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The Beauty Under the Sea

       Being under water is not something that I like, in fact it is something that I fear.  Perhaps it is because of my childhood experiences of learning to swim in creeks, and large ponds that for sure were home to snakes.  I do not like snakes.

           Back to Under the Sea……My husband loves to be under the sea…..scuba diving and snorkeling….My daughter loves it as well.  She naturally loved swimming underwater and snorkeling, especially in Hawaii. 

Me not so much….My first adventure with a snorkel was shortly after Will and I married and traveled to Bermuda.  I took the plunge off the sailboat and gave it my best shot.  After about 30 minutes I swam back to the boat and left some of my fear behind.

Several years later, Will and I went on a sailing vacation from Tortola with 2 other couples.  Everyone was diving or snorkeling.  One day I decided to give snorkeling another try.  With Will holding my hand we snorkeled over the Wreck of the Rhone.  The beauty under the sea captivated me and I am thankful that I was willing to set aside the fear with faith to experience this adventure.

 I wish that I could say that I loved snorkeling but I just do not.  I loved the beauty of God’s amazing fish, coral and the world of life that lives there, yet I had rather view it from a glass bottom boat or pictures or National Geographic videos.

Faith casts out Fear….this I know to be true…yet overcoming any fear can only be done by doing and believing you can…No one can do this for you…..

This painting hangs over Will’s dresser in our bedroom.   The colors and the shapes reveal in abstract my experience from that memory.  I used gold leaf in this painting to capture the images of the life under the sea.

What are your fears?  Are they giving you thoughts of I can’t?  Are they keeping you stuck?

                     Challenge your fears:   Take the plunge to free yourself from the doubt, the I will fail, it will not work out.  You just might be surprised by the outcome.  

At a Bible study on God’s plan and purpose for life the speaker gave us a paper tape measure in centimeters.  She instructed  us tear away the part below our age and throw it away, for me that was 70 centimeters.  Then she ask us to  think about what age we hope to be .  So I thought, maybe 90.  Anything after that we were to throw away.  I was left with 20 centimeters. So if the Lord allows me to live 20 more years, then how shall I live each day.

             Looking at your life from what has already passed, and looking at it in the light of perhaps the tomorrows, gives one the perspective of living each day with purpose not fear.

                             Challenging all of us to live for eternal purpose now, not later, for later may not come……..

The white blank canvas speaks fear to this novice artist yet I take the plunge with my paint loaded brush of color, and I began each stroke with hope and a purpose somehow creating art that inspires not only me, but all who look upon it…….

Finding faith today,

Martha

 

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Divine Appointments

     November 2016 my daughter gave Will a groupon for Veritas Wine Room in Dallas, to thank him for doing work in her home.

We do not often visit this part of Dallas; however in July my glacoma test was due and my Doctor is not far from this location on North Henderson in Dallas; after the appointment we drove a short distance to Veritas Wine Room.

While there I noticed art work hanging on the walls and I began a conversation with Ellie the manager and asking about the art etc.  She inquired “are you an artist; do you  have pictures of your work”.  The magic of my cell phone and the photos sparked her interest.

On December 6, 2017, Will installed 13 pieces of my art at Veritas Wine Room, 2323 N. Henderson, Dallas, TX 75206.  This is a reality that I could have not dreamed.  It came to me as an unexpected gift from above.

A divine encounter, asking me to keep the appointment. The thoughts that run through my mind and the chatter that says you are not good enough, this is not going to happen , your dreams are in the pipe and are not going to be revealed, these thoughts often keep me from moving forward. Then the  voice within speaks and I am reminded that I am a child of God who created all that I see, feel and experience and more than I can imagine.

How can I limit the art of the divine? Can I count the stars? Can I know their  names? Did I tell the sun when to rise or the moon to shine or direct the waves of the oceans? Of course not????

                 “Be still and know that I am God” Ps. 46

Many years  of my life’s journey was not still. My career as a stewardess/flight attendant was fast paced and often lived in the future, as our bids for the next month were processed in the present and our vacations were bid for a year in advance. Traveling at the rate of 500 miles an hour and trying to put everyday life into perspective was a challenge. Yet it was an adventure that I treasure.

A wonder filled career that only my fellow Sky Sisters can relate remains in my heart and inspires my art.

If you find yourself at Veritas Wine Room, tasting a wine from many regions of the world and you see my art, I hope it will bring light and love to your heart.

Perhaps you will encounter Ellie, the angel that believed in me.  Her smile and her love will warm your heart.

 Divine Appointments are all around us.  Keeping them is up to

US!!!

Merry Christmas,

Martha

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Ireland Dreaming of Green

         About 20 years ago my husband and I traveled to Shannon, Ireland.   Exploring the island and in awe of the indescribable colors of green took my breath away.   For those of you who have had the blessing of visiting Ireland, I am sure you can relate to the beauty of its country side, especially the green, green pastures dotted with white sheep.

           Thinking of Ireland recharges my soul with the color of green that I for sure cannot capture in this painting….yet I try…..as I listen to Celtic Woman on my playlist.

On a day in Ireland when the sun peeks out of the overcast November days the hills of green cast a golden hue on the white woolly sheep grazing and basking in the glory of being cared for by their shepherd.

Sheep need a shepherd or else they would not survive.  If they fall down they cannot get up without help and they just go astray and wonder around lost.  Sounds  like me sometimes……without my faith in God I would wonder and for sure lose my way.  

The color green makes my heart smile.  It reminds me of new beginnings, new life……a rebirth of what was once considered gone, has come again.

The sun is shining in my corner of the world today and winter has delayed its arrival, even my hibiscus plants are sprouting new growth and remain on the patio, and the begonias are still in bloom.  Shades of green all around me yet none can compare with the green of Ireland.  Pictures do not capture its radiance and this painting cannot truly represent its splendor.  However it reminds me……. 

           Green and gold reveal to me how precious is it to see and experience the colors all around me.  Thankful and joyful am I, as I recall the emerald isle of Ireland.

What color makes your heart smile and leap with joy?  May it take you to places that you dream of and remind you of places that you have been.

What if all of us shared the gift of color to the darkness lurking to devour this gift of life?  Share the gift that makes your heart smile.  Be still and soon and very soon the light will reveal its hue and you will know how gifted you are.  

Open palms, open hearts, be the gift that you are………Someone needs the gift……and only you can deliver it…..to that someone, somewhere in your corner of the world.

Remembering and Sending Love,

Martha

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November: A month of Celebration

 

   Celebrating the Changing Sky

November a month of celebrations…giving thanks with all Americans for our nation and the freedoms that we hold dear; prayers that we continue to protect and pass on to future generations.

My Mother’s birthday is November 14 and mine is on the 22nd.  Even though my Mother’s residence is in heaven (for 30 years), I treasure the memories of the November’s past with tearful smiles and joy in my heart.

Her voice of love and encouragement is ever so near, especially during the month of November.

Thinking about the smells of cornbread dressing and sweet potato pie cooking in the oven transports me back in time.

In some ways November is bitter-sweet.  I miss celebrating our birthdays and Thanksgiving with her.

                            Change…-change…change…is always knocking on the door…even if I do not answer…it comes in, welcome or not……

 I say to myself….paint a new picture….write a new song… think a new thought…be the change…cause you can not stop it..like the leaves that change colors in the fall, ushering in a new season so it is with us.  Everything comes to an end but every moment is  one to embrace.

Today with tear stained cheeks I painted the sun illuminating the colors of the sky reminding me of the changing sky from sun up to sun down, never the same.

God art placed on the canvas with care.  Letting the colors and the brush reveal the beauty in and around me.

“I the Lord do not change.” Malachi 3:6…

Everything else changes…

Hanging on to all the sunny memories and diving forward to the newest of each moment, my tears dry and my heart smiles with incredible gratitude for all that was and all that is and all that shall be.

My bittersweet November thoughts turned to sweet memories that I tried to capture in the colors and strokes in this painting.

Blessed to celebrate 70 years…still working on being in each moment…and trusting more in God who holds all moments now and forever in the palm of HIS  hands.

Today my i phone locked after a forced update to IOS 11.1 and I turned to google for help.  I was able to start it again; however my pictures and message disappeared.  I retrieved my photos but not my messages.  AT&T could not do anything more for me and in fact they were surprised that someone my age could actually do it.

Later in the day I called Apple support.  This should have been my first thought and go to.

The agent took over my iPhone.  That means she could see all my information, all pictures etc.

I cannot wrap my mind around such technology.  A person in a far distance can take over my phone and see everything on my phone.  This just is a part of the amazing world of technology that is our world.

So I am thinking…if technology can do that…how in the world can anyone not believe that God is the master creator of all.  He knows your thoughts, He knows your actions, He knows your future.  

He is all knowledge and He alone has given it to the ones who have made technology work in this now and tomorrow and eternity.

Blessed to have had almost 70 years here in this earth suit.  Hoping and Praying that you will look to God and be thankful for the journey.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Martha

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Music of the Falling Rain Revealed in Color

     On the day I painted this, I was awaken by music of the falling rain hitting ever so softly on the skylight in my bedroom.

The rhythm of rain like the sound of music etching beats in my memories and brushing colors over me.  The lullaby luring me back to sleep.

Rain falling gentle and soft so unlike the thunderstorms that bring winds and blinding rain moving so strong against the trees and roofs it takes your breath away.  The lightning striking so close it lights up the sky miles and miles away revealing it’s powerful force; no lullaby does it play.  It comes down like a rock concert reverberating hard core beats and screaming guitar sounds that prompt me to cover my ears.  Too much noise.  

Today the rain was whispering music to me inspiring me to mix and load my palette knife and brushes with the colors you see in this painting.

I am thankful for this rainy morning that inspired my heart to create the colors the rain revealed to me.

There is so much the rain does and often goes unnoticed.  Of course it gives water to our planet earth.  We cannot survive without it.  Perhaps the smell of rain has gone unnoticed or how green everything looks after a spring rain.  May I not forget the blessing of the rain and may I begin to see things that I did not see before this new awareness of the soft and gentle rain dancing on the skylight.

Martha