiet Time Chair finds itself across the country from its usual home sweet home. Sometimes God's encouraging Word, simply feel compelled to share.  Master: meaning 'The Master', our loving God, and 'Master' Artist's works of art too, both a source to study and hopefully learn from.  Visiting Family in California this past month, has landed us up in the Sierra Mountains and beautiful Lakes up here too. The area is also experiencing epic snow melt run off everywhere we visit.  Its overwhelmingly beautiful up here.  Mind boggling too for this Artist.  Inspirations may abound, so does the humbling of the majesty of the images before me.  

Michelangelo's quote comes to heart:  

"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection"

so the mornings study...

A few Red Letters my Bible is

Inspiration: Edgar Payne- 62x52 Painting of the Sierra's

bookmarked at today:
Matthew 9:16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do we pour new wine into old wineskins.  If they do; the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.  No, they pour new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved. - Jesus

*Jesus brings a newness that can not be confined within the old forms

Thank you Lord for Your God breathed LIVING Word - relevant to every breath taken in these today's -- spoken Godspeed.

Edgar Payne

Edgar Payne

 This/these led to after praying the day before; Forgive me Lord, my insecurities are running rampant - feel like a failure because of them.  Show me how to overcome Lord, in your ways filling the errors in mine, mercifully so. Praying Lord to reflect Your love, grace and fellowship-- to be a good steward of Your gifts and talents.

personal attempt at surroundings...

Being reminded that if we proclaim to walk by faith not sight; we must Believe in ALL of God's Truths.  These Red Letters are Jesus' reply to "Jesus Questioned About Fasting"  Verse 9:15 Key to His reply.

Key: faith is NOT 'ritual religious' practices as in Biblical times when the Pharisees would call their disciples to fast 2x's per week.  Jesus does not measure one by their 'ritual religious practices' - He measures one by the motive of their heart.

Faith in Christ; back to John 1:14a The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us... 17 For the law was given through Moses (10 Commandments) ; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. <><  
Yes, It is important to hold onto the Truth as one walks by faith.  The Law remains; we are blanketed in it with grace and truth through Jesus Christ.
     The motive of ones heart if of Christ Jesus, is Love.  Jesus speaks in the language of love and in absolute truth.

God knows are human weaknesses better than we do ourselves.
"God is Love." "God so loved... He gave... Jesus Christ..." (see John 3:16) " that none should perish...<><
*Jesus brings a newness that cannot be confined by/in/within the old forms.

As i read on in Chapter 9:18-22 illustrates.  
9:20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak.  21 She said to herself, "If i only touch His cloak, I will be healed"
     22 Jesus turned and saw her,  Take heart, daughter, He said, your faith has healed you.  And the woman was healed from that moment. <><<><<><
The significance of who this was and when -- profound.  Old made New is defined.  By faith old made new-- defined.  Faith is NOT ritual religious practices - faith is believing in the Gift of life in Jesus Christ, at least what this heart hears here.
 Seeing no prejudice of who or whom is IN Jesus Christ; only motive of heart & faith is measured. 
     Perhaps foreign to a non-believer.  Understanding, learned from others that shared the history of Biblical times, that in Biblical times; this woman, for 12 long years was not even allowed out in public, let alone in a crowd, let alone 'touching' anyone! Can you imagine? No other medical remedy tried had worked... desperate for a cure, in faith, she went out - seeking Jesus Christ - believing with her whole heart - that just a 'touch' would save her. 'Touch' to this woman profound -- for she was not 'allowed' to be touched , or touch, in the laws of the pharisees.  12 long years with no human touch.  She did not give up.  She did not bury her head and give up, in faith she looked up, went out, took action, in faith!
Jesus' Word "Seek and you shall find"
Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned and saw her,  Take heart, daughter, He said, your faith has healed you.  And the woman was healed from that moment.

Forced to ask therefore self; 'Do you have faith to believe in the miracle of Jesus Christ's touch on your life?

*Jesus brings a newness that cannot be confined within the old forms.

Red letters 9:16 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse." --Jesus.

Are you trying to take "New Creation" in Christ Jesus and sew it onto your old self?

I confess, i wake up here, far too too often.  That self defined 'most in-secure confidant person known' cripples me on a regular basis.  I 'say' i have 'faith;' in truth- i lose it far too easily.  Every stroke of the brush - so to speak - and literally .

Trusting fails if you are relying on self to trust in .  Faith fails if you are relying on self too.

     Yet- we are called to action.  We are not called to 'sit there' and dare to ask God to come serve us!  We are called to serve Gods call on our hearts in faith.  This looks different to each of us.

     We each have different gifts, talents, and needs.  Romans 12:5-6; Eph 4:7; Rom.12:2-3;

Eph 4:7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Romans 12:2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 

...6a We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. ...(on thru v.8 context)

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Leading next to "Love: Romans 12:9-21. Recorded only in part here: v.9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good...11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving The Lord. 12 Be JOYful in Hop, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 14, 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. 16 Lin in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited. 

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19-20,21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

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Faith in Gods plan, God's LOVE God's provisions, God's grace, God's call... on us each and everyone of us.

*Jesus brings a newness that cannot be confined within the old forms<><

"...Take Heart..."He said

"your faith has healed you."

...from that moment.

From THAT moment on -live out loud - God's love IN you forever more.  Once touched - nothing can separate you

believe - walk by faith

reach out and touch the life Christ Jesus has for you---Godspeed.

<><<><<><

Thank You God!  As You always reply: with exceedingly/immeasurably MORE than i could hope for OR imagine. Thank YOU.

Humbly and boldly You call us to step out IN FAITH and press on to take hold of ALL Christ Jesus took hold of us for.

as i continue to seek to GROW not only as an artist to meet the next seas in life - to live out this walk of faith that has forever 'touched' this life.

Prayer remains to reflect God's Word as the LIVING God breathed Word that it is.  Relevant to EVERY breath we take in our today's... Godspeed indeed--

Godspeed.

Humbly and boldly in FAITH may i indeed proceed... 

i NO theologian or authority in any way shape or form.  Simply a believer... compelled to share from my quiet time chair of how God's Word lifted me up when discouraged, or overwhelmed.  I am thankful that I have the opportunity to study and learn, not only in the Word, also from the Artist's that came before me, and also living Artist today.  These mountains to this Florida gal are indeed a challenge and I love it, even though it makes my brain explode and it beats me up.  Being an Artist is about as humbling profession as known... there is amazing talent everywhere you look. As we HITT the road, its a challenge to try and get work done worthy of competition deadlines.  I am missing many and blessed to have been accepted into others.  I'm thrilled to be signed up for a workshop with Jill Carver in October. Not long after that I will be participating in one of the top Plein Air Events in the county; En Plein Air Texas.  Before all this, on our way back home, we pass by CO where I am an associate member of PAAC (Plein Air Artist Colorado) where I am honored a painting was accepted into their 21st annual show held at Mary Williams Fine Art.  Bottom line, just as another Michelangelo quote: "I'm still learning" that he shared at the ripe ole age of 87.  I sincerely repeat.  Growing never ends, and that is more of the Good news ...so i simply press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me for, encouraged by God's living word.  God-breathed and relevant to every breath we take in our today's!  Godspeed. 

sister Pamela at sunset, her birthday being celebrated in heaven July 29th

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* equals NIV Study notes

mornings creations song...

click on image to enlarge type

Entertaining Angels Unaware... ?

an alla-prima portrait of the artist' beloved sister 18"x24"

 Oil on Linen the last painting of 2015

'  "Entertaining Angels Unaware" is the next series of paintings

 planned.  Unplanned- Pammy- Entertaining Angels Unaware

  being the first painting in it, and that it was executed alla-prima. 

 Alla Prima, meaning all at once, in regards to its execution. 

Therefore, this painting very impressionistic with looser detail and

 brushwork. Pammy, on her dear life long friends sailboat. 

When asking if they had been updated on Pammy, his wife 

informed me that he had also passed, the same morning as my

 sister.  Two dear souls and a homage to them sailing home.'-K

Entertaining Angels Unaware—is the next series of paintings planned; Unplanned, “Pammy- Entertaining Angels Unaware” being the first in it.

><> Many are the plans of a man’s heart but it is the Lords purposes that prevail. <>< Proverb 18:21

By faith we press on.  In that faith we grow in it, faith, and in strength.  Amazingly our greatest strength we learn – is to let go and trust, not in self, but in God.

><>We ‘press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.’<><(context, chapter 3 of Philippians)

  For God ><>Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20)<><  The King James Version: ‘exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask Him’

My currant struggle so illustrates this truth.  Presently I struggle to SEE; yet, that is a blessing!  Daily I am forced to not only trust –and also press on and do my part.  Yes, I want instant resolve.  Yet, for this ‘fix’- instant is not a part of my cure.  Yes, patience is waning, as I for the umpteenth time read: “Vision Restoration Chart… put away your glasses and read as much of the vision restoration chart as possible… You are retraining the Ciliary muscle… it has become dormant from lack of use.”

That ‘lack of use’ a post surgery cocoon so to speak--- the exceeding more is that little detail ‘put away your glasses’!!  Never would I have imagined that to be possible!  Since the age of twelve, my vision has been corrected.  The hidden blessing is also in what is not a part of my diagnosis—family heredity thwarted –what is not in my diagnosis: no Macular, no broken blood vessel, no Glaucoma.  The ‘no’s

 Far outweigh the daily struggle.  And all of those were feared, as vision diminished in left eye to not being able to read a stop sign with my glasses on! Yes, that other little detail – I am an artist! Great faith didn’t eliminate “I’m scared”!  It is though my perseverance!  And God’s answers are exceedingly more than I could hope for or imagine!  Seeing far, mid range and up close WITHOUT glasses—and with clarity of color that literally makes an artist, or anyone go “wow,” is a gift!  God’s orchestration of provisions beyond anything that “i” could do—are quite miraculous to me too.  Never imagined SEEing to this diagnosis’ degree! A bad—certainly made good.

There has been a lot of that of late—meaning A  bad—certainly made a good.  The tears that come from trying to imagine what could be good about Pammy being the first in my next series of paintings.  A bad—certainly made good to be a painting of my sister, but this way?… alas, again by faith—Joy remains.  As does faith and perseverance illustrate this page in Fine Art Connoisseur. 

Fine Art Connoisseur January February Issue

Each painting illustrates life’s full circle—

“Purple Mountains Majesty Above Fields Of Gold”—Mountain top views remain, as the temperatures of our valleys are ever changing …with each harvest, each season.

The ‘planned’ view to paint was inspired by the light hitting the fields of gold.  The urgency to capture the inspiration came when those fields of gold began to be harvested—cut down—and making them green not gold.

Changes in circumstances do not change our inspirations.  They may just be transformed into Godspeed for us – if – by faith we proceed.

Walking by faith, not sight involves a hugely important detail: STEPS:  Especially when you find yourself in a place unimaginably NOT where ‘you’ planned.

I, as write this, turn back to re-read the Word that inspired.  Never did ‘I’ imagine how great would be the struggle to simply SEE the Word in front of me!

Yes, it is a struggle when it’s so hard to do an action, done before automatically and now, it’s a fight and it feels like everything is upside down!!!

><>for we walk by faith not by sight<>< 2Cor 5:7 for context see the chapter.

God’s literal LIVING word, God breathed and relevant to EVERY breath we take in our today’s.

Much of where I am today is not anywhere that i ‘planned’ to be. Yet, it is also exceedingly more than i could hope for or imagine.  It’s not my plan—it’s Godspeed.

I press on…

               By faith

                              Honored and thankful that this page, is possible to share.

God has enabled me to share His gifts and talents in ways ‘i’ never imagined could or would.  Much has been overcome, and even with a mountain top in view; the changing temperature of the valley is too.

Yes, the gold in the fields is cut down for the good—IF harvested!  I look forward to SEEing how the next series of paintings unfold, they have been on my heart to paint for some time now.

><>Many are the Plans of a man’s heart but it is the Lords purposes that prevail.

                                  Indeed—Godspeed

                                           In faith—proceed

                                                         And always press on

I have pondered for a bit now, how much to share—a sixty day time line that included more than any could imagine--  HOPE remains

H onor

O bey

P raise

E xpect

A timeline of an extreme 60 day faith walk, will be a page added at my other hat blog-  and a look of what is ahead shared at my Out and About blog.  Read both at will, when they are up. Hope to get the final posts up by Monday. Editing how it rambles; it does seem Psalm 23 was not only the last painting painted, done for my church before we left on our USAHoneymoon, it has been lived out loud upon our return. 60 days faith walk covers:  Vision, Stroke, Death, Heart Attack, Life, Vision Loss, Heartache, Lung Cancer threat phone call from my Dr.(NO i don't smoke), Moms Birthday, Eye Surgery, Sons 25^th Birthday, Lung Biopsy, Second Eye Surgery, Offer on a home, Cancer Lung Biopsy results… oh yeah, Thanksgiving and Christmas in there too. I can’t make ALL this stuff up.  ALL the Good the Bad and the Ugly of it.  Praise the Lord His GODspeed remains steadfast and blankets love and peace tenfold, over us ALL.