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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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How can my Gulf Coast neighbors overcome the floods?

    Overcoming the flood waters is on my mind today as I pray and do what I can for my friends on the Gulf Coast as the flood waters recede.  The destruction is staring at them and far-reaching beyond their sight.  Overcome they will , but how does anyone know where to start with the shock of all of this?  Grateful that they have survived yet overwhelmed with the what now.  Yeah, I know they say it is just stuff and they are thankful for life; but when the shock wears off and the task of doing takes over I just cannot image the mere exhaustion that will continue for many days, many months, and for some, many years.

                Let us not forget about them I pray.

Harvey certainly lived up to his name which means eager for battle, and battle did he, with winds and rain that just kept coming and destroying for days.  It was difficult to see the images as I prayed Lord stop the rain.  Finally it stopped and the sun appeared and help continues to arrive that has given hope to our world of division.  A picture of how we can work together to begin to build again.

No words have I for inspiration among so much heartache, brokenness and destruction but the hope I have is to look up.   “I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”  PS. 121: 1-2  The painting focused on this writing is the cross rising above the floods of life with the light of the Son bringing the hope and mercy to us by faith.

May you find this hope no matter what storms are around you now or the  storms that will come, and you will look up and know that you are never alone .  God with us forever…….and ever……

Prayerfully,

Martha

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Looking for inspiration in my own backyard…..

Looking for inspiration on a hot day in my part of the world today in the dog days of August with the temperature rising to 101.  As I am drinking my morning coffee on the patio in my backyard, I look up and see the screech owl sitting high in the tree.   Last July when our grandsons were visiting a pair of Northeastern screech owls took up residence in tree on our back patio.  They named them Winky and Blinky.  Most mornings my husband and I greeted them with  hellos as we shared our morning coffee.  They stayed almost a year and we now have their baby to greet.

 So instead of wishing for Winky and Blinky, the parents of our resident owl whom we named BJ (Blinky Jr) to return I am focusing my thoughts on the gift of their offspring.  The gift of the present always brings me to thoughts of gratefulness, wonder and dreams. Hopeful  that the inspiration will  be revealed on the next blank canvas.  Here I go setting up the easel and my palette with colors of the nature around me.   Mixing and blending then loading up the brush to place the first stroke on the canvas.

It has been said that art without spirit is no art at all.  The journey of the heart for me on this painting is to be one that will not only inspire those who see it but bring them a sense of joyful peace.

Make your next moment a blank canvas and fill it with your creative self and make a difference in your sphere of influence one stroke at a time.  Spread your joy to the brokenness and cracks in all of us.  You are more than enough and you will inspire others.

The painting below was inspired by the song  Colors of the Wind.  May it give you a sense of the colors in the wind next time you feel it on your skin.

Thankful,

Martha

 

 

 

 Colors of the Wind….by Martha Leeper