Brrrr-eavement

my watercolor, "One Wintry Night", 2008

    
       It is cold.  It is STILL cold, I mean.  What I mean to say it, it's cold!!!  Usually I totally enjoy all the seasons, but this year I am already tired of the cold.  We keep our thermostat set at 60 degrees (or should I say 60 de-grieves?), and try to make up the difference with the wood stove.  It is a full time job keeping wood cut, gathered, stacked, and burning.  And still I am cold.  And, it's only January... we still have February (my Hubby calls it "Febr-ugly")  and March to go...  I am tired of being cold.  I am tired of using the heating pad to warm my frozen feet, only to succumb to frozen fingers.
  

      It has frozen my creativity as well.  Who can do watercolors when their fingers are numb? This is a numbing coldness that spreads from the fingers to the soul.  And, who can do watercolors when their soul feels numb?  There is a place in my self that is cold as ice.  Please, Lord, defrost me!  Place Your hand on my hand and in my heart and take away the iciness.  I want to feel warm again.
  

      As a dear friend quoted to me last night:  "This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep... Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  (Nehemiah 8: 9,10)
     Hmmm... Maybe, on this cold snowy day, I can keep this in mind, get out some paper, some paints, and be creative...  I can feel the warmth coming back.  Praise God.



SHALOM  Y'ALL  -  TWYLA

Walk On With Me

   

Garden of Gethsemane, Israel   (my photo)

    " My child, the path of duty is before thee. It may look rugged, but it is the only way of divine blessing. Choose out some other way. and ye shall find only disappointment and frustration of soul. Weariness shall overtake thee in the smoothest road, if it be not the pathway of my ordained will. Be not deceived by doubts, and be not detained by fears. Move into the center of My purposes for you: ye shall find there are glorious victories waiting for thee, and recompenses far exceeding every sacrifice.
 

my photo - Caiphas' house (gardens) , Israel


SHALOM  Y'ALL - TWYLA

   Be obedient: ye shall bring joy to My heart. Neither the applause nor the scorn of men should be of any consequence to thee. My approval is reward enough, and without this, any other satisfaction is not worthy of thy pursuit.
     Walk on with Me. I shall be very near to give thee support and encouragement, so ye have nothing to warrant thy fears. They shall vanish as ye obey."  
     ( from Come Away My Beloved by Frances J Roberts)


  
      P.S. If you have never read this book, you should! It is balm to the soul - no matter what is going on in you or around you!

Modeh Ani

          According to the sages, when we wake up each morning, God restores our soul within us so that we can live another day. Just as God revives us from sleep each morning, so will He revive us from death to the presence of His eternal light.
          The Modei Ani is one of the first prayers a Jewish child learns. ( A little boy would say "mo-deh", and a little girl would say "mo-dah".) This prayer is a prayer of thanks to God for providing another day.
        

  The transliteration (how to pronounce the words) of the Hebrew is:
                 

My watercolor/calligraphy of the Modei Ani

  Mo-deh  'a-ni   le-fa-ney-kha  me-lekh 
  chai  ve-qai-yam   
  'e-mu-na-te-kha  rab-bah  be-chem-lah
   nish-ma- ti  bi  she-he-che-zar-ta.

           
  And, the English translation is:

 I thank you, living and eternal King,
 for returning my soul within me in compassion,     great is Your  faithfulness.

Shalom Y'all - Twyla