Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

There is nothing to hard for God

"Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:16

God answered hubby's and my prays when driving the '47 Ford around town last week.

5 times the old Ford wouldn't start. 

5 times hubby used his man skills to start it, but without success.

5 times we prayed and then it started.

Turns out the old boy (the car not the man) needed a new contact on the starter switch, which hubby installed, and now he (the car) fires up perfectly. 

I've learned a lot from studying Jeremiah:  God is in control,  He's merciful, He keeps His promises, He restores, He hears our prays, & more miraculous, He answers them.

Now there have been several other times I've been stranded in a broken down car and God didn't choose to just start them up send me on my way like this.  But, I have learned that God always demonstrates what I'm learning in His word with real life applications.  I think the last time I was stranded God was teaching me patience.  That was a hard lesson. 

If today you find yourself looking for something incredible to read, Jeremiah chapter 32 is a remarkable example God's great power and outstretched arm revealing there is nothing too hard for Him. 

Trusting in Lying Words

Reaching for my Bible to continue my study where I had left off, the pink Post-It Note I use as a bookmark was moved, not by me, to Jeremiah Chapter 7

Jeremiah 7:1-27
Trusting in Lying Words

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, ² “Stand in the gate of the LORD’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD!’” Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words, saying, ‘The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these.’

“For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. 

“Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the LORD.  

“But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.  And now, because you have done all these works,” says the LORD, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.  And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren—the whole posterity of Ephraim.

“Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. Do they provoke Me to anger?” says the LORD. “Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces?”

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, My anger and My fury will be poured out on this place—on man and on beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground. And it will burn and not be quenched.”  Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat.  For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices.  But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’  Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.  Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them.

Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers. “Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you.

Just Playing Around

With the left over paint I used to create my son's flag and the remaining 5'x20" strip of canvas I decided to keep painting, since the painter's canvas was still on the dinning room table which has been doubling very nicely :) as an efficient table cloth.

First I laid down my favorite color combination, blue and green, horizontally.  Next I created the clouds.

Experimenting with an old course brush I stippled the colors on  to create the impression of a garden.  My daughter, an amazing artist who paints with oils, made me laugh when she said, after I asked her how I was doing, "Well, you can only work acrylic so far, because as you know, it's just plastic."
 
I was just playing around using cheep paint and old brushes, and I had a lot of fun, too!

I hope you are having a  blessed day and can find a bit of time to be creative with whatever you have just laying around!!!  After all, being creative is an attribute we received from God our creator, who made us in His image.

The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. Gen. 2:8 & 9

Easter Prayer

Another image from Dale Evan's Prayer Book for Children.  This picture reminds me of Easter Sundays as a girl.  My mom always made me a new Easter Dress and my younger brother a matching jacket.  For Easter service we drove to Grandma and Grandpa's church, where both my mom's and dad's parents attended, and where my mom and dad met.  The old ladies would always comment on how much we had grown.  After the service we would run around with our cousins up into the balcony or into the big kitchen.  My Grandpa was the driver who picked up kids in the neighborhood for church, and sometimes we played in his big yellow bus. 

I'll never forget the lady's lounge at that church. It was a small room which lead to the restroom with a big red velvet couch.  Ladies would be in there consoling each other, asking for prayer and encouraging one other.  This is where my Grandmothers would discuss scripture, sometimes even debate it.  From my point of view, as a little girl, God was always in the lady's lounge.

After church we went to one of the Grandparent's house for a wonderful lunch and an Easter egg hunt.  I was never as clever at finding Easter eggs as my brother or cousins.  In fact my mom still has reel to reel tape of me jumping up and down having a fit because all the eggs were found.  It just isn't the same when your eggs come from a sibling's basket who doesn't want to share their bounty.  And believe me, there is nothing attractive about a little girl having a fit in the middle of the lawn, no matter how cute her new dress is.

But from all the Easter Sundays I learned one important thing.  God's love towards us is so vast and His care of us is so immense.  He fills our lives with joy unimaginable and gives us a peace beyond description. 

Have a very Happy Easter Time!!!

Pink Blossoms

Now that I'm working at home, I set up my work space where I can watch the fruit  trees in my yard blossom. Flowering trees are one of my very favorite things.

I have Apples,

Apricots

and Pomegranates.

It's amazing to me how a tree that looks dead all winter comes alive in spring bringing the hope of delicious fruit. It reminds me of myself, how without God I was like a tree that looked dead, and by God's grace He gave me a hope for a fruitful life.

Genesis 1:11 which says, "Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so."

Rayne Water

   Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
         Sing praises on the harp to our God,
   Who covers the heavens with clouds,
         Who prepares rain for the earth,
         Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.



   He gives to the beast its food,
         And to the young ravens that cry.
   He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
         He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
   The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
         In those who hope in His mercy.
                            Isaiah 147:7-11

Usually Rayne advertises events around town or posts witty quotes, but today was different. I'm hoping my wise blogging buddy Allen will enjoy this.  You'll always find a Good Word of truth and encouragement on Allen's Blog.   He has just kindly given me a blogging award with a selection of awards to choose from. 
I selected this award because this past week I had lemons hurled at me from different directions, but God taught me to rest in Him. So I collected the lemons and seen the blessing of His hope by offering lemonade in return. 


Thanks Allen!
You are an encourager. 
I give this award to you: 

The Eleventh Hour

Last Wednesday I was so exhausted I went to bed before 9 pm.  At 11:11 on the digital clock I woke back up. Wide awake, I got out of bed to get a drink of water and turn off the lights that had been left on downstairs.  When I went back to bed I couldn’t get to sleep, but had the nagging feeling I should pray for my children, my daughter in particular.  At 11:48 I felt pressed to get up and go back downstairs.

Just as I reached the front door at the bottom of the stairs I was startled by my 21 yr old daughter  unlocking the door from outside.  I thought everyone was at home, but she had spent more time than planned with her close friend in San Diego. I told her how I had just been urged to come down the stairs, and how coincidental it was that she was walking through the door at the exact same time I was there.  I then shared with her how odd it seemed that I woke up earlier at 11:11. “That is weird,” she said. “Just as I left to come home I checked the time and it was 11:11.”  

Had I prayed her home? Was there a pressing need to intervene for something we are unaware of? Or is God simply drawing our relationship closer? It’s hard to say, but it’s evident to me God touched each of our lives at the exact same times.

If you have a "God" story you'd like to share, I would LOVE to hear it!!!

Global Warming?

People are shivering dressed in their warmest boots and jackets these days.  In Oregon my brother bragged facetiously the temperature reached a high of 20-degree mid afternoon.  He had work but just couldn't get to it through the ice and snow that covered his town.  My dad shoveled 2 feet of snow in the high desert to make a path to his shop. Normally my folks get a maximum of 4 inches of snow about every other year, melting by the next day.  My Scottish husband who usually wears shorts all winter has long-johns on.  Even our annual Christmas walk along the beach was halted due it icy rain (OK so I'm spoiled, but someone needs to do it).  You who live where it's even colder and snows way more...yea, I've been reading your stories. 

So you want to know who I think is responsible. Now, I'm not deliberately picking on any one individual.  However, he did make a full length motion picture documentary seen in theaters and available in every movie rental store.  He was the guy touring the nation and putting plugs on T.V. about his knowledge of the global weather. So, while I'm not pointing fingers, it was his own choice to put himself in the limelight, and I wouldn't trade places with him for anything.  Why Al?

The Bible says, "because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools." - Romans 1:21-22

I believe God is showing the world whose boss and exercising His sense of humor with a little exposing at the same time.  In the Bible God tells Job (Job 37:10-13);

      By the breath of God ice is given,
      And the broad waters are frozen.

      Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
      He scatters His bright clouds.

      And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
      That they may do whatever He commands them
      On the face of the whole earth.

      He causes it to come,
      Whether for correction,
      Or for His land,
      Or for mercy.

Christmas Lights

I love Christmas lights.  Communities become beacons where just a month before all was dim.  Light is the first element God created when He formed the world we live in.  Genesis 1:3 tells us, "Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light".  Light is mentioned throughout the entire Bible, especially in reference to Jesus.  "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. 

Wishing the Light of this season illuminates your heart and brings you great joy.

Christmas Nativity Teacup Greeting Card

This is one of my Teacup Greeting Cards with a funny story, humbling to tell, but funny still.  One year I put off for last the painting of a new Christmas card which needed to be included in that season's new line.  I was ambitious trying to watercolor 8 new cards and was drained of ideas. I went for a walk and prayed for God to give me an idea of what He wanted me to paint.  He filled my mind with this idea, and I sat down to paint a star brightly shining, casting shadows behind the shepherds and sheep, as well as the manger and lamb in the foreground.  Behind is the little town of Bethlehem. When I was finished I mounted it next to the other new cards and proclaimed, "Wow! I'm amazing!!!"  Returning to my desk to clean up, and feeling quite puffed-up with my accomplishments, my exuberant striding foot stumbled on the leg of my desk. Being pitched off balance, my upper body plunged surprisingly forcefully onto my desktop, my glasses digging deep into my face.  As I lay there catching my breath, God (who just previously and very generously blessed me with the idea for this card) reminded me of another thing He said,
    "Pride goes before destruction,
     a haughty spirit before a fall."
                Proverbs 16:18 
I quickly apologized and always remember who created me and gave me the ability to paint in the first place.

This card comes with Harrisons & Crosfield's Earl Grey tea.  The inside message reads, ""Behold, I bring you good tidings of Great Joy which will be to all people. Luke 2:10"

Available in my STORE.

12 Days of Christmas Teacup Greeting Card

Inspired by pear groves in California's Delta, I water colored this teapot, stacked teacups and desert plate depicting each element from the 12 Days of Christmas song.  It comes with Harney & Sons Holiday Tea. Inside message reads,
        "I'd like to play you a Christmas song
         of a partridge in a pear tree,
        but since I can't I'm sending you
        this warm cup of Holiday Tea.
        Merry Christmas"

Available in my STORE.

While there is some dispute over this translation of the song, tradition has it that in England, between 1558 and 1829, Catholics were prohibited by law to practice their faith wither in public or private.  Until Parliament emancipated Catholics in England in 1829, it was illegal to be Catholic.

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was a coded message written in England as a memory aid to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, authorities would not know that is was a religious song, and young Catholics could sing it without fear of imprisonment.  The song is, in a sense, an allegory with each of the gifts in the song representing something significant to the Bible.

The song begins, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me..."  The "true love" repeated in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, but to God himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to the believing Christian. The "partridge in a pear tree" is Jesus Christ upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy s predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them. The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the cross.  The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.  The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and love -- the three gifts of the Spirit that abide, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13.  The "four calling birds" refer to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels -- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John -- which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation.  The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.  The "eight maids a-milking" reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.

The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments.  The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.  The "twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostle's Creed: belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.

My Happy Pumpkin

Received this cute story from my mom:

A woman was asked by a coworker, "What is it like to be a Christian?" 
The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin.  God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes the dirt off of you.  Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.  He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.  Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Passion Flower

This Gorgeous bloom was given to me by my sweet neighbor who picked it off her fence overflowing from her neighbor on the other side.  It found a cool resting place in my ruffled hobnail milk glass vase.   What a treat!!!

The Passiflora or 'Passion flower' acquired its name from descriptions of its flower parts given by 17th Century Spanish priests in South America.  Referring to Christ's suffering, the parts represent the various elements of the Crucifixion.

The five petals and five sepals represent the ten faithful disciples, less Judas the betrayer & Peter who denied Him.  The corona filaments are the crown of thorns.  The five stamen with anthers match the five sacred wounds & the three stigma the nails.  The elaborate flowers last only one day, symbolizing the one day Jesus was on the cross.

Giving Thanks

This is one of my cards that has a REALLY BIG story.

I was in front of my house talking to my neighbor, Susan, from around the corner when Rebeca from three doors down the street walked over to say, Hello." Susan and I must have been talking about God, because all I can recall from our conversation is Rebeca's question, "How do you know God is real?" After sharing verses from the Bible, Rebeca repeated, "But HOW do you know?" After sharing the story of Jesus, Rebeca asked again, "BUT, HOW do you know Jesus is the way to God, not Buddha, or Mohammad, or...."  she continued listing other religions.  Finally I told her what I did when I didn't know either. I said, "I figured that if Jesus was real and He was God, He was fully capable to prove it.  So, I asked Him to prove to me He was real, and He did."

"OK!" she said, "But it better be REALLY BIG!!!" and walked home.

A week later, after several headaches and confused speech, Rebeca went to the Doctor. Diagnosed with a brain tumor, she was quickly rushed to the hospital and operated on shortly after.  Before the operation, she was told the surgery would cause impaired vision, hearing and speech. 

To be a support, Steve and I were at the hospital during the surgery.  As the family visited with her 30 minutes after she returned from surgery, they all wept with joy because Rebeca could  see, hear and speak normally.

After Rebeca settled in at home I went to visit her.  She reminded me of the conversation we had in front of my house with Susan.  She told me she had made her peace with God before going into surgery, and if God was real, He could prove it to her by allowing her see, hear and speak after her tumor was removed.  That was the "REALLY BIG" way God proved to her He was real and Jesus was the way.

Filled with overwhelming thankfulness for all that God had revealed to Rebeca, I painted this card.

This "Give Thanks" Teacup greeting card is only available in my store. 

Drop in the Bucket

In response to the events that took place in our nation last week, this verse kept running through my thoughts. 

"Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing." Isaiah 40:15

I imagined God holding a large galvanized farm bucket.  With his wrist, He's twirling the bucket as a drop of water rolls around the bottom.  I'm reminded that He is in control, and whenever He wants to roll our nation to the other side of the bucket, He can.

Coming Rain

Booming thunder woke us up early Monday morning, followed by lightning.  From my front yard, I watched in wonder as God demonstrated His power in the clouds that quickly gather over the west.

One next-door neighbor rushed to cover things around his house, while the other invited their scheduled house painters inside.  My dog was running in circles around the backyard barking towards the heavens.  By the time I walked through the house, on my was to comfort her, the clouds opened in a sudden down-pour.

My heart was moved as I recalled a verse from the Bible which says,  Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12

Thinking of You

If I were able to physically send everyone a Teacup greeting card today, this is the one I'd send you with a delicious Hot Cinnamon teabag to savor.  I would pen you a sweet message from God's encouraging Word of how much He is Thinking Of You:

Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.  -Psalm 40:5

Blessings in your day, Kimberly

No Place Like Home

Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:6-7

Home With A View of God

 

As an artist it takes me a couple of days to paint a picture, more often a week.  After finishing my creation I have a terrible tenancy to think more highly of myself than I aught to.  From my front porch I am always humbled by what God can paint.  It's as if He says to me, with a smile on His face, "Hey, Kim, you thing you're so talented, check this out."  In ten seconds he paints the shy, changes the colors, moves the clouds and causes me to stand in awe at His greatness.

A Sweet Sunday Message

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Matthew 12:28-30

A Gift of Beach Sand

I painted this card for my nephew, Joshua, who recently sent me his precious drawing with hearts all over it.

Silver and Gold Tea Spoons

'Silver and gold have I non---, but such as I have to serve tea---'

Did you ever sing the Sunday School song about Peter and John healing a lame man, where they said to him, "Silver and gold have I non---, but such as I have I give thee---, in the name of Jesus Christ---,  of Nazareth rise up and walk" ? I always think of that song when I hear "silver and gold" mentioned together.

In the Kimberly Shaw Store we have petite Fleur-De-Le silver and gold tea spoons perfectly sized for your delicate teacups. 

Basket Teacup Card Story

One afternoon, while waiting for our children to be dismissed from school, my friend Desiree’ told me she was going to an antique store to look for a pretty birthday gift for her mother-in-law, Dianne. Antique stores are hard for me to resist, and since I was looking for a tea cup to paint a new spring card, I decided to follow Dez’ to the antique store.

Not finding the right thing, I went to look at one last table. It was covered in teacups! A beautiful basket tea cup caught my eye. I held it up and proclaimed, “This is it!” meaning the new spring card idea I wanted to paint with a basket weave design.

Dez’ eyed my find and thought she was agreeing with me as she exclaimed, “Yes it’s perfect! Dianne will love it!” Of course, I had to agree, though the look on my face must have surprised Dez’, because she asked, “Did you want that tea cup?”

Selfishly, I admitted it would be a perfect model for the new card I was thinking about painting, but highly agreed it would be the perfect gift for Dianne. Hesitantly, I handed the tea cup over to Dez’ who said she would ask her mother-in-law if I could borrow it for my new card. Watching Dez’ walk away with the tea cup, I wondered if I’d ever see it again.

This card came to represent the wonderful ways of Jesus when He said, “Give and it shall be given you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put on your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38.

For you see, the teacup, which I first wanted for myself, was given to Dez’, who gave it to Dianne, who graciously loaned it to me. Not only has all this “giving” gone on, but many tea loving, card sending, thoughtful other people are continuing to give this Tea Cup Card to others they appreciate.

As I was writing this story it occurred to me that God had encouraged me to make this a “FOR YOU” card before I even found the cup, or followed Dez’ to the antique store, or negotiated over who should get this cup once we found it. Additionally, as I was typing this verse, I noticed the flower bouquet the bunny is holding, bearing “FOR YOU,” is resting on its bosom as referred to in Jesus’ message above.

May you enjoy knowing how this card came to be “FOR YOU.”

This card is avalable at http://www.kimberlyshawstore.com/products/For_You_Teacup_Card-176-4.html