New Life Awaits

New Life awaits us...

When I lost most of my hours at the Library January 2014, due to cut backs I asked the Lord what to do and I heard him say, "Start painting and I'll open a door."  I was a bit upset at the time because I didn't know how I was going to pay my bills but I started painting our house in obedience.

Then our dog went into heat and I got the okay to breed her.  Four healthy puppies were born two months later!

I was able to sell the puppies to great people who liked the Boston Terrier breed and that helped a lot with the bills.

Then my daughter needed help in Edmonton.  I went to get her in April  using my air miles to fly out and we drove back during the Easter weekend.  God was orchestrating it all, hallelujah!

My daughter dared me to apply to some jobs out in Edmonton as we were chatting on the way back to Ontario.  So I started looking and applied for a couple of QA positions and a couple of bus driving positions.

Meanwhile at home I was still painting, to the point where I now had only  5 rooms left in the house to paint.

Freshly painted

I got a call from a bus company out West that interviewed me on the phone.  Then they asked for job references.  I gave them mine and prayed for favor from my bosses.

I did deviate from painting the house too.  I got tired of all the work and painted some water color exercises.

I had lots of fun this winter!

The house was completely painted by the time I passed my drug test and gave 2 weeks notice.  Amazing!  God knew what was coming down the pipe and got me ready before I even knew what it was.

My husband freaked out when I got the job, but oh well.   Dreams cost money and retirement isn't in the Bible -- enough said.  We were struggling to keep up with the bills since the Nortel collapse.  The downstream effects devastated the economy around Ottawa.

I want to encourage you to follow the nudges of Holy Spirit.  He's so patient with us and he knows the end from the beginning.  If you will attempt to follow his voice he will tell you when you head off in the wrong direction.  He is forever faithful and extremely patient with us!

As I look through all my pics from the last year or so I can't believe how much my life has changed.  Only God could do something so wonderful!  And I am content!  I can feel Holy Spirit's pleasure that I'm here -- 3 provinces away from my previous home.  It doesn't make sense but it's true.  Holy Spirit led living is the best!

Have a great day with HIM!
Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Restless & Waiting for Spring

I was feeling so restless last week and I knew something was up.   I didn't want to escape by going for a long, long drive because I've done that before and it didn't help very much. I even picked up my water colors again in an effort to deal with the restlessness I was feeling and it helped temporarily.
But underneath I knew something was amiss.  I was asking the Lord what's up and I realized that I'd been struggling to enter his presence and just rest.

Yes, that surprised me too because I have been going in and out of Heaven  a lot more than I ever did and I've been busy praying, decreeing and doing stuff for my Papa.  I just somehow got too busy for him and He was telling me to pull aside a bit and rest.

So I ascended and waited and just sat.  It's so true that we get healed up when we behold Jesus.   The word says, "Let the son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings and his beams of light." (Mal. 4:2) and it's so true!  As we behold him and let him behold us we get healed up on the inside.  Each time I sit one more scar is healed up and I feel so much better.

Some of the wounds go way back to when we were children and we must soak in him and let his love and mercy and forgiveness wipe away our need for walls of protection.

Hallelujah!  It's a great journey we are on!

Challenging Old and Current Mindsets

It's amazing how much we carry from our childhood into our adult life.  As a child I was a student that did poorly in art classes at school.  D's and F's were common marks for me to receive for my assignments. I had a hard time drawing and easily believed what teachers and other students told me which was, "You are no good at art."

However God says differently.  This is the first painting I just completed.

It is sad that it took me almost 30 years to try painting again but it's good that I did it.  Some people never get over the biases and words that other people speak over them.

I have been a Christian now almost 30 years and Holy Spirit has been challenging me to think about myself differently the whole time.  It's a slow process because we have to renew our minds and learn to speak differently but it's well worth it. (Rom. 12:1-2, Prov. 18;21, Matt. 12:32-37) One glance at this painting tells you that.

We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us.(Matt. 19:26)  All things means all things in my world. What does it mean in yours?

Can I encourage you to think outside the limitations that others have put on you?  May I encourage you to get your self-worth from Holy Spirit and not from men?  People fall in and out of love so easily but God's love is forever.

It's never too late to start.   It takes 21 days to form a new habit... at least that's what the pros say. 

Let's pray:  Lord give us the courage to challenge old and current mindsets as You lead.  You the Creator (Holy Spirit) live inside of us and You will help us change into the likeness of Your son. We do have the mind of Christ (the anointed one and His anointing). We bind ourselves to the truth. Your word is truth.  We declare that no weapon formed against us, especially curses will stand and we cast down every evil imagination and negative word that has bound us.  We speak life over ourselves; spiritually, mentally, physically and financially.  We are a blessing everywhere we go and we abound in blessings.  Everything we put our hands to do prospers, in Jesus' name! Amen.

Thank You Lord that You wish above all things that we proper and be in health, even as our souls prosper. (3John 1: 2)
Have a great day with HIM!
Love and hugs,
Brenda Gale

Painting!

Remember how I wanted to learn how to paint?  Well my girlfriend came over yesterday to teach Tricia how to paint and I joined in. We did some expressive art. No photo references are allowed in this type of art. You just paint what is inside of you.  I found it very hard because I am so analytical.

 This is Patricia's piece.  I couldn't figure out what she was doing until the end.  She wasn't even trying to paint anything.  She was just having fun with the paint and the brushes.  At the end I saw so much passion and movement in her art.  It really came together. I love how the painting moves from left to right and how the color overlaps and swirls together.

Tricia's piece

Tricia has never done this type of art either so she wasn't sure how to begin.  I like the use of colors around her page. There is a lot of different parts to focus on.  The wheat looks like a face from a different angle.

My piece

I love the watercolor washes and the interesting patterns you can create.  I love how they suggest things.  I didn't think the painting was done but Patricia said to leave it unless I got a revelation.  Expressive art doesn't have to make sense.  That is a tough one for me as I like my world to make sense.

I am happy we started. Patricia was surprised to see the softness come out in my painting. I didn't know it was there either. LOL.

I am looking forward to painting again some day.  A dream is made one step at a time and now I have taken another step!

Let's pray: "Lord show us how to go after our dreams. Help us to make time to hear Your voice and set aside all that is a distraction to go after our heart's desire.  I thank You that You promised to give us our heart's desire as we pursue You. Amen!"

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psalm 37:4)"

January 1, 2011

 The weather is so balmy today I am thinking about my spring bulbs.  Isn't that a pretty picture I grabbed from Photo Bucket?  A little bit out of season, but hey! All the ice is gone outside. LOL.

Well, here we go again.  It's another New Year and everybody is making New Year's resolutions. I would love to learn how to paint, but at my age it would take so long before I became good, that I might just as well wait till I get to Heaven. Then time will not be a problem.

On that note, I put the painting book away and asked the Lord what I should focus on this year.  I have musical talents that some painters would probably love to have and I should make good use of them.

What are you going to work on, or attempt to do?  I love to to try something new. Is there a dream you have always had but never had the opportunity to pursue?

What I do know is that every journey begins with one step. Here's to taking the first step of many this year towards our dreams!

"Thank You Lord for helping us to pursue the dreams You've given us.  Show us what steps we can take that will propel us in the right direction.  Connect us with people who will empower us  not discourage us. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen!"