Rainy Days with van Gogh

When the playdoh entertainment runs its last moments. When the clouds are dumping their rainy load. When the kids are bored. What do you do?!?!

My daughter loves art. She especially loves Vincent van Gogh. At her age, I think I was more obsessed with playing barbies, house or school. But this girl, my favorite daughter, LOVES art! In an effort to encourage something I know nearly nothing about, I seek out blogs and the like for inspirations of how to teach Kara art.

Since today is a rainy day, I thought I would find some van Gogh fun while brother was napping. :)

This is van Gogh's famous sunflower piece. Seeing that recreating this was a bit scary for Kara.I follow a blog that a homeschooling mom writes and posts her art lessons that she does with her kids. So I kinda took her lead and pieced together her lesson on sunflower art with her kids she did here and went a slightly different direction. She provided this pictures of a sunflower in June this summer....

So pulled this picture up and let Kara study it. She loves pointing out detail and analyzing it. She also loves flowers. BONUS! Not to mention looking at a sunflower on a gloomy, rainy day does kinda lift my spirits!

My beautiful artist daughter came up with this rendition of a sunflower.....

Which is now proudly displayed on her Gallery Wall in her bedroom! :)

What do you do with your kids on rainy days?

A New Birth

"Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ......... By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures." James 1: 5-6, 18

I have to admit, I haven't really ever focused on the book of James before. But this morning I was compelled to read James 1. I have a weird thing with trials in life. Because I believe our God to be good in all things, believing that he would PUT trials in my life is a hard pill to swallow. I know that Satan is one powerful being and will always be putting me to the test, to see where I am weak in my faith. Therefore, if Satan is testing me, then God isn't?!?! Right?

I read James 1: 2-18 and found that the writer never says that God is testing us. Just that our faith will be tested .. "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." James 1:2-3 ... just tells me that in going through trials in our life, that when we rely on the awesomeness and commitment of God, our faith will come out stronger and can endure more in this life.

As a fairly new Jesus-walker, I experienced one extreme trial from the start. Dealing with a drug addiction when I gave my life to Christ was one of the most difficult times. I committed to Christ to be the follower he calls for. Though, not in a sober frame of mind, I came through stronger. I ended the use of the drugs, and Jesus has been my prize ever since. That wasn't overnight, mind you. It was several months. And even after the fact, I still behaved in an unacceptable way. However, looking back to the summer of 2011, I can see exactly where I was walking, and where I was being carried.

Jesus was there. In the form of new friends, new church family, even to some extent my husband seemed different to me. "But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:4 ... if I hadn't endured through that time in my life, if I hadn't committed myself to living and loving Jesus. I am unsure what my future would've been. My faith now is stronger.

James goes on to say that those that "lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing.." I'm not sure about you, but this SCREAMS at me that God is not only there to guide me, but he is there to help me through my self-inflicted trials in life, without criticizing me. He's not there to bullet point all the things I was doing wrong, but rather guide me in the direction of doing what is right. What is holy and pleasing to God.

"A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." v.12

And CLEARLY, plain as day in verses 13 and 14 it states "No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires."

FRIENDS, GOD DOES NOT TEMPT US!!! HE REDEEMS US!!!

That is good news to me! Knowing that I simply can just resist my humanistic desires to sin, with the help of God, and also knowing that if there is a trial that is self-inflicted (Satan encouraged) .. all I need to do is call on God for wisdom and He will bring me through it. God is a god of LOVE and ENCOURAGEMENT. NOT a god of temptation and evil!! Be clear, friends, be clear.

I came out of my darkest hour last August. Not because of what I was doing. But because Jesus was there, holding my hand, carrying me at times, lifting me through the quicksand. I fell in love with following Jesus because he saved me from all that I was inflicting on myself!

"By His own choice, He gave us a new birth..."

To Love

Love is a fruit, in season at all times and within the reach o f every hand. Anyone may gather it and no limit is set. ~Mother Teresa~

When I think of love, I think of it as something tangible, shown by gifts, affection, service, words of affirmation. I think of love as something that we learn to do as we get to know someone or trust someone. Love is a commodity of sorts that people can sort of "buy" in their actions toward one another. And I'm sure I'm not the only one that views love as such.

However, when I think of love in the way it was meant to be: sacrificial toward all regardless of anything that may or may not be in opposition toward one's belief system, life style, or society placement, it begs me to wonder if I, personally have put limitations on how and, especially, who I love.

I've heard a story many times about Penn Jillette being an atheist but still loving all regardless and he puts it like this. (summarizing for my understanding)

How much do you have to hate someone to not push them out from in front of a bus?

I see this in a couple of different lights. He says this regarding Disciples of Christ not sharing the word and light of eternal life with Christ with non-believers, specifically. Referring to the fear of evangelism and not "loving" someone enough to share with them the love of Christ.

But I also see this question in this way, that even though I may not "hate" someone that if I'm not showing everyone compassion and unfailing, unconditional love, in a sense I am "hating" them. Would I just stand there and let someone get hit by a bus simply because I don't know them?

Total strangers are fighting and dying for me everyday. They have never met me, my kids, my husband, likely my family large extended families. Yet they love me.

This brings me back to my original thought on love. How do we love without conditions? How do we give love without unknowingly forcing people to "buy" it?

Mother Teresa puts it quite simply and honestly (as well as Biblically) that love is a fruit. Fruit of the Spirit.

Galations 5: 22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Nothing gives anyone the right to show anyone anything but love! I have been through some hard times emotionally and struggled with loving someone. Justifying to myself that So-and-so didn't deserve my love. But when I look at this concept Biblically, and follow it to the essence of root, my love cannot be conditional.

Jesus didn't pick and choose who he was dying for. He said he was preparing a way for all. All we need to do is accept and believe. His love for the sinner was unconditional. He dined with them, extended his hand to them in times of need, had intimate conversations with them without them feeling wary.

My call to love regardless goes deeper than a superficial reward or an artificial appearance. To love someone, regardless of if they are like me or not, is a requirement. And when you love all truly, unwavering, without measure, and with true genuine deep caring and abiding love, humankind becomes beautiful in all circumstances.

1 Corinthians 13: 13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."