He Leadth Me Beside Still Water

I wrote across the big wall

He Leadth Me Beside Still Water

...that was how I started the painting.

One Sunday afternoon in 1997 my mom ask me if I would paint the wall behind the baptismal in West Decatur Church of Gods new building. It would be 15 feet high and 30 feet wide.
And I said

Yes

...without my usual hesitation. I don't know why I felt sure about doing it when I had NEVER painted anything that large. But there it was...YES. Mom said she would donate the supplies and I said I would donate my time and talent. After I bought my supplies...8 tubes of paint, some brushes, and a car wash sponge (used it the most) we set off for the church. When I arrived I found my Uncle Wayne already set up scaffolding so I could get up high and paint the sky. I am leery of heights..but for some reason I felt safe there.

The first thing I did before I started was ask my mom to go to the alter and pray with me.

I prayed that God would use me,
my mind, my heart, my hand to do this painting.

That His blessings be upon this.

I prayed there would be peace and light coming from this painting.

That was the ritual for every time I painted there. We were usually there on our own...some people stopped by, aunts and uncles, curious workers. But for the most part we were alone in quiet....me praying and painting, Mom reading her book or making helpful comments.
Dad would come by and sit and watch sometimes too. Making sure we were safe. I remember the last night it was after midnight and Dad drove all the way out there to check on us. Mom and I were late because we were admiring and marveling at how it had turned out.

I know God guided my hand.

It only took 6 days...36 hours to paint.

Now whenever I see that painting which has peace and light I remember it all started with the words that are wrote beneath it...

He Leadth Me Beside Still Water.

I love this picture of Mom and Dad watching me paint.

I am so glad Uncle Gene took this photo.

A New Year Sign

I believe there are often signs around us and we are too busy to notice. We hurry on our way and miss those little things that God places in our path. Others may notice and think that it is just coincidence. But for me, when I see it....when I notice it...when I realize it....I am in wonder that God has placed before me a sign. He cares for me.

This morning was a freezing cold January morning. I thought of staying at home and not going to church. But this is the first Sunday of 2010. I did want to start it out right. So at the last minute I called Mom to make sure she was going and then I got ready and picked her up.

Once I got there I was glad I went. This was the place to be as I prayed for my friends and family. This was the place to be as I thanked God for the blessings in my life.

Half way through the service the pianist started playing a song. Mom nudged me and nodded her head. There it was....the little signs that I love....

With all the thousands of songs there are, the one being played was my dad's song. "What A Day That Will Be" On this first sunday mornig of 2010 we felt that Dad's spirit was once again reassuring us that all is well. It brought a smile to my lips and a tear to my eyes because I felt it was a special moment of wonder.

Later as the preacher got up and started his sermon I reached inside my purse and pulled out a small index card that I keep in my billfold. I wanted to show it to Mom. This one had been beside my dad's chair and it had his writing on it. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

Just as I was showing it to her the preacher said "I want you to turn in your Bibles to Philippians 4:13." Yes, there it was.......the same verse I was holding in my hand.

I believe in signs. I believe in wonder. I believe I am loved from above.