~ glorious riches ~

In my journal this morning,

I asked

"What would you say to me, LORD?"

Glorious riches.

Finches in the snow in your spruce tree.

Glorious riches.

A pen, blank pieces of paper, and time with Me.

Glorious riches.

My voice.

Glorious riches.

Paint, art supplies, scraps of wood, and a mind of ideas.

Glorious riches.

A demand that is greater than your supply of art pieces.

Glorious riches.

Spiral index cards that you are memorizing

of My word that is like fire and like a hammer

to demolish road blocks ~ strongholds in your life.

Glorious riches.

A walk outside with your camera.

Glorious riches.

A healthy family.

Glorious riches.

Children who seek and love Jesus.

Glorious riches.

Safety, warmth, food.

Glorious riches.

A hard-working, fun-loving husband.

Glorious riches.

Peanut butter.

Glorious riches.

Stick people drawings with sunshine over their heads.

Glorious riches.

Kutless singing Give Us Clean Hands on your mp3 player.

Glorious riches.

The dishwasher is working.
Glorious riches.
A bouquet of authentic friendships.

Glorious riches.

Glorious riches.

God will meet all your needs

according to His glorious riches

in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

I asked a friend for prayer this week

about my looming fear of having to work

at a job I hate

while someone else enjoys

the delightful days of Erin's growth and youth.

Ideas for writing, teaching and art are springing into my mind.

I listened to Beth Moore teach on

praying God's word.

The weapons of our warfare are mighty

in God for demolishing strongholds

and any high thing that exhalts itself above God.

She taught of putting His word above the

strongholds until they topple over

and are demolished.

His word like fire and a hammer to destroy even rocks.

~Jeremiah 23:29~

The Word that He gave me was

"I will meet all your needs according to

My glorious riches

in Christ Jesus."

It is toppling over my stronghold of fear.

My friend replied back in an email

that sometimes the enemy makes our fear

seem like the only viable option.

But it is not.

Glorious Riches.

This is what is happening in my heart

and the photos are

in my studio this week.

Check out the other Studios here:  Studio JRU.

copyright 2011 Jodene Shaw.

ART in the studio and out the door!

 

Yesterday was spent preparing for

the Winter Women's Retreat

so these pieces were

in the studio

and now

they are going

out the door

with me and my girl.



Whew . . . that has been my week

there is more to say.

But not enough time!

Have a great weekend!

love & grace,

jodi

copyright 2011 Jodi Shaw Branching Out Inspirations.

Remembering Stones

In my make-shift kitchen island counter studio

today,

I am working on a piece

of

remembrance.

Of answered prayers

of healing

of miracles

of comfort

in God's word.



It is a great honor

to be trusted to create

a shadow-box

of remembering.

Remembering Stones.

". . . each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder . . .

that this may be a sign among you . . . "



". . . when your children ask in time to come saying,

'What do these stones mean to you?'

Then you shall answer them that

. . .  the waters of the Jordan were cut off . . .

And these stones shall be for a memorial

to the children . . . forever."

Joshua 4:5,6,7 



What are your "waters of the Jordan" that were cut off?

What are your miracles to remember?

~Your miracles that only God can do~

Stones of remembrance cause our children

to ask

what is this?

what does this mean to you?

And give us the opportunity

to tell our stories

of God's hand

in our lives.

And cause us

to

remember.

You can visit for sneak peeks
into other inspirational studios here:
Studio JRU.

What if I believed this was true?

Yesterday

was the start of Believe Truth e-course.

Which got me thinking about these questions.

About truths.

~ What if I believed this was true?

How would I live? ~

This month,

 I am working through

Brave Girls Club

Soul Restoration.

I am at the point of looking

at my reasons and excuses

that could hold me back

and deciding to

live the life I want to be living

anyway.

To be true to my Lord, to my family, to who I am.



And so

today I created

from my heart.



And I am asking myself



"Even though __________,

how can I live it anyway?"

How can I take steps toward the life

of living true

today?

And choose take one small step in that direction

today.




I am honored to link up with Jen and these sisters.


To God alone be the glory.

Art, photography, text copyright 2011 Jodene Shaw.

~my little peanut~

I just love this girl.

I used to say,

"You're my little peanut."

And

she would

say,

"No, you my little peanut."

But now she is big.

And we don't say it anymore.

But we

talk.

We play

Yahtzee

Chinese checkers

and

Uno.

She is growing up.

She is so beautiful.

My little peanut.

Backgrounds With a Growing Big Girl

In the studio this week . . .

I finished preparing and editing a Bible study

for an upcoming women's retreat.



Lots of working with words.



And I have lots of backgrounds prepared

to play with

on little pieces



that help me be brave to try new things

for the big pieces.

Which always inspires

my "growing big" girl

{because she's "not little"}

to try some background

experimenting of her own . . .

with my pastels.

Fearless, she is.

Bold and enthusiastic.

"Look what I did!  Isn't it beautiful?!"



She inspires me

with fearlessness

boldness

enthusiasm

excitement to show-and-tell.

She draws stick figure smiley-faces of me

with square-scribbled hair

and a sunshine over my head

that looks like a flower.

I love it.

If I am writing, she wants to write.

She is learning her letters.

If I paint, she wants to paint.

She knows her colors.

We teach each other.

So much.

Just a "Sneak Peek In the Studio"

linking with my artistic, spirited, inspirational

blog friends.  Visit them here at Studio JRU.

My e-course Believe Truth
an online Bible study
begins Monday February 7.
Info is here ~ Believe Truth

Sneak Peek Lesson is Here:  Introduction to Believe Truth

Have a lovely weekend.
Love & grace,
jodi

What You Believe ~

What am I believing

about me

about life

about what it takes to really live

about God

about family

about my roles

?

?

It is a question that I have

to ask myself sometimes.

And then write.

It is revealing

if I am honest about what I am believing.

Because it directly relates

to my state of mind,

attitude,

moment-to-moment living.

It is valuable.

Because when I am deeply struggling . . .

usually what I am believing

is

not

true.

And by asking myself that question

and

writing the answers

I

can

choose to

believe truth

instead.

It makes a difference.

*

Believe Truth E-Course begins February 7.

I'd love for you to join us.

Details and enroll here:  Believe Truth

*

Do you believe you can cup the moon in your hands?



I guess that depends on your perspective . . .

{I am smiling here to you}

{just some fun pictures of my kids and the full moon in warmer days}