Thanksgiving Is Everyday!

'In everything give thanks' 
(1 Thessalonians 5:18a)

When those little girls open their eyes what will they say to the little boy?  What would you?  'That's not fair?  I'm gonna' tell!'      Children always want things to be fair and even. As adults we know that doesn't always happen.  Events and circumstances change, sometimes for the worse.

I've been rereading some of the "Little House on the Prairie" books.  Ma Ingalls would always say, 'there is nothing so bad, that some small good can't come from it.'  The Ingalls lost their cash corn crop to huge flocks of blackbirds - but they ate tasty blackbird pie.

It's been in some of my life's most difficult situations that I have grown the most.  Have I always given God thanks for the trials?  To be honest - not until someone either reminds me or when it's the only remaining thing to do. And I'll admit, my giving thanks may only be half-hearted. But amazingly, it seems when I start thanking God even for the trials, or sorrow, or humbling of my heart,that God begins to change the circumstance and even my attitude about it.

Today, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and I pray that your heart will give thanks in everything, and remember that the God of all will help you through the trials.

May God Bless you,

Laura

Scared of Rejection?

"In the Garden"  by  Laura Miller  2012 (click to enlarge)

This  picture represents a technique I’d never tried before, but often admired.  It’s called negative painting.    I never understood how to do it until a recent lesson in Mark Mitchell’s How to Be A Children’s Book Illustrator.  It involves painting in layers from behind. You don't paint the object - you paint around it. There are also videos on YouTube that teach this. 

Sometimes it’s scary to try something new. I tend to be a perfectionist which often intimidates the creative flow.  Too often I procrastinate starting a piece of work because I’m tentative about color selection, or placement of characters, or successfully capturing a moment.  So time passes and a blank sheet of paper remains blank.

Often times we are inhibited in sharing the love of God because we fear rejection or failure, or not doing it right.  We say nothing and thereby achieve nothing for the Lord.  Or we turn from something we know God wants us to do because we fear failure.  We then fail because we never try.

What if Paul and Silas had remained silent?  I love the story of them singing in the jail cell (Acts 16). They had been arrested for preaching the Gospel, beaten and put in chains.  They could have chosen to be submissive and silent and hoped for the charges to be dropped in the morning.  But that night they sang and praised God so loudly all the other prisoners heard.  Then, when the earthquake released them from their chains they did not jump up and run.  They stayed.  As a result the keeper and his household were saved!  

Changing goals at my age I often hear myself saying,   What if I fail? What if other people think I’m foolish?   Winston Churchill once said, “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”  Another of my favorites is, “You always pass failure on the way to success,” from Mickey Rooney (now don’t pretend you’re too young to know who he is).  Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit was rejected 6 times, so she self-published (and you thought self-publishing was a new idea!). She was finally published by the London firm of Frederick Warne & company and according to them Beatrix Potter’s stories “have never lost their popularity. Today more than two million Beatrix Potter books are sold every year worldwide – which is four books every minute!”  

More importantly, when it comes to sharing the Gospel we do NOT have to FEAR FAILURE.   As Jesus prayed for Simon Peter  (Luke 22:32) , "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,"  he continues to pray for us through the Holy Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:27).   It is always God's will for us to share the Gospel, so why do we worry especially when Jesus has and is praying for us?

So failure or rejection might happen but it is just part of the process.  If you speak for the Lord and receive a rejection remember it means "they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected [God] (1 Samuel 8:7) Don't obsess about being rejected.  Focus on the moment, the opportunity, go forward with confidence, singing and praising God! 

Leave a comment below and tell me how God has helped you overcome fear.  God Bless Your Day, 

Laura

Be Kind...Even to Yourself

Be Kind

Do you have a problem being kind to yourself?  I do.  It's easier for me to encourage others than it is to lift myself up.

If you've read some of my past blogs, you know that at the age of 58 I made a prayerful decision (along with my husband) to actively pursue a life-long desire. . . illustrating and writing children's picture books. Then and now I believe God has called me to do this. I've been at it almost a year now, taking some classes, researching, building a portfolio, honing my skills, being part of a group of writers/illustrators.  You would think I would have moved up the ladder.  However....

Two weeks ago I was in a large book store in the children's section looking for a birthday gift for one of my granddaughters.  When I stood surveying the wall of children's books and seeing some wonderful treasures of beautiful illustrations, stories and indescribable talent I was suddenly overwhelmed.  Tears stung my eyes and I thought, "why does the children's book world need the likes of my drawings or stories?  The self-doubts flooded my thoughts and I slid down the ladder.

On the ride home my husband said, 'you're awfully quiet...watcha' thinking?'  I told him what happened and the question I asked, "why does the children's book world need the likes of  me?  He said, "and what was your answer to the question?"  Big help.   I expected a little more encouragement, a little more bolstering of my ego.  But his question also irritated me because I had no response.  *sigh*

For two weeks the  question has plagued me.  Well, truth be told - it's the answer to the question that is haunting me.   If I can't answer with something like, "because I have a supremely unique gift of talent, imagination and delightful insight" then maybe I don't have what it takes.  Just because I like to draw and tell stories may not be enough if I don't believe people will like what I do.

I've never been a self promoter.  I'll show my art or stories to my family, but beyond I'm pretty timid. When my daughter said, 'Mom, you need to start a blog to promote yourself,' I asked why?  and if you look at the number of posts here, you know I'm still not convinced people would really want to hear my thoughts.  I have friends and family who are all wonderfully encouraging, yet I think, 'well, they just say nice things so they won't hurt my feelings.'

Then today when I was emailing a completed drawing to my art class for an online critique something clicked.  The title of the drawing, "Be Kind" is from Ephesians 4:32, "And be ye kind one to another..."  If another aspiring artist would have voiced the same doubts to me  I would have been all over them with  encouragement and affirmations.  Yet I wasn't doing that for myself.   I'm usually a glass half-full type of person, yet here I was draining my own glass with discouragement and doubt.

I was also doubting God. Oh-oh.   That's never a good thing. I was doubting that this is his purpose for me.   Proverbs 3:26 states  For the Lord shall be [my] confidence, and shall keep [my] foot from being taken...e.g. slipping down on the ladder.

So - I've decided, I will be kind to myself.  I will give myself affirmation, encouragement and believe that God has called me to pursue this for his glory. ...and if once in a while you want to send me a little kind note, or a thumbs up, I'll accept it as genuine.  I am going to firmly plant my feet on the ladder rungs and move up with the Lord as my confidence.  

And my answer to the question? 1 Peter 4:11   ". . . if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."     .

And now I have to quickly post this because I'm beginning to think it's not very interesting or something you would want to read......grrr......Okay - I need to quickly memorize Prov. 3:26.

New Year's Resolution & the Fear Factor

There is something enchanting about January 1st, a new year laying before us - without blemish or fracture.  A path waiting to explore, pursue and even dream. A time for New Year's resolutions, commitments and planning.  The New Year is like a piece of fresh white paper that can become a Mona Lisa, a Monet, or a paper airplane - depending on the hand that touches it.  I, like you, have my plans, purpose and dreams for this year.  But the other day as I was trying to establish my home work schedule.  I was frustrated by interruptions, some were welcomed, but the biggest frustration was the FEAR FACTOR.  The fear of FAILURE in my new endeavors.  Finally, I realized I was failing.  I was failing to include something in my planning.  I had not gone to the architect, the builder, the creator of all that is good for His encouragement. I was once again trying to do everything under ME-power.  You'd think at my age and years as a Christian I wouldn't need to be reminded about. . .
      Placing God first - even for encouragement!  Making him the foundation of any project is like buying one of those ubiquitous appliance warranties.   If something goes wrong - God is there to repair, to replace, to renew.  And he did send me encouragement through my oldest daughter.  She is a great cheerleader, strong Christian, and a motivator.  (You can meet her at  http://www.lessonsfromivy.com/).
      Okay - so now God has the master blueprint, our new year is blank and clean. . .waiting for his hand to touch it. . . to create. . . to shape. . . to be meaningful. . . to direct our lives. . .  then why does  fear keep gripping our heart and hand and mind and stalling us from doing and achieving our best?       
       Because, if we ourselves are not a clean slate - then how can we expect a marvelous working within the New Year?  If our hearts are not clean and focused on God we cannot see the blueprint, much less follow it. This scripture from Psalm 51:10 reminds us  to be renewed for the New Year, and for each day.  We can start by letting God clean our hearts and renew the 'right' spirit.  And if we have the right spirit - nothing is impossible for God.  And according to Psalm 37:4 when we  ' Delight thyself also in the LORD. . . he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.'
      What do you want to commit to God this year?  Is it your FEAR factor?  Leave a comment to share.