GOOD THINGS!

God has good things in mind for me!!

And for you!

Isn't that the most wonderful thing to think on - God is not angry with me, but has good things in mind for me. He loves me, with an Everlasting Love - all the anger He should have poured out on me (which I deserve) He already poured out, at the place of the skull, at Calvary, on His one and only Beloved Son - and now here I stand! Free. Forgiven. Highly favoured. Blessed. Redeemed. Righteous.

When I think of this - how else can I but rejoice, in life, in His love - in being!!

He MADE me, to LOVE me. To ENJOY me. To BE with me!

I am a human being... not a human doing!

He Loves me because I am, not because I do.

What Hope this gives me in today... in tomorrow.

I am so thankful.

And He has only good things in mind for me. He told me!

...For I know the plans that I have for you, to bless you and prosper you, to give you a future and a hope.

FIGHTING NEGATIVITY

Why do I find myself in the place that constant negativity around me rubs off, and causes me to lose my confidence? Some days I am able to stand, and fight and beat it, but others, it catches me unawares - like a sideways rugby tackle, and it knocks me off my feet-it is a struggle just to get up again.

I know that The Greater One lives in me. I know that I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. I know that God has NOT given me a spirit of fear, but a Spirit of Love, Power and of a Sound and Disciplined mind.... but
sometimes I forget! And those are the times I find it hard to stand.

Things I am trying to remember:
God Loves me and what He says about me is true.
Because I Love God, I place His opinion/Word about me above the word/opinions of those around me (or even my own word/opinion) - and when I let the words of others affect me, I am in fact placing them above God... ouch!
Because God Loves me, and knows the plans He has for me - to bless me and prosper me, to give me a future and a hope - and is NOT trying to "get" me, or punish me - I can rest in this knowledge!
Jesus Christ took not only my sins and punishment on HImself, but every single curse that I deserve on me - He carried them all, paid the full price and said Himself: It is Finished!!
There is no more punishment for me (He was punished)
There are no more curses for me (He became cursed in my place when he hung on the tree)
There is no more rejection for me (He was rejected in my place, so that I can be accepted in the Beloved).

There you have it. This is the inheritance of the saints!
God decided. It was God's plan from the beginning.
The Blood of Jesus is Enough. It paid in Full.

So I am blessed with the blessings of Abraham!
I am the head and not the tail!

No matter what you or anyone else say - this is my reality, this is my truth, this is who I am.
I am His. And He is mine.

CALLA LILIES (VARKORE)

This is my latest! I painted these this weekend, for my dining room - I am hoping to do another similar one this weekend, so that they are a pair. This photo reflects way too much, will try and get another pic taken in daylight. You can see Micah's little face sticking out next to the pic - she is one of my biggest supporters, always assuring me that it is "beautiful" Mommy!

I love Arum Lilies/Calla Lilies - or as known in Afrikaans - Varkore!! The word when translated into English means Pigs ears...

These were the flowers we put on my Father's coffin when he died in 1990, he also loved them. But for me they don't have any sad connotation. They are just beautiful and unpretentious, and grow in the wild without much fussing over them - although mine all died in the garden!

GOOD MORNING LORD!

I was looking for something to paint to hang in my new office. I have recently returned to secular business, as the manager at a large Logistics business, and wanted something colourful for the walls, but also something inspiring, without being "religious" about it.

While looking on the web for something to paint I came across this picture titled "Good Morning Lord" the only difference was that it was painted as an "Afro-American" angel... I felt I didnt identify with that so much, so decided to change it. I was'nt sure what to paint, but my daughter, Micah, loved this one and asked me to PLEASE paint it.

I am still not totally happy with the result, I wanted more gold to come out (the gold doesn't reflect enough to my liking) and also I get the feeling most people don't "get" the painting? Maybe they think it is some kind of new age image... Anyway for me it signifies the dawning of a new day, of joy in the morning, of the fact that I have Angels watching over me all the time...

Acrylic on blocked canvas 80x90cm (I get this size blocked canvas very reasonably, so it is my favourite!)

WINNER

This pic was done on request of my good friend, Charmaine Swart. We use a photograph of the silhouette of a runner, crossing the finish line in church as a worship background. She loved the photo so much, and asked if I would paint it for her.

She always helps me with my kids, and I wanted to give her something to say "thank you", so did this for her one afternoon - it took me about 2 hours to do.

It is in acrylic, on blocked canvas, and measures about 80 x 90 cm, so nice and big. She was really pleased with the result, and it now hangs in her lounge.

Inspiring photo to start with!!

LIZA'S POPPIES

These two paintings of the poppies were done for a very good friend, and somebody who has been like a "mother" to me in East London - Liza Voges. She loves poppies, and I didn't have money to get her a nice birthday gift, but had enough for 2 small blocked canvasses. So I decided to paint these for her.

I found it hard, I really prefer people, but was really proud of the results. They look better than on the photo's - my camera is on my cell phone, so the quality is not that good - the flash also takes away alot of the detail.

THE CRUCIFIXION

I saw a photograph of the actor in one of the "Jesus" movies, and the photo was just so striking I wanted to try and paint his expression.

This one was really hard because of all the shading in the face, and also to get the eyes right. Of course I don't believe for a moment Jesus had blue eyes, but it was part of what made the photo memorable for me, so I decided to keep it the same.

It also hangs in Charles office - you can see the wall behind. It is in acrylic on blocked canvas and measures 80 x 90cm.

I used it in church one Sunday behind the communion table, and it was quiet striking.

My favourite painting, thus far, I think!

KEEPER OF THE FLAME

This was my second attempt at painting! I saw a picture on the internet titled "Keeper of the Flame" - I just loved this image of Jesus, with the prayer shawl, and the flame in His hands.

So I decided to try and paint it as a gift to my husband Charles, to hang in his office. I painted it in one day, and made him hang it up the same day, I was so excited!

It is painted in Acrylics, on blocked canvas measuring 80cm x 90cm.

PAINTING: A NEW HALLELUJAH

This was my very first attempt at painting. I was inspired by the photograph on the cover of Michael W Smith's CD "A New Hallelujah" and thought I would give it a bash.

I was really pleased with the results, although I don't think this pic taken with my cellphone does it justice.

The painting is done in Acrylics and is about 150cm x 100cm... so it is lifesize!

NEW THINGS

Why is it that we are so afraid of the new, the different, change. I think for me it is because it makes me feel out of control.
When I am in a comfort zone, the place where I feel safe and comfy (hence the name!!) - the place where I don't have to stretch myself - I feel secure, in control. But when change comes, I am stretched, I stand the chance of failing, and even worse for people to perceive me as a failure. Heaven forbid! Things are out of my control...
But it is exactly at this place that I grow, that I learn, that I have new experiences. And that I can learn more about myself. Maybe I wont fail! Maybe I will be really good at this!
But oh the fear... what if I fail, what if you don't like me anymore - because I am not what you thought I would be/I can't do what you thought I could do.
Today I am throwing myself into the new!
I am choosing to revel in it, to enjoy it, to celebrate every moment of it.
And if I fail, I fail!
But wow, I plan having fun, living my life to the full, in the process!