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Posts tagged ‘Christ Jesus’

Gotcha!

Those “gotcha” moments can be upsetting and make you feel like you’ve been “had”; but, it doesn’t have to dampen your positive outlook.
~ Dr. Angela Kowitz Orobko

I would be dishonest if I did not share with you that I have my moments where I feel disappointment and anger, especially when I follow through and fulfill my promises and the respective party does not. The expectation is there, with verbal agreements and contracts; but, then the communication starts becoming one-sided. The other party has “GOTCHA!” I want to be positive about it and give everyone who touches my life the benefit of doubt (as Jesus would do), but it is not easy. Why would anyone say something and then not follow through. Is it fear? Is it mean-spiritedness? Is it neglect and forgetfulness?

I suppose it is not really for me to know why; but, more for me to decide what will I CHOOSE to do next. I could become cynical and negative, but what does that get me. Will that make me feel any better? No! I need to see the positiveness in this latest event in my life and learn from this experience. I would rather look like the sunflower in the summer sun with my head up high; after all, even a sunflower must experience a rainstorm in order to grow. She always comes out stronger and taller from the nourishment of the water. This rainstorm in my life need not wound my positive spirit or outlook. I will turn this “GOTCHA” moment into a learning experience that will allow me to grow and evolve. Consider the “GOTCHA” moments in your life, how will it shape you?

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Gifts of Love Update 4

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Today was a day filled with activity. I spent 4 hours volunteering time at the local library helping to prepare for their annual used book sale. All the proceeds will go to enhancing our library and it programs. I could feel the positive energy that we had in sorting the books, setting them out, and arranging them.

Teamwork was abundant and it felt great to be part of it. We used our time effectively and it looks like everything will be ready for the preview sale for the Friends of the Library tomorrow night and the kickoff sale for the public on Friday morning. 

Later, I prepared my materials so I could teach my Art for the Creative Heart class. Unfortunately, enrollment was too low at this time and it will need to be postponed until I can have a full class to make it worthwhile for everyone involved. I have so many wonderful activities planned that will allow the students to explore in a nurturing way their creative spirit with joy, free of fear and anxiety of not being good enough. Art is not about perfection, it is about expression. Art is an extension of who we are and allowing our creativity to flow in that very moment we hold a pencil, pen, paintbrush, marker or crayon.

I used my extra time this evening to finish 3 more Gifts of Love. The images are shared below.

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Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday service at St. Timothy’s Church today was lovely. Before the service, each of us were given a single palm leaf to signify the day. Readings came from Philippians 2, 5-11 and Matthew 27, 1-56.  The fist reading in Philippians encouraged unity and humility… “Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The Gospel of Matthew in chapter 27 professed the passion of Jesus Christ, from where the chief priests and the elders took counsel against Jesus and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. As I listened to the Gospel according to Matthew, I reflected to this tumultuous time and my heart filled with deep sorrow and profound love for Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week and it is a significant time for practicing Christians. It is a period of deep reflection as daily bible readings will be of the Passion of Christ from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. After service during our coffee social, we learned how to create crosses with our palm leaves. My husband and I were able to create 3 of them (in above image). These crosses will serve as a reminder of our Lord Jesus’s sacrifice.

This leads me to what I plan to do for the week. Thursday (March 29) into Friday (March 30), I had a dream while I slept of creating “Gift Bags of Love” to distribute. What do these look like, well, these Gifts of Love….Gift Bags of Love will be hand-painted bags with my artwork that will stem from my heart. I will fill these bags with tokens of love, but love in its purest form is intangible. I will then distribute these bags and collect stories where possible.  I broke things down into 4 steps:

Step one: paint 100 bags with art of love.
Step two: fill bags with tokens of love.
Step three: distribute bags.
Step four: collect stories.

That seems simple enough doesn’t it? It seems like a great way to kickoff Holy Week, which reminds me of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world He gave His only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” I will share my love for the world by sharing my art which stems from love and kindness to those who will accept this gift of love and kindness. It will be in the form of a bag; but it is so much deeper than the bag with art. It is a Gift of Love. What of yourself can you give this week (and beyond)? Let me know your special stories. I know you all have them. With love, joy and blessings, Angi ♥

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Spring Cleaning Thine Spirit

I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call  you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 3, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: 4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 

23 and that you be renewed in the spirit (of your minds), 24 and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of the truth.  25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK the TRUTH, each one to his neighbor, for we are connected (members one of another). 26 BE ANGRY but DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun set on your anger, 27 and do not leave room for evil thoughts (the devil). 28 The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work with his [own] hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need. 29 No foul language should come out of  your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification that it may impart grace to those who hear it.

 32 BE KIND to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, as God has forgiven you in Christ. (Eph 4:1-6, 23-29,32)  

Each spring as the Easter season approaches, there is a period of time (Lent) where people prepare their heart and souls through meditation and fasting, as did Jesus did prior to His crucifixion and resurrection. This is the perfect time of the year to do some “Spring Cleaning” in our inner spaces in addition to our physical environments. It is a wonderful time for reflection, meditation and prayer as the days grow longer, the temperatures get warmer and flowers start blooming. Meditation and reflection is a fabulous way for people to examine their purpose. Are we doing everything we can to be love for others? How can we do more to forgive and help ourselves and others (as we have been forgiven)? How can we do less (affliction of stress on ourselves and others)? Nature’s renewal is the perfect setting for spiritual cleansing. I invite you to look inward with love and compassion as you clear out the cobwebs of hurt and regret from your heart. In the book of Ephesians, Paul offers a prayer that is befitting for this..

13 Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, BEING ROOTED and GROUNDED in LOVE, 18 may be STRONG to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the LOVE of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:13-21)  

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