Work in progress ...

Proverbs 3: 5-6 (the Message)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.

work in progress • 16 x 12 • acrylic on deep cradled gessobord

Good morning, all! Here’s what I’ve been working on, painting-wise, this week ... still in progress ... an early morning view of our farmer neighbor’s yard, about half a mile down the road from us. This is another painting for my show at the LSU Medical Library here in Shreveport, Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. I’m working extra hard to get as many more large paintings finished as I can by the end of October, which is sneaking up fast! I can’t believe the summer is almost over ... lots of activity makes the time fly, doesn’t it?

I wanted to share that my 96-year-old grandmother was put into hospice care this week in San Antonio. A sad time because she will be missed, but a joyful time because we know she belongs to Jesus, and she is going home to be with Him. Grandma went from the nursing home to live at my aunt’s house, with a 24-hour hospice care nurse to help care for her.

My sister who lives in Long Beach, California, told me that ’way back when Grandma was 92 she said she was “ready to go!” She said, “I just don’t know why God doesn’t take me now – there’s nothing else I need to do here; all my work is done.” Well, maybe when she gets to heaven God will let her know why He kept her here for 4 more years!

Sorry my posts have been few a far between lately ... thanks to all of you who have been checking in!

I know I had the above Proverb in a previous post, but I’ve repeated it this morning because

a) it’s one of my very favorites

b) I need to read it often ... to keep reminding me! and

c) it goes right along with the reading I’m sharing today (which includes a poem and a prose passage) from my little 1884 book of devotionals:

“Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on.
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step is enough for me.”

– J. H. Newman


God only is holy; He alone knows how to lead His children in the paths of holiness. He knows every aspect of your soul, every thought of your heart, every secret of your character, its difficulties and hindrances; He knows how to mould you to His will, and lead you onwards to perfect sanctification; He knows exactly how each event, each trial, each temptation, will tell upon you, and He disposes all things accordingly. The consequences of this belief, if fully grasped, will influence your whole life. You will seek to give yourself up to God more and more unreservedly, asking nothing, refusing nothing, wishing nothing, but what He wills; not seeking to bring things about for yourself, taking all He sends joyfully, and believing the “one step” set before you to be enough for you. You will be confident that even though there are clouds around, and your way seems dark, He is directing all, and that what seems a hindrance will prove a blessing, since He wills it.

- Jean Nicholas Grou