Today, so many of my friends are on my heart. They are going through some really difficult times. What can I say? I wonder. Everything I am hearing seems so surreal. My mind tries to sift through the tumult of human emotion but it's noise is thunderous. Whose voice can be heard above all that fear, anger, grief, confusion, anxiety...?
Then, a still small voice answers,"My voice." I recognize that still, small, but powerful voice. God's voice speaks to the chaos and confusion in our heart and mind and says, "Peace be still." I breathe a sigh of relief and take my time exhaling. God's voice speaks peace to my heart. His peace. A peace that passes all human understanding and steadies my heart. I am rescued again. Some things in life we may never understand. It's ok. It's another reminder we are not God. It's another reminder we need God. It's another cue from God to not fear but instead to look to Him to steady our heart. And, He will. I needed that reminder today. Maybe you did too. Have you felt God steady your heart before? What was it like? Sometimes we just feel like dancing. Things can be going great or...not so great; at the moment, it doesn't matter. We feel like dancing. And we do. What a great feeling! For how ever brief a moment- we dance. I had a moment like that recently. I allowed myself to do what I needed that would translate into fun. I wanted a moment to act like I didn't have a care in the world. I chose to literally- twirl. It was exhilarating! Who cares if I'm not 5 anymore? LOL In the age of technology, we need to plan a break. We need to schedule it in daily. We have to say no to false guilt and allow ourselves the right. Maybe our culture doesn't recognize the benefits of this break but that doesn't have to keep you from enjoying your right to enjoy time with the friends and family in your life- minus the pressures of reality, of course. Tell yourself, today is my time to twirl and I won't let myself feel guilty about it. One of my fav places to enjoy a day off is at the beach. I collect shells and turn them into colorful centerpieces for a cottage on the beach or a country styled home. Perhaps you've heard the old Chinese proverb that goes something like this, One picture is worth more than a thousand words. That being said, I look for opportunities to use my art to speak heart for charitable organizations working tirelessly to raise awareness and support everywhere possible in the fight to re-abolish human trafficking or modern day slavery, as some call it. They need us to take our place as modern day abolitionists to fight this very tough war. Will you join me and others to do what you can to help end this organized crime? Thank you. Help raise awareness of modern day slavery around the world...human slavery. FYI: National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline 888-373-7888 Any form of art is a form of power, it has impact, it can affect change, it can not only move us, it makes us move. Ossie DavisMy Quest
Have you ever been on a quest to know God? I was directed to God's love letter (the Bible). It says, when we search for God with all our heart, we will find Him. Well, I was without question seeking. What drew me to seek Him was the emptiness and brokenness in my own heart. I was ready. Thankfully, life has a way of humbling us so we don't miss out on the good, right and perfect stuff. God? If you are out there consider me a seeker. I admit. I need you. Since confessing my need for God, He does a daily miracle of healing me piece by piece. I have a growing hunger to know Him. I see God's limitless power at work in my life. I experience His grace that can't be measured. I experience His forgiveness of my wrong doings (my sin)...every day. Imagine! We are loved by a perfect and holy God who is also Judge of all the earth. The judgement for sin is death. We sin. We fell short of God's standard of holiness- hands down. Good news! By Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, in our stead btw, our debt was paid in full. The moment Jesus cried out three earth shaking, life changing, history making words; "It is finished." Our debt was paid in full! What love is this? What an unspeakable...gift! Ephesians 2:8, 9 NIV Paid in Full, is a watercolor painting of the finished work of Jesus at the cross Everyone "speaks heart."
Good or bad...a language is spoken by our heart. What is in our heart shows in our passions. It is revealed by our actions. It is the force behind what we say and do. I like to think my inspirational gifts all say, made with love, more specifically, God's love and that they speak His heart. To the left is a photo of an original work of art I call "Enveloped." God's love envelopes you, me...the world. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 NIV As the Deer I was recovering from a long illness. It was a season of wanting, longing, panting. For life, for God's strength, for the ability to still be able to "do" for others. I love to craft. Somehow the thought that I could bless someone with a hand made inspirational gift, motivated me to journal my ideas just in case I got the opportunity to one day make them. Funds and supplies were lower than low.
A week or so later, my fav and only sister called, "I saw an add for free craft supplies, Jude," she said excitedly, "You have to go. Here's the address..." Really? Free? Was this the answer? I wondered. My Dad offered to take me ASAP that morning. Through no fault of his own he was delayed until late afternoon. My heart sank and honestly gave up. Hours later, he said excitedly, "Let's go." to which I replied "It's ok. I'm sure everything is gone by now. It just wasn't meant to be." (I hate that phrase. Really! As if our life is ruled "by chance." grrr. Here I was repeating that phrase to comfort myself. Yuck! I knew better!) My Mom's answer humbled me. "You prayed, she said, Let's go and see what God may have kept just for you." My Dad's insistence and excitement motivated me. (Did I mention I have an awesome family I couldn't love more? That goes for in laws too. They are the best!) We piled in the car. We saw a lawn littered with trash bags in the distance. What a dumpy mess, I thought. As we neared the house, we saw it was the house number we were looking for. The "litter" was numerous opened trash bags filled with craft supplies. Some in their original packaging! I laughed and cried as we filled the car with bag after bag. This is like manna from heaven, I thought, God really provides. How has He provided in a way you will never forget for you? "As the Deer" craft was one of many inspirational gifts that were made with those craft supplies and given as gifts. I attached a plaque to the frame, with the Bible verse from Psalms 42:1 that inspired this craft. I found the below friendship quote on http://www.great-inspirational-quotes.com. A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are. -- Author Unknown Nice. Isn't it? What a gift to have at least one friend like that. Life happens and it often results that we loose touch with our closest friends. I believe any friendship that God is a part of, will always be kept by Him. When the time comes and we are able to reconnect, it's like we never parted. It's amazing how that happens! It just recently happened to me. It completely blessed and amazed me. There we were...after so much time and no communication. I breathed in deep and said, "Hi," She smiled! That's a good sign, I thought. Then the surprise came...a hug! From then on, it was like we never parted. Unbeknown to us, God's spirit was at work in us, teaching us and inspiring us to believe the best about each other and our friendship no matter what circumstances looked like. He encouraged us to hold tight to Him and His heart and loosely to each other. God's promise to keep everything you and I commit to Him. He promises to give us a quietness and confidence. He encourages us to put our hope in Him. He promises to give us His peace that passes all our understanding to carry us through the waiting process of our becoming a true friend and having a true friend. Do we get it right all the time? No way. We are not perfect...God is. His keeping power goes beyond us and in spite of us. I love that, don't you? Be encouraged. While we have relationships in our lives that are shall we say, under construction. We can rest easy. God is the giver of good, right and perfect gifts. He loves us. He is for us. He will make all things beautiful...in His time. If you want a great example of a true friend, look at Jesus. No greater love has anyone than this, than that a man lay down His life for a friend. That is what Jesus did...for us. I'm sure I would not have looked like a friend in my B.C. state (before I became a follower of Jesus) as a matter of fact, I KNOW I would have gotten a big "F" on my test of what a friend should be...but He loved me anyway. He loved me with the cross He carried for me...just as He did for you. Here is a saying God inspired me to write years ago, They say friends are flowers grown in the garden of life, I say they are more like jewels fashioned by the purity of God's light. J. Mabardy. You How about you? Do you have friendships you are struggling with. May I encourage you to trust God with them. If you want to share a friendship experience with me, please do so. I would love to share in your joys, triumphs, struggles. I will be praying for you and please, pray for me too. I'm honored. Blessings always Judy Daughter Keepsake card from Pop Heart Greeting collection by J. Mabardy of myinspirationalgifts.com One of many keepsake cards from my Pop-Heart Greeting collection Unto You Oh God sculpture Whose heart isn't broken for Colorado?! I get asked, Why didn't God do anything to stop this tragedy? That, I can't answer. We all have questions. It is human to want to blame God. He gets that. I may have many questions but what I don't have a question about is God's motive and heart, His love and keeping power, the fact that He is God and He has a right to be Sovereign. He doesn't mind our questions. He understands but He also knows our human minds can't wrap our heads around who He really is and His sovereignty. I humbly admit, I know nothing as I ought to know it. This is God we are talking about. Our society makes God out to be so sappy and weak sometimes. Reality check. He is God of wonders...the Great I Am. This tragedy (like so many other happenings in life) challenges us all to choose humility, to apply faith and a holy reverential trust in God. With quietness and confidence, I lift my trembling, broken soul to God for the families, friends and victims of Colorado Movie Theater Massacre. My questions "why?" I rest safely and wisely in God's loving hands. How about you? Did this tragedy stir you to fear or draw near to God? The above podcast is a recording of a devotional I wrote called, "My Question Why" It was aired on WEZE 590 AM Selah Radio Broadcast. Let me know what you think? The below pic is of my first sculpture. I called it: "Unto You Oh God" It seems so many can relate to this sculpture. I know I do.
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