Kindness in Kindly Way

I lobe buying flowers for my children to give out. It is something that I feel teaches them an important values. It teaches generosity and kindness. The art of giving time, our effort, our skills. It teaches them to look at people as someone rather than a body in motion in just passing glance.

I feel kindness today has taken a sad turn. Kindness is letting the car get in front of you. It participating in the pay it forward in the Starbucks line. It is the tossing of your change in the tip bucket and its typing out "Happy Birthday" on their social media wall. 

Yet it is very disconnected. It requires hardly any action from you. Not to say these gestures are not good. They are wonderful. And these small gestures like tiny treasures given out. However, within us all we have wealth, bestowed from the graces and God. All this wondrous skills, time and energy and we feel like we need to hoard it. 

Yet genuine, raw and vulnerable kindness is often not what we would expect. It the unlikely person who takes a moment to listen to another stories. Its people who hold traffic to offer a prayer and a few dollars to homeless man. It is the person who decides fighting over bathroom rights is not worth arguing about because you love the other person. It is a marine who carries his little niece's drawings around and sharing them with his buddies. 

It it the weirdo of a mother who allows her kids to chase people down in the store to give flowers away. 

Its taking moments to not just give a little, but to give yourself away. 

I hate the quote "Don't cross oceans for someone who won't cross a puddle for you."

Maybe that is just what the world needs. Like when Jesus crossed all of heaven and earth and death for His creation, maybe that is just what we need to do. Cross oceans, give it all. Take a moment to create and give more moments, because sometimes that is all we have left.

Just my thought in the moment.

God Bless

NaTacia

The Middle Path

We are walking somewhere in life. Going places we planned to go, ending up in other places we never planned for and somehow often we all end up at a dead end somewhere in our life. Yet no matter what, how or where we go, we always keep going.

I remember growing up in church these posters that would illustrate the walk in human life. One side would be the vast wild and easy path the lead straight to the gates of fire and brimstone. On the other side was this stone wall and narrow gate that separated a few people on this garden path upward into glorious heaven.

I never liked those posters. For one they scared me. They always put them in children's Sunday school classrooms. But also, it didn't feel right.

Jesus King of the Universe on this little pretty secret garden side path, separating a few people from all other. I mean GOD! King of Kings, Lord of lords, and He walks on the tini path pretending everyone else on the other are filthy rotten sinners he wants nothing to do with?

Instead, I like to think of it as there are many, hundreds of paths. And right in the middle; right in the center of it, is this small path where God, Jesus Christ resides.

You see because really dark and cruel things are pretty obvious. Those paths are wide and in shadows. We see murder, lying, cheating, horrid people doing horrid things to others. But then we other paths that look mighty and grand, but really its deceiving. Like media telling you you NEED to be beautiful to be valued. A person back stabbing their friends for personal gain. A parent claiming "I'm protecting me child." by keeping her children away from a good father. So many paths walking in so many directions, but they are all heading to the same destination.

Yet, in the middle there is this narrow path. Its hard. And we stumble on it, but it is there leading us into love and sacrifice. It is not narrow because it suppose to weed the "unwanted." Because we already God's people is made up of the unwanted and broken. It's also not narrow because their is a limit to how many get to Jesus.

No it is narrow,because it requires you to walk close to Jesus. Its narrow because those on the same narrow path are forced to be near. It makes us show our raw and broken beauty. It shows our mess and we can celebrate being seen, known and honest, knowing Jesus is making us beautiful.

The path is also in the center of it, because Jesus is center of all life and the universe. This path is in the middle because that is where Jesus can be found. If you are high and mighty the path is down to bring you down to where He is. If you are below, its above where He draws up. It is right in the middle where Jesus draws everyone in

That is just my thoughts for today.

Look upon the day, knowing He is there.

Stay inspired!

Respect Between Artist and Costumer

This is just my general opinions about matter like this. I often read on Facebook crafters,artists, craftsmen arguing with costumers and arguing among themselves. These sarcastic memes pop up with listing what you pay for for an object. Costumer complain about people charging too much. In the end its just huge argument of"me me me and what I want."

Yes. An artist or craftsmen is worth his work. Skills take time to refine and master. The products of an artist's work is worth a fine price. However, this wonderful concept for honest good craftsmanship is suddenly ruined when anyone adds, "I want this!" or "I deserve this."

The artist or craftsmen demand they get paid for their work. Which is not bad, but its when you add in "I went to 4 years of school for this!" "I've been doing this all my life!." "I've paid good money for this equipment!" That all fine an dandy. But the thing is. There are plenty of people lets say, photographers for instance who went to school for 4 years and have thousands of dollars of equipment, but are lousy at the job. Myself, I have been painting for nearly 20 years. Its a part of my life. Its something I do nearly daily. But I people are not paying me to live my life. People are not paying you to own fancy tools. Your costumers are not the banks so you can pay off your loans. Understand your skills are worth more than just something you do. It something that should be a part of you. And yes, you should get paid a fair price. But you should not guilt people into thinking its their fault you have $3000 dollar camera or a $20 paint brush, so they need to pay for it.

Costumers. You are not off the hook. Realize you work hard for your money as well, however you earn your honest money. Good artists and craftsmen know this. But don't think your money is worth somehow more than theirs. If you have 20 dollars or they have 20 dollars. It is still 20 dollars whoever owns it. Don't degrade a person by thinking your $20 dollars is worth more than them having it. Don't expect quality service or items for the price of pocket change either. You want a beautiful one of kind piece of art hanging above your couch, then either do it yourself or pay someone for it. If you want it for $25 bucks, then realize it won't be one of a kind and Target sells plenty.

Above all people. Respect each other. Respect the people who pay you for your crafts and skills. Respect the people who offer such skills and services and appreciate they are willing to do it for you. Money is needed in the world to keep up daily life but don't make it determine who a person is worth or think it gives you power to degrade another. Respect each other and both can walk away happily.

By the Window

My daughter often sits here by the window in her bedroom that she shares with her brother. The sunlight come through the messy smeared glass. The marks of children's dirty fingers and lips that had pressed up against the glass. Its a window that has seen better days and used to have clearer glass. Even when it is cleaned it is quickly dirtied by creative little hands. But this window pours in the light that capture the most precious of pictures I take. My children look out from that window when they excited to see me come home. And they have cried from that window when they watch me leave for work for the day. By that window is where the most meaningful moments have happened. The conversations I had about the concerns of 4 year old little girl. That is where I had adventure across the dresser with a little boy. This window has seen the life of a mother and father and two precious children running in and out of the room.  It has been the window we use to break into our house when we are lock ourselves out! (This has happened more than once.)  Its just a glass pane in a metal frame built into a wall. But its been the safe view from outside and inside entertaining and keeping my children.

This is a piece of my heart poured out this afternoon.

The Nobody Who Loved.

            So we look at the four gospels. Matthew Mark Luke and John. Four books telling us about the life of this incredible man who claimed to be the Son of God who came not to judge the world but to save it. (Luke19:10, John 3:17 There are many verses but here are two.)

            But you see this man, Jesus, was a no body. Born of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth. Sure he was from the blood line of David, but so were plenty of other men and women. What made him so special? He was born of a virgin, something modern technology can accomplish as well. But that is not the point. The point is this man Jesus was a human. But not any kind of human, he a perfect human. He was God in the flesh. (verse context here.) Let that sink in. Jesus was God, creator of the universe and He made Himself human to walk among His creation. Now he wasn’t here just bopping around taking note of the people around Him. No, He came to earth for this great mission. To save the world!

            Now back track this God of the universe, creator of all life. A great a power God who somehow loves the creation that fights against Him and some downright hate Him and he loves them?!?! Ok, that is just an awesome indescribable concept of God. But back to the point, why in the world. No…WHY in all the universe would God come down as this no body? I mean, really. Why not descend from the heavens, go ahead be in human flesh and go ahead have a something tragic happen. Arise again with this glorious light show of holiness and give this great speech of repent now or else?

            Now one excuse was that Jesus gave the example of being humble. Which is true, but I think the meaning is deeper. Sure being an example of humble is great, but Moses was pretty humble too. Ester was pretty humble too. Many people in the Bible were pretty good examples of humility. Yeah, Jesus was the perfect example of humility but you really think his entire entry and leave in the world was just to show how important humility is? Again humbleness is very good. Very much a lesson the Lord teaches. But there was another even better.

            It was love. Jesus’s entire life is an example of love for His creation. He didn’t come galloping in threateningly. He came with humble and lowly. He came down to be with humanity as a human. (I mean if I was God, I would display my power with lights and thunder and make people submit for their own good. Which is the very reason why I am glad God is God and I am not.)

            God, the ultimate somebody, became a nobody. And Him being in human flesh didn’t stop Him from having the power of God or Himself really. Jesus could call upon angels if He wanted too. He could have looked upon the earth, taking note how filthy we were and snapped us out of existence. And what does this human with supernatural powers start doing? You hope having flaming pillars descend from heaven like He did in the old testament with Moses. At least a burning bush…nope….

            This man healed people. He started healing people. He walked among the poor and useless. He walked to the no bodies and He loved them and He started performing mind blowing miracles. For what reason? Did they pray enough? Did they do enough works (We know this not true by several verses.) Did they look pitiful enough that God decided to show mercy because they looked like a sick puppy enough? Nope…. He loved them. That it. No reason. God just loved His creation.

            I mean this indescribable creator of everything and all things, and for no reason loved His creation that defied and hated Him and He basically said, “Because I love you I am going to die for you.”

            I mean seriously. I am a parent and I love my children, and I do something along the lines of, “Hey, you will get candy after you clean up these toys.” And that’s kinda what a lot of people would probably expect from the creator of everything. (That is sadly what a lot of churches teach today.) Clean up a bit. At least look like you are trying and then maybe God would think about calling ya back about the subject of eternal life.

            Nope. God just gives it you. So Jesus dies and offers salvation. Jesus came to us and even after He left He still comes to us. Filthy rotten sinners are we and God comes to us? Why? Because we were so helpless? (Kinda, but more.) He loved us.

            Why would you create me? Because I love you. Why would you give us this chance after we messed up? Because I love you. Why would you give me this choice? Because I love you. Why would you do anything for us at all the is good and kind when we deserve your wrath? Because I love you….

            How does this not draw anyone to tears? I mean really. This is very definition of real love and hope. I am not saying God doesn’t discipline. But like a parent who disciplines his or her children to not hurt each other or touch a hot stove or run out into the street. God does the same. There are times He does harsh disciplines and other times He lets bad things to happen, but it all comes back to show everyone of a God that loves. A God that poured His life and died to save His creation. I mean that is incredible!

           

            Anyways as I wipe away tears from my own words. I just want to say. First I am not trying to build a “Teddy Bear in the Sky” god. I am not twisting verses to fit a self-promotion of “All God wants to do is bless you!” meaning a god who only wants to give you stuff if you are good and follow what He asks. Nor am I promoting a god who says, “See? I died for you! You better grovel, obey or else!” Whose only desire is to strike fear into people and force them to their knees because they are worthless worms. (This is not say being on our knees is a bad thing. But we fall to our knees humble, not scared to death we might be put to death the next moment.)

            I am trying to point to the God who loves His creation. Who pours Himself offering Himself to the world. Who takes the beatings of then and even now because He loves His creation. He is with those who are faithful to serve Him and if offering Himself to those who don’t.

            I don’t grovel before God in fear. I tremble and cry because I can’t begin to describe how I feel knowing how I have His undeserved love. How glorious is He that He would love someone like me?

            I don’t pray before God calling for things I need or want for myself or others. (Those things can be good.) But I pray because I am taking and walking and having a relationship with a God who is wondrous and endless.

            

Children with Proper Tools

I am a avid believer in keeping creativity in our children. Its leaving our schools at a startling rate and yet we push our children to strive to do something in the world. Yet how in the world can they when we take the very thing that creates dreams?

*gets of her soap box*

I am a avid believer in giving our children the tools they need to create. Give them the simple things to imagine. Then give them the real tools to refine the ideas they come up with.

The other day I decided to give my daughter my camera. The one I spent several hundreds of dollars to use for my own work. She loves to be the subject of my work. And she loves to watch me work. Then I decided to give her the real equipment to see what she would do.

She doesn't know all the rules. She doesn't know all her limits. But she is learning them. She is refining them. From fuzzy pictures to something clear. She chased her imagination and was given a tool to bring them to life.

Give a child a camera and see what they do with.They will capture random things we don't always understand, but we see who they love. Give them a real canvas and paint and they will create something that can be so simple but speaks volumes.


Just a few words of inspiration for today.

You are created for amazing things.

God bless


Nata

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Aniexty

Anxiety. It is one of those things that can drive you crazy. But it can also be something that drives to you to do something.

My anxiety is something that is triggered randomly. Things like purchasing a house? What are my children? Where are my children going in life? Am I striving after Christ as I should be?

It is an internal struggle where I know one thing. My heart goes another way. My brain thinks in another direction. Spiraling lost in my thoughts I usually fall back to the place I started.

I go to what I know. I know how to paint. I know how to create things. I know I am loved and I find some motion of peace when I create. When I paint I am creating something, whether inspired from another artist or something of my complete own creation, I have my anxiety leave for a bit and I can rest sensing and knowing truths.

Another post for another day

You are created for wonderful things.

God Bless

Nata