Comfortable, Opportunity,& Reassuring.

Comfortable.

After my late night last night, I woke up this morning around 10:30 and started painting again. I finished three 18x24 boards and a 5x7 picture frame in 2 and a half hours today. That's pretty unusual for me. I had no tv on, no radio playing, and for a while--no cell phone around me. I was without distractions. It was a time for me to be quiet and do what I love. I was comfortable. By the looks of it, you wouldn't say my setup of where I paint is comfortable. I sit on a shower curtain on the floor upstairs (or in my dorm) and paint the boards in my lap. I'm crowded with brushes, paint bottles, towels, trash bags, and boards, and I constantly have to get up and go wash my brushes off every 5 minutes. But, it's comfortable to me. There's few places I would say I can be "comfortable" in these days. And when I'm painting in silence seems to be right up at the top of the list. I know this may sound cheesy, and you're probably wondering why I'm blabbing about this. But, it's just a way for me to find that comfort that I search for sometimes. I got a lot accomplished today and set up to get more done this week. It's refreshing.

Opportunity.

From the time I was 6 weeks old until about fourth grade, I went to a daycare in Arlington by the name of ABC Learning Center. Wow, the memories there. To this day, I still refer to it as "my daycare" and I talk about it from time to time. Now--this daycare of "mine", ironically, will be a place of employment for me!! That's right, I'm going back to work with the children that are now enrolled at the same daycare that I went to since I was born. The same lady, Mrs. Claudia, owns & runs it, and we both couldn't be more excited. A lot of the same ladies are still there, so this will be really neat. Thursday I go in (my first time back in years) to discuss the details with her. I have a lot to take care of until then--reference letters, a physical, yada yada. But, I couldn't be more excited. For one thing, my Mom's excited for me. And that hit home. It makes it that much sweeter. :) I love children beyond what words could describe, and I'm so excited for this opportunity that the Lord has given me. :) I'll post on Thursday how it goes!

Reassurance.

I mentioned a few days ago that I'm doing "The Year of the Bible" with Bellevue Baptist. Well, during my quiet time today, I read about the Tower of Babel. Just the small amount of text the chronological bible held for that today seemed to have a huge effect on me. You might ask, "What does men building a tower out of bricks to reach the sky have to do with anything?" In all honestly, it has to do with everything. Genesis 11:4 states:

"Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the earth."

You see, these little guys thought that by building such a great tower, they could make themselves popular/famous and bring great glory to themselves for a "job well done." They thought they could pat themselves on the back, show off what they did, and then have everyone ELSE pat them on the back for their hard work. God had other plans. He didn't pat them on their backs, he patted their tails on to different parts of the earth. Today, God reminded me that nothing, absolutely NOTHING I do will be of great worth unless I write His name allllll over it. The jobs I work, the compassion I have, the paintings I make. If I'm doing it to get some attention, or get the cash for myself, then I'm messing with something I don't want the reapings of. All of my talents, skills, and plans belong to the Lord. Not me. Unlike those guys, my goal for my everyday life is to never take credit for anything I do or receive. It's not my workings. It's His. I just have the privilege in being apart of His plan. Those little idiots had the wrong idea thinking they were going to reach the skies with their names (theoretically) written on the bricks. The glory, no matter what it is for, belongs to the Lord. Always. This is His earth, and I am His child. The end. He deserves the credit for everything. Not me. So, as I read this passage and wrote in my journal, it encouraged me to continue writing "To Him be the Glory" on the back of each of my paintings because I want everyone to know it's not my credit to be given. It belongs to the Beautiful one above. I encourage you to do the same. You pick up someone's tab at the restaurant, give the glory to Him. You bank on the next paycheck, praise Him for it. Be thankful for what you have. And give Him the glory. :)