I feel like that heading could be described as the theme of my life at this moment. Thankfully, it’s ‘to be determined’ by the Holy Spirit and His leading in my life, but I must say that I have not been handling the last several months of being in transition with as much grace as I would have liked. The waiting has been long. Soooooo long. And then I hear sermons about how we aren’t waiting on God, He’s waiting on us. But I really do think it’s both. I think we can speed along the process with our cooperation and zeal, but then I also know that God very much has His own timeline that He works on. I would love to sit here and say that this process has worked perfect patience in me. Ha! But I’m still feeling quite impatient. I think there is a divine impatience, which really isn’t impatience at all, but rather a deep, deep longing for what God has ready and waiting in the next season. I’m feeling that, with every fiber of my being.

I keep avoiding writing anything down here, thinking that when there’s something big to report, then I will write it all down. But I think that really, the stuff is in the journey. And a lot of times the journey can feel like nothing is happening. And somehow God takes that “nothing” and breathes on it, and works miracles in your life. I know He’s changed me from the inside out. I know He’s re-writing my story and setting me on a whole new course. And it really is mind blowing how He does that, but HE’S GOD! I can’t say I would knowingly always choose His ways of doing things, but they are absolutely much more effective than anything I have ever tried in the course of my life. There really is something to the refiner’s fire. And if you’ve been in it, you know!

They call it pioneering. It sounds brave and bold, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. It feels a lot like an oven, or furnace of affliction. But would I take back everything the refiner’s fire has done in me? Never. I could never go back. I want everything He has for me, and the bravery to receive it! I long for adventures in Him! I have been reading the book “Harvest Glory” by Ruth Ward Heflin, and it has truly changed my outlook on life. It details many of her journeys around the world doing what she calls “odd jobs” for God. She spends a lot of the book relating her time in Israel as well as in nations around the world beckoning the Jews back to their homeland, and this book thrills my heart! As a young child I dreamed of being a missionary in a foreign country. That seemed a most noble and exotic life. And after reading her stories (they truly are so remarkable) those same fires have been rekindled, and then some! I travelled a lot in my twenties and since having kids I’m home a lot! But adventure is calling!

I didn’t have anything in mind when I sat down to reconnect here tonight, but I guess there’s always something to share. I’m still working away on my painting series of hollyhocks. So far there are 7 paintings. I was hoping to get to 30, we shall see how that goes! I keep starting more paintings when I get to the final detail stage. Procrastination! Lord, help me!

Here is a sneak peek of a few of the paintings I’m working on (the bottom layer is the inspiration painting from my art journal). They are in varying stages of completion, each painting starts out with a golden yellow background because I like that sunny color popping through.

If you read this far, thank you so much and thanks for stopping by!