self-portraits | Fruitful Words

I Am Written on God’s Hand

“See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins” (Isaiah 49:16, New Living Translation).

God is telling me He thinks about me and my problems ALWAYS. So I don't need to fret. He has the power, love, and inclination to help.

Lord, help me to exercise my faith to believe this instead of worrying or fearing. Psalm 139 is another good portion of Scripture to read when I feel that God is not inclined to notice me.

Your Turn. Dear Believer, This encouragement is also for you. You are written on God’s hand. You are in God’s thoughts. Do you know this? Believe it? What step can you take today to show faith?

NOTE: This is the 3rd photo in my series, A Spring of Self Portraits. This is an item from my Spring Bucket List.

The list of the portraits is after the (more…) button. Just click on it. (more…)

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I am Choosing to Follow My Daughter’s Idea

Taped to my daughter’s laptop is the below yellow piece of paper. She is enforcing new behaviours through the use of questions.

What questions and answers would you write?

The questions are as follows:

Would I rather . . .

Be on FB or practicing kung fu?
Be blogging or going for a bike ride?
Be checking email or having dinner with friends?
Be surfing or reading a good book?

Should I be on the computer OR Should I be doing something else?

Sooooo, after some thought, I realized . . . I REALLY do want to be on Facebook, blogging, checking email and surfing!!!! Okay – I am not enamoured with checking email.

But, what is in my best interest? What can I learn by asking myself questions?

If I would rather be on Facebook than anything else, why? Some time on FB is not a bad thing. It is a connecting tool. At night I am on FB for connection. But there are other ways and maybe even better ways of connecting. Instead of FB I can call someone (if it’s not too late). I can write a note, pray for them, or work on a scrapbook page.
If I would rather be blogging than anything else, why? I recently learned that I like to blog because that is one way I sort out my thoughts. Also it is a way to satisfy my need to learn. And I like to share. These seem like good goals and I think I’d like to still pursue them. However, maybe instead of starting new posts, I could finish up some I’ve already started or work on the post, 19 Things I Learned From My Dog.
If I would rather be checking email than anything else, why? Procrastination, pure and simple. Over-checking email is not usually a problem for me. But when I do, it is because I am procrastinating doing something. So when this urge hits me, I want to figure out what I am procrastinating on. Then do that thing at least for 10-20 minutes.
If I would rather be surfing than anything else, why? Easy to answer this – it is FUN, interesting, gives me new things to think about, relaxes me, and the time zooms by. Unfortunately, my brain gets overstimulated when I surf at night. Then I have a HARD time getting to sleep at a decent hour. So instead of surfing, I could read a physical book.

My revised questions and answers are . . . Would I Rather . . .

Be on FB or writing a letter?
Be blogging aimlessly or blogging with a purpose?
Be checking email or busting procrastination?
Be surfing or reading a good book?

Should I be on the computer OR Should I be doing something else?

Your Turn . . . Does the computer take up a lot of your time? How would you answer the above questions?

NOTE: This is the 1st photo in my series, A Spring of Self Portraits. This is an item from my Spring Bucket List.

As you see, sometimes I take great license as to what composes a self-portrait.

The list of the portraits is after the (more…) button. Just click on it. (more…)

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I am a Saver

I like to save for projects, events, trips, things. I like to save in a physical place I can immediately access, like in piggy banks. I currently have 2 plastic banks.

The pink pig is savings for a trip to Disneyland. The white plastic container has $ for car payments. Once I get a year's worth, I will look into getting a new (to me) car.

I like the pleasure of plopping the money into the bank. I don’t know why I put a dollar bill into the pink piggy bank. I imagine it will be tough to get out.

And in the case of the car payment jug, I like drawing a black sharpied “X” when I accumulate a month’s car payment. Every time I get 2 months worth of car payments, I put that $ into a specified savings account in my bank. (Otherwise I am too tempted to spend it.) So in reality the car bank is empty, but the “X’s” sure tell a lovely story. Maybe I should get some car stickers to use instead of exes.

Penny by quarter and “X” by “X” I am getting closer to my goals.

Your Turn . . .

Do you save up for special items?
Do you use a piggy bank or a real bank?
What are you saving for?

NOTE: This is the 11th photo in my series, A Winter of Self Portraits. When I was brainstorming a list of items for my Winter Bucket List, I came up with the idea of taking 12 self-portraits.

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I Talk Scripture to Myself

I go through periods of time where I use a dry erase pen to write on my mirrors. It might be a to-do list, quotes, or goals.

But for now, it is Scripture: “So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty,” (Zechariah 4:6)

God’s Spirit is within me.

I need this reminder right now. There are things in my life I have tried to do in my own might and power.

I need this MPS reminder: (not Might nor Power, BUT Spirit).

As a consequence of pondering this verse (which is given to Zerubbabel during a vision about the rebuilding of the Temple), I have been . . .

Praying more as a first resort.
Asking what God will is in my life, not dictating what I will.
Using HIS divine enablement (tools, motivation, people, and energy) He gives to accomplish His will.
Living like the outcome belongs to the Lord.

One commentary states: “Note that these words are directed to Zerubbabel, who has been charged with the leadership in the rebuilding program.

“There is here both encouragement and admonition.

“Zerubbabel need not fear the size or difficulty of the task. God’s supply of power is sufficient for any and every situation.

“But Zerubbabel needs to rely on God rather than personal skill, strength, or ingenuity.

“The word translated “might” is frequently used of armies, wealth, or influence. But God’s work is accomplished by the power of his Spirit.”

Elwell, W. A. (1996, c1989). Evangelical Commentary on the Bible . (electronic ed.) (Zec 4:1). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

NOTE: This is the 1oth photo in my series, A Winter of Self Portraits. When I was brainstorming a list of items for my Winter Bucket List, I came up with the idea of taking 12 self-portraits.

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I am a chocoholic!

“Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power. It is the best friend of those engaged in literary pursuits.” – Baron Justus von Liebig

I agree. Chocolate is a necessity in life especially when you are tired (like I am here).

I added miniature chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, and orange extract to the brownie batter. YUMM!

NOTE: This is the 9th photo in my series, A Winter of Self Portraits. When I was brainstorming a list of items for my Winter Bucket List, I came up with the idea of taking 12 self-portraits.

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I am Creative . . .

I am quite pleased with the painting on the owl. It started out as an accident which I liked so much, I then purposefully copied. I think the googly eyes add life to the owl.

. . . and getting more so.

I am not usually an original creator. I tend to follow directions closely. But I am learning that putting my own twist on things is okay and can even be quite satisfying.

Here are our 2 owls after being baked and before being painted. I love how Emily personalized her owl (right side). It has more character than mine.

I recently re-learned this lesson from my niece Emily. We made owls together earlier this week. She made one for her sister’s 16th birthday. Mine went to Elizabeth, my daughter, an awesomely creative person.

Emily is not afraid to put her own touches on any project that we do. She doesn’t need my “permission” or acceptance in order for her art to be okay.

Emily is mimicking her owl's expression.

The original idea for the clay owl came from this post at 4 Crazy Kings. She used Model Magic. We used Sculpey clay.

Learning to be Creative

In early January I sewed a wine tote. I did put my own creative touch when it came to embellishments.

I hot-glued the big buttons onto the bottom of the handles and hot-glue oozed out. I couldn’t get the glue off so I put twine stitchery circling the buttons and onto the handle. I quite like how it turned out. Those happy mistakes are quite happy!

NOTE: This is the 8th photo in my series, A Winter of Self Portraits. When I was brainstorming a list of items for my Winter Bucket List, I came up with the idea of taking 12 self-portraits.

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I am a Gardener

Working in the soil soothes me. It brings me joy and makes me feel connected to something bigger than myself. Gardening lets me participate in the miracle of life.

Planting these spring flowers helped ease my grief … a bit. It helped me to put Chip’s death into perspective. And it helped me to view eternity with a hope.

I don’t know if dogs go to Heaven, but I can hope.

When I own my own home and have a backyard, I will fill it with daffodils and other bulbs. I will revel in the spring blooms because, to me, they are a foreshadow of the hope of Heaven.

NOTE: This is the 7th photo in my series, A Winter of Self Portraits. When I was brainstorming a list of items for my Winter Bucket List, I came up with the idea of taking 12 self-portraits.

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12 Days Drinking – And It’s a Good Thing

I am already a breakfast eater so having this food has been easy and soooo healthy. It's purple today because I added blueberries.

Since the last week of December I have been drinking green smoothies for breakfast. I am doing this so that I can get more vitamins and superfoods into my diet.

I have been tracking this new habit since January 1st. You can read more about it at this post.

NOTE: This is the 3rd photo in my series, A Winter of Self Portraits.

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