All Things New

“Over rivers and valleys, mountains and plains—over all you have lost and all you have gained. Over all you have gathered, and all you let go, you have traveled at length through the wild of unknowns. And through all that is changing you can see you have grown. You have walked in the light. You have not been alone.”

Morgan Harper Nichols

I have been struggling to find a good word this year, I landed on renewal.  There are so many of us that have had very hard year this year and are just holding on to hope.   

I pray that anyone reading this will have peace and a hopeful outlook this year.

Hope and faith go hand in hand, 

kinship of sort,

Stepping forward (or hobbling)  

in the future where God already is and waiting for us.

He has been in the beginning and  in the end. 

The only real solid place to stand.

He chats every year until I look at him, 
then he looks up quietly with his nose up in the air.  

Nativity painting 2019

Change and renewal are themes in life, aren't they?
We keep growing throughout life.
 Susan Minot

“The self-renewing man (or woman)

 never feels that he has ‘arrived.’ ” 

John W. Gardner

Faith makes all things possible.
Hope makes all things work.
Love makes all things beautiful. 

A few times this year I had three different people 

speak over me that God was going to use my art 

and that I was just scratching the surface 

of what God wants to do through it.  

I admit it's hard to see that right now 

but faith is not a feeling 

but a step in a direction that I can't see. 

For we walk by Faith, not by sight

Hope on the horizon 

“The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” 

One of last year's paintings from a photo by World Vision/Jon Warren 

Every year I like to start the year with a walk on the waterfront.  I injured my foot (it's mild I think) and I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it this year. 

 I took one look at the weather over the next few weeks and it showed a long stretch rain so I figured I better hobble on over there now and I packed Titus in the car and parked in a different spot, very close to the middle of the path. 

I was greeted by the familiar chatter in the parking lot.  I really thought "It couldn't be". 

Is this the same hummingbird that is usually on the path?

Did it really met me where I was?

Last year's post here http://www.bannerandsail.com/2018/01/miracle.html

There is something really discouraging about starting a new year with an injury, but seeing this little miracle fills me with hope for the New Year. 

For an active person a little rest off my foot is not the end of the world, I know it could be worse.   There is always someone that has it harder than you.

Isn't that true!

“Learn from yesterday,

 live for today, 

hope for tomorrow. 

The important thing is to not stop questioning.” 

 Albert Einstein

 May God bless you and keep you this coming year.

Trust in the Father that loves you and will never abandon you. 

I wish and pray that this year will be a year of blessings.

New things and restored hope.

May it be filled with blessings, love, hope, true friendship, good health, your best work, joy, laughter, new experiences, faith and happiness. 

Have a Happy New Year!  

So we do not lose heart. 

Though our outer self is wasting away, 

our inner self is being renewed day by day.

2 Cor 4;16

 2020 
Love each other 

carry each other's burdens

Lay them down 
at the foot of the cross
Have hope
Be grateful
Move forward

    Sponsor a child this year! 
You can make a difference 
in someone's life for 39 a month. 

I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.

Ecclesiastes 3:10-12 (NIV)

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2 4-6

It's a meaningful life

 There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us 
that we're here for something else 

 besides ourselves.
Eric Sevareid 

The other day I went to a store to return something after work.  It was a once a year event for the store and they had coupons and specials.  I just needed to exchange an inexpensive item (a few dollars really, under ten) to finish an art project I was doing.  

When I drove up, there was a line to the event to get into the store.  After a full shift at work, the last thing I wanted to do was stand in a line in the cold!  It was getting dark,  cold and sprinkling, and very crowded.  My schedule was busy this week, so I had to make a decision, wait in the line and quickly do what you need to do and get out, or just come back at another time.  Reflecting on my busy schedule that week, I chose the former.

About 4o minutes later I thought to myself that I made a bad decision.  This is the very thing that I dislike about the Christmas season, but I tried to make the best of it.  I found a little covering from the light rain and asked the lady next to me, why?

Why are all these people here?  Why did you come?  She said she had nothing else to do and she didn't even know what she even wanted to buy there.   Im feeling extremely confused, but yet, I am there too!  Standing in the cold, after a full shift at work, by myself on a Saturday night. ;)

While I was still thinking about all this, a beautiful sunset filled the sky, but only the two of us saw it.  

There are so many meaningful things to do this season;  show kindness, pray for someone and light a candle in the dark, reach out to the suffering and help a child living in poverty. 

Make this Christmas a meaningful one this Christmas and sponsor a child with World Vision. 
 Click here

Photo credit Jon warren/ World Vision

Painting by Stephanie Callsen/bannerandsail

So I powered through, got what I needed and bolted out as fast as I could.  
This year will be different, I thought...

Focus on what's important:
Love God
Love others
Have positive attitude
Nothing is ordinary
There is beauty in the mundane (if you just look)  
You can live a meaningful life
You can make a difference
God sees you and cares
There is always hope
Miracles happen
We are eternal beings made for a purpose
You are so very loved

For only 39 dollars a month 
you can help a child living in poverty.

World Vision

One of my sponsored children.  Sponsorship helps her stay in school.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Isaiah 9:6

                      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.