Just Ask!

I find that so often in life it is true that we “have not because we ask not” or as the Scripture passage goes on to say, we ask in order to spend it unwisely on our passions. Thank God He spares us from our unwise or foolish requests that can bring us more harm than good!

I am very willing to do or give something to my husband, children, or friends if it’s something I know they want or need. But if I don’t know they need it (they never tell me about it), or if I am unsure how much they really want it, it does not become important enough for me to spend the time, money or effort to do it or give it to them. So they do without.

I believe God our Heavenly Father is the same in many ways. He often waits to bring something good into our lives until we seriously ask Him for it. Not that he is just sitting on the sidelines to come at our beck and call, as a genie or servant! No, he is more like a loving parent – not withholding good things from us, but perhaps waiting to bring some extra blessing into our life when we are ready for it, and will see it as God’s hand moving to bestow the gift upon us. And perhaps, as a Father, He knows when we are truly ready to receive the awesome gifts He has for us.

So it’s up to us to ask and trust that he will bring them into our lives at the right time. But sometimes, we need to just walk in faith as if we had already received his particular gift – to thank God for bringing it into our life at the best time. We need to show God (and sort out for ourselves in the process) if it is really that important to us to receive it. Is this something you really, really desire in your life? Would this bring greater blessings to you and others as well? If so, agree with God and ask boldly. Then thank Him, expect to receive it, and act accordingly!

I think of the story of the unjust judge who gave justice finally to the woman who was persistent in asking for it. (Luke 18:1-8) She wanted it enough that she kept at him until he gave in.

How sure are you of all that you are asking for in your life today? I want to be sure to set my priorities right and follow after God’s heart and vision for my life. That way I can come to Him in confidence and ask knowing I’ll receive. My life will then be more of a blessing to others in the process.

It is my hope that my writings here will facilitate more of God’s blessings flowing into your life. So take this gift from me today, as you go forward to (hopefully!) enjoy a rest from your labor this Labor Day weekend!

Too Hot to Handle?!

At the last two ladies’ potluck events I’ve been to, I’ve left behind my heat mat, trivet or pot holders. Since I’m the type of person who is fascinated by and attracted to patterns in life, whether physical or spiritual, I had to ask myself: Is there a lesson here I can learn from this pattern? Other than the fact that, of course, I should remember what I came with and bring it home with me?! ;-)

In my looking for spiritual analogies around me, I came up with the thought that perhaps this was my subconscious way of letting the hostess know I wanted to give them something to handle the hot issues in life! (I know it’s a stretch, but indulge me, please!)

I can think of nothing better to get over the “hot” uncomfortable or crisis-type times (or hot flashes!) in life than to drench yourself in the refreshing and peaceful showers of the love of God. Not only does He give us cool, wet places when we’re hot and thirsty (remember the Twenty-third Psalm?), but He warms us up inside and out when we’re cold and lonely. He knows what we need before we ask. His loving arms are waiting to enfold us in His love.

The painting above is one I call "Changing States." This may be a good analogy of three ways to deal with one element (solid, liquid, gas, for you non-chemistry students)! Perhaps you need to blow off a little steam or thaw out a little and return to your normal refreshing state! I know I do from time to time...

Here is another painting I did called “Peaceful Pond” (to the right), as well as "Marsh Magic" and "East Beach Morn." I’ve included these to parallel spiritual places of healing and rest. I hope you enjoy them!

So if you need to, take a moment and breathe in the peace and cool of these places. If you're holding a hot potato in your life right now, just cool down and regain perspective. Maybe it's time to take a "Time Out!" and just snuggle up with your Heavenly Father to be refreshed by his great love for you.

As I go about my daily life and interactions with others, my prayer is that I’ll keep myself close and filled up enough with God’s love so that it can flow out to others and bring them refreshing for their hot, thirsty souls. Wherever there is a need, I want to let my mouth, my hands and feet, or my arms bring a special word or touch from God.

I trust you will be refreshed today and join me in this prayer for your own life to be a blessing as well.

Lois

P.S. For more inspirational art, visit my website at: http://www.loisgalloart.com/

Road Signs – Part II

On my trip back from Toronto, I was enjoying a beautiful drive through the Allegheny Mountains of New York, then into Pennsylvania. Once I had decided to call it a day and locate a place to spend the night on my two-day return trip, I exited off the PA Turnpike at Somerset. I had seen a billboard advertising an inviting local restaurant. It sounded like a nice place to have dinner, rather than a typical chain.

As I follow the directions to the restaurant, I passed by many hotels, so I knew there’d be no problem finding a place to stay nearby. I saw the restaurant but passed the entrance, so decided to tour around the area a little before returning. I stopped at a light up the hill. As I waited for the light to change, I was thinking about the great ambience of the historic area I found myself in.

“It sure would be nice to stay in a nice B & B (Bed & Breakfast) instead of a chain hotel! But how would I find one quickly – and even be able to get a room with no reservations?” I mused, and half-prayed.

Suddenly I looked a little closer at the sign across the street from me. It looked like a country inn. Wow! That would be a fast answer to a hardly-breathed prayer! As I pulled into the parking lot, a gentleman got up from his chair on the back porch and said “hello!” I asked him if he was the owner, by chance. When he replied that he was, I asked if there were any rooms available for the night. His wife gave me the tour and we settled on a room. It was the exact price that had popped into my head that I would have expected to pay for a regular (modest) hotel room in that area. So to me it seemed a bargain and an additional confirmation that it was the place I needed to be that night!

After unpacking, I went back to the restaurant for dinner. Then I enjoyed a leisurely night drinking in the blessings of the environment – with a beautiful garden, peaceful surroundings and time to read and pray. At a delicious breakfast the next morning, I enjoyed a lovely visit with the proprietors. Dan was a retired minister, also an artist and a singer. I enjoyed his paintings throughout the house and listened to his men’s quartet singing gospel songs I hadn’t heard in ages on their latest CD. Joyce, I discovered, was a wonderful cook, decorator and gardener. So I took myself on a photo tour of the grounds.

Here are a couple of pictures of my special moments of blessing there. If you’re ever in the area, you may want to check out their website for accommodations. http://www.somersetcountryinn.com/ They’re near Seven Springs and ski country in the winter, but it’s a beautiful area any time of year.

So my faith lesson today is to remember that when you keep the dialogue open with God, you never know what surprises will appear right in front of you! And thanks for your hospitality along the way, Dan and Joyce!

Road Signs on the Journey!

I recently headed off to visit some of my family in Toronto. I decided to make the trip each way a two-day trip by car, as I enjoy driving with lots of think time and interesting things to see along the way. Plus I like having my own car to get around town to visit everyone once I arrive.

I had already been praying about the family situations that I felt I may be able to be a help or encouragement in when I arrived in Canada. Although I didn’t know specifically how God might want to move through me, I knew it was important to stay tuned-in so I wouldn’t miss what He wanted to do.

As I started out my trip and pulled up to the light before getting on the highway, I saw this license plate in front of me. Of course, I just had to take a picture of it! So already God was telling me that it was “Harvest Time” and that I was heading in the right direction with the confirmation that God was going to move in a bountiful way in the lives of those I was to meet.

For the trip up, I decided to plan my route to stop over for part of the Joyce Meyer conference in Hershey, PA. I have been inspired by her and enjoy watching her TV program every morning. (Check out http://www.joycemeyer.org/ if you’re not familiar with her.)

This next picture is what I saw near the Harrisburg/Hershey area that evening. Although I didn't capture the rainbow in the sky, this shot of God's light shining through the storm clouds spoke to me. It symbolized again the promises of God to me. So I knew He was showing me that He was continuing with me on my trip and was preparing the way for His blessings to show up.

The next shot is a billboard with the word "Giant" that caught my attention. Not only was it capturing the name of the place where the conference was (Giant Center - although it was really advertising a grocery store), but it was telling me to get ready for giant things God was going to do! And I don't know if you can see the rainbow coming up from behind the word "Giant" and arching up into the sky...!

Throughout the rest of the trip, I was counting the miracles that took place. It was an amazing and wonderful trip! God blessed me and moved in the life of various family members in a wonderful way, bringing hope, healing and life changes.

Tomorrow I’ll relate another fun bonus God gave me on my trip home… In the meantime, this is the sky I saw when I drove from Joyce's conference the next afternoon to Toronto. God's light had burst through in a mighty way in the heavenlies - as a precursor of things to come, I believed!

I urge you to pray and expect God to answer you in the signs He gives you on your own trip through life. He is waiting to bless you more, and wants to enjoy a closer relationship with you whenever you choose to move more toward Him. He'll give you signs that mean something special to you in response to your dialogue with Him. So look up and see the Road Signs - the signs of God’s great love for you - on your Road Trip called Life!

Beauty in Simple Things & Unexpected Places

The other day I was making a new recipe. It called for purple cabbage. As I was cutting the cabbage open, my artist’s eye was struck with the beautiful pattern that was revealed with each slice! So of course, I had to put down the knife and run for my camera!

I never cease to be amazed by the variety of patterns and textures all around us. Were you to decide to have fun experimenting with your camera and take some close-up pictures of ordinary things around you, I think you would be even more surprised and delighted by the beauty of design in ordinary life.

Here are a few more pictures to inspire you to sharpen your focus. Look around you and see all the beauty in even the simplest things and the most unexpected places.

As you view these pictures and look for your own, I urge you to think a little more beyond the surface of what you see. There’s obviously an amazingly creative God we have, who puts design and beauty in even the most mundane things – all the way to the extraordinary and huge things, like the massive redwood tree or the stars in the sky.

I just have to ask myself: What amazing beauty has He put in me? How can or does my life reflect his creativity? How amazing is it when God can flow through me to touch someone else just by being who I am – an ordinary person that He loves & who loves Him back?!

By the way, I think it’s a good thing God invented a sense of humor – and passed it on to us! I know He takes delight in watching our delight with discovering his surprises! May you uncover his special surprises just for YOU today!

Lois

Need Refreshment?

My husband and I just returned from a great albeit short trip to Bermuda. I was amazed by the tour guide’s story of how the Bermudians build their houses.

Since they are an island with no freshwater source, all house construction starts by digging a deep foundation with a room about the size of one bedroom (probably a quarter of the first floor footprint). This is where their water storage will ultimately be.

All the roofs you see are white slate layered with edges and angles to catch the rainfall. It is then diverted into pipes (whether internal or external like our downspouts) leading to the sealed basement storage unit. The water is automatically filtered and purified through the process. This usually provides enough to take care of all the household needs unless there is an unusual dry period. If so, there are several facilities on the island that have water desalination plants (including the Coca-Cola bottling plant), who will sell the water to residents and businesses.

This got me to thinking about the spiritual analogies this could have for my life.

• Do I have a storeroom - a place in my life where I go to access God’s refreshment for my everyday needs?


• Am I letting his Living Water flow through me, as a clean unclogged conduit for his flow of love to others?


• Am I willing to share what He has given me with others who are thirsting for him?

With the saltwater all around, those who drink it become parched, dry and thirsty for a different kind of water. Those who are drinking from the sea of life and focusing on what can satisfy their own self-centered needs eventually become thirsty for something real, satisfying, lasting and truly thirst-quenching.

How do we capture, conserve, and share the Water of Life with those who need what we have through Christ?

I pray that you will come to the waters today and drink deeply from the well that will never run dry! Spend time with God, praising, thanking, and loving him. Sit in his presence letting him shower and delight you with his great love poured out on you. Soak in this shower a while! Be refreshed and gain the strength you need to live life well and to be a blessing to others. Let God pour out his water of life through your life today!

(For more insight into living water, see John 4: 13-14 and the story of the Samaritan woman. Read also Isaiah 55, the invitation to the thirsty.)

If you need some "soaking" music to facilitate your special time with God today, check out this link for a few free music tracks that I believe will bless you. http://www.gracegrace.com/music.htm